Life of Stubby

My Sweet Stubby,

2011-02-07T15:36:00.006-06:00

I woke up very early today just as I did one month ago today. That morning I was faced with fear and heartache where today I feel only emptiness. I grieve for you each and every day, and I hope that one day I can get past these feelings of despair. My life has not been the same since you left but I know you are safe, well, and living life like you once did.

You were so brave as you knew your time here was ending. You trusted us to make the right decisions and though we know we did, it still hurt so much to make them. I couldn't let you go but I couldn't see you suffer anymore. Your little body tried so hard to stay strong but in the end it was only your strong will that carried you on.

You were only concerned for me as each night you would wish upon a star before going to sleep. "Please watch over my mom and dad when I am gone" is what you would say, not caring about your own wellbeing but being very concerned about ours. You would kiss me goodnight and tell me that everything was going to be okay, but it wasn't.

We stayed with you and held you as we told you how much we loved you. You held onto Tweedles's paw here while reaching for Betty's paw on the other side. Even after you were safely on your journey I couldn't let you go. I wondered then and still do how I am going to live without you.

Losing you has been the hardest thing I've ever had to face. Your time here was so short but I take comfort in knowing that I will see you again one day. It's hard for me to think about the end so I try to focus on the beginning and the middle. Though my favorite memories of you are from last couple of years, the beginning of your life with us was truly the happiest time of my life.

I still remember the day we brought you home like it was yesterday. I couldn't believe how tiny you were, this little pug that we were now parents to. I remember feeling overwhelmed at the enormity of the task we were taking on but knowing that we could and would do it together. Do you remember that day, too? You were the last member of your litter and at first I wasn't so sold on you. You were cute but I didn't think you were the one until I picked you up and you snorted in my face. I turned to Daddy and said "Get the checkbook" because it was all over. You had picked me and I was forever honored to be your mommy. You won the hearts of everyone you met but I never knew on that day that I would be forever changed by your life.

This is one of my favorite pictures of you standing next to Deanne, her giggling profusely at the funny little puggy snorting in her ear. I still remember the car ride home, Drew and Deanne squealing in the back seat while you sat in my lap in the front seat as quiet as a mouse. "I think he's broken" I said to Daddy which made him laugh. "He's not broken, he's just scared" he reminded me gently. We tried to feed you ice cubes to cool you on that hot July day but you just sat there and shook, wondering what was happening to you.

We had no idea what to do with such a little puppy like you. You made yourself right at home from the moment you walked into our house and our hearts. Every place was Stubby's place and soon you settled in with the family that would love you forever. We knew we loved you but never knew you would love us as much as you did.

I would hold you and look at you for hours. You were so perfect and so perfect for me. How could I have gotten so lucky to have such an adorable pug like you? I had waiting for so many years to get a pug and it was fate that brought you to me.

It's funny looking back at these old pictures because I wonder what you were thinking. Plucked from your family at 10 weeks old, you had no idea what kind of house you would end up in. Sometimes you looked so confused and scared but I think you just missed your surroundings as you settled into new ones. Do you remember how that silly little bowl would change colors when we put water in it? It was an oatmeal bowl, not a dog bowl! We were so unprepared for puppy life, weren't we?

Your first day home was filled with such magic and excitement. Every step you took had to be recorded and your small size never ceased to amaze me. I had secretly hoped you would stay small forever but knew in my heart that you would grow into a big, strong man. Oh how right I was but back then you were just a baby.

You tired so easily when you were a baby. I would take you in the yard and sit with you for hours. We would make plans for our future and all the things we would do. I never imagined the day would come when you would have to leave but I promise you I will do all the things you didn't get to do. You are still with me in spirit even though your body is gone and I know you are watching over me, protecting me from harm.

We told ourselves that we wouldn't allow you on the furniture but who could resist such a cute face? All you had to do was look at me and I would melt. There was no resisting Stubby, not by me and not by anyone. You had that power to charm and you used it at will. I never really understood that until I looked back at these pictures.

I know that you remember your huge house, don't you? What were we thinking buying a cage that big? Did we think you would grow into it? Luckily, Daddy was smart enough to place a divider in the cage so that your spot was just the right size. We never did take the divider out because after we moved to our new house we decided you were a big boy and didn't need a cage anymore. Your cage was moved to the basement, never to be used again.

But in the meantime, you tried to eat your way out of your house. I know it must have been lonely to be in there while we were off at work, but it kept you safe and out of harms way. You slept in our bed with us from the first night you were home until the last night of your life. There was no way we could let you sleep in your house or on the floor, so far away from us. You needed us just as much as we needed you.

Your favorite place to sit was always on Daddy's lap. Even though you were Mommy's baby you were Daddy's little guy. He never thought of himself as a little dog guy until you came along. You guys were inseparable and he loved you like only a Daddy could. You were his constant companion, his every thought, and his best friend. He told everyone he met about the work you did as an assisted therapy dog. He was so proud of you and he misses you so much.

If Daddy got home before I did, he would take you outside to wait for me. Daddy and Stubby time, he would call it. You guys would bond and talk guy talk. He would tell you all about his day and you would listen, never questioning or judging, just accepting him as your own. He would ask you about your day and you would tell him how, despite the long list of chores I had left for you, that you didn't get a thing done.

I would pull into the driveway and see my two little guys waiting just for me. Oh how those memories are so fresh in my mind. What did I ever do to deserve this perfect little family of mine? I would rush into your waiting arms and promise to stay by your side forever.

As you started to grow I wondered what you would look like. Would you still be the cutest pug ever? I never really had any doubts and even if you weren't perfect to anyone else you were still perfect to me. Even at the end you were more then I could ever have imagined. You never were a problem, only a joy.

Your first Thanksgiving was such a happy time. You knew it was my favorite holiday and soon it would be yours, too. We celebrated with my family and were thankful for all we had been given. I see the baby gate in the background of his picture but I don't remember why it is there. Did your grandpa not want you running into the bedroom while he was napping? You were ever the curious little pug, looking for a warm body to cuddle up to and love. Grandpa was not in the best of health and didn't realize that your love would cure him of whatever ailed him. If only he had known.

You weren't yet born when my mom died but you stayed right by my side when my dad died. You silently listened to me talk about him and about how amazing he was. You knew I was hurting and your presence comforted me so much. You kissed away my tears as they fell on you. Losing my parents hasn't been as hard as losing you because you were my baby. Were and always will be.

I tried so hard to keep it together your first Christmas but I was missing my dad. You were the best gift to me that season. Thank you for knowing what to do to help me through the dark times. I couldn't have made it through them without you.

Do you remember how I would come home from the beauty salon with my hair straightened and you wouldn't recognize me? "It's me Stubby, your mommy" I would say to you and you would just stand there looking at me so strange. I would walk ever so gently over to you, not wanting to scare you. I would pick you up and as soon as you smelled me the kisses would flow. You smelled me as your own and everything was once again all right in your world.

You loved being in our bed - I mean your bed. You would snuggle under the covers, peeking your eyes out to see who was coming and going. Even though you took up half the bed with your little body, we wouldn't have had it any other way because it was where you belonged. It seems wrong to sleep now that you are gone because there is no warmth from an empty bed. I can still see you sleeping next to me, peacefully dreaming without a care in the world.

Sometimes I held on to you not wanting to ever let you go. I feared for your safety and worried that something terrible might happen to you. You would let me hold you for a short time before jumping down to grab a bone or toy. It was all that jumping that I think led to your eventual back problems. Had I of known then what I know now maybe things would have been different. I can't look back and wonder what if, but I can look back in wonder at you.

All of your friends always commented on your smile. You were such a happy pug, always. Your smile lit up a room and filled my heart with such joy. Even when you weren't smiling on the outside I knew you were smiling on the inside because you were always so happy. Happy to just be with us, never needing anything else.

I don't know why I ever worried about what you would look like when you grew up because you were simply beautiful. You had a face that was always full of expression whether we talked to you or you to us. You understood so many words and would tilt your head this way and that to show your understanding. Even as your body deteriorated and it became hard for you to bend down to eat, you knew a head tilt would bring a smile to my face. Always one to please, you never let me down.

I remember when your chin started to gray. It look so cute and made you look so distinguished. With years of experience behind your eyes you knew that you were becoming a big boy. You may have been a big boy but you'll always be my little boy. Your perch on the arm of the sofa was a show of who was in charm. You were always the king of the casa.

Soon we outgrew our house and decided it was time to buy a bigger one. One that would have lots of room for you to grow into. One that would have a big fenced in yard for you to play in. One that would surrounded you with love all the days of your life. And as our house grew so did you, into the big boy you were meant to be. You loved your new freedom in the house and the only two mistakes you ever had in the house were because we were gone too long. They were our fault, not yours.

You loved being in your backyard. It was your true domain and everyone that entered had to play with you. I know you wanted some brothers and sisters (pugs and humans) to play with but all the neighborhood kids provided you with the fun times you sought. They would ride their bikes past the yard and you would run alongside them, begging them to come inside to play. When they would turn the corner you would run like a maniac across the yard to the other fence, pleading with them to stop and play. Your path across the yard was well worn and even though you couldn't run anymore last summer you still managed to sit in your yard and bark at the kids. It was your yard because we bought this house for you. It was and will always be Stubby's yard.

You had so many friends throughout your life, even before you started blogging. Your best friend Cody, the golden retriever, was really more like your big brother to you. He showed you around the neighborhood when we moved to our new house and he remained your best friend until he left for the Bridge. His cousin T-Bone the bulldog made you laugh because he thought he was a lap dog like you. I know all of you are back together and playing like you used to. Please hug them for me and tell them I miss them.

You didn't like dressing up for Halloween but you always did. Thank you for doing that for me. The kids just loved seeing you in your costumes and even though you never went trick-or-treating, it was tradition for you to hand out candy to everyone who stopped by. Those horns were the bane of my existence for a while and after a couple years I was happy if you just wore your cape. You were the cutest devil dog ever.

I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw you in your Frankenpug costume. T-Bone wanted you to wear the same costume he did but you weren't so sold on the idea. If I thought the horns from the devil costume were bad the arms from this costume might have been worse. You couldn't shake them off like you did the horns but you would bump into the walls as you ran to answer the door each Halloween. Daddy bought you a turtle costume last year but you wore your Frankenpug costume one last time. I could tell something was wrong that day but I never really thought it would be your last Halloween. Halloween will never be the same without you. All the kids will be looking for you this year and I don't know how I'm going to tell them that you're gone. Hopefully I will be feeling a little better by then and can remember the good times without crying.

You never really had any clothes until you got older. I don't remember when we bought your lumberjack coat but it fit you so snuggly. This picture has to be at least five years old because that's our old kitchen floor. You were a wee bit overweight then but I didn't realize at the time how bad it was for your health. You wore that coat so much this past winter despite the fact that it hung on you because you had lost so much weight. That coat stills hangs in your command center just like it did a month ago. We haven't removed anything from there except the name tag off your collar. Daddy carries it on his key chain and it sounds like you are running everytime he grabs his keys off his desk.

I will always remember your smiling face and how happy you were no matter what. You never complained even when you didn't get your way. Your smile will live on through the many pictures and memories I have of you. So many of your friends did tribute posts when you left and even though it pained me to read them, I had to because I wanted to know how much they loved you. You touched their lives so much and they will never forget you either. I'm so glad you got to meet some of your blogging friends these past two years and hopefully I will get to meet those that you couldn't meet in person.

I adored you as a baby, fell in love with you as you grew, and cherished you until the end. I cannot say goodbye because it hurts too much. I will say 'see you later' for now because I know you will be waiting for me when it is my turn to leave this Earth. Until then I will be here remembering you and our life together. You can never be replaced because there can only be one Stubby. My Stubby. The Life of Stubby.

Happy Winter!

2010-12-22T13:44:00.005-06:00

It's wintertime and there's snow on the ground! I don't really like the snow and cold so I spend lots of time in the house.

So much has been happening here at Casa Stubby. I can't believe that 2010 is almost over already. It seems like just yesterday I was wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and toasting the new year.

This picture was taken yesterday on the ride home from the doctor. I'm continuing my laser therapy on my elbows. I must have the strongest elbows in the state! I'm on a maintenance plan with the laser therapy which means I only have the treatment every four weeks.

Mom was so busy this fall. I spent lots of time with her, helping her with this and that. Her work has slowed down for the time being so hopefully things will return to normal, whatever that is.

My angry disc decided it didn't want to be that angry anymore and life was really good. And then something happened at the beginning of November. I couldn't walk. I couldn't even stand. My head decided it wanted to bob up and down, and I was acting really weird. Mom took me to the doctor and the doctor said I had a mini-stroke. She put me on Prednisone and soon I felt a little better.

I felt okay for a little while but then started having panting attacks and acting really crazy. Back to the doctor I went and the news wasn't good. The doctor told Mom that I have a brain lesion/tumor. Mom was devastated. All my strange behavior is because I have a monster in my head that makes me crazy. It doesn't hurt but it hurts Mom and Dad because there's nothing they can do about it.

This is how I spend most of my days. The smell of food wakes the monster up so Mom and Dad can't really cook anymore. When the monster wakes up he makes my head spin and I pant and go crazy. Sometimes I pant for over three hours. The monster is relentless!

But there have been some bright days lately. My friend Joli came over a few weeks ago with her sled dog huskies. I couldn't play with the dogs but I watched them as they played in the snow in my backyard. Those guys love the snow and didn't even want to come in the house!

Last week my friend Karen (dw to some of you) from Writing Chances came over with a Christmas gift for me. We had a great visit and I was so glad to see her.

I've received so many Christmas cards from all my friends. I love sitting and looking at them, remembering the good times. I didn't send out cards this year. Maybe next year I will. Or maybe I'll send Valentine's Day cards again. I have to see how I feel in the next few weeks. I'm back on Prednisone again and just yesterday the doctor increased my dosage. It really helps me feel better and even allows me to walk a little.

Even though I haven't been blogging, I have been reading all your blogs. I love reading what you've been up to and I know all of you have been good this year. Santa Paws will definitely be visiting you on Christmas and I can't wait to see what he brings you!

We will be staying home for the holidays because I can't go anywhere. Mom and Dad won't leave me alone so someone is always home with me, usually Mom. I'm enjoying the holiday season and despite the monster in my head, I'm happy. I enjoy each and every day just like I always have and will continue to as long as I can.

I wish all of you a joyous holiday season! See you in 2011!

Saying Goodbye To My Friend Betty

2010-11-14T22:34:00.002-06:00

I could not believe the news Mom received tonight that my good friend Betty left us for the Rainbow Bridge. My heart is breaking as I remember Betty. Everyone that knew her knew that she was the best Frenchie ever. She opened up her heart to all and touched everyone she met. I'm finding it hard to express my feelings right now because I'm shocked and saddened over losing my friend.

I met Betty in person when I visited her on the Smushie Ranch in August. She welcomed me to the ranch and showed me around telling me that her home was my home. She was the best hostess and I loved spending time with her on the ranch. I will never forget my visit and I'll cherish it always.

Betty could almost always be found on the lap of her loving mom Shannon. Shannon took such good care of Betty, providing her with around the clock treatment in order to prevent Betty from having seizures.

Betty also welcomed others that wanted to share Shannon's lap like her foster brother Newman. Newman took to Betty right away and even thought she was his mother. That's just how Betty was. She nutured everyone because that was just her nature. Betty may have seemed rough and tough on the outside but she was a really softie inside.

Betty and her brother Gunther were the best of friends. I know that he is missing her as is her sister Stella. Their lives were forever changed when Betty arrived and they loved her from the start. I know they are missing her right now but they know like I know that Betty is now free from pain. With no more seizures to rule her life, Betty is now free to run and play on the Rainbow Bridge with all those that have gone before her.

I'm so saddened and I grieve with all the Smushies tonight. I know that Betty had a great life while she was on the Smushie Ranch but that time was all too short. In time my heart will heal and I know that I will see Betty again when it is my turn to go to the Bridge. Until that time I will remember her and know that she lived life to the max, living each day like it was her last.

Run free, Betty. Free from pain but never free from our hearts.

Hi Friends!

2010-10-18T17:58:00.005-05:00

My good friend Pearl always starts her blog posts by saying hi to all her friends so I thought I would borrow that from her today. Mom is taking a little break from working this afternoon so I asked if I could do a blog post to say hi and to tell you that I'm doing good. I have good days and bad days but lately I've been feeling really good and I think it's because I've been getting lots of sleep. Today I slept until 11:00 am because I was so sleepy! Mom thought I was sick but I just just all warm and snuggly under the blankets. Don't tell Mom but tomorrow I plan on sleeping until noon!

The photo above is of the sign that greets you as you arrive at our house. It's not that I need a reminder that it's autumn but I like to look at that sign everytime I walk by because it's a happy sign. I've been walking a lot these days, slowly, but a lot. I've also been reading all your blogs so I know what you guys have been up to and it looks like everyone is doing good. Yay! I haven't been doing much but when I do go out I have a great time.

Last month, Gen and The Foo called me up to see if I could meet them at the park for a playdate. I got Mom to drive me there and I had such a blast with my good friends. We were at a park I had never been to before and let me tell you there was so much to see and do. This park was huge and acorns littered the grass. It was like an acorn carpet! The squirrels were having a field day with all the acorns and they're sure to have lots tucked away for the winter.

We played at the park for quite some time while our moms talked about this and that. Thankfully, Gen and The Foo's mom brought treats because I was starving. She even posed for a picture with all of us. I had a great time with those guys and knew I would see them again soon.

My good friend Apollo came over last month with his mom and dad. I hadn't seen that guy since last year and we had lots of catching up to do. His pretty mom Jami sent me a big box full of foodables when my disc was angry and I gave her lots of kisses to thank her.

Mom and Dad made chili and soup for everyone but Apollo and I didn't get anything. We protested and went outside to look for bunny poop but the bunnies were MIA. Soon it was time for him to leave but I knew I would see Apollo again soon.

Do I look like Wilma in this picture? I thought so until Salinger's mom, who took this picture, told me I looked like a burrito. The official title of this photo is "Burrito boy" and I think that's a compliment. Let me just say it was freezing when we went to Indy earlier this month for the monthly pug meetup. Despite the cold weather and the rain I had tons of fun. I got to visit with my friends at the park, attend a football game, and then hang out at the home of the Pug Posse! Talk about an awesome day! Unfortunately, Mom didn't take any pictures because she was too busy holding me. I was shivering and anxious but I had a great time. Note to Mom: next time pack my sweater!

This is how I spend most of my days. I don't know why but my ear likes to stand at attention when I sleep. Mom thinks it's because I'm secretly listening to hear if any food is being made but really it's so I can hear when Mom leaves the room. I hate to be by myself so when Mom leaves the room so do I.

I also like to spend lots of time with the painting Aunt Nancy gave me when I visited her and her gang in Texas. The painting reminds me of my road trip and it calms me when I am anxious. I spend hours staring at it, sleeping in front of it, and wondering when the heck Mom is going to get around to hanging it up!

I've also been doing some home remodeling. Our guest bathroom needed updating so when Mom removed the shower curtain and placed it on the floor, I decided to use it as a bed. Notice the blinds from the guest room that was recently remodeled in the background. Sheesh! My peeps are keeping me on my toes!

It was absolutely beautiful last week so I talked Mom into working outside one day. I just couldn't get enough of the sunshine and fresh air. It worked its magic on me and soon I was sound asleep.

I've also been watching lots of football. Sometimes Mom's team isn't performing up to par so she puts the headphones on me so I can call in some plays. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I don't know why the quarterback doesn't listen to me!

Last weekend I visited the same park that I visited for Earth Day. Oh how beautiful it was! All the leaves were changing colors and falling to the ground. The animals were scurrying around and there were lots of people hiking. Unlike my Earth Day adventure when I was more mobile, this time I was in my buggy. I didn't really mind being in there because I got to take it all in from the comfort of the best seat in the park.

I hate it when my buggy stops because it makes me think the fun is over. Mom just stopped to take this picture and look how impatient I got!

One of the parks leads into another park and when we got to a fork in the road, Mom noticed this new sign. It's so cool that the forest preserves are educating the public about invasive plant species. Invasives cost the preserves thousands of dollars each year as they try to control their spread and even eradicate them. This sign reminds people to scrape their shoes off so seeds will not be distributed. Mom wiped her shoes off but I didn't need to wipe my paws off since I hadn't left my buggy.

I hated to leave the park because I was having such a great time. The leaves were falling into my buggy, tickling my nose as they settled at my feet. I loved being surrounded by them and asked Mom to leave them in my buggy.

I think the cooler temperatures are really agreeing with me and although I've been doing more sleeping this fall, I've also been doing more walking. I think I need to move where the temperature is in the low 70's year round. I don't know where that place is but I know it would be the best place for me.

This silly picture is how I sleep these days - with my tongue out. I don't know why I do it but sometimes it's out like it is in the picture and sometimes you can hardly see it. Do any of you sleep this way? Maybe I'm sticking it out so my taste buds can pick up food being made. Mom thinks I do it just to look cute. Awwww!

