Caught Again

Something mortifying happened to me this weekend. I thought I got away with something but then my parents found out about it in quite an embarrassing way. I am the first to admit that I love chocolate; I know it is dangerous for me and my parents never let me have any. But that doesn't stop me from trying to obtain it whenever I can (live life on the edge, that's what I say). So, my Mom had some leftover small Snickers bars in her bookbag that she forgot about. My parents and sis left me alone on Thursday afternoon and my keen sense of smell brought me to Mom's bag and I was able to help myself to a few of those bars. Since I didn't know how long my family would be out, I had to scarf them down quickly.

When my parents came back, Dad saw one Snickers wrapper on the floor. Mom was horrified and confused: she didn't see any more Snickers bars in her bag, but couldn't find any more wrappers. She thought she had at least 4 of those bars left. My parents watched me closely overnight, but I felt fine (and proud of myself for getting away with such a steal!). I felt fine, that is, until this weekend. On Saturday I had a weird-colored poop; Mom was wondering why my poop was white and blue. She looked closer (she had to pick up after me, of course) and saw the letters S-N-I-C-K-E-R-S on the white part. Boy was she steaming mad! And then I got really sick yesterday and started dry-heaving for an hour, until finally, 3 more wrappers came up. My parents were both furious and very concerned about me at the same time. Once they realized I was ok, they started lecturing me about eating chocolate, especially with the wrapper still on. I tried to tell them that the wrapper was no impediment to my enjoying the chocolate itself, but I think that got me in more trouble. Suffice it to say I didn't get very much to eat last night; Mom said it was to make sure my stomach was recovered, but I know when I am being punished! Can't say it wasn't worth it, though . . .

Puggy Meet Up

This time I can't blame anyone but myself for the late post. I am still recuperating from the Pug Meet up I went to this weekend. The Pug Rescue of Florida held a meet on Saturday in Maitland, Florida. My family and I went and had a fun time, especially since this was our first pug event. Mommy and Daddy were in heaven -- pugs EVERYWHERE. Mommy had wanted to enter me in the "Biggest Pug" contest, thinking I was so chunky (I call it voluptuous) I would easily win. What a surprise to find that there are pugs bigger than me-- whew! I felt better after that. My parents wanted to bring home a rescue pug, but my sister said, "noooo way"; apparently, she can't stand the further lack of attention she would receive if another pug came home.

We met this brother and sister pair at the meet-up. These were the biggest black pugs we have seen! Normally, I find that black pugs are smaller than the fawn colored ones.

Doesn't he look dapper?

Mommy was very impressed -- she has never seen a brindle pug before.

My parents left me AGAIN!

I should win the award for most neglected pug of the year. My parents left me again for one week -- this is becoming a very annoying habit. Mommy said they were leaving for a very good reason: my uncle was getting married. So what? Why couldn't he have the darn wedding at our house? Florida's lovely this time of year! Nooo, instead, everyone has to fly to another country (Daddy says it is in some place called Rivera Maya in Mexico) and inconvenience me with this activity. And why does my little sis get to go? So what if she is the flower girl? And why did my uncle not pick me to be the flower girl -- I think he likes my little sis more than me (Mommy assures me that is not the case but you be the judge).

Luckily, my parents brought me to stay with Peanut and his mom, Monika, for the week. I don't know why I have this thing with dauschaunds -- they seem to be following me around. I actually had loads of fun chasing him and the other dogs around (but don't tell my parents that -- I told them I had a miserable time)

This is a picture of the resort my parents stayed in. Mommy said they didn't allow pets at the place. What kind of joint doesn't allow pugs?

Looks like Florida, only a tad bit warmer

So this is what my idiot sis does during the wedding -- play with the sand. Mommy said she walked down the aisle like a trooper and then kept on walking (it was a beach wedding) to play in the sand. What a pro, eh? I'm telling you, my uncle picked the wrong niece as a flower girl -- I would have been a hundred times better behaved (and much prettier also)!

