36 Hours and counting....

Here I am, the canine Jack Bauer.  Thirty-six hours and I'll be meeting my new parents.  At a Cracker Barrel, naturally.  Hey - the FM organized it, right, so of course there's food involved!!!

My eyes are much better, I am feeling like myself again, and I can't wait until I am heading home.  The B-Man says we'll be Steelers fans, but his mom isn't necessarily in agreement.  I guess we'll have to come to terms with all those weird allegiances out there in western PA!  Close to West Virginia and all that - eek!  I hope I don't have learn to play the banjo!

I'll be said to leave my French girlfriends, but I can hardy contain my excitement about meeting my new sister Taffy!  I know Winnie is happily attached to her boyfriend Tank (I caught the whole thing about the picture by her food bowl....) and  have my Taffy.  Now we just have to find a boyfriend for Fala - maybe Bocce!  They're both brindle, after all. 

Rumor has it that their mom is coming to visit me tomorrow.   She said she has a special connection to the Easter Buny - he seems to be a very popular guy, doesn't he?  Do you think he'll be invited to Tank's bar mitzvah?  I think that's coming up soon.  Or it would be, if he studied hard, but I think he might be fooling around a little bit.  You know how kids can be!

Off to bed - so I can dream of the new and exciting life that awaits me.....

Finally back home again!

 The FM skipped an update last night because there wasn't one.  The clinic got very busy, so my surgery was postponed until this morning.  Everything went well, and I didn't come home with any medications, so I bet I didn't have that icky thing that needed drops and ointment like the shelter said I did.  I just had a bad infection, and entropion.  Now that my peepers are fixed, I'm good to go! 

This time the ride home from the clinic was uneventful - no embarrassing accidents en route.  I had a  drink and a small snack when I first got home, and then I went outside and came back in a few minutes later to rest.

Just now, I had a little bit more to eat and drink, then I had my last walk for the evening, and my "good night cheese".  Usually I go in and out a hundred times, and wander around and play and stuff, but tonight I decided I'd better take it easy and get a good rest. 

The FM switched out that noisy plastic cone-head thing for a comfy-cone.  It's soft and padded and will protect my eyes but I won't get stuck, and I won't keep myself up crashing into stuff and scratching everything with that plastic hat.  Whew!

Good night, everybody.  See you (better than before!) in the morning.

XXOOXXOOXXOO to Taffy and my new family, too.

At the Vet

FM here - Magee went to hang with his frieds at the clinic this afternoon since I had to go there for other reasons today.  Patrick reminded me that they'll make a big fuss over him, and he'll be just fine without me for a night.  Harrumph.

His lion and a new bone accompanied him, so he should be happy.

He gained 12 pounds since his neuter.  More than that from his low point, since he lost quite a bit of weight after that surgery due to the Giardia we weren't aware of. 

He wanted to bring a picture of Taffy along, but I was afraid it might drive all the other boys to distraction, so I didn't let him pack it with his overnight bag. 

I'll send an update with his post-op status tomorrow.

Starting the Countdown

I had my bath today (after reading my note from Taffy - over and over and over).   I see we already have a fan club, too!   Who can resist a duo like us?  I think once I'm settled in, I'm going to work on convincing "some people" (hmmmm - who might they be?) that their brindle boys need girlfriends!

Today was bath day.  Just two this time - a nice, soothing, antibacterial one (just in case there's anything lurking) and then a fancy smelling one called Glacier (very manly) followed by a green tea and mint conditioner.  One might think I coudl have dried in the sunshine, but not so - unless I wanted to be an ice cube first.  I am SO over winter!!!

Here are my bath photos - don't worry, girls, the FD was very discreet when he took them, so they're not revealing!

Getting wet - look what an angel I am!

Who can possibly resist this face???  This is the antibacterial stage (Eqyss)

I look like I'm wearing corduroy!  That's from the scrubby thing the FM used.

Round two - "Glacier" (think Montana, woods, lumberjacks, stampeding buffalo.....)

Getting ready for my rinse and conditioner (and a little hot oil)

All done!

 

 

 

Off to bed, to dream of my new family.....

Love, Magee

TWO BLOGS!

The FM just found out that my new family has set up a new blog for my sister Taffy and me.  It's at www.mageeandtaffy.blogspot.com and Taffy has already sent me pictures of herself.  She's SO beautiful!   And she has plans for the summer - the beach, with all our friends! 

