Our Life: Dozer and Coop

Waiting for the new storm front to move in

2012-01-26T07:12:00.000-08:00

This is me waiting and watching for the next set of rain clouds to move into our area. We are not supposed to have flooding again but the rivers will be close to flood stage.

This here is Cooper in his mankini (also known as a belly band). He has a whole bunch that he can choose from. He wears them when we are left alone in the house 'cause he pees where he is not supposed to. If he wears them he never pees in the house 'cause he doesn't like a wet mankini around his middle.

This is our cousin Beau in Arizona. He has 5,000 friends on Facebook. He gets to eat the most amazing food 'cause he is on the BARF diet. And our grandmother sends him presents at Christmas but not us. We don't know how Beau does this but we want to find out his secret 'cause we love presents too!

Over and out,

Dozer

It's Snowing

2012-01-17T13:02:00.000-08:00

Can you see me in the wilds of the front yard? The snow has been falling so heavily that I might be hidden by it all!

Mum's clown car (Scion Xbox) is covered in the white stuff.

The poor plastic pink flamingos are freezing their tushies off!

Hooray! It is a SNOW DAY in Oregon! It makes me run around and frap and yap!

Mom can we go to this store?

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

These are preserved stuffies. Can you imagine? Stuffies in glass jars. Just to have on the shelf to look at. Mum found it here.

I went to the vet and came home

2012-01-15T10:24:00.000-08:00

I made every attempt to get to the "cheese-in-a-can" but it was difficult to negotiate the small counter space.

Isn't there a ladder here for me?

I can smell that cheese, where is it?

After my visit with the vet they decided I have to wait 5 more days before my sutures can come out.

Cooper gave his information to tech vet himself, note the "can-of-cheese" right by his snout.

Oh geez, he's kissing the tech vet! That is so against the rules.

This is Coop snarfing up the "cheese-in-the-can" after his Adequan shot.

This is me having a nap when we came home. All the vet business is tiring. Plus I ate a lot of "cheese-in-the-can"!

Another Fashion Moment

2012-01-11T20:04:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is amazing even in my debilitated state that I remain a "fashionista", albeit with questionable choices. Mum swears to me that the hair will grow back on my tum-tum. (She had better be right or there will H**l to pay if'in you ask me. I have my standards). Mum says my sutures come out next week and it cannot come soon enough for me. Does "itchy" mean anything to you? It does to me.

On the positive side of life, I went for 8 hours without needing a piddle break. Mum said it was very nice to be able to sleep through the night without getting up at 2am for a potty break. Hey, I am worth a 2am visit outside in the freezing weather, even in jammies.

A Delicious Blog to Visit

2012-01-10T15:04:00.000-08:00

Mum discovered a wonderful new blog at Hens Teeth (I had no idea hens had teeth and if they do then why don't they eat anything besides seeds and things off the ground?) Anyway, we like the blog and it is good fun to visit :)

Dozer

Corgi Cummerbund

2012-01-10T13:14:00.000-08:00

This is me in my corgi cummerbund, also known as a belly band. Due to my recent roto-rooter surgery I am "leaking" a bit. My good friend, Marlene, was most kind in her assessment:

Still, it's very slimming, really hides any holiday weight

Thank you dear Marlene for your positive outlook on my new fashion statement. For the moment I have removed it since it is held on only by Velcro tabs and hidden it under the bed with Cooper's stuffed animals that he mothers. Being a fashionista can be tiring.

Pain Meds are not Good Bed Fellows

2012-01-06T15:54:00.000-08:00

This is me on morphine. My girlfriend and nurse, Jasmine, took this picture of me when I was in the recovery room/kennel. They fill your kennel with warm blankets and towels so you are really comfortable while you zone out on drugs. I have no idea how my snout got caught on the cage but it does show off my pearly white teeth. Mum thinks this is funny, I do not.

We Are Up and Moving, Sort of

2012-01-05T12:46:00.000-08:00

Dozer is up and moving, albeit gingerly. The "cone of shame" has yet to be employed since he is napping and being quiet most of the time. Sutures come out in ten days or so. His appetite is robust and he is drinking lots of water, as we hoped he would!

Thank you for all your drool and prayers :)

Dozer's Surgery

2012-01-04T07:37:00.000-08:00

Dozer has surgery yesterday to remove bladder stones that had impeded his ability to pee. It was a very painful surgery and he is now resting comfortably at home. He will post shortly to share his view of modern medicine.

Not a good sign for Santa

2011-12-22T07:31:00.000-08:00

I kind of lost it last night and tore into some catnip Mum purchased for friends as a Christmas present. I also took hold of the wool Mum is using to knit a Special Olympics scarf and sent it on its own trip. Mum said it will be a cold day "you-know-where" before Santa stops by my stocking. It would help if Cooper would stop snickering.

Good-Bye Christmas Cow

2011-12-21T07:18:00.000-08:00

Mum seriously needs to get her act together when it comes to purchasing suitable toys for us. This lame cow from our favorite pet store only lasted three days. He fell completely apart with absolutely no effort at trying to retain his form.

Die little Christmas Cow!

Look how easily this stuffing falls out when you pull on it through the hole I ripped.

Cooper just sat and watched. Apparently getting into the Christmas fray was not of his liking. Whatever.

Evidence Of Good for Santa

2011-12-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

Mum says I am a very good dog when I am sleeping. Since I sleep most of the day and I definitely sleep between the hours of 10pm and 5:30am, this would prove to you that I am a good pup over 75% of the time. Please see evidence below.

This is me being good.

Again, being very good.

And yes, Coop is good too because he sleeps 90% of the time.

Please send all gifts in care of me and I will share with Cooper (not!).

Love, Dozer

Gettin' Ready For Santa

2011-12-14T03:00:00.000-08:00

Cooper got sent to "The Farm" to get clean for the holidays. Dad said he was getting smelly and Mum thought Coop was looking a wee bit shaggy. So off he went for the day.

Coop came home looking like some sort of dandy with this green and red hankerchief around his neck! BOL! What a doofus.

Mum said Cooper smelled so good that she couldn't stop petting him and playing with his curls.

Me? I don't need no bath, I'm a corgi and we smell good all year round. But I have to go to the vet on Saturday to get my nails clipped. Apparently I have a gold star by my name because I am so naughty when I get my nails trimmed that I get to wear a party hat over my mouth. Whatever.

Love, Dozer

A Corgi True-ism for Tuesday

2011-12-13T06:51:00.000-08:00

We are back and Mum is home! We have very little time before Christmas to impress upon Santa all our good deeds during the last year. Being that time is short, we will endeavor to create a pictorial report in the coming days of how deserving we are for treats, presents and apparel.

With love from Dozer and Cooper

An update of sorts

2011-11-27T12:44:00.001-08:00

Mum cannot update our blog for a bit. Her father is very ill and she is staying close at hand to be of any kind of assistance that may be needed. Dad is taking good care of us but we have a complaint list started (lack of treats three times a day, heated water beds, new toys, etc..) that we will present to Mum when she has time to read it.

It is hard sometimes to be a dog. You can't tell people to get well but perhaps when we put our head up for a scratch or lean gently against a leg, they know.

Love, Dozer

This Cannot Be!

2011-11-08T13:18:00.000-08:00

Dottie is still getting on websites and she has been at the Rainbow Bridge for over a year! Well at least I got a small mention, but this blog is named after ME!

Tasha Tudor is like the top of the Corgi chain. Mum reads me Tasha Tudor before bed and I always have sweet dreams. Of course I am the only corgi in any of the dreams because they are my dreams and I get to have the starring role. Cooper can be in some but never a starring role!

You can visit the Tudor Website by clicking this link.

Love, Dozer

Will You Join Us?

