Happy New Years - Woo hoo!

This is my new friend, Virgil, from France and his mom, Eleonore. OHMYGAWSH he is such a suave, Continental gentleman, and a champion, of course. He probably doesn't even know I'm alive, but I do like to look at his picture. I'm going to keep a copy close to my heart. I think I'm going to look for a locket charm at Petco next time we go there. Isn't he handsome? Of course, I also have a good relationship going with my pals Boomer, Ozzie, Turbo and a few others. I'm young...I play the field. No need to commit at my young age, is there?
Wow. My second New Year's Eve. I don't even remember my first, and I'll probably sleep through this one, too. What can I say? I'm not into all the whoop-ti-doo and stuff. Me and Mom go to bed early and try to sleep through the cranking of the calendar from one year to the next.

Today we worked some. Balanced a bunch of bank statements. Sounds simple, but it wasn't, and I only know this because of some rather blistering words that came from Mom's corner of the office. See why dogs are so friendly and loving? We don't have to mess with money and bank statements. Trust me. It's better to pay as you go. I give licks and cuddles and that seems to work for me.

Let's see....nothing else really interesting going on. Tomorrow is 2007. Mom says there was a book out by George Orwell called "1984" and already it's 23 years after that, and it's still coming true, she says. Look at me, for example. I'm licensed, chipped and registered. Mom is licensed, bonded, registered, insured, and swipes her Von's or Albertson's card whenever she goes to the market. The government knows what she buys, who she pays, and if they really wanted to know, could triangulate her position between cell phone towers. She doesn't care anymore. Like her life should be so interesting, she says.

Um...oh, Pet Edge has a new catalog out and we're going to go through it for new clothes for me. They have the BEST prices ever. I got my Halloween costume there (see in October 2006 for the link), and only paid $4.99 for it. And we saw the SAME exact outfit in the pet store for $11.99. Such a deal, huh?

Life goes on...year by year. Here's me and Mom wishing you all the very best for the next year. May the mortgage rates go down, the interest on your bank accounts go up, your stocks split and split again, and may there be peace on earth, goodwill to all creatures, human and otherwise.

With love, licks and wags..

Mary-Margaret O'Brien

You are NOT the boss of me!

I tell YOUUUU! All I wanted to do was stretch out in the sunshine and catch some rays, you know? So here I am, all relaxed, and I get this "Mary-Margaret! Time to come in!" stuff from Mom. Yeah...sure. I ignore her. So she goes at it again, only this time she's more adamant. Again...I do what any intelligent, independent pup would do - IGNORE!! Besides, she's in her bare feet and there's frost on the lawn. I feel safe.

She's quiet for a bit, then I hear "Mary-Margare O'BRIEN!!!! You GET IN HERE!!". Like...uh....we've heard this before? Frost? Bare feet? I don't theeeeenk so. She launches a string of stuff like "You are in such trouble, Missy!", and "Bad bad BAD puppy!". Uh huh! Yup! I'm all that and more. Trying to keep a straight face here.
She slams the door and it gets quiet. Ahhh...peace at last.

It DOES get a bit chilly after a while, so I pick up and get into the house. Trying to sooth her ruffled feathers, I hop up onto her shoulder. Well, GEE WHIZ. SORREEEE that my feet are wet. Good gosh, she's in a mood, and I find myself back on the floor.

Ultimately, we go upstairs into her office where the heater is blowing warm air. She's going to work on bank statements. I am into my kennel on my cuddly soft sherpa pad. She's not speaking to me which isn't necessarily a bad thing. She'll get over it.

Cheers and best wishes for a safe New Year's weekend.

Love,

Mary-Margaret "In Charge" O'Brien

50 Year Old Trivia

You know, there's no way us pups could play that game. But Mom and her Yorkie buddy group are playing this trivia thing where everyone is remembering something from the 40's, 50's and 60's. Stuff like old TV shows, radio shows, 45rpm singles (remember Tommy Sands and Patience & Prudence?). Things that no way I would know about. But the ladies are having fun.

We worked all day today and got absolutely tons done. Some people dropped in to say "hello" to me, but mostly I slept or played with my new Teddy that Sarabi sent. It squeaks way inside, so it's hard to get to, but I DOOO like a challenge. Mom says we can take the next three days off if we want, because she posted all the stuff throughout the end of the year. It also helps that our modem burned out and she won't have a replacement until maybe the end of next week. Verizon wanted $99 to replace it, but Mom found it for $10 on some auction site. What I want to know is what did you all do before there was internet?

I hate to be the one to break it to her, but someone has to take down our Christmas decorations. And also, Mom was supposed to go to a Notary test tomorrow. I think she's going to pass and go to one in Escondido on the 6th instead. She's bushed. Her idea of closing between Christmas and New Years means that everybody in the office gets off but her. She doesn't mind much, though. She works at her own pace, uninterrupted, so she really gets a lot done.

