A Shameless Plug for Mr. Bufus

In honor of the start of the Cat-Dog competition at MangoMinster I am re-posting the tribute to Mr. Bufus, as well as his original entry, so you can get to know more about him.

Thanks very much for all the kind notes about Mr. Bufus. I must honestly say that I was overwhelming by the outpouring of support, both here and on Facebook, both from friends and family as well as complete strangers (many of whom I hope will not be strangers for long; when I get a chance I’m going to come blog-visiting!). Thank you so very much. We received confirmation that Bufus did, indeed, have cancer of the stomach and intestine, and while it was not yet causing him pain, it was causing fluid build-up which made him bloated and was causing him discomfort. The reality is that the fluid build-up was a bit of a blessing in disguise, as Bufus didn’t have to suffer while the tumors grew to a size where they would be easily noticed. Ultimately, he led a long, full life replete with opportunities to harass a collective pack of dogs, while also having plenty of time to nap in the sunny places. Bufus’ entry in MangoMinster will stand, and I have faith that he will hold his own in the face of very tough competition!

As the Ruler of the Roost, everything was his, if he wanted it, including Fiona's chew toys. (BTW, Bufus didn't have any teeth.)

Or Dad's dessert....
He always found the best sunny spots

And traveled in the motorhome like a pro:

(When he wasn't throwing up in his Uncle Charlie's hat, which did happen on occasion... But that's what Charlie gets for not paying the proper respects!)

He was a fantastic Guard Cat

And, yes, he really did like taking showers.

Seriously.

Bufus was truly the King of the House.

Thanks again for all the words of support; Bufus really was A Great Cat (or, Man-Bear-Dog-Cat-Pig, if we are going to be technical about it) and he will never be forgotten.

Here is his original MM entry:

Name: Mr. Bufus

Gender: Male

Breed: Man-bear-dog-cat-pig (with apologies to South Park); the vet papers say that he is a Maine Coon, although I say he is a Very Large, Venerable Cat

Group: Cat Dogs

Blog Link: http://lizski.blogspot.com (that would be this bloggie).

Here is his picture:

I felt it would be helpful to include a brief statement with Mr. Bufus' picture.

Mr. Bufus is a rescued kitty who has risen to the lofty position of the head of Civil Defense for the Dranow household (the submitted picture shows him in his uniform). In this role, and over his 20 years of life, he has raised generations (note from Fi’s Mom: literally!) of puppies to be respectful of cats, despite having been declawed at an early age (he has a very wicked right cross; for a big lazy cat, he can be very quick when he wants to be!). Mr. Bufus is very much a Cat Dog, as many people has likened him to a dog (even his groomer has said "he’s a great dog" on more than one occasion). He also takes showers (seriously!) and will stand at the shower door when it is running and will meow to be let in. He doesn’t seem to care that he gets soaked. (Which might make him more of an alien than a Cat Dog, but that’s neither here nor there…) Mom and Dad say that he is a man-bear-dog-cat-pig, but I think that is because they watch too much South Park. Mr. Bufus travels Very Well in the House With Wheels, and likes throwing up in visitors’ hats (just ask my Uncle Charlie, who generously provided a hat for Mr. Bufus’ use). He also has the largest litter box on the market, and still manages to miss, which, I think, is a skill in and of itself.

So, now go to MangoMinster and vote early and often for Mr. Bufus!!!

*kissey face*
-Fiona, Official Ballot Box Stuffer

A Quickie

Just a quickie update here.

We are all anxiously awaiting the start of MangoMinster, but I just wanted to pop in and say hi!

First, I didn't update for a while because the evening after we got my flying pictures (BTW, Mom says thanks for all the kind comments - it took her For. Ever. to get that picture of me flying through the air) I got a little sickie. I had my dinner, and then some of Dad's dinner, and something didn't agree with me, so I threw it up. Several times. And when I was still tired and not very hungry, and still being sickie the next day, Mom took me to the vet where they gave me a shot and some pills. It took a couple of days before I was feeling back to my usual exuberant self. (And maybe it wasn't Dad's dinner, maybe it was all the pre-Minster partying at Moose's.) Anyhoo, I am all better now.

But I did get to spend lots of quality time with my big little sister (who is competing in the Bad Sport category, in case you have forgotten... Don't let her innocent-looking sleeping picture think that she is anything less than Totally Bad; this is just an act she puts on to sucker little old ladies and people who don't know her very well!)

And Mom and Dad have been skiing a lot. (You know that snow stuff that I like to play in? Apparently so do they...)