I miss all of you and will be stopping by your blogs this week. Even though this is a particularly busy week for Mom, she has agreed to turn the computer over to me. She needs a break from work and I need to catch up on things.

What I Have Learned and Now Know

2010-09-10T21:30:00.004-05:00

I bet you guys have been wondering where I've been. I haven't posted anything in a week but please know that it's not my fault. Nope. I think you know who to blame but please go easy on her.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about things lately and one phrase keeps coming to mind - to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Are you guys familiar with this phrase? It basically means that there's a time and place for everything. And a time and a place for nothing. Confused yet?

Mom has been super busy since we got back from our road trip and she keeps getting busier every day. When she's busy I can't be busy because I need her to turn on the 'puter and help me blog. And if she doesn't even have time to hang out with me then she surely won't have time to help me blog. So I've decided to take a little blogging break.

I started my blog over two years ago and I've had such a blast with it. I've made some great friends over the years and I love each and every one of you like family. I've been so fortunate to meet a lot of you in pugson and for this I'm forever grateful. I keep all of you in a special place in my heart and feel your love every day.

I don't know how long my break will last but I will try to read your blogs as much as I can. I may not always be able to leave a comment on your blog but please know that I'm keeping up with you and what you're doing.

I promise I'll be back and probably before long. I know you'll miss me and I'll miss you, too. Please know that I'm okay and that I'll be back soon. I wrap my paws around you and hug you all!

Road Trip Booty

2010-09-03T16:58:00.002-05:00

One of the best parts about my road trip was all the booty I got from all the pugs and people I visited. I mean, just look at all of it! I didn't expect any of it but I love it all.

Aunt Nancy wanted to make sure everyone I met knew who I was so she made me a cool name tag. She even bought me a snazzy tie/sash to wear around my neck. Mom said I looked dashing wearing it but I think it made my head look fat.

Howie bought me some delicious refrigerated treats. It's a good thing we had the cooler with us because as soon I as gave Howie his treats I threw these in. I didn't want them to spoil in the Texas heat.

Do you know who's picture that is on the cover of my very special photo album? Of course it's Howie! He insisted that his maw put his picture in it so I would know who gave it to me. Silly Howie!

Isn't this the neatest photo album ever? I'm going to have Mom print out pics of me with my friends and put them in it.

AnnieBelly bought me this neat ball toy. I've never seen one like it before and am saving it for a special occasion like a holiday. Hey, maybe I'll play with it on Monday to celebrate Labor Day.

Java knew that I'd be hungry on the road and surprised me with these goodies. Yummy!

I know you've seen these donuts before but they are very special to me. I primarily used them as pillows in the car but since I've been home I've been playing with them. Melissa made these for me to remind me of my visit with her and Emmitt.

Pearly Poo would never show up at anything empty handed now would she? No way! She totally surprised me with this racy little box. I knew there were treats in it but Mom said I needed to wait until we got home to dig into them.

Pearly's gift was not only cool but also appropriate since we dined on burgers at a restaurant on a lake. She's one smart puggy!

Can you believe that Aunt Nancy painted this for me? Well not just for me but for Mom and Dad, too. Isn't it beautiful? And the frame is just perfect. We are still deciding where to hang it but I think it's going to end up on the first wall you see as you enter the house from the garage. This wall is also close to my bowls so I will see it every single day.

Here's a close up of the painting. Aunt Nancy said she painted to it remind me of my road trip. She knew we drove past many fields and meadows that looked just like this. Everytime I look at this painting I will think of Aunt Nancy and my road trip.

Thank you again to my friends for showering me with such wonderful gifts. I really appreciate all the love you've shown me over the years and I'm so grateful I got to meet some of you in pugson.

As for the rest of my friends that I haven't met, I'm already thinking about taking another road trip so you never know where I might go!

Wordless Wednesday (sort of)

2010-09-01T18:12:00.003-05:00

States visited: 12
Miles traveled: 5,404
Memories made: too many to count
Stubby's 2010 road trip: priceless

The Last Legs Of My Road Trip

2010-08-31T14:40:00.003-05:00

I knew we had to go through Oklahoma on the way home from Texas so I contacted my good friend Pearl and invited her to lunch. Pearl lives in Oklahoma City and I just knew she would be up for a midday snack. I was so happy when she accepted my invitation and told Mom to put the pedal to the metal because Pearly and I were getting hungry!

Pearl's pretty momma Kelly found a great restaurant with outdoor seating that was dog friendly. After being in so many pug friendly cities I figured all restaurants allowed dogs but this is not the case. Kelly told Mom that Oklahoma City is not as dog friendly as most cities but that they're slowing getting with the program. I didn't care where we had lunch as long as Pearl and I could get some food. Menus please!

Look at Pearl and her momma! Aren't they just the cutest things ever? I felt like I already knew Pearl since we've been blogging friends for so long. I know that Pearl has a reputation for acting a little how do I say this, not so ladylike, but she was a perfect little lady at our lunch.

Pearl was so excited to meet me that she never stopped moving. I couldn't really keep up with her so I just played it cool and sat there like the gentleman that I am. Mom ordered her usual boring food while Dad ordered me something really special.

Fried pickles! OMD! These things were delicious. I couldn't get enough of them and wanted to get an order to go. Apparently everything is fried down in Oklahoma and that's right up my alley. Yippee!

Nom, nom, nom!

Mom took so many pictures of Pearl and her momma. Look how cute they are with the lighthouse in the background. That Pearl sure isn't camera shy! Work it Pearly!

Our lunch was over way too soon. Kelly had to get back to work and Pearl had to get back to her nap. I wish you could hear what Pearl was saying or should I say screaming to me in this picture - "Y'all come back now, y'hear?" I just love that Pearl!

One last picture before we said goodbye to Pearl, Kelly, and Oklahoma - sigh. I didn't want to leave but we were on a tight time schedule. Thanks again to Pearl and Kelly for a great lunch date. We were so glad we got to meet you guys and can't wait to get together again.

We couldn't drive all the way back home on Friday after lunching with Pearl so we stopped in Springfield, Missouri to get some rest. Dad got us a suite and boy was it sweet! I loved having rooms to cruise around in and a nice comfy bed to rest my tired body on. All that visiting wears a pug out!

I sure didn't want to get up and leave Missouri on Saturday morning but Mom convinced me to move my body. And I did - slowly.

Because my road trip was almost over. This would be my last morning in a hotel and I wanted to savour each and every moment. As I was laying there half asleep, I reflected on the past two weeks with awe. I met friends I felt I already knew, met many new friends, visited so many new places, and ate so many delicious foodables.

I got to do things I'd never dreamt I'd do like see the Golden Gate Bridge. I had such an awesome two weeks on the road that I didn't want it to end. Ever.

As our car flew up Interstate 55 in Illinois, I promised myself that I would do this again. I would take another road trip and visit more friends. Friends who live here and there, in warm places and cold, in houses and apartments. Oh yes my friends. I will do it again but the last leg of my road trip called and it was the one I looked forward to the most.

The one that would take me to that special place that Dorothy talked about. She recognized it and so did I. I knew I would be there soon because there's no place like home.

High Desert and Cowboys

2010-08-29T12:30:00.005-05:00

This dude was hanging out at our hotel in Santa Fe. Mom had told me all about Santa Fe but I had to see it to believe it and believe it I did. It was totally awesome! This high desert living is perfect for pugs and I think I might want to relocate here.

I loved how chili peppers hung above all the doorways. Mom knocked into the ones that hung above our hotel door several times but I always ducked to avoid them. I need some of these for our front door back home.

Check out the cool courtyard at our hotel. We had the first room on the left, room 101. I think they put us in a room close to the front desk because they wanted to me close to them. They totally loved me!

I took many walks through the courtyard checking for food at each door. Our hotel, The Hotel Plaza Real, was very dog friendly and there were several dogs staying there. I never found any food but that wasn't for lack of trying.

We even had a cool deck off the back of our room. I liked cruising out there too because the weather was perfect. I wanted to dine al fresco every night but Mom put the kibosh on that.

Mom and Dad left me on Wednesday to visit the Georgia O'Keeffe museum. Mom fell in love with Georgia the last time they were in Santa Fe and there was no way she was missing the latest exhibit. The museum is not dog friendly so I had to hang out at the hotel, watch HBO and dream about my next food discovery.

As Thursday morning rolled around, I tried to convince Mom that we needed to stay in Santa Fe just one more day. I must need Bellatrix's orbs because my sad eyed look just didn't do the trick. I stayed in bed as long as I could before being carried to the car to head out to see the cowboys.

We were in the car about 2 seconds before Dad pulled over and stopped the car. I wondered what was going on but soon found out that we had stopped to take a picture. Of me with a picture of me.

Mom and Dad bought me a collar last time they were here and the jeweler put a picture of me wearing my collar in the display case. We had been so busy doing this and that that we never even visited the store. Dad had visited with the jeweler on Wednesday as he walked around town but I wasn't with him. You may need to biggify the picture to get a look at it because it was really early in the morning, hence the darkness.

And then we finally left Santa Fe and headed for the land of cowboys - Texas! The Pugpants were anxiously awaiting our arrival and they had big plans for our visit.

That's Aunt Nancy and AnnieBelly greeting us at the door. Aunt Nancy made me my own name tag so that everyone on my road trip would know who I was. Isn't she the best?

The rest of the gang were behind the gate in the kitchen because they were so excited. From left to right, that's Howie, Tanner, and Java. Tanner is a foster that is living with the Pugpants until Aunt Nancy can find him a good home. He is learning the ropes of living with a family from Howie. Poor Tanner lived in a crate for the first seven years of his life and has a lot of catching up to do. Dad wanted to take him back home with us but there was no room in the car.

AnnieBelly was out and about the whole time we were there and don't think she didn't rub the other puggies face in it. She was so much fun to be around and she didn't even freak me out. Usually puppies act all crazy around me but Annie was a perfect little lady. I told Dad I would make room in the car for Annie but he said there was no way Aunt Nancy was parting with her princess.

Uncle Carlos brough Red Hot and Blue bbq home for dinner and not a moment too soon. There aren't any pictures of the food or of us eating because it was all gone in the blink of an eye. It was so delicious and I sure wish we had a Red Hot and Blue close to home.

After dinner Aunt Nancy took Mom and I to a DFW Pug Rescue fundraiser at a sno cone shop. Aunt Nancy does a lot of work for them by fostering pugs like Tanner and editing their newsletter. She is a true champion for pugs in need and I give her two paws up for all the great work she does.

I had to have a group picture of the people that were still at the fundraiser and even though we got there as it was winding down there were still some people left. The founder of the club is on the far left and it's his mission to find homes for all the pugs that don't have homes. He gives of himself tirelessly and I hate to think about what would happen to all the homeless pugs if it weren't for him.

Mom wouldn't let me have a sno cone because she said I had already had enough food for one day. These cute little second graders came over to say hi and pet me and I almost had them talked into getting me a sno cone when Mom busted me. The girls wanted to know if I was up for adoption because who wouldn't want a cute Stubby at home?

I slept so good at Aunt Nancy's house despite the 4 am wake up call. I didn't answer it but Mom and Dad did. Silly parents!

Soon it was time to hit the road yet again. Java and Annie didn't want me to leave and I didn't want to leave either. I could have stayed there forever because Aunt Nancy loves me so much but I had to go because I had more stops to make on my road trip.

Java thanked me for stopping by and for the bag of treats I brought. I sure hope Howie shares the treats with his siblings because I think he thinks they're all for him.

Howie pouted as I packed my bags and headed for the door. I really liked Howie and I think he gets a bad wrap on the bloggie. He did try to jump in our car as we were pulling away but I don't think it was because he was trying to get away from his peeps. I think he wanted to go road trip and was especially interested in our next destination. Poor Howie. Maybe you can get your maw to take you on a road trip.

I can't thank Aunt Nancy and Uncle Carlos enough for their hospitality. They gave us a whole boat load of gifts to take home and even gave us breakfast to go. They are so sweet!

I hated to leave Texas because it was so much fun but I knew that I had more places to go and people to meet. Everything really is bigger in Texas and it felt like home. I will go back someday with an empty belly and a loving heart.

Cruising Down Cali Highway 1

2010-08-25T22:38:00.002-05:00

I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved the bed at the Ritz Carlton. It reminded me of Salinger's big cloud bed. It was so comfy cozy that I didn't ever want to leave but Sunday morning rolled around and Mom told me we were hitting the road. So soon? We just got here!

Five more minutes, please? I told Mom I was still tired from all the food I ate on Saturday but it didn't work. We were checking out of Half Moon Bay and heading south to see the California coast.

The California coast is simply beautiful. California Highway 1 hugs the coast and as we headed south we drove through Santa Cruz and and Monterey. I have to admit that I slept through most of the pretty scenery, but once I woke up I was so excited to hear that we were going to Carmel. None of us had ever been there and we were meeting up with one of Mom's turtle peeps, Jim. Mom is always talking about Jim and I couldn't wait to meet him. He was taking us to the Forge Restaurant because it's dog friendly. I told Dad to step on it because I was starving!

OMD! A menu just for me. How cool is that? I couldn't believe my ears when Mom read me the menu. I told her I wanted one of everything but she told me that it wasn't a buffet and that I could only have one thing. Hmmm. What to choose? I finally decided on the "Good Dog" because that's what I am!

I had to get my picture taken with Jim and the restaurant menu because this was the first time I had ever eaten in a restaurant and I have Jim to thank for it. Jim was so cool and now I know why Mom likes turtling with him.

I was very impatient while I waited for my food. What was the cook doing? Didn't he hear me crying on the patio? Hurry up dude! Starving pug at table #1!

Finally my food arrived and not a moment too soon. I wish there were pictures of me eating but you know no one can snap pictures that fast. The "Good Dog" was delicious and I give it two paws up!

After lunch Jim took us to the beach. There were so many people and dogs everywhere! Dad carried me in the pooch carrier while he walked on the beach. Jim reminded me that this was the last beach I would see on my Cali trip. I loved the beach and can't wait to visit it again. Soon we were on the road again and where do you think we were headed? To the Smushie Ranch!

I was so excited when we pulled up to the Smushie Ranch and were greeted by Gunther and Betty. What an awesome welcoming committee! This was our final stop in Cali and I just knew we were going to have a great time hanging out with these guys.

Shannon showed us around the ranch while all the Smushies follow us. Here they are in Shannon's office doing what they do best. They have beds all over the place. What a life!

Shannon always has at least one Smushie on her lap at all times. Stella usually does her own thing but Shannon picked her up for this picture. How cute are they?

Newman is such a momma's boy. He's still a baby and needs lots of attention which is okay with everyone because he's such a lover. I know that some of your parents wanted me to put Newman in my suitcase and ship him to them but there way no way Shannon was going to part with him.

How many of you have ever seen Bruce, aka Smushie dad, before? He usually hangs out behind the scenes but Gunther was acting so silly on Bruce's lap that Mom couldn't help but take a picture. Silly Gunther!

Gunther and I had lots to talk about. I asked him if it was hard living with two sisters and Newman and he told me that he wouldn't have it any other way. That dude is so cool that I wanted to take him home. Dad loved Gunther and couldn't get enough of him.

I slept so good on the ranch. The bed in the guest room was so comfy that I didn't want to get up. It's so quiet there that you find you have no sense of time. All the Smushies get up early and Betty takes her medicine bright and early at 6 am. For all her toughness, Betty is really a softy at heart.

Shannon said that this was a typical morning on the ranch. Smushies on top, on the side, and all over her! Shannon is such a great mom and she welcomed me with open arms like I was one of her own.

I chilled out on the couch before we headed out on Monday morning. I wanted to stay because the alpacas were due to arrive by noon but the road was calling my name.

We left Smushie Ranch at 10:00 am and were sent off in style. Thanks again to Shannon, Bruce and the gang for opening up their ranch to us. We will definitely be back!

We spent 2,957 hours in the car after leaving the ranch of which I slept 2,956 of them. Our Monday night stop was Flagstaff, AZ and even though there weren't any pugs to welcome me to town, I had a good time just hanging out in the hotel with Mom and Dad.

Tuesday's destination was Santa Fe, NM which is where we still are. I love it here because I get to go everywhere even if I do have to ride in my buggy. This town is very dog friendly and the weather is very pug friendly. I really like it here but we are heading out early tomorrow morning as we continue to make our way back home. We left home 1 1/2 weeks ago but our trip is far from over. We still have so much to see and do. And to eat!

Thanks Again Puglet!

2010-08-24T22:50:00.003-05:00

I've been so busy on my road trip that I haven't even had time to do a blog post. Crazy, huh? We left Cali yesterday but I still have more to tell you about the time I spent there. I had such an awesome time and it still all seems like it was a dream. But it wasn't and neither was the Stubby World Tour Meetup that was held on Saturday. My best pal Puglet organized it and it was a great success!

Like I said before, I won't let the fog ruin my vacation and as we cruised to Crissy Field I just knew the fog was going to go away as soon as the sun woke up. Despite the fog and cold the beach was calling my name.

Puglet and Dutch pulled into the parking lot right behind us. Dutch loves the beach and brought Henrietta rubber chicken with him. I had never met Henrietta before so I was psyched to meet her.

Dad brought my buggy just in case I couldn't walk on the sand. I told him that I wasn't going to need it but Puglet sure was glad I had it. He thought it was the coolest thing and jumped right in ready to go for a ride.

Dad hates to be in pictures but I talked him into taking a picture with me. My reasoning? I told him that I needed to document my world tour/road trip. Duh!

Do you guys remember that Puglet did a blog post last week inviting everyone in the blogsphere to the meetup? I didn't know who was going to show up but I was ready to welcome everyone with open paws. One of the first guys to show up was Petey. He was a lot of fun to hang out with. And he loves food just as much as I do.

Petey brought his brother Brody with him and this guy was so cool. He loved playing in the water and fetched the ball his mom threw for nearly an hour. I give him a lot of credit because he didn't mind the cold water one bit. There was no way I was dipping my tootsies in that water. No way!

Don't Puglet and Petey look a lot alike? That's Puglet in the back and him and Petey had a great time playing. It seemed like they were old friends even though it was the first time they had met.

It was so cold that Dad got a blanket out of the car and wrapped it around himself. It was cold but it wasn't that cold. I don't know what got into him but he sure did look like a tourist!

I was playing on the beach when all of a sudden I turned around and saw these gals. It's Zoey and Phoebe and I'm so glad they came out to meet me. They were super cool and had a great time playing with Puglet's ladybug toy.

Every time I turned my back someone else showed up. This is Spencer with his pretty mommy. They came all the way from East Bay and I can't thank them enough for being part of my special day.

Spencer even brought Bellatrix with him. They are best friends and hardly go anywhere without each other. Bellatrix's mom had to work but Spencer's mom talked her into letting Bellatrix come with Spencer. I'm so glad everything worked out because Spencer without Bellatrix is like peanut butter without jelly!

I had such a great time at the meetup. I felt so honored to have my friends come out and be part of my world tour. Even Danielle, one of Puglet's friends, came out to meet me and she doesn't even have a pug.

As if having my friends at the beach wasn't enough, Puglet's mom Amanda brought Popeyes to the meetup. A whole bowl of Popeyes all for us. How cool is that? It was total chaos as Amanda doled out the delicious nuggets. Nom, nom, nom! I wish I could show you how all the action went down but I am having technical difficulties downloading the pics and video. Bummer!

Thank you again Puglet for being the perfect tour guide, host, and best friend. I sure hope you make it to Chicago one day so I can return the favor.

As we headed back to Half Moon Bay, I saw this place in the town of Pacifica and asked Dad to stop the car. This place looked so familiar to me and Dad reminded me that I had seen it on Triple D - Diners, Drive-ins & Dives. This is Gorilla BBQ and any place with BBQ in it's name has my name all over it. I could hardly contain myself as the aroma of the food wafted through the car and into my nostrils. I so wanted to eat my portion in the car but Mom told me that it would make a mess. A mess? Our car is already so messy that a little bbq sauce would just add to it's character.

I waited impatiently until we got back to the cottage and then feasted my eyes on my dinner. Ribs and brisket for me, please! Give Mom that nasty rice and beans because I don't want it taking up any room in my belly. Oh, and leave the mac and cheese for my midnight snack.

I guess the look on my face says it all. All that meat after all that playing made me so sleepy. The bbq was so delicious that I thought about getting some to take back home. I guess I'll just have to order it online and have it delivered.

While I slept, Mom and Dad went to see this guy. Every night at sunset, the hotel has a guy play the bagpipes. They have been so busy that they missed him the three previous nights so since this was our last night in Half Moon Bay, they strolled over to the hotel to see him. A wedding had just taken place and the flower girls were throwing flowers all over the place.

I was still asleep when Mom and Dad arrived back at the cottage but I told them I was wide awake. Of course they didn't believe me because they know me too well. I was tired but happy and didn't want the day to end. I will dream about this day for the rest of my days.

The Fog Won't Ruin My Vacation

2010-08-21T21:28:00.002-05:00

I was so exhausted after all the fun I had at the beach on Wednesday that I didn't want to get out of bed Thursday morning. Mom convinced me that I needed to go outside to do my business but as soon as I did, I climbed right back into bed. I even tried to get her to order me some room service because I had such a taste for a three egg omelet with ham and bacon. Despite my begging and pleading, all I got was my usual dry breakfast.