I just hang out and bark "Hello" to people visiting on our floor. Hey....I'm only a back-up receptionist and she's darned lucky to have me, I think.

Good night, everybody. If I don't talk to you before - have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Love, Mary-Margaret

Pressies from my BFF

Wow...what a surprise. I completely forgot that Sarabi was sending me a Christmas present. Er....gosh! It's my most favorite color - PINK! It has elastic that goes under my chin and around my head, and even it has holes for my ears. Don't I look snazzy? Hmmmmmmmmm?

And, I might add, it took me the longest time EVERRRRR to take it off. Even longer than it did for me to take off my new harness and leash. I tell YOUUUU. I'm really good at getting undressed. Almost as good as I am opening packages. :o)

Sarabi also sent me a really nifty Teddy Bear, with absolutely nothing on it that I can bite off or choke on. She's really thoughtful that way, you know. And yes, I enjoyed the tag, too. Everly so much fun to shred. (tee hee)

Thank you SOOOO much to Sarabi and to all my friends for remembering me at Christmas.

Love,

Mary-Margaret

Christmas at Uncle Rudy's Place

I love to open my own presents. Would you believe that my Uncle Jason and Auntie C thought Mom was exaggerating when she said I did it myself? Well, I guess they know now. I can open just about anything without any help at all. Really, I can.
These are my cousins, Clancy and Cailin. They are everly so much bigger than they were last year. And I was a whole lot smaller then, too. I just love them absolutely SOOOOO much.

My Auntie C worked really hard making dinner. I had ham and kibble. I tell YOUUUUU. That is some fine Christmas dinner. And then the humans had pumpkin pie with whipped cream. I had a little whipped cream, but that was enough. Just a taste is fine. I'm watching my waistline, you know. I don't think I should weigh more than 7.5 pounds, and neither does Dr. V.

All in all, I had a really good Christmas. I hope you all did, too.

Love, Mary-Margaret

Is that all there is?

Just checkin', Mom. Not that I expect anything else, but I know you'd feel just awful if you forgot anything that had MY name on it. Really, you would!
My stocking? I have a stocking? OHMYGAWSH! So Christmas isn't over? And we're going to see my cousins, Cailin and Clancy? And Auntie C and Uncle Jason? And Uncle Rudy, Mo and Jack the Cat?
I'm everly so giddy with excitement, I can hardly stand it.

Thank you, Santa, Sonia, Shelly and the Daniel Kids, Mom, Sarabi (It'll probably get here Tuesday) for your thoughtful gifts. And to everybody for their cards and good wishes. May you always have love in your heart, food in your belly, and the spirit of Christmas in your soul. Profound, huh? But I mean every word.

Peace and goodwill to all...

Mary-Margaret

MEEEEERRRRY CHRISTMAS!!

Oh Gosh. Thank you, Dee, Gizmo, Bond, BooBoo, Roxie, Sammy, Andy, Sarabi for letting me know that you read my blog. I had no idea you all cared so much. Gee whiz, I guess I better get off my duff (Mom? What's a duff?....shhhhh! I'll tell you later, Mary-Margaret!) and ...sorry, I get off track sometimes....and write more faithfully.
Here's how I spent Christmas Eve mostly. Just trying to sleep so the day will go faster. Christmas Eve, I think, is the absolutely most longest day of the year. Do you think maybe time moves more slowly on that day than on any other? I do!


This is how things look right after Santa comes. My mom took this picture for me because I was sound asleep. I thought maybe I heard sleigh bells, but then, maybe I was just dreaming.

This is what our living room looks like after I've opened all my presents. Yes, I really DO get to open them myself. That's so fun. Mom takes a pressie out from under the tree and puts it on the floor for me. Then I go over and scratch at it until I make a tiny tear in the wrapping. THEN I start pulling until the present comes out. I can even open boxes. Mom says I'm like Houdini-dog when it comes to opening stuff. Well, I get a lot of practice during the year when I open my pouch envelopes. :o)

Yeah...Yeah...I KNOWWWW!

Sheesh. I didn't think it was all THAT important that I write in my blog every day. I mean, I get maybe one comment if any, so how would I know anybody's even reading my blog? HMMMMMMM???????

Let's see. Yesterday was Saturday and me and Mom decided just to kick back and watch some movies. Today, we're doing laundry. I've been on Cat Watch all morning and took a breather this afternoon. Cuddled up in my kennel (oh I DOOO love my kennel and my soft sherpa pad) and got some nap time in. We had turkey for lunch.

Mom ran errands, and got another new coffee maker that would remember to shut itself off since Mom always forgets with this new one she's got. She's giving her OLD-new coffee maker to Becky, the daughter of her friend, Margie. I don't drink coffee so it doesn't matter to me one way or the other.

She went to the office to check stuff and the people on the second floor asked where I was. Mom told them she gave me the day off. And I deserve it, too, I think. I'll write more probably Tuesday after we get through this Christmas stuff.

