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The Party

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April 1, 2014
I got a bath. An all over, nose to tail sort of bath. That meant that I was going somewhere – or that our bedding was starting to stink. I hoped it was the former. I realize that this happens once a week – the bath thing, not the bed stinking thing. But I am a very hopeful, positive thinking type of schnauzer. This time it was worth it, peach bow on my collar and all.

Mom and Dad and I met up with one of the church office volunteers in a parking lot, where we piled into her car and drove up a mountain. I was pretty distracted by the smell of food coming from the back of the car or I would have realized sooner how strange the whole thing was. Of course I recognized Mrs. C., who is often at the church when I go in on Thursdays or Fridays. But it never occurred to me that she existed outside of that building. I have never seen her anywhere else. Perhaps that sounds silly or naïve, but even a cosmopolitan schnauzer like me has a bit of a limited perspective when it comes to certain things. As it turns out, all of my friends who are office volunteers at the church exist outside of that setting. I found this out because we ended up at one of their homes, and lots of the other folks I know were there. My good friends Gail and Susan from the office were there too. I knew from the start this was going to be great because Mom brought my food bowl. We all went in the house and there was a big table piled high with food. It smelled delicious and got my empty tummy to start growling. Oh my, I hope no one thought it was me being mean!

Mom started the chow line and filled my food bowl with wonderfully yummy foods. I started wondering if somehow I had missed that it was my birthday, and this was all for me. Or maybe I was being honored for being the best Episcopalian church dog. Hmmm.

In any case it was a great evening with good friends, good food, and sweet wine – which I refused (so Mom drank my glass). We were sitting around outside, and I noticed when someone’s plate was empty, they would go back inside and come out with a full plate. So I went and scratched at the door, since I couldn’t reach the door handle, and someone let me in, as always happens. Mom finally found me and put more food in my bowl. She instituted the “no ham for the schnauzer rule,” but I got some of everything else.

I still don’t know the reason for the party, or why Mom hasn’t been going to work. I am going to think about that some more while I wait for my supper.

Lexi, the party girl

My life is in Power Point

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Dear faithful friends,

If you hit play you will see my life in something called a Power Point Presentation. Mom promises to get music with it soon, but I was so excited that I want you to see it now!

THE LIFE OF LEXI (2)

Lexi, the Power Point Schnauzer

 

Back at the Children’s Hospital

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Hello my dear friends. I am blogging again, BOL. BTW (which I found out means By The Way), BOL is Bark Out Loud, the dog equivalent for LOL  One has to know these things when one blogs, you see. And even more-so when one texts. Will someone please tell me what texts means? Talking about blogging reminds me that I have an e-mail account now, and I can get attachments, and still, no one has sent me any treats or biscuits of any sort. What’s up with that?

I still haven’t figured out what is going on with Mom, but I can’t continue to dwell on that. My life is much too busy with things like breakfast, snacks, treats, and therapizing. Speaking of therapizing, Mom drove me to the children’s hospital this morning so I could therapize all the sick kids. It was good today, with lots of kids needing my special attention. One very little boy, still in diapers. who used to be scared of dogs, but now has gotten used to us and even likes us. He has two older sisters who liked me a lot too, so I was on the floor surrounded by children petting me, just like in the old days at the theater. What good memories…

Then there was the little boy – toddler, really – who declared he was a-scared of dogs, so I thought I would just stand out in the hallway and look in at him with a smile on my face. He saw my pretty smile and made a dash for me. I guess he forgot to be afraid, because he pet me real good until it was time for him to take a ride in a big plastic wagon.

There was a big family in the hallway who didn’t seem to know what a therapy dog is and wondered why I was in a hospital for people. So my good friend Lois, who always walks around with us and gives me treats before and sometimes during and after my job, explained it all to them, about how I was tested and passed and come to make kids happy. I think she could have added because I am so beautiful and have a scintillating personality. (Do you like my new word for myself?  I have to bark four times to get that one all out. That is one bark plus one bark plus one bark plus one bark. Whew!) Mom indicated to Lois to give the one of my calling cards so that just maybe, if they read my blogs, they will understand better.

