Dante's Peak

Wait, am I in Berlin? Oh no that's right, Berlin is one of the Los Angeles "sister cities". Walking all the way up the hill made me just "think" I'd walked all the way to Europe...
Wow am I exhausted! Dad dragged my dale butt all the way up to Dante's Peak just above the Griffith Observatory today. We've done this hike before, but today it was HOT here in Los Angeles, and even tho I'm a lot bigger than last time it's still a loooooooooong walk.

Good thing that there is a doggie water station. I got dad to fill up a water bottle and squirt it into my mouth.

I've discovered another thing about myself... do you know when humans make a "kissing sound", an extended pursing of the lips and sort of squeaking? That drives me insane. A Japanese tourist on the hill today did that and I went berserk and tried to get away from Dad. There is just something about that sound - I can't put my paw on it - that makes me insane. It's gotta be something deep in the DNA because everytime anyone makes that sound it's like I become another dog - a completely untrained and insane beast - but I do stop quickly once the sound stops. Go figure.

Love,
Bogart

2006, The Year of the Dog

I got really excited when I heard this... A whole year devoted to MEEEEEEE!!!!

It's Chinese Astrology, the new year starts later this month.

Love,
Bogart

A Puppy's Work is Never Done

OK, so today I'm at mom's office. She had to leave the office for a little while to go into a meeting. What's a young, feisty Airedale to do but to help with her office cleaning?

I heard her say that this big box was going to have to be thrown away - but she never did it. It just sat there for months and months. So I just thought I'd "help" her with it...

She wasn't quite as pleased as I'd hoped. But it exhausted me, which made us both happy.

Love,
Bogart

Knitting for Dummies

Hey, time to get knitting again!

Before Christmas and all the holiday stuff, mom was knitting like a fiend. Apparently she makes socks for all of her friends every year. All I know is that I find the yarn intoxicating. I've now figured out where she keeps it and occasionally pull out a skein or two just for fun - you know, tossing it in the air, whipping it side to side in my teeth, or just diving in for destruction.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoy this pasttime because she hasn't knitted in a week or two. But no reason for me to wait any longer...

(thanks to the kitties for reminding me how much fun this is)

Love,
Bogart

Happy New Year 2006!

Mom and dad went to a party last night and I got to go too!!!

I know that they keep saying it's good for me to go places, heck I don't care, I just wanna go wherever they go... so it was off to a party at one of their friend's houses in Hollywood. I was quite the center of attention, I always love that.

Unfortunately nature was calling, and I suddenly felt the urge to poop. Well you should have seen mom, she's like a superhero - she got off the couch so fast (I didn't even know that she could see me in the other room, she must have some special sense for that, I'll have to make a mental note of that for the future) and grabbed my leash then came flying at me. She scooped me up in her arms and we ran down the stairs and outside. After a brief sniff of the neighborhood, I was able to relieve myself. Whew! Thanks for that one mom.

Then it was back to quesadillas and nachos! They have a very short table so it was easy for me to steal a few chips and pieces here and there. Dad was busy cooking while mom was talking with lots of people. I kept trying to lick all of the glasses that were everywhere, it was a new taste that I wasn't sure of but thought what the heck, I'll just keep on trying... but people kept pulling them away from me whenever I'd get in a good lick. Mom said it's something about "alcohol" and that I can't have any until I'm 18... well, I'm 18 weeks, does that count???

Then they tried to get me to wear a silly hat. I wanted to eat the silly hat. They managed to snap a quick picture of one hat before I began to eat it. So they tried another silly hat. That one wasn't much tastier than the first, but hey a dogs gotta do what a dogs gotta do!

Happy New Year everyone (from Behemoth the cat too)!

Love,
Bogart

Just Relaxing...

Mom has been working a lot lately, and you know what that means! Yup, I get to sleep at her feet in her office. I LOVE THIS!!! And to make it even better, her camera batteries are dead! Whee! I can relax...

She's been busy trying to learn how to make me my own real blog (not at work, of course, she's been locked in her office at home doing that at night with Sekhmet, another one of my cat co-conspirators, you haven't met her yet). Apparently there is something called Wordpress that she doesn't know how to use yet and she's getting a little crazy. All of these silly words... hosting, databases, graphics, domains... means nothing to me. I just sleep, and when I want to go out I give her thigh a good bite.

Works every time.

Love,
Bogart

Barkback Mountin'

Ok, I'm going to start this out by saying that I have no idea what all the fuss is about.

Yesterday was my first Christmas, and mom and dad took me over to their friends house - Stephen & Sharon - so I could play with their doggies. I've never met them before, the German Shepherd is Oliver, and the avocado-shaped dog is Sneaky. At first no one was sure if we would all get along, but my charm and wit won over the older doggies and we had so much fun. Running and jumping, chasing and play-biting, fetching and humping....

Wait, did I just say humping?

That's what the humans called it. I can't explain it. This sudden urge just came over me to grab onto Sneaky and just hump away. Was I trying to show dominance? Am I sexually maturing? Was it just a funny game? Damned if I know. All I know was that I was absolutely powerless to resist the giant butt of the neutered Sneaky.

Sneaky was quite patient with me for most of the evening, as I just couldn't control myself once I'd started. Oliver looked on, amused, and just glad that I didn't find him nearly so attractive.

The humans were inside, cooking and eating until a very late hour. By this time my romantic antics were thoroughly rebuffed by an annoyed Sneaky and we were all gathering around the door begging for some chow. It came in the form of several bowls of turkey pieces, which I haven't had before and I gobbled down (mom thinks that's funny...).

I did get presents earlier in the day, luckily I wasn't in mom's office so I didn't have to deal with THAT TREE. Some special food in the morning and a few little gifties made me a happy dog.

Hope your Christmas was great and you managed to cajole your humans into getting you exactly what you wanted this year!!!!

Happy Holidays,
Bogart

Bogie vs. The Christmas Tree

From what I hear, lots of people but big giant trees in their house during this time of year. Seems kind of silly to me, they're so pretty and great to pee on when they're outside, but whatever.

Mom has a little one in her office that I believe is evil.

I don't like it, I don't want to be near it, I'll run away if it's near, I sleep with one eye open when I sense she is placing it near me. Absolutely no way you can talk me into liking it, no sir-ee. Mom wanted me to pose next to it but IT'S EVIL I SAY.

I have been reassured that my bitter hatred of this tree will not stop the presents from arriving on Sunday... but I'm still not going anywhere near it.

Love,
Bogart

Ebay - No Live Animals

This is great!

After lots of letters and complaints to Ebay, they've decided not to lift the ban on selling live animals on their site!

I think this is FABULOUS... you never know who you're dealing with on ebay anyway, and all of the awful stories I've heard about puppy mills scare me to death.

Mom still complains that ebay is slowly eating her soul, but at least this is one great thing that they've done - way to go ebay!

Love,
Bogart

Holiday Lights

Wow, I'm discovering new things all the time about this holiday thing...

Tonight mom and I took a ride through Griffith Park to see the DWP Holiday Light Show. At first I thought it was going to be lame... more sitting in the car, what's the big deal about lights anyway?

Well then I saw them... they were sooooo cool! Mom rolled down the window so I could hang outside and I was absolutely fascinated. Lights everywhere, lots of colors, and music. We had to drive really slowly because there were so many people.

I apologize for the fuzzy pictures, apparently mom hasn't yet mastered the art of driving, holding me, and taking pictures of me being cute at the same time. I'll have to crack the whip on that one because I'm sure there will be more precious moments in the future.

Love,
Bogart