2011-11-03T16:18:00.000-07:00

Mum has signed us up to be part of One Day on Earth on 11-11-2011. It is very exciting and we are praticing taking pictures for the event. All over the planet people will be documenting the day! (Read below for a better explanation).

We hope you can join us. This could be the start of something big!

Love, Dozer and Cooper

Visit One Day on Earth

On November 11th, 11.11.11, across the planet, documentary filmmakers, students, and other inspired citizens will record the human experience over a 24-hour period and contribute their voice to the second annual global day of media creation called One Day on Earth. Together, we will create a shared archive and a film. Founded in 2008, One Day on Earth's first media creation event occurred on 10.10.10. The collaboration was the first ever simultaneous filming event occuring in every country of the world. It created a unique geo-tagged video archive as well as an upcoming feature film. Together, we are showcasing the amazing diversity, conflict, tragedy, and triumph that occurs in one day. We invite you to join our international community of thousands of filmmakers, hundreds of schools, and dozens of non-profits, and contribute to this unique global mosaic. One Day on Earth is a community that not only watches, but participates.

Ghosts and Goblins Oh My!

2011-10-31T07:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween to all our bloggy friends!

A giganormous amount of treats were consumed to allow our Mum to snap these pictures. Bribery has its high points!

Welcome Fall!

2011-10-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

Fall has arrived in our neck of the woods.
Cooper has taken to the falling leaves and checks out
the piles of swirling shapes at every turn.

He looks out into the fields to see if deer or elk are coming our way.
His job is to keep his Mum safe.

No danger is too big...

No stream too deep or treacherous for this canine defender!

The leaves show us the way home!

Where someone is napping and awaiting tummy rubs
and a walk after dinner!
It is not easy to be the head Corgi!

Can No One Save Us!?

2011-10-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

Halloween is coming and with it, ghosts and scary corgis are invading out house! Can no one save us from these specters of Halloween? If you can, please comment and tell us how!!!

Walking in the rain...

2011-10-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

We went for a walk tonight with Mum. It was raining because it is fall in Oregon and it always rains during autumn. We wore our vests and Mum let us run in the puddles and we even walked over the soccer fields and checked out all the bushes and trees. When we came home there were towels pulled down, a fire started in the family room and then it was time for me to nap. ~ Coop

I am limping a bit tonight, I might have gotten too excited when Mum got home tonight and jumped around more than I should have. I am resting on the bed and thinking good thoughts, mostly about treats and the serious lack of treats in my life.

We had a good walk and I like the rain. It makes mud which I track into the house. I am very good at tracking (Mum rolls her eyes). ~ Dozer

Someone is dropping the ball here!

2011-09-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

Cooper here. Our blog has had some serious issues of late. It seems "someone" has not been keeping up their end of the bargain and has fallen asleep on the job. I have discussed this with Mum and it shall be remedied very shortly. Until then, I think we all know who is responsible for this total lack of regard concerning the timeliness of blog entries and appropriate content. I will not point paws but I think we all know who that "someone" is.

Looks like "someone" is sleeping on the job to me.

Trip to Krausie

2011-08-22T20:48:00.000-07:00

Tonight Mum took us to visit our favorite friend, Krausie. (His real name is Elwell, but we call him Krausie). We got to go in the car and hang our heads out the window and throw our drool to the wind. Finally we arrived at Krausie's farm and we had treats and got impatient while Mum and Krausie chatted and looked at things on the computer. At long last we got to be the center of attention (about time!). First, we sat on Krausie's lap

Cooper went first and got a nice rub down.

I chatted with Krausie on a number of topics.

Then we went outside.

This is Krausie's 1955 tractor. Mum loves it. Mum wants it.

Then I found bunny poop and stuff to roll in. I was in heaven, I still am. Mum says I smell "interesting" which is another word for "unsavory" or not so good. Here are some action shots of my roll in the poop de bun-bun.

Heaven is rolling in poopy grass.

Furry Whales - We Loves Them

2011-08-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

Mum thinks this French group is outstanding and now she wants a furry whale. Who are we to argue?

Post Bath Nap

2011-08-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

After a Sunday afternoon visit to the groomer for a well-deserved bath, Mr. Cooper has taken to his bed for a nap. Keeping one beautiful and perfumed can be a tiresome task and is best done infrequently.

Come to Mum...No Seriously Come Here!

2011-08-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

Come here and let's have a picture...

No, you cannot have a cookie, just come over here...

Try not to look so put upon, this isn't killing you...

Would you please stand still?

Oh bag this, taking a picture with a wayward corgi

simply is not happening today!

I Gotta a Glow on For You

2011-07-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

Mum is far behind in our blogging due to work and what is worse, she has not been visiting blogs either. We shall remedy this shortly. Thank you for your patience. I will just sit here and glow until Mum gets her act together.

Sleepy Monday

2011-07-11T07:37:00.000-07:00

We're having a hard time getting moving this morning, please check back tomorrow.

I think NOT!

2011-07-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

Mum found this on the Yahoo UK site which makes it all that much more appalling! I spent most of the 4th of July evening under the bed thank you very much and it was a lovely spot to ride out the fireworks. But the insinuation that keeping me out of the bedrooms might help someone's health is ludicrous! I have never heard of such nonsense. Mum always sleeps better when I have my face on hers...reduces her snoring to liveable decibels if you ask me.

~ Dozer

We All Have a Special Friend

2011-07-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Mr. HedgeHog is Cooper's special friend

He licks Mr. HedgeHog and keeps him very clean.

Sometimes they just sit together and think about life.

Dozer has many special friends who get consumed on a regular basis. That is all part and parcel of being a corgi!

Fine Art Graces Our Life

2011-06-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

Mum's picture from Howie PeePants' Mum, Nancy Medina, arrived at work today! Isn't the oil painting gorgeous? Mum has hung it in her cubicle so when she twirls around to get up she looks at it and it reminds her of gardens, flowers and wonderful old doors. Our Aunt Nancy PeePants is a wonderful artist and has her own website at http://nancymedina.com/. We don't go there (Mum does) because we go see our cousin Howie at his blog at The Pugpant Chronicles. Truth be known, we believe Howie does most of the painting and that his mother is taking the credit. We have no proof but there are rumors.

Mum got another painting of a sunflower and she has that on her desk at work. It too is beautiful but Mum isn't sure how she can get a photo of it without bringing unwanted attention during work hours. You can understand her dilemma! BOL!

Grant Me Patience....

2011-06-21T16:43:00.000-07:00

I apologize for our last entry on eating toilet paper. Mum finds these little idiosyncrasies entertaining. I find them mind numbing. Please send help, I am trapped in a home that is completely governed by a post-menopausal woman who is easily amused by the antics of a senile Cocker Spaniel. This cannot be normal.

How to eat toilet paper

2011-06-20T16:09:00.000-07:00

First, steal a big wad of toilet paper from
the roll in the bathroom.

Find a comfortable place to consume your treat.
The bed is always a nice place.

Tear the toilet paper into small, edible

bits. Don't worry about what falls off

the bed.

Stuff as much as you can into your mouth.

It will become sticky once you get
your drool all over it. It may stick
to your teeth, use your tongue to
move it around.

Use an up and down motion consistently
to insure you make a nice paste of the
toilet paper.

Once your face resembles Elvis Presley,
you have acquired the grace and
style needed to consume toilet paper
at any social function.

Bon Appetit!

Just a Reminder

2011-06-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and no dog should ever be left in a car - even with the windows down. Our Mum only lets us sit in the car with her. She says it is because she does not want us to overheat but I think it is because she doesn't want us to take the car out for a spin without her. For pete's sake, I would keep both paws on the wheel, it isn't as though I wouldn't pay attention. Maybe it is Cooper she is worried about.

