Tuesday, May 29, 2012

My Memorial Day Lesson


My human was teaching me about Memorial Day and what it means.  She says that it is a day to remember those who served and paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy in America.  This is how we spent Memorial Day at our house.

First, we got up and took a long walk on the Silver Comet.  This is one of my favorite things to do.  When we got done, Candi took me and Shasta for a ride in the car.  We rode down the “Corridor of Flags” on the main road through our county.  The “Corridor of Flags” is a section of highway that has American flags placed at certain intervals in the median.  Shasta explained how volunteers get out in the dark to place the flags on every National Holiday of remembrance.  The flags are there to honor every man and woman that has fought to defend liberty in America. 

Second, we came home and watched To Hell And Back.  It is the true story of America’s most decorated soldier, Audie Murphy.  Shasta says that Candi watches this particular movie along with Sergeant York, The Great Escape and Taking Chance.  The saddest one was the Taking Chance movie.  Shasta says our human cries every time she sees it.  I know boy dogs aren’t supposed to cry, but I cried too.

Last, we visited the virtual wall on the web since we couldn’t be where the real one is.  Candi told me and Shasta about how she visited the wall for the very first time with her dad.  He was a Vietnam veteran.  She told us about standing with him at the wall and how he looked for the names of buddies who had died over there.  While standing at the statue he said, “That’s exactly how we looked over there.”  Me and Shasta sat very still when a tear started to fall as she told us it was one of the most moving moments of her life.

I patiently watched and listened all day as our human explained how we should remember all those who paid the ultimate price for freedom.  She said that remembrance was more important than going to the pool or having a BBQ and getting drunk.  She said that honoring those men and women was the least we could do…ESPECIALLY on Memorial Day.  I’m just a puppy, but I think I understand.  I will honor and remember all the men and women who have served to protect us.  I hope I never forget.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

A Price To Pay




This is what happens when a puppy chews up shoes.  He ends up in what my Aunt Penni referred to as “doggie prison”.  My human has explained that I was put in here for being naughty and would continue to be put in here until I have learned my lesson about tearing up things that don’t belong to me.  This is not a fun thing to be in and I really don't like it.  Shasta says that is the point of being put in here.  If I don't like it, then I will learn to behave.

This is where a human is supposed to go when he/she does something bad to someone else.  It doesn’t look any more fun than me being in the new crate that my human got for me, does it?  My human says there are a lot of people in that place called Washington, D.C. that belong in this place.


My human says that this is what happens to people when they don’t stand up for what is right and put a stop to what bad people are doing.  Shasta didn’t stop me from eating my human’s shoes or getting into the plants and now she’s lost her freedom, too.  Shasta looks really sad.  I didn't mean to get her in trouble.  She says that she knew better though and is willing to accept her punishment without complaining about it.  I feel really bad!

I have learned a big lesson this week.  I have learned that there is a price to pay for bad behavior and that I will continue paying that price until I learn not to behave badly.  I learned that it is no fun to not be free to roam around like I want to.  And I have learned that if I stand by and let someone else do something bad, then I am just as guilty and could lose my freedom just like they do.

I think I’m just gonna try to be good from now on.  And maybe, just maybe, if I’m really good…my human will take me out to play and I can enjoy the sunshine and open spaces.  

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

I'll Get It For Myself


My human says that we are each responsible for our own actions and decisions.  It is not the responsibility of the government to make sure we do or don’t do what they decide is best.  She says that if more parents would teach their kids that, then America would be better off.

Today I ran across this picture on Facebook and it made me think that there are parents out there who are teaching their kids right from wrong.  It was posted by SOS Liberty with the words, "The youth are restoring our founding principles."  Candi is trying to teach me those things, too.  It made me think that somewhere in America there are other people who are teaching their offspring that they have to earn their way.  I hope I will be one of these young people that have been taught not to expect handouts and that I will work for the things I want.


Our human says that she doesn’t want her human child or even me and Shasta to be a #Julia.  She wants us not to be dependent on anyone else, especially the government!  I am learning everyday that there are consequences for my actions.  I get rewarded with a treat for good behavior and get a timeout for bad behavior.  I think she’s teaching me that if I work hard and do the right thing that I’ll eventually get the thing I want.  Well…maybe not the shoes, but I can at least earn treats.  

Monday, May 21, 2012

I'm Still In Trouble

Every Friday night at 6 p.m. ET, my human logs onto the internet and we listen to Global Security Matters with Adrian Morgan via the Radio Jihad Network on BlogTalkRadio.com.  I like Adrian's show.  He gets rowdy sometimes but he sounds pretty doing it.  He has a different way of talking than my human.  He talks about Islam and the dangers of it and he explains it so that even I, a puppy, can understand it.

But today I'm a little upset with Adrian.  See, Adrian plays music on his show that is what my human calls her 'happy music'.  This music is calming and relaxing to her.  Last Friday, he played this stuff called 'tea music' and she loved it.  She wanted to find it.  Well, today he sent my human a message with a link where she could find it.  I appreciate him doing that for her, but couldn't he have done it yesterday when she was so mad at me for eating the pretty red 'sinning shoes'?  I stayed in trouble all day because he waited one day too long to send her a link to music that would have made her forget about what I had done.

