Post Pawty Confessions

Wow!!! Some gathering!!! Asta and Bailey sure know how to throw a pawty. Thank you Asta and Bailey for all you did to make it a success.

But, once again, Mom was very embarrassed when we got home. My sidekick, Dusty, took off his hat -- and what did Mom find under it: stashes of corn, rib bones, and -- worse yet -- one of those fishnet stockings one of our lady wires was wearing (name omitted to protect her image!!!). Yeah, he returned the volley ball -- but retained his sticky paws. And you should see his beard!!!

Not sure if he will ever be allowed out again.

As for me, I was happy just to chat with Wally -- in between his horsy rides with Ruby -- and some of my other guy pals. Great to meet Gussie in the fur, and Bussie, and Stanley, and some of the others I know just by name!!

I'll let you know what lies in store for JH.

Jake

Cowboy Jake and His Sidekick Dusty (aka JH)

We are so excited about Asta's pawty that we let ourselves be intensely groomed by Dogdad and then photographed -- until we couldn't see straight -- in a gen-u-ine Texas cowboy hat that Mom got at a port convention in Houston a few years ago. Only one problem: our heads are small and the hat is huge (Mom has a large head).

So if you see a gap between dog and hat -- and a few errant fingers and even a human eye (Dogdad) it's the best we could do!!.

We''re not sure as yet how we'll get to the ranch -- we have reservations on Air Ruby, which would be a lot of fun. We had a great time last week on the way to Chilli's pawty and Ruby is one hot gal. But Gussie said he could stop by to pick us up, and we have a lot of common mourning to do for our poor redbird team -- so we'll wait to see which is more convenient for all our dog pals.

And then there is the matter of the volleyball that JH lifted, which we have to return.

Jake

From Pawty to Camp (Again)

Hi Folks,

Well, we're being packed off to "animal camp" again, aka the place where we board when Mom and Dogdad have to leave town. They're off to Tailahassee and Pawnama City (Florida) to start a new project. With names like that you'd think we'd be assets. They could drive -- it's only 8 hours -- and take us, but no, it's off to camp for us. Oh well, we'll be barking and jumping 24/7. Sleeping is for when we get home.

Anyway, we want to thank Chilli for a pawsome pawty. Mom is a little embarrassed though -- when Air Ruby dropped JH off, she found that not only had he run off down the beach with the volley ball while he was at the pawty, but he snuck it on the plane and brought it home.

Asta, make sure everything is in lockdown for when we come to your pawty on the 24th. Mr. Sticky Paws has no shame!!

I guess we'll be back on Thursday. In the meantime., stay cool everydog!!

Woofs!!!

Jake

Just Harry's Four-Minute Fugue

Mom and Dogdad went out for dinner to get over the shock of Just Harry's scarey adventure. While they were gone, JH told me where he had gone. He chased the UPS truck around the corner and down the street.

Here is a map from Google. It's a little blurry, but you can see the townhouses and part of the golf course. It must be an older photo because some of the roofs still have blue tarps from Hurricane Wilma.
Anyway, we outlined a red path from our townhouse around the corner and down Gatehouse Road, and then back. This is a path he often takes with Mom or Dogdad, so he knew it. When he got to the stop sign at the next corner, though, after chasing the UPS truck, he told me he knew he was exhausted and had better turn around for home.

Mom said this must have been a new UPS driver because the one who usually delivers our packages knows better than to knock at the door and would never have driven away seeing one of us guys loose on the street.

Jake

Heart-stopping Moment

Well, there we were, waiting for a honk from the Air Ruby plane, when all of a sudden we heard a knock on the door. We did what we often do: start to brawl loudly over who gets to open the door. Mom, thinking it was Dogdad who had forgotten to call -- or the plane -- threw open the door. I realized it wasn't Dad or Ruby -- it was the UPS man leaving a package, and I sat down in front of the open door. JH, on the other hand, bolted out the door and disappeared from sight. Mom went to the edge of the driveway and called his name -- no JH.

Barefoot, but with her heart in her mouth, she ran inside for her shoes to go looking for him. But when she went outside a minute later, guess who came running up the street and our driveway -- why none other than the little scalawag himself. Panting. Little heart beating fast. Very pleased with himself. Certainly not aware that he could have been hit by a car, or lost. I actually kissed him when he came inside!!!

Fortunately we were still wearing our collars -- hadn't removed them for the pawty yet.