We are home now and my people brother has ordered pizza. I saw the delivery person and now I smell it downstairs, so I have to go.

Lexi, the scintillating therapizer

Why is Mom home?

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Mom has been home a lot lately. She isn’t jumping – or crawling – out of bed before daylight and putting on clothes and makeup and leaving me here at home without her. Something suspicious is going on. On the good side, she is taking me for more walks and we are going places together in the car, like the bank and the hardware store. The tellers at the bank all were looking out the window at me and thought I was so adorable that I got three – count them, three! – biscuits instead of just one. Mom tried to hide one in her purse, but when she turned her head I grabbed it and went as far away from her as I could to eat it. I took and ate it for lots of reasons: 1. I wanted it; 2. I hadn’t had any lunch; 3. It smelled good; 4. I don’t think Mom should eat it; 5. My tummy wasn’t full to bursting yet; 6. It was mine; 7. I wanted it.

Don’t you think those were all good reasons for me to take the biscuit? But I was talking about Mom being home, wasn’t I?

Sometimes she stays home when she is sick, but she doesn’t seem sick. The first two days I did therapy on her, staying close by her side, because I could tell something was wrong. She has been using her computer a lot, and she says she is ok, but I can sense something. She did go into work today – I could smell it on her – but not at her usual time.

She is eating a cookie now, so I have to go stare at her.

Lexi, the puzzled schnauzer

Busted

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February 11, 2014
Have I mentioned how much I love food? Except potato chips. And corn chips. I do not like chips. I don’t understand why people eat chips. But I am glad they do – that leaves more of the good food for me.

So I was at work with Mom and trolling around the office for what I could find of the edible variety. I usually check under my good friend Gail’s desk because there is often food around, albeit stale. Stale is OK as long as it isn’t chips. No luck there, so today I moved on to my good friend Susan’s office. Which is where I hit the mother load. There was a lunch sized white bag under her desk, and what was in it smelled just like I imagine heaven will smell. All yummy goodness. Glancing quickly around, I ascertained that I was, in fact, alone with this bag of delight. Concerned that Susan might be back at any moment, I firmly grabbed the top of the bag with my mouth and lifted it. It had a lovely weight with promises of great delights inside. With said bag gently swinging from my mouth, I started trot, trot, trotting for her office door. I got as far as the hallway and who should appear…time for a change of plans. We both stopped dead in our tracks, Susan with her mouth open, me with mine firmly closed. After only a moment’s pause, I turn on my heels and head for the other exit that goes into the break room, where we normally eat our lunches. Which is where she caught up with me. I opened my mouth and let that bag of deliciousness plop to the floor.

“”Fine, I thought, “you don’t want to share, just be like that. I know you always share with me, so I was just taking the initiative to save you the trouble.”

That’s when the stinger hit, as she said, “Oh Lexi, I always give you half my sandwich, and if you had just been patient, I would have been glad to share my lunch with you. But today you get nothing.”

I still got the pickle.

Lexi, the thieving schnauzer

Almost a Disaster!

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February 9, 2014
My Auntie Jen called this afternoon and even with my good doggie ears I couldn’t understand most of what she was saying. She was something called “hysterical.” My little cousin Piper – you remember Piper the schnauzer who lived with us for a while with his brother Milo – anyhow, my little cousin Piper got attacked by a big mean dog and all bit up. He lost part of his ear, too. The other dog actually ate it! Eeeewwww. That’s called cannibalism, and is just not acceptable in our part of the world.