Now I'm in trouble for being mad at Adrian.  My human says that blaming him for her staying in a bad mood all day is like that Obama guy still blaming Bush for everything.  She says that when you blame someone else for something, you are refusing to accept your part in the problem.  She says Obama was part of the Senate when Bush was in office.  He wasn't there very long before becoming President, but he was still part of the problem and he doesn't want to accept responsibility for his part in things.  He didn't have a very good record in the Senate from what I understand.

Anyway, I would like to ask everyone to send my human links to 'happy music' whenever I do something bad.  Oh...and tell Adrian Morgan not to wait so long to share 'happy music' too!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

I Am Bad Like Obama

My human is very upset with me this morning.  Shasta told me not to, but I didn't listen.  I chewed up her red "sinning shoes" and she is really really mad.  She says that I'm not getting timeout, but that I'm going into a crate.    She also said that I was like that man in the White House.  That really hurt my feelings.

My human says that the only difference between me and that man is that I destroy shoes and he destroys the country.  I didn't mean to mess up her shoes.  They're just so pretty.  That guy in the White House is purposely messing up the country.  So I don't think it's fair to say I'm like him.  And why do I have to go into a crate and nothing bad is happening to him?  I don't think that's fair either!

I am trying to learn what to do and what not to do.  Sometimes it's hard.  I see something I think is cool and I want to play with it.  And I like to play with things that my human sets down because it smells like her.  I don't mean to destroy things...it's an accident.  Shasta says that what the man in the White House is doing is not an accident.  She says that he isn't even trying to learn from his mistakes.  I think he needs a crate, too!

Can someone please help me?  Can you tell my human that it was an accident and I didn't mean to eat the pretty shoes.  I just wanted to play with them.  It was an accident.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

How Not To Be A Blowhard


My human is teaching me all kinds of things.  From history and politics to good behavior and manners, she’s determined to make me a good puppy.  Today I’m learning about a new word.  The word is narcissism and she says the President is a really good example of what it means.  She got this definition off the Webster’s Dictionary website for me:

nar·cis·sism

  [nahr-suh-siz-em]  noun

1.
inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love;vanity. Synonyms: self-centeredness, smugness,egocentrism.
2.
Psychoanalysis . erotic gratification derived from admirationof one's own physical or mental attributes, being a normalcondition at the infantile level of personality development. 

If you go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/ and check out the biographies on the different President’s, you will see that Obama has put himself into at least 13 of those.  My human says this is the height of arrogance and that it is a perfect example of the word I am learning about today.  She says, “Obama is a blowhard who just can’t see or hear his own name enough.”  I think she might be right.  I’ll show you one of those bio thingys and you will see.

My human says that this is a perfect example of how Obama has to show how great he is.  He hates the last President so he has to show how he ‘one-upped’ him when it comes to doing that “State of the Union” speech thing.  Candi also says that is a stupid thing to do.  That if you have to constantly remind people how great you are…you probably are only great in your own mind.

I don’t think I should ever follow Obama’s example.  It seems that people don’t care for ‘braggarts’ and ‘blowhards’.  I really want people to like me, so I think I’ll learn to be good and just let my actions speak for themselves.  Shasta and Candi says that is exactly how NOT to be a blowhard and make myself look stupid.  And I don’t think I want to look stupid or make people think I have to talk about nothing but myself all the time.  Besides, I can get in trouble all by myself.  I don’t need to put myself into other people’s stuff and make things worse.

Do you think if I sent the definition of the word I’m learning about to Obama today that he would understand and try to do better?  We could learn how not to be blowhards together.  I would help him and he could help me.  Well, we could help each other if Candi would let him into her home.  But she says it’s too late for him and refuses to invite him.  I’m gonna have to learn this lesson on my own I think.  Oh well.  Anyone got a shoe I can chew on?  



Monday, May 14, 2012

For My Human, Happy Mother's Day


My human spent her weekend with her human child at a thing called the lake this weekend.  Shasta said she loves going to the lake and was really mad that we didn’t get to go.  Anyway, Shasta and I couldn’t get on the computer all weekend and had to watch TV.  Our human left it on for us, but it was on that news channel she likes.  It was really boring.  And then Shasta said we should do something nice for our human because it was what human’s call Mother’s Day.
I decided that I would pull out all those clothes in that basket thingy and sort it all out for her in the living room.  That way, when she got home she wouldn’t have to.  Shasta said it was a good idea.  Then I pulled the covers way back down on the bed so she wouldn’t have to.  After that, I thought I would fix those pillow/cushion things on the sofa. 
Shasta just sat there and didn’t help me do anything.  I didn’t think that was very nice.  We were supposed to be doing good things for our human and Shasta just laid around and watched TV.  It didn’t matter, I knew that Candi would know I had done it and give me a nice pat on the head or rub my tummy.
But that ain’t what happened.  Candi was not happy when she got home and I got a timeout.  So, I don’t know what to do now.  I want her to know that I love her and I think she’s the best non-dog mom around.  I wanted her not to have to do so much work when she got home and was just trying to help.  Shasta said I was doing a good thing.  Now I think I shouldn’t ask Shasta anymore for any ideas.  Can someone ask my human to let me out of time out?  And maybe y’all could tell her that Shasta said I should do it.  I shouldn’t be the only one in trouble.
Anyway, Happy Mother's Day to my human!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Not Just For You, Mr. President

