Anecdotes, Antidotes, and Anodes

Boxers 1 Birds O

Most of my days begin early in the morning with a cup of something hot and a stroll out to the garden to see what's popped up during the night . . . or to see what's been eaten by the critters during the night.

This is what I encountered on my way to the garden . . .

 

 

"Ginger, do you know anything about this carnage on the driveway ?

"Lola, did you happen to witness what happened ?"

June Bug seems to be saying, "WHAT BIRD?"

There is good news and bad news associated with this post.

The bad news is . . . the bird didn't make  it.

The good news is . . . the dogs did not bring the bird into the house to pluck it, skin it, and devour it.

On three different occasions,  (that we know of) our Boxers have brought their prey inside the house to consume it.

Memory #1:

Early one morning, about 4:00 a.m. early,  Bubba was lying on the floor by the bed.  He was lick lick licking incessantly.  I reached down and tapped him on top of  the head.  He stopped.  For about two seconds.  The lick lick licking ensued.  Once again, I reached down to tap him on the head, but this time my fingers found a cold, sticky, gummy substance.  At 4 o'clock in the morning, the brain just doesn't process information too quickly.  My first thought was I was touching Bubba's nose.  My second thought was, "This isn't Bubba's nose."

As my inquisitive fingers explored this clammy, gooey mass, they then discovered something round and fuzzy.

My brain finally kicked in and alerted me that  I might be touching a dead animal.

Because it was 'can't-see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face' dark, I reached for the lamp switch.

My brain was correct.

Bubba was savoring the bottom half of a bunny rabbit.

Memory #2:

Early one morning, before sunrise, I stumbled downstairs with bare feet. 

Both of my nekkid  feet encountered something cold, stringy, and sticky.  They stopped dead in their tracks.

Because it was dark, and the rug I was standing one was patterned, it was difficult to discern just exactly what I was wading in.

Upon closer examination, theHansMan determined it was the innards of some animal, possibly the viscera of a rabbit.

Being the 'scientist'  'biologist'  curious man that he is,  he found the stomach and cut it open with his handy dandy Swiss Army knife.

And what to our wondering eyes should appear ?

A bird.

Unless we have carnivorous rabbits here in Colorado, it was apparent our Boxers had ridded the neighborhood of some type of cat.

(Just earlier that month, they had ridded the neighborhood of a coyote.) 

Memory #3

theHansMan and I were on our way home from the airport when we received a call from the dogsitter, Cullen. 

He said, "There's good news and there's bad news."

We asked him to give us the good news first.

"Junior and Bubba didn't get sprayed by the skunk they killed."

What's the bad news ?

"They dragged it through the doggy door, through garage, down the hall, into the living room, through the entry, up the stairs, across the balcony,  into the guest bedroom, and it's quietly resting between them on top of the futon."

The house was deep cleaned, fumigated, and new carpet was installed immediately.

How to Carve a Jack-o-Lantern

Actually, the title should read, "How to Carve a Bub-a-Lantern."

I keep seeing these Dog-0-Lanterns posted on Facebook, so I dug this one up from 2009. 

Bub-a-Lantern !

Bub-a-Lantern's reflection.

Bub-a-Lantern in the daylight.

Lola was mesmerized with the Bub-a-Lantern.  No matter where I placed it in the house, she was there to sniff at it.

Now, I know you're thinking, "Wow ! That Swampy is a talented gal ?!?" And, I would like to think that I am, but I know better.

If you're interested in spending an entire afternoon carving your favorite puppy dog's face into a pumpkin, check out this Better Homes and Gardens web-site. 
 
There are almost 30 stencils to choose from !

Unfortunately, there is not a Boxer with cropped ears. And, I just have to create a Junior Jack-o-Lantern.  (June-yur-Lantern)  So, guess what I'll be doing this afternoon ? 

Also, I could not let those seeds and pulp go to waste. So, as most everyone else on the face of the Earth refer to, I'm using this idea for Pepitas and this idea for Pumpkin Puree. 

