The Weekend Cookie Factory

photoPeople you will not believe what has happened at my house this weekend.  At first I thought it was Christmas and Mom was making cookies for Santa.

The parental units are working on a new short book; it is all about gluten-free healthy cookies.  It seems pretty complicated but the goal is to bring sweets to everyone with healthier alternatives.  I don’t really care all that much except for the last recipe in which I’m featured since it’s a dog cookie with my 2 favorite things – pumpkin and peanut butter – yum!

Mom was in the kitchen for 8 straight hours.  She made 9 of the 13 recipes.  Dad chronicled the entire process for my Facebook fans.  It was a fun day licking up all the crumbs.  What a great life I live!

Some good news to report is the owie on my foot is almost gone.  Those pills the parentals are shoving down my throat must be working.  I have to admit I do feel better and I am pleased to see the happiness on their faces since I’m no longer licking nonstop.

OK, Dad is outside watering and I better make sure he is not getting into trouble like myself.  You see I was a bad boy this weekend and chewed on a lens box and Grandpa Sprawls’ shoeshine brush, but he’s in heaven so he probably does not mind all that much.

One good thing is when I’m bad I know to go into my crate.  I now run to it on command.  Even if the door is shut I can open it and get in.  You see how smart I am.  Dad eventually said he loved me and it made him think of his Grandpa on this Father’s day weekend.  So I guess we’ll all good.

A Very Sad Weekend

photoWell this week I am sorry to report things are pretty sad and emotional for our neighborhood.  It all started on Friday.

Dad is in the Santa Monica College program for photography.  He had finished his finals on Thursday, which means more time for ME.

Then on Friday morning Dad, Mom and I went to see my friend Dr. Palmquist at Centinela Animal Hospital.  We were excited since my owie is getting much better and my immune system is healing itself due to all the supplements I’m now getting.  We learned that my weakened immune system had to do me being taken away from my Mom too soon – 7 weeks and I’m so happy that is better.

We barely got home from my appointment and Dad was getting ready to take me on my walk by his school to celebrate.  I like walking the perimeter of the campus since the students like to give me lots of pets.   Mom was going to go to work so it was just going to be us guys.

As we were ready to leave we heard gunshots.  What was happening?  All of a sudden the helicopters were overhead, police sirens everywhere and complete chaos.  Then the helicopters with load speakers told us to stay in the house.

I know the President was in town but was this part of his visit?  Of course I wanted to go outside and explore but Dad had us locked inside.  He was not messing around.  We were in lockdown.

After hours of the helicopters flying above, people calling to see if we were OK and seeing our house on TV we found out the horrible story of the young man who had problems and unloaded destruction on our town.

The next morning Dad wanted to take me on our walk but the campus was still taped off.  He wasn’t too talkative and I was really good.  I sense it when the parental units are upset.

Then finally this morning we were able to walk around the perimeter of the campus.  It was a solemn walk.

Horrible things happen in life and we always do not know why.   My heart and prayers go out to all of the victims and their families.

Grandparents weekend was Fun!

IMG-20130602-01086I was so happy to have more people in the house – remember the more peeps the better since I get much more attention and the parental units get a little boring, I must admit.

Unfortunately I did get into a little trouble, as I was just so excited to see my Grandma and Grandpa B.  Remember I’m only 17 months old now so I don’t have to act like an adult canine for at least another 7 months.

I kept the parental units up half the night and even tried to trick them a few times by pretending to need to go outside to the bathroom only to try and open the door to where Grandma and Grandpa B were sleeping.  I even tried to sleep under Grandma and Grandpa’s bed, but Mom was not going for that and had to drag me out a couple of times.

We went on a few walks, and ate really good food, since Dad is a good cook in case none of you knew that – I think he’s doing recipes for a new book with something called “one pot meals.”    I don’t care about that since all I wanted was more of those special treats Grandma brought me from Prescription Diet.  They were special since Grandma’s dog Aunt Victoria liked them so I wanted to remember her by eating as many as I could.

I am going to be sad when they leave but I heard Mom and Dad talk about meeting Uncle Pat and Aunt Dianne in San Luis Obispo for a visit.  That means I get to hang out with cousin Maggie AND Grandma.   Mom said I was infatuated with them.  Hey they spoil me and it makes Dad crazy but who cares I am getting more attention and affections than usual.

The sore on my foot seems to be getting worse as I am constantly told to stop licking it.  I have another appointment to see Dr. Palmquist at Centinela Animal Hospital next Friday to see if it is going to be OK or if I am going to require surgery.  Such a dog’s life.

OK, catch you on the other side of the doghouse.

I’m the Star of Dad’s New Movie

Hey we know I am a Star, but boy it is hard work.

It is odd that Dad and I may be cruising down the street in the car and people are calling for me to turn so they can take my photo.  I thought driving and using your cell phone was illegal?

photoBut on to what’s really going on.  Dad has a school project and needs to make a short video using thousands of pictures.  It’s really a hard job, but as always I am up for the task.  However, this was a little more complicated than I initially realized.

First we picked up uncle Andrew and then headed out for the photo shoot. They really worked me.  I had to wait for food and treats.  They even made me get in the cage a few times with that camera thing clicking away in my face for close to 5 hours!  Dad said I was lucky that I did not have to edit and do all the post work too.  Who’s he kidding?  I will have to be on my best behavior while he is working on this project or else I will get the time outs.

Doesn’t he know I am union and should have Kraft services at my disposal?  Maybe this will be a good video for Mom’s promotional stuff.

