Merry Christmas!

Domenico Ghirlandaio, Adoration of the Shepherds, circa 1482-1485

Michelangelo, Madonna and Child, marble, circa 1501-1505

Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola (Parmigianino), Madonna and Child with Saints, circa 1527-1529

Antonio Allegri da Correggio, Holy Family, circa 1518-1519

Edward Burne-Jones, The Adoration of the Magi, tapestry, circa 1894

Me and a reindeer friend who is an eighth cousin twice removed of one of Santa's reindeer (but I can’t remember which one), circa 2009

Porgy and Santa Claus, circa 2009

I hope all of my animal and human friends are blessed with their wishes fulfilled on Christmas. And may Love and Peace reign in our World between all humans and animals.

Did my animal friends have a lot to say last night? My human, K, was out at Midnight to hear the animals speak, the one time of the year that animals are given a human voice - at Midnight on Christmas Eve. However, it was surprisingly quiet, so she did not hear anything. I thought for sure the bulls across the street would express their gripes about Silvius and I walking by them every day, so perhaps they don't mind us and enjoy our daily company after all! I had a few things I wanted to say, but right at Midnight I was given my Christmas steak, and having manners I could not talk with my mouth full. There is always next year. Until then, she will just have to learn to translate my woofs. And yes, most of my woofs can be translated as, "treats, please!" I'm just sayin'...

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I know it is a tough and difficult time for many animals and humans now all over the World, and it makes me very sad. My Thanksgiving wish is that goodness, love, happiness, kindness, and peace will reign throughout the World and make it a better place for all. Let every human and animal have joy in their hearts and smiles on their faces, and delicious food to fill their tummies!

I am a very fortunate pup in that I have many things in my life to be thankful for, such as: I am thankful that I have a nice place to live, although I can't wait to move to where I have a fenced yard instead of this mean ol' chain; I am thankful that I have food and treats to eat every day (O.K., maybe I don't get treats every day but I would certainly give thanks every day if I did!); I am thankful for the long walks I take every evening with Silvius and my human, K; I am thankful that my parrot, Porgy, watches out for me (and don't worry, Porgy, we won't eat you!); I am thankful that I have made many tremendous friends - animal and human - through blogging; and I am very thankful for my amazing Pack - K, Silvius, and Porgy, whom I love very much!

What am I not thankful for? The fact that K is a vegetarian. I never get any leftover meat or poultry because of her bizarre eating requirements. How can a dog owner not eat meat?! That doesn't make sense! So, any leftover turkey, duck, ham, meat, bones, etc. that you have should be sent to me pronto! Help feed meat to a vittles-neglected dog of a vegetarian owner. I'm just sayin'...

The Look of Love

You woke me up...why?

That is not the look of love on my face. That is the look of bother after being woken up from an awesome nap. And for a picture, no less!

Now that is the look of love! Happy awake dogs make great photos! And happy dogs with a tummy full of meaty bones, romping around a snowy mountain, make even better photos. So, when do we leave? I'm just sayin'...

Veterans Day

But fame is theirs - and future days On pillar'd brass shall tell their praise; Shall tell - when cold neglect is dead - "These for their country fought and bled." ~Philip Freneau (1752-1832)

To all the Veterans - past and present, human and animal - thank you for your sacrifice and courage. I honor you, and I salute you.

Please don't forget the Disabled American Veterans. Also, please check out the various organization that help military pets, such as Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pets, Foster Military Pets, and Military Working Dog Foundation.

Lord, bid war's trumpet cease; Fold the whole earth in peace. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes (1841-1935)

I couldn't have woofed it better myself, Mr. O.W. Holmes! "...the whole earth in peace" is what all on Earth should be striving to achieve. Live a life of kindness and goodness. Be gentle, considerate, and caring. Love. And smile, because it's contagious. And you don't need a vaccine! I'm just sayin'...

Here I Come To Save The Day!

"Some say that the age of chivalry is past, that the spirit of romance is dead. The age of chivalry is never past, so long as there is a wrong left unredressed on earth." --Charles Kingsley, 1819-1875

After the harrowing Halloween week I just experienced I decided it was time to take gallant action. To prevent such dreadfulness from ever effecting me or my Pack again I dug a trench. Should any of those ghoulies, ghosties, and other things that go bump in the night decide to wreck havoc around here again I will be prepared.

One final check of my trench:

Everything looks good and in place.

My work here is done.

Jolly good job, if I do woof so myself!

Perfect! A job well done!

