I'm back and badder than before

Well, maybe not really "badder". I don't think that's even a word. But a lot has been going on. Since my last note, we moved into the nice big house. I've mastered the stairs, figured out the backyard (the poinsettias are gone - all we have now are some pine needles from the dogs who live next door), and found a favorite new walking spot behind something called WaWa. They have a big bird on their sign, and in the morning when we go for my first trip, there are ALWAYS lots of people to bark at and pigeons to chase. I'm STILL not allowed off the leash, but that's not because I'm bad - it's because of something called "insane traffic". There are all these cars that go by, and so fast! It's so much fun to watch.

I've also mastered getting in the car! My human bought a new car JUST FOR ME! Well, I don't know if it's mine, exactly, but she said that she wasn't going to buy a "hatchback" because I wouldn't fit. I don't know what a hatchback is, but I don't like anything I don't fit in. I have my own blue blanket in the car, a few bones, and I even have my own seatbelt. It's pretty cool, and I've gotten to go to my old dog park a bunch. She won't let me drive, though. I keep telling her I can keep my eyes on the road, and paws on the wheel, but she's not having it.

We've done all sorts of fun things in the last few months, like go to the country to play with Barrett and Boomer and Pita. My favorite thing to do is run in and out of the door and play with my red soccer ball. Here's me and Barrett. He's trying to go back inside, but I still want to play
.

And then he DID go back inside.


I was so sad. I get to see him this weekend, though, after I get my stitches out, so I'm pretty excited. I got stitches because I had to get needles in my paw last weekend. Something happened with one of my claws, and man - it wasn't painful, but it sure looked gross! We were in the country when it happened, so my humans had to drive as fast as they could to the vet - which was two hours away! I just slept in the car, but I could tell they were nervous. But never fear, I'm fine. Because I've not been allowed to play properly, my human and I had a photo shoot one night. Here's some of my favorites:

This is me making my Scooby Doo face. He's a bit of a pansy, and he ruined it for us dogs. Not all of us can talk, and believe you me, if I could - I wouldn't sound like such a twit.


Here's me with my party face on:


And here's me giving my human a kiss. Well, I tell her it's a kiss. Really, she just had some pizza on her chin she'd missed:


My favorite thing I did this fall was go to the park, though. Not the dog park, mind you. A REAL park, with these flying ducks that go in the water, and these HUGE things called HORSES. They didn't like me much, and I thought they smelled funny. So who cares about them anyway?
Well, for a split second, I did. I wanted to see one up close!

But he wouldn't come any closer.

Then I saw leaves - it's really my first Fall with trees around. The leaves taste DELICIOUS.


My other favorite thing has been puppy school. I have a lovely trainer (can you believe it? I have a trainer! My HUMANS don't even have them! Then again, they don't pee on the floor. But still!). Her name is Stacey, and I jump and kiss her every time I see her. I learned a lot of things, like stay, and sit, and roll over - but mostly, I got to play with other dogs. There's a huge, big baby of a German Shepard named Polo - he's nice but really rambunctious. And a little dog shaped like a football called Sammy. I always want to play with Sammy, but she hates me.

Anyway, I missed my graduation because of my surgery, but I'm going next Wednesday! I get to see Stacey, do all my tricks, and I GET TO WEAR A HAT! Just wait, world! Here I come! With pictures!


I can hear a plastic bag rustling, so it's time for my walk. Sorry it's been so long, friends. I'll be sure to update more.

Love,
Stella

Oh hey, I meant to ask - if I wrote a kid's book about my travels, and my big sister Sadie, would anyone read it? I doubt it'd be a moneymaker, but at least I could get famous.

movin' on up!

So we're moving! Not to the East side, per se. More North. But it's still very exciting! I have heard lots of talk of realtors and appraisals. The other day, I saw a picture of a house I liked so I carried it in my mouth to my adopteds. They must've liked it because TODAY I GOT TO GO INSIDE! THEY BOUGHT IT! It's a wonderful house with fun, confusing stairs. They were a little hard to get used to, but I'm becoming grown up and I will be good at them one day.
Speaking of being grown up, I also got my surgery the other week! I don't know what they did exactly, but when I woke up I had pink stitches on my belly and I hurt a little bit. I think I heard someone mention something about not having puppies or something. I did very well in the surgery, but I had a couple accidents when I came out. I was dopey for a couple days, but I was lucky to have my adopteds home with me.
I've also spent the last 2 weekends in our country houses - I've been very lucky. I MIGHT get to go back this weekend too, but I'm not sure.
Enjoy the pictures! I have to go outside for my last walk now.
Love,
Stella


This is me recovering in the big bed.


Humans make great pillows...


..and snuggle buddies.


This is our new living room! I peed on the floor.


This is our, erm, MY backyard. Don't worry about the poinsettia - they're getting rid of it so I don't eat it.


I love to sniff.


So many smells! There were 3 chihuahuas and 3 cats here before. I peed here to make sure they know it's MINE.


The one room I didn't pee in - which is good since it's the bedroom.


going up?

Spring Break!