On that better note the house has been full of great smells.  Mom has been baking up a storm for her new gluten-free cookie book.  It sounds pretty scientific but I don’t care since she has even made me some cookies.  And I LOVE them!  I wanted the chocolate ones but she said that was bad for me so I got the peanut butter pumpkin ones which were really quite yummy.

photo-1On our morning walk today we ran into a couple who informed Dad that their 12-year-old Weimaraner still cruised counter tops, acted like a puppy and ruled the house.  Rats, they took the element of surprise out of my plan.  Cuz I am the dog and rule the house.

Later today I went to visit my lady friend, Viva, who lives in the Palisades and boy is she a looker.  I irritated dad because he could not get a photo of us.  Since this is just a casual thing and not a prom I didn’t think it needed to be posted anywhere on the web.  I want to keep my options open.

OK, I am wiped out by these Memorial Day weekend events.  The parental units work tomorrow so I guess I will be having a holiday all by myself.

Peace out Peeps!

They REALLY Like Me!!

IMG-20130518-01046It was AWESOME out there today in the world.

I went to this really nice doctor yesterday who said I was handsome.  Mom and Dad thought I needed some help.  Isn’t it enough that I’m handsome and friendly?  Apparently it’s something with my immune system that is not working like it should since the owie on my toe and in my mouth is not getting better.

His name is Dr. Palmquist and Mom calls him an Integrative Medicine Vet, although I’m not sure what that means.  He gave me some treats, vitamins, and squirts for my mouth that are supposed to make me better.  I’m good at taking my medicine – it’s just not my favorite.  Everyone there was really nice and stopped to admire me – I love that!

Today the three of us went out to a street in Santa Monica, called Montana.  Something about Mom needing a blouse since she is going to be on Channel 7 news this week to talk about her diabetes book.

I did not care about the shopping – it was just awesome walking down street sales for blocks with all the people admiring me.  Dad counted the compliments:

”He’s big”… 17, “beautiful” …9 and  “stately” … 2

However, Dad doesn’t know that I counted his responses:

“Thanks” … 12, “he’s a little narcissistic” … 8 and “he’s a good boy”…a lot I lost count.

We got to walk in between rows of people, and I had to stop and let babies by in strollers (ha, I am so much taller then those things) and I ended up gaining valuable sidewalk sale maneuvering skills.

The BEST part of the day was when Dad did not hesitate and walked me right into a store.  Before I could just sort of peek in, and now he was not hesitating at all.  I got to go into my first cooking STORE PEOPLE!

IMG-20130518-01057The next thing I know people in green aprons started really admiring me.  I heard Mom tell the helper at Williams Sonoma, Santa Monica it was OK to give me a snack.  “Snacks are the best thing in the world.”

But by this time I was starting to get tired.  Dr. Palmquist said my new vitamins might make that happen since I don’t remember ever getting tired in the middle of the day before.

I thought nothing of it to just lie down in the middle of the store.  However, I could see Dad was getting a little annoyed with me as I was starting to stretch out and people were having to walk over me.

All of us finally got home and boy I was tired out, with the combination of the medicine and all the attention I just needed to chill out.

I was just happy of all the loves, hugs, and attentions.  Dr. Palmquist said it right yesterday that dog is just GOD spelled backwards and that’s why I sometimes think I know everything but that’s why God gave me Mom and Dad to keep me humble most of the time.

Punky Goes to the Farm while Mom and Dad go to Auntie Marjorie’s in New Jersey

IMG-20130512-01043I was bummed that I did NOT get to go to Auntie Marjorie’s house.  I wanted to play with my cousins Bliss, AKA the little polar bear dog that never stops licking, and Reeses, AKA the barker dog who always wants to be petted.

Although they are MUCH smaller than me, I knew we’d have fun terrorizing Aunt Marjorie’s clean house and upsetting all the furniture and antiques she so nicely places on all her furniture.

I saw Mom and Dad packing my things, but then overheard them saying something about me going to the country (??)  What is that about?  Then I heard them saying I would not do well in the cargo and going to NJ may be a bit much for my anxiety level.  That may be true but why can’t I sit in the plane with them?  I deserve to have a ticket since I am an important part of this family, aren’t I?

IMG_5594Anyway, this big white van came to pick me up and off to the country I went.  I got to play with other dogs, and discovered some other animals I did not know about – I overheard the lady Julie calling them chickens, and horses.  I played in lots of areas around the farm and then had my own bed at night.  Mom and Dad sent my own little blanket so I would not get too homesick.

I came home tired from all the play, and am so happy to be home in my own bed.  I need Mom to cover me up if the covers come off in the middle of the night.

Hopefully one day I’ll get to meet Aunt Marjorie, Bliss and Reeses but for now a cross-country flight may be more than my puppyness can handle.  Maybe Aunt Marjorie will have to come to California to meet me since she won’t have to sit in cargo like me.  Life’s just not fair sometimes….

My Routine is Off and Now They are Going Away

photo-1It’s been a hard week. I’ve been to the 2 new daycares and don’t really care for either one.  Mom told Dad I’ve regressed  which I think is normal given my situation, but Dad has tried to step up my training.  He’s really pushing all my buttons and it’s just not right.

To make matter worse, I’ve heard rumors that Mom and Dad are visiting Grandma in New Jersey for Mother’s Day and I don’t get to go with them.  I’m not happy about that!  I’ve been discriminated against for my weight and now I’m too big to fly across the country?  I can fit nicely in those airline seats thank you very much.

Dad had to pick me up some new luggage for my food for wherever they are sending me and when he came home with it I was pleasantly surprised.  I got my own Martha Stewart dog bag so I promptly stole it and ran down the hall.  Mom said it was too nice for me, and wanted it for herself.  Dad said it was on sale.  I wonder if Martha will let me be on her show with my bag.

Well, I have to get going.  No time to write since I have to pack enough food in my new bag for the outing.  No dieting for me.  Please send some scooby snacks since I’m always up for eating, no matter what time of day or night.