The beach in January

This is what winter in Florida is supposed to be -- warm and cozy enough for the beach! We had several cold days this winter but now the weather has been spectacular.

I am watching little sis try to put dirt into her bucket. I told her she would get better results by tossing the dirt in with her paws instead of using that silly shovel.

Keeping an eye out for crabs to dine on

Life is good

Helping out

We are having a run of guests which means it is time to clean up the house. We all have to play our part in getting the house in order . . .

This is my little sis trying to clean the toilet. That is, after she threw in Mommy's birthday card into the toilet (before Mommy had a chance to read it!)

I did my part by taking my little sis out on a walk with me so my parents can clean the house without interference. I am such a good sister!

Happy Belated New Year

Ok, ok, I know we are two weeks deep into the New Year but I want to wish everyone out there a safe and successful 2011! The Alaskan-Mountain-Pug-turned-Florida-Swamp-Pug family has been supremely busy these past several months; no excuse for not blogging, but there it is. To sum up the 2010 holidays: my parents had a horrendous experience traveling to Michigan for Thanksgiving (no thanks to Delta airlines). I was very smart and stayed in the warm climates of West Palm Beach courtesy of my friends Jennifer and her dogs Ruby and Frankie; I did drive up with my family to central New Jersey for Christmas and we got caught in that blizzard (my grandparents got 2.5 feet of snow in one day!); New Year's spent at home (finally) without my Mom who was working.

Well, that's the summary. I would have blogged sooner, but my parents laptop went crazy, something about not finding the RAM memory and "fatal error in the hard drive", etc. I personally think it was because my Daddy dropped the laptop few times, but he gives me the evil eye when I mention that, so I don't bring that up. So I am just posting a few pictures of moi during Christmas while the computer is having a good day . . .

This is me with the ladies (actually my sister-in-laws and my baby cousin). NOBODY could keep there hands off me at Christmas. I was the star of the show!

I don't even know why Mommy bothered to snap this picture when I was cropped out of it. Anyway this is me (cut off in the bottom), Daddy, and little sis in her Christmas PJs.

A puggy needs to rest after all that attention

My brilliant Mommy thought I wanted to go romp and play in 2.5 feet of snow. I obviously thought she was insane

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.