I knew Thursday was going to be a quiet day for me because Mom and Dad were going to the customer summit. I needed a day to catch up on my sleep so I welcomed the nice big bed and the quiet of the cottage. The fog was really heavy and cast a nice blanket over my sleepy day. Ahhhh.

This is the CEO of Spigit delivering the opening remarks of the summit. I'm so glad I couldn't attend because it surely would have put me asleep. I like this guy, don't get me wrong, but all that business talk goes right over my head.

Mom and Dad spent all day in the ballroom listening to this speaker and that speaker while I slept the day away. When they finally returned to the cottage to feed me I was still really sleepy but of course not too sleepy to eat. That would never happen!

The fog just wouldn't go away. And it was starting to get really cold. I heard Mom mention more than once that she usually doesn't vacation in a cold climate. Duh! She's a beach baby! As Mom and Dad dressed for the dinnner party I knew they were going to freeze their butts off because they weren't dressed for the weather.

This view of the ocean was taken from the top of the walkway at the back of the hotel. Pretty but gloomy, huh? I've never seen fog this heavy before but people tell me it's like this all the time. I bet the residents of Half Moon Bay sleep more than the residents of Mundelein because if it was foggy like this back home I would never get out of bed. It reminded me a lot of winter days where we snuggle on the sofa for days on end.

There are fire pits outside all the first floor rooms and huge firepits at the back of the hotel. They were roaring with warmth as the guests of the summit tried their best to stay warm. The nights festivities included a cocktail hour, a sit down dinner, and then dancing to a live band. I would have enjoyed the dinner but since I wasn't invited I enjoyed more sleep time instead.

The party looked like a wedding. All the lights, flower centerpieces, and white tablecloths. Lots of weddings take place at the Ritz but Mom is convinced that only brides without curly, kinky, fros can get married there. Her hair was a wreck when she got to the party and was a complete disaster when she got back to the cottage.

After freezing her butt off in the 50 degree temperatures, Mom headed back to the cottage to go to sleep. She was shivering when she walked in and immediately shut the windows. After I went out to pee, we climbed into bed and slept the night away until Dad got in at 2:30am. Sheesh!

It seemed like the we had just fallen asleep when the alarm went off Friday morning. Was it really time to get up and get going? Dad had to rush back to the 2nd day of the summit but Mom and I had other plans for the day. We were heading to San Francisco for a photo shoot with Puglet's human Amanda. How exciting!

Mom had a hard time parking in the Castro where Puglet lives. She's used to driving Cheeto or the Turtler, both of which are much smaller than Dad's car so when it came time to park she was freaking out. Thankfully, Amanda was very patient and soon we were knocking on the dog of the most famous pug in the Bay Area.

Puglet's house is very cool. There's lots of room for him and Dutch to run around and play which is what we did as Mom ate a sandwich she had brought with her. Or should I say begged for the sandwich in lieu of playing. Or both. Puglet thought Mom's sandwich was for him but he didn't know that Mom rarely shares. Today was a rare day because she gave all of us some melon that accompanied her sandwich.

Since it was so icky we didn't think we'd be able to do the photo shoot but as we ate the sun came out. Hooray! My photo shoot was really going to happen. We left Dutch behind and headed out to look for some cool locales where Amanda could bring out my good side.

Do these stairs look familiar? This is where the picture that Puglet submitted for the Hansen's soda contest was taken. He won that contest thanks to all of you who voted for him. Since the stairs were good luck for him, Amanda thought they would be a great spot to photograph me. I was a little scared of the steps and stayed close to Mom which is why I don't have any photos of the photo shoot. Amanda did take a few of me but I wasn't really cooperating. Sorry Amanda.

Since I was having a hard time standing and couldn't sit right, we headed back to Puglet's house for some more play time. Puglet admits to being a camera hog but he was cool with letting me in on the action.

Did I mention that Puglet loves Mom? It's true. At first he wasn't sure about her but when we were at his house he couldn't get enough of her. I knew he'd love her but I didn't know how much. It made Mom so happy to be loved by another pug.

Puglet always talk about how Dutch is afraid of the camera but just look at him. He's practically posing for the camera! He secretly loves the camera and just pretends to be afraid of it because he knows how much Puglet loves the spotlight. I encouraged Dutch to work it and he sure did!

Amanda was so sweet to get down on the floor and hang out with me. I love this girl! She is the coolest ever and she held me in her arms almost all day.

Puglet and Dutch got in on the floor action and soon it looked like an Amanda dog pile. She played along like a good sport. She's up for anything and that made me so happy.

It was hard to say goodbye for the day but I knew we were going to see each other again at my World Tour Meetup at Crissy Field on Saturday. Off we went, back to Half Moon Bay to rest up after our great day in the Castro. I fell asleep as soon as I walked in the cottage and didn't even hear Mom and Dad leave for dinner. I never even heard them when they arrived back at midnight because I was reliving my trip in my dreams. The trip seems like a dream, but I know it's just a dream come true.

A Long Boring Day and Then The Best Day!

2010-08-19T19:23:00.004-05:00

I fell asleep at the hotel as soon as I hit the bed. I was so pooped from hanging out with Emmitt that even though I slept all night, I didn't want to get up the next morning. I told Mom to hit the snooze button on the alarm but she told me that we had to haul you-know-what because today was going to be our long car day. Great. Carry me to the car please!

To quote my good pal Salinger, we left Colorado at the butt crack of dawn. Since it was so cloudy when we arrived the previous day, Mom decided to finally take some mountain pictures as we continued west.

We made good time and were soon into Wyoming. Of course, Mom had to pee so we stop at a rest area. Mom checked the temperature before she got out of the car and yelled "Yikes!" It was only 54 degrees in the middle of nowhere Wyoming!

Everybody climbed out of the car to pee and I even met another traveling dog at this stop. Things were going okay until I saw this sign. You might need to biggify the picture to read the words that say "Watch For Snakes & Scorpions" What? Why did we stop here to pee if there are dangerous animals lurking around every corner? I guess I don't need to tell you that this rest area was all Mom's idea.

Since we were scheduled to be in the car for 14,863 hours this day (Mom's note: 16 hours) I decided to settle in and get caught up on my sleep. Emmitt's sweet mom Melissa made me these cool donuts that I snuggled up next too. They are good to play with or use as pillows.

Somewhere in Nevada Mom stopped to refuel. It was dinnertime so she got food for her and Dad, jumped back into the car and off we went. Hello! What about me? We had driven for at least a half hour before Mom realized that she hadn't fed me. I was so mad until Dad decided that he would give me his french fries. French fries for dinner? Delicious!

Not much happened at the end-of-the-line Nevada motel other than a lot of sleeping. Mom was way exhausted and she passed out as soon as we checked in. I rolled out of bed early the next morning and was ready to roll. "Let's go people! We need to get to Cali. Chop, chop!"

Mom drove to Cali while Dad worked in the back with me. He's loving that mobile office and he may never want to work at home again.

It was slow going as we entered Cali due to road construction. The scenery was so beautiful, lush trees resting on sloping mountains. And then we got to San Francisco. It was just as beautiful as the mountains but in a different way. The bridges, the building, and the Pacific Ocean. Oh, and the traffic.

Soon we were on a crazy winding road. We took it to another road, then turned and there was the Ritz. Dad jumped out of the car to go golfing while Mom and I checked in.

The pet friendly rooms are guest cottages 200 yards from the main hotel. I didn't care that I couldn't stay in the actual hotel building because I knew it would be much quieter away from all the action. Quiet means good sleeping so I was excited to see our cottage.

As I walked in the room I noticed that it was a little warm. The ceiling fan was whirling away but the air conditioning seemed to be off. Hmmm. Mom checked all around the room and couldn't find the air conditioning controls despite finding an air conditioning-like knob. She picked up the phone and called the front desk. I knew it was bad news when I heard "Oh. Okay." What? They said what? There's no air in the cottages? Get us the haaiilllll out of here! I can't stay in a place that doesn't have air conditioning. How is that pet friendly? Mom opened the windows and as she was deciding how to keep me cool there was a knock at the door.

Puglet's human Amanda was here! She scooped me up and gave me all kinds of kisses. Puglet and Dutch were in the car and they came to the hotel to hang out at the beach. Hooray! I was finally going to meet my man Puglet. I really felt like I already knew him but I wanted to sniff him in pugson.

Mom carried me out to Amanda's car and Puglet and Dutch came bounding out. After doing the obligatory greeting and sniffing, we headed to the beach.

The only beach I had ever been to was at the lake by our house but this was different. This beach was connected to the Pacific Ocean! I could hardly contain my excitement as we played on the beach. Puglet goes to the beach almost every day so this was old news to him but as I delicately placed my paws in the sand, I knew it was going to be a great day.

Puglet and Dutch played fetch and ran around the beach while I hung out with Mom and Amanda. I was having a hard time walking in the sand but I was perfectly happy to just watch the action. Puglet's friends Boka and Miley soon showed up with their human Laurie and then it was a real party. Boka and Miley are dalmatians just like Dutch. As soon as Laurie showed up Puglet told me their human always carries lots of treats so we both gave her the stare. It totally worked and between their human and Puglet's our tummys were happy.

Mom took this picture to prove that I'm a beach baby just like her. She said we are going to move to the beach come hell or high water. I'm not sure what that means but I'm in!

Puglet had more energy than a pack of wolves. That dude didn't stop! Mom would throw the ball in the ocean and Puglet would retrieve it - like a million times. He almost got taken out to sea a couple times but he's really smart and knows when to go into the water and when to wait. I really wonder where he learned all these skills.

Mom still can't believe she got Dutch to look into the camera. Maybe he didn't realize that the phone had a camera in it. Whatever the case, I love this picture. These guys rock!

But no visit would be complete without a visit to my favorite restaurant, Popeyes. I even got to go inside. Can you believe it? Apparently, dogs go everywhere out here just like when Puglet goes to Planet Best Buy and Home Depot. They would never let me in a Popeyes back home. I must move out here!

We got a whole bunch of nuggets and headed to a park to have a picnic. There aren't any pictures of us eating the Popeyes because between the five of us all the nuggets were gone in minutes. We all shared and everyone got enough to eat - not! I mean we all shared but I could have eaten all the nuggets by myself. I'm not a hog so I just ate what was given to me. And then the playing started.

I stood on the sidelines while everyone got crazy. The almost all white dog is Boka and he's chasing Miley while Dutch kind of tried to get in on the action. Soon, Miley just started chasing Puglet and Puglet loved it. Watching him reminded me of how fast I used to run when I was his age. He zipped by me so fast my head was spinning. He even jumped over the ledge where I was sitting and a couple of times I thought he was going to slam right into the ledge. That guy sure can play hard.

I can't thank Puglet and his human enough for such a great day. It was all I dreamed it would be and more. It was great meeting them and Dutch, along with Boka, Miley, and their human. Puglet has organized a special Stubby World Tour Meetup for this Saturday morning so if you're in the Bay Area please stop by. We are going to rock Crissy Field like it's never been rocked before!

Rocky Mountain High

2010-08-16T22:22:00.001-05:00

I was ready to get the heck out of Nebraska as soon as I woke up this morning. Being very low maintenance I didn't have to take a shower, fix my hair, shave, blah, blah, blah. I just wanted to hit the road because I had a big day planned and I couldn't wait to get it started.

I was a little bored during the car ride so Mom took out the iPad and let me watch Howie Pee's video. That Howie sure is hilarious!

Before I knew it we were in Colorado. Cue the John Denver music please! I couldn't see the mountains because it was very cloudy, but that didn't dampen my mood because I was on my way to see one of my best buddies.

As we pulled up to Emmitt's house I looked around thinking he would be outside waiting for me. He wasn't out there so I waited but he didn't come out of the house. Finally, I got out of the car and called out "Emmitt, it's me Stubby. I'm here little dude, all the way from Chicago!" but nothing happened. Emmitt cannot hear anymore so his lovely mom Melissa came out, scooped me up and took me in the house where Emmitt greeted me with some butt sniffs.

Emmitt showed me around his house and let me tell you it is very cool. There's pug stuff everywhere! And lots of pictures and artwork of Emmitt. It's like being in the Emmitt Langer museum!

Soon Emmitt's dad Fred came home and he immediately started giving me scratches. He scratched me behind my ears, on my back and all over my butt. I was loving it! I decided that I need a Fred back home.

But then the doorbell rang and it was Ingrid, Emmitt's masseuse. She comes over every Monday to give him an hour long massage. How cool is that? I wanted to see what this massage stuff was all about so I left Fred to check out Emmitt.

Emmitt wasn't oohing and ahhing over his massage because he was too busy eating a lamb's ear. He's constantly on the move and giving him a treat is the only way to get him to sit (or lay in his case) still.

Emmitt loved his massage and he totally loves Ingrid. I sure hope Mom was watching Ingrid closely because I would like a weekly massage. Maybe I need an Ingrid back home.

Of course we had to get some pictures of Emmitt and I with our moms. Us old guys rule!

Soon it was time to leave Emmitt's house and not a moment too soon. I fell asleep almost as soon as I walked into our hotel room. I was really beat and needed 40 winks before heading back to Emmitt's house for dinner.

We picked up some pizza for the peeps to eat but of course I knew I would get some so I waited very patiently while everyone ate. Emmitt doesn't like pizza (maybe it's because he's not from Chicago) but there was no way I was letting the peeps eat pizza without giving me some. Dad ordered pizza from a place called Double D's Sourdough Pizza and the boys got a Molto Di Carne pizza. This pizza was loaded up with marinara sauce, whole milk Mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, Genoa salami, Canadian bacon, Andouille sausage, pork sausage, bacon, beef, and smoked Provolone cheese. Yikes! Talk about delicious. I think they should rename this pizza the Stubby Special. Maybe I need a Double D's back home.

Even though Emmitt doesn't like pizza doesn't mean he doesn't like dessert. He came over to me to tell me to ask for ice cream for dessert but I didn't want to look like a bad guest so I didn't do it.

We headed up to Emmitt's office to look at the pictures Fred took of us that afternoon. That Fred is so into photography. He has lots of cool programs that make even the bad pictures look good. I sure hope he can work his magic on the pictures of Mom because her hair was so frizzy. A bad fro on a good day is still a bad fro. Keep your paws crossed!

Soon it was time to leave because I was so tired. Emmitt could go all day and all night but I was dreaming about getting into bed. I had such a great time hanging out with Emmitt, Melissa and Fred today. Thank you guys for inviting us to your beautiful house and for spending the day with us. It was so awesome meeting you guys and I will never forget this day.

We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. We are going to be in the car all day as we head west toward our next destination. I will probably spend most of the day sleeping because it's going to take me a whole day to recover from today's activities. Maybe it's the altitude or maybe it's just me but now I know what John Denver was talking about.

Am I A Cornhusker?

2010-08-15T20:59:00.004-05:00

Do you know what a cornhusker is? Me neither but Mom says I'm one because I'm in Nebraska. After sitting in the car for for about 2,395 hours today we arrived at our first destination, North, Platte, Nebraska. If I'm a cornhusker then I demand some corn!

We left the house super early this morning. I was sound asleep, dreaming about food and friends when the alarm went off. I opened one eye and rolled over to go back to sleep. There was no way I was getting up before the sun so I hung out in bed while Mom and Dad ran around the house getting all my stuff ready for the road trip.

Mom had the bright idea to bring my bed (which I never sleep in) on the trip. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. Dad didn't think it was a good idea but he went along with it anyway. He put the 40 of the 60/40 backseat down and then put my bed on top of it. It really wasn't so bad because I was up high and could see out the window but I hate not touching Mom. She says I'm getting very clingy in my old age and that I have to be next to her all the time. Duh!

I had never been on Interstate 88 and thought it was really cool that there were wind turbines near the city of DeKalb, home of Northern Illinois University. Mom was too busy oohing and ahhing over them to take any pictures but as soon as we crossed the Mississippi River, out came the phone and snap, snap, snap. Whatever.

As we cruised into Iowa I decided that I was over the bed and needed to be on the seat touching Mom. I cried and cried until she took me out of the bed, put the bed on top of the snack bags, pushed up the seat, and spread my blanket out. Ahhh. Now I was comfy and could take a nap.

We had to stop for fuel around lunchtime so why not also get some lunch? I was starving but didn't get to pick the lunch place. Mom always gets to pick because she has issues. Her choice? Panera Bread. I'm okay with Panera because Dad always gets a sandwich and I get part of it. Since we were on a tight schedule, Mom and I hung out on the patio while Dad went inside to order our food to go. I love eating in the car so this was perfect for me.

Mom drove while Dad ate in the back with me but once I the food was gone I started crying again. I wanted to sit in front with Mom but the front seat was full of stuff. I just couldn't get comfy in the back with Dad so Mom's turn as driver only lasted a few hours. I took my afternoon nap once Mom was back where she belonged.

We arrived in North Platte a little ahead of schedule which was a good thing because it was past my dinnertime. I had to inspect our hotel, the LaQuinta, to make sure it was dog friendly as advertised on their website and thankfully it was. I wanted to change the sign to Pug Friendly but Mom told me that she saw other dogs at the hotel. Cool!

I'm only going to be a cornhusker until tomorrow because we have to keep moving west. We are supposedly sleeping in tomorrow morning but I'll believe it when it happens. I'm off to bed because I have a big day planned for tomorrow.

Stubby's 2010 Summer Adventure!

2010-08-14T22:29:00.002-05:00

Summer wouldn't be complete without a road trip and I'm leaving for mine bright and early tomorrow morning. While all you guys are sound asleep dreaming about breakfast, I'll be on the road enjoying the breaking dawn from the back seat of the car. I haven't gone on a road trip since I went to Barkwells last spring so I'm super excited.

This is the ultimate destination of the road trip, the Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay, California. Yep, we're going to California! Sing it Phantom Planet: California! California! Here we come!!!

We need to be in Half Moon Bay because Mom and Dad are attending a customer summit for Spigit. They are not customers but investors. Dad attended last year's summit while Mom and I stayed home, but this year Mom wanted to attend and the poodles didn't have any vacancy. So I talked Mom and Dad into driving to California so that I could go. I've never been to California but I've heard all about it from all my Cali friends.

I have to go to bed now because I need to get some sleep before the big trip. We will be driving west on I80 and you just never know who we might run into. Stayed tuned to read all about my travels!

Bark For Life

2010-08-13T18:28:00.003-05:00

Mom found out about this cool event a few months ago and then forgot about it just as quickly. If she would have told me about it I wouldn't have forgotten and we would be attending this Sunday. But as luck would have it, I already have plans for Sunday so another year will pass without me taking part in this cool event.

Bark for Life is a Relay for Life fundraising event that honors the care-giving qualities of canine companions. This is one of those "Why didn't I think of this?" events. Dogs are not allowed at most Relay for Life events so a Pennsylvania woman named JoAnn McKiernan along with her dog Sassy started Bark for Life as a fundraiser to support their local Relay For Life event.

So if Bark For Life is a fundraiser, what happens to the funds that are raised? Well they don't go directly to fund cancer research for dogs but they do go directly to the American Cancer Society (ACS) for grants that benefit human research. The AKC provides grants that go directly to canine research with both organization funding research through the National Cancer Institute. I think it's so cool that human and canine cancer research trials have been combined in the past couple of years so we are benefiting along with our peeps.

This Sunday's event at Old School Forest Preserve in Libertyville is the second annual and is one of several taking place throughout the suburbs. Participants are encouraged to raise $100 in pledges and if they do, their dogs will receive a Bark For Life bandana. The one mile walk will be capped off with activities, games, and contests. I'm hoping there will be treats because after walking a mile I would be starving, not to mention thirsty. It's suppose to be 88 on Sunday and that is not really pug weather.

To find a Bark For Life event in your area or to start one, please click here. There's tons of information on the website if you are interested in starting your own event, from fundraising ideas to fundraising letters from us, the stars of the event! I am going to have Mom put next year's event on the calendar right now so that I can participate even if I have to do so in my buggy. And if you live in my area and would like to join me, we can start our own team. I know we can raise lots of money to fight cancer and save lives.

Great News Thanks To You!

2010-08-12T22:06:00.002-05:00

Mom read me a Huffington Post article earlier this week about declining bottle water sales and hearing this news made me do my happy dance. I have all of you to thank for this shift towards a more sustainable future so please dance along with me, won't you?

Did you know that Americans drink nearly 30 gallons of bottled water per person every year? Yuk! That's an alarming figure considering it's an average. For every person that doesn't drink it, someone else is drinking their share thus consuming 60 gallons! This makes my head spin. I'm always curious to know why people drink it and Mom is always asking people who do. The worst answer you can give her? It's convenient. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The article Mom read me was "Popping The Bottled Water Bubble" by Peter Gleick. In the article, Mr. Gleick reveals that consumers are getting off the bottle and taking back the tap:

"Last week, new data released by the Beverage Marketing Council, which tracks bottled water statistics and sales, show that the unprecedented sales drop that started in 2008 continued - even accelerated - in 2009. According to the BMC, the volume of bottled water sold dropped by 2.5% in 2009 from 2008. Even more remarkable, revenues dropped faster, by over 5%, suggesting a growing price war among manufacturers for market share. Imports dropped even faster than domestic sales, which is a good thing given the vast energy costs of making and moving water. It is time for a "local water" movement."

