Saturday, June 26, 2010

The mullet goes missing, I get a puppy and a new jammie, and get thrown out of a shop.

Uncle Steve didn't bring his mullet with him! But WHY?!

Maybe he forgot and left it at home. Maybe something fishy happened on the way here. 

He's not the same.


  
Yesterday evening, I went to Dr Dog's with my out-at-work human. We went to pick up more tablets for Mr Thumper.

There was a puppy sitting on the counter.
He looked a lot like me. I don't know what he was doing there. I didn't think we were allowed to sit on counters. I jumped up to say, "Hello, what are you doing up there?"

Everyone in the room laughed and laughed and made awwww-ing noises. They told The Nice Lady Behind The Counter to give the puppy to me.

And she did! T*H*A*N*K  Y*O*U  V*E*R*Y  M*U*C*H!

My out-at-work human tells me my puppy's already got a name and it's Mama Dew. What a funny name.


Mama Dew doesn't talk much. I've given him a lot of snuffles, nibbles and licks but he still hasn't said anything.

I haven't met a dog like him before.

My humans tried to put Mama Dew away in another room because they said I was getting too o.b.s.s.e.s.s.e.d. But I rescued him and brought him back to my bed.

Later that night, they tried to hide him in their bedroom under the cabinet. How mean! But I found him again and wouldn't go back to bed without him.

So my humans gave up and Mama Dew and I got to sleep together.                                                       


It was very nice to have him next to me.

This morning, I tried again to get Mama Dew to talk to me, but I didn't have any luck. It's very hard having a conversation by myself.


If Mama Dew doesn't talk soon, I think I might have to thump him. 
       Mama Dew is very worried.
After a late breakfast, I went to Centennial Park. I had a great time and made some new friends who all talked.
After that, we went to Bondi to pick up my newest jammie.
                                                                            
I can hear you thinking I'm quite spoilt. But The Man On The Weather Channel says it's going to get very cold next week, so I'm glad I have a few warm things to wear.
I got into a kerfuffle with a littlie and got thrown out of the shop. Luckily for me, someone saw that it wasn't my fault, and that the littlie had been mean to me.
So they let me back in.

Not all littlies are good and not all biggies are bad.

I couldn't wait to show Mama Dew my new jammie.
He didn't say anything so I can't tell if he's impressed.


Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The Mullet and The Pies.

Uncle Steve is coming
in just 1 more sleep!
After 12 hours of driving,
he'll be here tomorrow arvo
going Honk! Toot! Beep!

He's the only one I know
Thank Goodness!
with A Mullet on his head.
It's been there since the 80s,
when he gets up in the morning
and when he goes to bed.

Every year, he comes for a visit
in the month of June.
He takes us for a walk,
has a yarn or 2 or 3 or 4.
How does time pass so soon?

Then off he goes for a night of fun!

The Pies versus The Swans.

He loves his footy you can see.
Sangies, sticky ribs and rum!

There'll be no vuvuzelas
with their buzz 'n whine 'n hum.
Just lots of yelling fellas,
going thumpity-thump, thump, thump!



We all know who Uncle Steve is cheering for.
The Pies! The Pies! The Pies??!
It's a good thing he's a friend
or we just might cut all ties.
                                                                                                                             

I've had my bath.
I hope he's had his
or he might not get a kiss.

The house has been mopped,
the sheets are turned.
We're ready as we'll ever be
for Uncle Steve's good company.



***
How is Rufus B Thumper?

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Things I Am Learning #2

If I had to pick one word that I hear the most, it would have to be "No!"

"NO!" I can't put my head in the fridge

or my nose near a boiling pot.


"NO!" I can't talk to cats or try to kiss them.      
I would be mad to want to kiss THIS one.



"NO!" I can't hunt little dogs.
                                                  
  Ever.


"NO!" I can't drive the car.
I can't even be a backseat driver? But WHY?


                                             Fortunately, I have also learnt how to say "Please."
There are many ways to do this.



Here is an example of the versatile Head Rest, used at home and outdoors.






Unless you're a cute little fluffball, The Cling and The Belly might be too silly to try in public.
The Head Hanging Down is a classic.

My personal favourite...Sad Yet Hopeful Eyes used in conjunction with Tucked Up Toes.I have a 98% chance of success with this pose.

In short, one of the most important things I have learnt in my first year with my humans is that it is always possible to turn a "No!" into a "Yes." if you say "Please."  Especially with my out-at-work human.

Manners are important, don't you agree?


***

How is Rufus B Thumper?

Back to square one.  5 little feeds of no-fat food. Stopping supplements again. Lame again.

The urine tests were inconclusive. On to blood tests today.



Monday, June 21, 2010

Did I meet you last week?

                                                                                                                                                    
Larry, Kaiser and I don't know who at Ewenton.

 At Mort Bay.                        
Lily and Ruby.
Ella is attached to her human. And why is little Frankie looking at me like that?                        
                                           Diesel.                           

Jessie was a bit puffed out.                                                                                             
Cooper.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
Max. 

                                                Tess at Birrung.     
Since it's winter, our evening walks are mostly in the dark. Don't we look frightening?                                      Especially Harley and Cody.

I wish The People In Charge Of These Things would put lights up for us.
Poppy was there.

And Father Jack.

                        

Tara's human is home and we meet up! I haven't played with Tara for 3 weeks. She is my BGF and it was great seeing her again. I got to meet her new housemate Sammy as well.

These pictures are old ones because my out-at-work human was slack.

I had a little kerfuffle with Tara and bit her in the tongue. I'm so sorry Tara!
I got to ride with Tara in her ute a while back. It was my first time and I was a little nervous though I tried hard not to show it.

Mr Thumper was gloating in the back seat. *bleah*


"I wonder who I'll meet THIS week!*


***


How is Rufus B Thumper?

The rain woke me up this morning. It was about 4.30. I found Rufus sleeping outside. He was soaked but had to be persuaded to come back into the house.

The first urine test last week was inconclusive. So over the weekend, we collected 3 more samples at different times and are waiting to hear from the vet. If these tests are inconclusive as well, we do blood tests.

Last night, Rufus went off his food after almost 2 weeks of really enjoying his meals. Somewhere during the night, he also threw up again. I'm disappointed and frustrated. I really hope we're not back to square one.

He seems more lame again this morning as well, despite having had 2 Cartofen jabs and being back on his glucosamine. I was going to start him on the green lip mussel supplement today but that'll have to wait now.

His incontinence is not as bad, but it's still there.

When Jordan died, I didn't see it coming. I was angry that it was so sudden, that I wasn't prepared for it. I thought, if only I could have seen that he was sick, then we could have spoilt him with cuddles and steaks and taken him on a last holiday.

But it's not really like that at all. I can see that Rufus is possibly not going to get better, but we can't give him a bone because he's not allowed anything other than boiled plain food. We can't take him for walks because he can only manage a shuffle round the block. We can't pack him into a car for a holiday because he can't really be away from the vet. He's so badly incontinent, we can't even let him into the house, except for his little cordoned off area. 

The decision to let Jordan go wasn't really in our hands.

With Rufus, it will be.

I think it's much worse this way.

This morning, he sat down in the gutter in front of the house though he'd only walked to the end of the street and back. He had to have a rest. Then it took him 5 minutes, maybe longer, to climb the step in the yard. He would put one paw on the step, then back down again. He did it over and over and over.

I'm anxious, tired and desperate for an outcome. And I feel guilty for thinking that way.