My mom is Auntie Jen’s “person” so she always calls her when something important happens. I wanted to go therapize her (and Piper)  but we live too far away. Six hours away, to be exact. Mommy prayed a lot and so did I and so did my dad. Piper got to the vet in time and is going to be ok. He has holes in his head and his neck and is all bandaged up. My Auntie Jen is all bandaged up too because the big mean dog bit her real bad too.

Mom and I are proud of her, though. Once the big mean dog got dragged off of Piper (with Piper’s ear in his mouth) Auntie Jen threw herself on top of Piper and Milo so that bad dog couldn’t hurt them anymore. She’s a good Mommy.  Piper is going to be ok. Yes, I know, I already said that, and important things are worth repeating, right? And this is really, really important.

I think if my big brother Riley was there he would have killed that bad dog. He loves Piper a lot. Piper is his little buddy. At the very least, he would have done everything he could to protect Piper.

I hope that bad dog doesn’t hurt anyone else. She should be ashamed of herself and not get any treats. She should have to give Piper all her treats forever.

Lexi, the good dog

I am blogging

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January 15, 2014
I can’t believe it has been since September that my Mom helped me to bark a new blog – I learned this is called a blog, so I may use that word a lot for a while. I know Mom’s been busy, but come on! My blogs are quite important, probably more important than anything except my breakfast and supper and snacks. Definitely more important than brushing and bathing me and she sure has found plenty of time for that.

While it is true that to the casual observer I don’t have much to blog about lately, I do stay busy keeping my Dad on track. He works from home, mostly on his computer, so I am not really sure why he couldn’t write my blogs all day. What he is doing could not be more important …or so I thought. Dad has now informed me that my blogging won’t buy me treats or supper, so I had better leave him alone to do his own work. I still forget sometimes, especially when my tummy is growling in the middle of the day and I want my morning go-to-the-mailbox treat or my afternoon after-school treat. No, we don’t go down to the mailbox most mornings now, and I definitely don’t go to school, but that should not interfere with my treat schedule! I try to be helpful by going in his office and reminding him – often. Can you believe he pushes me out and shuts his door? Harrumph! That’s the noise I make when he does that. Not that it does any good.

On with my blog…

My beautiful hair has been growing very long and curly since the weather started turning cold. Mom knows I hate wearing clothes, so she lets my shiny black hair grow to keep me warm. I thought, “Yes! No more grooms!” But Mom still combs me and trims my legs and face and bathes me. Darn. I should have her post – another new word I just learned – a new picture of me in all my hairy glory.

Christmas was good with lots of soft, homemade doggie cookies. Mom made pizza flavored cookies, pumpkin pie flavored cookies and peanut butter cookies. I love them all, but the pizza ones are my favorite.

I have started back with Freestyle. It seems Mom and I have both forgotten a lot, so we work together on it most nights. Not for long, but it is fun and I get treats because I am such a smart girl. I do like to show off what a good dancer I am.

I guess that is all for my blog today. It is time to post it. Blog, blog, blog. BOL!

Lexi, the Blogger

Boat good, lake warm, Riley defects

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September 16, 2013
Mom and I didn’t get to go to the lake at all in August. She and my dad kept going out of town and leaving me with my people brother – actually, leaving my people brother at the house with me. I am not sure who was watching whom. And it rained a lot all month so we still couldn’t go boating even when she was home.

Now it is September and the days are warm and the sun is shining and the weekends are for boating! I got in the water and swam around the pontoon three times yesterday. I mean, I got in the water three times and swam around the boat at least once each time. Just enough to cool off. Oh, that is the life!

The only thing better is that Riley has moved in downstairs with Andrew et al. I hardly ever see him. He is sleeping in bed with them every night and Mom took his food bin downstairs. Now I am the only dog in bed with Mom and Dad and have peace all day.

Yes, life is good.

Lexi, the excellent swimmer and only dog (again)

Mom was gone, look who’s moving in

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September 15, 2013
Mom went on vacation without me the last week of August. Dad stayed with me. I am sure he couldn’t bear to go away without me again. Riley and I slept in the bed with him that whole week. I tried my best to keep Riley off the bed, but he is one persistent mutt.