The FM said I have to have lunch now, then go outside, have a bath and take a nap, but I'll be back later tonight to visit with everybody!

OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY!!!!!!!

 Hah!  Fooled Ya - that's not me!  It's the Ghost of Goyle, smiling down on me from heaven!

Wanna know why?

Because today I got a phone call from my buddy Bocce and - guess what?!?!?!?   We suspected that his mom was going to go and meet my prospective new family this weekend (we're pretty sneaky, and listen carefully and stealthily when our moms are on the phone gabbing) but HE went too!  Can you stand it?  My friend went personally to check out my new digs and he approves.  He gave my new family a ten tail-wag rating, which is absolutely exceptional.

B-Man's mom also gave them a rave review, and then when the FM got to her computer, she saw that MY family also liked my friend, and enjoyed his kisses.  That's a big relief, because I enjoy those "up close and personal" lip locks too.   There's nothing like a good sloppy kiss to put you on everybody's good side, especially when you're gracious and share some of water with them.  Activities like that always mark you as a friendly and generous individual, two important traits if you're going to a new home.

Bocce's mom also met my new sister - we'll be a multi-cultural family.  She's a beautiful blonde Cocker Spaniel, and Maria said that the FM doesn't have to worry about putting those last few pounds on me this week because my new sister already has them tucked neatly away on her body, just waiting to give them to me.  

I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself.  I get my eyes done this week and then on Saturday I get to go in the car and head west (like a pioneer) to meet up with my new family.  The FM cleverly arranged to meet at a Cracker Barrel so that the weight in the rocket ship will be the same on the way home even though I won't be in there.  She eats a lot.

I'll keep everybody up to date and send my new address and everything so we can all stay in touch.  I couldn't have done this without my buddies Tank and Bocce to help me through, plus Magoo and his words of wisdom.

Oooh - I almost forgot.  Daphne and I went for a walk through the fields this afternoon.  It was sort of like a date, but we had chaperones of course, since I'm a little older than she is and much more worldly.   We had a lot of fun together, and we shared lots of beef jerky.  I shared more than she did - those lips of hers move at lightning speed when there's food involved, and more than once she snatched a piece right off my tongue!  I didn't mind though - she's young and impetuous, and besides, I was dazzled by her girliness.  She liked me a lot too.  Tonight, when the FM came downstairs to give me my dinner .Daphne laid down at the top of hte stairs and stuck her nose through the balusters so she could see me.  We shared a moment.  It was magical.

I'll probably forget all about her when I meet Taffy next week!

Love and kisses, Magee
(who is busy making lists - hey, it keeps the FM happy, right?)

A quiet day

Not much doing here today.  I helped the FM clean my area today (she's ALWAYS cleaning - I think it's a disease of some sort).  She seems to object to my plan to carpet the floor with biscuit crumbs and drool.  Every day, she disrupts my carefully executed artwork.  Harrumph.  My work is a thousand times more interesting than those stupid orange drapes of Christo's. 

It's sometimes very frustrating to be a foster dog, because nobody is looking out for my interesets, seeking promoters and managers, etc.  I'm sure I could be famous if only the FM woudl devote a little bit of time toward the pubicity end of things.  I can't do it ALL myself1

Then we ran some errands - that's a particularly human thing, I think, all those errands.  Seem rather pointless to me, when we could be home sleeping or snuggling or outside having adventures, but hey, if she wants to take me along to ride shotgun, I'm not going to refuse!   I do enjoy riding in the car, and hope one day soon to get my drivers license and have a car of my own to drive.   That way, when it's raining, we'll have an alternative to Tank's Harley with the sidecar!

I'm also considering some further education.  Twice today, when the FM was reading her book, I crept up and stole it from her.   That's me - stealthy and fast as a lion.  She never even saw me coming.  It turned out to be some sort of dumb novel though.  I was hoping it was a veterinary textbook.  I'd love to learn more about that stuff and maybe be a vet one day! 

Then again, that might be too exhausting, so maybe I'll just keep on my current path - eating (a lot) and sleeping (a lot) and protecting my house and yard from various nefarious nighttime invaders.  Night vision goggles - now that's an idea....off to check the on-line catalogs!

