The Christmas tree dropped some pretty good gifts for me this year.
My favorite present is this Hootie Owl toy. It has these great yellow feet and a beak that I like to suck on, and the texture of the fur is soooo soft. It is just like kitty fur, and I love kitties! If anyone else out there likes to lick on kitties, but you have trouble getting the kitty to sit still for the licking, this toy is for you! Here's a link to it since I have puggled the heck out of it, and it doesn't look much like it did new. It's pretty durable, and I think it will be around for a good long while.
I also got two new shirts, both black with rhinestones.
Murphy got me this cool STUD shirt. It has long sleeves, which is nice to have in a shirt since my legs do get pretty cold.
The Woman got me this Rock Star wife beater shirt. I really don't like to wear it, and I try to take it off by rubbing myself all over everything in the house. I have never been able to get it off, and I eventually collapse on the floor and stare up at the Woman pitifully until she finally takes it off. I know I look pretty awesome in it, but it just feels weird. And besides, I have no wife to beat, and the People won't let me near their guitars, so what's the point?
I also got some treats and a bone that I don't chew on, because it's too heavy for me to pick up.
Christmas is super great! Thanks Christmas tree for all the gifts!
The Woman knitted the cute Baby Sarah from across the street a little peacoat jacket thing. Isn't she a cutie? She's working on the matching hat, but has lost momentum, whatever that means.
It's Christmas! It's Christmas! It's Christmas! Merry Christmas to all my blogger friends! I woke up this morning, and was distressed, because there are NO presents under the tree. Have I really been that bad of a dog this year? The Woman quickly assured me that the presents are all at the Gammy's house, and we're going there as soon as she finishes her hair. Woo-hoo! More presents. I say more, because I already opened two. The Woman gave them to me early to shut me up when we had guests. Hehhehe! I got some Bil-Jac treats and a REAL bone filled with liver yum yum. I can't WAIT to see what else I am getting!
Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you all have a great day!
Here is a pic of me and the Woman to help get you into the Holiday Spirit, if you're not there already.
The Woman made me that sweater a couple years ago, but it was too small. Since I've been on the Atkins Diet, I have lost some weight, and now it fits. The stupid neck tends to gravitate toward center though, so it's not all that comfy. It takes a nice picture though.
Go eat some Christmas cookies and drink some egg nog. Get ready, because it's almost time for Santa!
After sitting beside the Woman for over a year watching her play that stupid World of Warcraft game, she has finally sold her account! I no longer have to give up my butt rubbings so she can "help take down Vael" - whatever that means. Today is a day for rejoicing! Ding dong, ding dong, Christmas Pugs are barking!
Ian is still trying to sell his account, but I hope he doesn't. If he is playing the stupid WoW game, and the Woman is not playing the stupid WoW game, the Woman can give me ALL the attention!
Unfortunately, the Woman has taken up knitting again now that she is not playing the stupid WoW game, so I still have that to contend with. I thought about chewing up the knitting when she isn't looking, but I don't think that would be wise.
We had a lot of fun this weekend. The Woman baked lots of cookies and wrapped lots of presents. There are some presents for me under the tree now! I keep sniffing at them, but the Woman says I can't have them until Christmas. There is also a present for the girly-cousins, Rose and Ginger, and I want it SO BAD. It's a purple dinosaur toy. I can't wait for them to open it so I can steal it! OK, I'll give it back eventually. I just want to play with it a little.
On Saturday, the People put up some Christmas lights on the outside of the house so we don't look like Scrooges. Everyone else on the cul-de-sac has lots of festive lights on their houses, and our house was looking rather bare. The Woman also had to do some "rose maintenance" because we have not got enough rain this past month. I'm forbidden from helping with "rose maintenance," so I just watched.
We went for a walk yesterday, because it was so nice out. I got to poo in my favorite monkey grass! I love monkey grass! I also got my first Christmas present of the season yesterday from our neighbor dog, Murphy. It's a black t-shirt that says "STUD" in rhinestones. Do you think he thinks I'm a gay dog? I don't know, but it's a pretty cool shirt! Murphy and his baby Sarah came over to our house to give me the present, and I got to puggle her real good. She's so cute!
Next weekend is Christmas weekend! I am WAY excited!
Apparently, I'm "it." Here are the rules to the game:
------- The player of this game starts with "3 things he/ she would love to get for Christmas" and also has to list "3 things he/ she definitely does not want to get for Christmas". Then he/she tags 5 friends and list their names. -------
Three things I would love to get for Christmas: 1 - A visit from my favorite girly-cousins, Rose and Ginger. 2 - To spend the day at my Gammy's house. 3 - I don't care what is in the package, I just want to open lots and lots of presents!
Three things I definitely do not want for Christmas: 1 - Competition for my pettings. 2 - Bows affixed to my head. 3 - Put in my "room" while the People go to Christmas lunch at the Chinese restaurant.
There really isn't anyone left to tag, so if you haven't been "it" yet, tag, you're "it!"
