Mom has really been slacking

*sheesh* I know that I have mentioned how tough it is to find good help around here, but since Mom and Dad are "skiing" more, Mom is getting behinder and behinder. I mean, they leave in the morning, locking up the two little dogs, and leaving me in charge (note from Fi's Mom: both Abby and TaiChi are crated - separately - because Abby is too little to be trusted, and TaiChi seems to have lost 'reverse' and so she will walk into a corner and stay there until she is rescued; by crating her she can't get into situations that she can't get out of). Which is fine, because I can totally run this house. Bark at the UPS guy? Got that covered. Bark at the racoons? Yep. Totally. Bark at the girls in crates? Yep. Hide in the other room when Abby starts to make too much noise? All over that! (Luckily TaiChi is kind of deaf, and sleeps a lot, so she can ignore Abby's drama queen ways pitiful cries...)


So Being In Charge is totally cool, especially since I've got complete run of the house. But once Mom and Dad get back, Mom has "things to do". Like getting the little Abby-Monster outside so she can piddle. And getting TaiChi outside, so she can piddle. And feeding TaiChi (more on this...), and finally getting around to getting me outside. (Having the best bladder in the household seems to be a bit of a curse, if you ask me. But I'm a Good Dog, so I'm not going to protest in some unhygienic way.) And then Mom has other Things To Do, like ROTEs (which I sometimes get to go on), and taking TaiChi to the vet, and on and on and on. And at the end of the day, she wants to watch teevee with people doing wintery sports in Canada.

Eh. Thinking about this, I guess I'd rather that she be refereeing me and Abby than helping me type. But still. You'd think she could do all of that and help me type. But whatever.

So.... Enough griping. First, we received our awards from the Relentlessly Huge, for our wins at MangoMinster. Wow. Even I'm impressed at how well we did. Totally cool. Thanks to everyone who voted for us, and to the judges, and to Mango and his Momma for putting the whole thing on! (Oh, and thanks to Moose for the pre-competition partying; that was So Much Fun!!!)

Thanks to everyone for honoring my Fallen Comrade, Mr. Bufus. We miss him every day. Mom is going to print off a copy of this to go by his picture in the the living room.

Two awards for TaiChi!!! I can't believe how she just dominated the 'Bad Sport' group. Oh. Wait. I totally can. Especially when I tell you about her latest visit to the vet. You Will Not Believe This. But more on that in a bit.


And me!!! Sporty Dog!!! I am so thrilled with this!!! Because I LOVE everything sporty (except for maybe "skiing" since I can't do it with Mom and Dad). Thank you So Much!!!

We are very honored to have been a part of MangoMinster 2010, and very flattered to have done so well! Thanks EVERYONE!!!

Now, on to TaiChi. Wow. You cannot believe the latest. Mom took her to the V-E-T yesterday to have a check-up, since she's a million years old. They checked her blood pressure, and her eyes, and stuck her with a few needles, and did all sorts of other Old Dog Check-Up things. And then Mom talks to the vet about how TaiChi is losing weight. And he says that yes, because of her kidney problems, she will likely continue to lose weight, but if Mom can get her to eat as much as possible that might help a little. So then Mom says that the night before they had had some grilled sirloin, and she drizzled the juices in TaiChi's dish, and TaiChi was Very Happy about it (which she was). So then, the vet says, "If TaiChi likes steak, and it doesn't cause problems with her digestion, then you could probably give her a little with each meal. It will give her more calories, and it will be something that she really enjoys."

Steak. At every meal?!? You cannot be serious!!!! And what does Mom do? She stops by the store on the way home, and buys some steak, because Mom and Dad don't eat it that often. Top sirloin (because the vet said it should be lean beef). For TaiChi!!! None for me or Abby.

*sheesh*

However, I guess I would expect no less from a Champion Bad Sport! (Lucky dog!!!)

And now Mom says I have to end this because she and Dad are going to go do this skiing stuff again. But Mom promises that she'll get some more pictures of me in the snow. Soon. (Uh-huh. I'll be holding my breath on that one!)

*kissey face*
-Fiona

Note From Fi's Mom: The vet did indeed say that TaiChi can have a little steak at each meal. She doesn't get a lot; just enough to make her food more interesting to her, and steak is one of the things that she truly enjoys. Her kidneys are what they are, and a little extra protein isn't going to effect them much. Besides, I think TaiChi would rather have the steak than be on a totally bland diet that she hates. And at 18+ years old, I'm not going to deny her any little bit of pleasure that she can get out of life.

It's Sporty Dog Time (almost)!!!

Mom has to get this post up this morning, even though it isn't entirely relevant until later today... And for those of you who are ready to vote, there is a slight delay of games, as Mango's Mom has to get his brother back from doggie day care, and Mango's paws are a bit too big to operate the computer all on his own. So... if you go over to MangoMinster and don't see the voting for Sporty Dogs yet, come back later. And you can be certain that Mom will personally send you all emails when the voting goes 'live'...

Apparently, there are So Many Sporty Dogs, that Moose, the judge has decided to divide us into Good Sports and Most Athletic. Despite pictures of Dad sticking toys on my nose:

I have a feeling that I am really more of the Athletic Type, than the Good Sport Type. (Because let's face it, there is No Way I can compete with the picture of Dory (the consummate squirrel hunter) being put in a squirrel costume by her prankster Mom for being a good sport...) So, for those of you who might not know me, here are some of my Sportier Moments.

There is me playing football:


And playing football with Dad (not giving him the ball back right away is a game in and of itself!)


And here I am practing Doga:

And I am a consummate hiker:

Then there are all of my snow pictures...


I LOVE this stuff!

Faceplant!!!

Anyhoo, I could go on and on (and if you are really curious, just look at some of my older posts).

And I will, briefly. Because I have ridden the Tour de France with Lance Armstrong, and I've assisted Tom Watson in last year's British Open (hey, it wasn't MY fault that he didn't win...)

But I wanted to give you a brief look into me as an Athletic Sporty Dog!

In Other News (because while you might not be able to tell from the past several entries, there are a few other things going on besides MangoMinster), Mom went to the pet store yesterday and bought A Whole Bunch of Stuff, like little toys, and Nylabones, and piddle pads, and puppy chow, and a little bitty collar that most certainly won't fit me, and a name tag that Most Definitely Does Not Have My Name On It. It says 'Abby'. Last time I checked, I don't need piddle pads, I have a big neck, and my name is not Abby. Apparently, my little sister is coming home Saturday!

More on this later!

*kissey face*
-Fiona