Who smells like a dog now?

Not meeeeee. I got a shower this morning. Yup! Shampoo two times AND a cream rinse. And blow dried. I tell YOUUUU. I've never been so insulted in my whole life as to have TWO people that I really love tell me I smelled like a dog. Well, HELLO WORLD! Today I smell like Dove cream rinse conditioner. Woo hoo!

And I had company again. A lady came in with two little boys, maybe 6 and 4 years old? And we had everly so much fun just hanging out. They BOTH scritched my tummy and gave me belly rubs.

And Gianna came back. She had been eating some candy. It smelled pretty good to me but all I got to lick was the leftovers on her hand. Still....peppermint, I think. Was very tasty.

I got left alone again. This time so Mom could go and get fingerprinted at the police station for her Pennsylvania license. Ick. That stuff really sticks to your fingers. She told me she felt like she looked as if she'd been working on cars all day. If you knew my mom, you'd know she'd NEVER know what to do with a car if it didn't behave. It wasn't too bad this time. Jennifer took me out and we had a good time.

Then when we got home for dinner our neighbors from across the street came to visit. The youngest kid, Jordan, and me really hit it off big time. He even came over later to get something from Mom and stayed to play awhile. There was a while there that I was flat on my back in the middle of the street in absolute HEAVEN while he was giving me a belly rub. MMmmm-mmmm-mmmm! YEAH!

OK...bedtime for me. G'night everybody.

Mary-Margaret

I had COMPANY

Gianna came to visit me. She's Mr Bender's paralegal Melissa's daughter and she's three. I was really having a good time with her. I sat, laid down, stayed....all for Gianna. OK...for Gianna AND a Cheese/Egg Charlie Bear. I'd forgotten that Mom stowed them away for me. Gianna can come back any time she wants. She's fun.
Here's my Aunt Rose's Uncle Joe and Aunt Susie. They used to work for Mom but then they retired to Colorado. They said that working for Mom wasn't like working at all. It was more like having fun. I was a bit shy at first but they're pretty easy to warm up to. Did you know that they babysat my Aunt Rose when Mom would go out of town? I can see why Aunt Rose was so in love with them.
This is a pretty good group shot, I think. The only downside to their visit was this. Being hornswoggled. I should have known something was up when right in the middle of my visit with them Mom asked Jennifer to take me out. Then she asked Joe and Susie where their car was parked (in the back, they said), and THEN she told Jennifer to take me around the corner. So big surprise when I got back and Mom was gone. (sigh)

Oh, it was ok. I had a really good time with Jennifer and Mom's starting to go out more on her own. Maybe it's time I started to let her out once in a while so she can gain more confidence to be without me for a short period of time. Yup. She needs a little shove out of our nest, I think. She's way too attached to me. Really, she is. I....I......(sniffle)....(sob)......will be brave! For her sake.

Love, Mary-Margaret

What happened today!

First off, woke up and went out to do my usual thing
Second, napped
Third, went to bank and visited with the tellers. They all know my name now.
Fourth, went to work and told Jennifer it was time for me to go out again. She said "In a minute" (she's starting to sound like Mom), and then Debi came in. You know, Star's mom? Anyway, I started bugging her and she made the mistake of opening the door to the office. Whoooooooooooooooooooosh! Out I go, lickety-split. Wheeee...here comes Fidel, through the double doors. This is fun. We all walk into the office together. I like palling around with my co-workers.

Debi ended up taking me out. She's cool. She doesn't hurry me. So then she leaves, and Fidel starts talking to Mom. He has the NERVE to tell her I need a bath. Well, for YOUR information MISTER, I just had one on Saturday. He says I smell like a dog. Er....and that's bad because .....??? Besides, I really don't. Every body stuck up for me so he started talking about something else. He's Jami's grandfather and I'll bet he doesn't talk like that to Jami.

Then I had another nap. Lots of work came in so Mom, Sonia and Jennifer were pretty busy. Mary-Ann "from-down-the-hall" came to see me and said I looked depressed. Not really, I tried to tell her. I was just tired from all this excitement. I came out into the outer office and tried to make up to her.

We didn't leave until 6:30. I was getting pretty mad at Mom and even stood up and started scratching at her inner thighs which I know really hurts. She says stuff like "Cut it out, Mary-Margaret", but once I get her attention I know we'll be going home really quick.