YAY! All the campaigns against bottled water are working. People's perceptions about bottled water are changing and we are finally starting to see the results of all the hard work to change them.

Mr. Gleick has just released his latest book "Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water" and it's now on Mom's to-read list. As if she didn't have enough to read already! She is always reading books about the water crisis and this book is just going to add fuel to the fire.

I have to say that this news was the best I've had in a long time and I can't thank all of you enough. The word is getting out about bottled water and people are taking action. Together we are changing the world, one less bottle of water at a time.

Plastic Crap Wall of Shame

2010-08-08T21:38:00.004-05:00

You guys know this woman, right? If you don't, where have you been? This is Beth Terry whose blog Fake Plastic Fish is one of the best eco blogs in the blogsphere. Beth is on a mission to eliminate plastic from her life and to educate others on how to do the same. Mom and I follow Beth's blog and Mom has recently starting following Beth's other project on Facebook. The project? The Plastic Crap Wall of Shame, a collection of photos uploaded by fans on Facebook. All it takes is one trip to any store to find lots of plastic crap and you'll be hooked. Mom sure is.

You can't help but be inundated by plastic every day. Even the computer I'm typing on right now contains lots of plastic! It's all around us and it's indestrucible. Think about this: every single item you've ever throw away that contained plastic is still with us today. It hasn't broken down to anything in the landfill and still looks much the same as it did when you placed it in the trash. It doesn't matter if you're 8 or 80 the story is still the same. Pretty scary, huh?

When Mom was in Target last week she couldn't help but notice this. Seems innocent enough, right? Wrong! Aluminum bottles are good because they are reusable, but do they have to be wrapped in plastic? Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that they're selling a two-pack of bottles but there must be a better way to package them without plastic. Plastic on the top and on the bottom? That's just wrong! The only good thing about the bottles is that they are so affordable. If you biggify the picture you'll see they cost $2.50. There's really no excuse to not own these.

Mom uploaded the photo on the Plastic Crap Wall of Shame Facebook page and Beth herself commented on it. And then Mom was hooked. She has always avoided plastic and any type of unnecessary packaging but never thought about taking pictures of products that were overly plasticized. But now that she has, she's on a mission to document the crap that she sees wherever she goes. Case in point, a trip to Fresh Market, a somewhat foo-foo grocery store to buy Dad some chocolate.

Most produce departments drive Mom crazy but Fresh Market's pushed her over the edge. It reminded her a lot of Trader Joe's where every produce item is wrapped in plastic. Maybe that's what Fresh Market is modeling itself after. Let's hope not.

Peppers wrapped in plastic? Are you kidding me? There's no excuse for this. None. You can cut up your own peppers because it takes only a few minutes to do so. This plastic wrap and it's equally horrible foam tray will live on forever. And that's not a good thing.

Mom had a hard time with the peppers and then saw this corn, all de-husked and ready to go. But why? Because it takes too long to remove the husks? Lots of people grill their corn with the husks on. But never mind that. Why can't you remove the husks yourself? Even if you put them in the garbage instead of a composter, that's still better throwing away all that plastic and foam.

Dad told me that Mom was shaking when she saw these green beans. She actually yelled in the store but I cannot repeat what she said because I'm trying to keep this post G rated. Maybe the beans are in the plastic bags to make them more desireable. People might see them and say "Don't those beans look cute in their own little bag? Oh I must have them!" Give me a break! It's a marketer's dream, don't you think?

By the time Mom saw these peaches she was ready to run out the door. Again with the silly marketing. But really people. Peaches are so portable. You have two hands so put one in each hand and skip the bag. The bag that will not decompose but will eventually leach all its toxins into your groundwater. Yuk!

Mom was beside herself when she saw this as Dad paid for his chocolate. In all fairness to Fresh Market, this was the backside of the display. They are trying to get people to purchase reusable bags and they even deduct five cents from your bill when you bring your own. A small deduction in money but a large one for the environment.

There are many people who feel that plastic is the problem but Mom believes the problems lie in how it's is manufactured, used, and disposed of. Let's face it, plastic is here to stay but we can be smart in how we use it. And manufacturers can do a better job of designing items and packaging that uses less plastic. Remember that everything that's made has a waste component to it too, so the end product you see in the store is only half the story. What happens to the waste at the factory? Hopefully manufacturers are working to reduce this waste as they reduce their energy use.

You have lots of power when you purchase items. You decide what you will and will not purchase and you speak volumes with your purchasing power. Items unnecessarily wrapped in plastic should be passed by in favor of items containing less packaging. These items are not always easy to find and the above pics show the most extreme excess packaging. But think about the everyday items you purchase and how re-thinking these items could save packaging. Toilet paper is a good item to look at. Most is heavily wrapped in plastic (for what reason, I don't know) but some companies don't wrap each roll individually. Does this make a difference? Absolutely. Think about how many rolls you use each year and it all adds up.

And don't forget about the disposal component of plastic. Lots of plastic is recyclable yet most doesn't get recycled. Is it a convenience thing? Are people just too lazy? Or are they unaware of what can and cannot be recycled? I think it's all of the above. I know all of you are increasing the amount of waste you recycle each day but I'd like you to think about how you will dispose of an item before even purchasing it. Turn over that package, bottle, container, or box of whatever to see if it can be recycled. If it can't, what will you do with it? Think about it.

Mom hasn't uploaded the Fresh Market pictures to the Facebook page yet because she can't decide which one is worse. But she will pick one and show the world what Fresh Market is doing to the environment in the name of convenience. Convenience? Not at all!

Oh The Places I Don't Go

2010-08-04T17:08:00.002-05:00

Mom has been leaving me a lot this summer to visit this place. You read that right - leaving me. Can you believe that? Here I sit, with my angry disc and bad leg and Mom goes off traipsing through some crazy garden! What's a pug to do?

Mom once again left me on Monday to visit this garden place. It's really not one garden but many gardens. There are even some statues in the garden like this one of a very famous guy that I instantly recognized as Carl Linnaeous, the Father of Taxonomy. He developed a system for naming, ranking, and classifying organisms that is still used today, some 232 years after his death. This cool statue is located in the Heritage Garden section which showcases flowers from every continent.

Mom visits the Garden to commune with nature but also to get exercise. There are great walking paths throughout the garden that wind through pine forests, waterways, and even an apple orchard but Mom's favorite place to hang out is Dixon Prairie. She has a thing for prairies and after viewing her pictures I can see why she loves them.

This is not a very good picture of milkweed but you get the picture, right? There are milkweed plants all over Dixon Prairie because milkweed is essential to a healthy prairie ecosystem. If you biggify the picture you will see a Monarch butterfly on one of the plants. Monarchs couldn't survive without milkweed because they lay their eggs on them. Once the eggs hatch revealing the beautiful yellow, black, and white striped caterpillars, the caterpillars go to work feeding voraciously on the milkweed, growing to 2,700 times their original size in just two weeks. How cool is that? Mom always sees lots of Monarchs all over the Garden and I sometimes even see them in my backyard.

It was super hot and humid on Monday, even for Mom. She was drawn to this sign on the Prairie because it so clearly described how prairie plants survive the heat. There are several educational signs like this one scattered all over the Prairie so there's a lot to learn at every turn.

The Garden is not only a great place to learn about plants but to learn about science as well. Bags like this one were placed over several plants on the Prairie months ago in an effort to learn about seed production. The Garden has a brand new science center where research is conducted year round on various plants from all over the world. One of the mottos of the Garden is "Plant science will save the planet" and I couldn't agree more.

Just as we need plants and animals, we need to understand the relationships that exist between them. Neither exists by itself and it's the work of plant scientists all over the world to determine how best to save what can still be saved. This is big picture stuff people and it's not so easy for a pug to understand but Mom dumbs it down for me. Anyone walking through the Prairie who sees the plants with the bags on them can read exactly why the bags are there. This gets people thinking, asking questions of themselves and of others, questions like "Who are the pollinators of this plant? Why are we comparing seed production? What type of results are we looking for? They're growing plants on the roof?" Things that get people thinking often lead to people acting and that's when positive change occurs.

Ahhh, the pretty Prairie. Can't you just heard the wind whistling through the petals of the regal sunflowers? The Prairie is never crowded because there's no shade, but Mom loves all the native plants and animals that call it home. This picture is reminiscent of what the entire area used to look like a few hundred years ago. Groups around the area are working hard to restore the prairies that still remain to their natural habitats and places like the Garden encourage people to plant native species in their gardens.

At the end/beginning of the Prairie trail are the water gardens. A little bridge brings you to the perfect place to rest your feet, sip some delicious water, and admire the lotus floating in the ponds. It's all nice and peaceful until

this guy shows up! Mom was just sitting there enjoying the silence when this guy decided to get out of the water and walk right up to her. It's hard to see in the picture but this is a male mallard, otherwise known as a drake. He's very drab, having lost his beautiful teal head feathers with the rest of his breeding plumage. He's done breeding for the year and is looking for a new woman. Or maybe he's just hungry. Mom thinks it's the latter.

I secretly downloaded an app onto Mom's phone so I could listen to her conversations. The app lets me listen to everything she says whether she's talking on the phone or not. I wasn't really surprised to hear her talking to the drake, but I was a little surprise at what she said:

"Now listen Mr. Drake, it's very nice of you to come visit me here but I don't have anything for you. No treats, no nothing. All my treats are for Stubby because he's getting very skinny. I think he may be starving and if I give you his treats he will surely perish. Please run along and find your own food just like your friends are doing." I love my mom!

Just on the other side of the water gardens is Evening Island. It's full of beautiful flowers like this hibiscus. The blossoms are as big as plates and so very colorful. They look very cheery, don't they? You can't be in a bad mood when you visit the Garden because it brings out the best in everyone.

Evening Island is also home to the Carillon. You can hear it's bells ring on the hour no matter where you are in the Garden. The sound is loud and powerful but soothing.

The Carillon is only open for tours on Monday evenings and Mom had to get home to me so no tour for her. She swears she's going to get a tour this summer or else!

The rose garden is pretty but not Mom's favorite because she just doesn't like roses that much. She loves the fountain in the garden and likes to walk through but that's it. There's also an english walled garden and a couple of weeks ago someone had their wedding reception in it.

But this is one of the biggest reasons Mom loves the Garden. You don't need to biggify the picture to get the message - they don't sell bottled water! Yahoo! Yippee! They stopped selling it a few years ago and Mom wishes more places would take the same stand against it.

There are water fountains throughout the Garden where you can fill up your reusable bottle and Mom knows where all of them are because she fills up quite frequently. Isn't it hard to believe that it takes 3 liters of fresh water to produce 1 liter of bottled water? What a waste of water and energy. What a waste of money, too! Save your money, save our precious resources and choose tap water. It does a body good!

I think I would love visiting the Garden but if I want to visit I have to wait until October 30 because that's the date of the Spooky Pooch Parade. Yes, for 2 hours once a year, dogs wearing Halloween costumes are allowed in the Garden. There's even a costume contest with awards. If I go I will be entered in the "Best Senior in Costume" which is for dogs over 10 years of age. I'm betting I could win this contest if I wear my Frankenpug costume!

Silent Stubby's Silly Saturday

2010-07-31T20:19:00.002-05:00

Tasty Tuesday!

2010-07-27T22:08:00.003-05:00

Mom hasn't been eating very good lately and has been having issues so she decided to make this today. She hasn't made it in a long time but she loves it. I told her to that I needed to have an in-season vegetable dish to share with everyone today but she says she's in need of protein. She always wins.

You may remember that I did a Tasty Tuesday post back in April that featured lentils so I'm not going to reiterate the wonders of them here. That post also included an ingredient featured in today's recipe, onion, so please click here to read that post.

This is the easiest recipe ever that I bet I could even make it! Even though it was hot out today, we had the air conditioning on so having the oven on was not a big deal.

Oven-Baked Lentils and Rice with Herbs

366 Low-Fat Brand Name Recipes

Serves 8 as a side dish

3 cups vegetable broth

3/4 cup lentils, uncooked

3/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup brown rice, uncooked

1/4 cup white wine

1 teaspoon basil

1/4 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon thyme

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 2 1/2-quart casserole, combine all ingredients. Cover and bake for 1 1/2 hours or until lentils are tender. Add more liquid if mixture becomes dry.

This little lady is THE casserole option in our house. Dad loves Le Creuset and bought this for himself but Mom always uses it for this recipe. This is not technically a casserole dish but a French Oven (Dutch Oven).

Like I said Mom used to make this recipe all the time so when she felt the need to make it today she had all the ingredients on hand. The only problem was that some of the ingredients were a little old like the lentils.

What's a few months, right? Mom hates throwing good food away and figures there must be some wiggle room in the shelf life. Hmmmm. I'm sure glad I'm not having any of this stuff. Let Mom be the "expired food" guinea pig.

The lentils barely fill the bottom but don't worry because this baby will be full by the time Mom puts everything in it.

Mom struggles with rice purchases. I know, how silly but she does. I did a post last year about her trip to Green Fest and how she bought some special rice which she liked but this isn't that rice. This is some other rice she had in the pantry that she needed to use up. There are a million choices when it comes to rice but organic is what we are using today.

Oh no! This stuff's expired too! What the heck is wrong with this woman? She either needs to do more cooking or more eating. Scratch that. She needs to use what she buys in a timely manner.

Rice on top of lentils. Easy peasy, don't you agree?

Can you read what this says on the back of the rice package? This innovative package saves 35,000 pounds of plastic from landfills. How cool is that? Just by changing the packaging, less waste is being created. This is just one of many things Lundberg Family Farms does right. They have been in business since 1937 and are dedicated to caring for the land responsibly as well as sustainably. They grow organic and eco-farmed rice in addition to participating in the Non-GMO Project which is a non-profit collaboration of manufacturers, retailers, processors, distributors, farmers,seed companies and consumers. Mom's rice is non-GMO as are most of their rices.

Ahhh, the onions. Mom put a few more onions in than the recipe called for. This dish is really starting to look yummy.

I told you Mom was using up ingredients for this recipe hence this funky wine. I'm sure there are better wines to use in this recipe and Mom is going to have to buy some. Mom and Dad drink wine occasionally but is drinking wine okay to cook with? I think so but the problem is that if you only need a little wine like in this recipe, what do you do with the rest? Duh! You drink it!

This is what it looks like when the broth and wine are added. It doesn't look very appetizing yet.

All the spices just get thrown on top. Pretty, huh?

And then mixed together. Much better. Put the lid and off to the oven it goes. Phew! Just in time too because I was getting very sleepy. I took a nap while this baked and Mom did laundry. Dad came home while it was baking and could smell it even before he opened the door. He doesn't eat this stuff mostly because Mom inhales it.

After 1 1/2 hours (which is a very short nap), Mom pulled the casserole dish out of the oven, lifted the top and took the picture that is at the top of this post. She usually eats this dish as a meal or with baked tofu so it doesn't last 8 meals in our house. It didn't get eaten tonight because Mom went out to dinner with friends so it will be her lunch tomorrow.

3/4 of a cup is only 135 calories but contains a whopping 8 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein. And with only 2 grams of fat, this dish is great to eat at any time of the day. That is if you can get it away from Mom. Good luck with that.

I threw this picture in because this is how I spent yesterday evening - riding around the neighborhood in my buggy. I can walk a lot better than I could earlier this month but there's no way I could walk more then half a block so in the buggy I went so Mom could get some exercise after dinner. I still don't like my buggy but it beats walking.

Mom's Favorite Place To Eat Just Got Better!

2010-07-22T18:13:00.001-05:00

Have you guys ever been to this place? Mom loves it so much that she could eat there every day, but of course she doesn't. I've never been there because Mom tells me it's not dog friendly. I'm not sure what that means but maybe it means they serve food that I don't like. Right! There's nothing I don't like so I think maybe Mom is lying to me. Maybe she just doesn't want to share her food with me!

For those of you that are familiar with Chipotle, you know that even though it's fast food, it's fast food with a conscience. But what exactly does that mean? Great question! Chipotle just launched a new marketing campaign Food With Integrity to educate consumers about where the food they eat at Chipotle comes from. And let me tell you, this new campaign is very cool. But first things first.

This is one of our local Chipotle restaurants and yes that's a wind turbine you see behind it. This restaurant in Gurnee, right outside of the Gurnee Mills shopping mall, is one of only two LEED certified Chipotle restaurants. But what does that mean? So many things! The wind turbine provides 5% of the store's electricity and while this might not sound like much, every little bit helps. 5% from wind power is 5% that doesn't come from fossil fuels. It all adds up!

There are high-efficiency air conditioning units and that's good news because it's sooooo hot here. Rain water is collected from the roof and used to irrigate the native landscape, just like Mom does with her rain barrel. The debris from the construction of the building was sorting and recycled so that it didn't end up in a landfill.

And the greening continues on the inside of the restaurant. High-efficiency plumbing fixtures save water while green housekeeping reduces the toxic chemicals used. High-efficiency appliances save energy and an energy management system monitors ventilation and turns off lights when it's sunny outside. How cool is that? From using recycled drywall and barn metal, to LED lighting, this restaurant shows just how committed Chipotle is to sustainability.

Mom always gets a vegetarian burrito when she goes to Chipotle and most of the time it looks just like this. Sometimes she'll add a little cheese and some hot sauce if she's feeling really crazy. And did I mention how much she loves this burrito? She loves it not only because it tastes good but also because of the Food With Integrity campaign. Mom was aware of Chipotle's commitment to sustainability but this new campaign put aside any doubts she had about eating there compared to eating at their competitor Qdoba. And this commitment is what separates them from all their competitors. So go "under the foil" to find out where their food grows and where their meats come from.

They source most of their food from right here in the good old U.S.A. Some of their food occasionally comes from Mexico, Peru, and Chile but they definitely have a leg up on most fast food chains. Does Burger King talk about where their food comes from? And don't get me started about McDonalds faux locally sourced campaign. Talk about greenwashing!

Their interactive site is so cool. You can see, by region and season, where all their food comes from. Here in the midwest, everything from corn to tomatoes to bell peppers to lettuce and more are grown locally in the summer which not only cuts down on energy resources but also supports local economies. They prefer purchasing from family farms and from farmers who farm responsibly and sustainably, but aren't certified organic. But what about Mom's favorite, the black bean? 40% of Chipotle's beans are certified organic.

Most of the meat they serve is from the U.S., too. They started purchasing naturally raised beef in 1999 and 60% of their meat is from naturally raised farms. Can any other fast food chain make this claim? 100% of the chicken they serve are raised naturally, without the use of antibiotics. And if you haven't see the movie Food, Inc. yet, please put it on your must see list. Chipotle and one of their pork farmers, Joel Salatin, are featured in the movie. They have been serving 100% naturally raised pork since 2001. Oh, and don't forget to watch the cute video at the bottom of the website. It's short, sweet, and to the point.

So head on over to the Chipotle website and go "under the foil" by pulling on the cord at the bottom of the page. And while you're there, click on the investor tab to learn how you can help provide nutritious cafeteria meals to school children simply by sending Chipotle your junk mail.

Good News!

2010-07-19T11:22:00.007-05:00

I was super excited this morning because I had an appointment to see Dr. Barcus at Canine Sports Medicine. She wanted to do a follow-up visit with me because I complete my final laser therapy session last Tuesday. I've been feeling pretty good so I was confident that she would give me two paws up!

But first things first - the scale! I hate the scale almost as much as Mom does. She hasn't been on the home scale in years and only ever gets weighed at the doctor. I don't know why I had to get on the scale. What does that have to do with my angry disc? You can see that I was very reluctant to get weighed and I even fought it a little. The scale is not my friend.

Dad and the nice vet tech Michelle coaxed me up there and then - drum roll please! 16.4 pounds! I haven't lost (or gained) any weight. I'm perfect! And I'm outta there. No more scale for me!

I was even feeling good enough to walk to the examining room. I usually get carried but I told Dad that I could walk. I wanted everyone to see that I'm on the mend and that my legs are working.

My first stop in the examining room was the treat drawer. I felt like I deserved a treat for being a good boy on the scale and for walking to the room. "Um, down here people! I need a treat. It's been almost two hours since breakfast. I feel faint!" I didn't get a treat but I told the doctor that she better give me one after my examination or else. Nobody messes with Stubby!

The best thing about this facility is that there aren't any examination tables in the rooms. There's simply a padded mat on the floor and some chairs for the parents to sit on. Dr. Barcus and Mom sat on the mat and then I walked over to them to get examined. It's very comforting and I don't freak out because I hate those cold, metal tables at the other vet.

That contraption in the background is the laser therapy machine. Pretty cool looking, huh? Dr. Barcus put her hands on my hips and her thumbs on my angry disc. It didn't hurt even when she pressed down on my disc.