Something's Up

Something's up with my parents: they keep talking to themselves in low voices and then they look at me and smile. My parents won't tell me what is going on, but they have dropped hints like, "Frances, you are going to love this" and "Can't wait till Saturday". C'mon, why do parents have to be so sneaky!? Tell me already -- everyone knows pugs aren't patient dogs.

Guests in the house

We had two special houseguests with us while I was trying to overcome my writer's block -- Frankie and Ruby. Their Mommy was away for a week and she wanted to make sure her kids were at the best place possible away from home, so she picked my house! I was actually bigger than both of them so I had to play nice. My Mom said they are better behaved than I am, especially during our walks. Humph! I am just more independent than those two silly dogs.

This is Frankie. Notice how he is begging to be loved? I don't need to beg -- people flock to me all the time of their own accord.

This is Ruby. She is trying to steal my snack away from my Dad. It's a good thing I don't believe in hitting women!

I have been delinquent

Hi out there. It is yours truly -- the Wild Alaskan Mountain Pug-turned-Wild Floridian Swamp Pug -- here making a delayed appearance. I know it has been over 5 months since I last posted but it wasn't all my fault, truly. Allright, I did get into a writer's funk for a while and then my parents got all busy with a new house and some renovations (don't get my Mom started about contractors and their "estimates"). But things have settled down and I am back in the game!



Just a quick update on me, I did have a mast-cell tumor removed from my abdomen 3 weeks ago. Doc said it looked like she removed all of it as the margins were clear -- way-to-go doc!

This is my Dad trying to make me look cool . . . I don't need sunglasses for that!

Whew!

It has been hot and muggy here -- typical south Florida weather for summer. At this point in the year I am happy simply lounging at home.

Bed, pillow, blanket . . . what more do you need?

OK, paparazzi, you can leave now.

Sheesh! Can't a pug get some sleep?

This is how you do it . . .

My sister and I went for a walk yesterday with Mom. I got hot walking around in the blazing sun so I volunteered my little sis to do the driving . . .

But my sis got cranky and tired, so I had to move to the back seat . . .

Mommy made me move below so my little sis can sit in her carriage.

What an indignity!!!

Working on the boat

Hi all! I have been working hard these past few weeks, along with Daddy. He leads people on diving trips (you humans are CRAZY to want to spend any time underwater . . . I mean you get wet doing that. Yuck!). They hop on board a speedy boat to somewhere in the open ocean, and plop! plop! plop! these people jump off a perfectly fine boat and into the water . . . weird!

I am supervising, of course. You can't get me in the water because I am SANE!

I am patrolling the boat, making sure all the workers are pulling their weight . . .

Sniffing

Guess what I am doing behind the mini-shrub?

Actually, nothing much . . . just sniffing. Daddy gets exasperated because I stop and sniff things every few steps during our walks.

Mother's Day

I know Mothers are VERY important, so I hope every Mom out there had a day of proper pampering yesterday. Mommy spent the whole day with us (Daddy had to work), which she says was a treat in itself . . . except she rolled up eyes when she used the word "treat". I am thinking she didn't think it was that much fun, but I don't understand why:

Look at this face (yes I was trying to sneak a drink from my sister's water cup)

My sis and I chipped in to get Mom the balloon. Nice gesture, I think.

Guests

My parents have learned that living in Florida automatically means lots of guests. I don't mind because that means more petting and more treats for me! Unfortunately, some of our guests aren't the human kind:

This little creature peeked out at us from under a shrub. I tried to be friendly and say 'hi' but this guy is very shy.

My parents have taught me to be polite and courteous to our guests. I have taken that lesson to heart . . . here I am snuggling with Mommy's best friend. I am keeping a watchful eye and making sure his slumber doesn't get interrupted.

I Have A Chauffeur!

For all you puggies out there -- be very, very jealous! I have trained my little sis to chauffeur me around when I am tired of walking:

Ahhhhh, living the good life!

