My special menu

I have an update on my special menu: I don't like yogurt anymore.

I decided not to like it when I saw how many big tubs of yogurt The Alpha brought home. I mean, if you can get that much of it, how is it special?

So, I'm letting The Boy have the yogurt now. I still like cottage cheese, though.

A memory of Lady

In the comments on my last post, The Alpha wrote: Cub, you need to tell everyone about the time Lady came to visit and you were both left in the kitchen for a few hours, and how you both made an escape and noted your displeasure with the situation. It was ... memorable.

You know, there are some secrets that I prefer to keep. One of those secrets is exactly how Lady and I got out of the kitchen that night. Let's just say that I was already taller than Lady, but much younger with practically no street smarts. This was more than 7 thumb-haver years ago, so I was still a pup. The Alpha and The Typist and Lady's thumb-havers think Lady was the brains of the operation, and I was the muscle. But I'm not talkin'.

When the thumb-havers got back from their late-night gallivanting at some place that doesn't allow dogs, Lady and I had made our statement. We made it by going through the trash cans and decorating the floor with what we found -- something I've never done since (it was a very special occasion).

And, on the carpet... right in the middle of the carpet... we left a very special statement that explained what we thought about Getting Left.

The thumb-havers marveled at the size of our statement, and concluded we only could have created such a huge statement by working together. Then they cleaned it up.

Again, I will not reveal the secret. But I will say Lady was one smart mutt.

In Memoriam: Lady

Before I was born, Lady was The Best Dog Ever.


Lady was the dog who helped The Typist want to have a dog of her own. And so, when I showed up, she was ready to say yes.

Late last night, Lady went on. We don't really know how old she was, but The Alpha and The Typist knew her for about 11 thumb-haver years.

She was a Great, Great Dog.

Rest well, Lady.

Day-Making Award

Spooky gave me an award! It's the You Make My Day Award. Which made my day! Here it is:


The award says you're supposed to give the award to 10 other bloggers, but as you may remember, I run out of counting paws at four. So, I give the award to:

Zorra, who prays for me a lot. (Her dog Amie is the same breed as The Boy, which is how we met.)

Mid-Life Rookie, who is way nice to me, even though dogs pretty much freak her out. She knows how much The Typist loves me, which helps. (Also, she and The Typist got really excited this morning because a bishop commented on MLR's blog. I don't get it, and neither does The Alpha, but MLR and The Typist assure us it's a very cool thing.)

Grendel, who spreads the word that Gravy is Love.

Molly, who started visiting my blog a long time ago and is a great blogpal (although I think if we met in person I might be scared because she's taller than me).

I have other blogfriends who make my day, too, so if you want to give out the award, consider yourself tagged!

Calm, for a change

That's how things have been around here the last few days! We like that!

The Boy has been back to his normal level of goofy all week (in fact, that picture in the last post was taken Saturday afternoon, well after the 1 a.m. incident -- see? he's fine).

I'm feeling pretty well, too. We like days that The Typist would describe as "typical," and we've had a few of them in a row.

Lots of you thumb-havers who pray for dogs have come by here lately, and I really do appreciate it. Would you do me another prayer favor? Please go to Zorra's blog and pray for Amie, who is the same kind of dog as The Boy. She has a big test tomorrow like I had a while back. I hope they don't shave her belly as much as they shaved mine -- I was chilly for a few days!

(Zorra and The Typist know each other through RevGalBlogPals. What a great bunch of thumb-havers they are. We've even met some of them. Mary Beth let us hang out in her flower beds when we went to see her.)

Guest Blogger: The Boy

How To Get Attention When Another Dog Has Been Getting More Than Her Share Lately
By The Boy
Guest Blogger

Step 1: Wait until just after 1:00 in the morning.

Step 2: Have a seizure. Grand mal, if you can manage it. I'm new at this, but my effort did not go unnoticed.

Step 3: Let a thumb-haver scritch you behind the ears for, like, an hour.

That worked pretty well!

Tagged for my 250th post!

Yes, we all know I can't count past 4 because I run out of paws after that, but The Typist says 250 is a lot of blog posts (even if she did throw in a few without me). So, happy 250th post to me!

For this special occasion, I've been tagged by my friend Rowan. Here's how it works:

- Link to the person/dog that tagged you.
- Post the rules on your blog.
- Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. (I really like this idea, because we have had way too many important things going on around here lately, and it wears a girl out!)
- Tag six people and at the end of your post, link to their blogs.
- Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1) I'm not really ready to go to sleep for the night until I have a nice big sigh. Sometimes The Alpha and The Typist sigh after I do. They are mocking me, but I don't mind.

