Benched!

So here I am, trying to blog after a month or so and I discover that NEW BLOGGER has taken over and my mom isn't smart enough to figure out how to use it. Fortunately, she is smart enough to send out an APB to some of our good pals -- Gussie and Dexter and Laciecakes and Asta and Archie and Jake and Fergie and Taffy and Molly -- successful bloggers who don't seem to have any problems with it.  And, thanks to Asta -- the sweetest pupper who ever packed her bags to move to Buda Pest with her mommi and daddi where her mommi is painting up a storm -- and Gussie -- the smartest pupper who ever moved from state to state to state with his fambly but has remained an ardent Red Bird fan -- mom seems to have figured it out. Or not. This morning -- after giving up in frustration last night -- she kind of stumbled onto what was missing yesterday -- but will she find it again? Who knows.

In the meantime, what I want to show you is how my life has deteriorated. See my bench? It's a perfect bench. I can stretch out on it facing west and see what's going on outside. Or I can stretch out on it facing east and see what's going on inside. And it's just a woof away from mom's computer so we can exchange meaningful glances during the day while she's working.

But -- suddenly -- there's STUFF on my bench. Papers. Reports. Mom says it's because she and dad are working on a perfect storm of a project and have run out of flat surfaces to stow the STUFF. All I have to say is it's an intrusion on my property... It's not fair. This is one of my favorite spots...But, oh well, it's time for a nap.

So sayeth Jake! Got that NEW BLOGGER?????

Just Harry's Gotcha' Day!!!!

Time goes so fast, doesn't it? It seems like just yesterday that I met my soon-to-be brother at the home of the Truett's in Orlando. Alle and Jack, who are angels now, were there to meet me too. Once Jake and I had a nose-to-nose encounter, and everything seemed to be copasetic, off we drove to my new home in South Florida. That was then.

And here we are now. I'm kind of eightish, we think, and Mr. Jake is ten and three-quarters. We've learned that Dad cannot resist our wirey faces when he is in the kitchen having a snack. It just takes a bit of patience, and some doubling down.

A few barks always help too...

And more patience because we know he can't hold out much longer.

Yep, tonight it's PEANUT BUTTER ON CELERY!!!!

Looking back on the past seven years here, I think I'm a pretty fortunate dog. Jake is still kind of the alpha, but I've learned a lot from him. I've even learned that, when it comes to reminding Mom that it's dinner time, if I put my left ear up... like a mirror image of Jake... the food seems to come even quicker. (No pictures here -- but a few in a post a few below.)

For those of you who haven't been here before, if you click on September 10 posts from years before, you'll see that I've been loved and cherished and that I'm a much more confident dog than when I was rescued that fateful day seven years ago. Why I can even tolerate firecrackers on the fourth of July, when originally they made my legs go limp and my tail touch the ground.

It's all about love!!! LOVE!!!! And that's what we get every single day ... along with full tummies and squeaking toys (what's mine is mine and what's his is mine too), and treats (always equally shared unless it's a chew and I wait until Jakey drops his and then pounce)

Just Harry

PS to my friends in the UK: I was named after a certain prince who said once, when asked how he liked to be called, Harry, Just Harry!

Finally, a word from Jake the Weatherdog!!!

Hi pals!! Remember me? Jake the Weatherdog?

It seems I have been derelict in my duties as a reporter of Hurry Canes, as Isaac has been drifting past our shores without my commenting on it. Fortunately, my good friends, the Key West Collies, reminded me of my responsibilities. And fortunately too, they have escaped direct contact with the center of the storm and are doing fine.

For the most part, the storm here in South Florida has been mild-- so far not reaching Hurry Cane status. We put up shutters anyway on the most prominent of our windows to avoid any projectiles from the wind -- but it was pretty quiet all day Sunday. Today, however, as the storm continues off the west coast of Flori-duh to its destination with the northern Gulf Coast, we are in the dreaded northeast quadrant of the huge storm field and it is windier and wetter than yesterday. Lots of wet fur and paws from our trips outside -- but nothing more serious.