Happy Carving !

P.S.  I learned that these don't last very long because of having to cut so deeply into the 'flesh.'  If I ever take the time to try this again, (which I probably won't), I would coat the inside with parafin. 

 
 

An Apple a Day Keeps the Vet Away

Lola and June Bug "picked" these apples "up off the ground" themselves.

Evidently they aren't getting enough fruit in their diets.

 

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

When they vomit all this up,
I'll post that video for you.

Stay tuned.

OK.

So it's not a video . . .

but, you 'get the picture.'

Boxers, Boxers, Boxers

  "If you don't like my dogs, get off their couch," is one of my favorite dog quotations. 

In fact, there are many dog quotations that are my favorites.

"My goal in life is to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am," is another.

Anyone who has read here for awhile has been introduced to Max, Junior, Bubba Boo Boo, B.J., Boo-Boo, June Bug, Ginger Boo, and Lola Cherry Cola.

Max was our Boxer-Pit Bull mix, and was one of the most gentle, loving dogs I had ever met.  He was a rescue dog and lived to be almost 15 years old. 

When we realized Max was declining quickly, we found Junior and Bubba.  Max loved Bubba.  But, since Max and Junior were both Alpha males, they just tolerated each other. 

When Junior was 8 years old, he was diagnosed with lymphoma and we lost him just a few months later.  In the meantime, June Bug (Junior's daughter) needed a home, so we took her in. 

Bubba missed his brother, but June Bug did keep him company.  Two years later, Bubba developed a brain tumor, and he went to the Rainbow Bridge to be with Max and Junior to chase rabbits and antagonize all the cats.

B.J. and Boo Boo are Junior and Bubba's boys respectively.  (Puppysitter . . .s-h-h-h)  They live across the street and come to visit quite often.

Enter . . . Ginger Boo and Lola Cherry Cola.  Ginger was Bubba's daughter who needed a home, so we took her in.  She had been living in Texas.  Lola is our Walmart dog. She was about to go to the pound, so we took her in. Her owner had her on the curb at Walmart with a sign, and we just couldn't resist.

It is suggested that a family never have two female Boxers because most are Alpha Females. Most Boxer adoption facility won't place a female into a home that already has a female Boxer.

That brings us to this photo :

 

And then, to this photo :

Who says three female Boxers can't get along ?

Well, at least they can sleep together without fighting.

My take on this is that Lola is the buffer.  She adds levity to any situation.  Even though Ginger and June Bug aren't fond of each other, they just can't help but laugh with Lola Cherry Cola in the mix.

Kind of like three middle-school-aged girls.  Two's company. Three's a crowd.  There's always one in a group that everyone likes.  In this case, that would be Lola.

AaBR  stands for Adopt a Boxer Rescue and can be found ON THIS LINK.

Sugar, the Boxer

Brian Williams, MSNBC, covered this news story yesterday which is emotional to watch.  Brian said, "It is inspirational and educational."

Not sure how educational it is because evidently this is not the proper procedure to use, but it did have a positive outcome. 

Of course, it caught my attention because Sugar is a Boxer. Many boxer owners name their pets after famous boxers, and it's my assumption this Boxer is named for Sugar Ray Leonard . . . just guessing.

Anyone who has read here a couple or four times knows that Boxers live at this place. You may remember our precious, Bubba, who has his very own YouTube video.  The following video brought back memories of Bubba because he, too, had seizures.  I held him many times during those episodes. Bubba never quit breathing, but he did bite his tongue, shake uncontrollably, and go blind for several minutes. Each time, the seizure lasted longer and became more intense.  The vets diagnosed him with a brain tumor that was not curable.  We made that gut-wrenching decision to let Bubba join his brother, Junior, at the Rainbow Bridge. 

Sugar, the Boxer, was in one of Ron Pace's training classes when he had what they thought was a seizure and stopped breathing for two minutes.  Ron is a trainer with Canyon Crest K9 in Tacoma, Washington, and is now considered a hero. Ron very calmly applied CPR and even gave Sugar mouth-to-nose resuscitation saving the dog's life.

