Belated Christmas Present

My M was ecstatic this morning, and not without reason! Remember that I mentioned I'll be getting a new brother, well, he was just born this morning! This is the photo the breeder emailed us, it's a litter of 4 boys and 2 girls. I'm not sure which one is Helios, since all of them have their bums to me.

Puppies!


Speaking of Helios, my M had decided on this name long ago. She liks greek/ roman mythology, and was trying to find a nice name for a boy which is pronouncable, and they did not die a horrible death, or had some weird relationships with their family. I never knew greek gods were so complicated, or that they can die. Anyway, she settled on Helios, who is the greek god of the Sun. And she thought it appropriate since we're GOLDEN retrievers, and my name starts with H as well.

Yippee!

Update: The breeder just emailed and said there are now 5 boys and 2 girls. One of the boy is a late comer, and he's dark coloured. Out of the 3 dark coloured pups in the pic, 2 are girls.

Boxing Day

Happy Boxing Day everyone!~ What a wet, wet boxing day. It's been raining since this morning. Seems that Santa did not really grant all my wishes.

I finally managed to open all my presents yesterday AFTERNOON because my lazy MM was so tired from a weekend of late nights that he couldn't wake up on christmas morning to open the presents. Of course, before opening them, I had to wait again! For photos to be taken of the before...

Can you hurry up?


and the after...

When can I start eating?


I love all my presents! They're all food related, even the mat, which came from Scuba and his animal family. Even Huskee's toy came with food!

Only after numerous shots of the same things in minutely different positions, I was finally able to taste my first christmas present.

Chomp chomp


And guess what? Both Aunty R and Aunty V gave my M and MM same presents, among other things.

Frying Pans!


Well, it so happened that one day my M was commenting that she can never cook perfectly round sunny side up on her pan, even with the round metal thingy used for cooking eggs, so apparently both Aunties heard her and got the same thing. Aunty R even put a note that said "Now you can cook 'nice sunny side up' for Herbie" and ended with "Hope you have not got one". Now, not only can I have one, but TWO sunny side ups at one time!

Oh, and we dogs finally managed to take another group photo on christmas day at Scuba's house. Aunty V would like to make it a tradition to have a doggy group photo every christmas.

This is last year's photo...

Christmas 2005


and this year....

Christmas 2006


My M had to do some photoshop so that we would not look like demonic dogs hanging front of the christmas tree.... look at our red eyes! And green eyes! And blue eyes! And look at Chewie with red AND green eyes! He just needs an amber dot in the middle and he can become a traffic light.

Demonic pets


Now the next thing to look forward to is the New Year. I so love end of the year parties!

New Job

Thanks to Miss Sunshade, I have now found a new job.... as a security guard!

This vehicle is PAW-tected!


I was so happy with the present and the new job that I just can't stop grinning.

Oh.... important me!


Until my M reminded me that security are supposed to look fierce, not goofy. So I mustered up my bestest serious look...

Get away from this vehicle or I will... I will.. erm... I will bite you?


I think it's my eyes. They look so round and big that it does not strike fear in anyone at all. Maybe I should borrow Scuba's shades permanently.

Do not cross me!


Yeah... I think I look fiercer with the shades. I should have thought of the shades when my M tried to make me look fur-rocious.

X'mas Tagged.... finally!

Finally as in finally I got my bum down to post the tag... I've been tagged, and tagged and tagged.... and I was too lazy to post, but here goes...

The Rules: The player of this game starts with "3 things he/ she would love to get for Christmas" and also has to list "3 things he/ she definitely does not want to get for Christmas". Then he/she tags 5 friends and list their names. The ones who get tagged need to write on their blogs about their Christmas wishes, as well as state this rule clearly, then tag 5 more victims. And the one who tags need to leave a comment that says "you've been Christmas tagged!" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

*sings* All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth... oh wait, I still have my two front teeth... erm... ok, here's what I really, really want so.... *sings* tell me what you want, what you really really want... I wanna, I wanna, I wanna...

Sorry, getting corny with all those songs...

Here goes:
Wants
1. Food
2. To go out and play with my friends everyday
3. Good weather all year round! (good as in no rain between 3-9pm please!)


Don't wants
1. Anything inedible
2. Rain
3. Did I mention anything inedible?