That's it. That's all for today. Can't wait for my vacation.

Love, Mary-Margaret

The Dog Dictionary by Arthur Unohn

Dog Dictionary

(With thanks to Blossom, Max, Maggie & Scooter for sharing! )

LEASH: A strap which attaches to your collar, enabling you to lead your person where you want him/her to go.

DOG BED: Any soft, clean surface, such as the white bedspread in the guest room or the newly upholstered couch in the living room.

DROOL: What to do when your persons have food and you don't. To do this properly you must sit as close as you can and look sad and let the drool fall to the floor or, better yet, on their laps.

SNIFF: A social custom to use when you greet other dogs. Place your nose as close as you can to the other dog's rear end and inhale deeply. Repeat several times, or until your person makes you stop.

GARBAGE CAN: A container which your neighbors put out once a week to test your ingenuity. You must stand on your hind legs and try to push the lid off with your nose. If you do it right you are rewarded with margarine wrappers to shred, beef bones to consume and moldy crusts of bread.

BICYCLES: Two-wheeled exercise machines, invented for dogs to control body fat. To get maximum aerobic benefit, you must hide behind a bush and dash out, bark loudly and run alongside for a few yards; the person then swerves and falls into the bushes, and you prance away.

DEAFNESS: A malady which affects a dog when its person wants it in and the dog wants to stay out. Symptoms include staring blankly at the person, then running in the opposite direction, or lying down.

THUNDER: A signal that the world is coming to an end. Humans remain amazingly calm during thunderstorms, so it is necessary to warn them of the danger by trembling uncontrollably, panting, rolling your eyes wildly, and following at their heels.

WASTEBASKET: A dog toy filled with paper, envelopes, and old candy wrappers. When you get bored, turn over the basket and strew the papers all over the house until your person comes home.

SOFAS: Are to dogs like napkins are to people. After eating it is polite to run up and down the front of the sofa and wipe your whiskers clean.

BATH: A process by which the humans drench the floor, walls and themselves. You can help by shaking vigorously and frequently.

LEAN: Every good dog's response to the command "sit!" -- especially if your person is dressed for an evening out. Incredibly effective before black-tie events.

BUMP: The best way to get your human's attention when they are drinking a fresh cup of coffee or tea.

GOOSE BUMP: A last-resort maneuver used when the Regular Bump doesn't get the attention you require. Especially effective when combined with The Sniff (see above).

LOVE: A feeling of intense affection, given freely and without restriction. To show your love, wag your tail and gaze adoringly. If you're lucky, a human will love you in return.

Author Unknown

Mr. Marilyn and the Car Wash

Our car was pretty dirty what with going 4-wheeling and all. And it's black so it shows the dust like a chalk board. Anyway, we get to the car wash and go sit on one of the benches at a cement table. Just sitting, waiting, watching.....dee dee dum. And whoops....I stand up and point! "Look MOM..THERE'S OUR CAR!". She was really surprised that I knew which one belonged to us. But I did.

Then a man came over to talk to me. He told Mom he really liked small dogs, and then he said his wife was a groomer. Oh, I KNEW he smelled familiar. He was Miss Marilyn's husband, Wayne. We never actually met face to muzzle, but he knew who I was, too. He's everly so nice. I gave him lots of kisses and we visited while the car wash people polished our car.

Later in the day we went to Miss Cathleen's for my monthly belly rub and paw softening. She knows exactly what I like. I nap while she does stuff to Mom, and then she takes me on the most wonderful walk, just me and Miss Cathleen. Today we walked REALLY far, up the street, to the mailboxes, down the street. And I met some little boys and we visited for a bit.

After supper the cats came by so I spent some time by the back fence just chatting. You know how we are. Had to find out what's happening in the neighborhood.

It was a very good day. I love my life!

Mary-Margaret

Playing "Chicken"!

The Yorkie Mom's group decided to say a word and get our reaction on camera. One lady used the word "eat" and got a variety of responsese from her brood of three. Mom tried "eat" on me and I just walked away. Like.....get a life, you know?