The video is difficult to watch. I cried throughout the entire thing, but it does have a happy ending. 

You may have to watch a 30-second commercial, but the video is moving and does have a happy ending.  As indicated by the trainer in the second video, this may not have been the 'proper' procedure, but it did have a positive outcome.  Also, not sure about the use of that choke collar on Sugar . . . 

SUGAR, the BOXER, video

Interview after the episode

Here is a video showing the correct CPR technique for dogs:

Thanks to one of my readers, Puppysitter, for sending this to me.  Our Boxers were always in caring and loving hands when she was our sitter.

More information about Boxers:

Todesursachen beim Boxer

 

Heart of America Boxer Club, Inc.

 

Doggone . . .

When we embarked on our 21-day cross-country-road-trip, my stomach was in its usual state of turmoil. Not just because of all the planning, packing, and apprehension about road conditions and weather, but also because of past experiences with theHansMan and his inability to understand that "dogs will run away."

Several days before our departure, I gently placed my thumb and pointer fore trigger-finger on his face in the general vicinity of where dimples might be located.  Appying just a little pressure, I positioned his head so that he could look directly into my eyes as I implored to him, "Please. Please. Please understand that I do not want to lose our dogs on this trip.  When we take them on potty breaks, they will have on their harnesses and will be on their leashes. When you are with them at your parents' home, they cannot just be let outside.  You must supervise them and know their whereabouts at all times. This is not their home.  It is no different than just letting them out of a motel room and expecting them to come back thirty minutes later when you call for them. " 

As I tightened the 'grip' on his face, I then asked, "DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

He replied in his usual, non-chalant manner when I'm trying to make a point about any subject, "I know. I know."

Hoping to stress my point just a little further, I then asked, "Can you imagine losing them somewhere on the road between here and Georgia and having to just leave that place not knowing what happened to them?"

This seemed to have made an impact on him as he did give that question some thought.

As I released the grip on his face, the dimples indentations on his face slowly disappeared.

Our visit in Oklahoma went without incident.  Except for the day we were to leave and head to Georgia.

My worst fears came true.

Lola and Ginger went missing.

I had spent the night with the grandkids, and theHansMan stayed at his parents' home with the three dogs.

He let June Bug, Lola, and Ginger outside and then proceeded to shower, get ready,  and pack for the trip.  Quite some time later when he called the dogs, only one, June Bug, showed up.  This was about 8:00 a.m., or possibly earlier.

When I arrived to pick him up and continue on to Georgia, it was about 10:00 a.m.  And cold !

My search for them began by walking the streets of the neighborhood, then driving the streets farther into the neighborhood, and also, checking the two busy streets that bordered that neighborhood.  One of those 'streets' was a major highway and the other one of the busiest five-lane streets in town.

A message had been left on our home answering machine from a gentleman who had spotted them crossing that highway and ended up in a church parking lot.  He had tried to hang on to Ginger, but because she only had on a collar, she pulled away from him.  Thank goodness she didn't pull out of her  collar that had all the contact information on it. If only she had had on that harness, he could have hung onto her. He was able to get the phone number off her collar before she bolted out of his grasp.

At that point, he said, she and Lola crossed back across that highway chasing a crow. 

My emotions ran the gamut and swung back and forth like a pendulum. 

Of course, fear was the first.  What if we never found Lola and Ginger ?  How could we leave this town without knowing where they were or what had happened to them ?

At the same time, anger swelled up into every cell of my being toward theHansMan causing the tears to flow.  I kept hearing that speech I had given him before we left on this trip. "Do you understand?" resonated in my head.

While walking the streets, calling for my dogs, my fingertips became numb from the cold, sadness overtook me, then my whole body became numb.

Where were my dogs ?  Were they still together ?  Were they alive ? 

Seems as if every scenario possible attacked my brain at the same time.  Maybe they got into someone's car and that person would just keep them.  What if they were hit by a car on that busy highway where they were last seen ?  What if I never saw them again and never knew what happened ?

