A Christmas Cookie

Some people who fish talk about "the one that got away."  You know, the fish that was so big, so beautiful, so perfect, you think of it every time you fish?  It doesn't matter how many cookies fish you eat afterwards, you always taste that one perfect Christmas cookie fish on your tongue.   

Sometimes, you think that if you'd just tried a little harder, just moved a little faster, just dreamed a little bigger, you would have caught that perfect fish.

It was right there.

You almost had it.

It practically jumped into your net.

And just when you thought you could almost taste its delicious sweetness...

It got away.

And you can still hear it.

Mocking you.

King of my Castle

They say a man's home is his castle but I believe that that saying is wrong.  The home is only the man's castle because the dog lets him live there.  

The dog is really the big cheese as far as the castle is concerned.  

I'm clearly the boss in my household.  The People that live here may try to tell you differently, but they are mistaken.  Part of my strategy is to let them believe that they are the bosses so that they'll keep my food dish full.  It is a small price to pay.

If you are not convinced, allow me to give you some proof:

1.  Guess who eats first?  That's right!  Me.  Every morning, kibble lands in my dish before anyone else eats and every evening at 4pm, same thing.  

2.  I have a bed in the living room.  I'm allowed to curl up on my bed any old time I want.  I don't have to go to the back of the house unless I choose to.  Sure, I may choose to curl up on the kitchen floor but that is only because I want to.

3.  They throw food at me.  The Little One sees me and if there is anything in her hand she hands it to me.  I don't even have to lift a paw.  That's power.

4.  The neighbors fear me.  The dogs across the street see me and start barking in terror.  The cats next door spend countless hours frozen in fear on the other side of the fence.  Even if I run up to them and bark in their faces, they just sit there.  Frozen.  Terrified.  Sometimes if they are particularly scared of my presence they will move to the front yard and sit silently under the tree, praying I won't see them.  

Chickens.

5.  Does anyone wipe YOUR feet when you come in from outside?  'Nuff said.

Yeah.  It's good to be king.

Back to school

 For Them, not for me.

Tomorrow is the start of my 9 month nap.  

I'm pretty excited since I haven't had my special nap in over a year.

I will miss Summer, though.  

Summer means lying around, watching the yard.

Watching the kid.

And watching the snack.

Always watching the snack.

And getting the ball.

And bringing it back.

Over and over and over.

 Have a great school year, Everyone!  I'm going to go make sure my nap spots are ready.

Naptime interrupted.

NObody knows the trouble I've seen.

NObody knows my sorrow.  

 Aaahhhh.  Happiness.

What was I whining about?

A Letter to my Baby

Dear Camille,

Once upon a time, before you were born, your mommy and daddy picked me out just for you.  They knew that one day, they would have a little baby, who would need a special friend.  So they looked and looked, and out of a whole bunch of puppies in the world, they chose me, because they knew I would love you.

And I do.  Even though I don't quite understand you yet, I really love you.  Your mommy and daddy take good care of me and I love them, but in just a little while, you will be my best friend.  We will have so much fun together, playing and running and getting dirty.  It is going to be a blast.

But right now I have to wait.  It is really hard to wait, because I want to lick you so bad, but I know you are too little to play my way yet.  So we play your way.

Playing your way right now means I have to be very still.  I'm so excited for when you are bigger, because we will be best friends.  But now, I have to wait.

I'm very good at waiting.  I don't follow any of the other rules your mommy and daddy make up.  I hardly listen to any instructions, unless I'm bribed with a cookie, but I never break the rule of being gentle when you are around.  I even watch my feet!  Sometimes you pull my hair, and sometimes you tickle my nose, and yet I hold very, very still because I know how special you are.

When it is time for you to eat, I wait patiently by your chair, because you've got my back.  Right now, waiting quietly gets me a scoop of whatever you leave behind from your dinner.  But soon, if I keep being patient, I know you'll slip me some other treats when your mommy and daddy aren't looking.  And I'll aways clean up your chair and the floor when you are done, because that's what friends are for.

I'll always take care of you.  I will wait for you when you are at school and when you get home, we can play in the yard.  I'll teach you how to play frizbee and how to dig in the garden and how to get your feet nice and wet before you come inside.

Wherever you go, if you let me, I'll be right by your side.  I'll always be your friend.  I'll always want to play.  That's my job.  It's why I'm here.

Love, Teddy

Hello?

Hello?

What are you guys doing in here?

Surely you didn't mean to close the door and leave me out!