Thank you for the birthday greetings and presents!

Thank you to everyone for all your birthday messages and gifts! My awesome friends really made it a special day.

Mom, Dad & just me had an outing today! We went down to the harbor. I got to sniff and pee on lots of stuff on our walk! It was a cold windy clear day, but I wore my new fleece shirt so I was warm. Dad pointed out the seagulls and their poop - Georgie's favorite scent BOL. Then we went to the doggie store and picked out some treats. We took them home and I shared with my brother and sisters. Mom of course got me another ball for my present. We played chase the ball today.

Another super birthday! Thanks again, everyone.

Happy 8th Birthday Winston!!!

Happy Birthday Little Man! We love you so much and are so glad that you came to live with us. You have brought such life to our pack with your spunk, playfulness and love for others. You're always ready with a ball in your mouth, or a wrestle with one of the others. You've taught Lily all of your bad habits, LOL, but are such a great playmate to her and Finnegan. You weathered our move out of state, even though it made you nervous when we started packing. Once we got into our new place, you settled in nicely. Now we have 2 yards for you to run in, and you get walks off leash. You're the best walker now! You continue to adapt to whatever comes your way!

For your birthday, we're going to explore the harbor and beach! I can't wait to show you off, you're such a little charmer. Maybe we'll go by the doggie store and get a treat!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY my little buddy!

love mom

My Photo in Fido Friendly magazine!!!

Mom entered one of my photos in Fido Friendly magazines Tongues contest. I got an honorable mention!!! All the winners and honorable mention recipients are in their current July/August 2011 issue. If you go to http://www.fidofriendly.com/magazine, scroll down a little way to PREVIEW, then go to page 23 you'll see me!!! I'm the 2nd dog in from the right hand lower corner!!!

Arrrooooo!!!! I've been published. It's a photo taken by my mom's nephew in the backyard. It's on my page too. We received the actual magazine today so that mom can keep a copy. She's so proud. Dad said "too bad he didn't have a better haircut" BOLBOL!!! He is proud though too.

Winston

All Healed Up

I went to the vet today to have the stitches removed from my back. The lump turned out to be benign. I healed 100% perfectly. Except I kept licking my leg where I had the IV inserted. It started to look irritated. So I had some medicine put on it, and had to wear the cone of shame! Sheesh! But only for the day. Mom says she's glad because now I can have a bath. It's always something, isn't it???

Winston

Happy 7th Birthday Winston!!!

Happy Birthday to my lil monster, my little Winston T (for Trouble), my sweet boy!!! I can't believe you are 7 years old. You have the energy and spirit of a teenager, but today in dog years you're 21 years old!!!! BOL - definitely old enough to vote, so I guess I should listen to your position on things more carefully! Old enough to drink alcohol, but OH NO not gonna let you do that. I promise to give you more treats instead, ok? Since you are old enough but you are not driving, I promise to take you on more rides and trips with me, ok? More beach time, I promise!!! And I'll continue to throw a ball for you and take you for walks. But I promise to find more interesting places to walk.

You are such a joy as part of the family. You're such a little instigator, but you're so smart you know how to get the others blamed for your naughtiness. You're so quick at learning. You love running, chasing and wrestling with Finnegan. I love how you always have to have the last word, no matter what you're being told, even if being reprimanded. You're such an independent little thing. But you're also a little love. I remember the first year we couldn't even touch you without you snapping at us. You were so nervous. Now you crawl into my lap and love being loved. You've come a long way, little man. And we all look forward to many more years together.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY sweet boy. Your momma loves you.

Schnauzer Day at the Vet's

I had to go to the vet today for my annual physical exam. Dr. Porte is a really cool guy, he loves how muscular I am. He also thinks it's funny how I bark and talk all of the time. It's a guy thing I guess because mom isn't so amused by it! My mom showed him a bump on my back that has developed recently and has been growing in size. I'm going to have a dental cleaning in December so he's going to remove the bump the same day. It's either a benign adenoma or a melanoma. We'll see. Mom says she's not going to get all weird on me, but you know how they get when they start worrying. Other than that, I'm the picture of health!

Today I met another schnauzer at the vet. He looked just like Finnegan. He is 11 years old and has diabetes, but he arroooo'd just like we do. We played with each other in the waiting room until our leashes got too tangled. Then when we were getting ready to leave, there was another schnauzer! He also looked like Finnegan. Guess I'm one of a kind around these parts. Annie was the only black and silver they ever saw at this vet's too! It's kinda nice to be special.

I got some extra treats for being good today. I liked the treats, but I think I could pass up the temperature taking and blood drawing procedures. I told them so, too!