No sooner did Mom come home (I was too happy to see her to be mad) than Andrew and Jentry and Conner moved into our basement. The basement is nice – it has a kitchen and two real big rooms and a full bathroom. They are supposed to be looking for a house and needed a place to stay. Riley is really, really happy. Sure, I love Andrew, but Riley sticks to him like glue. Also, nine-year-old Connor is playing with him every day. Dad jokes that we got Riley a boy. I don’t believe that every dog needs a boy, but Riley certainly seems to be grooving on it. Maybe this will keep Riley out of my hair. My beautiful hair.

Lexi, the hopeful schnauzer

RILEY’S DIARY: Mastered the Gate

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August 4th 2013
Hi friends! Have I ever mentioned how much I hate walking into the dog lot. It is where we do our business. And everyone expects me to walk there and get all that nasty stuff on my beautiful paws. Even after the poo gets cleaned up, there must be some of it left in the grass not to mention the pee areas. I can smell it all and I don’t want to walk around there. So I came up with a solution. The gate is only one step off the patio, so if I can get through the gate, I have a whole big yard as well as a wooded areas where I can go to do my business. Mom has taught me to stay in the yard and not go in the road, so I mostly stay in the yard. Sometimes I go in the woods behind the house and sometimes down into the neighbor’s yard, too. But I always stay within earshot – of course, I have very good ears and can run very fast when called. When I am lucky, Mom opens the gate so I don’t have to go into that nasty area.

I have also figured out how to open the latch on the gate. It is really quite easy. I just flip it up with my nose, then push the gate open. To defeat that, Dad put a cotter pin in the hole under the latch.

Last week I was out running around the yard and decided I wanted to come back in, so I just opened the gate and came in. It was shut to keep my sisters from getting out. They aren’t as good as me about staying home. Lily just starts running like a crazy dog, and Lexi heads down through the neighbors yards looking like she has a destination in mind. Some day I will have to follow her and find out where she is going and what she is doing. Anyhow, they weren’t out in the yard, so the cotter pin wasn’t used and it was easy to open the gate.

I have been studying the cotter pin and think I understand how it works. The only thing is, I will have to grab it with my teeth to pull it out.

I am a bit particular about what I put in my mouth, too. I miss out on some treats that way because I take too long sniffing them and trying to decide if it is something I want to put in my mouth. Lexi ends up getting those treats because Mom gets tired of waiting on me to make up my mind.

It’s not that I am dull, I just think about things a lot. If I was dull I would just grab any food put in front of my face, like Lexi. Ha, ha, I finally got one on Lexi. Boy will she be mad if she finds out I said this. So don’t tell her, ok? I get tired of her barking at me sometimes, but I am not allowed to make an ugly face at her. It doesn’t seem fair, even if I am over three times as big as her. What us brothers have to put up with! I really do love her, and even more than that I want Mom to always love me. So I will be good to Lexi.

I hope everyone plays and has lots of fun today.

Riley

Sad times and I get left

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July 26, 2013
It’s been a pretty sad couple of weeks around here. First, Dad had to have my sister Ivy “put to sleep.” Mom explained that meant she died and went to heaven. Dad cried a lot and didn’t eat much all week. Then he got a phone call and was upset all over again because his father died. I only met his father once, so I wasn’t too sad. I stayed with my dad a lot to try to help him feel better.

Next thing I know, everyone is packing their bags and getting ready to leave town. I was excited at the prospect of a trip – I usually get to stay in a hotel and eat scrambled eggs in the morning. Then Mom starts explaining to me about my brother Andrew coming to stay with me, and I get real upset. No! I want to go! Riley noses in on the action and Mom tells him about Andrew and Connor coming and he gets all happy-like. Aghhhh! I want to go, I want to go, I want to gooooooooooooooo!!!!

