Hi Everyone! Happy Summer!

Hi my friends.  It's your old pal Rudy here.  I have great news.  My mommy finally got a new laptop, and so I finally have a chance to do a little blogging.

Her old laptop had something called a bad fan, and couldn't be left on during the day.  It took forever to start up, and so I couldn't use it when Mommy was at work like I used to.  She got this new one to work on something called a "Master's."  I don't know about that, but she left it on an is currently slothing upstairs on the couch watching DVDs so little old me snuck back on.

Lots has happened in the last few months.   I don't know where to begin.

Mommy's best friend, her red car, died in May.  I had no idea she was so attached.  She really fell apart.  She has a new, shiny, silver one, but she says it's "too boring for words."  I don't know about that.  It has air conditioning, and that is a good thing.  On the down side, there's a "NO DOGS in the new car rule" so I haven't gotten too many rides.  You'll notice that she's already broken that silly rule, so I'm cautiously optmistic that things will be back to normal soon.

She also has this big, old yellow car.  It went to a "restoration" mechanic named Ralph, and just came home.  It's all pretty and shiny, but doesn't actually run yet.  Weird.  Daddy and Cousin Jeff are replacing something called a "head gasket."

This car is yet another vehicle Mommy won't let us ride in.  How can that possibly be fair?  She did suggest to Daddy that the trunk was big enough for me and for Smudgie, but I didn't think that was at all funny.

Speaking of Cousin Jeff...he's been over a lot lately, and he makes me obey him.  It's not fun.  He seems like a nice guy until I do something like paw at him, or stick my nose on the table, and then suddenly he's all sit/stay/down.  Pfffft.  I don't like that one bit.  And the worst part?  He has totally inspired Daddy to start enforcing rules.  Mommy I get, but seriously...DADDY?  What is up with that?

Mommy is enjoying her summer off, but she's totally ruined our nap schedule.  And you know what is the worst of all?  I have not been rollerblading lately at all!!!  The last time I went I got blisters from the hot pavement, and so the vet said no more rollerblading until my pads have healed and the heatwave ends.  It has been insanely hot here (worse than I remember in Florida) since the middle of June.  Whew.  I am so glad that Mommy and Daddy shaved me down.

Well, those are just a few of the updates for now.  I plan to blog more often now that Mommy finally got me a new computer, so I hope you are all having a wonderful summer, and I'll check back in with you as soon as I can.

Take care, and don't forget the sunblock.

Rudy, the red nosed (from the sun, get it?) Sheepdog

I am so embarrassed

Hi All,

Just wanted to check in, and let you know about a small transgression on my part. I am so embarrassed, but I know you will all understand.

Last weekend Smudgie threw up on my dog bed. I know it's supposed to be our dog bed, but let's face it. It's mine. Just like all the toys, all the treats, the couch, and the Daddy. But I digress.

So my Daddy took off the cover and washed it, and my Mommy dried it, and then the two of them spent a really long time trying to get the insides inside nicely. They were laughing and carrying on while Smudgie and I watched from a minimum safe distance.

Sigh. Those two are so weird.

Finally it was ready but Mommy thought it was too lumpy, so Daddy called me over to try it out.

My heart soared. I ran over, jumped on, turned around twice and nested in it. It smelled good, and felt soft, and what a wonderful life I have!

If only the uprights (or upwrongs as the case may be) could have left it at that.

But no, they started cooing at me in those high pitched voices, and both were learning over me, and I didn't understand what was going on anymore, and I got scared, so I stood up and did the one thing I do when someone is standing over me in a threatening way.

I peed.

Right there, on the clean dog bed.

And it had been a long time since I went out so it was a LOT of pee.

I felt so bad.

Mommy and Daddy were very kind. They turned away, and gave me space so I wouldn't be any scareder, but it didn't help. I peed and peed and peed and peed.

So now the dog bed has been in the laundry room all week, soaking and waiting for Mommy to wash it again. I feel awful!

But at the same time, I'm sorry Mommy and Daddy, but I have to say it, "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"

I hope they can forgive me. I'm working hard on forgiving them.

Take care all, and mind your pees and qs.

Rudy, the Phantom Pee-er

Do you know the Muffin Man?

http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=36574

I just wanted to pop in quickly and share this link with my friends. Most of you already know this story, but I wanted to share it with friends who don't.

Everyone in my house is thinking of Mr. Muffin right now, and sending good thoughts.

Rudy, a former stray (who believes in paying it forward)

I am still here

Hi all.

I just wanted to let you know that I am still here. It's just been really hard to get online. Mommy's really busy and her laptop is broken, so it's never on. I'm still here and I'm still thinking of you all.

I wanted to wish you a belated Happy Valentine's Day. You are all in my heart. I thought of you yesterday and wagged my stubby little tail in your honour.

In other news, Mommy cooked a very nice dinner for Daddy. And as a result, Smudgie and I got to taste steak, mushrooms, potatoes, carrots and CRAB! Life really is good.

I have a good family and they do love and take care of me. I really should reward them by giving up my passion for eating mud.

Take care all,

Rudy "Cupid" Patootie

Just One Question

Why do I call my Mommy and Daddy UPRIGHTS when they not walking properly? They should be on all fours, like Smudgie and me.

From now on, shouldn't I be calling them UPWRONGS???!??

Just something to think about.

Gotta run.

Take care all,

Rudy (The Thinker)

I am loving 2012 so far!

Hi all.

I hope you are enjoying the New Year. Smudgie and I are having a great one. Mommy's been home with us all week (Smudgie says that can't last), and we've had two car rides already. (Smudgie also says not to get too used to it.)