(That bright orange helmet on Mom's head is Dad's 5 year wedding anniversary present to Mom. So she can be all visible and everything.)

Anyhoo, I'm back to playing in the snow, anxiously awaiting the start of MangoMinster! (Don't forget to vote for Mr. Bufus, Man-Bear-Dog-Cat-Pig.)


Good luck to everyone!

*kissey face*
-Fiona

SNOW!!!

Heh. Mom and Dad should be more careful when they complain about "not enough snow". Because you what they say about being careful what you wish for...

Dad should have Uncle Charlie turbo-charge the snowblower. Even if it IS the biggest, best Honda on the market already. You can never have too much power/throwing distance!

Once Mom and Dad were done slaving away (Dad does the hard work - i.e. ALL of the driveway - and Mom has the job of shoveling off the porch so TaiChi has a place to piddle, and shoveling off the steps so the UPS man doesn't have to wade through snow, and clearing places in the back that Dad can't get to with the blower), I got to go test out my new track. (We get so much snow that Dad cuts a path for me in the backyard; not that I stick to it, of course, but it gives me a starting point!)

Yep. The path is good! (And you can see how much snow we've got; in places the walls of the path are almost over my head; with the predicted weather, by this time next week, I wouldn't be surprised if the walls ARE over my head!)

To give you an idea of how much snow we've received, here's a picture of me in almost the same spot, 5 days ago.


But a girl can't stay on the beaten path forever, you know.


Wow. Um. This stuff is deep!


After Mom and Dad had recuperated from their labors, they came out to play with me. Mom got a couple of snow ball makers. (Seriously). Our snow is pretty light and fluffy, and Mom is not exactly the best snowball maker in the world. But there is nothing better than chasing snowballs. (Unless they were, oh, say, beef broth flavored...) Mom has been going out with me and throwing snowballs for me, but it is sort of hard to throw snowballs and get Serious Action Shots at the same time. So, today she got Dad to throw the snowballs while she took pictures.

Me? Having fun? Whatever would give you that idea?!?

Unfortunately, the high speed camera was inadvertently stored in the motorhome, so we just have the little camera. Which isn't the best at action shots... But Mom tried. And after many attempts, she got the shot she was looking for. (Sort of. Again, this camera isn't really designed for high speed action shots, so while the snow is in focus, I'm still a bit of a blur. Because I'm speedy. And sporty! )

Talk about amplitude! And style! They should make Snowball Chasing an Olympic sport!

Oh yeah! I LOVE this snow stuff!!!

And if you need more proof?


Teehee! Lookitme! I'm the Abominable Snow Dog!!!


And if you've ever wondered why I always have snow on my snooter? Let's just say I like to hunt down those pesky snowballs....

Oh yeah! I LOVE this stuff!!!

*kissey face*
-Fiona, the Sporty Snow Dog

MangoMinster Entry #3: ME!!!

I have been bugging Mom forever about getting MY MangoMinster entry in, but she was understandably distracted for a while, and on top of that, she's been dithering about my entry. Not about my class, because it is clear that I am nothing if not a Sporty Dog; she's been dithering because she was "not sure what picture to use". I can understand her dilemma. I mean there are only about a zillion pictures of me as a sporty dog. Fr'instance...

There is me playing football:


And here I am practing Doga:

And I am a consummate hiker:

And here I am being a Good Sport, by letting TaiChi walk all over me:

(Hey, she's my little big sister; of course she can walk all over me!)

And there's about a million variations of these pictures. (Which also makes me a good sport, in my mind, for putting up with the flashy box all the time! If nothing else, it should earn me a few extra cookies!) Any of which Mom could have picked (hence the dithering). But since we FINALLY have been getting snow (you know that statement about 'be careful what you wish for'? Yeah...), Mom has been getting a lot of pictures of me in the snow.

Here's one of a million snow pictures that was considered, but ultimately not chosen:


And she'll post a bunch of them, but she wanted to get my 2010 MangoMinster entry in. So... Here it is:

Your Name: Fiona (although my parents call me 'MuffinHead' rather frequently, for reasons that are not entirely clear to me...)

Gender:Female; I may look like a tomboy, but I'm really a girly-girl at heart!

Group: Sporty Dog (duh!)

Your breed: Goldendoodle (that would be half poodle, half golden retriever)

Your bloggy address: You're here

And the picture Mom finally decided on?

