It's Sporty Time!!!

Yes, I know this looks a lot like the post earlier today, but for those of you who receive this via email, I just wanted to let you know that voting for the Sporty Dogs at MangoMinster is OPEN! So, go vote. (Early and often, preferably!) And for those of you who didn't know that I am So Sporty that I have helped Tom Watson in the British Open, and ridden with Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France, well, now is the time to check it out!

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).

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

Good luck to all my fellow competitors, sporty and otherwise! (And thanks again to the RH for hosting this fantabulous event!)

*kissey face*
-Fiona, Sporty (Athletic) Dog

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

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