Our Stockings Are UP and Ready

Dear Sandy Paws

Please don't forget the TREATS

HOP

Just LAME

This is what I think of the lack of KITTY posts on this here blog.

It is unacceptable.

I am telling Santa Claus and we'll see what happens next.

Noodles, don't be so sure there will be presents under the tree for you!

Love Sunshine the Cat

Santa Better Wear His Galoshes

It is raining here. That is a good thing, I know. We so desperately need the water that every little drop is very very important to us. But to be perfectly honest, I worry a lot when it rains. I worry about Mommy and my Aunties driving on slick wet roads. I worry about FURiends who have to WALK in the wet and cold. And I worry - especially this week - what might Santa Claus have to do to make all of those deliveries on Christmas Eve.
It keeps me up at night, HONESTLY!

• Does Santa have special protective gear he and the REINDEER wear so they don't become waterlogged?

• Does the sleigh have RAIN tires. . . or I guess you'd call them RAIN RUNNERS?

• Does Santa have special NAVIGATION tools to help him find his way through RAIN clouds?

I am serious! This is what keeps me up at night. And we are supposed to have a lot of rain between now and Christmas Day.

It's NOT that I am sooooo CONCERNED about my OWN presents, mind you. But rather, I am concerned for all of the children and pets in the world who are COUNTING on something under their tree on Christmas Day.

So my quandary is this:

DO I wish for CLEAR skies on Christmas so Santa can deliver all of those presents without a hitch?
Or do I WISH for more desperately needed rain from California and take my CHANCES?

I've got only THREE days to figure this out!!!

Star Wars Crazy

Anypuggy who knows my Mommy #2 KNOWS she is Star Wars CRAZY. She seems so normal and almost boring in her day to day persona - but get her talking Star Wars (or Star Trek) and her INNER NERD totally washes up to the surface.

I thought it had gone away - until last night when she went to see the NEW movie: Star Wars - The Force Awakens.

She loved it so much that all she can talk about it Star Wars this and Star Wars that. If our Christmas tree wasn't already up and decorated, it would totally be a Star Wars themed tree.

She loves the new characters as much as the old ones and is now talking about CHANGING my name to something Star Warsy and maybe a little more girly.

So Meet REY PUG

I think that lady has totally LOST her mind.

The Christmas Card Pose

Molly's First Christmas Card Pose

Look how much Molly has grown

May The Force Be With You. . . Star Wars Returns

Channeling My Inner Elf

I woke up this morning with a START! There are only 10 days until CHRISTMAS! That means there are only 9 shopping/wrapping days. Guess what? I have not even LOOKED at my list. This is my GIFTING list not my WISH list. That I turned in on THANKSGIVING DAY.

So how am I gonna get all that shopping done in just 9 days? I don't even have a car! I might make some of the gifts, I think I have time. THINK! Think! think!!! What to do?

I am open for suggestions.

In the meantime, I have been decorating like crazy.

Christmas Smelling

If there is one thing about the holidays that I love, it is the wonderful collection of smells. You know what I am talking about -

The Christmas Tree - except ours is FAKE. I do get to smell real pine trees sometimes when we go walking. And when we camped at Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe - OMP! It was heavenly with the smell of the trees and the snow that was still on the ground, and the crisp air. . . ahhhhhhhhhh.

The Christmas Meal - If you do the turkey, ham, prime rib thingy then you KNOW what I mean. Mouthwatering is an understatement. Since my Mommys and Aunties are vegetarian, we get very little of those kind of smells. But you know Butternut squash and Brussels Sprouts are pretty wonderful smelling as well. I think cooking food in general smells DELICIOUS.

Gingerbread - This is one of my favorites and the ONE my Mommy did this weekend. Can you STAND IT? The spiciness and richness of gingerbread dough is just about as perfect for the holiday as you can get. This coming weekend we are hosting a gingerbread decorating party at our house which is why Mommy made SIX batches of dough. She anticipates needing about 12 houses worth. Making the dough smells wonderful enough - but tonight she is BAKING the houses. She figures she can make 2-3 a night and more on Wednesday when she works from home. She should be able to have them baked and put together in time for the party.

Then the fun begins. Friends and their children come over for snacks and to decorate the houses. There is CANDY everywhere and laughter. A lot of laughter. It is so much fun.

I usually station myself under the tables because . . . you know. . . KIDS drop a LOT of stuff.

The best part of all of this? There are 2 FULL weeks of the fun and revelry.  I am lovin' every minute of it.

Day for Night and Night for Day

EDITOR'S NOTE: I wrote this last night but for some reason it did not publish. Did anypuggy notice I was missing yesterday?