Since it's so near to chrismas now, I guess I'll be a kind soul and not tag anyone... hiak hiak hiak

2007 - Gifts for pre-order

It's been a little more than a year since my blog was started, and soon we'll be ushering in the new year! And what has my M been busying herself with this festive season? Making presents and calendars!

Here's a sneak preview of what's on offer:

Year 2007 Calendar, featuring me and my friends, totally produced by my M.



Dog bowls, hand painted by my artistically challenged M. I can't show you the inside of the bowls coz my friends have not opened their presents yet, but you can make a guess from the outside of the bowl who's getting what. No prizes for guessing which one is Jack and Joey's tho...









All items are available for order. Payment will be in drumsticks, marrow bones, pork chops or in kind. There will be a waiting time for bowls, and no complaints will be entertained if you think that the picture does not look like you. Like I said, my M is artistically challenged.

Cats and Dogs

Scuba wrote a letter to Santa Paws wishing that I'll get over my fear of cats. It's not that I'm really afraid of them, it's just that I'm cautious around them, especially after the last time I was attacked by a stray cat.

To prove that I'm not afraid of cats, look at me below.

Here kitty, kitty...


See, I'm even hugging Ginger.... and no, that's not a forced grin, I was not coerced into taking the photo... really!

Group picture!


But then again, Ginger is so used to having dogs in the house that she may think she's a dog as well. Maybe the strays should go take some lessons from Ginger on how to respect other animals.

Oops, I did it again

Let me tell you, Scuba's house is dangerous nowadays. It's full of booby traps to lure unsuspecting dogs into sin. Why do I say that? Well, because after Jack's horrendous punishment, it was my turn next.

Remember what I said about not stealing cat food? Well, apparently I forgot. The cat's bowl was left temptingly in the open and I could hear it calling out to me. Just as I took a few bites, I was caught right in the act by Aunty V. She went 'Oh no, Herbie!' and my M came flying with a kok on my head, a few slaps on my muzzle and thigh. After that I was made to do a down stay.

Me grovelling


I'm sowie....


The offending cat bowl


My M warned that I better not wake her up in the middle of the night if I have diarrhoea or she'll kok my head again. When we got home, she promptly stuffed a charcoal pill down my throat.

Well, the only consolation is that only Rafv was there to witness my humiliation. Tommy and Scuba was out for their walk.

I hope the charcoal pill works. If I get a tummyache again, I'll be in deep shit.... literally and figuratively.

Double Standards

Humans are such unfair creatures, not like us dogs. From my friend's blogs, I've learnt that humans get upset when we wake them up in the middle of the night, poke them with our wet noses when they're sleeping, or attempt to steal, I mean, share their food. We get scoldings, punishments or the evil eye when we do that, so we, being nice dogs, try to avoid making our humans upset.

But do they give us the same respect? NoooOOooOOoooooo

I don't know about your humans, but my M sometimes like to take my food away while I'm still eating it, hold it for like 10 seconds and return it to me again. I don't see any point to that at all! Or when I'm asleep she will suddenly pounce on me with a bear hug and kisses. Not that I don't like kisses, but not while I'm asleep please! I just might be dreaming of a big juicy steak!

And see what they are doing to me here? I was off in zzZZzz-land, and they just had to go and disturb me. And they found it soooooo amusing that my tail will flip up in reflex thaty they just had to do it again, and again.... and again... and again!



I bet if I did the same thing to them, they'll throw a fit! We must fight for equality for us dogs! No more double standards!

PS: in case you're wondering, that's my MM's hairy leg.

Let it snow!

After reading how the other dogs at the other end of the world get to enjoy the snow, like Miss Sunshade , Miss Sunshade, and erm... Miss Sunshade. Come to think of it, I think Sunshade's the only one getting crazy over snow right now.

Anyway, I've never seen snow before, and what is christmas without snow! Since I can't go to snow and snow can't come to me, I have decided to do the next best thing. Pretend!

Brrr..... co-co-cold.....


Does look a bit like snow, ya?

I do so love photoshop!

Bad, bad weather

The weather seems to have something against us dogs these last few weeks. It would be sunny and bright in the mornings, but once evening comes, and evening is the most important time of the day, because that's when our humans get off work and bring us to the park... and of course, evenings are dinnertime. As I was saying, when evening comes, the sky would be cloudy, the thunder roaring (sometimes) and it would RAIN!