Hide and Seek - Cooper Style

2011-06-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

"If I can't see you, then you cannot see me." - Cooper

Old Dogs and Old Shoes

2011-06-13T16:10:00.000-07:00

Old dogs, like old shoes, are comfortable.
They might be a bit out of shape
and a little worn around the edges,
but they fit well."

- Bonnie Wilcox 'Old Dogs, Old Friends'

How to Eat a Chewie - Lesson 1

2011-06-08T21:05:00.000-07:00

Grasp the chewie firmly between your jaws.

Be confident, show the chewie you are in charge.

Determine which side of your mouth is your chewing side.

Move the chewie to that side of your mouth.

Clench down with an assertive snap.

Careful not to chew too deliberately so that the chewie

slips down your food hatch. This can provide an

opportunity for choking and tends to upset the parents.

Chew until the said chewie is completely soft and small in size.

Only swallow when the chewie has been determined to be

of small enough size to be consumed.

There is nothing quite so indelicate as throwing up one's chewie

on the living room rug. Chewies with rug bits are not on the menu.

Check the floor for any extra bits which may have fallen

away during the food exercise. Use your tongue to gather

any stray consumables which may have gone wandering.

Finish by having a water chaser to clean your palate.

Note to new chewier consumers: One chewie per day is appropriate. More than one per day may promote flatulence (gas) and bring tears to your parents' eyes, for all the wrong reason.

Let's Play Pig in a Blanket!

2011-06-08T07:29:00.000-07:00

I'll be the "pig" and you roll me up in the blanket!

I'll just roll myself inside this quilt and then you won't be able to see me.

Can you see me?

Can you see even a little bit of me?

I see you!

(big yawn) But now I neeeddzz to sleeeeepzzz...

Cooper, do you want to play?

Hmmm, I guess not.

We're Baaaaccckk!

2011-06-06T19:35:00.000-07:00

Mum left us for THREE WEEKS and went on a LOOONNG trip to England and France. And us? We got to go stay at the vet's kennel for THREE WEEKS. Mum wouldn't let us go to our usual haunt because I was limping and she thought enforced rest would help (it did). And Cooper came home so tired from our last play date at The Farm that Mum thought a quiet vacation would do him good (it did).

Mum took 1,200+ pictures and fortunately she is not going to make you look at all of them. But she did get some interesting shots (she is even doing a slide show of "Dogs and Doors" of all the dogs and doorways she took pictures of - what the...?)

This is a French dog pee'ing in the street. See, they pee just like girl dogs do here in the USA.

Yes, we know. Our mother is different.

And this is Mum at Monet's garden and house. (He did not invite her because he is actually dead.)

Not that anyone cares but Cooper and I are fine. I lost my voice (bark) because I barked so much at the vet's place. I am a bit hoarse but I will work my way back up to my usual decibels shortly.

Before Mum came home, she stayed with our grandparents in North Carolina. They got us a new cousin, "Sam". She is a bloodhound and Mum says she will get giganormous some day. She's got paws like large size waffles.

Sam is 10 weeks old and growing about an inch a day. Mum says Sam has the softest puppy fur this side of the Rockies. (But Mum says I have the softest Corgi fur anywhere).

So we are back and will have photos up shortly. Thanks for not breaking into the house while she was gone and taking all our toys and treats. Dad appreciates that too because he has his cowboy toys and no one gets to play with them except Dad.

Love, Dozer

Big Ahhhh Please

2011-06-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

Gotta love corgis, just gotta!

~ Dozer

Anything done with friends...

2011-05-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

Anything done with friends is bound to be fun!

~ Dozer

Butt Beautiful

2011-05-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

I had a small butt once. But that was long ago.

~ Dozer

What the...?

2011-05-18T18:52:00.000-07:00

And people think dogs aren't smart? Yeah right!

~ Dozer

Well of course!

2011-05-16T18:49:00.001-07:00

It is a wonder that not everyone has a corgi, isn't it?

Say No More...

2011-05-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

Created by the talented Caldwell Tanner

who can be found at www.Loldwell.com

Not much help...

2011-05-08T16:21:00.000-07:00

Sunday is laundry day, clean the house day, pick up toys day. Apparently not everyone got the message.

I Think Not!

2011-05-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

Mum's juvenile and totally inappropriate humor rose again when she was in PetSmart buying some needed supplies. she saw these diapers and thought they were hysterically funny, especially the one of the corgi.

I think not! How rude...and poor marketing if you ask me.

Apparently...

2011-04-21T07:19:00.000-07:00

Mum says that apparently we have a very dead, very smelly, beached whale in our suburban backyard. She has come to this conclusion because Cooper rolled in something incredibly snarky before bed and arrived with a huge black, smelly, oil substance on his neck.

I am somewhat confused as we live an hour from the beach. And Cooper would not tell me where this delicious specimen is. And Mum is totally disgusted with both of us running around the backyard and coming in muddy and smelly. Not sure I see the problem in that.

So Cooper has been demoted from "King" and I am once again on the throne!

Love, Dozer

All Hail the King!

It's Good to be King

2011-04-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

My royal bedroom

My royal pillow

It's good to be king

We are exhausted...

2011-04-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

Mum got a bee in her bonnet after church that we should do some spring cleaning. "Whatever for?" I asked, the dog run is perfectly suited to be the catchall of the house. But Mum had ordered a dumpster and she filled it in an hour and while not completely finished, felt she had made progress. The she locked me (not Cooper, but me) in the house and cut the front and back lawns. Apparently because Cooper does not try to attack the lawn mower he can stay outside.

After she got that done then Mum took a long look at the mud situation which in Oregon is part and parcel of life. It seems Mum does not like all the mud we have been tracking into the house. Who knew?

You can see the mud patch we have created this past winter. We are creatures of habit, why use the ramp when we can track in mud?

Mum got some pavers to see if she can "re-direct" our paws. Not likely.

Then it was time to take a look at the house.

Definite need for some color, don't you think? Well I told Mum it was not just needed, it was mandatory!

It's a start but I am not sure Mum actually put these plantings together. I suspect Home Depot had a hand in it.

Because of lack of food I have been forced to consume the birdseed that has fallen under the apple tree. What little nutrition I can get from the seed keeps me alive but I cannot last long. (That is a hint for you to send me food and quickly).

This is Cooper. He says he is frozen in disbelief at my claims. I have no idea what the means but ignore it.

Love, Dozer

A Moment of Silence Please...

2011-04-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

Someone killed Mr. Platypus

Was it Cooper? "No" he says.

Was it Dozer? "No" he says.

"Okay, it might have been me!"

2011-04-14T07:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Jed and Abby,

Thank you for writing! We are so behind on the blog it is embarrassing. Hopefully tonight or tomorrow night I will get pictures up and entries made. Work has been so busy that the boys have not gotten on the computer since forever.

Dozer’s leg is pretty much mended, looks like a sprain. No fetch anymore and only tug of war occasionally.

We have been taking long walks each evening – even in the non-stop rain here in Oregon. Both Dozer and Cooper know that right after their dinner we will put on walking vests and be off to the Park or into the car to go find a trail to hike.

Dozer has been taking lots of pictures so his update to the blog will have lots of visual aids.

Thanks for checking on us,
____________________________

Nancy

From: Jed and Abby in MerryLand
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 1:48 AM
To: Nancy Edwards
Subject: [Our Life: Dozer and Coop] New comment on Our Chaotic Life and Yours.

Didn't realize how long it had been since we'd stopped by. How is Dozer's leg?

Re: the Oprah piece - mama thinks the sooner one understands we're all just human and most of us are doing the best we can, the greater the chance of contentment, with occasional bursts of joy and deep dispair - hopefully, more of the former than the later. Some people never figure that out. Sounds like she's doing well to have figured it out by 39. Hope she painted the poor stepson's room - or let him do it.