You know, I'm starting to remember about last Christmas and Santa? I'll get Mom to take some pictures for you. Every night I wish on my magic tree. You know what I want is homes for all the puppies that don't have their moms anymore. And a warm place for them to sleep, and food for their little pink bellies. I wish everyone had a home like mine. I am very very lucky, you know?

Love, Mary-Margaret

Visiting my Grand-Parents

Here's my Grandma and my Grandpa. I don't get to see them very much because it takes Mom about six hours to drive there. Three hours one way and three the next. She says it would be faster if they lived in Las Vegas because then we'd take a plane. My Grandma knows how to talk to me. If she calls me I go right over there. She's pretty interesting. She rolls around in a wheely-chair and makes it go wherever she wants by "walking" while she's sitting. It's so kewl. Really. Oh, and she gives pretty good tummy rubs, too.

My Grandpa is still trying to get the concept of having a Grand-Dog down. I think maybe he forgets my name sometimes because he calls me "the dog" or "the pup". But after a while he even cuddles me and holds me. He still needs more practice, though. You can tell he's not used to having a four-legged grandchild.
Here's what I like doing - going O-U-T. Well, sort of. My Grandparents live in a really tall apartment building so they don't have a yard. They have a "balcony". Mom put my piddle pad out there just in case, but no thanks. I'd rather wait until I get home, you know? Like I don't just piddle anyplace. There was stuff going on downstairs in their parking lot that I had to check out. I'm pretty curious, you know, and lucky for me if I stood in my very tippy-toes, I could see over the wall.

Mom had put that silly Santa hat on my head on the way there so I got to make some people smile. I said "Hello!" and "Merry Christmas" to everyone I could. Traffic was so jammed up and slow I bet they appreciated my good will. But when we had been at Grandma's for a while I decided that hat also made a good toy. Grandpa thought I was trying to take it apart. Who? Meeeeeee? Perish the thought! (shh....maybe I was, but don't tell Mom).

OK...time to get to work. Happy Friday before Christmas, everyone.

Love, Mary-Margaret

My Magic Christmas Tree

When we first decorated the tree...ok, MOM decorated the tree, I supervised...this is what it looks like. You can see the ornaments and pearls and even the little silver elf on top of the tree. But it's just a tree with decorations.












This is when the magic comes. At night, when the lights go on and ...wow! It's like the Christmas fairy just flew over and sprinkled some pixie dust on it. It glows with the promise of peace, love, and goodwill toward all. Especially pups.

I'd like to say that your local pet hospital or animal relief center is always happy to get donations of old towels or blankets. They never have enough. Better to give them to my friends who will appreciate them, even if they have spots or holes in them. I think I'll get Mom to go through her linen closet and donate all that stuff we don't use any more. Will you all do the same? Christmas is about giving and sharing and loving each other. Well, that's what I think, anyway.

I think I want Mom to take me down to look at the lights again. I get all warm and fuzzy...ok, FUZZIER....when I look at my magic tree.

Love to everyone, and may the magic of Christmas touch us all.

Mary-Margaret

I love my Frosty Paws

Oh that's NOT funny. Closing the glass sider over my doggie door. Please PLEASE...let me out?
Ahhhh....I always find my little patch of sun, even when there isn't any. The frost doesn't bother me at all. Nope. Uh uh. Er....wait...wait. Please don't shut the door?

The Christmas tree is finally up. After I went into the house I just stared at the bare tree on the table. I guess I sent Mom on a guilt trip because she detoured from going up the stairs to going into the dining room where the ornaments were. She looked at me...then the tree....(sigh)...and there she goes. Unwinding Christmas lights 'round and 'round the tree. It sure looks pretty with all those "keepsake" ornaments and strands of pearls wrapped around it. And our tree topper is a little silver suited elf.

I can't WAIT for Santa.


Love, Mary-Margaret

Breaking news: About "Keepsakes"

We're getting there. Slowly but surely. Tree on stand, but lights and ornaments still in box. They should be on the tree and NOT in a box. I got one out of the box today...bad choice, I found out....and started taking it apart. If you ever see a Santa holding a foil wrapped present and the words "John 1986" on it, do NOT...I repeat, DO NOT unwrap it or eat the face off the Santa. That's something called a "Keepsake". Humans get weird about their "Keepsakes". Whateverrrrrr. I thought maybe there was a squeaky inside and I don't read all that well....yet.

See you later.

Love, Mary-Margaret

Sunday is a day of REST!

That's the excuse I'm giving for not writing to you, Dear Diary. That...and it's NOT MY FAULT. Mom got up early and went out to breakfast with a friend. Then she came home, got me, and we went to the office. Work, work, and more work. I was there for about an hour when I started feeling a bit uncomfy. It was time to do the "big out", if you catch my drift. I whimpered, I pawed, I squealed. Finally I used my secret weapon ...ta daaaa...."The Gas Attack". One hit and she was scrambling to find my leash. I tell YOUUUUUU...we have our own little arsenal of resources, don't we?