2) I like being a groupie. The band was over again tonight, so I got to hang out with them. The Boy doesn't like being a groupie so much. He usually hides under the coffee table or back in the bedroom.

3) My licking speed is so fast (Fastest Tongue in the West, they call me) that I can sometimes lick things thumb-havers would rather not have me lick, like their teeth and their eyeballs. I licked Miss Julie's teeth today. She was very surprised!

4) There's a couch in the den where I'm only allowed to sit on one end of it. But I like the other end better, and that's where I go when nobody's looking.

5) I like licking the holes in the compost bin. The Typist thinks this is disgusting and it gives me bad breath. She just doesn't get it.

6) I think any time is a good time for some yogurt. It's my favorite thing in my new menu. Except maybe the chicken. Or the cottage cheese.

I'm tagging... anyone who wants to play! Thumb-havers, dogs, other RevGalPetPals. Just let me know if you decide to play.

The Cub Report(er)

The Typist says there's not much journalistic integrity in reporting on yourself. But as a dog, I don't think I'm aiming too high anyway, so here goes:

After I finally finished being woozy from yesterday (I napped hard all day and last night!), I had the seizure this morning -- the one I meant to have at the special vet's office like I did before, but they drugged me up before I got the chance. So I went ahead and got it out of my system after breakfast.

But don't I look good this evening?


(Sorry for not smiling. I'm trying to look professional and stuff. Which is hard to do when there's a cardboard box and a red teddy bear sticking out from behind your head.)

Now I feel pretty good! I've been playing, and chasing The Boy, and Aunt Lidna came over to pet me, and I got so excited I squeaked a few times.

And I hear that I get some new kinds of food for breakfast tomorrow. Including that stuff called pumpkin that Amie told me about.

Thank you all for the praying and for the sweet comments! I'd lick you all if I could. Instead, I'll settle for licking The Alpha and The Typist. Because they let me.

Woozy day...

Well, I had an odd morning... glad I'm home. I'm still kinda..huh... from whatever needle they put in me at the special vet. Then The Typist came back and rescued me. I'd like another nap in a minute... I didn't want anything to eat until after my all-day nap, but when I was ready I got fed a lot!

Thank you for praying for me!

The Alpha and The Typist are talking about my food. They've been looking at something new. Amie will be happy because it has pumpkin!

Just couldn't do it.

Hi -- The Typist here. I sat on the waiting room floor with a shaking Cub for 25 minutes. I got her all checked into the surgery center, paid for and everything. I went out to the car and called The Alpha with my doubts... for instance, they didn't tell us until this morning that with the exploratory surgery necessary for this type of biopsy, she would definitely have to stay overnight, possibly two nights. Quality of life for The Cubbins would've taken a major downturn for a while, even after she got home. We talked it over (yet again!) and decided that if we can keep her at her current level of functioning, attitude, and behavior, then we shouldn't subject her to major surgery just to find out that we still don't really know much more, and confirm that we almost certainly can't do anything different to fix her problem.

So I walked back into the surgery center and got my girl back. Surprisingly, I got a full refund, too, even though they'd already given her a sedative and had to give her something else to counteract it before I took her home.

Going to work now. Still feeling sad that I can't help my girl get all better, but knowing that a solution wasn't likely to come of this experience anyway, I'm feeling good about the fact that I haven't subjected her to an unnecessary major surgery.

Thank you all for your prayers. I felt them.

S'picious...

I've heard some things today. Things about me not getting breakfast tomorrow (although I did get an extra big supper with more Egg Love). And about that specialist vet. And about something called a biopsy. Will all of you who are praying for me please keep it up?

In other news, The Typist says I was a groupie today and yesterday. I don't know what that means. All I did was hang around the band when they were all over here playing with their noisy stuff. I made sure every one of those thumb-havers had a chance to give me a good ear-scritching or two. Mid-Life Rookie's guy G&T was here. I licked G&T's hands while he was playing, and The Typist told me to stop, but G&T said it was okay for me to get in some "guitar licks."

Almost time for bed... all that company gets me worn out!

New year resolutions Friday 5

Sally over at RevGalBlogPals writes: Well it had to be didn't it, love them or hate them I bet you've been asked about New Year resolutions. So with no more fuss here is this week's Friday Five:

(It'll be a tandem play for us this week -- good thing, because it's been a while since either of us played!)