Then she hit me with "Chicken" and "Supper". After saying my everly most favorite words in the whole world (aside from "Cat"), and NOT giving me anything yummy, I figured out this was a little game. How RUDE, I decided. I think my look pretty much says it all, but if I can get the address for the local AFL (Animal Fairness League), our Union, I may just dash off a grievance letter.

And....thinking about it now...I might also mention how I've been working for NO wages since I was nine weeks old. Benefits...sure. I get those. Room, board, medical, social activities. But my savings account is non-existent. And what about retirement? Hmmmmmmmmmm?

Happy Monday!

Mary-Margaret "Norma Rae" O'Brien

Not in my Job Description!!

Mom thought she was out of space on her flash card or she would have taken more video right up to when I got the package open. She did get a picture. though. Hey....like I said....I open 'em, I don't install 'em. It's a union thing.

MMOB

Assistant Mail Room Clerk - Job Description

First off, one must receive mail. Here is my favorite UPS person in the WHOLE world. We have a special bond. She delivers, and I open.


Job Requirements: Must be intelligent, creative, diligent and possess sharp teeth. (BTW - that's Pam calling me "Honey" in the background. I just LOVE her so!)


One must be tenacious and not give up no matter HOW hard the job is.



I guess you might even say I really get my teeth into a project:


But any job worth doing is a job worth doing well.

OK. Box open. My job is done. It's a feeder tray for the Canon copier, and my job description doesn't include installation....yet!

Scuttlebut has it I'm in line for a promotion to Assistant Shredder in the Data Disposition Department. Think I'd do a good job? Always looking to advance in my career.

Am exhausted tonight and now you know why.

Love, Mary-Margaret
Receptionist and Mail Clerk

Grampapa's Chicken Soup

I told all my friends about my Grampapa and my Grandma, and how Grampapa makes chicken soup and it's really good. Now here's the recipe:

Chicken - Thighs and legs only. Not a whole chicken. (1 package from market - 6 legs and thighs - maybe 3 1/2 plus pounds)

8 cups of water
1/2 of a sweet Texas Onion diced (not a sharp flavor - more mild)
1 Tbsp salt
1 tsp nutmeg

Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for an hour.

Remove all meat and skin (draining the whole pot through a collander is best). Let it cool, then skim all the fat off as it hardens. Heat the broth back up and enjoy.

There you are. This will keep you young a very long time just like my Grandma and my Grandpapa. I figure they have at least another 20 good years left on their warranty.

PS - Grandma called yesterday and said the meat would be good in sandwiches if you want to keep that instead of throwing it away.

Love, Mary-Margaret

My good friends, Ozzie & Jennifer

When I got to work this morning I sort of ambled up the ramp, sniffing here...sniffing there...just enjoying the morning. "GGGGRRRRRRRUUUFFF!" and whoops, I run smack into Ozzie, the building owner's dog....er....his mother's dog, actually. I've known Ozzie ever since he was a baby. Gosh, I even mentored him in Puppy School when he was half my size. He's a good sized coal black French Bulldog now. His disposition could improve but he's been through a lot..you know, back problems from when he was boarded someplace I won't mention where. Seventeen days in a hospital will do that to you.

I let him sniff me while I sorta hid behind Mom. His mom and my mom started chatting and you know how ladies are. Yakity yakity....and pretty soon, me 'n Ozzie were just sitting there, side by side, letting the breeze pass over us while we caught whatever smells we could. Ozzie's really a good guy. He just forgot who I was for a bit, I guess. I don't ask for much. Just a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Hey, that would make a good song, dontcha think?

Later on in the day, Zeus and I spent a couple of moments together, and I met a few more people here and there. One man came into our office in sort of a somber mood but I made sure he was smiling before he left.

I have to tell you that I just LOVE Jennifer everly so much. Now, if I want to go out all I have to do is tell her and she just KNOWS what I am saying. And the best part is, she doesn't rush me. Too bad she's going back to college in August. But Star's mom..well, grandma actually, but Debi is more like a Mom to Star, I think. Anyway, Debi is coming to work in the office, so that'll be a good thing. She likes me and takes me for walks, too. Maybe Star can come to work sometimes, too? Maybe?

I mean, do I have it made or what?

That's all for now. Mom's got a case of really bad stress so her tummy is bothering her. I know she tries to do a good job for her clients and if there's something they need to know, especially if it's bad news, she takes it pretty hard herself. She's really looking forward to her "vacation" in a couple of weeks. She says she needs it BAD!