See ya,
Magee

Of Love and Loss (and reunion)

Last night, I lost my beloved lion.  I didn't want to tell anybody about it because I was so distraught.  The FM and I searched but we couldn't find her in the dark, and she was outside all night, alone and frozen.  At dawn this morning, we searched again.  I bravely went out naked and committed - the FM less so, frozen, with several layers on, and grumbling.   Still, we searched.  Then I came in for breakfast, but I couldn't finish it - I had to go back out to look some more.  Over and over, we came in to rest, but I couldn't settle down so we went out again almost immediately.  The FM said she walked about 20 miles.  Finally, she gave up.  We had checked and re-checked all my favorite hiding places, and we looked everywhere else over and over and over again and we were both frozen.   Bambi and I curled up on the couch together and sobbed.  Little did I know, the FM made one more trip outside, without me, and she FOUND my lion!   She smuggled her back inside and gave her a bath and dried her off.  At lunch time, she surprised me with my beautiful little lion!!!! I was SO happy! 

I also got another new toy so that I wouldn't feel like I had done anything wrong.  It's called a Skinneez or something - the FM said that's because it's skinny like her.  Naturally, we both laughed hysterically at that.

We did some talking today about what I should take with me when I go to my new home, which I think will be happening very soon.  I've decided that I will take my navy blue fleece.  Even though I have a nice jade green fleece, I refuse to go in my crate when it's in there.  I have a red fleece with a design on it but that one is only OK.  When my navy fleece is in my crate, I go in there a lot during the day, so I guess I've proven to the FM that the navy one is my favorite.   I have a big pile of stuff that will be going with me, and a list of other things to pack as the day gets closer.  I'm so excited!

This afternoon, the FM was talking to her friend, Bocce's mom.  This is me after I snuffled a hello to her over the phone and sent my regards to The B-Man.   I was resting my chin on the FM's shoulder while they talked about the upcoming home visit, whatever that is!

 

I hope everybody checks out Tank's new beefcake photos on his blog.   He's looking SO grown-up and powerful these days.  Wow!  The FM said she'd hardly recognize him!  I bet Winnie and Fala will be  clicking right over to his page so they can see his latest pix.   You know how those French girls are!

Another day, another snowstorm

I HATE SNOW!  I used to think it was pretty and sort of fun, and I liked the occasional "sno-cone" but enough already wiht the white stuff.  YUCK.

The FM did mention that about 15 miles north of here, they got 10+ inches of snow, so I'm not supposed to overreact, even though after a mini-ice storm earlier this evening (enough to make everything nice and slippery) it's snowing.  Again.  What happened to spring?  Those sunny, mild days when I could hang in my field and observe wildlife and catch some rays.  And eat some leaves.  Leaves?  Who could find a leaf these days.  Not around here. 

The FM was treated to a special song and dance routine this morning, and she said that really made her day.   Every day, usually in the morning, all of us 4-leggers engage in a rousing howl, often precipitated by the sound of the hair dryer.  Today, though she was downstairs with me when one of the other guys got us started.  It was the first time she'd seen me, though she's definitely heard my full range and has often remarked that I should be on American Idol.   What she didn't realize is that I dance when I howl, leaping in the air, slithering like a snake, and spinning like a dervish, without ever missing a single note.  It's quite impressive, even if I do say so myself.

She also remarked today that my choice of a lion as my new toy is a particularly appropriate one.  I'm very graceful ad smooth when I run (well, except when I'm doing my zoomies), and deadly silent.  I sneak u behind her lal the time and scare her, and sometimes she thinks she's lost me in thehouse, and then she runs all around opening and closing doors like a crazy person.  I'm usually just a few inches behind her, silent as a big cat.  And chuckling.....

Here I am on the couch with my new, slightly soggy friend.  I know there are two other new toys in a bag on my shelf.  I also have several kinds of treats in bags and boxes and treat jars there, but I'm a PERFECT boy in the house and I wouldn't dream of touching anything on the shelf.  The FM always says she wishes the upstairs crew were as well behaved as I am. 

I hope it stops snowing tomorrow so that I can play with Daphne again.   The FM said it was too slippery for anybody to be running around playing outside. 

Think Spring!
Magee

A Most Excellent Day!

I'm posting early today (before dinner even!) because I had to share my day with everybody.  And thanks, Melissa and Karen, for my comments.   You're both welcome to share the roasted groundhog, especially now that I have a sous chef and won't burn my paws!

Today we not only went to PetSmart, we went to Petco too!  Since they're in opposite directions, I got to be in the car extra long again - I love the car.  We had other errands to do, too, and I stayed in the car, keeping a close watch and protecting our stuff.  I'm quite the theft deterrent, you know.  Of course, if anybody chose to come close to the car, I was right there, wiggling and smiling.  I don't want people to think Bullmatiffs are nasty or anything!

