About me, it's all about me....

Hi, I'm the Beanster. I was named for the LL Bean exit on I-95, cuz that's where I came from. Me and my family and friends were all living together and our owner was sick, so he couldn't take good care of us, so my new mom and her friend came and got us. I was a baby, and I was soooo tiny that mom thought there was something seriously wrong with me. All my brothers and my sister were big... as big as I am now, and I was real little, so mom said I had to stay with her so someone wouldn't fall in love with me and then something bad would happen to me and they would be sad. (Like she wasn't gonna fall in love with me??? Yeah, right!!) Anyway, I pretty much grew up normal, except I am still small. I'm not saying I am a brat or anything, but things around here pretty much go my way. It's easy when you're real small... you can walk thru the baby gates with no problem, and if the big dogs start bugging you, all you gotta do is race around between their legs.... drives em crazy!!!!
Everyone says I am photogenic... whatever that means. I say I am just plain CUTE!!!! If that makes me photogenic, then so be it! When I walk, I have to prance pretty fast, cuz, remember, everyone else here is way bigger than me! I discovered that mom went really crazy when I did that stupid obedience stuff, so last week I got to go on a trip and stay at one of my dogster pup pals, Kiwi's, house, and all I had to do was the silly obedience stuff in a fence out in a field. Everyone loved me!! (And, why not????) Between you and me, it was kinda fun!!!! Bye for now, gotta go play with Toto and Jenny.

All in a night's work

The other night me and some friends that come here to do that stupid obedience stuff were practicing. Of course, I am perfect and practicing is not something I do very much, so my mind was wandering a bit. I must admit, I was thinking about all the frogs in Mom's fish pond. Mom called a halt, I stopped and sat down, and something moved under me!!!! I immediately jumped up, and the something jumped up, too!!! Fortunately, we were off leash, so I was able to jump after it. Everytime I jumped, it jumped higher. This was a pretty exciting game.... soon my little min pin friend, Luke, joined in jumping around with me. Next thing, my beagle friend, Scholly, jumped in. (I made a pun!!!!) We were all jumping after the something, and having a good time for ourselves, when the something jumped into the pond. Before I could stop myself, kersplash, I jumped in the pond, too, by mistake! Luke stopped right at the edge, and slowly slid in behind me, and by now, Scholly was following his nose, like a good beagle, so all he did was inhale a bunch of water. Boy, that sure ended the jumping game in a big hurry!!!!
All those serious shepherds and Aussies and labs were still sitting there, waiting for the next command!!! Boring!

A Preppy boy am I.

I don't know if any of you have looked at my "brother" Toto's photos, but right there, in the first one, he is wearing a Coach dog collar. I was pretty mad about that.... I was the one that went to the show where mom got that collar in a raffle, and I didn't get the collar.... wasn't fair at all!!! I do have to admit, when I tried it on, buckled in the smallest hole, it fell all the way down my body and I walked right out of it!
I was sooo disappointed.... I love preppy stuff, polo shirts, designer jackets, bring them on!!!! My Mom could care less.... she wears stuff from wallys world, well, except for the nice green shirt she has with MY picture on the front of it. Now, that is a designer shirt, in my humble opinion, which is the only opinion that counts!!!!
Anyway, today was not my day to go to work with Mom, so imagine my surprise when Mom came home at noon and got both me and Jenny. We wiggled our butts at Toto as we left without him. When we got to work Mom said she had a surprise for us. I got mine first. She opened a little black and white box with a dog's picture on it, and inside was a really nice, little black collar with a pretty charm on it. She put it on me, and I was in heaven.... it was soft and nice, and it smelled soooo good! No wonder Toto likes his so much! Then Jenny got hers.... it's a pretty blue with khaki fabric on it, but I like my black one even better! Mine is all leather with no cheap fabric like hers and Toto's... it's the bestest I ever saw!!! Mine is still a little big, cuz I am a very small boy, but Mom said I would have to live with it, they don't make them any smaller. Let me tell you, I didn't even scratch at it once during the whole rest of the day, and boy oh boy, I can't wait till my pals at obedience class catch a look at me next week!!!!

I'm going Kayaking, yippee!!!!!!!