Love, Mary-Margaret

PS - I'll see if I can get Mom to take more pictures. She says she's working every conscious moment and doesn't have time for pictures. I'll work on her.

The Grey Kitty Visits

Grey Kitty hasn't been around for a bit. The only one I've seen lately is that "Paint Pot" kitty. So you can imagine my surprise when I glanced out the window and saw Grey Kitty standing right outside looking in. "HEYYY!! THIS IS MY PATIO and you weren't invited", I said. He didn't even blink. Have you ever noticed how cats just plain don't care if they're trespassing, and ignore you when you ask them nicely to leave?

So I "grrrrr'd" even louder, with more "oomph" (if you will) and it still ignored me. "All right", I said to myself. "This WILL stop". So I hopped off the back of Mom's chair, landed square in the middle of her stomach (which gave me additional lift off) and bounced, up and over the chair arm, and onto the floor. Mom said "Ooof!", and while she was catching her breath, I went over to the slider window and gave that cat a piece of my mind.

OK....maybe I was a bit out of sorts, but good gosh! You don't just disappear from someone's life and "poof", show up again weeks later without so much as a post card.
And I admit I got pretty excited, and I sort of hyperventilated to the point that I got picked up and told, quite firmly, "ENOUGH, Mary-Margaret".

As I was being carried upstairs, still rather agitated, I looked over and Grey Kitty was staring at me through the window. Nothing ever seems to bother these cats. Still....I like to think they missed me. And I'm actually glad they're back, but don't tell them. I kind of like the games we play.

I have to go to bed now. I'll look for them again tomorrow. Maybe we can play tag again.

Love, Mary-Margaret

Happy Father's Day, Dandy Agustus Bush!!

Today is the big day. I don't remember my birth father but I am sending him love anyway. It's too bad, too, because I would have been extra kind to him today and given him lots of puppy licks. Instead, my mom has been both mother AND father to me since I was adopted, so I think I'll celebrate this day with her, too!
This is my friend Lucie from Venezuela. She and her mom do a lot of charity work and take food and joy to places where older humans live. She is a good will ambassador for us Yorkies, and she's very much loved by all. Did you know that she was born in Missouri, too? Maybe we are related?

Have a great day!

Love, Mary-Margaret

Over the river and through the woods...

...to Grampapa's house we gooooo!! And Grandma. And it sure took a long long time to get there. Mom told me it used to take maybe one and a half hours, but now that all those people moved to Temecula and places nearby, it takes THREE hours to go 95 miles. Doesn't bother me much. I sleep if I get bored. Mostly I say "Hello!" to the other drivers.

I felt pretty special today. I got to go in my very first lah-ti-dah sit down restaurant. Oh, sure, the manager came by and said something like "Does THAT belong to you"? to my mom. But she's quick. She said "Yes...and she's A.D.A." and he said "Oh, OK. Enjoy your lunch". So she did and I was VERY good and everybody said so. I got a couple of garlic croutons to nibble on but I really wasn't hungry. I just wanted to feel like I was part of the party.

My older human sister, Melissa, was there and she's everly so nice. She's in town to go to a wedding so she was able to drop by and join us. We ate at the Enterprise Fish Company in Santa Monica. I highly recommend it. Especially that waiter, Donnie. He's also an actor and a scriptwriter and Mom thinks he's going to do very well. Personally, I think she liked being called "Miss" instead of "Ma'am".

Melissa left to go back to her Uncle Tip's house, and the rest of us went back to Grandma and Grampapa's place. Douglas, the concierge, came out to meet me (I thought) but then he did the "We dont allow dogs in here" thing again. Mom says "She's ADA" and I thought he was going to choke. But he went in and got her a parking pass so they wouldn't tow our car away. I could see him peeking at me out of the corner of his eye. He's not particularly friendly. Then went upstairs for some refreshment. Me and Mom both gave Grampapa cards, and a box of assorted chocolates. He seemed to enjoy them so far.


There's a pretty nifty pillow on top of a.....a....maybe it's a footstool? I thought it everly so comfortable and I even fell asleep for a bit while Mom was showing Grandma some stuff on the computer. When it was 5:00 o'clock I told Mom. You know...like I usually do. So Grandma and Grampapa finally believe that I can tell time, I think. WELL, YES I DO!! AND without a watch, even.

