Gonna Party Like it's My Birthday

BECAUSE IT IS

It's been a crazy year for me, especially with my crappy spleen issues, but happy to say that today I am 9!

Love,

Bogart

I'm Gonna Party... Like It's My Birthday...

Because it is!

I turned 8 today, which is cause for celebration!  I'm a birthday-loving boy, and mama knows just how I like to be spoiled on my big day.

Cookies, of course.  Some sort of special Birthday cookie is always in order.  I like these from the Just Dogs Bakery here in Philadelphia.  Picked this one our special myself.

Major walkies - of course.  And because today wasn't humid or outrageously hot, the evening walkie was extra long so that I could visit all of the dog stores in my neighborhood and let everyone know that today is a holiday.  And so that I could score free birthday treats.

Dinner must also be special.  Mama cooks for me (I have my own crockpot and everything) so a chicken soup isn't anything out of the ordinary.  But today I got a little something extra in my soup - chicken livers - which I gobble up even before the soup cools down.  IT'S THAT GOOD.  Served in a special Gmundner keramik Austrian plate because only dogs eat out of dog bowls.

     

I do feel special, and I do know how much my mama loves me.  We are the BESTEST team!  But really, thanks mama for the special cookies, chow, and walkies - you really know how to make a guy feel SPECIAL.

Love,

Bogart

Today, I Am Six

Today I am a fuzzy man of 6.  And being that I am a fine, mature Airedale I require a gift which befits my status.

That will do.

NOM NOM NOM

I don't get these very often - my silly vegetarian mama apparently has difficulty buying them (she never remembers which kind of bones they are, where they are located in the ShopRite, yada yada yada) - but I'm happy she remembered to buy me one for my birthday.

Marrow bones are delicious - but not the easiest thing in the world to eat.  By design?  Perhaps.  But an advanced canine mind such as mine will figure out a way.

I have found, through trial and error, that this is the preferred position for maximum bone-crunching goodness.  Well, this position does hold you down, and it lasts until you've got to get your mighty paws around the bone to keep it from launching across the floor.

Damn, this is good.

I know I shouldn't talk with my mouth full but who could resist?  Oh wait... we're going to go for a midday walkie?  But it's raining - hard - outside.  Hell yeah I wanna go - saddle me up, mama!

Drowned rat hairdo - check.  Slightly glazed over look in eyes from walking through monsoon - check.  Happiness to be both indoors and in Just Dogs Gourmet - priceless.

Oh, the agony of choice.

I'll take one of those, and one of those, and two of those...

I could just stay here mama, you know, to do some quality control, make sure that everything is being prepared just right...

I did well.  Being six is a very good thing.  I got one cookie for each year I've been here with mama - two little ones count as one! A burger, a squirrel, a black cat, a penguin, two hearts, and two carob cups.

I won't eat them all - I'd like to avoid this embarrassing fiasco again (not to mention that I don't have my Airedale buddies close by to, uh, "help" me out).  Some for today, some for tomorrow.

Love,

Bogart

Happy Birthday Dad

Happy Birthday Klaus - we still cannot believe that you are gone.  A toast to the most amazing husband-o, an incredibly talented and creative soul, and the best damn Aire-daddy in the whole world. 

Love,

Lulu and Bogart

Happy Birthday to Meeeeee

Happy Birthday to ME... Happy Birthday dear MEEEEEEEEEE....

Happy Birthday to ME!

Today I am a strapping 5-year old Dale. Feeling pretty good. I'm sure there are lots of walkies planned, and I did notice a bag from Petco that was smuggled into the apartment last night by mama. Smells good so it must be for me.

Still no camera battery - bastards! - we may break down and start using the cell phone for photos (which mama HATES!). But this is getting crazy now, no photos of me... the world just cannot survive without a few new fuzz shots.

Love,

Bogart

Happy Birthday Mama!!!

Today is the 2nd best day of the year - after my own birthday, that is... it's Mama's birthday!!!

We have nothing special planned, just some mother/son walkies where I'm sure she will share her infinite wisdom with me. I think she's the coolest thing going, I'd protect her with everything I've got, and I appreciate all of the lovin' and cuddlin' she does with me (oh, and that she believes and practices the "all praise" training diet with me)...

Happy Birthday Mama!!!!

Love your fuzzy son,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

More Cards!!!