1. Do you make New Year resolutions?
The Typist: I used to, but I've been trying to stay away from them.
Cub: I have made and kept resolutions in the past, but I don't feel the need to be so formal this year. My fellow RevGalDogPal Scout says it well: "Silly! Dogs don’t have New Year’s resolutions! We live in the moment. We don’t regret the past. We don’t hope to do better. We know we are always doing our best."

2. Is this something you take seriously, or is it a bit of fun?
The Typist: Well, if I make a resolution it can be any time of year, and yes, I'd take it seriously. But for New Year stuff, nothing special. For a bit of fun, though, Questing Parson has a nice set of resolutions this year.
Cub: As a dog, there's not much that I take too seriously.

3. Share one goal for 2008.
The Typist: To behave at General Conference in a manner that honors God and my fellow delegates.
Cub: To be the best girl I can be.

4. Money is no barrier, share one wild/ impossible dream for 2008.
The Typist: Using about twice the vacation time I have available so I could not only go to the RGBP Big Event and GC2008, but also to things I've had to skip this year, like Perkins Theological School for the Laity, various locations in Alaska, and a visit to my niece in graduate school. And, while we're dreaming, have Cub with me at all of those things.
Cub: Frosty Paws every single day!!!!

5. Someone wants to publish a story of your year in 2008, what will the title of that book be?
The Typist: Confessions of a Church Nerd: Admitting That Following My Instructions Wouldn't Fix Everything
Cub: Bad Liver, Good Life: One Dog's Journey With the Thumb-Havers Who Would Do Anything For Her

Quincy's meme

Hi -- The Typist here, having been tagged by Law And Gospel, who writes: Dave over at Here I Stand posted on a sad note, that they had to put Quincy, the family dog, to sleep. Certainly, we pray for Dave and the family because we all know that pets are people too. Their stories are our stories. One thing that can guarantee good conversation is a sharing of the antics of our animals. So, in honor of Quincy and all of our animal companions past and present, I thought I would post a couple pet antics from our house and create a new meme.

1. What is an amusing anecdote about a pet friend in your life (past or present)?
When we brought Angus, a.k.a. The Boy, home, we pulled a fast one on Cub: we had some friends bring The Boy in through the front door instead of bringing him in from the garage as if he had arrived with us (which he had). She thought she was getting someone to play with for a little while, which was cool. Then our friends went home -- without The Boy. For the next 48 hours, Cub would stare at him, then at us, as if to say, Wasn't he supposed to be leaving? But things settled in after a while, and they're quite the pair these days.

2. What is a gift a pet gave to you when you really needed it?
There's nothing like a muzzle-nuzzle and a cuddle from a dog who understands that you're sad or upset. She may not understand why you're the way you are, but she knows how to be present with you and comfort you.

3. Share a picture of one or more of your pets - extra points for amusing photos.
I just happen to have a new amusing photo of Angus, a.k.a. The Boy, from our New Year's Eve celebration:

We were all hanging out around the fire pit, and he got thirsty. It was only ginger ale and pomegranate juice, or I wouldn't have let him drink it. (Certainly not with the existing canine liver problems in this household.)

And, just because she was so cute we could hardly stand it, here's a picture from the day we got Cub:


Isn't that sweet enough to rot your teeth?

Big grown-up Cub is having a liver biopsy on Monday. Please pray for her, if you're the kind of person who prays for dogs. (And if you're not the kind of person who prays for dogs... just don't tell me that, okay? I'd rather not know.)

Gracious God, we thank you for all of your creation. We especially thank you for the animals that grace our lives. May we learn the unquestioning love they share with us. Bless all of our pets, and those who care for them. Amen.

Now, I tag... Janie, Mary Beth, and SpookyRach.

In Memoriam: Uncle Ren

This is a picture of Uncle Ren from years ago, with Aunt Nancy holding him.

Uncle Ren went on this weekend.

He was 14 in thumb-haver years. He didn't like to play very much at all. The Alpha says he used to love to jump up high, and roll over, and shake hands, and go after members of a certain political party, and catch peanuts, and even kill a gopher or two out in the garden. But that was back before The Boy and I got to know him. Lately he'd just been tired, and deaf, and nearly blind. His smeller still worked great, though. He could always find where the food was.

Ren was our Pop's buddy, and his pardner, too. I hope Pop does okay without him.

According to Martin Luther and Rowan, Ren now has "a little golden tail." We were wondering, is that a stump-tail like he had here, or does he get his full tail back in heaven? Because "a little golden stump" just seems kinda funny.