(Here's me waiting by the door to go home!)

So we left to go home and got home maybe 8:00 o'clock? THREE HOURS. Can't understand why people call them "Freeways". Maybe that's another human joke? UN-believable!! I had a late dinner and then we went upstairs. Mom didn't feel like dinner so she ate the rest of her carrot cake from lunch with a glass of milk. Then we blogged, and now we're going to bed.

Tomorrow is Father's Day. I will think really hard about my birth father in Missouri and hope that, wherever he is, he'll feel the love.

From my heart...

Mary-Margaret

TGIF

I've had better days, I tell you. Sonia wasn't thrilled with me this morning, suffice to say. I had a little faux pas last night before we left and I guess Mom didn't notice. Neither did Sonia until she'd tracked it from the work room into the outer office. I am SOOOOO humiliated. I don't know what's the matter with me. Well, that's not true. I DO talk and tell people but they are so busy they don't listen. What was I SUPPOSED to do, hmmmmmmm?

Anyway, I'm not Mom's favorite person right now, either, but we always make up. I'm not too worried about it. She knows I'm a good girl most of the time. But I threw up twice yesterday, too, so maybe it was a little "boog" or something.

Dear Diary, I really REALLY need to get a hold of myself and make my wishes known. I can't be held responsible for these things, and I feel TERRIBLE. REALLY, I do.

I'm going to bed now.

G'night!

Mary-Margaret

Neighborhood Watch

I am an important part of the local Neighborhood Watch Committee. My shift is usually just after dinner for an hour or so. I take my post by the window and immediately report any strange sightings. Today there was a giant 18-wheeler going up our street pulling a huge trailer behind it. Mom says that rigs like that sometimes carry rocket ships. Not that I'd know what a "rocket ship" is being a modern dog and all. "Space Shuttle" maybe, but "rocket ship"? Mom says I'm too young to remember "Space Patrol" with Captain Buzz Corbett and his sidekick, Happy!

Hmmnnph...well, moving along here.

If something really weird goes by, or someone I don't know comes sniffing on MY lawn, I turn on the alarm and let everyone within earshot know about it. There's a Shih Tzu who lives a couple of doors down the street that visits sometimes. He really seems to like MY front lawn even over his own. The last time he was here we were just driving into our driveway. His mom suddenly scurried him home, and my mom almost stepped in the reason why. She was pretty incensed and it took a lot of puppy licks to keep her from delivering a handful of baggies to the impolite lady accompanying that dog. I just told Mom to take a deep breath and count to ten, and NEXT time we'd both go deliver the baggies. Besides, I wanted to speak to him about his diet. It looked and smelled to MEEEE like he was getting the cheap store bought kibble. Very loose consistency and unhealthy color. Tsk. Poor guy.

Are you part of YOUR Neighborhood Watch Committee? Keep America and your front lawn safe!!

Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain
Yorkie Brigade

My Chat Box

Mom just put it in for us so we can talk to each other...sort of, anyway. Scroll down on the right hand side of my blog. Enter your name, and your url or email address, and write me a message. And I'll answer you. Isn't that way kewl??

MMOB

More Pressies for MEEEEEE

Auntie Sonia came back from her vacation and ... OHMYGAWSH ...there was a bag for MEEEE, with a present in it. She and Mom gave me the bag and I had the everly best time opening it. I even let my stuffed piggy help.
Whoopeeeeee. WOW. Just what I always WANTED. A plastic hanger. FOR MEEEE?
Oh, I played and played and then Mom said "Mary-Margaret? Don't you want to see what's INSIDE the bag"? Huh? I said?

And guess what!! WOO HOO! Tell me I am soooo well dressed. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I wore it all day, even to the dentist's office.

Yup. We went to the dentist again. This time I visited around a bit and then took a tiny nap on Mom's tummy while Doctor was fussing around in her mouth. He gave her a mirror to see what he was doing. Then when he left, I got to see. Mom is silly. She kept singing "I feel pretty....Oh so pretty" while I was checking myself out.

No surprises. I'm still the same old me. But I have to admit that my new hair-do is awfully complimentary to my cheekbones.