Neither of us had ever done that before. Mom was so sure it was Dad, she didn't check the way she always does before she opens the door. But at least we now know that Harry knows where he lives. Huge sigh.

Jake

Going to Our First Pawty!

Ms. Ruby said she'd come pick us up on Air Ruby for Chilli's beach pawty. Since we've never been to the beach -- and the closest we've ever come to sand is the sand traps on the golf course next door, we didn't have a thing to wear. So, quick decision, we decided to wear nothing. That's right, we are nekkid!!! Hope we can get through security without our ID's!! Sunscreen anyone???

We do have our hippy sunglasses though -- and Mom met the challenge of getting us to wear them.

Ruby, we have our e-tickets and we are raring to go!!!

Jake and Just Harry

What Do the Dogs Think?

As reported in Newsday magazine, eleven school age kids were asked which brand of peanut butter they preferred and Skippy took 1st place. The selection included 16 peanut butters, five national brands plus store brands from Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Most kids have a decided preference for either creamy or crunchy, so separate tastings were held for each style.

In both categories, Skippy took first place, followed closely by Peter Pan and then Jif. With the exception of Skippy Natural, regular peanut butters bested the natural brands. According to the Newsday article, Jif is the nation's best-selling peanut butter; Skippy and Peter Pan round out the top three.

For the taste test, the peanut butters were spread thickly onto slices of white bread which were then cut into smaller pieces. Tasters were asked to rate the peanut butters - "yuck!" to "yum!"

Here are the results in order of preference:

Creamy

Skippy Natural Creamy

Skippy Creamy

Peter Pan Creamy

Jif Creamy

Trader Joe's Natural Creamy

Smucker's Natural Creamy

365 (Whole Foods)

All-Natural Creamy

Trader Joe's Organic Creamy

Crunchy (tie)

Skippy Natural Super Chunk and Peter Pan Crunchy

So, since we dogs are connoiseurs of peanut butter -- although rarely a "yuck!" can be heard -- do we want to bark in with our favorites?

Jake and Just Harry

A Message from "The Other" Barkalot Boy

Yeah, it's me, Jake. It seems as though I've been out of touch for days while Just Harry took the spotlight to celebrate the second anniversary of his adoption. Since he is a bit overwhelmed with all the attention he received from his friends, new and old, he asked me to send you all his thanks, and tell you how he spent the day.




Before I do that, though, we both wanted to observe a moment of silence to remember the events of 9/11 and the souls who lost their lives six years ago.






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So how did JH spend September 10? In short, he spent it with extra buckets of love from Mom. She actually moved away from her computer and sat down on the couch with him for several hours and he just curled up on her lap and looked very content. (Not to be too cynical, we do suspect she had an ulterior motive, alternating a certain general's testimony with a depressing Cardinals-Cubs game on WGN, the Chicago station that broadcasts here! But, regardless, it's the result -- a Happy Harry -- that mattered.)


Mom, and later Dogdad when he came home, gave him the best present of all, love and lots of play time. Also: ear scritches, butt scritches, and tummy rubs. They played tug-a-dog and looked through the toy basket for new toys that he hadn't played with (some of which I recognized as my toys) .


Sorry to tell you, we didn't have any cake -- but we did both get some of our favorite treats: cheese and green beans and apple.


Now that we've had our celebration, we'll be getting ready for Chilli's beach party and then for Asta's cowboy party -- so our social calendar is getting filled up.


In the meantime, hey dogs, it's time to use our DOG POWER to get our favorite teams where we want them to be. So far, from the response to previous posts, we have Cubs, Yankees, Indians. Red Sox, Phillies -- and of course, our Redbirds.


So Let's Go Dogs!! Go Teams!! Go Cards!!!. WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF.


Jake

It's Just Harry Day (Somewhere)!!!

Then ..... and Now

Hello Dear Friends,

Well, today's the day!! Today's the day two years ago that Mom and Dogdad drove with Jake to Orlando to meet me and bring me home to Plantation. Did they know at the time that I was a silly goofball? I don't think so, but they sure found out fast. But the sillier I was, the more they loved me. "Silly" became a term of endearment, kind of like this poem about Winnie the Pooh:

Deep in the hundred acre wood,

Where Christopher Robin plays,

You'll find the enchanted neighborhood,

Of Christopher's childhood days.

A donkey named Eeyore is his friend,

And Kanga, and little Roo.

There's Rabbit, and Piglet, and there's Owl,

But most of all Winnie-the-Pooh.

Winnie-the-Pooh,

Winnie-the-Pooh,

Tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff.