Here I am playing with one of my first toys, a paper towel roll. I liked to breathe into it and make Darth Vader-like noises until it got all slobbery and fell apart. Look at that cute Baby Norman! I haven't played with a paper towel roll in a long time. I guess I have outgrown my baby toys. (As a side note, I totally destroyed that rug eventually. The loops were fun to chew on!)
The People thought that since I used to play with paper towel rolls, now that I'm bigger I might like to play with a wrapping paper roll. They were wrong. I am scared to death of those things! Ian thinks it's funny, so he chases me around the house with them. Not funny!
OK, so here is a picture of Mr. Ian with the Woman and her two nephews, Nathin and Dalton. Nathin is the little guy, and he's in 5th grade. He wasn't so happy in this picture, because his team just lost their football game. Dalton is in 8th grade, and his team lost their football game the night before. I had to throw that in there so Nathin doesn't feel too bad about losing his game. Mr. Ian thinks he is standing weird in this picture, so if he looks weird to you, just know that he knows he looks weird. The Woman doesn't think he looks weird. I am indifferent. As long as he's not yelling at me, he looks fine.
Here is the Woman with the nephew boys. The live in Ohio. You can tell they are related to the Woman, because they both have her eyes. Dalton wants to be a professional football player some day. Nathin doesn't know what he wants to be some day yet, but he does know that he loves Pugs! Maybe he will own his own Pug farm and breed Pugs! That would be way cool.
I like visiting with the nephew boys in Ohio, because they both really like me a lot. Despite Dalton's habit of wanting to pick me up, they're cool kids.
The Woman and I had a little photo shoot way back in July, and she just now got the pictures developed. I bet you all have been wondering what the Woman looks like!
Here we are laying in the hammock. She likes to just lay there and chill, but I like to get all up ons and lick her neck. She pretends to not like it when Ian is around so he won't get jealous, but secretly, she loves it. I don't particularly like being in the hammock, because my legs get caught in the ropes, but I humor her every now and then and get up there.
The Woman likes this picture, because she says it looks like I am staring up at her in quiet awe. Actually, I'm trying to get a good angle to lick her neck. Sadly, Ian snapped the picture fast enough to avoid the neck puggling shots. I need to get quicker with my tongue!
And here we are out back chilling out. I am getting pretty tired of being outside at this point, as you can see by my panting action. The Woman has some crazy plaid pants.
Maybe I'll let you see what Ian looks like some day. Maybe it will be tomorrow! Maybe it won't ...
The Woman has been making these two cookies every year at Christmas since I can remember there being Christmases. These are two cookies her Mom used to make every year, and the Woman continues to carry on the tradition. Both recipes are very simple to make and yummy to eat!
Hershey Kiss Cookies 2 2/3 cup flour 2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 cup butter 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter 1 cup sugar 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 2 eggs 2 tsp vanilla extract 5 dozen kisses, unwrapped additional sugar for rolling
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a large bowl, mix flour, salt and baking soda. If you're using self-rising flour, omit the salt and baking soda. Add butter and peanut butter and mix until smooth. Add sugars and beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, and mix until smooth.
Form balls out of level tablespoons of dough. Roll in sugar.
Now, you can either press a kiss firmly into the center of the cookie at this point and bake for 10 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet, or you can bake the cookie for 8 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet, then press the kiss into the center of the cookie and bake an additional 2 minutes. Putting the kiss in the cookie for the whole 10 minutes makes a flatter cookie, but the kiss sets up a lot faster. When you only bake the kiss for 2 minutes, it takes a couple hours for the chocolate to harden back up.
No Bakes
2 cup sugar 1/2 cup milk 1/4 cup cocoa 1/2 cup butter 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/4 tsp salt 3 cup fast cooking oats
Combine sugar, milk, cocoa and butter in a pan and bring to a boil on medium heat. Cool 1 minute, and add remaining ingredients. Stir well and drop by teaspoons onto waxed paper. You can also add coconut or nuts if you are feeling daring, but the Woman has never done this. The Woman asked me to ask you all to share at least one fail-safe cookie recipe that she can add to her traditional list of cookies. She also made macaroons, date balls and scotch shortbread this year, but those cookies have been nothing to brag about and probably won't make a reappearance next year.
The Woman has been busy baking the Christmas cookies! She has so far made hershey kiss cookies, no bakes, fig balls and coconut macaroons. She still has to make the gingerbread men, scotch shortbread dipped in chocolate and everyone's favorite, sugar cookies cut into cute little shapes. I love Christmas cookie baking time, because I get lots of cookie droppings from the floor. The Woman "accidentally" drops some dough and sugar and stuff, and I help her clean it up. I'm a good helper. I haven't been getting as many drops as usual though, because of the stupid mast cell tumors. The Woman says sugar feeds the tumors, and I have to keep my intake to a very low minimum. Stupid tumors! If anyone wants to share cookie recipes, the Woman will post some of hers tomorrow. She's always looking for new, fail-safe recipes.
Ian took me on a little walk today, even though I peed on the couch and pooped on the doormat yesterday. He didn't really want to take me, but the Woman made him. Ha! We didn't go far, because it got cold, but it was nice to get out of the house and check my pee-mail.