Jed & Abby

Our Chaotic Life and Yours

2011-03-21T16:33:00.000-07:00

Mum did not write this and it is very long, but we felt it is worth reading. It reminds us we don't have to be perfect. Of course I am but for the rest of you, it is a good read. (Mum threw in pictures to keep your interest up).

Last week on the freeway, a car did a 360 and crashed into the shoulder, right in front of me. I pulled over and called 911, then got out of my car and walked back along the road to make sure the driver was okay. No one else had stopped.

A woman in her late 20s with dust all over her face was standing by her car, crying and shaking. I led her to my Honda, gave her a Handi Wipe for her face, and listened as a torrent of panicked words flowed from her mouth -- she was unemployed, she didn't have insurance, she shouldn't have been driving at all, people were so crazy on the freeway. I agreed that people were crazy.

I told her that I'd seen the guy in the pickup cut right into her lane. I told her that it wasn't her fault, that she was lucky she wasn't hurt, that the cops would come and fine her, not arrest her, for driving without insurance. When the tow truck arrived, I handed her my number in case she needed a witness. I gave her a hug and told her "Good luck."

The next day, when she found my number in her wallet, she would remember me as the lady who stopped and remained calm at the scene of the accident. To her, I would be the woman with the two kids' car seats in back, the kind of mature adult who stays clearheaded and calls 911 and offers hugs and empathizes and has a travel pack of Handi Wipes in her glove compartment.

What the hell has happened to me?

Right before the accident, I was listening to Eckhart Tolle on my car stereo. He's the guy who tells you to live in the now -- sort of like the guru Ram Dass but more clean-cut, and with a German accent.
"Please pay attention not just to the words, but to the silent spaces between the words," he was telling me as I hurtled down the freeway at 70 miles an hour. "That's where the shift happens."

I was trying to focus on the silent spaces between the words as a means of putting my worries and neurotic thoughts aside. I wanted to shake off the frustrations of my workday before I picked up my daughter from daycare. I wanted to be relaxed and present, not harried and distracted and bossy. I wanted to be living in the now.

I've never exactly been an expert at now-living. In fact, I had Eckhart Tolle on in my car to begin with because five years earlier, when I was trying to gather the will to dump the last of a string of freewheeling, noncommittal stoner boyfriends, I was given the CD by a Reiki healer recommended by a friend who was having so much trouble living in the now that she could barely sleep at night.

I was skeptical, but the Reiki healer, despite having a job title that sounds like an exotic dog breed, was a very good listener. Sure, she would conjure the spirits of the universe occasionally, rallying them to aid me in my quest to find myself and, if necessary, ditch the man whose childlike sense of wonder seemed to require him to remain unemployed indefinitely. But the universe did appear to be on my side more often during that time, plus the healer gave very pragmatic advice: Exercise. Get more sleep. Read this book. Stop thinking that way.

Mostly she encouraged me to open myself up to the unknown, to stop hiding from the world. She quickly recognized that I was a creature of habit, interested in safety above all else, and she could see how it compromised my enjoyment of life. She told me to try new things for a change, drive to new places, stop and eat at random Chinese restaurants and taco trucks, wander through the world with open eyes, dare to be vulnerable in the face of life's unpredictable twists and turns.

I ate some really bad Chinese food during that time, but something shifted inside me. I became more courageous. I listened to the Eckhart Tolle CD she gave me only twice before I resolved to dump the stoner and move on.

I threw a big party. I lost ten pounds. I bought a really nice king-size bed and mattress for me and my dog, Potus, to share. And as I was painting the room that was once my boyfriend's office a defiantly girlie shade of lavender pink, I thought: "This is the start of my new life! Everything will make sense from this point forward. I won't need therapists or healers or New Age CDs ever again. I am open to the world, I am vulnerable, I am confident and strong. I will take whatever comes. I will live with the dangers of the world, I will lean into the chaos!"

That was then. Today, five years later, the baby is crying. The 2-year-old won't put on her underwear. My husband left for an early meeting, so it's all up to me. The dogs need to be fed. The sink is filled with dirty dishes. And before he left for school, my 13-year-old stepson told us that if he has to spend another day in a room that's painted lavender pink, he's going to lose his mind.

The world is one big blaring alarm clock going off in my ear, but I'm staring blankly at myself in the mirror. My hair is pulled back in a knot -- not the carefree knot of a younger woman who hit the bars last night but the perpetually frazzled-looking knot of a 39-year-old mother who spends her free minutes (what free minutes?) staring into the middle distance like a ghost, fantasizing about central air-conditioning. I look haggard and confused.

Why am I getting it all wrong? Why can't I be the kind of mom who gets up early to work out, then showers and styles her hair and gets dressed, the kind of smooth professional who can jiggle the baby while coaxing the 2-year-old into her underwear? Why can't I be the relaxed, organized career mom instead of some harried, slovenly zombie?

But I know the answer to that: I am not and was never going to be the relaxed, organized, manicured career mom, any more than I was going to be the shiny, effusive cheerleader or the diligent Gap employee or the virginal good girl or the wise young lady who dates only responsible, emotionally available guys.

I am a disorganized, melancholy second-guesser who rhapsodizes a little too loudly over the pleasures of a cold beer at the end of a long day. I am enthusiastic, yes, and passionate, sure, but I'm also fundamentally ambivalent, angst ridden, and conflicted. I am distracted, overwhelmed, and mostly unprepared for whatever lies ahead.

Sure, I was the lady with the Handi Wipes who stayed calm and called 911, but tomorrow it's just as likely that I will be the one with dust on her face, crying and panicking.

Most of the time, I am the messy disaster, the daydreamer, the disheveled, self-deprecating deep sigher. I am the one who complains bitterly about twisted car-seat straps and an ungodly tide of dirty laundry that never seems to subside. I'm the one who snickers mirthlessly when a moth flies into the baby's milk and it all has to get poured down the sink.

What I want to know is how other people my age with my responsibilities get by. I want to know how they try and fail, and I want to know exactly how they feel and act and what they say when they're failing.

"This is a f***ing clown show!" is what one friend tells me he says when everything is going wrong. "What's a clown show?" I asked. He wasn't sure, but I think I know from my own experience: It's loud, stuff is spilling on the floor, and you can't all fit into the car.

But you could never fit into the car in the first place -- that was only an illusion. All you can hope for is to accept your flaws and get a reasonable hold on your circumstances. No one wakes up one day and suddenly they're living in the now -- even the Reiki healer and Eckhart Tolle and the spiritual masters of the universe agree on that.

You're never fully prepared. You never really arrive. The best you can do is to keep painting the walls to suit your new circumstances.

And then, just when I decide that I'll never get a handle on anything, it all comes together: I get a good haircut on Friday, and on Saturday I wake up early and run the dogs for three miles straight. I shower and put on earrings. I sit and read the paper while the baby is napping. I play in the baby pool with my 2-year-old while my husband makes us all dinner, then I have a beer and watch Suze Orman yell at people who are far less financially responsible than I am, while the baby yells along from her play chair.
"That's it!" I think. "I've finally turned the corner! Everything is right. I've arrived at last. Everything will be perfect from now on!"

Of course, that's not true. But this is: I love this f***ing clown show of mine. The unruly dogs, the distracted husband, the alternately sweet and enraged 2-year-old, the enormous baby who still wakes up at 4 a.m. even though she clearly has the fat stores to hibernate through a long winter.

I love them all, along with my overwrought teenage stepson and my little, overheated house and my hairy rugs and my smudged windows and my scrappy, overgrown yard, and all of the imperfect manifestations of this imperfect life. I am flawed, flawed, flawed, and I will rarely feel shiny and complete and utterly calm and prepared.