My birthday continues!!! This morning I awoke to two fantastic new cards! This one is from Noah, Willow, Tess & Lucy in Australia... (I just LOVE this photo of you all - this should be an official Australian postcard!)

And this one was so cute from Molly & Taffy - it's an animated card, and I had to choose boxes to slowly reveal it... the suspense was killin' me I tell ya...

THANK YOU EVERYONE for all of the cards, presents, and wishes for a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I had a GREAT one!!!

Love,

Bogart

To Aire is Divine

Chez Bogart

The High Holy Day

Yes, it's the most special day of the entire year... MY BIRTHDAY!!! I can't believe I'm 3 already...

So what are we gonna do mom? I know it's REALLY hot outside (it was 100 degrees here today in Portland!) but you promised we'd go somewhere...

Ooooh, is that ARBY'S???

I'd like the 5-for-5 special please. And hold the sauce.

Oh yeah... Meaty goodness in a bag!!!

Major points for presentation there dad... those sandwiches look SCRUMPTIOUS!!! But wait... why is there only 4? I thought I ordered 5...

I see, they've changed their deal at Arby's. Ok, so 4 will just HAVE to do...

But wait, what's this? A box for ME???

Ohmygosh, it's from MAGGIE & MITCH!!!!

OPEN THE BOX MAMA!!! I SMELL AIREDALE!!!

Yeah yeah mama, YOU can have the card...

I'll take the yummy meaty sticks, thanks very much...

I LOVE these yummy treats - you guys ROCK!!!!

Oooooooooooh... me likey my new Whirl Wheel. It squeaks!!!!

Oh this one is soooo sweet of you!!! Mama has admired Miss Barbara's Airedale portraits and now we have a whole book of them to look at!!! You guys are SO generous and SO thoughtful, I'm sending you big, super, mega special AIRE KISSES for all of my fantastic birthday presents!!!

Hey, check out what dad gave me for my birthday... a new collar! At first I looked at it, well hey, I have a collar, but this one had a little something extra special about it. Dad made it for me from one of his old belts!!! So now it's kind of like he's passing it down to me as his fuzzy son. I LOVE IT DAD and will wear it with pride...

A BIG GIANT THANK YOU to ALL of my friends all over the world for their sweet birthday wishes, presents, and lovin' - you make me such a happy boy!!!

Love,

Bogart

To Aire is Divine

Chez Bogart

Thanks Asta!

Ok, Miss Asta just sent me the COOLEST birthday card:



Hubba Hubba, looks like we're ready to P-A-R-T-Y!!!

Woo-hoo, I'm gonna be 3 tomorrow!!! THANK YOU ASTA, you really know how to make a boy feel SPECIAL!!!!

Love,
Bogart

To Aire is Divine
Chez Bogart

Present from Lillie Valentine

Ah, the Aire-doration continues!

Lillie Valentine is a love-l-y girl Dale with a very talented mom! A package arrived for me - I'm getting kind of used to this now, and I LOVE IT - which I grabbed out of mom's hand and immediately ripped open. Smells like girl Dale, gimme gimme gimme!!!

This is so cool - it's a book that mom can use to put lots of photos of ME in it (it does say AWESOME ANIMAL on the front, so who else would she wanna feature?) - and it's made out of paper bags and LOTS of cool stuff! Mom was in awe when she saw it, in awe of the creativitiy and craftsiness that went into making it.

BIG AIRE KISSES TO LILLIE!!!!!!

This made my day - it's been sooooo hot here in Los Angeles (even hotter than usual as we're in the midst of a nasty heat wave that's causing fires, trees dying, and cranky humans all around) and even my daily walkies haven't made me a happy camper. It's too hot to go anywhere with the humans because the concrete and asphalt that they walk so carefree across burns my toesies. I do the Mexican Jumping Bean dance at least once daily as I go for my peepee time.

But today I really wanted to go out for a little stick time, so we braved the hot asphalt and ran all the way to the park. Once on the dusty dirt my paws were happy and I could run a little bit. Dad threw the sticks far and I'd chase 'em all right, but at a slightly slower pace and with less gusto in the crashing-into-the-stick method of braking when I arrive at the thrown stick. Just adjusting my technique a little.

A few action shots...

And then it was time for a little rest and some major panting.

Thanks again Lillie for the lovely birthday present, I love you even more than I love this stick (and just look how dirty my tongue is - that's the universal sign of love, isn't it?)

Love,

Bogart

To Aire is Divine