Being an Alpha Male and the leader of my Pack (although my human, K, would argue that point), I am rather liking this chivalrous role. I hope that chivalry makes a comeback in both the animal and human males. We need to teach those wicked creatures that they can't boss us around or scare us anymore.

Also, it would be rather nice to go down in the history books next to the other great chivalrous males of the past, such as Mighty Mouse, Underdog, King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, and especially Sir Galahad, who was revered for his "courage, gentleness, courtesy, and chivalry." I think Sir Suka has a noble ring to it. Now, if I could only find a bone placed in a stone, I could chew it out and be King Suka with the mighty Excalibone! I'm just sayin'...

Spooky Vision

"From ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties, and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord deliver us."--- Traditional Scottish Prayer.

What a bizarre, spooky week! I think my feelings can be summed by best by Ministry:

"Well I live with snakes and lizards and other things that go bump in the night cos to me everyday is Halloween I have given up hiding and started to fight..."

I am not much of a fighter, but I finally put my paws down about all the creepy things that have been going on around here, especially concerning my head and body, and voilà! I am back to normal! Well, almost. Now there seems to be an eerie red glow around me. But, using this to my advantage, I will be a Stop Light for Halloween tonight. Then all the bunnies will have to stop when they see me! Hello, Halloween bunny treats! I'm just sayin'...

Nightmare On My Street

With much dread, Silvius returned to the creepy corn stalks to locate my head.

Suddenly a terrifying presence surrounded Silvius, but using all of his might he fought off the possession and remained victorious! Success! Silvius braved the dark forces and triumphed! As he brought me back my head, Silvius reflected on how good always wins, and once again evil is silenced.

However, I noticed right away that something terrible was amiss. With weird, sudden twitches and jerks of my head, I felt I was falling back into the abyss.

My head was still acting up but we went on our usual evening walk. Because, as my human, K, said, I should not sulk. In a passing-by glance I noticed in revulsion that Mr. Bull-One’s head was having a ghastly convulsion. What was occuring? Was his head broken? Shuddering, I realized that scene was definitely not a good omen.

Horrors! During our water break my head took on a life of its own! What have they done? Messed with my chromosomes?!

By nightfall my entire body was one vibrating mess. I felt as if I were in the middle of the Monster Mash fest.

And so it continues, this horror-carnival of mine. I am sure when I wake tomorrow I will be a doggy Frankenstein. If that happens, who would ever punish me for disobeying? So it could work to my advantage. I’m just sayin’…

Invasion Of The Head Snatchers

My head has been erased! It is gone! Poof! Disappeared! This is quite a fright! What if my head is never found? I don't want to be known henceforth as Erased-head.

I knew something wicked this way had come, having followed Silvius and I home from the corn stalks the other day. But what would a ghouly or goblin want with my spectacular head? I mean, I know I am a very handsome pup but...Oh my dawg! What if it is going to make my head into a Spider-head?! I must send Silvius back to that spooky cornfield, posthaste, to find my head! I would go with him but I am currently sans sniffer, and I have no intention on becoming sans tail, or sans torso, or sans Suka. I'm just sayin'...

Puppies Of The Corn

"From ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties, and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord deliver us."--- Traditional Scottish Prayer.

Something troubling lurks in the corn stalks.

Despite a feeling of trepidation I decided to investigate.

I gave Silvius a woof to join me in the hunt and despite our hesitation, we headed into the corn stalks forthwith!

But suddenly we heard strange, eerie sounds all around us, which gave us paws. {"Paws" - get it? It should be "pause" but I thought I would throw some doggy humor in!}

Then a dark foreboding feeling came over me as I began to make my way into the corn stalks.

Once we entered the corn stalks it became deathly quiet. Even the wind stopped.

Abruptly we felt a wicked presence around us. The fur all over our bodies began to stand on end, so Silvius and I made our way out of there, posthaste!

WOOF! Something grabbed my muzzle! I tried not to panic as I freed myself from the clammy, cold, sticky tentacles tightening their grip on me. I could feel the heinous entity not wanting to let go of me.

I barely made it out when a strong force began pulling at me, dragging me back into the corn stalks. It took all of my mighty Alpha Male energy to keep from being sucked into the dreadful void of the corn stalks!

We made it home all in one piece, but both Silvius and I felt something - something ugly and sinister - following us home. Yet every time we would look and sniff around, nothing! It is a feeling we both have, that we can't put to woofs or barks. An uneasy feeling that we are not alone. It better not be The Thing! (run, puppy, run!) Look what The Thing did to the last puppy it infected! Maybe my human, K, will let me sleep in her room tonight. I'm just sayin'...