But look how hard we try, you and me, us and them, everyone. Isn't it sort of sweet, to see how determined we are to do better, to be stronger, to make sure our kids and our mothers and our partners and even our dogs know that they're loved?

Sometimes, even as my world is in chaos, I see myself braiding my daughter's hair, drinking my tea, blending up a fruit smoothie and singing and dancing crazily to distract the baby from the blender's scary, grinding sound, and I think: "That woman is weird, but she does seem to be enjoying herself."

By Heather Havrilesky, Oprah.com

We Sleep- Because We Can

2011-03-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

The rain continues. The backyard is a mud pit. We got sent to the vet's office for two days so Mum and Dad could have new flooring put in the house - apparently we are not considered helpful when they have strangers in the house. We came home exhausted (and I mean tired). So we napped. And then we napped a bit more.

Check out the drool pool by Cooper's mouth...he's got a major flood going on there! BOL!

Godzilla Wins

2011-03-11T13:16:00.000-08:00

It is incredibly tiring fighting dinosaurs first thing in the morning.

Enforced rest weighs heavily

2011-03-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

Mum went and left us for an entire night to go see her friend Delight in Portland and then go to the dentist. We stayed home with Dad but we should have been allowed to go on the trip. Even though my leg is ever so slightly better, I have so much pent up energy I am about to go bonkers.

Cooper suggested we keep watch for Mum all night, in case she came to her senses and came home to tuck us into bed. But she did not. So I was both sad and bonkers.

Mum is home now and we can leave our sentry duty. But this enforced rest is still so boring...

Update on the Patient

2011-03-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

Someone brought their woobie toy, a ball and their flannel pull toy and offered each in the hopes someone else would throw them down the hall for a game of fetch. The patient is not limping as much today but there will be no fetch for the foreseeable future. We are, however, most pleased at this improvement of the patient's malady. In an effort to keep the patient comfortable and occupied, numerous chewies have been proffered and consumed.

There is nothing quite so demanding as a bored Corgi who desires a game of fetch..

(Big Sigh) Sad Face

2011-03-02T19:25:00.000-08:00

Dozer Dog is limping. We are not sure why. He is favoring his left hind leg. The one we had surgery on three years ago to rebuild. We are going to watch him for a another day and see if rest and pain meds help. Please let this be a momentary glitch in his get-along. Love is immeasurable..what price can we put on this face?

Dozer, our Little Butt Nugget, Senor Puppy Pants, and our Hopalong Corgi. Cross your fingers that this is just a sprain!

My Beautiful Face!

2011-03-01T07:04:00.000-08:00

Mum has forever altered my good looks. Whilst I attempted to eat a dead mouse out upon our walk a few days ago, she pulled my leash with abandon. I put my head down and scraped my nose on the sidewalk. There ~~were~~ ~~gallons~~ ~~pints~~ was a bit of blood.

I can never be a show dog (Mum says for a variety of reasons, not the least of which I have no jesticals) with this HUGE scar on my nose. I feel I am due some compensation in the form of nibbles and treats. Mum says no.

* Note from Mum: Last night Dozer and Cooper lied when I asked them if their father had fed them. "Oh no!" they said when, in fact, they had just finished their dinner from their father. So they had a second dinner and continued to deny the first entree they had consumed a half hour earlier. (big sigh) This can only wreak havoc on their diets!

Welcome Monday, We've Been Waiting for You!

2011-02-28T04:23:00.000-08:00

It's been a long rainy weekend. We have waited patiently, looking and waiting for Monday to arrive! We aren't sure if the days on the calendar arrive by car or if they arrive on the wind.

This is me, Dozer. I kept watch best. I didn't just keep watch for Monday, I kept my eye on that dang cat from across the street.

Dis here is Cooper. He didn't keep watch very well, in fact you can see he has his eyes closed...he took numerous naps. Monday could have sneaked in and moved in without us knowing when he was on "watch".

Words Cannot Describe This Sleep Position

2011-02-27T19:32:00.000-08:00

Sadly, you cannot hear the snoring or the little pfffftt's coming out...well, you know where

It's Chilly Out Here - But We're Walking!

2011-02-25T07:39:00.000-08:00

Mum made sure we had our regular evening walk even with the snowy weather and cold temperatures!

This is us checking out pee-mail. I tried to roll in something and that made Mum start yelling something about "Nooooooo!". Honestly, the woman goes to pieces over the least little thing.

Yeah, yea, Cooper and I are touching. Get over it.

Creeks and streams are almost over their banks! Too cold to play in the water though.

Snowy afternoon/evening at the park.

But in the midst of winter, there is still a touch of spring - crocus'.

Time for hot tea and a morning nap, so says Cooper.

Snowing here - yes, in Oregon!

2011-02-24T06:26:00.000-08:00

"Let's keep watch from inside, my paws are getting cold!"

No Idea at All....

2011-02-23T06:51:00.000-08:00

I have absolutely no idea how that toilet paper ended up in the hallway, torn to bits and wet with slobber. Call my attorney if you have any more questions. ~ Cooper

Pet Museum

2011-02-22T08:08:00.000-08:00

Mum found a new website called the Pet Museum that has darling pictures of dogs (and kats). She thinks she might go through my puppy pictures and see what is newsworthy for our blog. (All my pictures are newsworthy). Cooper doesn't have any puppy pictures because his suitcase was empty when he arrived and he was 9 years old. So, that blog entry will be all about ME!

This picture is from the Pet Museum website/blog.

Sleepy Sunday on the Chair and Bed

2011-02-20T13:36:00.000-08:00

There's always room for a corgi on a Laz-E-Boy.

Cooper enchants me with his little legs and cute butt.

Dozer is Mr. February!

2011-02-07T19:23:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Corgi Butts for making Dozer Mr. February in your yearly calendar!

If you haven't visited Corgi Butts, please click here to visit this great blog!

Mangominister - the Drama Continues

2011-02-06T14:05:00.000-08:00

Dozer's Mum here: Not content to eat rat poison last Saturday, this Saturday Dozer ate almost a pound of almonds flavored by wasabi mustard. (Yes, that hot little green mustard that garnishes sushi). Made by a well known American almond company I checked the bag and it had no definitive warnings aimed towards dogs. Called the veterinarian, who after their eyes stopped rolling, said she did not think Dozer would be in danger from consuming so many almonds. The vet suggested I call the Poison Control Line and not tell them it was a dog, just a person that weighs 34 pounds. Of course I told them the truth, I had a 34 pound wayward corgi had consumed almost a pound of almonds. The folks at Poison Control stated that the almonds would act like fiber so just stand back and all would be well.

Cooper remains nonplussed about the entire situation.

We did receive the following, again from the Judicial Branch of Mangominister...

Jed and Abby in MerryLand has left a new comment on your post "Unwanted Attention from the Judicial Committee":

Someone's been watching CSI; latex gloves, indeed. We did read the earlier post in which your mom clearly set out the circumstances of Dozer's Unfortunate Event [happily, not a Series of Unfortunate Events], so we know Cooper was not guilty of trying to poison his brother. He merely tried to make use of the event, although whether he intended to benefit himself or his brother in the Mango Minster competition is not quite clear. And while Abby does have a sense of humor, Cooper, we assure you The Law does not. We understand from a private communication from your staff that the problem is being dealt with medically, which demonstrates discretion and contrition. We wish you well, Cooper, in your recovery. Dozer, too.

Jed & Abby, L.B.E., Official Guardian of Judicial Ethics for Mango Minster 2011

PeeEss: our verification word was "ecrim." Coincidence? Cooper, are you an e-criminal?

We continue to feel that Dozer is simply making unwise decisions in his eating choices but that Cooper is reveling in these emergency phone calls and visits to vets. We can only hope Mangominster ends soon before Mum's sanity deteriorates any further.