Lots of love to everyone and may you all get pressies from your family and friends, too.

Mary-Margaret

Funday Monday!

Boy, I shouldn't be so worried. Today was actually a GOOD day. First off, Jennifer comes in with a present for MEEEEE! Whoopee! Her mom, Mrs. Lillard, crocheted me my very own blankie in my most favorite colors - pink and purple. HOWEVER did she KNOW? Thank you SOOOOO much, Mrs. Lillard. It's BEEYOOOTIFULLL!


I loved it everly so much that even wanted my blankie to be in the reception area so Mom let me have it there. Jennifer is so nice to me. She even LISTENS to me when I say I have to go O-U-T (Unlike some people I could mention but I won't because I'm too polite.)


We worked a long day today. I started "hinting" to go home a bit after 5:00PM. I started TELLING Mom to GO HOME maybe about 6:00, and about 15 minutes later I took some drastic measures. I figure she listens to people who are clients and she can see them eye to eye. So I jumped up into the client chair and sat straight up and very politely told her to wrap it up. She kept saying "In a minute, Mary-Margaret!", and "Okay..okay..hang on!" and one time she even said "WILL YOU SHUSH UP?", but I figured I was at least getting some attention. So I kept "talking" to her until she said "Fine. You WIN, Mary-Margaret! Want to go home"?

Er...what is it about "rrr..arroo...arruff" that you don't understand? HMMMMMMM??)

Love, Mary-Margaret

I'm allergic to Mondays

...(YAWWWWWN). Ugh....so hard to get up after a weekend. I woke up with a rash on my tummy. Mom says it looks like "hives" and it will probably go away. I guess some kids get allergies this time of year. Some of my friends start losing hair, or itching a lot. My "hives" don't itch, but they sure look funny. If I have them again tomorrow, I'll send you a picture. Like....I'm sure you all want to see my hives, right? Yeah...sure you do, but you know my mom.

Love, MMOB

Me...Snoring!

Sorry. My mom wanted to see if this would work. Why couldn't she focus on an ant hill or something? Sheesh! (Hope I don't put you to sleep!)

MMOB

My Treasure, Mom's Trash!

I like to hunt. Sometimes I find stuff that looks or smells or tastes pretty good. Mom's getting used to me, generally speaking...like when it comes to snails or buggies. But when I brought in a dried, dead bird with no eyes for her today and lay it very nicely at her feet, she shrieked. Then she said "Ugh...ick...ack....blegh!", and THEN she picked it up with a paper towel and put it in the trash. And then I got lectured.

"NO DEAD THINGS, Mary-Margaret!", and the rest of the speech sounded a bit like "blah blah blah", but I got the drift. AND she closed up my personal door for a while. Well at least it wasn't a ghost squirrel like Ivy found in HER breeze hole vents.

To my way of thinking, the bird wasn't feeling well at all and I thought maybe my mom could fix it. I'm not sure what SHE thought, but I got my mouth checked out and she made sure there was nothing in there that I could chew on.

Later she went outside with me to check for birds and nests and things like that. I tell YOUUU! Our back yard is full of good stuff, with new shipments coming in all the time.

Ta ta...

Mary-Margaret

The NEWLY beautified me!

First thing I do when I get to the office is check for "business cards". This particular bush is one of my favorites. Apparently, others share my affection for this spot as well. This is my "before" picture taken on Thursday.


AFTER: Friday (yesterday) I got my hair and nails done at Miss Marilyn's day spa for puppies. She calls it "Prime Cuts" but that reminds me of the butcher counter at Albertson's more than a relaxing day getting beautified. So to me, it's my day spa and a social affair. I told you about Caeser. There's also Chelsea, Charlie, and....Chutney? Can't remember all their names, and a couple ...Jackson and...oh gosh, what WAS her name? And Bello. We all had a great time.
See my haircut? Isn't it great? Perfect for summer sniffathons. Don't worry so much about foxtails and burrs this way. One good shake and I'm good as new.
This is my favorite picture. I like the way the lighting shows off my new "do".

Gotta go. Time for my Saturday nap, and then maybe back to the office to check our drop box and the mail. Have a great weekend.

Love, Mary-Margaret

Freaky Friday!

