Special Dog Treat

Yesterday was Wrigley's first birthday! And since I know no children around the nest anymore, I felt like making a big deal of this special day. Bill and me decided to take him up to Oak Creek Canyon in northern Arizona. Bill has been working so hard lately and we haven't gone hiking in quite a long time. We used to take our first golden retriever up hiking a lot. Hampton used to stay in the creeks until he was shaking to death, looking for fish to catch. He would get dirty running along the paths and then get all muddy running across the creek. The inside of the car was always a mess but it all seemed worth it. This was definitely a tradition we wanted to keep with our new golden puppy.

I thought about taking Hampton's ashes in the urn up to Oak Creek to spread over the water, but at the last moment I changed my mind. Hampton went back to Andy's old bedroom to "rest".

The puppy did well on the two hour car ride but was ready to get out and explore. We walked for a couple of miles and met up with a sexy little black lab named Sophia and Wrigley took a definite liking to this bitch who was many years his elder. They fetched a tennis ball and frolicked in the water. Once, we let him off the lease to roam around, but he took off on the path like a 'bat out of hell' (such a crazy saying!) and Bill had to go chase him up the hill.

After about four hours, we got back in the car and drove home. Wrigley nestled in the back seat and proceeded to fall asleep within minutes. He looked so content and peaceful, which made us think about Hampton. Hampton was a great dog. He died on back cancer when he was 11 years old. We still miss him and I have his picture on my cell phone.

As we got about ten miles from home, Bill said, "you know it was just about this time of year when Hampton died". I never remember dates like that. He then said, when we get home, I'll look at that picture on your phone to see what day he died. Well, there was a reason we ended up going on September 28 and not the 27th or 30th. You see, when we turned on my phone and checked the picture (taken just minutes before he was put to sleep) Hampton had died two years ago on the same day that our new puppy, Wrigley was born. It was not until this very afternoon that we knew this fact. We have truly been blessed by our pets and know they have enriched our lives so much.

The Good, Bad and the Ugly

The emotions ran the full gamut this weekend all because of three different teams I happen to enjoy following.

First the Good:

The Chicago Cubs cliched the National League Central Title! Only one other time in the Cubbies history have they achieved this title two years or more in a row, back in 1906-08. This is the first step on our way to winning this year's World Series and it could not have happened to a nicer group of guys. We were at a tailgate (see below) when we heard the good news. Everyone around started hooting and hollering and screaming, "Go Cubs". This is really 'America's Favorite Baseball Team' now and (almost) everyone would love to see this team go all the way. (The picture above is my daughter and my puppy, Wrigley, both big fans of the Cubs). IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

Now the Bad:

The Dallas Cowboys beat the Green Bay Packers, 27-16. This just isn't supposed to happen. I hated that the Cowboys won at Lambeau field. What makes this so bad to me is that it feels like the Cowboys are taking the status of 'America's Favorite Football Team' back from the Packers and that me very unhappy. Even if you've never frozen your butt off in Green Bay or watched season after season of Favre supreme quarterback madness, you probably secretly wanted to be a cheese head and own one of those cheese head hats. And, I am old enough to remember when everyone loved the Cowboys and those idiotic cheerleader costumes. (Back then, I loved the Washington Redskins, so the Cowboys were never on my fave list). Let's hope this love affair does not come to fruition.

And Finally the Ugly:

You guessed it: Arizona State University loses to Georgia 27-10. This was supposed to be like the game many years back when we were not supposed to beat Nebraska, but we did. We jumped the fence and pulled down the goal posts (not my finest moment), and it was fun. Having just lost to UNLV last week, all loyal ASU fans thought it must have been a fluke. Now, we do not know what to think. But, sitting out in 100+ degree weather, tailgating and looking like sweaty pigs is not my idea of fun. One interesting comment: leave it to the gorgeous Georgia female fans, they looked fabulous and I don't think they were even sweating. Unfair.