Dr. Barcus is very smart and she could tell lots about my hips and disc just by feeling them. I was a little squirmy but that's just because I was so excited. I've been cooped up in the house for so long, leaving only to come here. I wanted to walk around, check things out and smell everything but I had to stand still so the doctor could check out everything on me.

It may look painful but Dr. Barcus is very gentle. She knows that I'm old and very fragile so she only puts pressure on the spots that she needs to. I trust her and know that she has my best interest at heart.

Dr. Barcus also checked my elbows but Mom was too busy talking to take pictures while that was happening. Next time I'm going to hire a proper photographer to document my visit. Maybe Puglet's human could fly to Chicago.

When the doctor was finally down examining me I hit the road. I can only take so much and then I run (okay, walk) and hide. Under a chair is the perfect spot for me because no one can catch me. This is also my signal to Mom that I'm ready to go - like right now!

So what did the doctor say? Well, she said my angry disc is still angry but it's less angry than it was. The swelling has gone done around it but it's still angry and it will always be angry unless I have surgery. The Prednisone took care of the swelling and while I'm still on it until Sunday, she said that she's not going to refill my prescription because it's not good to be on it for a long time.

She also said that my hips and elbow were better. But of course there's a little bad news. My right elbow, which was my good elbow, is now worse than my left elbow. I guess all that laser therapy whipped my left elbow into such good shape that my right elbow got jealous. Go figure. She recommended continuing my treatments on my left elbow and adding my treatments to my right elbow. Dad bought me 6 more sessions and my first one is next Tuesday.

I didn't get the treat I wanted at the doctor's office so I walked over to the pantry as soon as I got home. I stood there and stood there and waited. And waited. HELLO! Hungry Stubby in the house! Mom told me that Dad would soon be making my eggs so I decided to catch up on my sleep while I waited.

Mom took me up to the beach house for my nap. She finally turned on the 'puter because I told her I had to update my bloggie. Every pug wants to know how I'm feeling, right? I really thought I would be able to do a post before my nap but that was not to be.

Like my good friend Tweedles always says, nitey nite my friends. Zzzzzzzz!

Salinger Was In Da House!

2010-07-15T19:09:00.005-05:00

When Mom told me my good pal Salinger was coming to see me on Tuesday I couldn't believe my ears. My Salinger? Salinger from Indy? Get out of town! But sure enough, Tuesday rolled around and first Karen and then Salinger and his beautiful mom Laura rolled up to our house. Yippee!

As soon as Laura saw me she scooped me up. She just loves her some Stubby! Salinger was checking out my front yard with Mom as she took this picture. I was so excited, smiling from ear to ear. I had big things planned for Salinger's visit and I couldn't wait to take him inside and show him around my house.

I told you Laura couldn't get enough of me. She knew that I had to be carried around but she took it upon herself to rock me like a baby. I loved every minute of it!

Salinger couldn't get enough of Karen. She gave him full body massages and he loved it. I thought he was going to ask to go home with her but I knew he wouldn't be able to live without his big cloud bed. Silly Salinger!

Karen wanted to hear all about my angry disc. Even though she's not a doctor she totally understood what I'm going through. She gave me a very gentle massage on my back and even talked to my right leg. She told it exactly what I've been telling it but maybe it will listen to her, you just never know.

We played in my backyard and Salinger ran around the house but soon it was time to get down to business. Lunch business. What's a Stubby to do but serve Popeyes for lunch? YUMMY!

Dad so graciously offered to get the Popeyes while we anxiously waited for his return. I couldn't stop pacing because I just knew how good it was going to be. Can you believe that Salinger had never had Popeyes? That guy just didn't know what he was missing!

I'm here to tell you that Salinger loved Popeyes. He's totally hooked and will never be the same again. He couldn't get enough of it and stood paws up on Laura to get all he could get.

Salinger even hit up Karen for some Popeyes! What you don't see in the photo is me sitting on Karen's left. Okay, I'm not sitting but laying on the floor. I can't really sit and there's absolutely no way I could stand, paws on someone's lap, like Salinger does. I so wish I could because I would probably get more food. Karen fed Salinger with her right hand and me with her left. She's the best!

We even had some watermelon because Dad made a fruit salad. Salinger ate just as much watermelon as he did Popeyes. He told me that he likes to have a balanced diet. I get it Sal!

You guys know what happens after you eat a lot - food coma! Salinger decided to just plop right down on the kitchen floor and chill out. Mom wants you to know that the nasty looking runner thingy that Salinger is laying on isn't normally on the floor. It's just there because I can't get my footing on the tile floor because of my leg and disc. I mostly walk on the runner but unfortunately it doesn't cover the entire house so I'm primarily confined to the kitchen from my bowls to the table. Not the most ideal places to be but sometimes I get brave and tip toe over to the stove where there's always something good cooking.

Salinger and I had such a great time! I didn't want him to leave but I knew he couldn't stay all day/night. I'm so glad Mom took a picture of me, Dad, Salinger, and Laura because it shows just what a great time we had. In case you're wondering, this is how I spent most of my days - in someone's arms, being carried to and fro. Ahhh, the life of Stubby!

Would you look at this silly group shot? I can hardly keep my eyes open because the Popeyes made me so sleepy, Salinger is looking for more Popeyes, and Laura is holding my brother buddy Dog! Three hot babes and 2 1/2 tired pugs!

I can't thank Salinger, Laura, and Karen enough for visiting me. I kind of overdid it when they were here which is why I'm just blogging about it now. I've been recovering from their visit since they walked out the door. Mom was so afraid that I took a couple steps back in my treatment because I could hardly walk when they left. I told her not to worry, that I just needed time to recover and that's exactly what I've been doing. I'm back to where I was Tuesday morning and am still eating leftover Popeyes!

Thank you to everyone for checking on me, both here and on FB. I had my last laser therapy treatment Tuesday morning before my guests arrived and I have to go back to the vet on Monday for a follow-up visit. The doctor will evaluate my progress then and let me know if I need additonal treatments. I'm still taking my Prednisone and everyone thinks it's a combination of that and the laser therapy that is making me better. I'm still on restricted exercise, which is okay with me, but some days I just want to go for a walk. Hopefully soon I can walk to the park and even visit my girl Josie.

Sweet Sunflower Sisters!

2010-07-12T10:00:00.002-05:00

Wilma asked all of us to pay tribute to two of our favorite Sunflower sisters, Sequoia & Tuni. I planned on doing my tribute last week like every other pug but I got kind of busy. So forgive me, Sequoia & Tuni but know that I love you guys!

I'm not really sure how I met these sisters or how long I've known them. This is what happens when you get old - you forget everything! Suffice it to say, it doesn't matter how long we've known each other or how we met, the important thing is that I consider these gals my sisters.

This is Seqouia. She is such a girlie girl and I just love her in her pearls. Even though she's younger than Tuni she's the big sister. She loves Tuni to death and would do anything for her. Her heart belongs to Anakin and I couldn't be happier for them.

This is Tuni Woons. Isn't she the cutest thing ever? I love this picture of her in her pj's. What is it with pugs and jammies? No pug wears them like Tuni!

Tuni is a senior pug (like me) and she is constantly providing me with encouragement as I work out my walking issues. She tells me that it's okay to be carried out to pee and that it doesn't matter if I wobble when I walk. This gal has made me see that being gimpy is okay and I love her for it.

Even though I'm not part of the Sunflower Club, I feel like all the girls (including Sal) are my sisters. I love you guys!

Look Who's Walking!

2010-07-09T08:13:00.003-05:00

A big THANK YOU to everyone for continuing to send positive healing vibes. I'm getting all of them and the power of the paw is working its magic on me. I'm feeling better every day and am continuing my laser therapy. In fact, I'm going to an appointment this morning.

I asked Mom to take some pictures and videos of me when she took me out yesterday evening. I still have to be carried to my "business" destination but when I get there I can walk! We went to see if the poodles were home last night because for some reason I like to poopie on their lawn. I know - TMI - but what can I say? Inquiring minds want to know!

Look at me go! I'm cruising all over the lawn! This is me on our lawn after we got back from the poodles' house. They weren't home so Mom took me back to our house where I refused to go potty. You can see that my right leg and foot don't work that great but they are starting to cooperate. I had a long talk with them yesterday while Mom was out and explained to them that I need them to do what I want them to do.

Even though I'm still on restricted exercise I can walk a little. A little today, a little more tomorrow and before you know it I'll be able to walk to the poodles' house! Yipee!

I'm so happy and I can't stop smiling. I wouldn't be where I am today without all your thoughts and prayers. I'm forever grateful for all the wonderful bloggy friends I have. You guys are the best!

Happy Birthday America!

2010-07-04T08:48:00.000-05:00

Even though I'm still not 100%, I'm going to celebrate Mom's second favorite holiday. We don't have anything big planned since I'm still on restricted exercise plus it's going to be hot and humid today. I'll probably spend most of the day in the house loving the air conditioning but I'll make a special appearance in the car later to go here:

That's just how I roll. Every holiday is a Popeyes holiday! I hope you guys all have a fun and safe 4th!

I Scream, You Scream

2010-07-01T21:22:00.003-05:00

We all scream for sunscreen! The EWG released it's 2010 Sunscreen Guide last month and not a moment too soon. Lest you think that sunscreen is only a summertime product, think again. It should be worn year round because let's face it, you go outside every day, don't you? Did you know that the majority of sun exposure your face receives is from driving? It's true. Mom learned this the hard way when she went for a skincare consultation with a dermatologist. The technician took a 3-d picture of the left side of Mom's face and when Mom asked why the left side and not the entire face the technician explained that the left is exposed to the sun more than the right side because of driving. Who knew?

You guys already know the EWG from the post Mom did last month on beauty products. The EWG Sunscreen Guide is the most comprehensive guide you'll find anywhere. It not only provides you with ratings on sunscreens but also exposes 9 surprising truths about them. I want you to read the truths because the information is really important and will surprise most of you. You can also read the full sunscreen report which includes a letter to the FDA. And don't forget to check out the hall of shame where the EWG exposes products and players that are just wrong for the sunscreen business.

The guide has a list of the best sunscreens or you can search for your sunscreen. Each sunscreen has an overall score in addition to ratings from excellent to low on the following components:

UVB PROTECTION (SPF)
UVA PROTECTION
UVA/UVB BALANCE
SUNSCREEN STABILITY
HEALTH CONCERN
OTHER CONCERNS

The sunscreen ingredients are listed along with a sunscreen UV absorbance chart. All the other ingredients in the sunscreen are also listed with scores. I think it's great that there's a link to buy each sunscreen right under its picture. You can even tweet a sunscreen or share it on Facebook. How cool is that?

These are the sunscreens that Mom currently has. I say has and not uses because some are not so desirable, like the Burt's Bees. I know, I know, everypug thinks Burt's Bees products are the bomb but apparently this sunscreen doesn't really live up to it's name. It contains, hold onto yourself - fragrance! Yikes! What the heck is Mom doing with this stuff? I can tell you what she's not doing with it and that's using it. The EWG gave this stuff a score of 4 and that's enough to permanently scare her away from it. Sorry Burt's Bees.

But what about the other sunscreens? Mom uses the Kiss My Face stuff religiously, especially the Face Factor. She hadn't always been so religious about using sunscreen on her face until after her accident. The plastic surgeon told her that her incision would definitely scar if it got sunburned so on went the sunscreen and a hat on top of her fro. She's never looked back. The EWG gave Face Factor a rating of 3 which is not great but is okay for now. Unfortunately she just bought 2 containers (before the guide came out) because she remembers it scoring much better last year. She will use it up and then move on to something better. The Kiss My Face Oat Protein sunscreen fared a little worse than its facial counterpart with a score of 4. Bye bye Kiss My Face!

The best news came from Badger. If you aren't familiar with this company you have to check them out. They make a whole host of products for your well-being and they are committed to a safe and healthy environment. Check out their mission statement:

To create fabulously pure and effective products of the highest natural quality, based on simplicity and thoughtful preparation, with the intention to soothe and heal.

To run a business that is fun, fair and profitable; where money is fuel, not a goal; and where our vision for a healthier world finds expression through the way we work and through the way we treat each other and the people we serve.

I love it! The proof of their mission is in their sunscreen which received a score of 1. YAY! And it's for the body and face so it's what I call one-stop-shopping. The worst ingredient in it is zinc oxide and while this isn't ideal, it receives a score of 4 which isn't that bad.

So often people think that for something to work it has to cost a lot of money. Nothing could be further from the truth with sunscreens. While the Badger sunscreen costs more than the brands you'll find at your local drugstore, it's far less expensive than the brands you'll find at department stores. You may have to go out of your way to find good products but it will be time well spent. Your body will love you for choosing products that won't harm it.

Summer is here and the holiday weekend is almost upon us. Check out the EWG Sunscreen Guide before you hit the stores so that you know what to buy. Educate yourself before you spend your hard earned money on sunscreen. The good stuff is out there once you know what to look for.

Personal note: I am doing much better today. I have been walking pretty good and my laser therapy went very well. The vet even said I'm walking better but stressed that I'm still on "restricted exercise". That means I still get carried around a lot which isn't such a bad thing. Thanks to everyone for sending all those healing vibes. The power of the paw is totally working!

Wordless Wednesday (not really)

2010-06-30T15:25:00.002-05:00

Can you believe I've never done a Wordless Wednesday post? Like my friend Puglet, I always have so much to say so to be wordless for just one day is hard. And impossible. So there - I guess I can't do it.

I had a summertime post scheduled for today but I wanted to give everyone an update on my disc issues. I am doing better today than yesterday and even better than I was on Monday afternoon. I walked the entire length of the house this morning on the sidewalk because I was starving and wanted to get inside to eat. Unfortunately, I fell just as I got to the house but Dad was there to pick me up and take me inside.

I continue to try to walk around the house but most of the time I just take a few steps, stop, and then lay down - it's just too much for me. My right leg and foot just don't know what to do and it pains Mom to see me walk on my knuckles like my friend Walter use to do and like my friend Tuni still does. It doesn't really hurt me but Mom says it looks painful.

I am doing okay with my medicine and haven't had any tummy problems. I don't really like the pink liquid stuff but Mom says I have to take it to coat my tummy. I get all my other medicine wrapped in cheese so it's not that bad.

I'm going to have another laser therapy session tomorrow afternoon. The vet is adjusting my therapy so I'll find out tomorrow if I'm going to continue to receive it on my hips and back or just on my elbow, which feels better by the way.

I slept soundly last night and am back to taking naps throughout the day. Our July 4th party has officially been canceled and I'm super bummed about not seeing everyone. I plan on spending the weekend chilling in the house, eating Popeyes, and ignoring the fireworks.

A big thank you to everyone for sending healing vibes. I feel all the love from all over the continent. My friend Tweedles even sent her magic bubbles and they floated around the house, wrapping it in love. Between the healing vibes and magic bubbles I'm sure to be good as new in no time.

Tsk-Tsk - It Might Be A Disc

2010-06-28T17:29:00.004-05:00

Mom has been home for an entire week but for whatever reason, she doesn't want to turn the 'puter on. No 'puter means no blog posts so forgive me for being so absent, but know that it's not my fault.

Even though I haven't been on the 'puter, I've been super busy but not in a good way. I can't really tell you what happened while Mom was gone but suffice it to say I just haven't been myself since she returned. You guys know that I'm getting old and that I don't really get around really good but last week I could hardly walk. I mean I could walk but really slow, like a turtle. Mom knew that she had to do something so she called a vet that does laser therapy (a recommendation from a friend) and I went to see her for a consultation last Friday.

I really liked this vet despite the fact that she was bending and twisting me every which way during the consultation. The results? I have a bad elbow, not a bad shoulder. Mom and Dad have been told for years that my shoulder was bad but I knew all along that it was my elbow. I sure wish I could have told them because I could have been receiving treatment on it all along. The other news? The vet thinks I have a bulging disc - yuk! I covered my ears when she described the disc so I really don't know all the details.

After the consultation, the vet tech did the first session of laser therapy on me. I am scheduled to have 6 sessions to start and then be re-evaluated to determine if/when I need more. Each session consists of 3 points on my bad elbow, shown in the picture above, 2 points on each side of my hip, and 1 point on my back. I felt a lot better after the first session and was even walking better.

My second session was this morning and everything was fine. I got a nice treat after the session, enjoyed the car ride home, and took a nap while Mom went shopping. Then the trouble started. Mom took me outside to enjoy the nice afternoon sunshine and I couldn't walk. I would take a few steps and wipe out - boom! I would pick myself up and then fall again. I was walking sideways, or should I say trying to walk and would fall over on one side, staring up at Mom who would rescue me from the fall. Mom was hysterical, crying and crying. She picked me up and I wiped away her tears, telling her that I would be okay but that I needed to go back to the vet.

Mom calmed down long enought to call the vet who told her to bring me back to the office at 3:45. Mom then called Dad to tell him what was going on. He was on his way home from an appointment and said that he would drive us to the vet.

The vet was super nice to me again as I tried to walk around for her. She reiterated some of what she mentioned last Friday about my disc and how it's gotten worse. She told Mom and Dad that she thinks we need to be aggressive with my treatment so I just had my first dose of Prednisone. I just started taking Deramaxx last week and even had one this morning but the vet said I need to take the Prednisone asap so that my disc will calm down (usually you would wait 2 days after taking Deramaxx to begin Prednisone). She also gave me some Carafale to protect my GI. I don't know what a GI is but the medicine is suppose to coat my tummy so that the Prednisone doesn't upset it. Mom also needs to go to Walgreens to get me some Pepcid AC. Phew! Lots of medicines for me. I should be a patient at Smush Face General Hospital!

In addition to all the medicine I have to take, my exercise is restricted. I don't really exercise all that much anyway but the vet says I can only go out to do my business and that I must be carried out to do it. I'm totally okay with that since I want my disc to get better so that I can move around again. I need to be able to play in my yard and visit my friends, especially my Josie.

I also want to get better so that Mom stops crying. She, of course, blames herself for all my problems. If only she had done this or taken me to see that vet, etc. I don't blame her at all because she takes great care of me but you know moms. They accept full responsibility for the whole kit-and-kaboodle everytime something goes awry, even when it's not their fault.

Please keep your paws crossed that the Prednisone works. The vet told Mom and Dad that if it doesn't then I might need surgery. Surgery that may or may not help. I know I'll be okay, but I need all of you to convince Mom. And please convince her that I need to update my bloggie more often and not about myself. I have so many cool things to post about that you need to know about that I want to tell you about.

I'm Back!

2010-06-23T23:05:00.003-05:00

It's been two weeks since my last post because Mom left me to go hang out with the sea turtles and pug people. She even met some pugs and despite the fact that I wasn't with her, they welcomed her with open paws. Awwww!

Mom is not much of a photographer but the one night she did have her camera with her on the beach, this mama showed up. How cool is that? I sure wish I could hang out with the turtles because I'm sure they'd love me. Who doesn't love pugs?

This mama had just finished nesting and was heading back to the ocean. You can tell she's heading back because she is covered in sand. After laying her eggs, she covered her nest so no predators would find them. What a good mama she is! Mom had a great time on the island and told me that she did lots of dancing. I'm not sure if that's code for something but she sure looked happy when she got home.

Before Mom got to the turtles she made a couple of stops. When she told me she was going to visit Salinger I begged to go with. I told her that I would stay at Salinger's house and that she could pick me up on her way home. It sounded like a great plan to me but Mom wasn't buying it. So she went to Sal's house without me to party with the Indy bloggers.

Sal's mom Laura is the ultimate party planner. When she heard Mom was coming, she emailed all the Indy bloggers and invited them over for cake. All the pugs were invited too so Laura made little pupcakes for them. I don't need to tell you that Molly O'Mally had a few too many pupcakes. She told Mom "To haaaail with my waistline. I'm hungry!" What O'Mally wants, O'Mally gets!

Mom couldn't keep her hands off the puggies. Her she is with Lilo. How pretty does Lilo look in her Punchy dress? Mom said Lilo was an absolute angel but I heard she was hitting the bottle with you-know-who. I'm just saying.

Here's Lilo with her pretty mom Jess. Mom loved meeting Jess and can't wait to go back to Indy to hang out with her again. Of course I'm going with next time or else!

Lilo loved the camera and would twirl round and round showing off her dress. I bet Lilo has a closet full of dresses.

I bet you don't even recognize this guy without his drink of choice, do you? This is Hank and even though Mom took some pretty interrogating video of him trying to sing like Emmitt, she felt sorry for him because she's been around enough silly drunks. Hank dude, you need to lay off the PBR before your videos end up on YouTube!

Mom told me that Lola the low rider was even cuter in person. I totally believe that because pictures don't lie. Lola and Reggie Wayne were the only black pugs at the party. Mom didn't take any pictures of Reggie because he got sick and had to leave the party early. He's okay now and Mom promises that I'm going to visit him soon.

Apollo's mom Jami was also at the party along with Brutus and Miley's mom Stacy. Jami and Stacy left their pugs at home but promised to bring them next time. Mom had a great time with all the pugs and their peeps and can't wait to go back to Indy.