Anyway, that business being taken care of, we went back to the office and didn't leave until it was almost dark. What a way to spend the weekend.

Last night got a bit nippy so I snuggled under the lip of the comforter for most the night. Then I think maybe Mom got cold so she put me under the covers next to her like a hot water bottle. Indeed. I do think the good Lord had something better in mind for me when he created me, but I was still sleepy so I complied. Besides, it wasn't too long before it became "out" time again. I went straight to my "gun cabinet" and let loose with a really stinky bomb.

WHAT'S ALL THE WHITE STUFF? And why is the grass crunching under my feet? This is kinda cool, actually. I'm having fun here. I do NOT want to go back in. Mom is trying to reason with me, saying that it's maybe 38 degrees outside and really she'd like to close the slider. But her teeth were chattering while she said it so I pretended not to hear. I'm BAAAAAAD that way (hee hee).

Oh okay....after a bit it starts to get you. How those sled dogs in "Eight Below" can survive even a day, let alone six months, is beyond me.

That's it for yesterday and this morning, dear Diary of mine. It's time to go to work again. Does it never end?

Love,

Mary-Margaret

Playing Hide 'n Seek

Probably not a good idea before Mom's finished her morning coffee. But it was so nice out. A bit overcast, nippy....the smells of Christmas wafting all around. So I went up to contemplate life in my hillside fort under the daisy bush. I guess I dozed off for a bit. The next thing you know, Mom's out there in her Uggs, cordouroy pants and a sweat shirt hunting all over for me.

What I didn't know is that she'd already checked everything out, including the back slope where the feral cats live, and out the front door and up and down the street. Not that I'd go anywhere....well, probably not, anyway. I admit I like adventure. Oh, but there I go again. Back to the story.

I decided this was a PERFECT opportunity to play my favorite game. So I slithered on my belly across the side slope like GI Joe, hid behind a clump of gazanias, then wriggled over behind a lily plant. As I was making a mad dash back to my fort I could barely contain my glee. This was the longest ever that I've gotten to play this game. And Mom was just starting to say, "I give up, Mary-Margaret! Where ARE you?", when she spied a rustle of leaves and saw me make my last sprint to the daisy bush. Did I mention she'd been looking for me for about 20 minutes??

"Oh, my GOD! THERE YOU are!", she said. Well, yeah? I wasn't lost. I knew where I was. I've never seen her so relieved to see me, muddy feet and all. Later on she told me that she was so afraid I'd been stolen. Me? Stolen? I hardly think so. Who'd be so mean as to do that, I ask you? Besides, I do tend to bark and back away from strangers these days until I get Mom's approval.

Not to worry, Mom. I'm a big girl now. I'm not going anywhere without you - EVER. (Not like "some people" who go away and leave their children at a kennel, but we won't get into that right now.)

Love,

Mary-Margaret

I know how Oprah felt...

..when she wasn't invited to that wedding of whats-his-name (I mean, even I know enough to stay off the good furniture) and Katie Holmes. Mom had a Christmas luncheon for all the people who work with her. And guess who wasn't invited? No...Oprah wasn't either, but who else? Hmmmmmm? That's right. MEEEEEEE.
It isn't fair. Dogs eat, too. I'm very neat, clean my plate, don't drop my napkin and silverware on the floor like some people, always say "please" and "thank you". So why can't I go to a nice restaurant? It just doesn't make sense. So I sulked. I mean it's one thing to politely decline an invitation, and quite another to not be invited at all. It's SOOOO not fair.

I guess they had a good time. Mom brought home some steak for me. Small consolation for the slap in the face, if you ask me.

I'll file this little faux pas away for use in some future guilt program.

Until then...

Mary-Margaret

Naughty or Nice?

Oh, the injustice...the humiliation....! Not that I didn't deserve it. I don't know what got into me, but that rather expensive camel-colored slip on loafer looked infinitely more appetizing than my rawhide chewie. Really REALLY it did. Mom caught me red-handed (er...red-pawed) just as I was removing the stitching from the top of the shoe. "NOOOOOOOOOOO!", she hollered and I dropped it. I knew right then and there I'd made a bad choice.

"Come here, Mary-Margaret!". Uh-uh, not with THAT tone in her voice. So I walked away. And she walked after me. I kept going and she kept going. Down the stairs and round and round through the kitchen, the dining room, the living room, the family room, and back through the kitchen again. Finally, I dashed up the stairs and into Mom's office. Sneaky, she is. She CLOSED the doors and came after me. I tried hiding behind her desk but she is a patient stalker. Verrrrrry patient. Finally, she said "Get over here, Mary-Margaret!", and (to be honest) I knew I had it coming. So I walked over and sat in front of her with my head hanging down.