Lexi, the sad schnauzer

Ten Years Old!

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May 8, 2013

 

Me and Riley on my 10th birthday
Me and Riley on my 10th birthday.                                         Check out the maltese-shaped cake!

I had my birthday yesterday and I am ten years old. I hear that is a milestone. Don’t believe all this stupid math about one dog year equal seven human years. It really doesn’t work that way. And no one would think I was a day over, well, five, maybe. I don’t really understand all this number stuff any way. I just know I am healthy and look fabulous. My hair is beautiful, my teeth are clean, my eyes are bright and there is a definite jaunt in my step. I can bark as loud as ever and run with the big dog. Every year the vet asks if my appetite is good. I am a schnauzer, for heaven’s sake! Of course my appetite is good.

Speaking of birthdays and appetites, what a great day! I went to work with Mom and joined everyone in their staff meeting, which means all the staff was there. They had cupcakes for my birthday and I ate an orange one and a white one. They were mini-cupcakes, I think because I am a mini-schnauzer. So I had one plus one. We went for a walk around downtown and I thought – or hoped – I would get to go in another restaurant like I did the last time I played Toto. No such luck. After we left the church we headed to the pet store where I got to sniff everything and get one plus one treats at the checkout. I got the plus one because it was my birthday. I love birthdays. On the drive home, Mom gave me one of the new treats she bought.

I did get a bit upset when we got home because no one gave me my kibble and it was getting late – well past my supper time. The thought was that I had been eating all day and should be ok for a while. Soon I found out why I didn’t get my kibble…Mom cooked me a Healthy Choice dinner and I sat at the table and ate with Mom and Dad. Mom held the fork for me and helped me eat the green beans, chicken, sweIMAG0614et potatoes and wild rice. Yummy! Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, it did – white cake with lots of frosting. I had to share with Riley, but he still didn’t get to sit on a chair at the table like me.

Birthdays are the best, especially when they are mine!

Lexi, the birthday girl

Boating!

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July 1, 2013
It is summer and my boat is working! I have been going boating every weekend and love it – well most of the time I love it. I have already had a few disappointments and one accident!

The first time I went out on my boat no one brought any treats or food. What were they thinking? Riley came with us that time. If it was a matter of weight, they could have left Riley at home and brought food, don’t you think? He got too hot and panted a lot and couldn’t go in the water because he is too heavy for anyone to be able to lift back into the boat. So I think that is the end of that – unless, of course, Dad buys some kind of lift he was talking about attaching to the front of the boat to haul Riley in. That is almost too ridiculous to even consider.

This past weekend my sister Lily came along on Saturday. We were parked at the dock, getting things ready to cruise the lake, when Lily turned her big behind around toward me and knocked me off the boat, smack dab into the water. I don’t think she even knew what she had done. Dog overboard! I swam around the boat in a clockwise direction – as I always do – and Mom met me at the dock to pull me out. I’ll tell you, it is a bit harder to swim without a life jacket. I really hate wearing them, but now I understand better why I need one. Lily never settled down the whole time we were on the lake, so I think she might not be coming back either.

Sunday was the best. It was just me and Mom and treats. I got hot pretty quickly and asked to go in for a quick swim. Mom let me swim around the boat – clockwise of course – one time without my life jacket. The next time in I had on my life jacket and I swam and swam until my legs got really tired trying to keep from being pulled away by the current. Mom was in the water too so she couldn’t just reach down and pull me up. Instead, she slung me over her shoulder and climbed up the ladder with me like I was a sack of potatoes. You had better believe I was one happy sack of potatoes to be back in my pontoon boat. We ate some fruit and rice cakes and I took a little nap and felt much better. I sure hope we go again soon!