I think Mother Nature might need to see a Psychiatrist, because the weather here has been crazy. We got our first snow on Thursday (hooray), but then yesterday it was so warm that the People took me for a walk without wearing their winter coats. OK, so the Woman still had on her gloves, but she is unnaturally cold. I'm not sure what this Mother Nature lady is up to, but I wish she'd make up her mind. One day it's freezing, and the next day the Spring bulbs are about to burst out of the ground! It's not easy being a Pug in weather like this either. I never know if my feet are going to hit snow, water or warmth when I step out for my morning pee! Someone get this unbalanced weather worked out soon!
That sounds like the title of a children's book, doesn't it? I can see it now, a lady cow with big blue hair driving really slowly in the fast lane, and the chicken, pig and horse piled up behind her honking their horns yelling, "Beep, Beep Muffy Moo-Moo!" How a hooved animal can drive a car is beyond me, but I think it would be a fun sight to see.
As humorous as that would be, the real root of Beep, Beep Muffy Moo-Moo might be even more so. Beep Beep and Muffy Moo-Moo are my two latest names bestowed upon me by the Woman. Yes, she calls me Beep Beep. And later, she calls me Muffy Moo-Moo. I can sort of see where Beep Beep comes from. She used to call me Bee Bop Baby Bear Man (the boppin'est bear around), and she just kind of shortened it to Beep Beep. I cannot see where Muffy Moo-Moo comes from though. Isn't Muffy a girl's name? If anyone could figure out the Woman, they could probably figure out all the mysteries of the world, because this lady is odd.
Beep Beep out. Muffy Moo-Moo will return later for more blogging.
The Woman asked me to ask all you all Canadians how much postage she needs to put on the cards destined to you. She tried usps.gov, but it really confused her. Thanks for the help!
I actually have no clue what the salivary gland is connected to, but I thought it would be a good title for this post that is about ... my salivary glands.
The week before Thanksgiving, the Woman took me to a new Vet (the 4th one in 6 months) to get a second opinion about the size of my lymph nodes. They had been swollen for the past three months, and she wanted to see what another Vet thought about their size. The Vet also thought they felt a little swollen, so she took a needle aspiration of the lymph nodes (not fun for me) and sent the fluid to the lab for biopsy. You can imagine the Woman's anxiety in worrying that my cancer had spread to the lymph nodes. The Vet also mentioned the prospect of lymphoma which is an even worse kind of cancer. The Woman worried and cried all weekend long. Bad for Ian. Good for me, because I got *ALL* of the attention.
When the results came back, it turned out that the Vet had accidentally hit my salivary glands instead of my lymph nodes, so the Woman had to take me back to the Vet to try again. Well, she did. Again, the lab calls and tells the Vet she hit the salivary glands, and not the lymph node. Conclusion? Those aren't my lymph nodes that the Woman and two Vets are feeling - they are salivary glands. Kinda scary that it took 2 trips to the Vet and $200 to learn dog anatomy.
The Woman is still suspicious that the Vet is just not good with the needle, and it is my lymph nodes that are swollen, but she is willing to chill on the obsession for a little while. We'll see how long it lasts. She usually will say things like that, but then one day she just cracks up and we're rushing off to the Vet.
Apparently, Ian is a BETTER man than me, because Mr. Chris has asked him to be the BEST man in his wedding and not me. The nerve!! Well, I'm not arranging for Meimei and Miko to be at the bachelor party now. Let Ian get the entertainment if Mr. Chris thinks he's such a great guy. I'm sure they'll be playing video games and drinking margaritas all night. Oh, what fun.
The Christmas tree has dropped its first presents of the season with little to no provocation from me. OK, there was *some* provocation, but I only lifted my leg - I didn't squirt or anything. The Woman won't tell me who the presents are for, and since I can't read that scripty lettering the tags are written in, I don't know if there are any presents under there for me. I hope so though. It smells a lot like clothes and human gifts though. I sure hope I'm not getting clothes...
The Woman finally finished decorating the Christmas tree this weekend, and here I am in my jingle jangle Christmas necklace waiting for it to start dropping presents. There have been no present drops yet, but the Woman says it is still pretty early to expect any gifts. Maybe tomorrow!
The camera phone is really flaking out. Look at that awful color action going on. Yikes. Maybe the Christmas tree will drop a digital camera for the Woman. I doubt it though :(
Ian is always yelling at me to stop chewing on my butt. What can I do? My butt itches, and I am not so fortunate as some people in the house to have hands to scratch it, so I have to bite at it. Yes, it is a bit embarrassing for everyone involved, but I am a dog after all. Excuuuuuse me for not being born with hands. From now on, every time Ian scratches himself, I am going to announce it to the whole world. "Hey world! Ian is scratching himself! Make him stop!"
Yeah, that's me wrapped in a t-shirt and placed up on a Greek pedestal thingy in front of that obnoxious red wall. I was hoping to go to a Toga party that night, but it didn't happen. Actually, it hasn't ever happened. Geesh ...
Location: Asheville, North Carolina, United States
I live in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, and I am an ornery little pugger. Although I am only awake about 3 hours each day, I work a whole lot of mischief into each and every minute.