She picked me up and took me right over to "the shoe". And she pointed me right to the now unraveled stitching and said "NO!!" and swatted me on my hiney!. Then she said "Shoe? NO!!" several times over. I know...I know. I'll never do it again. Really I won't. I promise. But she didn't understand me. So I started licking her chin, over and over. Finally she relented and forgave me. She said "NO SHOE!" and then she said "I love you, Mary-Margaret!". I swear...I'll NEVER EVER do that again.

I feel so bad. And it's just before Christmas, which...I might add....would seem more Christmassy if Mom would put up a tree. I think I've made my point though, and I'll probably see one this weekend. I hope so, anyway.

Love, Mary-Margaret

I babysat myself again

Mom had to go to court. So we went to the office and then she took MEEE home while she went to court. What's with that, I ask you? Anyway, so my day was spent mostly just snoozing and stuff. I was good. She said I was, so it must be so. (giggle)

That's it for today.

Licks and wuzzles -

Mary-Margaret

Must be a "Doctor" thing!

  As much as I love my Dr. V there's one thing that drives me nutsy. We make an appointment for a certain time and it doesn't matter if it's my doctor or mom's doctor or the dentist or whatever, but they are absolutely never on time. Here Mom saw that I was getting a bit impatient and wondering where the magazine rack was when she snapped the picture. And no, I don't read. I just look at the pictures.

Love, Mary-Margaret

Buttons and Zipper

   Mom says the only time I hold still is when a camera isn't pointed at me. These are my new friends that I met at Pet Medical Center. We are sooo.... soooo.... how you say.... sympatico??

A Sad Day...Dr. V is Leaving

My everly most FAVORITE doctor in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD is leaving Pet Medical Center and tomorrow is her last day. I needed a bordatella (sp?) vaccine booster anyway so Mom made the appointment for this morning. Good gosh, I'm so glad she did. I would be absolutely devastated if I couldn't give her one last goodbye snuggle. She knows exactly how to talk to us pups. Really, she does. (sniff) I managed to keep control but both Dr. V and Mom got all misty-eyed and hugged each other. Me? I try not to think about it and figure if I don't kiss her goodbye she won't go. Not like THAT has ever worked before but one can hope.

I made two new friends - Buttons and Zipper. Pugs. Really nice pups, too. The three of us just sort of visited quietly together like you'd think we were old buddies or something.

Speaking of buddies. I have to say that it should be obvious to anyone who sees my belly as to whether or not I'm a "fella" or a "guy", but still they refer to me in the masculine. Now, if they'd just ask Mom for my name first they'd KNOW. Like, how many fellas or guys do YOU know named "Mary-Margaret O'Brien"?? Hmmm? But even then, one person still had to ask if I was a boy or a girl. Honestly! And to think some might say that humans are more intelligent than dogs? I hardly think so.

We did a lot of running around this morning. My doctor, mom's doctor (but she didn't go in because she still couldn't find a parking place after about 20 minutes), bank, a few services. It's just crazy out there. Too many people. Mom keeps wishing we lived in a small town again. I told her that it's fine with me if she wants to move to Pennsylvania where there are lots of woods and stuff, but she just looks at me as if she doesn't understand a word I'm saying.

Signing off...Good night and God bless..

Mary-Margaret "Pupperkins" O'Brien

PS: Mom calls me Pupperkins when she's feeling especially lovey-dovey toward me. I kind of like it but only in private.

Monday-Funday!

I helped Mom clean the birdcage (as you can tell) and you think I got a "thank you"?? Hmmmph! NOT!!

Mom left me at home while she went to the doctors. Then she came back and we went to Miss Cathleen's. I got my little paw-di-cure and belly rub with that nice smelling lotion. Then Miss Cathleen took me for a walk. It's a special thing between just the two of us. We really bond during that time, you know?

My heart be still. The CAT Family is back. I think I've seen maybe two or three of them. Don't know where they were. Maybe on vacation? Anyway..ohmygawsh....I had to practically BEG Mom to let me out. I don't think it's what I said as much as HOW I said it. Finally she got her tush out of her chair and opened the slider. By this time I was almost hysterical with excitement. I positively FLEW out of my private door just in time to catch the white and grey cat sitting there, as everly calm as can be, just licking it's paws. I guess it wasn't expecting to see MEEEE!!!

Oh yeah...and the other thing? (hee hee) I...er...well, I had a bit of gas at the office today. Mom was in her office and Sonia was in hers. I tried to be fair and distribute it evenly. Mom wrinkled her nose and said "Oh yuck. Do you smell that?". And Sonia said "I smelled it earlier but I didn't SEE anything". Mom and Sonia hunted all over but I know it's really better to do that kind of stuff outdoors. You know, where you can make a political statement? They can stop looking. I took care of it at home, privately.

OK..that's it for tonight. I get to go see Dr. V in the morning and get a shot. Oh Yay! Now that's something to look forward to - Dr. V, not the shot.