PetSmart was a big dud - they didn't have one, single interesting brown toy for me.  Not one.   The mom brought a couple of other colored ones out to the car, but they didn't appeal to me, so we passed on them all.  I didn't go in - it was kinda crowded.   Then we went to the bank and the post office (but not my favorite post office - a different one with horrible people - the FM hates to go there, but it was on the way).

At last - Petco!  I went in, and then I went out.  The FM said it was too complicated to try to manage me (what - I need a manager?  am I famous?) and shop for toys (so I knocked a few out of the display and drooled on some....I couldn't help myself) and push a cart all at the same time.   It was OK though - I knew she'd pick out something cool for me, and they had slippery floors and horrible music, so I waited in the car.  Besides - soembody had to guard our stuff, right?

Here I am, a few minutes later, with one of my new toys.  The FM found three that she thought I'd like and let me pick one.  This was my first choice, and I had it even before she could take all the stickers and tags off.  The other two are on my shelf downstairs, and I'll get to have them soon enough. 

 

Don't I look handsome?   I met several people in the parking lot while I was making my selection - they all agreed that I picked the best one. 

We went home after that and I figured my exciting moments were over for the day, but I was wrong!  Instead of going inside, the FM put me out in my field again (at least the sun was out and it wasn't snowing!).   I was a little bit unhappy because I wanted to go in and play with my toy but a few minutes later, you won't believe what happened.....

I got to meet Daphne!  She's one of the dogs who lives in our house., and she's VERY beautiful.  I was in my field, and she and the FM were out in an even bigger field and Daphne was on a leash.  She came right over with all her hair up.  I raced to the fence too (I had been waiting on the other side, by the gate to go in) and made myself look as handsome as I possibly could.  I won her over instantly.  I was SO glad that I had clean ears and nice breath.  Could you imagine the humiliation if I'd met her the way I looked when I first got here?  She probably would have screamed and run away.

Jut a couple of minutes later, she was allowed off leash and we zipped back and forth along the fence line.  Every so often, the FM interrupted us and we had some delicious pieces of chicken.  Nose to nose.  I was so polite - even though my brother used to steal my food all the time and was horribly mean to me, I was very much a gentleman with Daphne.  We got to spend a few more minutes together, and then she went back in the house.  I went in a few minutes later. 

The FM always says that introductions have to be done slowly and carefully.  Next time, we'll go for a walk in the street together, but that requires a second person, a STRONG second person (after all I'm very strong myself, and I don't want to look like a weakling in front of a girl) so it probably won't happen until the weekend.  I hope I at least get to play a little through the fence again tomorrow. 

It was a very excellent day!

Love, Magee the Happy

(PS - did anybody notice that my friend Karen seems to have a special relationship with the Easter Bunny?  She said something about an early surprise.   Do you think she knows something I don't?  I wonder.......Bocce - didn't you say your mom was going to meet Karen one day soon????  Maybe she can get the scoop!)

What's Wrong With This Picture?

I heard that a picture is worth a thousand words, so instead of having to type UGH over and over, I'm posting today's picture.  UGH!

Is this just unbelievable?   And no I'm not turning into a Dalmatian - that's snow on my naked body.

Did somebody forget that it's spring?  Officially?  As of the weekend?  Let's get together and kill that groundhog - I'll catch him and snatch out his gizzard if somebody else will agree to roast him.  I don't want to burn myself. 

The FM appeased me tonight by giving me two pieces of American cheese  and she promised that we'll do something fun tomorrow.  I hope so.  Today was just plain yucky.  Still, I take my responsibilities seriously, and even though it's nasty and wet outside, I patrolled the property several times before deciding that it's safe to retire for the night.  I did see some dangerous alien beast out there - it was too dark to tell.  Perhaps an extra-terrestrial.  I gave it several of my BEST "Get outta here" barks and chased it off.  The FM was very proud of me (of course).

She also said that it looks like I might really have a new home soon.  A real home, with my own family so I don't have to be by myself so much and be lonely.  I hope I get there before Easter so the Easter bunny brings me something.  I wonder if I have to file a change of address notice.  I'll ask Jimmy next time I'm at the Post Office! 

Tomorrow HAS to be a better day!

G'night,
Magee

Better than PetSmart

We didn't take that promised trip to PetSmart today - but I'm sure the FM will be taking me one day this week.

