Just a couple of end-of-the-year things. Don't want to leave anyone hanging going in to the new year.

First off - do you remember this post?

• And then, mom and sis had to go somewhere. Dad took me on a really long walk. I met a Sheryl. She was sort of sad, so I cheered her up. She used to have 2 st. bernards, a newfie and a lab/mutt. OK, so not all at once. They only had the St. Bernard, the Newfie and the lab/mutt at one time. They had a first St. Bernard before the 2nd St. Bernard. Sheryl really liked me. I really liked her. But now, all their dogs are at the Rainbow Bridge. I gave her some labby leans, and some labby kisses. I tried to convince her she should get another dog. Just like me. Ok, so the new dog doesn't have to be just like me, it just has to be someone fun for me to play with. I like big doggies!

Well, I am prouder than proud to introduce my new friend Jeeves. His person is Sheryl, and um, what's his name. I usually see Sheryl, not, um, what's his name. In case you are wondering, um, what's his name is the dad. They got a new dog. He is kind of a 'mutt-ure" guy like me, except he isn't a mutt. He is just 100% lovable St. Bernard, and he is about 5 years old.

They found him on the computer at some place called the Detroit Humane Society. That is very far away from here. Apparently Sheryl and um, what's his name decided just from the picture and his description that he would be far better off on this side of the lake. So, they went and got him and made him a brand new home here. His name is Jeeves. He found a great home. Just like me.

Funny thing though about Jeeves and Me. We like to meet and greet each other on walks. And, I don't even get jealous when Jeeves gives my walker (i.e. dad, mom or sis) a "labby lean." Except, he puts a little more weight into his labby leans. Just so Sheryl doesn't feel left out, when Jeeves gives my people a labby lean, I always give Sheryl a labby lean. Fair is fair. And, Jeeves is fun to walk with too.

Hey Jeeves: WELCOME HOME!!!

OK, the other big thing that happened is, my daily accomodations. You know, the ones when sis is at school and mom and dad are at work. I used to go into a crate. Then I got to not go into the crate and have part of the house. I could only go into the kitchen, the front hall, the steps, and the upstairs hallway. Well, that was OK for a while, like a month. Then, I kept seeing these navy blue couches. They just looked way to comfy. Because I am really smart, I figured out a way to get to those really comfy, navy couches. It was hard to cover my tracks, because, well lets just face it - I shed. Almost white dog hair shows up REALLY good on navy couches. Mom was not happy.

So, we came up with a nice compromise. In a room called the living room, which used to be the toy room when sis was little, and now it is a craft room, there is this really big pink couch. The couch was born in 1984. How old is that couch in dog years? Well, the reality is, the answer doesn't matter. That's because I get to use that couch any time I want to. Yep. Any time I want it. They usually have a dumb sheet on it, to keep the hair off the couch. But I don't care. It is just plain old soft.

(Don't tell Dad though - I'm not sure he knows I go up there during the day.) You may remember that he was never going to let me go in any of the bedrooms, in the office, I was supposed to be in a crate all day. He's really a big softy.

The other fun thing, I got to see my trainer Beth just before Christmas. I hope Ollie wasn't mad at me. My mom gave Beth some cookies, but I didn't have anything to give Ollie. I'm sure Ollie would have loved some treats too, but we only gave Beth some people stuff. Sorry Ollie. I'll try to sneak you some the next time I see you!

And with that, I think I don't have any more loose ends. so...

5

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1...

Happy New Year!

Dad needs to get back to work.

Full time. Permanently. Well at least Monday thru Friday. Sis is OK home on Christmas break. Dad - well, he is driving me nuts.

Mom went to work today. Dad went in for just a couple of hours. Then he came home. He wanted me to play a joke on mom when she got home tonight. Let me lay this on the line: MOM DOESN'T LIKE TO PLAY JOKES RIGHT WHEN SHE GETS HOME. I've got a pretty good sense about this. She does, however, like to see a handsome, "mutt-ure" guy like me, with a wagging tail.

So. right when mom walked into the house, I went to say "hi", and wag my tail. I am just cuter than the dickens when I am wagging my tail. Dad tries to bribe me over to come over by him with liver sausage. At first, I went by mom. Then I went over by dad, and as soon as my mom said "Riley, come" I did.