Mom and Dad picked this one because they felt that it showed not only my athleticism, and my love of all things running and jumping, but also my "inherent goofiness". Inherent goofiness? Whatever can they mean?!? Just because I like to bounce around, and do zoomies in all sort of weather, and will play fetch with Anything, Any Time. Oh. I guess that's what they mean. Nevermindthen. Please notice how my hind feet are in front of the rest of me, and my front feet are behind me, as I float through the snow, and notice how I am totally In The Moment. Yes, I am a Happy Snow Dog! And Dad says I look like a cheetah!

Anyhoo, I think there is no question that I am a Sporty Dog. I can't wait for the games to begin! (Heehee!) Good luck to everyone who enters!

*kissey face*
-Fiona, Sporty Dog Extraordinaire

Thank You, and Tribute

Thanks very much for all the kind notes about Mr. Bufus. I must honestly say that I was overwhelming by the outpouring of support, both here and on Facebook, both from friends and family as well as complete strangers (many of whom I hope will not be strangers for long; when I get a chance I’m going to come blog-visiting!). Thank you so very much. We received confirmation that Bufus did, indeed, have cancer of the stomach and intestine, and while it was not yet causing him pain, it was causing fluid build-up which made him bloated and was causing him discomfort. The reality is that the fluid build-up was a bit of a blessing in disguise, as Bufus didn’t have to suffer while the tumors grew to a size where they would be easily noticed. Ultimately, he led a long, full life replete with opportunities to harass a collective pack of dogs, while also having plenty of time to nap in the sunny places. Bufus’ entry in MangoMinster will stand, and I have faith that he will hold his own in the face of very tough competition!

As the Ruler of the Roost, everything was his, if he wanted it, including Fiona's chew toys. (BTW, Bufus didn't have any teeth.)

Or Dad's dessert....
He always found the best sunny spots

And traveled in the motorhome like a pro:

(When he wasn't throwing up in his Uncle Charlie's hat, which did happen on occasion... But that's what Charlie gets for not paying the proper respects!)

He was a fantastic Guard Cat

And, yes, he really did like taking showers.

Seriously.

Bufus was truly the King of the House.

Thanks again for all the words of support; Bufus really was A Great Cat (or, Man-Bear-Dog-Cat-Pig, if we are going to be technical about it) and he will never be forgotten.

TaiChi and Fiona are both great comforts to us right now, and we are also looking forward to the arrival of little Abby, effectively completing the circle of life in our house.

-Dr. Liz and Family

Mr. Bufus, Beloved Son

It is much sadness that I have to post the news that Bufus crossed the Rainbow Bridge today, after being hospitalized yesterday due to complications related to diabetes and possibly cancer. He was over 20 years old, and lived a very full life. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

May the food be plentiful, the mice slow, and the sunny spots large.

We love you and miss you, and will never forget you, big guy.

-Love, Mom, Dad, Fiona and TaiChi

World, Prepare Yourself For ABBY!!!!

So today was The Day. Mom and Dad have been talking about this day for AGES. Like since, oh, I don’t know. Ever, probably.

They went skiing (*yawn*) and then came home and loaded me into the car, for “The Start Of A Big Adventure”. Uh-huh. Wake me up when we get there. (Actually, I stayed awake the whole time, because you can never have too many eyes watching the road….)


And you’ll never guess where we ended up!

My Very First Home.

I wasn’t worried that Mom and Dad were going to try to give me back, though. They assured me that I was stuck with them forever and ever. Which sounds pretty good to me, actually.

They were here to pick out my sister.

SISTER?!?!?

*ahem*

I know Mom and Dad have been talking about this sister thing for A Long Time, but it was finally time to pick her out. Because my sister is still little and hasn’t had all her shots, I wasn’t actually able to give my input, but since Mom and Dad picked me out, I’m thinking that they must be pretty good Puppy Pickers.

First, they said hi to Annie, my Mom (and my little sister’s Mom – my little sister is my actual sister – we have the same mother and father!).

Hi, Mom!!! (Even though that is not a very good picture, you can see where I get my black-button nose from!)

And then they looked at a pile of puppies....

And they picked one!


She looks sort of small and flat-faced to me. But Mom assures me that when she grows up, she’ll look sort of like me. She also says that I looked like that once. But I don’t believe her.

But she’s got a fat puppy belly.

So world, meet Abby, my little little sister!

Snoozing with her some of her brothers and sisters.

She’s not done yet, but she’ll be ready for pickup and formal training by Mr. Bufus and TaiChi and my esteemed self on February 6th. I’m going to start preparing myself Right Now.

Zzzzz.....

*kissey face*
-Fiona