I have started taking more car rides lately. They are fun. Murphy and I stand on the seat with our paws up on the door frame up by the window and our noses out the window. WOW is that something. The wind blows through your hair and up your nose – we just love it! Paul can’t figure out who keeps licking the inside of the window. Well – I won’t tell him but it is me! Sometimes Ann Marie puts the window up so that I don’t jump out when it is just the two of us in the car. She’s probably right, given half a chance I would probably put my back paws on the armrest and then it wouldn’t take much and I would be on the road. Good thing someone is watching me. I could be in trouble if I fall out! I met the guy named Steve this weekend. As soon as he saw me he said I look like a rat. Who’s he calling a rat? I’m a whole 4 pounds 3 ounces now! He is BIG and scary sometimes. He was squatted down in the kitchen and I growled at him. Well he had some nerve – he growled back at me. I yipped and scurried away. I went back and growled again and he growled back. I guess I won’t mess with him. If I’m a rat he’s a moose! How does he like that! Paul and Murphy just started playing chase in the living room. Now I was sitting here nicely in Ann Marie’s lap. How is a puppy supposed to sit quietly when all that fun chasing is going on? Paul and Murphy went to the basement and left me in this dumb lap. Now I am whining to get down. Some guys have all the fun. Ann Marie is making me lay here. I’m not exactly happy about it. Murphy and I have some great play sessions these days. We chase around the kitchen and then someone will open the patio door so we can take it outside. That’s great because then we can run around the deck or out in the yard. I like to run around the deck and slip under the grill where Murphy can’t reach me. Then when he’s not looking I come out and pounce on him. He is getting bolder now because now he will even start the play sessions. He’s even getting pretty good at putting his head and shoulder down to knock me over or when I am on him (my paws on this back) he falls down, rolls over and then I’m on my back. What happened?
The other day we were playing outside and I went to jump up on the deck and I missed. I stubbed my toe and boy did that hurt! I went running around the deck yipping and jumping for a couple of minutes. Like all stubbed toes – I did survive! Carolyn has been teaching me how to sit. She says sit, makes a hand gesture, and if I do it I get a treat! I’m getting pretty good at this. I’ll do anything for food. I do eat love to eat. They say I eat too fast. They have even started pulling me away from my food while I am eating. I am still for about 2 seconds and then my feet start racing for the bowl. The problem is they are still holding me so I make no progress. They also laugh at me as my toes do a little tap dance as I try to get closer to the bowl. But once they let me go I still scarf the food down. The other night when Jen got home Murphy and I went running to the back door. He thought he was going to get there first but I out smarted him. I went under him between his back legs and came out under his front legs. Guess who Jen saw first. ME! I can still squeeze through the gates and get to parts of the house that are supposed to be off limits. I’ve found a basket full of goodies in the living room and I tend to drag them out and one stick is fun to chew on. I get in trouble, but it is worth it. Tonight just before writing this letter Ann Marie was coming from the living room as I was sneaking down the hall way. Oh no – the look she gave me and I immediately ran back to the gate. Somehow I never get back through it as fast as I get out. Caught again! They took me to the vet again. That’s one place I don’t particularly like. I got a shot for lyme disease in my leg and that was really sore! I couldn’t even walk last night. But I did get special attention and they even let me sit in their laps in the family and watch TV. I just laid there in pain but at least I got some TLC! I’m much better today. Murphy and I are up to our old tricks again. Chris, I like the sounds of the doggie door. That sounds like it could be fun! Well, I’ve got to go. Take care. Muffin