Like...yeah? Sonia is gone to Mall of America in Minneapolis. She's got the heart of a professional shopper, I tell you. That's gonna be some walking, you know. But she practices every day for maybe 3 miles. She walks more than I do, which...by the way....(ahem)...Mom? Remember we're supposed to exercise? Oh...shoot, she's glaring at me.

OK, next subject. We went to Office Depot on the way to work and saw Jaime. He's the nice man that helps us with printers and things. Sonia's printer kept giving her error messages so we were getting a new printer. It wouldn't load up properly. Then Jennifer got there and she took over. She called Brother and they said maybe it was defective. She took it back and got another. It didn't work either. Jennifer took the second one back and got our money back AND...ta daaaaa....!! Sonia's old printer is NOW working just fine. It's a computer thing. Mom thinks they're part of a terrorist plot.

Oh yeah...and I threw up really big right in the middle of the floor in the reception area. Mom cleaned it up. Considering the printer problem, this was just like taking a little break, she said. After it was cleaned up I fished the paper towels out of the trash and took them back, and put them right in the middle of the office. Well, when somebody tosses that much gunk out, you want to show it off. You know? Debbie-across-the-hall came in and asked if I was feeling poorly. Mom didn't know about the paper towels and was wondering how she knew? (hee hee) Maybe an hour later she saw what I did and scowled at me.

Then it was time for me to go see Miss Marilyn. Remember? My personal stylist? I get there and she says (rather rudely, I thought) "She's getting a lot bigger, isn't she"? Well, my goodness, that was NOT nice, but at least my mom said she didn't think so. Miss Marilyn gave me my bath, manicure and pawdicure, massage, and there were pups to play with all after noon, like Caesar (who was pretty attentive to me and got swatted for it). Also, I hadn't gotten bigger at all. I was all hair. Now I've got my new summer cut and I'm everly so happy. Even the ladies at the bank complimented me and let me sit on the counter back where their computers are. I was so happy and felt so good about myself that I didn't want to leave....until Mom mentioned "supper". That always works.

We took some pictures. I don't think anyone around here has the energy to post them tonight. Maybe tomorrow?

Have a great weekend.

Love, Mary-Margaret

Paint Pot Kitty

When we were backing out of the garage, I saw it. It was ambling across the street in my direction. I made such a fuss. Mom started looking all over. "Where?, Mary-Margaret!" "What IS it?", she'd say.

I kept up my vigilence in the hopes that she'd finally see what upset me so much. Well, what do you know? Hallelujah! At last she looks over and there is MY cat. The one that's sort of white and looks like it's been dipped in brown and black paint pots? Yup. There is is. In MY side yard. Just staring at something in the bush. In MY bush.

The thing that bothers me so much is that it just ignores me. That is one thing that really REALLY makes me mad: Being ignored by a CAT! I feel so small....so useless.....so impotent. Mom parked in the middle of the street and got out her camera. Oh, HELLLO? I said. It works better if you have the Compactflash Card in your camera, you silly woman. She said "Huh? Darn...left the flash card in the computer". So she gets out the cell phone, plugs it in to the 12-volt on the dash and the CAT STILL DOESN'T EVEN LOOK AT ME.

I am barking until I'm red in the face. Mom finally gets her act together and see? SEE? What did I tell you? The CAT...my CAT...the one who makes me nutsy...is still ignoring me. Now you can see that I'm telling you the truth. See why I like squirrels better? At least THEY pay attention to me.

The rest of the day got a bit better. Mrs. Lillard and her daughter, Jennifer, dropped by. I think I'm going to like Jennifer. I just hope she likes working with me and my mom. We'll find out on Friday, I think.

Love,

Mary-Margaret

My friend, Shirley!

Shirley lives on the slope going down to the creek. She skitters about from place to place. She's one of my friends that doesn't like to get too close to humans or pups, but we have a mutual respect for each other. I sniff the groundcover outside our building and my nose can tell if Shirley's been there or not. She was nibbling on the agapantha flowers on Tuesday morning until she saw me. Then she headed for the trash bin shed to see what was there. We were pretty lucky to get a picture of her, but she stopped to say "hi" to me for just a second. She's the nicest squirrel I've ever met..in California, that is.

