Bringing a knife to a gun fight

This 4th, I'll bring this worn out Golden to a little competition to see how far she can jump off a dock. Let's pray that there is at least one fat lab there so she doesn't finish last! Tess, I'm sorry, but your butt will be staying at home because you stop at the edge of the dock to think for a second and then jump.

Sunday afternoon randomness.

When you drink too much...

...there is always a possibility of waking up next to an ugly woman with a questionable sense of morality, abandonment issues and strange morning after breakfast cravings.

This one is going on the shelf...after the nightstand

A few weeks ago I was awaiting two days impending doom and misery outside a hotel conference room and reading a copy of USA Today to pass the time. Thumbing through the pages, I came across a picture of a guy and a Golden, so naturally, I had to read.

It turns out the article was about Dean Koontz and a little about his life, a little about his home and a little about what he had on the horizon. All of it was sprinkled with tales of his love for his dog and how some dumb old dog changed his life and how his most recent dog was carrying on the tradition. I've never been a huge fan, but have read a few of his books. Don't ask me about titles or when or where I read them or why. This book of his seems different.

I've never been able to read books about dogs. The one and only dog book I've ever read was Marley and Me and I did that right after it came out. I've read the first 50 pages of Where the Red Fern Grows at least 10 times, but always have to put it back on the shelf. The most recent dog book I quit on was The Art of Racing in the Rain, but that one was easy to put down after several pages of twisted political ideology early on...it made for a good excuse anyway.

I'm not a "breedist." I read Marley after all! There is just something about dog books that I've always been scared of...the endings. Recent events in my life and the lives of others (sparked by the article on Koontz) have inspired me to make my summer reading all about the dogs. I have to wait until the end of August to pick up A Big Little Life, and I have a copy of Red Fern, so I'll start with that. Again.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? The one caveat is that the book must be about a dog from either the sporting, herding, working or hound group. I just can't relate to the others. Maybe I am a "breedist" after all.

Happy dogs...

...and one very tired dog owner.

A simple request

If you have ever known a dog, owned a dog or even have a dog, there is a fellow dog lover, blogger and Golden snob out there who could sure use some love today. I won't link directly to the post because it's not something you want to just randomly click to and check out. I'm sure you can track it down from the comments in the post below if you want to know more.

Dogs touch our lives in such magnificent ways. They are a constant reminder of what's really important at the end of the day. If you are reading this and have something furry nearby, stop reading and go give them some annoyingly annoying love.

Sending all my best.

Back in action!

It's been about a month since Tess has engaged in such nonsense. All throwable objects have been hidden out of site to avoid any temptation. This morning, I broke them out...and broke her back in. It was as if there had been no pause in the action. She is still faster than the camera. The blurriness does a good job of masking her other "issues" at least!

That's my girl! Glad to have her back.

Memorial Day 2009

I've always been a fan of this weekend. It usually involves friends, a body of water, and a slew of Goldens. This year, I will not get to see my buddy, MASON (all caps intended because that's how you say it.) I will not get to see Jesse, the stinky lake dog. Molly and Tess will will pout because they get no attention.

I wish I had that picture of what seemed like a million wet Goldens on a flooded dock a few Memorial days ago. That might help ease the pain.

Updated: Ask and ye shall receive...

From top to bottom: MASON, Jesse, Tess. Molly hates being on docks when there is a perfectly good body of water nearby.

Thanks to my anonymous source!

For sale

One happy, energetic golden retriever. Slightly worn. Limps, but not much anymore. Good at catching, bad at manners. Open wounds are like new and only ooze on light colored fabrics. Comes with a bottle of peroxide and some spray that stings and makes her run and hide when she sees the bottle. Make an offer.

P.S. If you've never tried to shave a dog late at night after cocktail hour, I'll just say that they are much more slippery and more evasive than they look. I'd also recommend having someone there to film it. Tess, you're killin' me!

So, do you feel lucky?

Molly truly is the most vicious dog on the planet. Why are people not really scared of her?