I am sooo excited..... Mom said I could go kayaking with her on Sunday. I'm not really sure what that means, but, around here anyway, all my dog pals want to do that. This will be my first time!!! Tonight I had to try on a big, orange jacket that mom had in the closet. She was trying and trying to make it small enough for me. It's a funny jacket cuz it has a handle on top and she lifted me right up by the handle!!!! I don't know why I need to have a jacket.... I know Jenny and Clyde don't have one when they go with her!!!! It sure feels funny when I walk in it!
Anyway, she said we would meet a friend of hers at the water place. She said the friend was a veterinarian, and I immediately decided I didn't want to go, but Mom laughed and said it was okay cuz she wouldn't do anything to me. Whew!!!! And, her friend has a little kid that can play with me!!! I LOVE kids!!!!
Anyway, Jenny said the last time she went she saw a whole bunch of baby ducks, and mom and her friend and the kid were feeding them. I hope we see something nice like that. Once when they went they saw a big BEAR.... I hope we don't see one of those!!!!!!!!! I would be very scared, especially if I had a bright orange jacket on so it could see me really well!!! Mom says that is foolish... if I am in the kayak out in the water the bear won't bother me. I sure hope she's right!!!!
Hey, mom just said her friend's mom has my brother!!!! And, they might bring him. That would be sooo cool!!!! Now I am even more excited!!!
I gotta go to sleep now so I can be wide awake for kayaking!!! Maybe mom will take some pictures so I can put them on my page for you all to see???
I will let you know how much fun it was, assuming the bear doesn't get me!!!!! Oh well, if he does, at least I will have a vet there to fix me back up!!!!

My Kayak trip!!!!

Well, we left my house this morning in the cold and rain. Mom said not to worry, the weather would be fine. We got to the pond and while we were waiting for Mom's friend, it got sunny and hot... Mom was right again!!!
Then I got put in the kayak, and we went out into the water and I got VERY scared!!! So scared that I tried to jump out and head for shore!!! That's why my ears are wet in the photo. Anyway, Mom laughed at me, and said she had brought my bed, so I curled up in my bed and tried to hide.
Well, as we went along, I started to feel better. Pretty soon I started looking around and I saw tons and tons of fish swimming underneath us. It was sooo cool, and they were pretty colors. And, Mom's friend had that little girl, Emma, with her, and she was pretty nice and talked to me. I saw lots of painted turtles, lots of pretty flowers in all colors, and we saw a HUGE bird, and it flew right over us!!! I got really brave and walked out to the very front of the kayak. Mom said I was gonna fall in, but I didn't think so! Suddenly, a big fish jumped out of the water in front of our kayak and made me jump, and I slipped right off the kayak into the pond. Mom reeled me in, and I was fine. I heard her tell her friend that every dog does that at least once and now I will know better!
After a while, we came to a big island, and we stopped for a picnic. I was happy to have solid ground under my feet!!!! And, I could run and run and run without my leash cuz we were surrounded by water. Emma gave me some of her lunch. After lunch, Emma went swimming so I decided to walk on out and see how it was. It was warm and nice, so I swam around for a bit with Emma. When we got back in our kayaks, Mom said I didn't have to wear the stupid orange jacket anymore cuz now she knew I could swim. Do you know that jacket weighs as much as I do!!!! She did keep my leash on, tho!
We went on and on and it got pretty hot, so I climbed under the front of the kayak and took a little nap in the shade. Emma was taking a nap in her kayak, too. Finally, we got back to the beginning, and I hopped out and Emma took me for a walk to see all the other people while Mom put the kayak on the car. I think Emma was showing me off, so I strutted my best!! It was a very, very fun day, and Mom's friend, the vet, didn't do anything at all to me, no shots, no pinches, nothing!!!! And, best of all, we didn't see any BEARS!!!!