YAWN!!!! I just woke up and noticed it was 8 O'Clock. So I wandered down to the computer to write my blog. OMP!!! It's NOT 8AM it is 8PM!! I slept away the whole day!

How could that happen? Best I can figure is the soft pitter patter of the rain this morning (that's right, folks, we had rain!) must have lulled me to sleep. And because it was dark from the storm clouds, I guess I just didn't realize it was daytime and not nighttime. So I slept. And Slept. AND SLEPT.

Finally I started to get a little hungry and had to do a little bidness as well. So I got out of bed, yawning and rubbing my eyes the whole way. I never really opened them until I sat down at the computer, turned it on and then, suppressing a huge yawn, I clicked it on and started to write my blog. 

THAT was when I opened my eyes completely and noticed there was no sun shining. . . and it was dark outside, not gray. OMP!!! I've lost a whole day and my blog never got written.

Sorry about that. YAWN! I guess I will have to start again. . . tomorrow.

Wordless Wednesday Says It All

LAST YEAR. .  .when do I get to see him this year?

Something Came Up and I Changed My Mind

Howdy Peeps n Pups. I have a completely different post in mind for today. One that was light-hearted and pertinent to the season. But I simply cannot do it - I changed my mind when I got the news.

You see. . . Cheerio, my BF who I NEVER met and whose family I stayed with when my Mommys went away at Thanksgiving. . .well, sniff, he crossed the Rainbow Bridge this morning. He had a heart attack. My eyes are leaking just thinking about it.

Cheerio never got to make the trip to California as planned. He stayed behind in India with Auntie K's folks because he'd just had surgery for kidney stones. He wasn't particularly old - 8 years is all. I know Auntie K and her family are hurting a lot more than me and I am hurting a lot.

He was a good ol' boy and I know I will miss him lots.

RIP Cheerio. You will be so free over the Rainbow Bridge. And best of all - now you will be with your California family all the time now. . .

In their Hearts.

Hip Hoppin' on Her New Hip

This lady did so much for rescues.
We honor her memory today.

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Just kidding!

Auntie D is NOT doing any Hip Hopping on her new Hip.

 YET!

So Mommy FINALLY came home last night after spending Friday through Sunday with Auntie D. She said it was good she was there, especially the second day when the pain kinda hit. Plus, she said, Auntie D had to get used to using her cane and getting around without hurting her new joint. But now she is doing really well and managing her pain with simple stuff, like Tylenol. I am pretty sure Auntie D will be back dancing (she teaches ballet) before too long.

Thank you for all of the well wishes. I am POSITIVE those are the reason Auntie D is doing so well.

I was so happy when Mommy came home. Molly tried to muscle in on my welcoming and I let her know it was UNACCEPTABLE! She is MY MOMMY, after all.

Once she had dumped her bags and could focus on things, Mommy opened the mail that had been piling up. One was a box.. . . . a very special box . . .

And when she opened it, it had a very special message from Ms. Sydney. We loves loves loves Ms. Sydney and GUESS WHAT!!?? She loves us too and wanted to send us a HAPPY FALL gift.

Look at all that fun stuff! The big plush PUMPKIN has an awesome squeaker in it! The little pumpkins and leaves are just for show but I think they are so cute and festive. There is POO SPRAY so Sunshine's poop box smell can be masqued. Molly also said my bedroom could use a refreshment as well. Finally that big bag is BLUE BUFFALO Health Bars. They might be pumpkin flavor. . . I didn't look. I just begged until Mommy opened the bag and gave me one. I have been wanting to try those FOREVER!!!! And guess what - Mommy gave me a WHOLE BIG BAR for myself! Molly got one too! 

This is Molly and Me watching Mommy opening the Blue Buffalo Health Bar bag. Notice our intense concentration.

I highly recommend those treats if you can find them. They are simply delicious.

Thank you Ms. Sydney and Chewy.com for a very special surprise. We loved you a lot before. . . we love you more now.

Where'd Mommy Go This Time?

Last night Mommyy pulled out her small suitcase and proceeded to fill it with clothes and stuff. She did this last before Thanksgiving as well. I knew something was up. Later, when we sat cuddled together, I asked her. Well Noodles, she said, Auntie D is having an operation today and I told her I would stay with her until she could manage on her own. It should be one day - two at the most.

 I am sad about it but I know that's why good friends do. Plus, this time Mommy #1 will be home to snuggle with and keep me happy.

A Delicate Issue

I'm a PUG. And if any of you are familiar with PUGS, actually ARE pugs, or are OWNED by pugs, then you know all about the, um, BUTT problem.