Instead, we went to a different planet!  Or maybe the moon, or maybe it was just another state.  Wherever we went, it was wonderful because I got to spend almost 6 hours of quality time with the FM and I had a very important job to do - I was the official navigator and I got us there without getting lost even for a second.   Who says men can't navigate??? 

Here I am at our first stop, which was about a thousand miles away, and we had to get some gas for the rocketship.  The FM drives really fast, so even though it might look like a car to some people, it's really just a good disguise.

 

And this is me paying the bill and getting the receipt

Then we flew some more, and finally got out.  I think it was a ghost town or something - there was nobody around and there was a big empty parking lot.  I checked it out to make sure it was safe to exit the vehicle.....

 

All clear, so we got out, and I scouted around some more

 

Then a lady in a white truck drove up to deliver a box - it was pretty exciting - kind of like a drug deal or something!   There we were, just the three of us, in a deserted lot on a distant planet.  I half expected Darth Vader to appear - I was really wishing I had my special sabre but I left it home.  We put the box in the car, and then I walked around some more, looking very casual, so that nobody passing by would suspect that we'd just taken part in some sort of mysterious transfer.  I observed moon rocks, up close and personal. 

 

Pretty weird, huh?

Once I was sure all was well, I stopped by the mother ship and had a refreshing drink before getting back in to steer the FM homeward.

Hours later, when we finally got home, I got to spend a little time in my field relaxing and getting fresh air.  When the FM came out to get me, I was so happy to be going back inside to my couch (and my food bowl) that I had a wild attack of zoomies.  I ran so fast I nearly ran myself over, and I made lots of silly noises and waggled my lips and leaped into the air.

It was a great day, but very tiring.  I only went out twice tonight, and now I'm back in, blogged, and heading off to bed.  It's supposed to rain again tomorrow, so I think I'll sleep in (not that I really need beauty rest any more - I'm quite handsome now, and very sleek looking).

Thanks to all my friends for the great comments!!!

Love, Magee

Caught!

Can you believe it - she actually caught me NAPPING in the sun today!  The FM took a break from painting and crept down to my field in her sneaky little mom shoes and took a picture of me asleep!

Look at me - reduced to sleeping on dirt (and rejected leaves).  This is clearly my punishment for ripping up the new toy last night.  I knew she'd do something terrible to me.  Help!  Help!

I'm starting to wake up now, and realizing that I'll probably never be allowed back inside and I'll have to sleep in the dirt and eat old leaves for the rest of my life.  All because I forgot to not eat my breakfast and pretend to be sick.  How could I have forgotten about my plan?  Help me!  

Oh wait - I guess I forgot that I have a blue bed right behind me so I could have slept on that.  And she wasn't trying to scare me to death - she was bringing me lunch so that I could be outside in the sun a little bit longer before the wind kicked up and it got chilly.  So, OK, I was wrong. 

And I did get to come inside again, as evidenced by my ability to blog tonight (she doesn't let me use the wireless connection).  I can't help worrying about every little thing - I guess it's because I was abandoned in a blizzard in a parking lot.  That gives a guy a lot of reasons to doubt his good fortune.

But, I'm inside, and I had my cheese and my last walk(s) - only three tonight - and I'm heading off to bed.   In the interests of repairing my relationship with the FM after my murderous escapade last night, I tried to wash my two favorite toys myself.  I'm not sure I succeeded, but I sure did try my best.   I hope I still get to go shopping tomorrow like she promised. 

Another day, another toy

The FPs were busy running around today doing stuff, moving vehicles and dogs and things, so I didn't get to do very much, although I did get to stay outside in my field, with my "hammock" and watch the wildlife for a while.  Actually, I got to do that three times today, and I also ate my dinner outside, so it was like a picnic  That was cool!

Just now, when I came in from one of my several "last" walks at night (I love to go in and out at night, especially since I'm allowed to go by myself and run around wherever I want), you won't believe what I saw sitting there on my couch!

Somehow, the FM managed to find a new brown spotted toy in a store today.  It was SO beautiful ("was" being the operative word here, says the FM).  It had really soft fur, with a little bit of sparkle to it, and we decided it was a koala bear.   I grabbed it up the very instant that I saw it.  Unfortunately, I did everything else at lightning speed too, and within seconds, the little bear only had one leg and no squeaker and his body was limp and flat.  I'm not sure how it happened.  I think it must have been booby trapped.  Or perhaps it was possessed by an evil spirit.  (FM here - Magee - I am pretty sure that YOU were possessed by an evil spirit, not the cute little bear)

I'm afraid I might really be in trouble now, so I figured I'd distract her by playing with one of the other ugly toys that I usually try to avoid.

