My bad. I have not written in my blog for such a long time. I just want everyone to know that I am having a birthday on Friday, August 31. I am going to reach the grand old age of 9. I think in dogs years that is 9 – mom says I will always be a K-9. Somehow all those 9’s means “Golden”. You know mom really wanted a “Golden” retriever. Dad didn’t want the shedding hair from Golden’s. I got the last laugh – you should see some of the hairballs I leave behind in this house! Mom and Dad – I really like you. You are aware it’s my birthday, right?

So back to the birthday. I am begging you with the saddest eyes you can imagine. I really want a big screen TV. Why? Because someone else is writing this. What a scam. I need to take lessons from sis about begging for birthdays. That girl gets the mother lode of presents. She knows how to work the system. She starts early and begs hard! Hey sis – Christmas is only 118 days away. Start your begging now!! Sis I really love you. You do know it’s my birthday, right?

Dad took a week off of work. Some guys came that week and painted the house. That was fun – they ate their lunches at dog level. Yes the opportunity was there for me to share their food as they ate it. I was a gentleman and didn’t eat those yummy bologna sandwiches. Stupid – they didn’t even share. They told dad a story about a Doodle [Poodle-Lab Mix] stealing one of their lunches and eating it while they were working. Come on guys – if you don’t take care of us we’ll take care of ourselves. Stacy’s cousin Sam was here that week. I like Sam; hopefully she knows it’s my birthday.

Mom & dad went on a date that week. They went train watching in Rochelle, IL. Sounded like a romantic day. Sub sandwiches at the deli, dad bought mom a sweatshirt at Wal-Mart and they watched trains with all the train geeks in the rain. Mom you should have stayed home with me. On Sunday sis went to the Brewers game with a friend. Sis's cousin and his parents went to the same game; but sis did not “connect” with them because she was too busy socializing. The Brewers probably know it is my birthday, I'm sure they'll announce it on the jumbotron during the sausage race. Did you know sausages would make a perfect present for a dog's birthday?

Last week it rained. It rained some more. It rained after that. I am not complaining – I’m a Lab. It was great that week. Dad was in South Dakota so mom had dog walking duty. Mom’s the sucker – she braved the wet weather and took me for my two daily walks. I’ve noticed dad has been getting lazy about that – there’s a couple of rainy mornings that dad blew off my walk and, in my opinion, he was just being a lazy “butt”. It’s OK that’s he’s a lazy butt. I like him anyways. Hey Dad, do you know what Friday is?

Grandma Donna found a sock left by visitors to her house. They’re not mine. However if you find any dog treats from the dog bakery those are mine. Hey grandma and grandpa – I really like you. You do know it’s my birthday coming up?

Hey – I got some early treats for my birthday. There are some really nice neighbors; Bill and Patti who always give me treats when we meet on walks. I have not seen them for a while [they only “have” to take walks when Apollo is visiting]. Tonight I didn’t get to see them, however they was a couple of dog treats on the driveway that spelled “HI”. You had to be there – I ate them and now the message is gone. I really like Bill and Patti; they treat me like everyday is my birthday.

Enough about me and my birthday. Did you know that on September 10 it will be my one year anniversary living here . .