A sad goodbye

A sad day today. Brandon is no longer with us. His life was a great one, for over 13 years, but in the end, the cancer proved to be far to taxing on his little body. After finding it had spread to his lungs just 4 weeks ago, it has been a month long "party" to get to do things he didn't normally get to do.

And after a very rapid decline in health in just 2 days, the decision was made. The decision was originally for yesterday, but being a holiday, I wanted the comfortness of my vet, not a vet with whom I have no connection with, to be the one to help me say goodbye. I am glad I made this decision as last night, Brandon was doing some of the puppy behavior he did when he was young. Despite not being able to keep some of his food down all of the time, it was hard for him to pass up a treat. Instead of eating them, he reverted back to his puppy days and tried to bury them in different corners of the house. He would try to bury them with his nose, despite not being able to cover them up. Not having a video camera when he was a pup to capture this funny scenario, I am pleased to have gotten a small portion of this action.

It is with a very sad heart that I say goodbye forever, but to never be forgotten.

Miss you dearly, bud.

Happy Birthday to me!!

I'm 13 years old today!! I can't believe it! The day went by sooo quickly and mom only got to spend a couple of hours with me. Not a fun birthday if you ask me. Then my grandma wasn't home most of the day. I thought they had forgotten, until they brought me home a big bag of doggie treats!!! OH BOY!!! Mom said I can't have too many, but I did get to have 5!!!! I was soooo excited!!

Mom is sooo thrilled that I've made it this long. The tumor is my tummy is still there and has gotten slightly bigger, but my blood values have only worsen just a few points, so that's better than a big jump like she thought might happen.

It's a tough life, but I'm enjoying every second of it!!

Where have the days gone?!

It's been such a long time since my "sisters" and I have last been on here. Mom has been SUPER busy the last few weeks and hasn't allowed us to get online (she's afraid of us getting "bugs", I think). Anyhoo, she's been super busy because she got a new job. I like that she has a new job because it means that she comes home smelling like other animals. It's always fun to "read" what the others are like. It seems to be my only interaction with other 4-legged and furry friends. I don't like personal contact, except from 2-legged people like my mom and grandparents. My "sisters" don't like other company either, but at least Meow gets as much of a kick out of "reading" what others have to say as I do. Treo just doesn't get it.

But it's late and I know mom is getting tired. She did let me post of previous years Halloween pictures. She made me wear them to get my picture taken. I can't say that I like them, but whatever. At least she doesn't make me wear stuff like that all the time.... anymore. She use to put a shirt on me all the time. I didn't mind it that much, it just got hot. These "costumes", as she calls them, are just not my style. Why she can't put them on Meow and Treo, I just don't know.

Counting down the days....

My mom is counting down the days until this Sunday in preparations for the WEBN/Cincinnati Bell Fireworks!! She's really excited and is reworking her schedule to make sure she doesn't miss a second of the loud explosions.

I on the other hand, will be up in my grandma and grandpa's room, with grandpa (because mom and grandma call him a 'party pooper' - whatever THAT means), while mom and grandma are at the fireworks. What I don't understand is why they would subject themselves to the loud and scary noise!! I mean, I hear thunder and it scares me terribly and yet they are risking their lives to be as close to it as possible! My mom says it's 'fun' to feel the vibrations of the fireworks exploding - I just think she has completely lost it.

So come Sunday evening, I will be given my 'night-night' treat and will try to avoid concentrating on the noise as much as possible. (Luckily, mom says we only hear a small bit of it from home so it doesn't freak me out THAT much, but I still won't go outside when it goes on for 20+ minutes. I will DEFINITELY be holding it until it's over!!)

The weather outside is.... dreaful!!!

It's soooooo hot outside. Mom and grandma let me outside and I think we're going to play, but they allow this long, black thing in the yard and out shoots water. It's very scary and mean because then they expect me to go potty and hurry-hurry on the hill.... WHERE THEY HAVE THE WATER!!!!

Mom and grandma won't play ball with me outside because they said it's too hot and because I'm "old" (whatever), that playing isn't a good idea outside. I do tire very easily when I go outside and stay out there for awhile. I try to play inside, but it's just not the same. Mom always wants to toss the ball, but it's pretty lame inside and there isn't much fresh air inside.

Mom has tried to keep me entertained while I'm stuck in the house by tossing treats all over and making me find them! This is SOOOOO AWESOME!!! Not only is it a surprise in finding them, BUT I GET TREATS!!!! Hello!! That's doubly-awesome!!!

Treo and Meow run after the treats and think they are for them, but they're not quick enough because I just follow them and gobble the treats up right from under their noses. You snooze, you lose!!!

To break the training or not... that IS the question

So my mom has taught me to go potty outside using funny words such as "potty" when I pee and "hurry hurry" when I poo. She always repeatedly says "up up up" until I FINALLY make it up the hill. What can I say, the small patch of grass at the bottom of the hill is much more my style - I mean, HELLO! it's right there!

Today my grandma and grandma had some worked done in my space and I wasn't allowed to go outside. They kept getting onto me because I repeatedly announced the presence of the men outside. (And to tell you the truth, those men smelled kinda funny and I can't say I liked them very much. Gotta protect my crib!)

After those stinky men left, my grandma, and later my mom, took me outside to go potty - IN THE FRONT YARD!!! I never go potty while on a leash and I NEVER go potty in the front yard. (Mommy taught me some manners and going "hurry hurry" should be done with some privacy and out of the watchful eyes of others - don't you agree?)

I was sooooooo confused. I went "potty" after quite a long time (and boy did I EVER have to go). I felt like I was doing such a bad thing, but mom told me I was good. She kept telling me to "hurry hurry" but I just choked and couldn't do it. But I did manage to work up enough courage to go "potty" 2 more times (and don't tell the neighbors, but I went on their new plant - shhhhh).

After 2 seperate trips, and 10 minutes each in the front yard, grandma and mom took me inside. I know I should have gone, but I also know where my manners are and I was NOT about to go "hurry hurry" where everyone could see me.... that's just scary!!

I did eventually get to go "hurry hurry", in the privacy of my own space in the back, but it was several hours after I was last let out. I am surprised I held it that long, but it was worth it because no one saw me do my dirty deed.