Everytime I tried to be optimistic by anticipating how happy they would be once we found them, and how overjoyed I would be, reality set in.

It had been over FOUR hours.

Our desperate hunt for them crossed that highway into other neighborhoods as we continually checked those two busy streets in case they were lying there dead.The speed limit on that highway where they had been spotted was FIFTY miles per hour.  How could anyone stop if one of them darted in front of a car ?

The cell phone rang !

The roaring in my ears almost exploded my head !

HansMan answered, and I held my breath.

It was the same gentleman who had left the message just asking if we had found them yet.

My chest hurt as if someone had kicked the breath out of me.

Within a few seconds, the cell phone rang again.

This is what I heard:

Hello.

Where ?

Two ?

Two Boxers ?

You have them ?

Where are you ?

We're on our way !

It never entered my mind that one or both of them could be injured.  Or dead.  I could only visualize those stubby little tails wiggling as they made that 'Boxer-C', and curling around my legs. Licking my face and covering it with doggy-kisses.

No, it didn't.  That never entered my mind.

Lola and Ginger had traveled almost two miles from my in-laws' house.  This is not taking into consideration all their back-tracks and other places they had visited.  No telling how many actual miles their adventure took them on.

The gentleman who contacted us had called the phone number on their collars.  This was our home number.  The message on our answering machine gave our cell numbers.   He then called one of them,  and that call led us to his driveway.

The van hadn't stopped when I opened the door and ran to him.  He noticed June Bug  in the van window who was barking at him, and he said, "I have two more in my back yard that look just like her."

With leashes in hand, we went through the gate. 

I had no idea what to expect.

Lola was there, wiggling all over.  Jumping with all four feet coming off the ground at the same time.  She didn't look injured.

But where was Ginger ?

About that time, I heard a bark, and she came bounding around the corner, hitting me full force in the face with hers, licking my salty tears as they rolled down.

He told us he heard cars honking so he went to his front door.  Lola and Ginger were in the middle of the turn lane, and they had four lanes of traffic stopped in both directions. 

He called for them, and they came running.

When I offered him a sizable cash reward, he pushed my hand away and said, "We are dog lovers, too.  You would have done the same."

 

Acupuncture for Dogs

As usual, whenever a post appears here that does have some informational value to it, (which is seldom) it must be prefaced with how it came to be.  Most of you who have been reading here for some time know that most of what you read doesn't make much of an impact on your lives one way or another.  But, every once in awhile, it might be worth your time to take heed and notice.  Today may be one of those days.

And so it begins...

A couple of summers ago, I found myself in Nashville hanging out with my friend, Becky. She had an appointment with Dr. Xu (pronounced Shoe).

Because I was suffering with pain from an injured rotator cuff, from falling off  flying off a sled doing about 30 miles per hour, she suggested that I make an appointment with Dr. Xu.  He was able to schedule three appointments for me before leaving Nashville.

Several days later, after arriving home, the pain was subsiding, so I made follow-up appointments with Bing Lee.

After three more treatments, not only was I able to lift my arm above my head, he had also addressed the subject of my migraines.  We discussed why I was "tasting" metals after each acupuncture session.  My guess was it was residual "chemotherapy" from years before.  His guess was the hair dye I was using to cover up my gray.

That was a year ago.  If you've seen photos of me lately, you know that the dying of my hair has stopped.. . along with the migraines !  Almost. Instead of having one or two a week, I now have migraines about once every three weeks.  If you've ever had migraines, you know that  instead of having  eight migraines a month to having one or two can make a significant difference in your life.

Who knows if it was the acupuncture . . .or no more hair dye. . . or the combination of the two. . .or what ?  The fact is, the occurence of my migraines has dropped considerably.  And, I'm now not facing surgery on my rotator cuff.  I truly believe the acupuncture helped with the pain and range of motion in my arm. And no, I've not been back on a sled heading down a mountain again.

All that to say, "I believe acupuncture works !"

That takes us to the topic of today.