He's Winnie-the-Pooh.

Winnie-the-Pooh.Willy, nilly, silly, old bear.

So, when did they realize what a willy, nilly, silly wire fox terrier I am?


Was it when I got up the first morning after I had slept upstairs and ran downstairs to pee all over the couch?

Was it when Dogdad wanted to take me out in the rain under an umbrella, and my legs went limp and I moved as far away from him as I could so he had to leave the umbrella at home for me to go out?

Was it when they discovered how petrified I am of fireworks and thunder -- and had to carry me home one evening, when fireworks went off unexpectedly, because I couldn't walk?

Was it when they realized my muzzle trembles whenever I'm expecting a treat, or when I'm about to do my business outside, or when I see something that is "different"?

Was it when they saw me "go to ground" under the coffee table if anything upset me?

Was it when I figured out how to make Jakey crazy by sneaking back around the bed and catching him unawares while he was waiting for me to come out from under the bed?

Was it when I decided that, while I always had breakfast and dinner in my crate, I liked his crate to take a snooze in before or after dinner?

Was it when they took me to the dog park and I found the only mud puddle and rolled around in it while Jake retained his pristine white paws?

Was it when they saw me snapping at dust specks in sunbeams?

Was it when they heard this great vacuum-sucking sound coming from the front door -- only to discover that it was I, the super sniffer, taking a verrry long sniff to see what was outside?

Was it when I kept waking them in the middle of the night with long whimpers, from a bad dream, or a sad memory, we don't know?

And now,

Is it when Dogdad beckons me to jump into his lap, but I invariably jump into Mom's lap instead.

Is it when I continue to kiss Jakey's face, sniff his butt, and play bow/growl to entice him to play, even in the face of continual rejection?

Is it when I wait patiently by the door while Jake goes out first until Mom -- or Dogdad -- comes back to take me.

Is it 'cause I was so heroic about my Elizabethan collar -- didn't let the bonking get to me, and let them put it back on after every walk, even though it was reallllly annoying.

Or -- and I think this is the case -- is it when I stand on my hind legs and put my paws on the edge of the bed, before we all go to sleep, to get my good night scritches and tell Mom and Dogdad how much I love them. Or when I come over to see if Mom's awake on a weekend morning? Or when I come see how she's doing in the afternoon, when she's been working hard, and lick her face.


So what do you all think? Am I a silly goofball? Or just a very happy wire fox terrier with a wee bit of nervous baggage?

To help celebrate, Asta sent me this sweet Happy Adoption Day Card, with all my favorite foods. And I'm writing this before the clock strikes my day here in Plantation -- although it's already struck where lots of my friends are -- in Singapore and Australia --, so I don't know yet what's in store for the rest of the day. But I'm sending lots and lots of love and happy woofs to all my friends, four paws, two legs, old and new.

Just Harry (or, to borrow from my new friend HHHHarry, happy, hairy, Harry!!)

Oops: I think I have some messages:

Happy Just Harry Day, JH!! You are a goofball, but we love both of our little ones equally, and enjoy your differences. You are definitely your own dog, and that makes you "you". Keep up the good work... All the best, Dogdad.

That's true, Just Harry!! We respect that you are your own dog and, as the poem goes, march to your own drummer!!! We're so glad we found you and hope you enjoy living here with us and Jake and that your willy, nilly, silly doggie heart is full of joy and love every single day. Happy Just Harry Day!! Mom

OK, Brother Dog, just between us, I really do enjoy having you around. You bring out my best barking self; you take the pressure off; and, actually, you make me look good in front of Mom and Dogdad. So Happy Just Harry Day!! Just remember who taught you how to get food and treats out of our folks, and who taught you about peanut butter, popcorn, and all the other goodies we share!!! And lets you smell the best smells with him!! Jake

Happy Adoption Day, JH!Two years, two ears and fewer and fewer fears.That's the way to do it! PK, Gimlet, Sammy and Joe the Cat

Monday is Just Harry Day in Our House

Hi Everybody,


Getting groomed to meet my new family


We don't really know when my birthday was, but we celebrate September 10 'cause that's the day, two years ago, that I was ADOPTED by Mom and Dogdad (and grumpy old Jake).








That first encounter with the Jakester


Am I three? Maybe. But as far as I'm concerned, I'm still -- and always will be -- very puppy-like. Mom says I kind of lost my happy-go-lucky ways while I had to wear that stoopid collar a few weeks ago -- but that's gone, and now I'm as much of a carefree tail-wagger as before (even if I still look a bit like the Phantom of the Opera).