Woman's Thighs Resembles Water Balloon in Video

My friend Susie sent this video to me and said, "The dog drinking water was cool...blah, blah, blah. What I found
most intriguing was the water balloon sequence while the credits were running. That balloon eerily resembles my thighs. Who new"!!?....

She's hysterical.

Cardinal and Brewer Fans Quick to Predict Cubs Fate due to Zambrano's Injury

Apparently the Chicago Cubs are doomed all because of yesterday's MRI results for Carlos Zambrano. The test has concluded that he does have a right rotator cuff tendinitis and inflammation. And true, for this weekend's game in Cincinnati, Carlos will be replaced by Sean Marshall. For sure he'll miss that start and the whole town of St. Louis is already praying that he isn't throwing yet for the game coming up on Wednesday. But, Jim Hendry, General Manager for the Cubs is anticipating that Carlos will start the series with Houston. What the Brewer and Cardinal fans fail to understand is that a little pain and injury is not going to deter the Cubs from winning the World Series at this historic 100 year anniversary.

Carlos will take his little shot of medicine and have the doctors take all kind of precautions to reduce the inflammation and he'll be just fine. The history books and the movie (I hope) will remember this bump towards the championship as a minor incident. I can see it now, in the movie, the Brewer fans are all sitting in Steve's on Bluemound (a cool local bar) all giddy and cheerful that now they have a real chance and they make toasts to Zambrano for helping out their weaker team, but then the music changes. The group looks up on the television that's located above the bar and who do they see walking out to the pitchers mound, but Zambrano himself. There is no indication that he is favoring his right leg at all. He goes on to win the game and stays in to the 7th Inning and the group drowns the sorrow in the beer.

You see when destiny is involved, no rotator cuff tendinitis or painful inflammation is going to get in the way of winning for the Chicago Cubs. I suggest Cardinal and Brewer fans to be careful what they say and how they act for the rest of the season as it just might become act three in next summer's blockbuster movie.

Talk on Presidential Politics just like Cubs vs Cardinals talk

Some of the nastiest, vile discussions take place everyday online and on you tube videos about the Cubs versus the Cardinals. The rivalry between the two teams is fierce. No one really hears what the other side is saying and nothing positive could possibly be said about the other team for fear of retribution from other fans. The same can be said for the discussions taking place regarding this year's Presidential elections.

The you-tube examples I wanted to insert here would clearly violate my blogger agreement to their terms and conditions of decency and proper content, but trust me you can find them yourselves. Actually, if I was clever like zsasz2969 with making you-tube videos, I would take one of the Cubs/Cardinals ranting videos out there and put in their place, pictures of the silly CNN news anchors like Campbell Brown or Jack Cafferty. It would be hilarious.

It's the beginning of September and I'm already getting miffed over being treated like some dumb moron that can't understand policies and party platforms and the reality of compromise politics needed to get anything approved in Congress, no matter what your stand was before elected. Miffed isn't a strong enough word; more like I'm mad as hell! Even uneducated people who have little access to books and the internet probably hate being talked down to. (Okay, let's see, one candidate will give me change and the other will have experience...hmmm). Candidiates, please have some respect for the American public you will be working for!

(INSERT Scream)

As far as the discussion between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals, it's a no brainer.... Cubs win. Go Cubbies!

I Have a Slobber Dog

Early on, we realized that Wrigley was going to be what we lovingly call a “slobber dog”. You know the type; always drooling around the mouth. It’s most prevalent when he’s around other dogs, food or people; in other words, most all the time.

At nine months old, we took Wrigley to stay with his Breeder and Mom while we hosted a graduation party for my daughter in our backyard. My sister came out for the party and when we picked him up, the breeder proceeded to tell us that he slobbers a lot and that she’s always glad when the dogs she selects to keep aren’t one of the slobber-type dogs.

During my last visit to the veterinarian’s office, I asked the assistant if there was anything we can do to curb this slobber problem, like Botox or a medicine, and she looked at me like I was nuts. I think the problem is getting better as he matures. And maybe it’ll be better now that he’s been neutered. Does anyone out there have a slobber dog and have any suggestions or ideas to help Wrigley with his slobber problem?