Pupsitter

Hi all,
Today I got stuck being the puppy sitter. Now, even I will admit, that in itself doesn't sound too bad....play with puppies all day long, right??? WRONG!!! Here's how it goes....
Wake up, stretch, go outside and check out the smells from the night visitors, (you never know.... something may have been in my pen???), and come back inside to join Mom for coffee. Next, I would normally get my collar and leash and go over to work with Mom or go outside with Jenny and Toto for a relaxing day in the sun.... here's where it goes terribly wrong!!!! She takes the three poodle babies and puts them in a stroller (A PINK stroller!!), and I have to actually walk along beside them.... across the parking lot beside a road where my pals may see me!!!! I trie to hide behind the stroller, but I'm sure someone is gonna see me. Hopefully it won't be that cute little schnauzer from daycare that I have my eye on.
When we get there, we all get put into a big pen in the daycare room. Now, normally, I would be running around helping Julie clean the cats or helping the girls eat breakfast, (my job is to keep the floor under the table clean), or something exciting like that, but on pupsitting day I have to go in the pen with those little needle mouths. They do have some pretty good toys in there, but getting them is another matter.... did you ever try to play with a toy with three 12 week old babies hanging off it??? Not easy. I am basically a cool dude, so I go over to sit on the dog bed. Next thing I know, I have three little puff balls sitting on top of me. Well, that's not gonna work, so I go over and stretch out on the cool floor.... drat, what is that wet stuff....oh no.... MOooomMeeEee.....now I need a bath!!!
Pretty soon it is time for us to all go outside and play. Now, I am an adult.... as in done growing, right? These guys are only three months old. Should be a given that I can outrun them. So, I grab a toy and head for the hills. I make the first turn, banking off the corner, with little bodies in hot pursuit. Ah ha, I am liking this game!!! Hit the second corner, and head for the long stretch going all out now. YES.... I sneak a look back and I am still well in the lead, piece of cake!!! Suddenly, out of nowhere....SMACKKKKK.... oh darn, I forgot these are poodles and poodles are smart.... the little buggers split up and one cut across and nailed me on the long stretch. Okay, I give up! Mommmeeeeeeeee..... get me outta here!!!!!!!!!!

A Bad Day for ME!!!

Wasn't a good day around here for me. First of all, I got to go to work, but it was definitely an afterthought!! First thing in the morning Mom took the three puddle babies over, and she took my friend Gracie, too. (Gracie is one of Toto's and Jenny's babies). Finally, about an hour later, Laurie came over and got me, and put me with the babies. NO ONE paid any attention to me all day long! Gracie got to run around, but I didn't!! Then, it was raining and thundering, but Mom still had obedience class. The sun came out, but it was kinda cold, especially when my coat soaked up all the water off the wet grass. Mom MADE me lay down in the wet, cold grass. Then, when the other class started coming and everyone of us jumped up to see them, she yelled at me, and only me!!! Doesn't she know this is MY yard, and I need to protect all my other classmates when someone comes, and I was only doing my job!! Then she gave me some ice cold white stuff in a dish. She said it was a special treat. I thought it might be okay cuz she was eating it, but I was already freezing cold and wet, and this stuff was ICE COLD!!! Some special treat!!! Just as I was deciding I might like it, she took it away and gave it to Luke and Stooly.
The final insult came when she took me home and got Timmy for the second class. I distinctly heard her telling him that he was going to be her bestest obedience dog yet... doesn't she know I have super hearing and would overhear that???? Hurt my feelings, I can tell you!
Oh yeah, she didn't even let me wear my beautiful black, wonderful smelling, new collar to class to show it off. I had to wear the stupid chain one, and it was too big for me and I kept tripping over it! BBAADD day all around!

A Better Day for Me.

For the last few days we have not gone to work. I think it's cuz there are many dogs over there now that it's Summer. Oh well, we do have a nice big air conditioner over here, and lots and lots of toys.
Well, this afternoon Mom came home and got me, and me alone. I really pranced on my way over there... I was HAPPY cuz I miss work. When I got there, Tonya gave me a bath...Mom said something about my rolling on the dead nightcrawlers last night. It wasn't too bad, she made it really quick, and then we all went into the break room and took a break. I wasn't sure whose lap to climb in first... I didn't have to share anyone, and it was sooo cool! But, laps do get boring, so I went out to explore in the daycare room. All the dog were inside taking their naps cuz it was soo hot outside. I was tippy toeing around trying to be really small so I could dart in and grab their bones and treats. I was doing really well too, until I went up to a BIG German Shepherd, and she barked really loud at me. I backed up as far as I could, then I really told her off!!! I kept sneaking a look back at the break room to make sure Mom and the other girls were watching to see how brave I was. Funny, but they were all laughing at me... dunno why, I am the bravest five pound dog over there!!! Uh oh, you don't suppose I forgot and left my tail tucked between my legs????? aghhhhhhhhh.
Oh well, next I came in the cat room and REALLY told them off... what a great day it was for me!!!