Either way, it's golden.

Rest well, Ren.

Dear Cub: How did you find out about Egg Love?

In the comments to my previous post, Grendel writes:
Wow, Eggs are Love, too?
How do you eat them? Raw? Boiled? Fried? Poached? Scrammeled? Deviled?
And how did you find out about Egg Love?
I need to know!!!

Yes, Grendel, Eggs are Love. I eat them scrammeled. Here's how I found out about Egg Love...

A few days before Christmas, I had decided I didn't want to eat because my tummy felt bad. And so The Alpha and The Typist took me to the vet for needles, and then back to the vet the next morning for an all-day needle called fluids. The vet gave the thumb-havers some pills for me, and special smelly wet chow for me, and I ate it all up. For a few days.

But while we were at Christmas, I started getting a little more picky. I wasn't sure I liked the wet chow any more. The thumb-havers were all talking about how it's better to keep a dog eating, and the next thing I knew, my grandma was cooking eggs to mix in with my wet chow. My grandma loves her granddogs, especially me, her granddogter. (All the other granddogs are boys, and sometimes she calls me one, too, but I don't really mind.)

I've kept not liking my wet chow, and so I get more eggs, even now that we're back in Texas. The Alpha and The Typist keep trying to get me to eat my wet chow, but I won't eat it mixed in with the eggs anymore. Now we're making a game out of it, and I like playing Catch the Treat. They're obviously having great fun making the smelly wet chow into little treat-sized bites to throw in the air for me to catch.

So, Grendel, if you want Egg Love, I think you have to get your thumb-havers all worried about you. But maybe, if you're really, really good, you could get one anyway.

Blog-Blessed!

Scout has a blog of her own now, and she blessed me over there! Thank you, Scout!

Here is the big explanation so I don't have to re-type it, and I can hurry up and get to the blessing!

The idea… it’s a game of tag with a difference, rather than looking inwardly, we look outside ourselves and bless, praise and pray for one blog friend. By participating in this endeavour we not only make the recipient of the blessing feel valued and appreciated, but we are having some fun too. We’re going to see how far the bloggin’ blessings can travel around the world and how many people can be blessed! Recipients of a bloggin’ blessing may upload the above image to their sidebar if they choose to. If you recieve a bloggin’ blessin’ please leave a comment on this thread so that we can rejoice in just how many blessings have been sent around the world!

Okay... here are the three I'm blessing and praying for today:

I bless Whistle and everybody over at his place (Fish, Sister, Dubby, Andy, thumb-havers). They have had a really big year, and I pray that with Fish's leg all healed, everybody stays healthy and happy.

I bless Molly, too. She and I both have had not-feeling-good times this year, and I pray she keeps feeling better. Also I pray that Sam quits eating stuff he ought not eat.

And, I bless Zorra. I know Scout already blessed Amie through Zorra's blog, but I want to bless Zorra herself, too, because she helps The Typist pray for me and they have big email discussions about me and Amie. I pray that Amie's raw spot where she likes to lick her paw gets all better so Zorra doesn't have to keep worrying about it.

And please keep praying for me, everybody. I had another test yesterday (too many rides with needles at the other end lately!), and I think something else is coming up soon.

Love and poppy kisses,
Cub

p.s. to Grendel -- Over Christmas, I learned from my grandma that, like Gravy, Eggs are Love. You might want to check them out.

Christ Candle Aglow: The Peak of Liturgical Yard Art

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Merry Christmas!

Advent 4: Liturgical Yard Art continues

In Which I Get The Boy

I'm pretty pleased with this video. As you'll see, even when I'm not at the top of my game, I can still catch The Boy. And if there's any question as to whether I really got him, notice who has the Kong at the beginning, and who has it at the end.

I'm home!

Thanks for all the praying! I'm home now, and feeling decent. I think I still need more praying, though.

Here I am after I got home, but before supper. See my pretty wrap with the stars on it?


They really like me at the vet. If they have to shave me and leave a needle in me all day, at least they put pretty stars on the spot when they're done.

Miss Cherrie came by to see me and told me there are lots of prayers for me all over the place. I gave her poppy kisses.

I kept my breakfast in me all day. And I've kept my supper tonight, too...they're still giving me extra-special soft chow.

I did have a little bit of a seizure after supper. It wasn't too bad. But I never do like them, and neither do the thumb-havers. And they're looking at me a lot lately, even without the seizure.

Tomorrow I don't have to go out anywhere! After this week, it'll be nice to lie like a dog around the house. 'Cause I am one.