FINALLY, you say !

June Bug, our eight-year-old Boxer suffers from arthritis. Severe arthritis.  So severe, there are times she is almost unable to walk. She will lie down and "cry" from the pain.  Even when she sleeps, her breathing indicates she is not resting well.

Enter:  Katie Jones, DVM, CVA

 
Dr. Katie feels the pet benefits more from having the acupuncture treatment administered at home.  This alleviates having to load, in our case, the dog into the car. Unload the dog and treat her in an unfamiliar place like the vet's clinic, load the dog back into the car, then unload at home.  All of this can possibly negate all the good that the acupuncture might do.

 

By the look on June Bug's face, you can tell she is a bit apprenhensive when the first needle goes in.

 

 
Dr. Katie continues placing the needles in very exact points on June Bug.

 

After placing needles in Bug's shoulder and neck areas, Dr. Katie begins on her back and hips.

 

Bug was doing so well, Dr. Katie decided to attach clips to the needles and apply "electro-stimulus" for added benefits. 

 

Dr. Katie was very careful to give "low doses" of the stimuli this first time.

 

It was quite evident when the needles were inserted, where the most sore spots were by Bug's reaction.

 

If you've never had this procedure done, it's almost impossible to describe the sensation it gives.  Imagine a combination of a tingle, tickle, twitch, a prickle and a quiver...with a dose of warmth.

 

Here are the needles Dr. Katie uses.

 

And here is the Electro-Stimulator.

 

After all the needles were removed, Dr. Katie gave Bug a rub down.

 

Then she started 'acupressure' on all important points from her shoulders to her hips.  Dr. Katie demonstrated this for HansMan and me so that we can do the same for Bug on a daily basis.

 

June Bug was very receptive to this.

 

Dr. Katie even gave Bug a foot rub, which as you can tellby the look on Bug's face, she is enjoying tremendously.

 

Don't you just love the smile on her face ?
Dr. Katie has a pretty smile, too.

 

This is June Bug's way of saying thank you to Dr. Katie !

 

Afterwards, Bug went outside to tell Dr. Katie good-bye and to tinkle, then came back inside and did this.

 

. . . and she continued to do this.  I did notice that Bug's breathing was much slower and deeper than it has been in the past.  Many times, Bug will fidget, and whimper, and whine while she sleeps.  During this hour long nap, she hardly moved. It was a good nap. If you listen very closely, you can probably hear her snoring.

 

 

June Bug says, "Thank you Dr. Katie.  I will see you next Tuesday."

The following information has been taken from Dr. Katie Jones' pamphlet:

Acupuncture is the insertion of thin, sterile, stainless steel needles in a patient at precise location and depths to bring back the body's natural balanced state. Acupuncture has been used in humans and animals for over 4,000 years.  Today, The American Veterinary Medical Association considers veterinary acupuncture as a valid method of treatment. Used either by itself or in conjunction with Western medicine, veterinary acupuncture can assist the body to heal.

How does Acupuncture work?  Acupuncture works primarily through the stimulation of the central nervous system to affect all major physiological systems. acupuncture increases circulation, causes a release of many neurochemicals, including endorphins (the body's natural pain killers) and hormones. Acupuncture relieves muscle spasms, stimulates nerves and the body's defense systems.

What conditions respond well to Acupuncture ?

1. Musculoskeletal: back pain, arthritis, hip dysplasia, intervertebral disk disease, degenerative joint disease, post-op orthopedic surgery

2. Skin Problems: allergies, granulomas, decrease wound healing time

3. Gastrointestinal Problems: chronic diarrhea, vomiting, irritable bowel disease, chronic constipation, chronic colic, decreased appetite

4. Neurological Disorders:  seizures, nerve disorders, nerve injuries, paralysis

5. Respiratory Disorders: asthma, reactive airway disease, COPD, nose bleeds

6. Miscellaneous Disorders: ocular KCS/dry eye, urinary incontinence, reproductive problems, pain management for cancer patients

7. Any condition that is decreasing the animal's quality of life

What animals benefit from Acupuncture ?  All animals can benefit from Acupuncture, including, but not limited to horses, dogs, and cats.