And today, it finally snowed a little. I was starting to think that Winnipeg was going to let me down completely. For those of you who don't live here (and why don't you now that I think of it), Winnipeg is all about snow. Winnipeggers pride themselves on saying things like, "Yeah, well, that wasn't too bad a storm. We only got ten centimetres...that's nothing." Then they all go out for Slurpees, even when the thermometer thingie says minus forty.

I like snow. I like to play in it and roll in it and enjoy it. It started snowing yesterday, and ended this morning, and I heard it's less than two centimetres in total, but it's still awesome. I plan to eat it all up.

Yummy!

Other than that not much else is really going on here. Mommy's friends came over last night and Smudgie jumped on them. I sure didn't, but I did use the distraction to help myself to some jelly candies from the table. Or at least I tried. My Mommy has really good reflexes. She had Hudson by the scruff of the neck in her right hand and with her left hand she nose blocked me at the very same time. So no jellies for Rudy.

Daddy thought it was hilarious, so he rewarded us both with cookies and dragged us both back upstairs to watch really boring and silly movies with him.

So that's about it from here. I hope you are all enjoying the New Year so far. Take care all, and make the most of it. I think this is going to be an extra special year.

Rudy, who never forgets auld acquaintances...

Christmas Eve

Hi All,

I just wanted to let you know I hosted my first, official HUGE family Christmas Eve. It didn't go as I had hoped.

Mommy and Daddy (and Auntie Brighit and Cousins Jzero and Vienna) set up these big tables and chairs, and I watched Mommy set them with fancy Christmas dishes and cups and pretties. It was so exciting. I could hardly wait to find out which seat was mine.

Well, guess what.

NONE were for me.

Smudgie and I got a LONG pre Christmas Eve walk and I was so happy....but it was a trap. Right after that we ate, peed, and got CRATED.

How unfair is that?

We heard all the people having fun but we were upstairs, and Mommy and Daddy put us in the middle bedroom instead of our usual room, and that made Smudgie really mad so he barked all night.

I was sooooo embarrassed.

At the end of the evening I got taken out for a pee and then brought back in to meet people. I tried so hard to be good, but no one remembered the Cesar rules. They all squealed and jumped around and paid all kinds of attention to me. So, what else could I do? I responded in kind. I jumped and made all kinds of noises, and then Mommy said I was being bad. Why can they do it and I can't?

I'm glad I peed first, because with all those people leaning over me I would have let her rip on the floor. Mommy and Daddy are pretty smart about some things.

Then I went back to my crate and it was Smudgie's turn. I hear he was worse than I was. Then we were back in our crates.

So we both barked.

Mommy kept shaking her head and apologizing to everyone. Finally Daddy came and put us both, loose, in the bedroom. So then we settled down. I don't know why they didn't just do that in the first place!

So, on behalf of Smudgie and me I would like to apologize to all for we did to make their Christmas Eve a little louder than it needed to be.

But we were both trying to be good hosts, that's all.

Anyway, I hope all my online friends had a peaceful and dog filled Christmas Eve, and now my brother and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all:

A SAFE AND DOG FILLED NEW YEAR!!!

Take care all,

Rudy, the Canine Baby New Year

Just sneaking on for a minute to say MERRY CHRISTMAS

I'm so sorry I don't get to blog very often anymore, but I did want to sneak in and wish all my friends all over the world a very Merry Christmas.

Take care all, and I'll blog just as soon as I can.

Ho Ho Ho.

Merry Christmas,

Rudy the Elf

Wow, it has been a long time.

I'm so sorry. It's all Mommy's fault.

I love her and all, but she has been really busy....which is tough on us, because even though we spend lots of time with Daddy, he just doesn't do it right.

I wish she'd stay home more often.

Lots has happened in the last while. The tree is up and presents are being wrapped. Mommy says I can't poke about in the presents, which seems unfair, as I'm sure there are some there that say Rudy on them.

Smudgie's naked. And cold...and that means GRUMPY. Now he thinks it's okay to sleep ON me at all times. And if I wiggle at all he growls at me. HOW RUDE is that?

I still have my beautiful fur, but Mommy says that this weekend it will all be gone. She says someone named Karla is coming here to the house to make my hair go away. I don't think I believe her, but Smudgie's already grumbling. He says that once my hair goes away I will be cold too, and that will make me useless to him.

Nice, friendly, Christmas sentiment there pal!

We had to pose by the tree again, but Smudgie and I won. They took almost a hundred thousand pictures of us, but none worked out. I really like this one:

I think Daddy looks great, fighting with us in his long red underwear. Mommy wanted to put it on the Christmas card, but Daddy said NO WAY.

I know that he'll forgive me for putting this up here (and he doesn't actually stop in and read my blog) so I thought I would share it.

This is the pose that we all wanted on our annual Christmas card.

Well, I have to go. Mommy is home today (she took her personal day to hang with us) and I hear things happening in the kitchen. She probably needs my help.

Take care all, and ho ho ho!

Rudy with the red underweared Daddy!

I don't have much time.

I better be quick.

Mommy's on a tear.

Right now she is putting up the Christmas Tree. Daddy is complaining and she's doing a lot of scolding.

Yikes.

Isn't it a tad early?

Mind you, I heard her say that she picked a special spot for the tree so that I would have something pretty to look at from my kennel during the day, so yay!

Oh oh, I see garland. Better run!

Take care all,

Rudy, the red nosed sheepdeer....