G'night and God Bless -

Mary-Margaret

Me and Santa - Yes, I'm wearing a hat

Oy. Can you believe it? One of Mom's friends, my Aunt Shelly, told Mom the picture with Santa was nice but WHEN am I going to show her me in my little Santa hat? Mom couldn't stop laughing and wrote my Auntie Shelly back to ask if her yorkies came with little pointy red hats on when she got them. Well, here's a picture and I think it's pretty obvious that I am totally into the season, don't you??

Love, Mary-Margaret

Santa and MEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Oh golly. Oh GOSH! We actually went to see SANTA today at PetSmart. Except when we got there, about 2:30PM, he was "having a bite to eat someplace". So we waited. I sat on Mom's knee, upright, just like a BIG girl. I was very good. Very patient. The hardest part was when I met Mac, a half Chesapeake Bay something and half Rottie. Oh gosh, I wanted to play so bad but Mom was afraid I'd get my shirt dirty.

Finally he came back with his "elves", best described as teenaged boys in black t-shirts, trailing after him like the North Pole Mafia. Really nice folks though. I sat on Santa's lap and tried to get comfy. I was in "shock and awe" mode. It wasn't until after my picture was taken that I REALLY appreciated him. Especially his choice of luncheon menu. Did I ever mention that I love Orange Chicken? Mom plopped me back into his lap to tell him what I wanted for Christmas and I made extra brownie points by licking the rest of his lunch off his beard.

Well...that's it for tonight. Good night and God bless..

Mary-Margaret

My Christmas Video from the White House

Barney, my very good friend who lives at the White House, has produced, directed and starred in his very own video for this Christmas. BARNEY'S CHRISTMAS VIDEO Personally, I think he's very charming and would make a good leader. He even has the support of his party and his humans.

Just look for the Barney Cam video and choose Windows Media, RealMedia or QuickTime. Then sit back and enjoy. See? Like I always said, us pups work really hard and it's "people" who take credit for our efforts. Trust me. Things are gonna change.

Love,

Mary-Margaret

My Own Private Retreat

When I was a baby I didn't want to go into my kennel-cage-fort-retreat-whateverrrr and Mom, Miss Lynne and Miss Lois had to put "bait" in it. Like, I'm NOT stupid. I know somethings up when I find my supper dish in the middle of a wire box. So I pretty much ignored it, figuring it was just one of Mom's whims and it would go away.

Finally, it did go away. When Mom cleaned up the house for company at Thanksgiving she carried my "thing" upstairs and put it in her office under the ironing board. Well....the door was open and it's getting chilly outside. I like to be near my Mom when she's working at home. I sniffed it all over, carefully put in one foot, then the other, and started roughing it up to make a nest. Well, whaddya know? It's cozy, comfy and all mine.

I LOVE it!! Amazing how smart Mom gets as I get older.

Mary-Margaret

Showing off my new Grinch-green shirt

I picked it out all by myself. Isn't it absolutely gorgeous? I was so excited to wear clothes again that I was all over the place today. I'd been "au naturale" all summer which is fine, but come winter, I really need clothes. Zippity-do-dah! Yup, that's me. Mom took her camera to work and I gave her the worst time. "Nope. I am not going to smile and you can't MAKE me". I wouldn't even LOOK at her.

When we got upstairs I had to say "Hi" to 'Debbie-across-the-hall'. Dang it. Mom got a fairly decent shot of me and the toe of Debbie's shoe. Debbie and I are really good friends, you know. I say "Hello" to her every day. Sometimes I just cuddle with her. That's what really good friends do without even being asked.

G'night everyone.

Love, Mary-Margaret

Today was my SPA day

Miss Marilyn was just what I needed. I got my shampoo, cut and blow dry. AND I got to play with Bello (the standard poodle) and Charlie (the black pug). Charlie is a girl. She's kinda rough, but I can take it. I especially like the massage part. That's my favorite.

Mom's still got her cold. She even called her doctor yesterday and gave him the number to call during the day, and the one to call at night. So guess which one he calls during the day? Hmmmm? He does the same thing today. She says by the time he gets hold of her she'll not need him any more for one reason or the other. I hope it's because she's all better and not the "other" reason. I'd miss her lots, you know.

I didn't throw up once today. Which is good news. Yesterday I did it twice. Sonia cleaned it up once and Mom had to do it the last time. Sonia announced that I had done it, then mentioned it again. So Mom asked her if she was going to take care of it or was Mom supposed to. She said "You can!", so Mom did. Must be Christmas excitement? Don't think I ate anything. Was sucking on a big paper clip for a while, but that's it. Until Mom took it away. (spoilsport!)

Love, Mary-Margaret

What Sarabi shared about Santa Claus

Mom's still snorfeling and barking so I decided to do something nice for her and help HER out, for today anyway. Sarabi sent me this really nice story about Santa Claus and what he stands for. I hope you like it. I thinks it's a really true story.