Showing the ropes to my newest friend.

Today Mom took me and Chaz, that little ball of brown fluff, down to the big yard all by ourselves! I figured I could teach him a thing or two about being a real dog. First, I snuffed out a nice pile of dead nightcrawler, and was gonna show him how to roll in it to get the most of it on your coat. I looked around, and he was over rolling in his own pile. Wow, he was good... he sort of threw himself down and squirmed so he got it all down his neck and back. Of course Mom yelled at that point, so we pretended we were chasing each other. I ran right into the garden and was hiding under the giant hosta plant waiting for him. I waited and waited, then peaked out and he was squealing on me to Mom. For a minute, I had forgotten he has a brown nose!!!! Well, it payback time... I took him over to the pond. I was sure he would fall in, cuz he is a baby after all. I ran right up to the edge and jumped around pretending to be all excited about the frogs. He came up, looked at them, and sat down to watch them. Drats!!! Okay, maybe I can get him in trouble up by the shed. I know that is off limits, but sometimes Mom isn't paying attention and me and Toto sneak in there. So, we ran up there, he took a look inside and ran right back down and jumped on Mom, brown nosing again. Hmmm, corrupting this guy isn't going to be easy! I give up! I went back down and sat beside Mom. She asked me where Chaz was... I looked around, and there he was, IN the fireplace, digging in the ashes!!! Man, even I never did that before!! Maybe he isn't so bad after all! Check out my new photo of me and him play fighting. I could like having a baby brother, I guess?

Left alone again, sigh.

Today was Mom's afternoon off, so I was hoping for some really fun time with her. Well, the wake up buzzer went off while it was still dark, so I knew something was up. After our breakfast and some coffee for her, Mom took Toto and the fluff ball and left!!! Me and Jenny just looked at each other in shock.... why didn't we get to go??? We decided to have our own day off.
First of all, Jenny helped me get the towels out of the bathroom, and we piled them all up on our bed to make it softer. Then, we went in the dog room and snuck all the food out of Toto's and Chaz's crates. Mom had left the TV on, so we snacked while we watched Martha. We were hoping she would have her Frenchies on, but not today. Then I was thirsty, and Jenny said there was some water on Mom's desk, so she climbed up there and got it down for me. I couldn't get the top off the bottle, so I had to chew some holes in it. Naturally, some of the water spilled out, so Jenny went in the kitchen, climbed on the table, jumped over to the counter and got me some paper towels. We remembered that little lab on the TV that drags it all over the house, it looked like fun so we tried that. Well, Mom must not have the right paper towels, cuz they kept ripping into small pieces. Not to worry, they soaked up the water better that way.
Next Jenny said we better pick up Mom's shoes cuz she left them under the chairs. Mom has LOTS of shoes! We dragged them all over to our bed so they would be in one place for her. It really wasn't my fault that the little sticky things on the strap of those green ones got stuck to the paper towels. I tried my best to chew it off. Who knew those straps were so thin????
Suddenly, I remembered the candy wrappers usually left on the desk... Jenny was nice enough to get them down for me. One of those little black push button things fell off while she was up there, so I tried to pick it up. Suddenly Mom's cleaning music was playing along with the TV. Wonder how that happened??? Anyway, I licked all the candy wrappers.... mmmm good! But, then they got stuck to the floor... oh well, the cleaning music was on, so I tried to clean them up and put them in the waste paper basket. I couldn't help that it fell over and got in the water.
Suddenly, we both heard a noise, so Jenny jumped into the chair to check it out. It was Laurie, she came to let us outside. She was laughing at all the cleaning we had been doing for Mom. We are sooo nice!
Anyway, when we came back inside, we were both tired, so I got the soft rugs from the bathroom and piled them on the bed and Jenny and I both climbed up there and fell asleep. Next thing we knew, Toto was waking us up. Mom must have been very tired cuz she didn't say anything to us at all. She just put us outside, and turned up the cleaning music!!!!