Happy Labor Day; Don't Forget to Rest (a PSA Illustrated with Sleepy Corgis and Cats)

Whoever coined the phrase "Work Hard, Play Hard" forgot to add "Sleep Hard." Obviously, they weren't paying close enough attention to their beasts. 

Please don't be like that person. 

(End of PSA)

Enjoy your day, and my sleepy/sleeping animals!

Tired from chasing Jon Farleigh.

Tired from dragging a piece of string in circles for 10 minutes.

Tired simply from being awake for an hour straight. 

Tired from sleeping too vigorously.

Food coma.

Tired from watching me (pretend to) clean.

Tired from being alive for 10 years.

Tired from being alive for 4 months.

Tired of me taking his picture.
(As for the Kong? It's complicated.)

Tired of being tired of me taking his picture.

Wondering why I'm not tired, too. ;-)

Please note: Beginning this week, and for an undetermined duration, I will be adding a second weekly blog post, containing nothing but a captioned photo (meme). Because, to me, caption writing is good mental exercise. ;-) See you in a few!

Not Dead, Just Dead to the World

Ahem.

Hello, there. It's us. We're fine.

Didn't suffer irreparable psychological damage at doggy camp. In fact, what's doggy camp? Wanna fetch?!

Oh wait. We can't. 

Mom's We're sleeping.

Mom says she'll we'll be more focused sleeping less next week, which is good because we have some stupid childish  funny stories to tell.

See you th...Zzzzzzz

Comic Relief with Dewi: Therapy

This is the part of the week when we interrupt our regularly scheduled fostering phonics lessons with some welcome canine comic relief.

Five years from now...

Dewi will confess to a therapist his recurring nightmare, in which he orders an iced skinny caramel macchiato at Starbucks while dressed as a pirate.

 Yo ho! See you tomorrow!

The Photo I Wanted to Post Yesterday (had I not fallen asleep at the keyboard)

That's Maddy (aka Maddox) looking out my bathroom window.

Last night at 11 p.m. (when I sat down to compose this post), it (the photo) hadn't been edited yet. Nor did I have a title for the post. And I couldn't put two sentences together, because my eyes were crossing.

About 37 minutes later (as my head accelerated toward the keyboard), I startled awake with a string of drool puddling at my collar bone.

So I went to bed.

In 18+ months and 405 published posts, until yesterday, I had never missed a regular blogging day without telling my readers (you) in advance.

I thought I'd feel horrible about it, but you know what? Lightning didn't strike me down, the Internet didn't cry out in disbelief, and the blog's still here recording my blathering blather.

In an odd way, I feel liberated.

My pajama shirt is also liberated...from drool.

But back to Maddy (in the above photo, which has been heavily doctored -- because my good camera is still at the Nikon factory repair shop -- at Picmonkey.com).

The first time he sat in that window and looked out, he squinted because the sun hurt his eyes. It dawned on me then that the only times, in the years he's been a resident at the shelter, that he's had a window view to the bright outdoors were the few times he's been in foster care.

And my eyes welled up with tears.

A few moments later, Maddy yawned in my face and his dragon breath (from his prescription canned food-only diet) made me clasp my nose and gag.

Then Dewi and Jon Farleigh barged in the room and all hell broke loose.

Well, anyway, the moment was awfully sweet while it lasted.

Maddy is sweet, too, even if his breath could curl paint.