Because of the rain, I now go to the park only 2-3 times a week instead of almost everyday. And this morning, my M thought that it would be sunny, because mornings have almost always been sunny. She looked out the window, there were clouds, but not dark, there are people happily walking about, so she decided to give me a bath and a long walk to dry me off after that.

So after a very uncomfortable bath, I was ready to go for my walk but lo and behold! The moment we stepped out of the house, it rained!!!! My M only had time to give me a pee break before we made it back to the house.

I hate the weather


Can someone tell me when the Sun will come back from his vacation?

The making of....

... my christmas cards. What a tiring day! I was so busy spending the whole afternoon on the cards.



Ermm.... all right, so I was caught sleeping on the job, but still, I was the one conceptualizing the design, and thinking is very tiring.

Anyway, the cards are all done and sent, so for those on the christmas card exchange, get ready to receive your cards!

Model Shoot

It was a sunny morning, and because of the christmas card exchange program, the humans decided to take us dogs out for a photoshoot. We were made to pose, run, jump, and wear accessories. Now I can fully understand the hard life of a model.

Here's SuperModel me with my assistants. We have a wardrobe assistant, a technical director, a personal assistant, and of course my M, the camerawoman, who is obviously not in the photo.

Behind the scenes


Of course there were breaks in between costume changes as well... Here's how we spent our breaktime...

Me taking a breather...


Joey & Tommy after balls as usual


Rafv stealing Tommy's ball


Scuba taking time to sniff the flowers


And here's the final result of my cards to my fellog dbloggers. It comes in 3 different designs. For other non-dbloggers, the cards available for pre-order. Each set of 3 will cost you a drumstick.







And of course, there was a series of group photos as well...

Everyone say Cheese!

From L-R: Rafv, me, Tommy, Scuba, Joey & Jack

Recall!


Me and Scuba, best buddies


All the excitement made me so tired that I was totally knocked out even before I got home.

ZZzzzZZzz


I think my friends might blog about their day as well, but maybe not until my M sends them their photos. This is so fun we should do this more often!

The Vet

I went to the vet today. Nope, I wasn't sick, just went for my vaccination, but I almost had to see the vet for an injury, because my silly M closed the door on my tail. While going into the vet, she forgot to make sure that I have gone past the door before loosing her grip on the swinging door. Luckily it wasn't a very heavy door, or I might become the only golden with a cropped tail in the world.

Ouch!!!!


Anyway, that's not the main point. The main point is that while at the vet, they took my weight, and I am a svelte 24kg. Even the vet commented that I am a good weight for my size. My M mentioned that she thought I was getting fat and was planning to put me on a diet and the nice, kindly, handsome, gentle, suave, dashing vet said that actually my weight is fine, and if I were to go on a diet, maybe I can lose another kg, but not more than that. Sigh, I do love that vet, in case you have not realised it by now.

So remember, the lowest my weight can get is 23kg, and I am not fat!

Now, can someone feed me my lunch? And supper later as well?

My very first X'mas card!

My M opened the letterbox this morning and boy was she excited. I was wondering what's so interesting about bills and catalogs when she started waving this white envelop addressed to me. For a moment I was worried that I actually have a bill addressed to me, until my M showed me where it's from.

All the way from Phoenix!


It's my very own chrismas card, and the first to arrive! Wow, Comet and BLU must have been very hardworking with their cards, and I'm ashamed to say that I have not even started out on mine! But never fear, my M is bringing us out for a photoshoot this weekend to take some nice pictures for the cards.

Now lemme take a look what's inside...

Merry Christmas!


It's Comet and Blu themselves! With a little christmas jingle as well. Although we can't meet, but I can sure smell them!

I can smell your dinner as well


I better start working out for my photoshoot this weekend, MUST look my best!

I'm back!

Or rather, my M and MM are back. Unfortunately, my M decided that I've put on weight, so I'm going on a diet. No matter how I try to tell her that I am not fat, she is not moved. She says that I have failed the 3 tests, namely, the sight test, the touch test and the carry test.