No, no, no. . . . I am NOT talking about that exposed ORIFICE that seems to amuse so many non-pug people. THAT I am rather proud of, as a matter of fact. No, I am talking about that unpleasant GLAND problem that, while not exclusive to pugs seems to be associated with pugs. I am talking about BUTT juice or, as my Mommy calls it, STINK butt. It is often accompanied by itchiness which results in butt SCOOTING. It's the SCOOT which often cues a visit to the VET or the GROOMER for what is INDELICATELY called gland expression.

In my Mommy's mind, though, a better solution would be to work on the problem from the INSIDE rather than the unpleasant squeezing of the puggy backside. So she started investigating and came across this product called GLANDEX. Their advertising line is "Boot the Scoot!" Seemed like the right solution to Mommy and me. So she contacted the company and asked for a free sample to try. They said sure and sent her about a week's worth of product. Frankly Mommy says that is not really enough time to know if the product works and that is certainly true in my case. She caught me scooting across the foyer tile just days after beginning the trial. But she is not saying the product does not work - just not instantly. She plans to try it some more and see if she can get me to "Boot the Scoot."

Not sure why this is so important to her because frankly - I enjoy the feeling of scooting my backside across the cool tile. It unsettles the humans, though, sooooooooooooooooooo. . . 

Here's what she likes about GLANDEX:

1. Contains natural anti-inflammatories
2. Supports healthy anal gland and digestive function
3. Guaranteed results within 3-5 weeks (See what I mean about the trial size not being enough?)
4. Veterinarian formulated and approved
5. Great tasting and easy-to-use formula good for any size dog (It's a TREAT! Chewy and flavorful)
6. All-natural premium ingredients:Pumpkin seed powder, granulated pumpkin seed, apple pectin cellulose powder, quercetin dihydrate, lactobacillus acidophilus, bromelain, corn starch, dehydrated peanut butter, flaxseed oil, glycerin, mineral oil, peanut butter, rice bran, sorbic acid, sucrose, water. (That's all real food stuff, even the ones I cannot pronounce.)
7. Made in the USA

And guess what? She found out that Chewy.com sells it!!!! How perfect is that?

I am willing to try anything to avoid a trip to the vet and a gland squeeze. I like my vet but. . . well, you know. . . AND since it tastes good I am willing to give it more of a chance. We can all use a little more fiber in our diet, after all.

If you or a FURiend of yours has this same problem (and if you are a PUG, you probably do) then consider trying Glandex for yourself. Then let me know what you think about it. I am waiting by the computer to read what you have to say.

* This is just something I wanted to share. I was not paid to write this product review nor was I even asked to review it by anyone or any company.

Anatomy of a Nap - Wordless Wednesday Version

Hop Along Here

Marvelous Minion

I am one lucky PUG! Every Friday MODERN DOG MAGAZINE has Friday Freebies and I always enter for something. I don't often win but playing is half the fun.

Last month, around Halloween they were offering Minion Halloween Costumes. One was a GIRL Minion. I must confess, a lot of my Halloween Costumes are what would be generally considered BOY costumes. And, as all my FURiends know, I am a GIRL. So that is what I told the people at Modern Dog Magazine - that if I won the GIRL costume my Mommy would HAVE to stop dressing me up as a boy.

They BOUGHT IT!!!!! I won a Minion Costume and I was so happy I danced and danced and danced. As luck would have it, "Despicable Me" was on tv and I watched it with renewed interest because NOW I would be representing GIRL MINIONS everywhere.

The costume was provided by Rubie's Pet Shop, a division of Rubie's Costumes. Take a moment to check out their costumes. They have almost anything you can imagine and for really decent prices.

Not too much later, like a couple of weeks or less, after receiving the news I had won, I received an email from Erin at Rubie's Pet Shop Boutique. She asked the important stuff like SIZE and ADDRESS. I figured I was in for a long wait.

Not so long. The costume arrived while I was at Auntie K's cozy home. The minute I saw the box, I knew what it was and I was jumping for joy!!!

I have a lot of clothes - not as many as some, but probably more than average. I wear them when the mood strikes me or when Tiffy comes over to play. It's fun.

This Minion Costume is TOP QUALITY! I loves loves loves it so much that I think I will simply wear it JUST BECAUSE! It is made of soft flannel and is sized just right for my svelte PUG body. The hat is comfortable too and I didn't try to shake it off even once!

You can't really tell from this picture but the bottom has a skirt like attachment. I almost look girly in it.

I cannot wait to SHAKE MY TAIL at the next Pugoween. I am pretty sure I will TOTALLY win the BEST BOUGHT COSTUME contest.