Sal was very sad to see Mom leave, but leave she had to because her next stop was Atlanta. I wish I had pictures to show you of Atlanta but Mom didn't really take any. Something about Bonnaroo and traffic. I have no idea what all that means but Mom said that everything worked out in the end and that she had a great time visiting with her friend Kerri Anne who is now somewhere in Africa.

After Mom left the island she had a great dinner with her BFF Carole, got some sleep, and took a hot shower. She then hit the road with one destination left on her trip - Birmingham! She visited the 'ham to visit with the ham and Lulu. So jealous! Heather and Mom took Harry and Lulu to Rojo for dinner and Harry couldn't help but clean crumbs off the ground. That Harry. He's such a helper!

Lulu wasn't interested in crumbs but she was interested in staying close to her mom. She's definitely a momma's girl and Mom could see why. Heather was just as sweet in person as Mom thought she would be. She's so glad she stopped in the 'ham.

Harry may seem like a tough guy who could care less about his sister but this picture proves how much he loves her. Mom couldn't get enough of them and hated to leave the 'ham. Mom invited Heather, Harry, and Lulu to Chicago to visit me and all the Chicago bloggers (you know who you are).

I bet you're wondering what I did while Mom was gone. I can't tell you everything I did because even Mom doesn't know. Let's just say I ate really well, got out a lot, and was a very good boy. Dad even took me in Mom's car to pick up dinner with the top down. I told Dad I could drive but he told me that he would be my chauffeur. Isn't he the best?

Dad was super busy while Mom was gone so I had to spend some time with the poodles. What was Dad busy doing you ask? He spent one day at the Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory parade and another day at the Cubs-White Sox game. Sheesh. You'd think these events would be pug friendly!

The handle and wheel for my buggy arrived while Mom was gone so Dad hooked them up and took me for a ride. I really don't like my buggy whether it's hooked up to Mom's bike or whether I'm being pushed around in it like a baby. I may be smiling in this picture but that's just to appease Dad.

I'm so glad Mom is home and life is back to normal. I missed her so much and don't ever want her to go away without me again. She brought me gifts from my friends but I didn't get to take any pictures of them because I've been so busy snuggling with her. All of you have an open invitation to visit with us any time you are in or near Chicago. Our door is always open and we'll leave the light on for you!

Happy World Oceans Day!

2010-06-08T21:50:00.002-05:00

Today is the day we celebrate the oceans and despite the recent oil spill in the Gulf Coast, there's still so much to celebrate. They give life to us land animals and even if you've only seen the oceans in pictures or on tv you still have so much to celebrate. The world is blue and we couldn't exist without the oceans.

I love the ocean so much and so does Mom. She loves it so much that she's leaving tomorrow for the Atlantic ocean. Yep. It's that time of year again - turtle time!

Mom is heading back to Wassaw Island to assist the Caretta Research Project with loggerhead nesting. You can read about my post from last year here for details on Wassaw Island. Mom said it's the most magical place on Earth and since I've never been there I'll have to take her word for it.

Mom will be spending the week with this gorgeous lady, the original turtlebabe, Kris. She's the director of the project and Mom loves her like a sister. Mom once told her that she wanted to be just like her when she grew up. This is funny because Kris is just a little younger than Mom!

This picture is from Mom's first year turtling. She was on Wassaw in August helping with hatchling season. She helped so many little babies to the ocean that year and was instantly hooked.

Mom will also be with these lovely ladies. Okay, so Carole will definitely be there but Trixie the loggerhead turtle might be too. She nested a couple of weeks ago and should be ready to nest again next week. Keep your paws crossed that she makes an appearance because she's Carole turtle.

This picture is from Carole's first year on Wassaw. Mom was an old pro by this time and was showing Carole the ropes with this beautiful momma. In case you're wondering, they are checking the turtle for tags. If a turtle isn't tagged then they tag her, one tag on each of her front flippers. They lovingly refer to the tags as jewelry and imagine all the mommas returning to the ocean to show off their jewelry to all the other turtles.

Mom and Carole hit it off right away and this will be their fifth year together on the island. Mom can't even imagine Wassaw without her and Kris. This is them last year in the main cabin getting ready to head out to the beach.

This picture of Mom and her crew is from 2005. This momma decided she wanted to nest at sunrise and everyone couldn't have been happier. Called a dawn turtle, this is the best time to take pictures of turtles. The guy standing behind Mom is Jason and he will be the assistant on Mom's week.

Mom says one of the reasons Wassaw is so magical is because of its natural beauty. This is one of the roads on the island and you can see that it looks like a movie set. It's organized chaos with all the moss hanging from the live oaks. Mom claims that Wassaw also smells like no other place she's ever been. As soon as she steps off the boat and onto the dock she smells the island and knows that she's arrived - in utopia.

Mom's hoping to see lots of these guys this year too. There are lots of them on the island but some years she sees them and some she doesn't. This picture is from a few years ago and was taken as they were heading to the beach. Joe is holding the alligator after finding it in the dark.

So this is what Mom is going to be doing next week. Patrolling the beach every night looking for mommas just like this one. This momma had just nested and was heading back into the ocean. Notice all the sand on her back. This is from her covering her nest so that nothing will disturb it. Don't worry momma, Mom won't let anything happen to your babies.

Mom said that even after all these years, it never gets old seeing sea turtles nest. It almost always brings a tear to her eyes because these gracious creatures face so many perils in the ocean. It saddens me so much to think of them swimming through all the oil that's spilling into the Gulf Coast. I've asked Mom to tell all the mommas to swim around the oil and to tell all their friends to do the same.

But what about me? I want to thank all of you for the sweet comments you left on yesterday's post. Mom was a little freaked out last night waiting for the doctor to call. The doctor called this morning while Mom was out getting prettied up so Dad talked to the doctor and guess what? My blood work came back totally normal. I'm okay! It's true. Dr. Chung told Dad that not only am I okay but that he should feed me a little bit more because she doesn't want me to lose more weight. Feed me more? YAY!

Since Mom is going to be gone for twelve days you know what that means. I asked her to leave the 'puter on for me but she reminded me that that would be a waste of energy. So no computer means no blogging. In lieu of blogging I will be eating. Eating Popeyes, french fries, hamburgers, watermelon, hot dogs, etc. Dad said I can have whatever I want. We are going to party like rockstars while Mom is gone!

I'm Too Skinny!

2010-06-07T20:32:00.001-05:00

I usually don't do two blogs in a row about myself but everypug has been asking how my vet visit went. To borrow a phrase from my good friend Tweedles, what's a Stubby to do but tell everypug what the vet said?

First I have to tell you that Dr. Chung tried to convince me that Dasuquin was a new treat that I would love, but I wasn't buying it. I know what treats smell like and this thing was mediciney. Pooey! One lick and I turned my cute pug nose up in the air and asked where the Popeyes was. I know that eating these mediciney things will help me walk better but why can't they make them Popeyes flavored?

Okay, so back to my visit. The first thing the vet tech did when I arrived was weigh me - on a cat scale. Why I wasn't weighed on a normal dog scale I have no idea. Mom thinks the scale was a little off because it said I weigh 16.3 lbs. OMD! The last time I was on the scale it read 19.1 lbs. That was back in December so I've lost almost 3 lbs. without even trying. That's not good.

Dr. Chung was so excited about my weight loss saying over and over again how great I looked. She was also concerned that I haven't been dieting to lose weight. She asked Mom if she could take my blood just to make sure that I'm okay. Mom said yes of course before I could say no.

Mom also asked about my cooties. The only one that Dr. Chung was a little worried about was my arm cootie. She took a real good look at it, scratched it and then remarked that it was raised. She mentioned something about melanoma and said that dogs get it just like people do. I immediately thought of my good pal Salinger when she mentioned melanoma because that guy is constantly tanning. His belly is as black as tar and I don't think he wears sunscreen. Dr. Chung's advice was to watch the cootie and call if it changes.

I couldn't wait to get home because Mom said she'd give me a real treat. I was very tired after my treat but I had to help Mom with some planting. She is trying to get everything in the ground before she leaves for her trip.

When Dr. Chung asked about the Tramadol Mom told her that I refuse to take it. Dr. Chung said to put it in butter. What? Butter? Are you kidding me? Mom just shook her head and asked if there was something else she could prescribe so now I have a sample of little Tramadols that are supposedly beef flavored. We'll see if I take one tomorrow morning but I wouldn't bet the house on it. Beef flavored or not, it's still medicine and I hate it.

Dad does not want me to mention that I may or may not have poopied in the house when I got back home. Mom asked me ever so nicely to poopy outside but for some reason I decided to go inside - in the living room. I know that Pearl is super proud of me but Mom is concerned. I never poopy in the house - never. Okay maybe I have a few times in my entire 13 years on this planet but never after having been outside all day. Dad found my poopy and told Mom that it was really hard. Hmmmm. I just thought the living room was looking a little empty and that it needed some shartwork. Sheesh people!

I'm so sorry Mom. I didn't mean to maybe leave you some shartwork in the living room. I'm also sorry you got teary eyed after the vet tech weighed me. I know that you take the best care of me and that you do everything in your power to keep me healthy and safe but I'm too skinny. You need to feed me more and more often. We can start right now with a quick trip to the Popeyes drive-thru. I promise not to tell Dr. Chung when she calls tomorrow with the results of my bloodwork. It will be our little secret, okay?

Thank you to all my friends who have left comments about my cooties. I will let you guys know if my bloodwork shows anything strange and if my arm cootie gets any bigger. I asked Dad to take a picture of me and Mom because we don't have a lot of pictures of the two of us. Please excuse Mom's hair, face, and body because she had just come in from gardening.

Please excuse Dad's awful iphone photography skills. I put this picture in here because I look, in the words of my good buddy Puglet, extrasupercute.

Cooties!

2010-06-04T19:00:00.000-05:00

I received this disturbing notice in the mail a couple of weeks ago. I have told the mailman a million times that Stubby Block doesn't live here unless he's delivering a card/package/gift from my friends. A notice from the vet is definitely not welcome and will not be accepted! Unfortunately, Mom is the one who accepted the notice from the mailman and upon receiving it rushed in the house to show me. Ugh!

Mom has decided to take me for my exam/semi-annual consultation (read: $$$) on Monday because she is leaving for her turtle trip on Wednesday. Huh? Monday is June 7th and I'm not scheduled until June 16th. What gives? Well, she thinks I have cooties. Do I look like I have cooties? It may look like I have some cooties on my chin but that's just scrambly eggs. I always save a little breakfast eggs for a mid morning snack.

Mom thinks I have cooties on my ears because my hair is falling out right on the edge of them. This has happened in the past and magically stopped happening, thus no ear cooties.

This cootie on my head has been there for about a year. I don't think it's a cootie but simply a kissing spot. Mom always kisses me on my head and - hey wait! Maybe she gave me this cootie! Ewwww!

This arm cootie is new. Mom noticed it earlier this year but thinks it has gotten bigger. Again, I don't think this is a cootie but another turkey-popper-thingy like the one I have on my thigh. My Aunt Laura (Salinger's mom) came up with the turkey-popper-thingy and it just stuck (no pun intended). She said it looks like the thingy that pops out of the turkey when it's done cooking. I love turkey and maybe I got this cootie from eating too much of it.

So while I was trying to take my mid morning nap, Mom called the vet and got me an appointment for Monday afternoon. Great. Right after lunch is when I take my first afternoon nap. Now my whole day is going to be thrown off by a visit with Dr. Chung. Nice. I sure hope she's happy with me when I get on the scale because I'm skinny. Maybe too skinny? Not for Dr. Chung!

Wednesday Wag Out! - Beauty Edition

2010-06-02T23:12:00.007-05:00

My good friends Sequoia & Tuni left a comment on my bloggie during Earth Week asking me to post some of my favorite eco friendly products. I hope they don't think I forgot about it but never in a million years did I think it would take this long to put this post together. I blame Mom because she's in charge of the 'puter. I would have had this post done weeks ago but like Puglet always says I have no thumbs.

I totally understand the confusion regarding which products to buy. Not only is there so much greenwashing in the marketplace but the labels on the products are so confusing. Here's just a sampling of concerns you may see labels for when shopping for products:

Fair trade

Natural ingredients

100% natural

Recycled packaging

Certified organic

Not tested on animals

Vegan

Nut-free

The cosmetics industry is not as regulated as you might think. Most products are proprietary so manufacturers' claim that listing the ingredients is giving away the secret. Um, okay, but how are you suppose to know what's in something if it's not labeled? You won't. In fact the industry is so unregulated that all of a product's ingredients don't have to be listed. This is troublesome so I suggest not buying any product that doesn't list its ingredients.

I have a question for you - what's natural? Companies can label anything natural because that term is not regulated. Natural what you ask? Good question. And what about 100% natural? If something is not 100% natural then what is it? 1% natural?

It's important to purchase products that use fair trade ingredients because peoples' livelihoods are attached to the products. And certified organic ingredients means no pesticides reside in your product. This is probably not even something you think about but many ingredients in health & beauty products are plant based. These plants, like food plants, get sprayed with pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides. Those 'cides are passed onto you via the products you use.

If garbage is a big concern for you, looking for packaging that contains recycled materials or that can be recycled is important. Please remember that most health & beauty items though seemingly safe, should always be disposed of properly. Nail polish is a good example of an item that should never be tossed in the garbage because of the toxic ingredients it contains.

No one wants to use products that have been tested on animals, do they? Most products are tested on animals and the labelling for not tested on animals is a bunny. This label is highly regulated but that doesn't mean that other products that aren't tested on animals are labeled.

If you are vegan then you won't use any animal based products. You'd be surprised just how many ingredients are animal based and I'm not just talking about honey. They don't say cow this and sheep that because if they did then no one would buy their products. Most perfumes are made with oil from whale blubber but I bet many consumers aren't even aware of this.

Since I don't use beauty items because I don't need them, I'm turning the post over to Mom. She uses this stuff so she can best speak to them.

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I decided to focus this post on beauty products because they are products I use every day. I don't want to offend any males readers Stubby may have, but truthfully I know that most of you are women. Some of these products are unisex but most are not.

Whenever I'm at the store or shopping online, I consult at least two sources before making any purchases: the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep cosmetic safety database and the Good Guide. I also have the Good Guide app on my phone, but I've gotten some conflicting data between their online guide and their app. I also check online reviews of products, read blogs, and get recommendations from friends. Basically I do my homework. I also try lots of products because let's face it many eco-friendly products don't work as well as traditional products. This is largely because of their ingredients and our definition of what works and what doesn't. We have gotten so use to products working a certain way that when something works a little different we think it doesn't work. All this requires a lot of time but when your health is at stake, the least you can do is devote some time and energy to product selection.

These are the products I use on a daily basis. After taking this picture and putting everything away I realized that shaving cream and sunscreen were missing so I will blog about them another time. Insect repellant is also not shown but during the summer I do use it every day. Stubby did a post on insect repellants a couple of years ago and I've asked him to do one on sunscreens next month.

At first glance it may look like I use a lot of products. I don't consider myself a heavy product user because I feel that I use the bare minimum. I wear minimal makeup and hardly ever use hair spray, but I know that some of you are not like me. Everyone is different, we all use this and not that, but I cannot stress how important it is to pick your products wisely. I've organized the products by use to make it easier to follow along and where available, products will have a color coded score from the Skin Deep database. 0 is the best score with 10 being the worst.

I have truly struggled with shower soap and I've tried so many different brands. No sooner do I find one that I like and all of a sudden my husband won't use it. Or I'll try one and hate it for various reasons. Many soaps are wrapped in plastic and I try to avoid plastic and packaging like the plague. You could spend all day researching soaps because there are so many out there but this soap seems to be the right one for me right now.

The first thing you'll notice about this soap is its packaging. It's recyclable and that's a good thing. Kiss My Face makes so many great products and this is one of their best. It has a score of 0 because of its ingredients and it suds up just fine for me. Some soaps do not make suds because they don't contain SLS (sodium laurel sulfate). Everything comes with a price, right? SLS is found in most health & beauty products but I avoid it at all cost because it has been linked to a host of health problems including cancer. The SLS found in soaps and shampoos is the same as is found in car washes and garages. It cuts through grease on car engines and on you.

I have struggled to find a shampoo at an affordable price that's not harmful to me for many years. Many eco friendly products cost more than traditional products because of their ingredients. That's not to say that your health isn't worth spending extra money on but in this economy it's harder than ever to spend money on personal care items.

I can't tell you that these products aren 't cheap but what I will tell you is that you don't have to use much. I have unruly, curly, shoulder length hair and these products last me a couple of months. One reason is because a little goes a long way and I only wash my hair every other day. Both of these products score have a score of 1 and while there is only one brick-and-mortar store I know of that sells them, they are available online.

This is the one product I knowingly use that is bad for me. Those of you that know me know living with my hair is the bane of my existence. It has a mind of its own and it never wants to cooperate. I had most of my hair cut off a couple of years ago and my short 'do required a new styling product. I HAVE to use something on my hair or it will be completely frizzy. I used TreSemme mousse for many years and when I wasn't using it I was using various gels. I have tried everything and when I found this Bumble & Bumble Styling Creme it worked really good but I knew it was bad for me.

Here I am two years later still using it or should I say using it up. I'm through with it once this bottle is empty. I hate to even admit it but this scored a 7 and it even contains parabens. Parabens, like SLS are another ingredient that I completely swear off but loe and behold they're in here. YUK! There's even fragrance in here but the worst part about about this product is where it's used - on my head. No more my friends. I've started my search for a truly green product so please leave me a comment if you have any suggestions.

I've been using Tom's of Maine toothpaste for quite some time and I love it. You may have noticed that I'm not brand loyal across a line but I am brand loyal when it comes to specific products. This particular toothpaste was not on the Skin Deep database when I checked today but I swear I've seen it on there before. I believe it may have scored a 3 or 4 but this is the end of the road for this toothpaste for me. The Whole Care line has been upstaged by the Natural Care line which, unlike the toothpaste shown above, does not contain SLS. Yep. SLS is found in most toothpastes and unless you use good old baking soda (or you're Jessica Simpson) you're probably brushing your teeth with it. It did have a Good Guide rating of 8.1 (10 being the best) which makes me feel a little better but I can't wait to use the tube of Natural Care that I bought a couple of months ago.

Not only is the box the toothpaste comes in made from 40-65% post consumer recycled paperboard (which is recyclable) but the tube is made from recyclable aluminum. You have to remove the plastic threading (#4 LDPE) before recycling it, but kudos to Tom's of Maine for making a recyclable tube. The cap is #5 so don't forget that Aveda will recycle that for you.

I recently switched from Glide floss which I used for years, even before it became Crest Glide. I loved the minimal feel of the floss as it glided (pun intended) between my teeth but then I started to investigate Glide and decided to switch. Glide does not list the ingredients on their website but they do say it's made from natural waxes and contains a natural mint flavor. They say that a minimal amount of wax is used thus it's primarily made from polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), which is a slippery material. PTFE? WTF?

The Tom's of Maine floss is naturally waxed. There's that word again - natural - but in this case Tom's of Maine tells you exactly what natural means. There's beeswax, carnauba wax, jojoba wax, and propolis which is a tree resin gathered by bees. Obviously this is not a vegan product but it's a good product. It's not listed on the Skin Deep database but it received an 8.8 on the Good Guide. And the plastic container is recyclable which makes me sleep better at night.

Another Kiss My Face product that I love. Kiss My Face was founded on an organic farm in upstate New York back in the 80s. It's still privately owned and operated by the original founders which is amazing in this day and age. Tom's of Maine is an independently run division of Colgate and has been since 2006. Many eco brands have sold out to large conglomerates but that doesn't necessarily mean the products have sold out too. I understand that it's hard to back a brand made by a unfriendly-to-the-planet company, but many brands have retained their strict ingredients while increasing their exposure to the masses.

This scored a 2 which is really good for a deodorant. There have been so many studies published about how heavy metals in deodorants cause breast cancer so you can never be too safe when it comes to what you put under your arms. Last summer I tried using baking soda for deodorant and it was awesome! I never smelled, even after a long workout. Why aren't I using it now? I got a yeast infection and even after medications, switching baking soda boxes and applicators, I still cannot use it. It makes me very upset that I didn't take the right precautions (like drying off properly) because baking soda is the least harmful and least expensive deodorant you could ever use.

I'm sure I'm no different then most of you when it comes to lip balm. We all use it and try them all we do. I apply some after flossing and this is the most recent brand to grace my medicine cabinet. I came across Dr. Hauschka a few years ago but this is the only product I've ever used from them. While I'd love to tell you that this lip balm is good for you, I'm afraid I can't. The Skin Deep database doesn't have it listed but none of the Dr. Hauschka products scored very good. All were at least 3 with some scoring as high as 8.

So let me back up a bit. I buy lip balms on a regular basis. Way back when, when I wasn't green or even semi-green, I bought this lip balm. For whatever reason, I stopped using it and it left the medicine cabinet only to be brought back when I ran out of whatever it was I was using. Surprisingly enough, this lip balm received a rating of 8.5 despite a list of ingredients that's almost as long as this description. I guess I don't need to tell you that when it's gone, which it almost is, it's gone for good.

