Woof!

Any dogs down Tigard way? If so, you're going to wanna have your humans head over to Borders Books (7227 SW Bridgeport Road, Tigard) on Wednesday, November 19th at 7:00 PM for a very cool event!

Woof! Writers on Dogs is a collection of original essays, featuring pithy observations and heartfelt confessions from the acclaimed writers about the dogs they love. Editor Lee Montgomery and contributor Anna Keesey will read from and discuss Woof! Writers on Dogs. The event is sure to be delightful to dog lovers and literary buffs alike.

In the introduction to WOOF! Writers on Dogs (On-Sale date: November 3, 2008/ ISBN: 978-0-670-02029-4), Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, one of the most beloved and celebrated writers on the subject of dogs, writes that few books truly capture the essence of dogs; this canine-themed anthology is the exception. Pithy observations and heartfelt confessions from the acclaimed writers who love them lay bare the relationship of human and dog. Original personal essays include Rick Bass’s poignant tale about the week his hunting dog, Point, was given a fatal prognosis. Abigail Thomas writes about the hilarious maneuvering it takes to share a bed with three dogs. 2007 National Book Award winner Denis Johnson gives voice to The Colonel, his bull mastiff, and recounts a day in his and Johnson’s lives. Michelle Latiolais introduces readers to her bull terrier, affectionately called “Damned Spot” as a hilarious attempt to get her mother-in-law to swear. Editor Lee Montgomery describes life with a schnauzer that masturbates with clockwork regularity. Memoirs such as Marley and Me and Dog Years tell stories of normal dogs living their normal lives with normal people. Why, then, do we eat these stories up faster than our loveable mutts chew trough our shoes? Perhaps it has something to do with what it is we love about dogs in the first place: the uncomplicated, dependable love they show us day after day.

Mama says that I'm getting a copy, even tho we cannot make it to Tigard (damn Bogcedes). Get your copy HERE or at your local bookstore (support local bookstores - YEAH!)

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

Don't forget about the Be My Baby Mama Contest! Enter and WIN before November 30th!

To Aire is Divine

Shiba Inu Cuteness Overload

Ready for some live puppy action? Mama and I tune in to the Shiba Inu Puppy Cam... 6 adorable pups that are about 6 weeks old just frolicking, eating, and SLEEPING. You've gotta see it if you haven't already!!!

Shiba Inu Puppy Cam!!!

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

I'm Walkin

I'm walkin... Yes indeed...

And I'm talkin... About mama and me...

And I'm hopin... That you're all watchin me

Things CHANGE when the car is out of commission.

A few weeks ago, mama sold the Bogiemobile - I KNOW! - and so we've been riding around in the Bogcedes. But this week the Bogcedes decided that it's alternator had to go to that great engine in the sky, so we've been doing a LOT of walking. Very little travelling, lots of local walking.

No complaints from me - as much as I enjoy the variety, as long as I get to go out into the great outdoors, poop and sniff, I'm a happy guy.

Mama seems to get bored, so I do my best to entertain her while we're out walking. It's the least I can do.

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

Entries are Rolling In!

Big Giant Aire Kisses to my buddies Maggie & Mitch - I just got their entry for the Be My Baby Mama contest!!! It's the first one - And it's AWESOME!!!!

See how hard they're working here? It definitely shows in the end product. Two fantastic fuzzy heads working together toward a common goal - to help me find a gal to mambo with and make some fine Dale babies.

Wanna throw your hat in the ring? Write my personal ad! I've got 2 copies of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Loving Our Dogs kindly provided by the publisher to give away to the top two entries.

All the contest info is HERE - the contest ends on November 30th.

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

Hall of Fame

After years of being walked on, tossed aside, and occasionally used as a marshmallow roasting utensil, the lowly stick finally gets its day in the sun. The National Toy Hall Of Fame in New York has announced this year's inductees, and the stick, alongside the skateboard and the baby doll, will now be taking its place amongst the most revered toys in history. Celebrated for its versatility, affordability (every kid can find a stick), and power to fuel a child's imagination, the stick joins a similar Hall of Fame inductee, the cardboard box, as a cheap, basic toy that appeals to all children. As Christopher Bensch, the museum's curator of collections, says about the stick: "It's very open-ended, all-natural, the perfect price — there aren't any rules or instructions for its use." So hang in there, bubble wrap! Surely, your day will also come. [CNN]

Truer words have never been uttered.

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

Don't Forget! Contest Info and Entry HERE

Nature Boy

Portland is FULL of parks. The humans here are pretty darned smart about setting aside LOTS of areas for hiking, walking, and biking in nature. Today I visited another new one for me - Forest Park.

This park is HUGE in comparison to the forest area that I walk in everyday. Over 30 miles of trails!

See all of those beautiful colors? We were all so impressed with the trees and the leaves... this is still my first real autumn where the seasons actually experience some change (back in Los Angeles it would go from really hot to just-sort-of-hot and there really weren't any leaves to speak of).

Some crazy growing stuff - it's like a rainforest out here! Come to think of it, it was raining as we were walking so I guess that makes sense.