Lexi, the boating schnauzer

I found Lily

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April 23, 2013
Mom was looking all over the house when she finally stopped and said, “Lexi, find Lily.” For those of you not in the know, Lily is my 15 year old step-sister, a biggish orangish dog. As I was in my closet at the time – that is, the master closet where my kennel resides – I started there, then stood up with my paws on the bathroom cupboards so I could try to see if she was on top of the bathroom counter. Nope. Not there. I proceeded to the living room, sniffing and using my good eyesight, but no Lily. I continued on into the kitchen, which would have been my choice of a place to hide, but not there either. I ran back to my Dad’s home office and sure enough, there she was. I let out a loud bark so Mom would know I had found Lily. He, he, wasn’t Lily surprised! Mom was so happy with me that she gave me a treat, right in front of my brother Riley. And–he-did-not-get-one.

Lexi, the tracking schnauzer

Big surprises at the children’s hospital

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April 17, 2013
It started out similar to any other day at the children’s hospital except, since it was the week before Easter, many of the children had left or were preparing to leave. After quickly making the usual rounds, we headed up to the outpatient section on the third floor. As we stepped off the elevator I saw two nurses standing outside the doors of a place I had never been called the IC Unit. They oohed and awed over me as most people with any taste and sense do. Now, please don’t think I tire of such adulation – to the contrary, I live for it. Mom says that is why I am so good on stage. But I digress. They told us to come into the unit, but I think they were worried because they were looking around like I do when I want to snatch some of my brother’s food. I wasn’t worried, though. What’s the worst that could happen? I have certainly been thrown out of nicer places. And worse, come to think of it. So in we went, and I visited with only one person, but it was sure worth it. She asked me to sit in the bed with her while she pet me like she really knew what she was doing. She grinned from ear-to-ear and said I had made her day. I could tell she really needed me there so I settled in for the long haul. When I finally had to move on, she smiled at me until I was out of sight. I heard one of the nurses say she had been crying because her family didn’t have any gas to come and visit her. I sure hope Mom never runs out of gas. I am not sure what it is but it seems like something that is really important to have.

From there we went into the outpatient unit where I visited with only one child. As we were leaving a doctor stopped us and asked if we would wait for his patient to wake up but Mom said she had better get back to work. Then, as we were waiting to get on the elevator, someone from a place called ABC stopped us and asked if they could film me with one of the patients. Mom whipped out her cell phone and called her boss to let him know we were going to be a bit late and why. It was real quiet for a minute and later I found out that her boss didn’t say anything for a while. Boy, wasn’t he surprised! Then he said it was ok, so we went back in and I did my therapy thing for the camera. It was a little hard to do though, because I normally do therapy as a reaction to what the patient needs, and this patient didn’t really seem to need me. Dang, if I had just had some warning I could have gone into acting mode and oohed and awed everyone. I got bored with the whole thing and went to the bottom of the bed to get a better look at the camera, and so it could get a better picture of me. The people were real nice to me and told us that it would air on ABC National during some Children’s Miracle Telethon in the middle of a golf tournament. Mom explained that meant I was going to be on TV where hundreds, no thousands, no – thousands of thousands of people would see me. Woohoo! I wish they
could all give me treats and ask to have their pictures taken with me.

The doctor showed up again and asked if we could come see his patient because she had really wanted to see me before she fell asleep so he could do something called an operation. She was still asleep, but her family said that was ok, just put me up close to her in the bed so they could all take pictures to show that I had come to visit her. I posed some more while everyone’s cell phone flashed.

On the way home, Mom called Mary Gardner – who had forgotten about coming to take me to the hospital – and said, boy, did you ever miss it today! He, he, wasn’t she surprised!

Valentine’s Day

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February 14, 2013
I hope everyone is having a delicious Valentine’s Day with all your favorite treats. Actually, I wish I was the one getting all my favorite treats. Let me tell you how my day began.

