Freedom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know what's happening in our house but after almost two long years of being locked away each night (and sometimes during the day too!!) in a crate I and my most wonderful girlfriend Nola have been left to our own devices at night. Something must be wrong with Nola though because she still sleeps in her crate. That's just crazy. I usually go sleep on the couch in the same room with her so I can be as close to her as possible.
The only problem with this new found freedom is that sometimes I have to go to the bathroom and Mama and Daddy don't seem to thrilled with me when I go on the carpet. They've been doing all sorts of new things like taking away the water after dinner and Daddy's been walking me before bedtime but still, sometimes when you have to go you have to go. Mama keeps telling me to let them know when that happens but I haven't figured that out just yet.
Mama has been walking us a lot too. I am trying really hard to do better with the cars but its hard, they are really loud and scary and I just know they are going to hurt Mama or Nola. Yesterday this really large yellow one drove by us 3 times. I finally had to let it know who was in charge and gave it a good barking. Gotta watch out for my peeps.

3 walks in 3 days!!!

Woohoo!!! Mama has walked me and my most wonderful girlfriend Nola the past 3 days. I love walking with my girl and Mama. I've heard Mama grumbling about me waking up early. Not sure what the problem is because when I wake up I just want to see her and Daddy and Nola. So what if its still dark out. If I'm up I'm up!
I think Mama thinks this walking will help me sleep more and be a bit more calm. We'll see. I do know that when we get back from the walk I am hyped up and ready to attack the trees in the back yard. You never know what they could've been doing while we were gone.

Take that you tree!!

The torture of flea meds

Once a month I have to get "medicine" for flea prevention. Somehow I lived years without this on the street but Mama and Daddy think this is important for some crazy reason. Well, this is torture to me. I hate it, I know deep down they are punishing me. When I know its coming I get so scared and sometimes I go and hide and when they find me I'm all curled up and shaking just waiting for the beat down I know is coming.
A couple months ago after my mom put the horrible liquid on my back I spent a very long time outside trying to rub it off of me. Another time I went and just hid under the gardenia bushes outside and curled up and shivered (it was cold then). I figure if I'm being bad and they are punishing me I should just go away somewhere.
I love getting on the bed in the morning while my daddy is getting ready for work. Last month they tortured me up there!!!! After that if Mama came anywhere near me when I was on the bed I had to try and hide from her.
I was unaware that Mama went and got a pill yesterday that I can eat for the fleas instead of this horrendous stuff they put on my fur. But since I didn't know what it was when she had to get the scissors to open this pill from its plastic wrapping I just knew the torture was coming. When she came back to get the food bowls for us I was all scared in the corner of the laundry room shaking like the world was coming to an end. So far it hasn't and I just had my normal breakfast with a little something extra flavorful in it. However, you never know what can happen so I've been on the lookout all morning since then just waiting to see what other things they may want to do to torture me.

I can be cranky

Or so I've been told. Whatever. Sometimes I'm just a bit moody, sue me. I was growling at Mama today and she took this picture, I wasn't happy.

I'm not sure why I do this. Sometimes I will walk right up to Mama or Daddy, lay on my back to have my tummy rubbed and then I growl at them. I know they get sad when I do this to them so then I'll usually try to make up for it by giving them some kisses because I do love them so very much but sometimes I'm just a grouch and want to be left alone. 

Sundays

This morning I played hard with my ball that I love.

After then it was on to my next favorite Sunday activity, being lazy on the couch with Mama and Daddy and Nola.

We help keep Mama warm. She loves it although she makes us get up eventually and that's a drag.

Daddy left today for the week. I don't like when he's gone, I have to be extra tough being the only man in the house. Its a tough job but someone has to do it.

I LOVE MY BALL!!!!

This is my ball.

I LOVE it so much. My Aunt Beth gave it to me and it is the most wonderful ball ever! I can chew and chew and chew and it never explodes (like those racquetballs I used to have).
I have lots of ways to play with my ball.

This is one of the best ways to play with it. The blanket attacks it and hides it from me and I have fight the blanket and find it and claim it as my own. I can be entertained by this for a long, long time.

This is one of my other favorite things to do with the ball, play with it right up against the couch. Man, this is so much fun!!!! For some reason it drives everyone else in the house crazy because sometimes the ball goes under the couch or behind the couch and I need help getting it. Whatever, it is my ball and it is awesome!!!!!!

This morning Mama interrupted my time with the ball for this picture. So annoying. Leave me alone with my ball lady!

This is how I look after playing with the ball for a long time. Did I mention I love this ball?

Walking

I never did this walking thing when I was living on the street. Back then I'd just run along, chase things as I wanted and hope for the best. Sometimes I forget how small I am and chase after much bigger things. When I walk with my mama and daddy and most wonderful girlfriend Nola I like to guard them from potential predators (i.e. cars, other dogs, children on bicycles, you get the idea). This weekend I went on 2 walks!!! I get so excited when we are getting ready to go I can hardly sit still for all my collars I have to wear.

This is Nola and me stopping for Daddy, we thought he was going to give us a treat, no such luck. Lately they have been strapping Nola and I together on this dual leash. I love being that close to my most wonderful girlfriend but sometimes she slows me down.
Our first walk on Saturday didn't go so great. We had a car go by really slow and I just barked and barked and then I just had to get it, I couldn't help myself I wanted to run and chase it. This has happened before to not so great results although I really can't understand why. But my mama and daddy wouldn't let me chase it so I had to fight the leash and try to bite myself loose (no luck dangit!). So Daddy took me home early and Nola and Mama kept on walking without us. I did get to attack the trees in our yard when we got home, you never know what they were doing while we're gone. I gave them a lot of bites though so we are all good.
Sunday's walk was good but I didn't chase any cars. Some days I'm better than others, I'm not sure what happens but I get in this crazy state of mind and just can't get out of it. Hopefully my folks won't give up on me and will let me keep trying.
Happy new year and happy walking!