That whole blue area is the Forest Park trails. It is so freaking cool.

The smells are OUTRAGEOUS! My button nose was twitching the whole time at the olfactory overload I was experiencing.

Hard to see in these photos, but there was a great view from this high vantage point of the river...

And there are DOGS - lots of dogs - who also had the fantastic idea of walking through the trails on a rainy day such as this. Check out this guy - I was completely digging him (even tho I'm not always nice to boy dogs when I first meet them)...

We did lots of jumping, sniffing, and play bows, I was sad when he had to leave to go up the trail as we were going down. Sorry I didn't get your name buddy, hopefully our paths will cross again...

Walkie = hungrie. Here I am being escorted out of the Bogcedes as we decided to stop for a little snackie.

Check this out - remember the backseat cover that I received and reviewed a little while back? Well today dad was super happy that we had it - look what my paws and butt did to the seat! We've gotta recommend it all over again as a great item, all of the wetness and mud got caught on the seatcover and not the nice leather seats...

Ah, St. Honore cafe. It's a lovely place with yummy food. Dad and I waited as mama went inside to place our order. I get to guard mama's spot whenever she's not at the table - it's the least I can do.

Another fine day as a Nature Boy here in Portland. And it feels SO GOOD...

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

Don't Forget! Contest Info and Entry HERE

The Four-Pawed Blog of Fury

My buddy Dr. Dre has started his own blog...

He's the pup who visited me last weekend from Idaho - a Chihuahua/Poodle mix (everyone seems to like Choodle, I still think Poohuahua is hilarious). Visit his brand-spanking-new blog here:

Dr. Dre's Four Pawed Blog of Fury

Love,
Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

Baby Mama Part Deux

So today a light bulb went off in my head (not literally, of course, just a grand idea that finally became clear). In reading through comments and emails it seems that I wasn't entirely clear when describing what I was looking for in the Be My Baby Mama contest. That's probably why no one entered!!!

Yes, I am looking ultimately for my dreamgirl in the fuzzy flesh - but for the contest, I just wanted help in writing a personal ad that I'd be putting onto my website. So anyone can participate - you don't have to be a girl Dale to take part!

I am going to restart the contest - hopefully I'm much clearer this time! - and end it on November 30th.

So - to reiterate what the contest is, and what I'm looking for:

Your mission is to help me create my PAWSONAL AD to help me find a special Dale lady to have my fine Dale babies.

Are you a great writer? Then YOU should write the ad itself, something that makes me look GOOD - handsome, rugged, individualistic yet also charming, lovable and ready to mambo - that will help me to attract my special lady love.

Are you into artwork? Then YOU should make the photo/collage/macaroni art that will accompany the ad itself. Stretch your Photoshop skills, or cut and paste. Whatever medium you think is right works for me. Feel free to take any photos from my website (www.toaireisdivine.com) to use.

I have fresh copies of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Loving Our Dogs courtesy of the publishers to give away to two lucky winners! This is a brand-spanking-new book that you're gonna love.

The rules are simple - submit your artwork and/or ad text to me at bogarthandsomedevildog@yahoo.com before November 31st. You MUST be a member of Dogs With Blogs (i.e., you must be a dog with a blog) in order to enter. Please include your blog URL with your submission(s). Submit as many times as you like. Anydog anywhere in the world can win - I will ship the book to you anywhere!

Questions? Email me. And thanks in advance for helpin' a Dale out...

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

First Dog?

Now I don't like to get involved in politics - I've gone out of my way NOT to mention anything up until now - but today I'll just say this - I'M A HAPPY BOY

On that note, I've heard that our next president has promised his two daughters that after the election they could have a dog. Excellent choice my friend, a good president MUST have a pet. So now the big choice is what kind of dog will they choose?

Yes I can say that Airedales are FANTASTIC dogs, but knowing that they have not had a dog before I'm gonna have to pass on recommending that the first family starts off their dog-filled life with a Dale. Mama says that I'm a HANDFUL AND A HALF, and not a good choice for someone who has not had dogs before. There is apparently also the issue that one of the daughters may be somewhat allergic.

I was gonna throw out some breeds of my own that I thought might work nicely for them, and then mama saw this post that she thought was pretty darned funny. Ultimately, I just hope that they find the RIGHT dog for them, that they do their research into breeds (whether they go for a purebred or a mixed breed pup) and everything that the First Dog is gonna need.

So Barry, if ya need any other assistance just let me know - I'M HERE TO HELP

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine

Choodle?

Meet Doctor Dre:

He belongs to some of dad and mama's friends and he came for a visit this past weekend. He weighs 3 POUNDS! Even my smallest cat buddy outweighs him 3-to-1. But he's a feisty little guy, super cute and un-yappy. We didn't get along right at the beginning, but by the end of the weekend we had a walkie together and all was well. He is a mix - Chihuahua and Poodle - which begs the question:

CHOODLE or POOHUAHUA?

Love,

Bogart

Chez Bogart

To Aire is Divine