 I really hope my plan worked. 

Guys - I'm doing my best to get her past this.  I hope I didn't screw up our summer plans with the girls.  I couldn't help myself - I HAD to shred the new toy.  I don't know what came over me.  Maybe it was sunstroke!  After all, I was outside a lot today.  I know - I'll look weak and dehydrated tomorrow morning and I won't eat my breakfast  She'll be so worried that she'll forget what an ungrateful little wretch I am.

(Magee, have YOU forgotten that I'm right here reading this?  Maybe you do have sunstroke!)

 Oh.  Yeah.  Guess I have to come up with a better plan.......

Our girlfriends

It appears that Mr. T and I don't even have to bother with the rag top or the Harley.  We have already found girlfriends.  Well, they found us actually.  And they're FRENCH!!!!  Ooh La La.  Nous parlons Francais!

I'm making a list of things to get when we go to PetSmart this weekend - I want to look my best (maybe a new collar) and smell my best (maybe one of those fancy colognes; I wonder if they make a chicken scent, or possibly liver - I'll be irresistible!).  And I have to find a suitable gift.  Tank - we MUST discuss this so we get everything right the first time!  I know my personal favorite would be something soft and brown, with spots, tucked into a bed of (yum) leaves and then put in a nice big box with a colorful bow and a biscuit on top.  Whaddaya think????

Next on the agenda - we have to figure out how to get past the big guy who they say is their brother, but I think he's probably hired muscle.  They're so cute, they probably need protection from the papparazzi.  You're resourceful - put your thinking cap on.    I know you're supposed to be studying for your bar mitzvah - you can look really focused and studious while you work on our problem, and ACDC will think you're slaving away over your Hebrew homework.  It's a win/win for everybody!  Especially you and me.

We have to ask them if they have a friend for Bocce.  He's kind of far away and probably has a Pittsburgh accent, but we could say he's from Canada and just flies in from time to time.

Thump, thump, thump - that would be my heart fluttering....

Oh yeah - I almost forgot - Happy St. Patrick's Day from Magee!

Government Jobs

I want to work for the Post Office.  Know why?  Because then I can spend my lunch break visiting with cool people like me, instead of eating!  If this keeps up, Jimmy is going to fade away from starvation.

I had the BEST day today - the much anticipated trip to the Post Office finally happened!   Plus the FM made the appointment for my eye surgery so I'll be stunningly handsome quite soon (the 29th to be exact) and then, if all goes well and I like some little dogs that I'll be getting to meet in a week or so,  I might have a home!!!!  I'm so excited! 

I have a lot to do before then though - I have to gain some more weight, I need another bath so I'm sparkly fresh, and I could probably stand a few new toys, so the FM said I could go to PetSmart over the weekend and pick some out for myself. 

Here I am with Jimmy (or "Dog Bait" as the FM calls him....) - aren't we handsome together?  I'm the guy with the red hair in case you were confused!

Who are all those people coming and going?  And why are only some of them stopping to visit with me? 

Is that a river I hear?

Look - I'm stacking for a show!

Got any more snacks for me?

Checking out the parking lot

Don't they always say this is a head breed?

Is this my good side?

Life is Good (not the appliances!)

Whew - the planets are aligned, the stars are hanging just right, the moon is out (well, it would be if it weren't about to rain - again) and, most important, Bambi is back in my possession.  Good thing, too, since I had to be very manly this evening and frighten off a herd of deer and a fox all within minutes of getting outside after dinner.

Hey - do you see what I see???

Deer, and a fox too!  We're being invaded!

Not on my watch!  Get Outta Here!!!!

I want everybody to know that I was woofing while this picture was taken too.  I am very ferocious.

This is what I threatened the invaders with....evisceration and burial at sea.....

Clearly, it worked, because they fled, and I was able to go back in the house and resume my normal activities.  I decided today that since Bambi is back, I could play with my other toys too, and bestowed my affections on the ringer (another brown spotted toy), my rubber steak, and the legless chicken.   As you can see, the penguin said nasty things about my preoccupation with brown toys, so I dispatched him in a flash, spread his fuzzy little penguin innards all over the downstairs, and then came to write my blog and go to bed.  What an exhausting day.