Just before mom left for work she tried to give me one of those hard candy hearts that have writing on them. I have had them before and know they aren’t any good. When I wouldn’t take it she laid it on the kitchen floor in front of me. I sensed she would be disappointed if I rejected her love offering, so I picked it up, carried it in the other room and laid it down. I hope she didn’t see me do that because I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. Then I ran back to say goodbye before burying the icky candy in the couch for good.

Actually, I ran back to ask if I could go with her with this being Thursday and all. Statistically speaking I go with mom to work on Thursdays more than any other day so I figured my chances were pretty good as opposed to, say, a Monday. But no, she said I needed to stay home and sit in dad’s lap a lot today.

So how do I get rewarded? Dad told mom that he was worried about me because I was sitting in his lap a lot today, which is a deviant from my normal aloof behavior. Mom reminded him that I was just doing what she had asked me to do. That seemed to worry him even more!

Then mom told him that she was worried about me because I didn’t eat the candy she gave me this morning and maybe he should take my temperature. Thankfully, dad isn’t big into sticking things in my derriere, so that didn’t happen. Whew, missed that bullet.

All this just because I was trying to be nice. What is that saying… oh yes, no good deed goes unpunished.

Well, we did go for a good walk and I got to poop in other yards where cats live and watch mom clean it up. That kind of made up for the rest of the day. I am pretty tired from being so nice today, so I think I will go to bed early and hope for a better night-night treat.

Love to all,
Lexi the nice Schnauzer

Pet Therapy Day

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December 28, 2012
Hello my adoring fans. Once again, pet therapy day arrived. Why do people always ask if I am going to get therapy? Do they think I need it? Surely not! I am going to GIVE it. Ughh. People can be so frustrating when they aren’t petting me and giving me treats.

First thing in the morning Mom plopped me in the sink and gave me a bath. Good grief, can’t I at least wake up a bit more before the torture begins? I endured it for the sake of the children. I love the children. I love seeing them smile. I smile at them, too.

Then Mom found out that our friend, Mary Gardner, couldn’t take me because she had company and something about rats. Mom said, no Mary Gardner didn’t have rats. Mom claims M.G. just SAID “rats!” as in, “Rats, I can’t take Lexi today.” But I still think she had rats and that is why she couldn’t take me. If she had just come and gotten me, I could have helped her out. I am a ratter breed, you know. That, by the way, is why Mom won’t get a guinea pig. She thinks I will… ummmm… yep I probably would. Yummy!

So Mom ended up taking me to the hospital and the kids and I smiled at each other a lot. I sat in their beds and presented my rump and they knew what to do. I can tell who has dogs at home because they are the best petters. They know which spots to hit and how to hit them juuuuust right.

I guess that’s all I have to say today. Everyone stay warm. I have my own natural winter coat since mom doesn’t shave me in the winter. Please try to not be too jealous.

Lexi the warm schnauzer

RILEY’S DIARY: In trouble – again

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December 19, 2012
Hey there! I am just wondering…has your family gone crazy too? Mom put all these neat new things around the house, including something that looks like a tree but doesn’t smell like one. All this stuff is sooooo tempting. How am I supposed to know it isn’t for me? Well, if I think really hard I would probably figure it out. I’ve heard the phrase, “sin in haste, repent in leisure” and I think that’s what I’ve been attempting; only the repenting comes mighty fast when Mom gets home and sees what I’ve done. The first time she was downstairs grooming a couple of little dogs and I found she had moved the thing she fondly calls – oops I mean called – Father Santa from the fireplace ledge to the floor. I naturally thought she had set it there for me. Wrong! I spent some time in my kennel after that while she picked up the pieces – there were probably about, well, I can’t count that high.

Rileys First Christmas
Riley found presents.