Christmas Spirit

I remember my first Christmas adventure with
Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing
across town on my bike to visit her on the day
my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no
Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know
that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had
been. I fled to her that day because I knew she
would be straight with me. I knew Grandma
always told the truth, and I knew that the truth
always went down a whole lot easier when
swallowed with one of her "world-famous"
cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous,
because Grandma said so.

It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still
warm. Between bites, I told her everything.
She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?"
She snorted...."Ridiculous! Don't believe it.
That rumor has been going around for years,
and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put
on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't
even finished my second world-famous
cinnamon bun.

"Where" turned out to be Kerby's General
Store, the one store in town that had a little
bit of just about everything. As we walked
through its doors, Grandma handed me ten
dollars.

That was a bundle in those days. "Take this
money," she said, "and buy something for
someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in
the car. "Then she turned and walked out of
Kerby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone
shopping with my mother, but never had I
shopped for anything all by myself.

The store seemed big and crowded, full of
people scrambling to finish their Christmas
shopping. For a few moments I just stood
there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar
bill, wondering what to buy, and who on
earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody
I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors,
the kids at school, and the people who went
to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I
suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was
a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and
he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's
second grade class.

Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew
that because he never went out to recess
during the winter. His mother always wrote
a note, telling the teacher that he had a
cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby
Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have
a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill
with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby
Decker a coat!

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a
hood to it. It looked real warm, and he
would like that.

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?"
the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as
I laid my ten dollars down.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It 's for
Bobby."

The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her
about how Bobby really needed a good winter
coat. I didn't get any change, but she put
the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished
me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the
coat in Christmas paper and ribbons and
wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it(a
little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma
tucked it in her Bible). Grandma said that
Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she
drove me over to Bobby Decker's house,
explaining as we went that I was now and
forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from
Bobby's house, and she and I crept
noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his
front walk.

Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right,
Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front
door, threw the present down on his step,
pounded his door and flew back to the
safety of the bushes and Grandma.

Together we waited breathlessly in the
darkness for the front door to open. Finally
it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of
those moments spent shivering, beside my
Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes.

That night, I realized that those awful
rumors about Santa Claus were just what
Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa
was alive and well, and we were on his team.
I still have the Bible, with the coat tag
tucked inside: $19.95.

May you always have LOVE to share. And
may you always believe in the magic of
Santa Claus

Love, Mary-Margaret

Checking in!

Hi. It's me...Mary-Margaret. Mom's taking the night off. She's got something called a "cold" which makes her all stuffy and cranky. The way she's coughing, if I were in charge, I'd take her to see Dr. V and get her a shot to make her feel better. She did call her doctor but he's very busy and so far he hasn't called back. Another reason she should go to Pet Medical Center. They take such good care of me, I'm sure they'd be happy to put HER in a kennel overnight if they thought it would help.

I'd even loan her my teddy bear. :o)

Love, Mary-Margaret

PS - Get better, Mom. This typing is SOOOO hard without thumbs.

I can smell CHRISTMAS

Christmas has a whole pallet full of smells. Pine, cinnamon, peppermint. Stuff I love. Firewood, cookies, scotch tape. I LOVE Christmas. I've been very VERY good. No way I'm going to tick off a man who drives flying reindeer over my back yard. I had enough of a problem with "presents" left by the cats, and with MY luck.....oh, but I digress. I love to go out and sniff the season. Anyway, I ask to go out. Sometimes nicely, and sometimes I have to bark my head off to get any attention at all. Like tonight...I stood next to Mom's chair and barked. I got ignored. Tried again. Same thing.

Then, I added a little dance, and really used my BIG voice. That worked. She got up and told me "OK...but only if you PROMISE to come in when I call". Yeah, sure...anything. Just let me OUT. So I go and say hello to the neighbors, the cats (if they're still there) and anyone else who will listen. I piddle around for a bit and then come back. I really AM a good pup, but I DON'T like being BOSSED around. REALLY I DON'T. But if someone asks me really nicely with a "please", I'm ok.

Mom says she wants to play bridge so I'm to quit bugging her. It's ok. Been a long day.

G'night all.

Love, Mary-Margaret

Shopping with Mom.....arrrrgh!

Mom shoulda just stayed in bed, if you ask me. She had a cold. But NOOOOO! First, she goes and serves a tough paper. Oh yay! Then she remembers I have a gift card to Petsmart from Sarabi (Thank you, Sarabi) and thinks now would be the time to get a(and I quote) "Cute little Christmassy t-shirt". Ok...I can handle that one. Until she passes the Antler and Santa hat rack. I held my breath and then got distracted by someone's pet chicken, of all things. I'll get back to the chicken.