Unwanted Attention from the Judicial Committee

2011-02-03T07:51:00.000-08:00

I told Cooper that we are totally in trouble now. We received this from one of the Judicial Judge types of Mango Minster 2011.

Abby is SHOCKED to read about this behavior. [Jed, too]. We've gotten a bit behind, as Abby is busy trying to monitor so many judges and contestants in Mango Minster, in her capacity as Official Guardian of Judicial Ethics for Mango Minster 2011. So we just read about Dozer's near death experience. We are so very glad that, thanks to your mom's quick action, he was quickly and effectively treated.

As this was not an attempt to bribe the judge [although it was certainly an attempt to deceive the judge], Cooper's offense does not technically fall under Abby's jurisdiction as Guardian of Judicial Ethics. However, Cooper, Abby strongly suggests that you look deep within your inherently good sportsman Cocker soul and then apologize to your brother. We prefer to hope this was a momentary abberation, perhaps brought on by a little jealousy at all the extra attention Dozer received following his Narrow Escape.

Jed & Abby, L.B.E., Official Guardian of Judicial Ethics for Mango Minster 2011

Does this look like the face of a trouble-maker, I ask you. No seriously. I am asking you. Well of course not. Just a 13 year old Cocker Spaniel with a little spit fire in their soul and a sense of humor. And the rumors that I actually fed Dozer the rat poison are totally untrue. And even if you think I did...well I would have worn latex gloves on my paws to keep my identity secret.

Disaster Averted in Mango Minister Competition!

2011-02-01T07:25:00.000-08:00

We regret to inform our readers that Cooper was caught on the computer last night attempting to send the judges of Mango Minister a missive stating that his brother, Dozer, had consumed rat poison over the weekend in an ~~attempt~~ ~~as a grandstanding~~ as a ploy to garner the sympathy vote in his class in Mango Minister!

I would like to state categorically that Dozer did not eat rat poison to ingratiate himself with the judges of Mango Minster. This type of behavior is uncharacteristic of Cooper and was met with complete shock and dismay.

Cooper has been put on short rations when it comes to treats and has had a stern, yet gentle, talking to about this sort of behavior.

Dozer was completely overcome with a justifiable desire to commit homicide and had to be reminded that being "crackers" does not include a need for an anger management course.

"Yeah whatever...I need a beauty nap for the Diva division."

Sleepy Sunday - Diva Style

2011-01-30T13:56:00.000-08:00

That was a close one!

2011-01-29T17:03:00.000-08:00

Dozer was visiting a friend with me and found some rat poison hidden under a staircase (who has rat poison for Norwegian wharf rats in Oregon?). By the time we got to him, Dozer had consumed it all. I threw him (not literally of course) into the car and we were down to the emergency vet in under five minutes. He was whisked into the back, given an injection to induce vomiting and he produced the poison pellets. I brought a packet of the rat poison with me so the vets knew exactly what he had ingested.

He is home now sleeping due to the medication they gave him. He will be on Vitamin K for two weeks to help with his blood clotting. This is all precautionary, the vet felt they had gotten most of the poison out of his system.

Trip to emergency vet: $189.00

Grey hair on Mum: More than this morning

Taking baby boy dog home: Ecstasy

Peace of mind: Priceless

We Won An Award! with Diva Picture

2011-01-26T19:14:00.000-08:00

Our pal Kirby gave us an award! We are just shallow enough to think we actually deserve this award and we're tickled pink to put it up for all to see!

Apparently one must share 7 things about yourself as part and parcel of accepting this award, so here goes..

(1) Cooper bed surfs if you rub his butt. He scoots all over the bed and makes moaning noises.

(2) Dozer can hold his pee for up to 23 hours (although his Mum will not let him do this) - his previous owners shared this with his forever Mum when she picked him up.

(3) Cooper does not like to poop when he is on a walk on a leash. He's kind of shy about that but he has gotten better after 4.5 years with the family.

(4) Dozer pretends to yawn and makes a small growling noise when he feels he is being ignored or Cooper is getting too much attention.

(5) Cooper plays psychological tricks on Dozer which Dozer falls for every time, hence the reason we play "Musical Laps" in the evenings.

(6) Both boys eat Canidae dog food because it keeps their weight just where it should be.

(7) Cooper sits right in front of the gas fireplace in the family room so that he becomes almost thermal nuclear in temperature and the room remains freezing cold. He sees no problem with this.

We would like to pass this award onto some friends of ours

The Casbah Kittens (click here to visit)

Bouncing Bertie (click here to visit)

Country Corgis (click here to visit)

Emmitt the Pug (click here to visit)

Martha and Bailey (click here to visit)

We know we were supposed to give it to 15 friends but Mum got tired and if we left you off, go ahead and take the award with our blessings. We would just love to read the 7 things about you - I bet there are secrets you can tell! BOL!

Some Diva huh? Someone should tell Cooper that Diva's don't let their tongues hang ten like that!

Yeah, the girls go crazy for me in the pool. See Mum on the right? She is holding those crazy girls back, they just want to kiss me forever. Really.

MangoMinster Entries Checking In

2011-01-25T20:42:00.000-08:00

Mum has been very busy at work and then she took a trip to Seattle to see Dad to celebrate their wedding anniversary. She apparently is not quite so diligent in seeing to our entries in MangoMinster and we will need to remedy this toot suite!

I am committed (figuratively, not literally) to being the top Crackers Dog in the show. I have worked all my short life to be the epitome of what a crackers dog should be.

Cooper, on the other hand, continues to be the diva of the house - I mean really people, who demands to be wrapped in a blanket on top of the bed before retiring? Cooper does.

Cooper's constant posing is really getting old. What about me? Moi?

Look at those eyes people - nothing says crazy and crackers like big, melt-your-heart eyes.

Look, who else but a Crackers Dog would eat a tomato? Hmm, I ask you that!

Mum says it is past our bedtime so we will regroup tomorrow night and I will talk about our bribes to the judges. We have come up with some rather unique items which we feel may sway votes in our direction. Oh who cares, skip Cooper and just let me win!

Is it time to start? ~ Dozer

2011-01-16T13:19:00.000-08:00

Is it time to bribe the judges of Mangominster? Because we are ready here!

I am going through all our toys to see what would be appropriate to send to the judges.

Apparently some of them are worse for the wear..but they are still delicious!

Cooper is going through our bone collection to see what we can spare.

Except that I had to wake "the diva" up to help me in this endeavor.

Oh heck, this is going to take forever...

For Your Consideration - CRACKER Entry/Dozer

2011-01-12T19:42:00.000-08:00

Crackers? What exactly does that mean? A little wild? A little out of control? Well if that scares you, then I am your dog. I am Dozer and I define CRACKERS!

Santa, I told you not to cross my path. I just had to teach the jolly old fellow a lesson but now he knows what CRACKERS means!

I can hang onto this toy until you agree to another hour of "fetch". You'll never get out of this alive kid until you agree.

Being CRACKERS means being able to fool the parents into thinking you are adorable when you are really formulating new and wonderful ways to destroy the house.

The stories of my drug abuse are totally exaggerated. I went to Passages in Malibu, California only to support my friend Brittany Spears. Apparently they mistook me for a patient and the next thing I knew I was in a detox unit and flying on methadone.

But my time with Brit was good for my work on impersonations. I've got my Elvis act down perfectly now.

Being CRACKERS means being ready for any party, any time, any where. Time for the Spring Frolic? I'll bee there!

Christmas? Is there an egg nog bowl? Show me to it!

How about we play pirates? I have a wading pool and we can play "walk the plank"!

See, I can look normal...

...but eventually the crazies surface again and the next thing you know...

I'm attacking the hose and tipping over the pool!

CRACKERS? Yeah, maybe. But who else plays fetch as good as I do?