Mom finished putting all these neat-looking balls on the tree – she calls it a Christmas tree – and I had all day to play with them and the other big fun things on the tree. Then she came home and I had my dinner and things were going so well until she walked into the bedroom. Oooooo, she was not happy with what she saw all over the rug. She looked back at me and I knew I’d been busted. Then she walked into the living room and saw what was chewed up and left all over that rug. Up until then she had just been talking to me in that disapproving way she has and pointing at the tree and saying, “leave it, leave it” and I was hunching down with my tail between my back legs – heck, my tail is so long it was even between my front legs. She still put me out back in the fence and made me stay there for what felt like a very long time. I kept looing in the glass and whining and giving her my best pout face becaue it was dark and drizzly and I hate being outside by myself. It must have worked because she finally let me back in.

I just don’t understand about all this new stuff around the house. Maybe tomorrow I will check out something else while Mom is at work. Some of it just has to be for me!

Riley

The Tivoli Experience

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December 17, 2012
Precious fans, I know you have been waiting with bated breath – or maybe that is kibble breath – to hear about my command performance on stage at the Tivoli. Let me just say it did not start out well. Mom and I went in the stage door and the doorkeeper – sorta like that guy with the big mustache and top hat who kept the door at the Emerald City – said, “That dog can’t be here.” Without missing a beat Mom said, “Yes she can.” He said, “No she can’t.” Mom said, “Yes she can,” the man said, well you get the picture. They finally called in the folks in charge and had a big discussion and looked at rules and you won’t believe this, no I couldn’t. It seems the place is owned by the city and I would have had to have permits from the Humane Society and the ASPCA and I think God himself. They said it is easier to get permits for fireworks than for animals. Everyone felt bad since they had, after all, invited me, so they said I could stay, I just couldn’t perform on stage. What was I to do…I’ll tell you what! Therapy! There were a lot of stressed-out people around there, and I didn’t waste any time. That sweet lady maestra was there and spent time petting me and talking so nice to me in her pretty voice. In fact the next day she gave Mom a Christmas card with my name on it too and asked why she didn’t bring me!

After about an hour or so my Dad showed up and I was so happy to see him. I had just finished my therapy work – and believe me, there were a lot of folks there who needed it – and he and Riley and I went home where I took a much deserved nap.

I didn’t tell Riley I wasn’t on the stage. Let’s keep that our secret, ok?

Lexi, the Tivoli therapy dog

I’m on stage again, yea!

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December 14, 2012
Hello my loyal and awesome fans. Well, I did it again. Headline news: I am starring (Mom says appearing, I say starring) in the Chattanooga Symphony Opera’s Home for the Holiday Production at the Tivoli Theater this weekend. Saturday and Sunday. If you remember, I already did one gig for the Tivoli when I rode around with “Dorothy” in a pedicab to promote their Wizard of Oz symphony production. Anyhow, here’s how it all came down this time:

I went to work with Mom yesterday so that I could A. Hang out and get fed and pet and B. Go to one of the local hospitals to help make people there smile. A. happened, B. cancelled – odd, I’ve never had them cancel before, but something about the pet therapy person having knee surgery.

Mom had a Home for the Holidays production meeting that evening at the church where we work, and since I was itching for something to do, I followed along with her to the meeting. I was busy mingling and checking for food when the producer caught sight of me and without so much as an introduction, glance at my bio or anything, said, “I want
that dog in the show.” I am a natural, I have to admit. One look at me and someone in the know, just knows. I belong on the stage; it is like my second home. Adoring fans, treats, what more could any schnauzer ask for? Mom answered that yes, I am a stage dog, very happy and comfortable on the stage, and if he really wanted me (come on, Mom, didn’t he just say he did!?) that she would bring me. Other than running down the aisle (Mom thinks we are walking; won’t she be surprised) she said she doesn’t know what I am going to do after that while she is dancing, but the maestra (who fell in love with me last night at the meeting) could hold me. The producer said no, he wanted me to be able to run around. Woo hoo! I get to ad lib! I am really good at that, as I am at most things. I can’t wait! I will let you, my devoted fans, know just how it went and what I do on stage.

Lexi, the Tivoli dog