This week has been pretty uneventful so far. On Monday, Dirk came to visit and our moms let us have a brief sniffathon in the hallway. I am everly so fond of Dirk even if he is about 6 times my size. He's pretty nice and gentlemanly.

Then yesterday I went to Miss Cathleen's place with Mom, and got my tummy and paws all lotioned up. That feels so good. If you never had your tummy rubbed with nice smelling lotion, you ought to get your moms to do it for you. And your paws. I felt like a princess the rest of the day, and my tummy is oh so soft now.

Hmmmm....that's about it. Mom's so busy she's thinking seriously about turning down new work for a few days to give her a chance to catch up. And we have a new person coming in on Friday who maybe will help out part time. She's Mrs. Lillard's daughter home from college. You remember Mrs. Lillard, right? She's the one who calls before she comes over to make sure I'll be there.

Oh yes. And Mrs. Graff told Mom that my good friend, Buddy, went to the Rainbow Bridge. That was last week. I'm so glad I got to give him some loving before he left to keep him cozy on his journey. He was pretty old and sick, but he and I got some good time together in his back yard. At least at the bridge he'll be feeling his old self again. I'm so sad for Deacon, though, now that his friend is gone, he's all alone. Maybe I should go visit him?

Hope you all have a nice week. I'm just sort of bored, I guess. Everything is like "same-o, same-o". Think I have the summer blahs?

Love ya..

Mary-Margaret

My day off!

I think I got my point across...you know, about relaxing on Sunday? I napped mostly all day. Mom went out to breakfast which ticked me off no end, and I made SURE she knew it. I haven't spoken much to her since she got back and saw my "gift". Well, you'd think I'd be included, but NOOOO! Humans only! Sheesh! I'm sure I'll get over it, but since I prefer to nap on my day off anyway, it's no big deal.

Also....while we're on the subject, it seems to MEEEEE that a certain someone has forgotten the importance of SNIFFING. Lately, we go out so I can take care of business and what do I get? HMMMMMM???? "Hurry up, Mary-Margaret!" or "Eeeeeyewww! What's THAT, Mary-Margaret?!". What I really hate is when I find something worth checking out and I get the "Come ON!!! We don't have all day!".

I think some people are missing the finer points of life, don't you? If God didn't mean for us to sniff, he wouldn't have put noses on us.

Have a nice day!

Mary-Margaret

Through their eyes....

My mom wrote a piece for the Yorkie Moms group this week and I figured she wouldn't mind if I shared with you. I kind of liked it and so did some of my friends. Mom gets sort of embarrassed about stuff she writes because she's not really all that "purr-fessional" or anything. OK! Here it is:

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Mary-Margaret's mom, here. Most of you know me only through the posts made by my Yorkie, Mary-Margaret O'Brien. Those of you who are new to the lists probably wonder if I've lost my sanity but I assure you, that's not the case.

Originally, I started writing about my experiences with this new 9-week pet store puppy, who politely informed ME that her name was the unlikely "Mary-Margaret O'Brien". After a month or so of dealing with potty training, power struggles, and so on, I decided that it was time for HER to write her own stories. In doing so, it put me in the position of taking dictation from a 3-pound dog (who is now almost 8 pounds) , and it forced me to see the world through her eyes.

Imagine yourself inside the tiny little body of your furbaby. Now look up at this gigantic creature upon whom you are totally dependent for food, love, training...and imagine being scolded for pee pee-ing on the carpet or gnawing on a living room table leg, both perfectly natural things for a small pup or psychologically challenged dog to do.

First off, there's this language barrier. You don't hear words...you hear what sounds like barking. If you're picked up and paddled for "pee pee", you have absolutely no idea if it's because you did what you had to do or if you did it where you shouldn't. Scary, huh?

If you got a rescue dog, then there's "baggage" to be dealt with, and you will have NO idea exactly what happened before you adopted your baby. Be patient...be loving. Never HIT your dog or you risk your hands becoming something to fear, rather than something to feel safe in. Never YELL at your baby. Never forget to FEED your baby. And most of all, never forget to LOVE your baby whenever and wherever possible.

A dog, and in particular a Yorkshire Terrier, has feelings, too. Take the time and make the effort to see the world from their perspective and react accordingly. You will see a marked difference in your relationship with your dog.

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I guess you can probably see why I love my mom so much, huh?