So all my wirey and other friends, come visit and be silly with me on Just Harry Day!!! In the meantime, I'll just take a nap!!

Wirey woofs to you all,

Just Harry

Nail-Biting Time

This blog will probably not be of interest to our friends in the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia -- but we have to write it because it's pretty much all we're talking about in our house. With about 25 games to go in this year's baseball season, our St. Louis Cardinals are making us craaaazy. Right now, they're just one game out of first place in their division, but they win several games and then they lose several -- and it's a seesaw with the other top teams, the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers. Out of the 25 remaining games, three are with Milwaukee and five are with the Cubs. So it's do or die time.

Dogdad (and Mom too) is driving us nuts. Even though they get up at 6 am so he can beat the traffic, he won't go to sleep until he gets the latest scores from the Cardinals games. And then over breakfast (at 6:30 am), it's either Yay!!!, or [unprintable words]!!! Not a good environment for quiet, peaceful, loving dogs like we wire fox terriers (yeah, sure)!!

Rick Ankiel

Busch Stadium

As we told Wally, who's a Cubs fan, Dogdad is chewing his own nails down to the quick and we're afraid he'll start on ours next. And we're wearing our Cardinals bandanas full time now. (And bowing our heads in
prayer.)






Anyone out there who wants to join in the barking for -- Gussie, we know you're there, and the Key West Collies -- or against, let's get those paws crossed and may the best team win. We should add that, while we're cheering for the Cardinals, we're weeping for our Florida Marlins, who have taken full possession of last place in their division and will probably stay there for the duration.

Cardinals playing the Marlins here in Miami





Go Cards!!! Woof, woof, woof


Jake and Just Harry

We Are Sad Today

The first thing Mom heard this morning was that Luciano Pawvarotti had died. She loved his voice and we got to listen to him many many times while she was busy working. So we are sad that amazing voice has been silenced.

But we have our CDs and DVDs -- and YouTube has some wonderful clips of his older performances.

Years ago -- before we were born -- Pawvarotti played Cavaradossi in Tosca at the opera in Miami. After the performance, Mom stood in line to get his autograph and he spoke to her. He asked, "How are you?" And, not knowing what to say at such a moment, Mom could only blurt out, "Happy, now that I've heard you sing!" Then she scolded herself all the way home for not thinking of something more memorable!

He was still wearing his make-up from the opera, but had on a blue and white long-sleeved shirt with a white collar which looked so out of place with the role he had just played and the dramatic make-up.

But it was a cherished moment.

Years later -- just to show Mom's eclectic tastes -- that moment was rivaled when she and Dogdad stood in line at Busch Stadium in St. Louis to have Yogi Berra -- a St. Louis boy, even though a Yankee!! -- sign his book, When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It!! That was more of a fun moment, and she did joke with Yogi that the only other time she had stood in line for an autograph was for another Italian star -- Luciano Pavarotti.

Just Harry -- who is more of a tenor that I am -- has a bad case of Lauren's Gitis from his barking over the weekend, or he would woof the melody from one of Mom's favorite arias to make her feel better. My woofs are kind of gruff, so I'll just have to resort to sitting on her feet while she works.

Jake

We're Back!!!

Did anyone notice we were gone for a few days? Did anyone wonder why?

Well Labor Day weekend was the time Mom and Dogdad chose to drive to Orlando and help our human sister fix up her new house. We would have gone too except that she has three cats and a small shy dog and they haven't gotten used to their new digs so the idea of adding two wirey guys like us to the mix didn't seem like a good idea.

So, what to do with us dawgs??? Not to worry!! We were packed off to our very favorite "animal camp" where we each have our own quarters with a view of everything going on and we compete to see who can jump the highest and who can bark the loudest. And we enjoy the attention of lots of folks who seem to like us. We were so excited to get in the car to go there that Mom was a little miffed, thinking that maybe we like it better there than here. Not to worry, Mom, we still love you; but a dog's gotta do what a dog's gotta do!!

Anyway, taking a clue from Gussie, we decided to rename the holiday Labark Day.

Mom picked us up a little while ago, and told us all about the things they did: install closet and pantry shelf systems, change light fixtures, move furniture, help unpack boxes. We got so tired listening to her that we did what we usually do when we come back from a few days out and about: we slurped a bowl of water and lay down for a nap. Jake took the floor; I got the couch.





More later!!!


Jake and Just Harry