We're standing by the cutesy poo hat rack and I think (for the moment only) "Saved by the chicken!". But NOOOOO! "Oh LOOOOOK, Mary-Margaret. Wouldn't you like a Santa hat?". She asks me but she doesn't hear my answer. I was adamant in my "No Way!". She tries a cute little red t-shirt on me that I picked out myself. Perfect fit. I select another in green - another perfect fit. I am a size small, should you be wondering for any particular reason, maybe. THEN she says "Hold still for a sec....I want to see how THIS looks on you!".

ARRRRRGGGHHH. Even the chicken seemed surprised. There I am, looking a bit like a 7.2 pound Grinchette in my little red t-shirt and my (sigh) "over the ears with a velcro strap under the chin" Santa hat. I was mortified. I sat very still. She decided I must like it and I should wear it while we shopped. I sat still all right. But more so the silly thing wouldn't fall over my eyes and blind me. After all, what if she found another rack of goodies when I couldn't see? I suppose it could have been worse. How do you think I'd look with antlers on?

Back to the chicken. It was actually a pet hen, with red brown feathers. They don't discriminate in Petsmart, I guess. Mom talked to her owner who informed us that Frances the Chicken was one of 18 laying hens and they lived on a ranch. Frances was very tame and would Mom like to pet her? Mom backed up a couple of steps and mumbled something about allergies. Eventually she caved in and petted Frances. Very soft, she said. So now I have a friend who is related to my dinner. Guess how that makes me feel? HMMMMMMM??

OK...that guilt lasted until we got home and I smelled supper. It wasn't Frances, and that's what I care about. I don't EAT my friends.

Movie day - I watched "Over the Hedge" and "Eight Below". Between the two I liked "Eight Below" the best. Really inspirational, it was. Showed the bond between a pack and their humans. I was feeling rather tearful at the end until Mom looked at me with a wicked gleam in her eye and suggested I might be interested in being a sled dog in the Antarctic? I've got to start spending more time training her, I guess. She is getting older, you know, and you know what they say about old dogs. I imagine it applies to old humans, too.

Love and good night,

Mary-Margaret

PS - Petsmart is having pictures taken with Santa next weekend. I'm expected to wear my red t-shirt and my Santa hat. Can you hear the joy in my voice?

How to Blog with a Dog

It's time to do the blog, Mom.
Let's see....what shall I write about today? So much to say...so little time.
Oh, I know. The Piddle Pad vs Grass debate. Which is favored among small dogs in the winter? I have a lot to say on that topic.
Er....Mom? You awake? Come on.....we're just about done. Look...if you're getting too tired, you could always post Sarabi's letter.
Just post it, Mom. You're NOT paying attention. Let's just do the letter and call it a day, ok?

Thanks for the help, Mom. Love ya...

Mary-Margaret

Peanut Daniel in Christmas Dress

A letter from Sarabi

My dear Best Friend Forever (BFF), Sarabi from Illinois, wrote me today. She sounds so sad. We'd been discussing the virtues of piddle pads vs grass. I mentioned that I go both ways...literally. And don't try to make some stupid human joke out of that. I really do! I go on the grass when it's nice out and on piddle pads when it's nasty, icy cold or otherwise inconvenient. Here's Sarabi's letter to me (I hope she doesn't mind me posting it, but us pups have our problems, too, you know!):

"Well I think it's a bit late to teach 'an old dog new tricks' don't you? (about the piddle pads I mean). Anyway it's been very challenging. When the snow finally ended (leaving us with about 10 inches) the real trouble began. Mum and I went for our usual walk @ 2pm which is when I usually do my 'serious' business. What a disaster! I NEED grass, not a concrete sidewalk. There was no grass to be found and not much concrete either, so I decided not to go at all. Mum was NOT happy, but she's not the one that has to think about squatting in the cold on the hard concrete, now is she?

Dad shovelled a spot for me in the backyard, but to my mind it was only enough for my other business. By 8pm Mum could tell I was bursting at the seems, so she was kind enough to get dressed again (she was already in her pjs) and take me out for another walk. It took me a while, but in the end, I just had to give in and use the concrete. I suppose I will have to go through all of this again today, so think about me, will you?

Your Cold Piddle Padless Pal,
Sarabi

Humans are always making fun of us, acting like we have no cares or problems at all. Well, HELLOOOOOOOO? We do too! A dog's life, indeed!

Love, Mary-Margaret

Dear Diary - Didn't forget you.

I've had a long week. Can barely keep my eyes open. Mom put on "The Polar Express" for me and I keep dozing off even though it's pretty interesting. I'll write more tomorrow. Mom has a seminar most of the day and I don't know what she's planning on doing about MEEEEEE. Although...I DO believe I'm old enough to babysit myself. I think, don't you?

Today, she even dropped me off at my Auntie Linda's office while she went to Starbucks. I tried to be brave but failed miserably. I sat by the door looking out the window crying almost the whole time. I've got to get a grip. REALLY I do.

Love,

Mary-Margaret