With a name like Eco Lips it has to be eco friendly, right? Yes and no. The Skin Deep database doesn't list this particular flavor of Pure & Simple lip balm but the flavor they do list, coconut, received a score of 0. That's not to say that this kiwi-strawberry would receive the same but my fingers are crossed that it's okay. One of their products, a SPF15 mint lip balm came received a 5 . The Good Guide doesn't list Eco Lips (surprise, surprise) but all the ingredients in this lip balm are certified organic: organic sunflower oil, organic beeswax, organic kiwi flavor, organic strawberry flavor, vitamin E. And it is sold as is meaning it doesn't come in a box.

I found this product last year and I'm in love with it. It is a multi use product meaning you can use it on so many parts of your body. The package says it can be used on nails, knees, neck, lips, cuticles and anywhere else in urgent need of attention. I've only used it on my lips but it's great to know that if I have any areas that need attention, this olive butter is ready to serve. Almost half the ingredients are organic including the top three and this is a good thing since ingredients are listed in order of concentration. Packaged in a recyclable paper box, this product received a score of 1 and is priced under $10. This is one of the best kept secrets on the market and I recommend it to everyone I meet.

This is a recent find. I can't remember how I found about it but I wish I'd found it years ago. I have to confess that I haven't tried that many eye serums but I recently discovered that I really needed something because my eyes were looking tired. So wherever I found it I'm glad I did because it's a miracle worker. The fact that it has 80% certified organic content and is vegan friendly makes me so happy.

The serum claims you will feel renewed and that it will nourish and protect while helping to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Works for me! It does all this with essential fatty acids, botanicals and hibiscus peptide to target expression lines and help firm and tighten. I swear my eyes look much better than they did before using this serum and that's saying a lot.

Stem Organics is an Australian skincare company and like Keys, was inspired by its founders personal experiences with skin issues. The serum is not rated on the Skin Deep database but none of their products are. This isn't necessarily a bad thing and could just mean that they haven't joined the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics yet. Again, the database is not the end-all-be-all and shouldn't be used as such. You must still do your own research when deciding what to use on your skin.

For those of you who have never heard of Keys, please check them out asap! It was started by a husband and wife team after the wife developed skin cancer. Together they developed a soap for ultra sensitive skin and an entire line of skincare products shortly followed.

Eye Butter is an anti-aging eye cream that I apply after the eye serum. It tightens and and tones eye tissue but how? Keys claims that the secret is distilled organic cucumbers. We all remember putting cucumbers on our eyes. They relieved the puffiness, didn't they? Well the same principle is at work here. In addition to the cucumbers, there's avocado oil, shea butter, carrot seed oil, black cumin oil, aloe vera, purified water, vegetable glycerin, vegetable wax, and rosemary extract. The ingredients are 87% organic and 100% vegan. The EWG score of 1 is even listed on the ingredient list. This stuff is the bomb!

I can't even tell you how many face lotions I've tried because I lost count years ago. I use to think they made my face breakout but then realized it was the various cleansers I used that were the culprits. They would strip my face of essential oils and cause it to produce more oil, thus leaving me with an oily mess of pimples.

I found this moisturizer, or should I say it found me, at a store in Racine, WI called Upurea last year. Upurea is a natural and organic skin care & beauty retailer carrying thousands of organic skin care, natural beauty & organic cosmetics, mineral makeup, natural baby and home products. I stopped in there on my way home from Milwaukee, after reading about it in many magazines. After talking with one of the skincare consultants, she recommend Trilogy. I had never heard of this brand but was willing to try it. And I'm so glad I did.

This moisturizer is so light but so effective. Packed with phyto-lipids, amino acids and proteins from pure plant ingredients this super-lightweight lotion actively energizes and revitalizes skin and helps fight the aging effects of environmental aggressions with its antioxidant-rich formula. It firms skin and boosts skins moisture levels by simultaneously replenishing both oil and water requirements. I totally love this stuff!

Even though this product is not listed on the Skin Deep database, I feel it's okay to use it. Founded by two sisters who grew up on an avocado orchard in Australia, this New Zealand company is committed to being green. They began sourcing Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, the key ingredient in their products, in partnership with a fair trade cooperative in Lesotho in 2002 and now purchase Certified Organic Rosehip Oil from a Certified Organic source in the mountainous regions of Chile. They use non-GMO ingredients, never test anything on animals, and use recyclable containers. Did I mention they're a carbon neutral company? The list of great things they do just goes on and on. I look forward to trying many more products by Trilogy in the future.

In addition to eye serum and eye butter, all eyes need concealer, right? This is never more true as you age and I think I've found the perfect concealer, at least for me. I'm not sure where I found this but it's a keeper.

It's Un Cover Up by rms beauty but cover up it does. You can use it as a concealer anywhere on your face, but I use it under my eyes. My raccoon eyes, that is. I love the way it glides on, stays on, and makes me look like I've gotten lots of sleep. I have to confess that I haven't tried that many under eye concealers in the past but that's only because I didn't really believe that any of them would truly work.

RMS Beauty is another company that's doing the right thing. Just check out what they have to say about the ingredients they use: "We proudly report every ingredient used in rms beauty products, because we have nothing to hide." And what about the ingredients? They use minerals in their raw form, organic oils, and non-GMO vitamin E. They even disclose that one of their products, Lip2Cheek color "smile" uses the tiniest bit of synthetic pigment because this particular color could not be created without it. Wow! They are disclosing one little ingredient that may be of some concern to some while most traditional skincare companies use ingredients that are known to be harmful to you, yet they won't even disclose of these ingredients.

I guess it should come as no surprise to you that this product received a score of 1. Even if you aren't in the market for an under eye concealer, I suggest you try this amazing product.

I don't use foundation, preferring tinted moisturizer instead. It just feels lighter and goes on smoother than foundation. I started wearing tinted moisturizer a few years ago when my neighbor sold me some Mary Kay. Yikes! Did I really just say that? Yep, that was right before I got with the green program!

After the Mary Kay stuff, I started researching natural tinted moisturizers. One brand I researched and almost tried was Josie Maran. It gets a lot of great press but I found some undesirable ingredients in their products. That's what lead me to Jane Iredale and this great tinted moisturizer.

This Dream Tint uses unique algae extracts that moisturize and soothe, while the tiitanium dioxide provides SPF 15 with UVA protection. It goes on smooth, never feels heavy and blends in with ease. Despite the fact that the ingredients aren't organic, I still love it. The fact that it received a score of 2 makes me love it even more.

I swear I read about Vapour Organic Beauty on a blog. Wherever I read about it I'm glad I did. This Illusionist Concealer is just what I needed to hide new and old blemishes. I had been using a great concealer whose name escapes me at the moment. I do remember that I bought it at Walgreens and that it worked so good I used it all the time. I put it on pimples and it not only concealed them but dried them out as well. I have no idea what made it work so well but I'm sure whatever its active ingredients were, they were bad for me.

And then I read about Vapour and bought the Illusionist Concealer. While it doesn't conceal quite like the old stuff, it does a pretty good job. It's made with 70% certified organic ingredients and the other 30% consists of natural mineral pigments and vitamins which are not available as certified organics.

Vapour has signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, but none of their products are on the Skin Deep database - yet. I believe it's just a matter of time before all their products are listed and I feel confident that they'll received great scores.

I'm a girlie-girl when it comes to my lips. I like lipstick but love lip gloss even more. I believe that you aren't really dressed unless you have some color on your lips. I have to admit that I've tried lots of different brands but these two are currently at the top of my must have list.

Nvey Eco Organic Lip Lustre is another product from Upurea. I had read about Nvey for quite some time before trying it but I'm not sure why. I will tell you that it's not cheap. $24 for a tube of lip color is not in most people's budgets but it's well worth it. I don't use it every day and even when I do use it I only put on a little and either put something else under or over it. It scored 2 and

Nvey is committed to using organic ingredients, no talc, no preservatives, no parabens, and non-GMO ingredients. Would it surprise you to learn that they are an Australian company? Yep, it's true. It seems like Australia is the new place for skincare companies and while that's not local, skincare is not something you buy all the time. Frequent use doesn't mean frequent purchases since most products last a long time. And just in case you were wondering, this Lip Lustre scored a 2.

100% Pure is a company with a great following. They make lots of fruit pigmented color cosmetics but I think they're best known for their lip gloss. Made with 83% Vitamin E from organic rice bran and beautiful colors from fruit pigments, this pomegranate wine lip gloss provides a perfect tint for my lips.

I was surprised to find only two 100% Pure products on the Skin Deep database, with lip gloss not being one of them. The Good Guide didn't provide an overall score but only a health score of 10 which makes me feel a little better. I know that 100% Pure is a trusted brand that is vegan, doesn't use perfumes, fragrances, thickeners or emulsifiers, but I'm confused about why their products are absent from the database.

I don't use body lotion as often as I should but when I do I use Dr. Bronner's. You may know the name because it's synonymous with greenness. Most of Dr. Bronner's are too hard core for most people, especially the pure castille soap, but the organic lotions are more like traditional lotions without all the traditional ingredients.

I discovered this lotion at the Green Festival last year and couldn't be happier with it. Synthetic scents bother my asthma so I steer clear of them whenever I can. Not only are the ingredients organic, but the main ingredient (besides water) is fair trade. Never tested on animals, Dr. Bronner's is brand you can really trust. A little goes a long way, keeping your skin moisturized and smelling great. And with a score of 2, you can rest assured that what you're putting on your skin isn't disrupting your system.

When I want a little scent on my skin I turn to Tsi-La. I wore traditional perfumes for my whole life before discovering that the ingredients in them were really bad for me. And when I say really bad I mean really bad. I will never wear traditional perfumes again. Ever.

Tsi-La Organics (pronounced chee-la) are 100% natural, made with over 96% organic ingredients, and are made with 100% renewable energy. But what they don't contain is even more impressive - NO parabens, genetically modified organisms, dioxins, synthetic fragrance, petrochemicals, synthetic colors, propylene glycol, or sulphates. Their products are never tested on animals and this is a claim few traditional perfumes can claim. If you stopped to look at the ingredients (if you could find them) in traditional perfume you'd wonder why anyone would wear it. Choke full of sythethic chemicals, I'm convinced that some of my health problems are due to their long term use.

This mini collection uses a moisturizing base of select coconut oil infused with botanical extracts of pink orchid flowers which fights free radicals. I hate to sound like a broken record, but a little goes a long way. I change up the scents I wear, sometimes wearing the same scent for an entire week. I've been using these little bottles for at least a year and have yet to use them up. Since they are small they are the perfect size to throw in your purse or to travel with. Even though Tsi-La is listed on the Skin Deep database, their products aren't.

I welcome all feedback on the products I use and look forwarding to hear about your favorite products. I'm constantly on the hunt for organic, fair trade, less packaged, etc. products, so if you come across one I might like, please leave me a comment. There are so many health and beauty products on the market that it's confusing for consumers. Together we can make the right choices for our own health and for the health of the planet.

Helping Preserve Our Parks

2010-05-31T20:51:00.002-05:00

I don't eat granola bars but Mom sometimes does especially when doing field work. She has eaten this brand in the past and liked it. Who doesn't like oats and honey? I think I would even like them but before I'm allowed to eat them let's take a look at the ingredients.

Oats and Honey ingredients:
whole grain oats, sugar, canola oil, yellow corn flower, honey, soy flour, brown sugar syrup, salt, soy lecithin, baking soda, natural flavor.

Hmmmm. These ingredients sound good to me but not to Mom. She has issues with everything. I mean really, whole grain oats are good for you, right? And sugar? What could be more natural? These ingredients read like a lesson in good health but Mom feels that there are lots of pesticides used in the growing of the ingredients and that most if not all are genetically modified (GMO). Huh?

Eating these granola bars in moderation, like every once in a while is okay. The jury is still out on GMO's but we all know that pesticide consumption is hazardous to your health. Sugar is the second ingredient listed, honey is fourth, and brown sugar syrup is sixth which means these bars are full of sugary sweetness. All that sugar is not good for you on a daily basis. And what is natural flavor? This is Nature Valley's "secret ingredient", the old proprietary ingredient that they don't have to disclose because if they did they then everypug could make their own granola bars. As if! But there may be one reason Mom may want to buy some granola bars for her turtle trip next month.

Nature Valley knows that our national parks are in trouble. They face serious challenges and they need our help. Simply buy specially marked boxes of Nature Valley granola bars and for every wrapper you send in, they will make a 10 cent donation to the National Parks Conservation Association. The contributions will be used to fund 3 different projects in 3 different parks:

Sustaining native plant life in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Freeing Pronghorn migration in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Restoring coral reefs in Biscayne National Park, Florida

The coupon advertisement stated a guaranteed minimum donation of $250,000 and a maximum donation of $500,000 but the website stated a maximum donation of $650,000 (with the same minimum donation). So confusing! Either way, Nature Valley will be making donations through August 31, 2010 and that money will help preserve our national parks for generations to come.

This is Mom's favorite national park, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Even though this is not one of the parks that Nature Valley is helping, she still thinks this is a good cause. Preserving parks preserves not only our heritage but also the biodiversity that must be maintained in order to preserve our lives. We are all interconnected.

I've never been to a national park but that's not for lack of trying. Mom tells me that they don't allow dogs in the parks and while I can't really understand why, I'm not a law breaker so at home I stay. I hear all about the parks when Mom and Dad get home but it's just not the same. Maybe one day the rules will change and off I'll be whisked to a park of my choosing. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park here I come!

Reality Check!

2010-05-26T10:27:00.001-05:00

I got back a couple of days ago but I've been super busy helping Mom with the gardening. I told her that I had to update everypug on the weekend and she finally agree to give me the morning off. Sheesh! Slave labor is alive at Stubby's house!

I had a great time with the poodles. Their parents are super cool and gave me lots of treats. While I was chillaxin' with the poodles Mom and Dad were doing their own chillaxin' on this boat. It's called "Reality Check" but the boat owner said it should be called "Write A Check". I don't get it but Mom does.

This little guy is Marley and he is the captain's dog. He's only a year old but is already a very experienced boater, or so everyone thought. He couldn't really handle the rocking of the boat so he tossed his cookies. Poor little dude. He spent most of the time in everyone's lap because his tap dancing toes prevented him from walking on the decks. I told Mom that he should have been wearing suction cup shoes but she just looked at me funny. DUH! Dogs don't belong on boats! You'd never catch me on one because I hate getting wet. And when Mom told me they cruised out six miles from shore I thought to myself (to quote so many of my friends ) "Haaaaailllll no!"

The day on the boat was fun but not as fun as the following day when Mom and Dad got to meet this guy:

Yep, that's Coco! Coco and his family met Mom and Dad in Ft. Lauderdale on Sunday. Mom couldn't get enough of Coco and wanted to bring him home. She said he was even sweeter in person than in pictures. I sure wish I could have met him but maybe next time.

Just look at Coco, his beautiful mom Sandra and soon to be sister Amelia. Mom said that Sandra has the most beautiful hair she's ever seen. This coming from a woman who hasn't had a great hairdo since the early 90s is quite a compliment.

It was super windy on Sunday but everyone agreed to pose for pics. Mom doesn't usually like to be photographed (something about the camera and 10+ pounds) but she just had to have her picture taken with Sandra and Coco.

Aren't they a lovely family? Gilbert may not be smiling on the outside but he's beaming with love for his family on the inside. Mom was really glad she got to meet them. She gave them extra hugs and kisses from me.

Mom told me I had to put this picture in here but I told her that Coco would be embarassed. Guess who won? What is it with Moms and pug butts? I mean I know we have cute butts but get over it! Okay, maybe Coco's butt is especially cute but if you're reading this Coco please know that it wasn't my idea to show the world your butt.

When I got home, Mom gave me a gift from Coco. How cool is that? My little friend Coco went shopping for little ole' me! I ripped open the package and found these cool treats and a turtle stuffie. Awesome! Thanks so much for the great gifts, Coco!

Hopefully things will get back to normal around here now that everyone is home. I'm still recovering from the weekend and despite the fact that I am forced to help with the gardening, as you can see by this picture, it's the lawn that needs help. Thankfully I'm too short to push the mower so I'll just relax in the grass where no one can find me. Ahhhh. So glad to be back home where I rule the roost!

Life's A Beach?

2010-05-21T08:01:00.002-05:00

You guys know that Mom loves the beach. She goes to the beach every chance she gets. Mom thinks I don't go to the beach because I don't like the water but the real reason is because I never get invited. Such is the case this weekend.

Dad was in Miami this week for business and Mom decided to fly down to join him for some beach time. I begged Mom not to go because I need her here with me but she turned a deaf ear, packed her bags, and shuffled me off to the poodles' house. I love the poodles and their peeps but I'm sad because I like weekends at home with my peeps.

The poodles don't blog but thankfully they have a computer. I asked them if I could update my bloggie to let everypug know where and of course they said yes. So while Mom and Dad are at the beach, I'll be doing a lot of chillaxin with the poodles this weekend. The weather is suppose to be great and from what I hear, the poodles have stocked up on treats.

I don't know if the poodles will let me use the computer again this weekend, so if you don't hear from me it's because I'm doing this.

Tasty Tuesday!

2010-05-18T17:56:00.006-05:00

When I asked Mom for a recipe for today she went way back in the archives to get this one. This recipe is one of the first she ever made for Dad when they first moved in together. The date at the top of the recipe reads "12-2-96". I wasn't even born yet!

Mom used to buy the Pillsbury cookbooks that were sold at the checkout stands and that's where this recipe comes from. This soup is so versatile and hearty that she use to eat it ever day. It freezes great and is good for serving crowds but for some reason Mom hasn't made it in a long time. Maybe I'll get her to make it next week because believe it or not I've never tasted it.

Pasta and Bean Soup

Pillsbury Classic Cookbooks - Casseroles, Soups & Stews

10 (1-cup) servings

1 tablespoon oil

1 cup chopped onions

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped carrot

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 (14 1/2-oz) cans vegetable broth

2 (15.5-oz) cans Great Northern Beans, drained

1 (14.5-oz) can diced peeled tomatoes, undrained

1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 bay leaves

3 oz (3/4 cup) uncooked small shell macaroni

Heat oil in Dutch oven or stockpost over medium heat until hot.

Add onions, celery, carrot and garlic; cook and stir 4 minutes. Add broth, beans, tomatoes, oregano, basil, pepper and bay leaves. Bring to a boil.

Add macaroni. Reduce heat to medium; cook 10 to 13 minutes or until macaroni and vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaves.

Notes:

If you haven't already done so, please print out the EWG's new Dirty Dozen list before shopping for ingredients used in this recipe. Celery is at the top of the list so if you can't find organic please leave it out or substitute.

You guys know that Mom is a garlic freak and there's no way she could put just 2 cloves in this soup. She usually ends up putting 6 cloves in especially if she's the only one eating the soup.

Great Northern Beans are a great source of fiber and protein. With 12g of fiber and 14g of protein per cup, these delicious beans pack quite a punch. When shopping for canned beans, please make sure you buy cans that are BPA-free. This is, unfortunately, not easy to do. I only know of one nationally available brand, Eden Organic, whose beans are packed in cans that are BPA-free.

The beans are grown on small organic farms in the Midwest. After picking, they are soaked overnight and expertly cooked at Eden's certified organic cannery. There's a great map on the Eden Organic website that shows where their food is processed, canned, or packaged. How cool is that? I checked out the map and saw that Mom's beans come from Meridian Foods, in Eaton, Indiana.

Independently owned and operated for over 40 years, Eden Organic buys all their food from, and pays farms directly, in a sustainable way and most of it is grown a few miles to a few hundred miles from where it is packaged. They are also a green company when it comes to facilities. In 2008 they completed a 70,000 square foot LEED certified warehouse addition in Michigan. By tracking the environmental impact of food upstream with suppliers through company operations, and downstream by monitoring all social impacts, they have proven that they're truly committed to sustainability.

Mom likes petite diced tomatoes because she feels the smaller size better compliments the soup. BPA free canned tomatoes are hard to find due to the acidic nature of tomatoes. Even Eden Organic line their cans with enamel (read: plastic) but there are alternatives, one of which is to use fresh tomatoes. Another option is Pomi, an brand of tomatoes from Italy that are packaged in Tetra Paks which are BPA free and recyclable. They are available at Whole Foods. Some glass jar tomatoes are topped with lids lined with BPA so this is not really a good option. Trader Joes also sells Tetra Pak tomatoes but you know where I stand on Trader Joes.

Mom loves pepper. What can I tell you? She doesn't measure pepper into recipes but simply cranks the pepper mill over the pot until the top is black. That must equal 1/2 teaspoon, right?

2 bay leaves are also not enough for Mom. She usually adds an additional bay leaf and then leaves them in but doesn't eat them.

