He Who 'Draws' the Short Straw (and whose feet smell like Fritos)...

...still gets his turn to attend a Minor League baseball game!

(There is a reason why I don't write idioms/proverbs for a living.)

(Cryptic) Title Translation: Because I was busy sulking about my good camera being in the shop and having to use my crappy back-up one, I forgot to post photos from Dewi's (August) trip to Bark in the Park. Three of You might remember from last spring:

I could only take one dog to my local Minor League team's "Bark in the Park" night, but because I'm neurotic (and found it impossible to make a "fair" choice between the dogs), I had the dogs "draw" straws for it. Jon Farleigh picked (sniffed) the longer straw, so he got to go (in May). Dewi, on the other hand, would have to wait and go to the second Bark in the Park night (in August).

Here is Dewi "drawing" the short straw. (Yes, I am aware this entire incident casts doubt upon my sanity, but it's my blog, so just deal, okay? ;)

And here are the photos of Dewi at Bark in the Park (late August).

(Warning: The quality is crappy. Stupid crappy camera.)

Forget butt-sniffing. Dewi pretty much smooched every dog within the reach of his 5-ft. leash.

This girl (above) was a sweet lab mix.

Then there was a tri-color Sheltie.

And then the sable Sheltie.

Here's a better look at that Sheltie.

No wonder he kissed her. :)

Next, the Cairn Terrier.

And the adorable Pittie puppy.

Wait. It's coming...

Trust me. I didn't get it on camera, but there was snout contact.

Then, lastly (but not infrequently), the Rottie/Corgi cross. I do not jest; her legs were short and her people said she was part Corgi. :) 

Dewi is just waiting for her nose to meet his. He might have shoved his nose in her ear, too. 

In hindsight, perhaps we should have named him Richard Dawson. ;)

Until next baseball season!

My Dogs 'Drew' Straws and Jon Farleigh Won (a Trip to Bark in the Park)

(Editor's Note: I'm just sitting here imagining what a first-timer to my blog might think after reading the title of this post. How does one preface one's dogs drawing straws and winning trips? I dunno? Oh, well. Thanks for listening. ;)

Okay, for those who are still reading, but missed yesterday's post, I made the dogs draw (choose) straws to determine which one got to go with me and Youngest Child to Bark in the Park. (It'll make more sense if you read yesterday's post.)

And, yes, (per the title) Jon Farleigh's nose won the "draw"; therefore, JF got to go (and Dewi will go next time, in August). 

So, off we go to the ballpark...

And here's JF making out with a yellow lab.

JF: Wanna go under the bleachers? 

Okay, they weren't really making out (although there's definitely something more than a casual butt sniff going on). Sadly for JF, though, the lab's visit was limited to this brief encounter on the stairs. ;)

This lovely young Boxer lady, however, was our bleacher mate for the whole game. Such a sweetie!

This little guy was in the row in front of us...

...and Dachshund girl was behind us.

Until this (extremely affectionate) girl moved in.

My little ladies' man was in dog heaven. :)

So was I (in dog heaven), frankly. I didn't watch anything but dogs until the bottom of the 7th inning! (oops)

This little person liked Jon Farleigh (and the feeling was mutual - JF is very fond of little people). :)

Little person: Goggie!

Jon Farleigh slept well last night (right after he got home and played bitey face and zoomies with Dewi, who didn't seem to be holding a grudge).

Oh, and by the way, I'm totally using the straws on the dogs again!

10 Points if You Can Figure Out How I Decided Which Dog to Take to Bark in the Park

If you follow the blog on Facebook, you might have seen this status update earlier today. If not, well, in a nutshell (pun intended), I was in a dilemma over which dog to take with Youngest Child and me to Bark in the Park (one of two dog-friendly nights at the ballpark with our hometown Minor League baseball team, the Richmond Flying Squirrels).

Anyway, my point is: How the heck does one decide between two relatively equal canine candidates, who would be equally thrilled to go to the game, and who would miss the other one terribly should he not get picked, AND NOT WALK AWAY FEELING LIKE A JERK? 

(Yes, for some of you reading this, I do realize the question I just asked colors me a shade of "crazy dog lady." Just lettin' you know that it's not going to get much better from here. ;)

So what do you think, folks? How did I decide?

Did I:

A. Ask the dogs which one wanted to go more?

B. Have the dogs wrestle for it?

C. Rate the dogs' behavior throughout the day and take the one who misbehaved less?

D. Let Youngest Child decide?

E. Have the dogs pick straws? 

(Reminder: I'm a crazy dog lady with guilt issues.)