Is Acupuncture safe ?  Acupuncture is one of the safest therapies utilized if administered by a certified veterinarian.  Side effects are rare. Because Acupuncture balances the body's own system of healing and no chemicals are administered, complications rarely, if ever, develop.

Where's June Bug, Shoes, & VAQ-140

It's one of those ADHD days, so hang on to your hat while I try to find mine.  No, it's shoes I'm supposed to be looking for, not hats.

Bless her heart !  Mariposa is trying to keep Mon Funday up and running...alive and well...kicking and screaming...rockin' and rollin'...

I didn't know that last week when the challenge was about Friendship.  Oddly enough, my post WAS about friendship, and I didn't even play.

This week, it's about shoes.  And I love shoes. But, I'm posting about dogs.  But, there will be others posting about their favorite pair of shoes, so if you have a shoe fetish, check out these BLOGS. 

Since I've followed the Mon Funday rules for so long, it's about time that I break the rules...

But wait...I've posted something about shoes before. Excuse me while I go find it !

FOUND IT.  Don't worry about reading all the non-sense that precedes the photos, just scroll down and you'll observe some of my favorite foot apparel.  CLINK this LINK

Let's now look for June Bug.

It's no secret that our Boxers are spoiled . . . rotten . . . to the core.

All three are "rescue" dogs in some sense of the word. 

They "rescue" me every day by providing smiles and much needed laughter with their antics.

Yesterday morning was no different.

But, before we get to yesterday morning, let me preface with this bit of information.

June Bug just celebrated her EIGHTH birthday last week.  She suffers from some pretty severe arthritis and has for a long time.  The vets seems to agree it's because when she was young, she was left in a kennel for long periods of time. Staying in the same position and not being able to move about, is probably the reason why.  So, if you have any ideas on what can help her, please let me know.  She does take small doses of Rimadyl daily, but that doesn't seem to help much.

Now, to yesterday morning...

We wake up early at our house. Usually because there is this incessant scratching noise at the bedroom door.  That would either be Ginger or Lola Cherry Cola.  It wouldn't be June Bug, because June Bug is on our bed.

Why ?  Because I can keep her covered up and warm during the night from the cold air conditioning which tends to aggravate her condition. 

Once I let the other two dogs in, who immediately jumped onto the bed, I headed downstairs to start the coffee. Upon returning to the bedroom, I saw this:

Where's June Bug ?  I knew she was on the bed when I left, I had helped her up there. If you'll notice, HansMan is pointing to a lump under the covers.

This lump under the quilt and bedspread.

This appears to be a mouth.

This appears to be a leg.

This appears to be June Bug.

She loves to "root-in-between" the sheets and bury herself. 

At some point, she did come out, but kept her nose snuggled under the quilt.

(FYI:  Before you freak out, those sheets are laundered every other day, sometimes more often.  Not just because of the dogs, but also because I just love sleeping on fresh sheets.)

********************************************************************

We now return to our regularly scheduled progamming:

Mariposa asked Mon Funday participants to post a photo of their favorite pair of shoes. Having grown up in southeastern "Okrahoma" there was no question about what to post.

Here are mine:

My "birthday suit" shoes !

And, by the way,

WELCOME HOME VAQ-140 !

You've met them

At this place
and
At this place
(where we discussed how they get their call signs.)

********************************

Hint: About the Contest Post below...when the title says  "Play and Win," that's exactly what it means.  Anyone who plays...wins !

Puppy Love

Hi.

My name is Lola Cherry Cola, and I'll be posting today. (Swampy is still sleeping, so be ver-wee ver-wee quiet while you are reading.)