I look fat on first sight, she cannot feel my waist, and she can no longer carry me as well. So my meals at Scuba have gone from:

Breakfast - cheese and bread
Lunch - biscuits and treats and whatever Auntie S is having
Dinner - home cooked food (steam chicken and beef, a wee bit of rice, brocolli, cauliflower, carrot, a little garlic + my supplements)
Before bed - more biscuits and treats

to....

Breakfast - 2 pieces of biscuits
Lunch - air and sunshine
Dinner - Boiled meat and vegetables
Before bed - air and moonshine

Much as I am glad that my M and MM are back, but I miss Scuba's dinner. Even Scuba said that he's having more difficulty begging now because when I stayed over, he gets fed when I beg as well.

Sigh, I miss my meals....

Packing up

My M and MM are going on a trip tonight, and I'm going to stay at Scuba's house! Rafv's there as well coz his mum went back to Japan and his dad is having his reservist. Unlike Jack and Joey who had to lug their luggage to Scuba's house for a miserly 3 days stay, I am packing light.

I'm just bringing the most important thing.....


My food bowl!!!

The supplements were my M's idea. I could live without them actually.

5 days at Scuba's house, and I'm sure I'm gonna be fed... a lot! I'll be so busy eating that I don't think I will have time to blog for the next 5 days.

Now, I'll just have to remember not to steal cat food.

Stay away from my dinner!

I've recovered

Thank you everyone for your concern. After 4 rounds of tummyache and 1 round of puking on Saturday, I've finally recovered after 3 charcoal pills.

My butt was perpetually wet from all the bum washing. Sigh, remind me not to eat cat food again. Not only did I suffer terribly, but no one gave me extra food when I begged at the dinner table. Oh all right, I got a few pieces of bread, but no yummy meat.

I feel so sorry for myself....

Update on my tummy

I'm still feeling bad... after my 2nd round of diarrhea, my M thought I would be fine so they left me alone at home while they pop to the supermarket. But my tummy rumbled again, and although they left the papers on the floor, I think that I've associated papers in kitchen = bone time, coz I usually eat my bones on the papers.

I ended up pooping a black, wet, puddle in the spare room. And I felt so bad that when my M and MM came home, I whined a little. I'm soooo glad that they did not punish me for pooping in the house.

I was so weak from diarrhea that I just lied there while they cleaned up the house.

Lifeless...


And this is a close up of a very sick me.



Scuba suspects that I may have eaten cat kibbles. I don't know why but I can't take kibbles, and I'll get diarrhea whenever I eat any brand of kibbles, even if it's only a handful.

I hope no one finds out if I've stolen pepper and ginger's dinner.

*rumble*

Tummyache

I'm having the runs this morning. My M said she had to wake up at the ungodly hour of 6am to bring me out to poo. And at 8:30am again. And on a Saturday morning.

Well, I'll have her know that 6am is not an ungodly hour. It's a good time to be awake. As they say, the early bird gets the worm, I'm just making sure that she's getting lots of it.

Darn, I don't think I will be given any breakfast today. And the charcoal pill does not constitute breakfast!

I hope my tummy gets better soon.

*rumble*

New exercise regime?

Darn, I think my M have thought of a new exercise regime. She's started to take me cycling! After seeing how Tommy and Rafv get exercised at the same time as their humans, she dragged out my MM's bicycle yesterday for a morning at the park as well as to take some photos!

However, very smart me have a way of spoiling her exercise plans. I deliberatly trotted slowly, and whenever she sped up, I'll look as if I'm dragged to my death so she has no choice but to slow down. In no time at all, she was cycling like this *paddle, paddle, look at me, brake.... paddle, brake... paddle paddle, brake, brake, look at me, brake*

Notice the number of times she had to brake? Heh heh... by the end of the morning, she was complaining that she was sweating more from the sun than from the exertion.

Anyway, we managed to take a few photos at the park as well.

Me and my nemesis


There was a lotus pond there and we took some pictures there as well.

Is that spiderman?


More lotus




And here's me looking like the king of the jungle... I mean park

I am DOG, hear me pant!


Trying to look pensive....

The Thinker



I hope my M gets the idea that I'm not very keen on cycling with her. Or else I may have to resort to more drastic measure, like collasping in the middle of the pavement in full view of strangers so that they will call the SPCA.