For Your Consideration - DIVA Entry/Cooper

2011-01-09T12:33:00.000-08:00

What is it to be a DIVA? It is a life of work, modeling shoots, meeting one's fans, more photograph dates and of course managing one's image in print and on products. Is it an easy life? No but when one lives in the public arena, one must dedicate themselves to the beautiful life. Let me share my DIVA life with you.

Yes, I am a male model. To keep myself in the spotlight, I visit my personal groomer monthly for a shampoo, cut and dry session. I use a variety of products depending on my photo shoots for the next week or so.

Occasionally I will have a little wine to loosen up during a modeling session, but I find it can make my tongue somewhat loopy, so I try and it keep it to a minimum.

I am not wild about the seasonal modeling jobs but I will wear what the fashion houses dictate. Thank goodness I didn't have to walk the runway in this monstrosity!

When I first started out I did have some centerfolds taken for a magazine. I have since started litigation to get them back. It was a mistake, let's leave it at that.

Portrait studies are always intense but I look straight into the lens and let my soul shine through.

I try and do some public service photos when I am approached. I also try and visit the troops when the USO does their fun shows.

It is exhausting being on the road, so one grabs shut-eye when one can.

I always take time to meet with my fans, after all they have made me the DIVA I am today.

I really enjoy the on-site photo shoots, particularly the beach.

Note the nice angle to my head - I have a strong profile.

Of course wearing a blue vest only accentuates my powerful chest, which the ladies love.

Oh dear, another seasonal picture..

..they are so tiresome, it is hard to make some holiday fashions pop. Orange has never really been my color.

I do, do some paw modeling. My fur can be high maintenance but it is worth it.

I am politically active and try be on the cutting edge of what is coming out of Washington.

I do endorse some products, mainly footstuffs and the contracts always stipulate an unlimited supply of the product. For that reason I focus mainly on biscuits.

After consuming enough of the product I have to take a short nap to digest my endorsements.

Most people think of a DIVA as a bad thing and we can only blame Martha Stewart on that. No, a DIVA is not a bad thing. We are just different. We are beautiful and that makes us special.

Sleepy Sunday - 2011 Edition - Dozer

2011-01-09T11:25:00.000-08:00

Shhh, Mum has a runny nose and is tired, so we uploaded our own photos today.

I get the bigger picture 'cause I am the most important and cause Cooper can't figure out how to use the photo editing program (hee hee)

The People Who Feed Us

2011-01-04T12:14:00.000-08:00

I thought perhaps you might be interested in meeting the people we depend on, our parents. Let's start with Dad.

As a young man, Dad always had an affinity for being a "fly boy". His aviator days started when he was a wee lad and even today he dreams of soaring. While he does not actually have a pilot license, he does have a radio controlled airplane that he has successfully flown with our boy.

This here is a picture of Dad and his brother (that's their Mum in the middle). You can see he already had his aviator hat on and he was ready to take off. The saddle shoes just show how trendy he was back in the day.

And this is Dad now

Aviator hat? Yup. Goggles? Yup. White scarf? Yup.

We love Dad for a variety of reasons but the biggest is that he thinks eating the same thing twice a day has to be boring, so he gives us bites of things like pizza, bread, tomatoes, carrots, apple and other items not necessarily on our dietary list of things to consume. (Sadly no wine).

So, hats off to Dad for his dashing good looks and sharing attitude when it comes to consumables!

Sleepy Sunday - 2011 Edition - Dozer

2011-01-02T02:01:00.000-08:00

Let's look over some of our best napping photos of 2010 shall we?

Please note that most of these boring images are of Cooper. I rest my case.

(These were all naps taken in one day)

If Cooper's day job doesn't work out, I am renting him out as a rug.

No, he's not dead...well, actually I'm not sure...

Why would anyone put an arm on this chair when everyone knows this is where I lay my head?

Happy New Year to Our Friends!

2011-01-01T14:24:00.000-08:00

We have been "incognito" for the past two weeks because we took a trip with Mum and Da and I didn't want people to know we were away because they might have come and robbed the house. I told Mum no tweets, no blog entries, no Facebook notes, nothing(!) because we left most of our toys in the house and I felt sure there were nefarious individuals out there waiting to get our felties, tug toys, balls and other special toys!

We drove to Arizona and stayed in our little house there. We saw our Uncle Bryan and our cousin Beau the Basset (he has 2,400 friends on Facebook - can you believe it?)

This here is Beau. He is wearing a Christmas ribbon that our GrandMere put on him.

This is Uncle B showing Cooper the nice lunch we had. Cooper didn't get any.

This is Cooper sleeping off his Christmas lunch.

These are Cooper's paws again, the ones Mum loves.

This is me sleeping next to my boy while he is talking on Facebook.

This is me playing tug with my boy. I won.

We are glad to be back and send Happy New Year wishes to all out bloggy pals!

Love, Dozer and Cooper

P.S. It snowed on the way home and it made getting through the passes long and arduous. Good thing Dad drove!

It's the Corgi Express!

2010-12-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

From the 35th Sisters (Oregon) Christmas parade. We found this at The Daily Corgi and they think Oregon has really cool Corgi doings...well, yes actually we do! LOL!

Sleepy Sunday

2010-12-12T12:48:00.000-08:00

Shhh, please.

We're Fine..Really - From Dozer

2010-12-08T07:25:00.000-08:00

Mum is going gangbusters at work so has let our blog slide a bit. I know, horrifying isn't it? We will get her back on track shortly. Until then, gaze upon my beautifulnesses and be amazed.

Cooper! That was not the picture I told you to upload! Now take it down! NOW!

Update on Dozer

2010-12-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

Mum here: Dozer is home tonight after having his teeth cleaned. He has a hard time with general anesthetic so he is camped out on the bed and having back rubs and snuggles. He was overdue for a teeth cleaning but he did great. While he was under, the vet clipped his nails and clipped all the hair between his pads because he has been licking his paws like a fiend of late. He has had a whopping dose of Prednisone (2 more to come) to stop any itching.

He has had a light dinner and is now asleep. Cooper has had lots of love and pets as well and he too is asleep.

More updates tomorrow.

Teeth are important, especially if you want to kill the hose!

Flys for Dessert

2010-11-27T18:31:00.000-08:00

Mum is still pretty grossed out when she looks at me. Apparently eating the dead flies from the fly trap that fell on the ground made her tummy turn. She said my breath was breathtaking and not in a good way. She went outside and cleaned up everything like it was radioactive hazmat zone. She watched me most of the day to see if I acted funny or sick but I love dead things so no harm was done.

Cooper had his shot of Adequan today for his legs and his nails clipped. I was supposed to go to the vet and get my nails done but Mum said my breath was so atrocious that she couldn't impose me on anyone. What's with that?

It hailed and rained this afternoon. Then the temperature dropped fifteen degrees in 45 minutes. When there was a break in the clouds, we had an afternoon walk but we still got wet and cold.

So Coop is alseep in the bed by the fireplace and I am patrolling the house.

Taking a short rest from patrols...

Cooper likes to get all hot in front of the fire and then he has a lie down.

That's Coop, having a snooze fest..

Giving Thanks - Day 3

2010-11-22T19:53:00.000-08:00

We are really thankful for Pet Blogs United because they made us their Featured Blog of the Week! Whoo hoo! Us? Yeah Us! How cool is that? We like PBU because they have really good articles for canines and felines and all the "lines" in between - they like all pets.

So I have just one thing to say....

Giving Thanks - Day 2

2010-11-22T07:36:00.000-08:00

Dozer: I would like to give thanks for cardboard boxes. They are most wonderful and a great toy. I like to tear them apart and Cooper likes to chew on the shreds. It is our form of recycling and Mum let's me do it every once in a while. Mum rocks..most of the time.