If you'll remember, AnodeMan and Swampy bought me at Walmart.  Well, not actually IN the store but off the curb.  It was just a matter of hours before I was going to end up at the pound, so they rescued me. That was a little over a year ago.  Since then, I've brought a lot of love into their house.  A lot of puppy love. I also get myself into a lot of trouble. My favorite thing to do is get on top of the kitchen counter, eat what's there, and then just hang out up there.  The granite is so cool against my little pink spotted tummy. Swampy says I think I'm a cat, but I know better.  I'm a human.

I've also eaten a couple of my beds.  Well, I didn't really 'eat' the beds.  I shredded them. It's amazing how much foam rubber can be scattered throughout the house.  Man, you can hear 'ole Swampy yelling all the way outside.  I know because I've scadoodled my butt out the door when she sees what I've done. I don't think she would ever whack me, but I'm not going to take any chances.

And don't tell anybody, but I'm the one who always gets into the trash.  S-h-h-h.

So, with that little bit of a reminder about who I am,  let's get to today's post.

I love Jimmy.  I absolutely, unequivocally l.o.v.e Jimmy.  Jimmy is AnodeMan and Swampy's California son, and I love it when he comes to visit. Anywhere Jimmy goes, I go.  I even sleep with Jimmy.

Oh, and by the way...Jimmy has a beautiful wife named Sophia, and I love her, too.  But she doesn't let me do this...

You may not be able to see my tongue real well, so here...

...I plan to use it as soon as I can maneuver Jimmy into the correct position.

I love to try and nibble on his ear.

You can tell by the look on my face that I'm a mischievous little cutie-pie.

Jimmy loves for me to give him a neck rub.

I also love to run my fingers toes through his hair.

You can tell by the look on Jimmy's face that he's a cutie-pie, too.
He's also having a good time.
So am I.

He has no idea what I'm going to do next...

Here comes the tongue ! 

Just in case you couldn't see my tongue, here it is up close and personal.
If you want, you can lick your computer screen just for fun.  

Jimmy thinks he can hide from me by going in the house, but I follow him everywhere he goes.
Have I mentioned that I love Jimmy ?

The process is pretty much the same as when we were outside.

I just swipe my tongue across his lips for a big 'ole slobbery kiss.

Can you see my tongue ?

There it is.

Does anyone have a handkerchief ?   Jimmy appears to need one.

Have  mentioned that I LOVE Jimmy ?

Don't tell him, but  I had just finished eating a bird. 

YUM !

Swampy said to smile for the camera, so Jimmy helped me.

Remember I mentioned his beautiful wife, Sophia ?
Well, here she is.
I must admit, I'm just a little bit jealous.
But, I'll bet she doesn't lick his face like I do.

Nestle Crunch

If you don't have about f.o.u.r. minutes, just stop reading and move on.  (When you do have an extra four minutes, come on back.  It will be four minutes you'll never get back, but it will be worth wasting them.)  If you do, and you want a smile to replace that frown on your face, or maybe to giggle just a little, or perhaps laugh a lot...then keep reading.

First of all, you may be asking yourself, "Self, what does a Nestle Crunch Bar and the photos following this one have to do with each other."

Since you appear to still be reading, willing to waste your time, here's where the smile(s) can happen:

A. Call the Nestle Taste You Already Love Is Now Even More Scrumptious Hot line at 1-800-295-0051.
(If it's busy, immediately try again TWICE...one call after another.  The third time will be the charm.)

B.  When asked if you want to continue in English or Spanish, wait quietly for about 10 seconds
(Ust-Jay  Rye-tray  Ought-nay  Ooh-tay   Mile-say.    Eye-yay   Air-day   Ooh-yay.) (Any Pig Latin enthusiasts want to translate that ?)

C. Keep going and press 4. Listen to all choices,

D. Press 7 to see how these photos relate to each other.

E. Of course, all the other choices are well worth your time, too:
1. Knock Knock Joke
2. Back Yard Game of Catch
3. Bubble Wrap
4. Cannon Ball Off the Diving Board
5. Nougee Given to Co-Worker
6. Affection Between Boy & Girl
7. ???

So, what other productive activities are planned for the rest of your day ?

Don't forget, it's St. Patrick's Day...are you wearing green ?