Dad cannot eat a lot of pasta because it contains too many carbs. He has tried low carb pasta but didn't really like it so in lieu of eating it again, Mom has decided to try an Eden Organic variety that's made from organic carrot powder, organic annatto powder, organic beet powder, and organic spinach powder, blended with 60 percent organic whole grain durum and 40 percent organic golden amber durum semolina wheat flours. Even though it's not low carb it is super healthy and Dad won't eat it all the time. The pasta is even packaged in boxes that are recycled and recyclable.

Meatless Monday - Still A Good Idea?

2010-05-17T14:54:00.004-05:00

Mom was reading me an article on The Huffington Post Green this morning and it really got me thinking. Good thoughts of course. But it also made me mad because some people just don't get it.

Dad started doing Meatless Mondays last year and then stopped when he got sick in October. Since then he has gone back to eating meat on Mondays, much to Mom's dismay. Mom and others are convinced that eliminating meat from your diet just once a week is a great way to help address the global climate crisis because cows are a huge source of methane, a greenhouse gas. If everyone took small steps to change their actions we could change the course we're on, right? I mean everyone knows there are things we can do each and every day, from turning off the lights when you leave a room to carpooling but changing your food habits seems way too hard for some people. Why is that?

The thought of not eating meat for 24 hours is akin to cutting off a finger - just plain wrong. Painful as it may seem to some, not eating meat not only feels good because it gives the body a break from the heavy job of digesting animals, but it also provides the soul with a breather from eating those we hold close to our hearts - our animal friends. I was going to do a post on the book "Eating Animals" a couple of months ago but I thought the subject was a little too risque. The author of the book starts out by asking what the difference is between eating meat and eating dogs. Yikes! When Mom read this to me I put my paws over my ears and begged her to stop. Eat dogs? Who would do such a thing? It turns out that many people in certain parts of the world do in fact in dogs. But we eat cows, pigs, lamb, etc. so what's the difference?

Back to the article from today. Written by Ellen Kanner, the article is about an article written for Cattlenetwork, the online source for cattle news, decrying Meatless Monday. Cattlenetwork? Yes it seems there is such a website, just when we all thought the written word was dead. Hail to cattle!

Here's the article in its entirety. Please leave me your comments because I'm curious what you have to say on the subject. Do you believe that eating less meat is a good way to help the planet? Do you believe that eating meat is not really a problem in terms of the global climate crisis? Are factory farms to blame? Should we just leave the corporate powers that be so they can continue to ruin our soil, water supply, and air with their CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations)? What's the solution? And is there a viable solution for all people, not just yourself?

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Meatless Monday: The Meat People Hit Back

by Ellen Kanner

You know you're doing something right when you piss off the beef and pork people. The editor of Pork magazine recently decried the Meatless Monday effort on (wait for it) Cattlenetwork.

The pork and beef lobbies have a lot more power and money behind them than environmental organizations and health nonprofits like Meatless Monday, and the fact the editor saw fit to comment shows the plant-based effort has some punch. She's worried we're ganging up on her.

Her beef? She claims a Meatless Monday video likens working together to go meatless to supporting the war effort in World War II thus equating patriotism with being plant-based. What the video really says is what plant-based proponents of all stripes and flavors have been saying all along -- cutting back, cutting out meat once a week can only help the environment by conserving the natural resources used in animal farming. It can only improve our health by reducing our risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes,three major health threats linked to meat consumption. Most Americans eat 45% more meat than the USDA recommends. Hey, it's only the truth.

The truth, though, can be dangerous turf. A decade ago, the Cattlemen's Association tried to bring Oprah -- Oprah -- to her knees. They sued her for defamation for a show in which she made claims linking mad cow disease to beef. The only reason the suit didn't stick is, she was right. She explained 10 people had died eating tainted beef. It isn't libel if it's true.

The animal industry is looking for meatless pushback and they have found Paul McCartney and the UN International Panel on Climate Change. In his paper "Clearing the Air," presented to the American Chemical Society, UC Davis air quality professor Frank Mitloehner says Sir Paul can't go selling meatlessness as a solution to global warming. No one can.

The heart of his argument is the way greenhouse gas emissions were calculated "Livestock's Long Shadow," the seminal 2006 UN report which links animal production to global warming. Co-author Gidon Eshel, a Bard applied mathematician, stands by his findings. "The basic analysis we did is so simple and relies purely and completely on uncontested information."

The problem is what some, in their zeal, have done with that information. "PETA did some kind of in-house analysis and reached high numbers of emissions that I thought were inflated."

The data went viral and the meat folks of the world seized on it as ammunition to dismiss our role in climate change. Mitloehner says the answer to global warming isn't less meat and milk, it's more. By way of factory farming. "The developed world should focus on increasing efficient meat production in developing countries, we should adopt more efficient Western-styled farming practices to make more food with less greenhouse gas production."

Eshel feels Mitloehner presenting his paper before the American Chemical Society is a little like the Pork editor ranting about the meatless movement to the beef folks. "It's more than enough to disqualify a person from engaging in an honest discussion about this, The pharmaceutical companies are the ones making a lot of money from supplying 65% of all antibiotics to healthy animals for weight gain and milk production."

Mitloehner's study also had $5 million in underwriting, five percent of which came from the beef industry. "Livestock's Long Shadow" was underwritten by "nobody whatsoever," says Eshel. "I am not beholden to anybody, financially, morally or otherwise."

He pulls out studies, graphs and charts which all add up to one thing -- "When you eat meat, you exert three times as much pressure on land demand and reactive nitrogen as you do with a plant-based diet."

Although plant-based himself, "I'm not an advocate of veganism or a plant-based diet," says Eshel "I'm a researcher whose findings always lead away from animal-based foods, environmentally speaking."

Mitloehner did not respond to requests for an interview.

The meat folks can take on Oprah, they can take on Paul McCartney, they can take on an applied mathematician or even a 97-pound vegan like me. But the meatless movement is gaining traction because the truth is still the truth.

It's My Golden Birthday!

2010-05-13T10:43:00.010-05:00

I can't believe I'm 13 years young today! In case you don't know what a golden birthday is, it's when a pug turns the age of their birth day. Today is the 13th of May and I'm 13! Mom is also a 13 baby but she celebrated her golden birthday back in the stone age!

Mom can't believe I was ever this small. This is me on my first day home. 10 weeks after my biological mom gave birth to me, Mom and Dad picked me up and drove me to my forever home. That big contraption on the right is the crate I had for the first two years of my life. It was way too big for me so Dad put a piece of cardboard in it so that I just used half. I never really liked that crate and was completely relieved when I no longer needed it.

But let me step back a little. I decided to sleep in today because I completey forgot it was my birthday. We had severe thunderstorms last night and all the thunder kept me up. I'm really afraid of thunder and hid under the covers cuddled up next to Dad so that nothing would harm me.

Mom tried several times to wake me up and was finally successful. I'm definitely not a morning pug.

I didn't know why I had to get out of bed. "What's the problem lady? I'm trying to sleep. I only got 12 hours in and I'm still tired!"

"It's my what? What you talkin' about Willis? My birthday?"

"Are you sure? I'm not getting out of bed this early for nothing!"

If it is my birthday you know what that means - POPEYES! Delicious! And who knows what else is planned since it is my golden birthday. Hey wait. Aren't you suppose to visit your birth day number of restaurants on your golden birthday? OMD! I'm going to be in a food coma by the end of the day!

I couldn't believe my eyes and nose when I came downstairs to find a whole dehydrator full of beef jerky waiting just for me. I'm going to eat 13 pieces!

And of course a special, delicious, golden birthday boy breakfast - scrambly eggs and sausage! Yummy!

Mom told me that the rest of the day is a surprise. Her lips are sealed and even though I tried to bribe her with lots of kisses, she won't tell me what she has planned. I'm off to take a nice long nap so that I'm well rested for the rest of my big day. Happy birthday to me!

Tasty Tuesday!

2010-05-11T19:43:00.005-05:00

These delicious little beans are the subject of today's recipe. Mom loves black beans almost more than any other food. She could eat them every day and sometimes does.

The black bean is also called the black turtle bean so its no wonder Mom likes them. It is small but meaty and flavorful. It's kidney shape and shiny black skin belies its cream-colored flesh. It's so versatile because it holds its shape when cooked and its texture absorbs the flavors of other foods making it a compliment to so many dishes. It can even be turned into a meal on its own.

Black beans are a very good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber and their high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal. They are also rich in antioxidant compounds. Mom thinks they are one of the most perfect foods in the world and wishes that more people would try them. I don't eat them because Mom is afraid they'll give me gas and Dad doesn't eat them because he doesn't like the way they smell, so Mom has all the black beans to herself. She's been eating them for so long that they never give her any problems.

Black Bean Soup

Cooking Light Soup

Serves 6

1 pound dried black beans
4 cups vegetable broth
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup water
1 tablespoon ground cumin
3 bay leaves
1 serrano chile, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Sort and wash beans; place in a large bowl. Cover with water to 2 inches above beans; cover and let stand 8 hours. Drain.

Combine beans, broth, and next 5 ingredients (through chile) in an electric slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW 10 hours. Discard bay leaves. Stir in juice, salt, and cilantro and puree in a blender or food processor.

Notes:

Don't be afraid to work with dry beans. They are very forgiving if not soaked in enough water or if left in water too long. They are also much better for you and the planet than canned beans.

One pound bags of beans are sold in most grocery stores but it's much better to buy in bulk. Never one to trust the measurements on the back of the bean bag, Mom measured out a one pound bag and found that it yields 2 1/2 cups of beans.

Mom likes her soup hot as in chile hot, so she chops up two serranos instead of one, seeds and all. If the thought of even the heat of one chile is too much for you, you can either seed the chile first of use a milder pepper such as a jalapeno.

Cumin and fiery serrano chile infuse this simple soup as it cooks, and you could add a dollop of sour cream as a refreshing foil for the spicy flavors.

This is a perfect recipe for the immersion blender. Mom sometimes leaves the soup slightly chunky to give it some substance.

At 288 calories, 18.5 grams of protein, and 2.3 grams of fat this soup is the total package. It's hardy and filling, the perfect soup for a rainy day or any day.

The New Dirty Dozen

2010-05-06T20:03:00.004-05:00

Those of you that have been reading my blog for a while remember the post I did back in March 2009 titled "Shoppers Guide To Pesticides". In the post I talked about the use of pesticides on fruits and vegetables and provided you with a link to the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Dirty Dozen shoppers guide, a handy guide that you could print out and take to the store. If you weren't a fan back then or just don't remember the post, please click here.

The handy guide was always in Mom's purse until she got her iphone. EWG has an app so know all Mom needs to do is check her iphone and she knows which produce to buy organic and which is okay to buy conventional. Yes, you read that right. Some conventionally grown produce isn't as susceptible to pesticides as others are. But things are always changing which is why the EWG created a new Dirty Dozen list. First let's take a look at the old list.

Good old peaches topped the list of the worst of the worst, the must always avoid conventional and buy organic list. Peaches have very delicate skin and multiple pesticides are regularly applied to them in conventional orchards.

Everypug loves apples but like peaches, they are also typically grown with the use of poisons to kill a variety of pests, from fungi to insects. Even scrubbing and peeling doesn't eliminate chemical residue completely and remember, peeling a fruit or vegetable also strips away many of their beneficial nutrients.

Bell peppers have very thin skins that don't offer much of a barrier to pesticides. Plus they're often heavily sprayed with insecticides.

Coming in at number seven cherries, even locally grown ones, are not necessarily safe. Recent surveys have shown that cherries grown in the U.S. were found to have three times more pesticide residue then imported cherries.

Grapes are another fruit that is better to eat when grown domestically because only imported grapes made the list. Grapes have very thin skin and vineyards can be sprayed with different pesticides during different growth periods of the grape. Unfortunately, no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination. Please remember that wine is made from grapes, so try to drink organic wine whenever it's available.

Pesticides are designed to kill living organisms, but they don't just kill pests. They are designed to be toxic so they pose real health dangers to people as well as animals. They've been linked to a whole host of health problems including cancer, nervous system toxicity, and hormone system effects. Add all that to the skin, eye and lung irritation caused by the handling and applying of these pesticides and you have a recipe for disaster. Remember, it's not just your exposure to pesticides but the thousands of farm workers that harvest your produce. You wouldn't have produce without them so think about their health as well as yours when choosing organic vs conventional.

Moving onto this year's list, you'll notice that some items have moved up, some down, and others have been removed completely from the list.

It's not hard to believe that celery is public enemy #1. It has no protective skin, which makes it almost impossible to wash off the chemicals that are used on conventional crops. There were 64 pesticides detected in residue on celery - yuk! Go organic or give up celery altogether.

Dad eats strawberries almost every day for breakfast. If Mom buys them out of season, they're most likely imported from countries that use less-stringent regulations for pesticide use. Mom was shopping at Target just the other day and noticed that the price of conventional vs organic was minimal - $2.49 for conventional vs $2.99 for organic. I know times are tough and everypug is pinching pennies but this is really a no brainer. The money you spend now will be money you don't have to spend later at the doctor.

In the mornings Dad doesn't eat strawberries for breakfast he eats blueberries which are new to the Dirty Dozen list in 2010. Can you believe they are treated with as many as 52 pesticides? They are one of the dirtiest berries on the market so organic is the only way to go.

Spinach is also new to the 2010 list. Even though Popeye probably ate conventional spinach you will want to avoid it like the plague due to the 48 different pesticides found on it. Don't let this keep you from eating your green leafy vegetables because organic is usually easy to find.

Anyone who belongs to a CSA knows that you get kale almost every week. Even though it's know as a hardier vegetable that rarely suffers from pests and disease, this year it was found to have high amounts of pesticide residue when tested this year. Why you ask? Good question.

Everypug's favorite food the potato re-appears on the list this year after being absent last year. This is one of my favorite foods because I love french fries and hash browns - yummy! I don't want any pesticides (as many as 37) in my body so maybe I'll just stop eating potatoes. Not!

One food I'm so glad that's missing from the list is the carrot. Everypug, besides my Josie Girl, loves carrots. They are one of nature's perfect foods and I eat them as much as I can. I am a little worried because even though they're not on the Dirty Dozen list they are right behind it at number 15. Because of this, I think it's wise to choose organic.

Pears are another food that's missing from the Dirty Dozen list. Though they've dropped off the list, more and more chemicals are used on them because insects have become more resilient to pesticides. This is the biggest problem with pesticides, isn't it?

I bet you're wondering about my favorite nightshade the tomato. They were on the Dirty Dozen list in 2008, on the Clean 15 in 2009, and this year are on neither. But what happened? Pesticides can still enter its thin skin so it's still best to buy organic despite its ranking.

To get a handy printable version of the guide, click here. Print it and keep it with you so there's never a doubt about what to buy. All of this food talk is making me hungry so I'm off to have some delicious organic carrots.

I Need Your Help

2010-05-02T22:40:00.009-05:00

I need your help friends and this is one time when it really pays to be a dog that sheds. I'm sure all of you have heard about about the Gulf Coast oil spill by now but did you know that you can help with the cleanup? It's true and I'm going to tell you how.

A ruptured undersea well off Louisiana is spewing about 210,000 gallons (5,000 barrels) of crude a day into the Gulf of Mexico, and efforts to shut off the flow have been unsuccessful since the April 20 explosion that sank the drill rig Deepwater Horizon. The rig was about 50 miles off the southeast coast of Louisiana and killed 11 men. This was almost one year after I did a post about how hair is used to cleanup oil spills. All this crude is moving toward the Gulf Coast and efforts are underway to contain and clean it up. This is where you come in.

Matter of Trust is the brains behind the oil spill hair mats and hair booms. They need donations of hair, human and pet, so hair mats and hair booms can be made and used in the cleanup effort. I need all of you to go to www.matteroftrust.org and sign up to donate your hair. You can even visit your groomer and get them to donate hair.

Millions of people and animals depend on the Gulf Coast. Coastal wetland and barrier islands in Louisiana are the closest to the spill and the oil has already reached the coast as you can see from this photo. Birds and turtles have already washed ashore, presumably from the effects of the spill. Coastal areas in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida are also at risk and are preparing for the worst. Your hair could help save animals. Animals saving animals - what a concept!

Happy Arbor Day!

2010-04-30T14:51:00.002-05:00

Oh what a glorious day to celebrate one of Earth's greatest treasures! We live peacefully with them and depend on them so much, but we too often take them for granted. We need trees more than they need us.

A story in USA Today this week announced that a study showed the United States experienced a greater percentage of forest loss from 2000 to 2005 than did any of the other top seven most heavily forested nations. Shame on us! How could this be? Why are we killing all the trees? Read on to see what the story had to say:

The United States lost more than 46,000 square miles of forest in those years, a size roughly equivalent to the state of Pennsylvania. That's about 6% of the nation's forested land.

"That's the most of the seven countries that have over 1 million square kilometers of forest," says study lead author Matthew Hansen of South Dakota State University.

Worldwide, researchers determined that the globe lost forest cover of nearly 400,000 square miles — roughly 3% of the world's forested areas — during the first half of the last decade. The other countries in the study were Canada, Russia, China, Brazil, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The one part of the contiguous USA that experienced the most forest loss was the Southeast, a large chunk of which lost more than 10% of its forest cover from 2000 to 2005, the year for which the most recent data were available.

Hansen points out that the forest loss in the USA isn't necessarily permanent: "This does not mean that (the forests) do not regenerate, and we make no statements whatsoever about sustainability," he says. "But, compared to other regions of the world, a lot is going on."

A lot is going on is an understatement! Why all this destruction to our trees? Paper! Paper is the number one cause of forest lost. Mom remembers being in the corporate world and people talking about saving paper so that they wouldn't kill any more trees. Kill them indeed!

What's that you say? You don't use a lot of paper in your everyday life? What about all the stuff you use that's made made from paper? Americans are obsessed with stuff at every level. Just think about all the 'disposable paper' you either use on a daily basis: toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissue, newspapers, magazines, take out food container, receipts, packaging. The list just goes on and on.

Most of these items are created from virgin paper meaning a tree was cut down just for the purpose of making that item. Clearly there are products on the marketplace that use recycled paper, even post-consumer recycled. This is the paper we should be using to create consumer goods. These are the products we should be buying if we want trees on our planet. But why do we need them so much? They're just trees, right?

The most important thing trees give us is oxygen. It doesn't even seem fitting to call oxygen (O2) a thing because next to water, we need it to live. Period. Everything else is purely secondary from a biological perspective. We are totally and completely dependent on plants and trees for oxygen and they are dependent on us. But why and how?

Take a deep breath. Suck in all that fresh, clean air and then let it all out. What comes out when you exhale? Good old CO2. But wait. Where did the oxygen you breath come from?

In the carbon-oxygen exchange, or cycle as I call it, the exchange of CO2 from us to trees and of O2 from trees to us is continuous. Called respiration, the CO2 that we exhale and that trees use is as important to them as the O2 they give us to breathe. One cannot occur without the other so if we don't have trees we don't have oxygen. And that would be a problem.

In addition to the CO2 trees receive from us, they also absorb CO2 from other things, like automobiles, manufacturing, etc. It is when too much CO2 becomes trapped in the atmosphere that problems occur like they are today. One reason we are experiencing the climate changes we are is because we are cutting down trees at an alarming rate. Mom clearly remembers being in Costa Rica and watching as people clear cut the rainforest to make way for cattle ranches. Just think about that for a second. Old growth stands of trees being cut so that cows could graze on grasslands. Sounds ridiciulous, doesn't it? The same thing is happening all over the world as entire stands of forest are cut in the Amazon, Indonesia, and elsewhere. Without the trees, the world's climate problems are going to get worse.

But how many trees do we need? Clearly we don't need all the trees on Earth and even if we cut some down surely we could plant more, right? Wrong! An area of plants of about 58 square feet is needed to supply sufficient oxygen for just one person. Multiply that by 6 billion (and growing) and the figures are mind blowing. Hey wait! These figures don't even take into account the area of plants that pugs need. Keep multiplying people! Even planting new trees doesn't really fix the problem because new trees called seedlings, cannot absorb the CO2 that tall, old trees can. Replacing one with the other is not solving the problem.

But trees do even more for us than simply providing us with oxygen and absorbing CO2. Trees planted around your home can shade it, thus lowering your electricity bills because the need for air conditioning is lessened. They also slow stormwater runoff and protect the soil. By acting as natural reservoirs they protect watersheds, without which we wouldn't have clean water.

Trees clean our water and air by absorbing pollutants. Many animals call trees home, like my bird and squirrel friends, and many use tree berries as food. Where would all these animals go if they didn't have trees? I think you know the answer.

Let's not forget how beautiful and majestic trees are. What pug doesn't love to sit underneath a tree on a hot summer day and eat a Frosty Paw? Ahhh, the shade trees provide me is immeasureable. I wouldn't be able to stay outside for very long if it weren't for trees.

So on this Arbor Day, as the leaves on the trees are rustled by the gentle breeze, let's give thanks to trees everywhere. They are more important today than ever before.

I decided to give the tree in front of our house a big hug of thanks. Thank you my tree friend, for standing tall even when you were tired. For changing with the seasons despite your desire to move. For letting the mommy robins sing on your branches. And for giving me oxygen so that I may continue to live. I love you and can't imagine life without you.