Cooper: I would like to give thanks to the magic bowls. Mum keeps them on the counter and twice a day they float down to the floor filled with foodables. I have no idea how the foodables know where the land or why they remember to come to our house twice a day, but I am so very glad they do!

Giving Thanks - Day 1

2010-11-19T07:52:00.000-08:00

Mum thought it would be good to spend some time on giving thanks for what we have as we approach Thanksgiving. She made Cooper and me sit down with our crayons and write out some of the things we are thankful for. Cooper ate his crayon so his list is shorter but we started with one of our favorite things we are thankful for ....LAPS! Laps are wonderful, they come in all sizes and always fulfill a multitude of services! We love Laps!

See how Coop's ear attaches itself to Mum's sweater. Static cling I think.

What a furball...

Look at my leg extension on this lap!

Nice lap Dad! Thanks!

Sleepy Sunday - Quiet Time

2010-11-14T18:54:00.000-08:00

Mum has our Paws It Forward packages ready to go in the morning! Mum purchased one of Aunt Laura's handmade fleece pull toys for each of the winners and Mum is sending holiday bunting pennants she made for our buddies pawrents. There is also a WORD pin for each of the winners but we think they will look better on your pawrent than you. There is no fud. I said there should be food but Mum said sometimes our pals have allergies and she said the toys and presents would be enough. I still think we should have sent food.

It's hard work getting these packages together, time for a nap.

And the Winners Are....

2010-11-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

The winners of our Paws It Forward contest are (drum roll)...

Peanut
Jane Austen
and Wilson

Please send Mum your snail mail address by sending her an email to nancy (at) senorpuppypants.com and she will get your Oregon gifts off to you!

Remember to keep the contest going by having your own Paws It Forward on your blog once you get your package!

Love, Dozer

Paws It Forward CONTEST! Enter now!

2010-10-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

So Mum used the Blogger scheduler to post this note about Paws It Forward and it has been sitting for a week. It never published itself and it never even told us. It just sat there...waiting. How lame is that? Pretty lame if you ask me.

Anyway, we'll try this again! As you can see below, we received this nifty package from Natasha Kirker. She picked our name out of her Paws It Forward blog entry and then sent us a padded envelope with a stuffed toy, treats (two kinds) some Pupperoni chewies and two postcards with a discount on her jewelry.

We loved all our treats and we gave our toy to our Nanny with a pin attached to it. We think this Paws It Forward movement is a great way to make friends and get some cool new toys and foodables!

Now it is our turn!

If you would like to be in the running for one of three Paws It Forward packages, simply leave a comment to this entry. We will take all the entries, use a random choosing machiney-thingy, and the winners will be announced next Wednesday. These packages will contain food-ables, Oregon only type toys, and other fun stuff for you to enjoy. If you receive a package, then you have to Paws it Forward and have a contest on your blog.

I figure we if we keep this Paws It Forward thing going, eventually everyone in the world will get a package. So odds are you may already be a winner!

One entry per dog/cat/bird.guinea pig, etc. This is not for dogs only. If you are a family members with wings, feet, paws, gills, or whatever, you are welcome to play!

Let the game begin! Arrroooo!

Love, Dozer

Dottie is still getting top billing

2010-10-28T16:19:00.000-07:00

This is just pathetic (moans a sad Dozer). Dottie is in the new Best Friends magazine this month in their Memories section. I blame Mum because she must have been the one to send in the notice of Dottie's passing and no one else knows where the pictures are kept.

(Cooper sneaks out of the room and runs down the hall laughing and giggling - he knows where the pictures are but please don't tell Dozer!)

Mum sends in a donation each year to Best Friends because they are a great rescue and take care of every kind of animal and then trys to find homes for the residents. Once in a while, when I am bad, she swears she is sending me there for obedience classes or time outs. I say to myself "Whatever". Personally I think I am perfect.

Anyway, one more salute to Miss Dots. She definitely knew how to work the media and the ring in her favor.

Love, Dozer

We's Gots a Nanny!

2010-10-20T19:10:00.000-07:00

The kits at The Casbah Kitten said Heidi from Kitty Meow Meow is really our Nanny! How cool is that? We had no idea but we are really excited to learn we now has a Nanny. Cooper went on-line to learn about Nannies 'cause we aren't exactly sure what's a Nanny really is.

Apparently these Nanny sorts live on top of mountains and sing quite a bit.

And during their off hours, these Nanny types fly around with umbrellas (risky behavior if you ask me...I'm just sayin')

But check out the sheep! Whoo whooo! We can't wait for Heidi to bring the sheep...maybe tomorrow? We love sheep - just look how much we loved Mr. Goat (till his head fell apart).

Plus there's More!

We got a big envelope from Natasha Kirker! It is part of the Paws it Forward movement and we are so excited!! Mum is going to open it tomorrow and we will show you all our neat gifts and then it will be our turn to paws it forward!

Natasha has a neat website called Sparkle and Metal which Mum fell in love with (we're monitoring her time on the site and we took her magic card away). Check it out by clicking here.

Kitty Meow Meow

2010-10-20T04:09:00.000-07:00

Many of you have commiserated with me over my abandonment issues. Mum goes off each day to work and right now Dad is in Arizona.

How do I manage? It is not easy. Cooper panics a lot and glues himself to me because he used to live at the Humane Society and thinks Mum is not coming home. Yeah right.

Heidi from Kitty Meow Meow looks after us when Mum cannot. Heidi comes at lunch time every Thursday because Mum has a jobsite meeting and she cannot get home to us. We really look forward to our Thursdays with Heidi.

Heidi plays with us and leaves Mum long notes on us (see above). I can't read very well and Cooper needs glasses so we are not really sure what these notes say. Cooper says we have to be on our best behavior otherwise Heidi will tell Mum we are incorrigible. I don't even know what that means but Cooper says it is not good. (If you click on the picture you can read the kind of notes Heidi leaves).

Personally, I do not think Heidi needs to tell Mum what we do in the toilet department but apparently that is part of pet-sitting. Mum thinks it is fun. Yeah right.

A Cold Fall Night

2010-10-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

...a cold fall night requires conserving heat and finding a comfortable position.

Good-night!

Fall is Upon Us

2010-10-18T19:09:00.000-07:00

The leaves are turning, there are brisk winds coming over the from the coast, Mum is changing her wardrobe, and pumpkins are being carved and presented! We'll be saying good-bye to the last of the tomatoes later this week - Cooper is really upset over this.

The leaves are becoming drifts and collecting in every corner!

Leaves are mingling with grass, Mum had her loafters on and it is officially Fall!

Mum found a lovely site that makes "wordles". She made all sorts of "wordles" for Cooper and moi. (You can make some too at http://www.wordle.net/).

This is Cooper, obviously, he's a spaniel

Yeah, yeah, Cooper again

Oh look, finally me!

So stylish, so....me!

I'm loving the colors on this one

Oh crikey, it's Cooper again!

Are you having a good Fall? We hope so, because it is a beautiful time of year. Do you have leaves falling off your trees? If not, Cooper will be glad to bag and send you a bunch of ours. No really, it is not a problem. We have Mum's debit card and we'll pay the shipping.

Multi-Tasking Stuffies

2010-10-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

Stuffies always have more than one purpose or use in life. Let's look at Mr. Goat, shall we? Even though he is missing most of his brains and head, he continues to have a purpose in life as my chin support in bed.

Thanks Mr. Goat Stuffie for your continued good work - you'll need to lose a lot more stuffing before we send you onto Stuffie Heaven.

Me and My Hugs

2010-10-14T07:58:00.000-07:00

From Mum's phone, me and Da, having snuggles.

I have no idea how Cooper's pictures got into this blog entry because it supposed to be all about me!