The great irony of Isaac is that most of our radio and TV stations have been dedicating significant programming over the last weeks to commemorating the 20th anniversary of Andrew, which devastated our area on August 24th, 1992. JH and I weren't even born, and Mom and Dad weren't even dating yet, let alone married. She lived on the edge of the storm and lost half her roof and a lot of furniture and other things -- so she hasn't been too into this remembering deal. But along comes Isaac, as if to say, what's with this commemoration stuff? It's my turn! Look at me!

And of course, Katrina hit New Orleans and the northern Gulf Coast seven years to the day tomorrow. (We owe JH to Katrina, so his Gotcha Day will be coming up in September.) So we'll be watching closely and hoping that Mother Nature doesn't repeat herself with Isaac and the Giulf Coast. Keep everyone in your prayers, pals... OK???

That's it from your Weatherdog for the moment.

Giving HEAT new meaning

Yes, like most of the country and elsewhere in the world, temperatures here in South Florida have been in the upper 90s for the better part of the last few months. When is Spring not Spring? When it is more like Summer -- which finally moved in officially a day ago, bringing more of the same.
Or as someone said in 1225:
"Sumer is icumen in.
Lhude sing cuccu!"
But there is Summer Heat and then there is MIAMI HEAT. While as most of you our pals know, our folks are rabid St. Louis Cardinals fans, and baseball lovers, sometimes even they can't help but get excited when the local basketball team makes it to the top. So yes, there we all were last night watching to see that last swish of the ball through the net as the MIAMI HEAT did what they had promised two years go: won the NBA championship -- and did it in five games at home.
During the basketball finals, a Cardinals baseball game was occasionally on TV the same time as a Heat match. It was fun seeing the absolute differences in the two sports which have so many folks preferring one over the other. Chacun a son gout. To each his taste. As for us, we prefer peanut butter, popcorn, cheese, chicken, ice cubes, celery, and wally melon. AND BEISBOL!

Jake and Just Harry

A memorable Memorial Day weekend

So as not to bury the headline, let it be known that we Barkalot Boyz are now UNCLES! A sweet baby girl, Olivia Carolyn, was born to our human brother and sister-in-law on May 7. As the new parents and baby girl live in Tennessee, our mom and dad -- the newly minted first-time GRANDPARENTS -- decided to fly there over the Memorial Day weekend. And as we are sadly two rumps too big to fit in plane carriers, we could only send our surrogates, Flat Jake and Flat Just Harry, with them.

According to our flat selves, Miss Olivia is one adorable human pup. The new grandparents were kind of awe struck too and couldn't get enough of holding her. Her parents, sleep-deprived like all new parents, are living in a kind of dream world, tending to Miss Olivia's every need.
Marcy, the beagle mix, and Mistletoe, sister to Holly who played it scarce, as well as Huxley, were still trying to figure out what this new creature was all about. And Marcy wanted to know who these poor imitations of our full wirey selves were, since we had met her in pawson a few years ago.

After a lovely visit in Tennessee -- with an overnight in the Madison room of a bed and breakfast -- the folks and our flat selves drove to St. Louis for our grandma's 90th birthday. So there they were at two sides of the life cycle: 17 days and 90 years! It was thrilling for everyone.

And of course, mom and dad went to see the Cardinals play the Phillies. They weren't too happy at the outcome -- a shutout -- but it's always exciting to be in Busch Stadium and see the stands filled with red-clad fans!

Where were we, while all this was going on? Barking our heads off at our favorite boarding spot. But now we're home and looking forward to Christmas when the word is that we may -- just may - get to see everyone in person.

Uncle Jake and Uncle Just Harry

Our hearts are with two brothers reunited under an oak tree in france profonde

Today we're sending our love to two cyber friends, Angus and "the font," who for many years have shared the sweet, silly, fun, sad, insightful moments they have enjoyed with their Polish Lowland Sheepdogs, Wilf and Digby. Digby left for the Rainbow Bridge two Mays ago -- and today it was Wilfee's turn. We -- and so many others around the world -- will miss our daily visits with them, the chance to meet all the intriguing folk in their village in southwest France, and of course Wilf's wise PONders.

We know Wilf and Digby are enjoying their reunion -- filled with mischief and laughter and happy barks and tail wags.

Thank you dear Angus, thank you dear "font" for sharing your Boyz with us in such a delightful way. And now we share your grief and heartbreak.

Joan, Jake, and Just Harry