Oh, yeah, I know that I was getting big "mom points". Heck, I knew dad was going to give me the liver sausage anyway.

Twas the morning of Christmas

at 0500; HARK

not a creature was stirring

except the dog that went BARK

**Bark Number 4, registered at 5:06a.m. on Christmas morning. Just an interesting dream perhaps? Maybe he heard the jolly Santa Claus? Maybe he wanted to go play with the reindeer? Who knows!!!

"Twas the night before Christmas,

And all through the hut,

Not a creature was stirring,

Not even the mutt!

I would like to take a moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Love,

Riley

This is how a dog can get kicked out of a pet store. Permanently.

So, mom and dad took me to my favorite pet store yesterday. Just to get a bath. They thought I started smelling like a dog. I didn't notice anything smelling bad. They took me anyway.

Mom and dad were just going to give me a bath at the pet store, but there were several problems. The first problem was the newfoundland that got there before us. He clogged up the sink before he was even all the way wet. Then they had to call the maintenance guy to undo the plumbing to get the hair out. I was kind of hoping that we'd just go home instead, or maybe to the dog park.

Unfortunately, there was an opening for a shampoo, blow dry, and a nail clipping. I came out of that with a oatmeal kind of bath. I got stuck getting a bath anyway.

But anyway back to the original story. If you, as a dog, will bite the shampoo girl, they will not be happy with you at the grooming salon. And, if you really don't want to come back to the store, then bite the cashier too. You'll be banned from the store permanently.

Yep, that is what a cocker spaniel did yesterday. This dog won't be coming back, not ever.

I would never bite the shampoo girl. She was nice. She got me all wet. Did you know that us labbies like water? Then she gave me a really nice massage. Then somehow, I was pretty dry before my mom and dad took me home.

Riley the Velcro Dog.

My mom and sis went out of town last Friday. They didn't come home for 24 hours. I was a little bummed. Apparently, they had "stamping" stuff to do. I was really happy to see them come home. I stuck to my mom like Velcro.

I was stuck to my mom so tight, that somehow, Dad snuck out of town for 3 days, and no one asked me if it was OK. He is in some place called South Dakota.

I went to the vet today.

It was mostly fun, except when they took my temperature. If anyone from a medical supply company wants to invent something - I have an idea. Just invent a doggy tympanic thermometer. They are the ear thermometers. My sis gets to have her temperature taken with one.

But anyways, back to the vet. My mom and dad thought I was drooling excessively for the last couple of days. Today, I was hardly drooling at all. But they took me anyway. No biggy (except for the thermometer thing).

I did get a little bad news though. When I did my first vet visit with Dr. Beachum, he said I needed to gain about enough wait to get up to 65 pounds. Now, I am 65.8 pounds. Darn it all, I am at my perfect weight. Hopefully, they won't stop giving me treats, and all the food that I am used to getting.

Oh and if you are concerned about my health, don't be. Apparently whatever is bothering my is working its way out of my system, that's why I was drooling less today than yesterday or the day before.

I met a new dog today at the vet. She was a 1 yr old chocolate lab. She was, well, um, she probably needed a little more exercise than she is currently getting. Her name was Mocha. Mocha's mom was talking to the vet tech about possibly adopting one of the vet tech's puppies. That way Mocha would have a brother or sister. I wouldn't advise it though. Note to Mocha's mom: In case you missed it, a 100 pound dog jumped on your back while you were paying the bill. YOU SHOULDN'T GET ANOTHER DOG UNTIL YOU'VE GOT CONTROL OF THE FIRST ONE.

My dad is the coolest...

We live in Wisconsin, and to celebrate December, we decided to have just a little snowfall on December 1st. So, out by us, dad estimated it was about 14".

I had fun helping dad shovel the snow. I helped lots.

And then, dad shoveled a path out to the back of the yard. Ok, it was only out to the middle of the yard. Hey - I take care of business back there!

Well he didn't exactly shovel it, he used something called a deere. I thought a deere was a 4-legged animal. You know - the things mom doesn't like to see when she is driving. But, color me confused, and I'll just appreciate the favor that dad did for me.