The President said that the people in the military were fighting on his behalf.  Ummm…I’m a puppy and I know that isn’t right.  Candi has been teaching me U.S. History and I already know that the people in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard AND the Coast Guard don’t fight for anyone at all.  They fight for everybody.

When I got into that fight with that ‘dryer lint’, I did it for Shasta and for Candi.  Not for anybody else.  But when my human’s nephew went to Iraq, he was fighting for Americans everywhere.  I think it’s kind of silly to say something like that.  After all, I don’t think he’s so special that all the people fighting would be doing it just for him.  I think it’s bad that he doesn’t think they are fighting for everybody.

Even I know that there is a difference between fighting for someone and fighting for an ideal and/or way of life.  I’m just a puppy and I know that.  Mr. President, I think that you need to sit down in timeout and think about what you said.  Then, if you apologize for not being smart enough to know that the people in the military are not just fighting on your behalf, I may let you out of timeout.  

Friday, May 4, 2012

The Hardest Lesson To Learn


My human brought me to her house last October and right away she began to teach me things she thought I should know.  Yesterday’s lesson will undoubtedly be my most difficult one yet.  To be still and listen.  Shasta is a pro at it, but I’m just a puppy and I want to play instead of being still.

Candi says that there are rewards to being quiet and listening.  She says that I won’t just get doggie treats, but that I could get more people to pet me and play with me.  She also says that those politics people should be learning this lesson with me.  (giggle)
First, she gave me this quote.  “You learn when you listen.  You earn when you listen – not just money, but respect.” ~ Harvey McKay.  Candi says that people respect you more and are more willing to listen to you when you first listen to them.  Instead of money, I get doggie treats and Shasta says that it’s ok for me to focus on that first.  The other will come later.

“Big egos have little ears.” ~ Robert Schuller was her next quote she gave me.  She says that people don’t want to hear what others have to say because they want to be the ones to be heard.  It’s all about ME ME ME to them.  She says that because I’m just a puppy that I am like that but hopes I will grow out of it.  One of the biggest reasons she says she wants me to listen is so that I can help others when I’m needed but I won’t be able to do that if I don’t learn to listen first.

I want to run around and play right now.  I don’t want to listen or focus on other people.  I don’t want to do my civics homework or listen to those news people talk about the politics people.  I just want to play.  I think it’s going to be hard to learn this lesson.  Can you guys give me some help or ideas on how I can learn it faster?

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Earn What You Want


Why do I get in trouble for tearing things up and the occupy people don’t?  Every time I get into the house plants or try to get in the closet to Candi’s shoes, I get in trouble.  But last night I saw pictures on the TV about those occupy people throwing things at people and buildings and nobody was getting into any trouble.  It just doesn’t make sense to me.

Shasta was telling me that the people who threw a brick through the lady’s back windshield don’t care about other people’s property.  She said they think because they’re entitled to the same things other people worked for, they can damage what those other people have.  It’s sort of like when our human first brought me home and I thought I should have Shasta’s food.  I think that’s what she means.

Anyway, Candi and Shasta have been telling me how important it is to earn what you get.  For example, when I behave nicely and do what Candi says…I get a treat.  When I’m bad and don’t listen to her…I get a timeout.  But this makes me wonder why these people seem to think they can behave anyway they want to and get whatever they want.  If I have to earn my treats, why shouldn’t they?  Did their humans not teach them that you have to earn what you get?

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Not A Happy Puppy!


My human took me to a place very early yesterday that did something weird to me.  I had to spend the night there.  I didn’t like it.  There were a lot of other dogs there so they couldn’t sit with me and hold my paw even though I was scared.  I thought my human wasn’t coming back.

This morning she came to get me and now I’m back at home.  I was so happy to see her and Shasta.  I couldn’t wait to get inside to my comfy bed and blanket.  I was so happy to see the shoe that my human said I could chew on and was even glad that Ethan came (even though he sometimes kicks me).  I got lots and lots of petting and loving and some extra dog treats.  I am so glad to be home! 

The only problem is…I hurt.  I don’t know what it is that they did to me yesterday, but I do know that today it hurts and every time I try to lick it, Candi says “NO!”  I don’t think that’s very fair.  She drops me off, they did something that makes me hurt, I have to stay overnight and now she won’t let me lick the sore place so it will feel better.  NOT RIGHT!

Someone please help me.  Talk to my human and ask her not to put that thingy around my neck and to let me lick the sore place.

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