And on that note, I think you all need to have a sweet (not stinky) WEEKEND!

~~~~~

Just one more thing: In 18+ months and 406 posts, I've never taken more than a couple days (here and there) respite from thinking up posts for this blog. I think it's time for me to give my poor, tired and aging brain a break. So (deep breath), I'm taking all FIVE days next week off (that's M-F). Yes, indeed I am.

Unless I get a wild hair and don't, in which case, you should severely chastise me for not sticking to my guns. ;-)

My rested brain will see you soon!

I Asked My Child to Take Some Cute Photos of the Dogs so I Could Use Them for the Blog

Because, as of 5 p.m. today, I had zilch, and I had to go out for several hours, and I couldn't go without posting something, because I didn't announce on yesterday's post that I would be taking the day off (and I am OCD really dedicated to my blogging schedule). 

Yeah, so I was in a hurry and tried to explain to Middle Child (who wasn't really listening) to take some "cute" photos of JF "smiling" or some video of someone "chasing Dewi in circles around the downstairs" (he loves it and it's funny), and to have it all ready for me when I got home around 10 p.m.

And, well, I can't show you the video of Jon Farleigh's cheek (that Middle Child got while blindly aiming the camera toward the floor - where JF was lying  - as she was lying on the couch watching TV) because she also managed to get some pretty good footage of several piles of laundry that needs to be folded, as well as some close-ups of her newly painted pink fingernails...bla bla bla.

But the good news is that I have these pictures of Dewi (who was lying asleep in a Snuggie on the couch on top of Middle Child who was watching TV) to post for you.

Is it better than nothing?
I honestly can't say.

;-)

Have a great weekend, everybody!

The Daily Rumpus

Dear Santa: I'd like some more natural light for my front rooms, so I can turn off my flash. Thank you. 

Most weekday mornings, after the last child is safely aboard the cheese box to school, I carry the second of my three daily steins of coffee to the computer for some quiet time.

This is Jon Farleigh's and Dewi's cue to commence the rumpus. The rumpus goes like this:

1. Dewi secures - in his mouth - by scaling the living room sofa, coffee and/or end tables - the gift his human siblings left for him the night before. These gifts vary from pencils, pens and crayons to headbands, tinker toys and decks of Uno cards. Today it was a pair of Youngest Child's slippers. 

   

   Deewwwiiii, I'm wayyytiiiiinnng.

   
   
2. Once the gift (or gifts - if they're lucky) is secured, the wild game of keep-away/bitey-face begins.

   

   I promise I'll let you win this time. Just move a little closer.

   
   

   

   Sucka! I eat your face off!

   
   
3. I grudgingly part with my chair and collect the contraband (aka poop on the party). 

   

   You're no fun.

   
   

   

   I'm finished speaking to you.

   
   
4. The dogs - usually physically exerted by now - assume their positions on the floor next to my chair and quickly drift off to doggie dreamland. 

   

   streeeetchhh

   
   

   

   ZZzzzzzzzz

And quiet is restored.
Until they hear a strange noise outside.
Happy Monday!

I Had a Strange Dream at BlogPaws

A true story...I mean it.

In my dream there was a tea party, and bunnies and, strangely, we were eating Fritos corn chips. I vaguely remember the sky turning overcast...

Then I opened my eyes and saw this:

Well, that explains the Frito aroma, but bunnies and tea parties?!


*****

After decompressing from the bumper-to-bumper traffic we encountered in and around Tyson's Corner, and getting acclimated to the large crowd, the dogs and I had a fantastic (but way too short) time at our first BlogPaws! There was so much to see and do that I need to save the bulk for tomorrow. (But don't worry, I'll make the words few and the photos big.) 

In the meantime, enjoy a few more BlogPaws bedtime photos of the boys!

But wait, Dewi needs to sit in all the chairs first.


Oh, and then there was the mandatory game of bitey-face...

(Not to be confused with a brawl.)

Next, a thorough scan of the parking lot. (A dog's gotta protect his person.)

And, finally, the all-important bed comfort-check.

Two paws-up from Jon Farleigh.

Two pooped pups...

Ready to turn in.

One bed for the dogs and one bed for me.

NOT!

It lasted 30 seconds, people.

First, JF was in my bed, and then Dewi started whining to join him. 

BUT, they slept all night without a peep (or I was too asleep to know otherwise). 

More tomorrow. Happy Wednesday!

Warning - May Cause Drowsiness; Do Not View this Blog Post While Operating Heavy Machinery

For optimal effect, click HERE (or below) (note: right click link to open in a new window) for dreamy audio accompaniment. 

(Brahms Lullaby, vocals by Jewel)

almost...

Night, night, sweet Dewi. Shhhhh.  :)

(Note: He so wishes this wasn't just a one-time cute blog post.)

The Toy Is Mine

As part of Jon Farleigh's and Dewi's naughty adventure yesterday, they scored an empty shampoo bottle from a Child's bathroom and found the cap to be quite entertaining. So much so, that despite my bad mood, I allowed them to keep it for amusement. Unfortunately for Dewi, Jon Farleigh wouldn't let it out of his sight - even when he had no sight. You see, the "toy" was his.

But before I show you the photo evidence, I'd like you to get the 1982 single The Girl Is Mine, by Michael Jackson and featuring Paul McCartney, in your head. If you can't (possibly because you were an infant or not even born then), you should click HERE to listen on YouTube. (I release myself from blame, however, should the tune get stuck in your head.)

And now for today's Feature Presentation: The Toy Is Mine

"Every night it rolls right in my dreams...

Since I chewed it from the start.

I'm so proud I am the only one...

With whom toys cannot depart.

The toy is mine. [hum, hum, hum, hum]
I said, the doggone toy is mine.

I love you more than he..."

The End

I hope someone shares with you today.

Dedicated to the memory of Mr. Rufus B. Thumper, one doggone fine dog.

Dude, that cannot be comfortable?



One of the benefits of having no legs: low center of gravity for optimal naptime positioning

I'm pretty sure he's giving me a dirty look in this one.

(Notice the reflective edge on the Comfy Cone? I suppose dogs in cones need extra visibility.)  

Hope your slumber is comfy.

ZZZzzzzzz