Winston

Fall and Squirrels

Mom says it's Fall. It must be because the squirrels have been trying to eat all of the walnuts in our trees and the shells are falling everywhere! Sometimes on our walks, the blackbirds drop walnut shells on our heads - mom says that's on purpose, that they're trying to tell us to stay away from their walnuts. Our neighborhood used to have a walnut grove and there are still a lot of walnut trees in our area. Our yard has 2 in the backyard and 2 in the front yard. So you can imagine the squirrel traffic! I have taken up squirrel chasing. They get so uppity thinking they can come right on to our patio and on the furniture. Finn and I chase them back up into the trees. They jump from the trees onto the roof of the guest house or into the ivy. It's pretty wild right now even on our walks. The squirrels are sitting all over the sidewalks. They're getting fat from the walnuts and I bet it's gonna slow them down. Some day we're gonna get one of those brazen furry creatures!!!

Riding on a Sunday afternoon

Mom decided we were bored with our usual activities. So after she came back from a ride with Dad on his motorcycle sidecar, she put our halters on and put us in the sidecar for a ride. Woo hoo! It was fun!!! You can see my new photo from today.

Life goes on...

Not much happening in the last few weeks. Finnegan had a hurt foot so he wouldn't run and wrestle with me much. It has been raining on & off too so that has limited some of our play outside. But I have taken up squirrel chasing. Finnegan didn't even want to chase squirrels very much, so somebody had to do it!!! Those darn squirrels were coming right up to the back stairs. But now that Finn is back to it, I'm not doing it so much. I prefer to bark at Finnegan to alert him that the squirrels are on the lawn. Let him do the work, hehehe.

Mom & dad went away for a week and Vicki came to take care of us. Her daughter told mom that I'm her "favorite"!!! She likes my attitude. I have plenty of that.

Today it rained again. Mom took me for a walk when there was a break in the storm, but it started pouring so we had to cut my walk short. Sheesh, I'll be glad when this rain stops. At least Finnegan will play with me now.

Winston

On the first day, God created the Miniature Schnauzer...

On the first day, God created the Miniature Schnauzer On the second day, God created man to serve the Miniature Schnauzer. On the third day, God created the animals of the Earth to serve as potential food for the Miniature Schnauzer. On the fourth day, God created honest toil so that man could labor for the good of the Miniature Schnauzer. On the fifth day, God created the tennis ball so that the Miniature Schnauzer could or could not retrieve it. On the sixth day, God created veterinary science to keep the Miniature Schnauzer healthy and the man broke. (AMEN!!!) On the seventh day, God tried to rest, but he had to walk the Miniature Schnauzer. (Unknown author)

On the eighth day, God believeth that He was done, but Lo! The Garden of Eden was full of Miniature Schnauzer poop and craters. Adam & Eve, having been banished from the garden, no longer dwelleth therein to serve the Miniature Schnauzer, so it came to pass that He had to clean the mess up Himself. And God was displeased.

On the ninth day, God sayeth unto the Heavens, "Who hath dominion here, me or the Miniature Schnauzer?

On the tenth day, God came upon the Miniature Schnauzer cockroached on His throne and abideth there unmoving, despite all His beseeching. And so it came to pass that God had his answer. He then sayeth unto Moses, "Fine! Youre in charge now. Heres my ten commandments. You deal with the Miniature Schnauzer! Im retiring to Miami Beach!

And Moses convinced the Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of bondage in Egypt and journey to the Promised Land. God sayeth unto Moses, "The Promised Land shall be yours, but you must take the Miniature Schnauzer with you.

And so it came to pass that the Israelites wandered for 40 years in the wilderness, waiting for the Miniature Schnauzer to go potty, mark every bush and sniff every blade of grass in its domain.

And the Miniature Schnauzer was fruitful and multiplied.

The people were taken by the comliness and manner of the Miniature Schnauzer, but they were sorely distressed. "Lord" they cried out, "The Miniature Schnauzer is an attractive and sweet creature, but there are so many, what shall we do?"

And God sayeth unto the people, "Ye are a cursed people and shall be known as adopters! Thy yards shall be barren of grass. Thy dwellings shall overflow with dog beds, squeaky toys and Miniature Schnauzer kitsch. Thy carpets shall be forever stained. Thy vet bills shalt be large and thy lives forever ordered around by the Miniature Schnauzer. And thy minds shall be muddled, as thou shalt treat thy Miniature Schnauzer as thy do your human offspring."

And Adopters begat Chippers. And Chippers begat Fosters. And Fosters begat Adoption Groups. And Adoption Groups begat Discussion Lists. And Discussion Lists begat Gatherings. And Gatherings begat Vendors. And Vendors begat a wardrobe for the Miniature Schnauzer.

And the Miniature Schnauzer was spoiled.

God looked down on this and was pleased.

(by David Weeks, originally wrote about a Mastiff)