Or, why I haven't written in a long time.
I'm sorry. I got in trouble and I wasn't allowed to use the computer anymore. I have redeemed myself, and I'm back!
Luckily, you haven't missed much. I went back to the country for a birthday party and saw my best friends Barrett, Pita, and Boomer. Well, I didn't see Pita the Cat. But he was home. And I tried to lick Boomer - a LOT. I had fun, but he YOWLED until my adopteds and everyone came running down the stairs.
But I promise - I never laid a tooth on him.
Barrett and I had much more fun.
Here's a picture of our favorite game, run around the table:

This is Barrett and I getting something called HAMBURGER. Do you know it? My adopteds only eat vegetables, so this is something I have not had before. Apparently, it was very fancy and came from a place called Manhattan. I implore Bunny - PLEASE BRING ME MORE.

This is Barrett and I being good. He told me that if you sit right before they give you something, you can get MORE. Brilliant!

And we sang a birthday song to my adopted...My ears flop around when I sing. Gotta put passion into it, you know?

This is how they have to separate Barrett and I when they go out. Don't worry - I have a whole room to myself. And Barrett has the whole house. But I'd much rather be playing...

After a long weekend, I like to curl up in bed with my adopted. Under the covers, please.

And here are two recent pictures of me! We discovered I have a wheat allergy, so I eat something called Expensive Food now. But I'm not pink anymore. And my fur is all growing back! I'm very excited!

See how big I'm getting?
And look at this face!

I'm off to go lick - I got a brilliant squeaking warthog toy that I love!

Bye lovies!

Confidential to K and J in Illinois: Lots of love to you - can't wait to meet you!xoxoxo.

let it snow!

So this snowstorm was no disappointment. I woke up this morning to ELEVENTY INCHES! I'm not quite sure how tall that is, but it's pretty deep - I had to prance through the snow to get through. I got to walk in it before it was gray and gone through - I got my picture taken a ton of times. I love to shovel through the snow with my nose - I'm like a little plow.







I went home and took a nap in my house, and then I got to go in the car with my adopteds and two of their friends. The friends have an older boxer named Ming. I met Ming when I was very wee - I haven't seen her since! She's had some troubles - she has alopecia and just got over cancer, so I thought we could swap skin stories. I liked to play with her a LOT, but I don't think she liked me as much. Her adopteds put her outside with me, and she just kept running back to the door. But I had fun! I love Ming.

Here she is running away from me:


and again...


but then I try to sneak her:


and then we're friends!


It's cold, I'm going to hide under some blankets and do something called "rearranging closets". Wish me luck - it sounds scary!

OTL.

sleep, snow and tough days

So I was absent for a day. I apologize. I had to go BACK to the vet. I saw my friends there, though - I love the girls who work there. I got all sorts of medicine to cure what ails me. Hopefully it'll work. It's cutting seriously into my toy budget.
I slept most of last night, and a good part of today. I love it when I'm allowed to sleep in the bed. I'm TRYING to get them to let me in the bed all night, but I haven't quite convinced them.
See how cute I am? How could they NOT let me?

The face of an ANGEL, I tell you.

I love to sleep on the couch, too. Preferably under the blankets. I was doing so this fine, snowy evening (something called a Nor'Easter! Are there eggs involved? Bunnies? Cannot be sure, but very excited for it nonetheless). All of a sudden, there was movement - commotion, if you will. The adopteds were leaving me! They were going out! I was so comfy and warm - I gave them my best sleeping-on-the-couch, pleas-don't-leave face, but it didn't work.


But they were remarkably kind. They carried me in my blanket to my new lean-to. It was a very kind gesture, and I was happy to not have to move too much.





I was so grateful that I decided to do a little dance...


and finish off with some kisses! You have to look closely, but I've ALMOST got her!


It's late and snowy - I'm off to my real house to go to sleep. Tomorrow, I will conquer the snow!

OTL.

cooking is not like the food channel

So in my house, we watch the Food Channel all the time. Iron Chef, Iron Chef America, Good Eats - these are on in the house with as much regularity as any Law and Order. It seems so easy - buzzing around the kitchen, pots and pans at the ready. Things like quail eggs and shaved truffles just waiting to be used.
Much to my surprise, real life cooking - at least in my house - is nothing like that. The ingredients come out of plastic bags that are fun to play with. Nothing is, as they say, "prepped". Ovens need to be heated, cheese needs to be grated, sauce un-jarred. All to make mysterious lasagna.
I don't know what it is, but I discovered I like mozzarella. I was treated to my first table scraps when I got a bit passed down to me.


This is me performing my one trick - down. All for a piece of mozzarella! I'm going to go to Beginner School soon at PetSmart, since I'm too old for puppy school. I'm looking forward to learning tricks.



Out of nowhere, there was this horrible shrill sound that didn't stop until we waved a towel flag at the ceiling. Something about a "goddamn stupid smoke detector and there's no smoke"? Not sure what that means - the sound is just AWFUL, though.




This morning I'm home with a friend, so I have to go play.
OTL.

homesick

I'm back in the city. I miss the country, I miss my best friends, and the nice soft carpet to pee on (hey, it was an accident. I SAID I was sorry). I did come home with nice aired out linens and a new purple harness, so it wasn't all a loss.
I'm tired, though, so just enjoy these pictures.


Me and Bdog on the couch. Those two marks on his knee are from surgery. He said it had something to do with Boomer and being shanked, but I'm not sure I buy it.


On your mark...


get set...


GO!


Eadweard Muybridge has nothing on me. And extra points to you if you get the reference.


Home, trying to feign excitement.

OTL.

*special thanks to gentle reader P for pointing out an error. One can never be too correct.