The trick is to start teaching them when they are young. My sister began pushing me as soon as she learned to walk!

Lake Park Art Fair

Hi guys -- I am back! My parents tried to stymie my creative nature by taking away the computer (something about me making my little sister cry), but I have done my penance and now I am back in the game!!

I have been one busy puggy while I was gone. First, my family and I went to the Lake Park Art Fair last weekend (it seems like every little town here has an art fair). Burt Reynolds was the judge . . . I don't know who this Burt Reynolds is, but Daddy was impressed. The fair itself was small but fun as I got to meet some of my neighbors and their humans.

Daddy and me at the art fair. I was a hit with the local police; apparently, they are big fans of Men in Black II as they kept on calling me "Frank"

It's a good thing I made friendly with the police. Otherwise, my little sis might have been arrested for walking on a road sign!

What? Snow?

It has happened again . . . my family and I took a roadtrip to visit the grandparents in New Jersey, and guess what we got hit with: 16 inches of snow!!!! My parents have really pathetic timing -- we left 70 degree sunny weather in Florida for this?!?!

Here I am surveying the white scenery with despair

Frances, the intrepid pug, is attempting to climb her way back to civilization

Aha! I see the porch lights in the distance . . .

Eat my dust, you snowpile . . .

Payback Time

Now I am usually a sweet and good-natured pug, but sometimes you just have to show your sibling who's the boss. My sister and I had a little wrestling match and guess who emerged victorious:

My little sis has submitted to my superior fighting skills . . . but you ask why did I even get so vengeful?

This was several minutes earlier: SOMEBODY thought it was funny to put spaghetti on my back . . .

Milo the Pug

I am not sure how many of you have seen the heartwarming tale of Milo and Otis. It was part of family movie night and we all loved it. I was a bit confused, though, when I met Milo in the dog park this weekend.

Milo is the silly cat and Otis is the handsome pug

This is Milo the pug. He doesn't look like a cat, does he? I tried to tell Milo that he had a cat's name . . .





"Duh?"

Pugs Can Read Too

Daddy was in the library with my baby sister, looking for a book to read to her when he found this:

I believe this should be in the running for a Pulitzer Prize -- it is obviously a great literary work!

Suki and Saki

Hope everyone had a good weekend. The weather was great here in Florida, ranging from 60-80 degrees. Saturday was so nice that all sorts of dogs were out that day; I wanted to introduce you to two of the nicest ones:

This is Suki and Saki, two Pekingese

I think Pekingese must have some pug in them -- I mean, just look at that smushed-in nose!

My parents just love these two dogs . . . I think they offered to swap me for them. The nerve!

Pug Food

My parents and I went to the Pet Supermarket last month to buy me some more dog food. Daddy saw these kibblets made especially for pugs, so he wanted Mommy to buy it. Mommy wasn't happy - she thought it was just a gimmick -- but bought it anyway because Daddy was giving her the sad puppy eyes. I tried it that night and guess what -- I loved it! It is super yummy, and even Mommy admits it smells a bit like beef teriyaki and not at all like dog food (if you know what I mean). Now I'm not sure it is actually better for me, but it sure tastes good.

Daddy is showing off our new discovery . . . actual yummy dog crunchies!

Pelican Cafe

Hi all! I know I haven't posted in several weeks -- things have been a bit busy in the Wild Alaskan Mountain Pug household. Essentially my little sis has started walking and boy is she a terror on two feet! The only good thing about it is that she will carry food with her while she is walking about, which allows me ample opportunity to sneak some bites!

Mommy had the day off so we all went to have breakfast at a local eatery:

I haven't had my morning coffee yet.

My parents think I am too old for the car seat, but I say you can't be too safe . . .

We have arrived at the Pelican Cafe!

This is a cool restaurant: dogs are allowed to sit on the patio, and I even get my own water bowl!

I didn't get my own menu, though. Mommy had to order for me . . .