Give yourself 10 points if you picked E., because, yes, Jon Farleigh and Dewi picked straws! 
(And I am guilt free! Yay!)

This one smells like a winner.

Yeah, I like this one right here.

So, whose nose touched the longer straw???

Tune in tomorrow (Wed.) to find out (plus see some great photos from our awesome night at the ballpark)!

Do you snark in the park?

What? You think Bert and Ernie never fight?
How come you think they have hair like this?

Earlier this past spring, I published a post titled Do you bark in the park?, a fun recap of a Minor League baseball-filled evening that the dogs, kids and I had attended the night before.

So we did it again last night. It was fun...until Jon Farleigh and Dewi got into a brawl in the stands. Not over a foul ball (which might have been tolerated), but over discarded peanut shells that Youngest Child had been merrily tossing under his seat.

Although I was able to stop the flashing teeth and no one (including the dogs) was physically harmed, I'm pretty sure the incident (understandably) scared the bloody poo out of every other creature within earshot. I was mortified, not at the dogs, but at my inability to see it coming, and desperately wanted to stand up and declare: "No really! They get along fantastically at home!" or "No really! There's no need to gather up your belongings and flee; they're Canine Good Citizens, for goodness' sake! Really!"  But I didn't. Instead, I looked over at Youngest Child (who was unfazed) and his big, foam index finger pointed up to the sky, and then down at the panting dogs...and decided to stay.  The next thirty minutes were then spent trying to make the dogs forget about the peanuts...and each other. I left, defeated, at the start of the seventh inning.

The dogs, in contrast, trotted out amicably, side-by-side, like nothing had ever happened. They were grateful to get in the car and slept peacefully all the way home.

So maybe you're wondering the point of this post. It's not typical of me to post stories of the boys not getting along - in fact, this might be the first time I've ever admitted it. :) Sure, they're BFFs (like Bert and Ernie), but they're dogs, and dogs will be dogs. I suppose I just wanted to make a statement - that even the "sweetest" dogs can be tested if placed in "stressful" situations. What might seem like a perfectly wonderful pastime for humans, might not be equally wonderful for our four-legged friends. I'm obviously still learning how to discern what is and what isn't.

So on that note, anyone want to talk about how you decide whether or not to take your dogs to public events? And if so, what precautions do you take, if any?

*****

P.S. I'm still borrowing computer access, so my responses to comments might be delayed. I also can't post any new photos (of last night's game or BlogPaws - which I still plan on posting about) until I get internet back at home. The cable company says maybe tomorrow...

Hint: I have an easier time posting status updates to the Facebook page than the blog. Maybe you should like us there, if you haven't already? :)

Also, you can see photos - including one wicked adorable one of Dewi - from last night's Bark in the Park at Richmond Pet Lovers.com.

Do you Bark in the Park?

How about the ballpark?

Jon Farleigh and Dewi do (dooweedoo - hee hee), thanks to Richmond, Virginia's very own Minor League Baseball team, the Flying Squirrels, who hosted Bark in the Park at the Diamond last night.

Yes, much to our relief, the threatening black rainclouds steered just clear of the ballpark and allowed hundreds of human and canine fans (including us) to enjoy a perfect evening celebrating a favorite American pastime. And as promised, here's the photographic evidence.

"Dewi, check it out. There's dogs everywhere."

"Why are you up there when you could be under here?"

"You rock, Mom!"

"I detect chemicals in my nose that make me want to have some of that, urgently, PLEEEZ."

"It's not easy being this good looking."

"Safe?!! Dude, did you get your glasses from 'Poor Eyes'?"

FREE doggie ice cream from Rita's. Dewi ate his and then stole another dog's later. Really.

The view below us.

If you look closely, you will see the team from Richmond PetLovers .com (on the right in the red T's). I'm 99.999 percent sure Sarah (of the blog) is seated on the far right. (I have met her once in person.)

And this is Yours Truly with a Dewi-dog growing out of her face.  :)

Do you follow Layne's awesome blog named for her adorable dogs, Banjo and Millie?

We were lucky enough to meet all of them in person at the game, and we hadn't even planned it!

Layne, her husband and her doggies are super nice (and so very well-behaved). (What? Are you surprised that Layne was behaved?) :)

See how nicely Banjo and Millie are sitting? I, on the other hand, am having a bit of trouble with my boys.

"Okay, quickly, take the photo while I have them in this here choke hold!"

(Notice the looks on JF's and Dewi's faces. It should be a crime to have this much fun.)

Layne, her husband, Banjo and Millie, it was great meeting you!

Now, I'm curious. Are there any other professional baseball teams that sponsor similar dog-friendly game nights? Please tell!