Its Me! Ali Z!

Hi Kitties and Pups!

Just a few letters today, but something important at the bottom, so stay with us!

Those big guys, those Splorin' Wolfies, want to know what Stella and I are hoping for from Santa this year?
Hmmm, Wolfies, we haven't made out our lists yet but I know I want to trade my boom box in on a music system and also get a new, bigger mirror for my dance moves.  Stella just said she wants world peace and a balanced budget, and some new squeaky toys.  Ah, well, to each his own!

Mack and Sally Ann want to know what we do for fun . . .I love to dance to my favorite samba tunes, play the piano, watch dvd movies and pop corn.  Stella likes to eat my popcorn, read the paper, go on long walks, throw her squeaky toys around, and bug Mom. Stella falls asleep at the movies. What about you guys?

Huffle Mawson, Explorer Cat wrote saying:  We don't have Thanksgiving Day in Australia, so can you tell me whats it in for the kitties?  Do you get something special?    Sorry to hear you are missing a holiday, Huffle.  The humans like to think about what they are grateful for, then they cook a huge dinner that would feed everybody they ever knew.  We pets might get some meaty morsels of this food, but mostly they don't want to upset our little tummies and don't give us much from the table (rrrrow!)  Then the day after is Black Friday where all the stores have big sales, the big eaters struggle up out of their chairs and go shopping. Sometimes we score something from that.  Maybe a bandanna, or a toy or treats made for us kitties and pups.  Its not my favorite holiday but Stella likes it because she got two big meatballs in her dish.  They were "too spicy" for me. Humph!

The OP Pack asked if we got some turkey on Thanksgiving. . .No we didn't.  My Mom says we eat quite a bit of Turkey during the rest of the year so we mostly had swedish meatballs and lots of veggie things.  Not that I got any, of course.  Stella does OK though

Thanks for writing and I love to answer your questions.

Meow, meow
Ali Zophia

From Mom:

There is an important article in this weeks TIME (December 7) magazine.  An article called Abused No More featuring Pit Bulls who have been rescued from the fight ring. The headline says: The largest dogfighting crackdown in history rescued more than 500 tortured pit bulls.  But the next step is tougher; rehabilitating--and finding homes for---canines who have know nothing but violence.
   It contains a heartbreaking gallery of photos of many of these dogs, which is hard to look at and harder to read about, but we need to know these things.

This is going out early because tomorrow I go for my one day snooter surgery!  Wish me well!

Jo

So long Holiday, Hello Regular Work!

Hi all you pups and kitties!

My Mom says Holidays in the middle of the week get her all mixed up but we are pretty sure today is Monday!  Happy New Week to evfurry buddy!

Our Pal Dennis the Vizsla dog was  nice enough to give us an award on Sunday.  Just in case you are wondering what Dennis is up to, he has a Darth Vader thing going on now, ahhh, so funny, don't you just love that crazy guy!  We are supposed to say where it came from and then we are supposed to hand it out to 15 favorite blogs.  Now thats hard to do, because  15 is a lot of blogs, so I have about five blogs  that I have time to give it to.  Three Dog Blog is one and there is a lot in there about geriatric dogs, which is a good thing to know, then I will say KB who takes us to the Rockies and wild critters and all the fun she has.  OK, thats two, then how about the Fl.SunDogs Trio, thats a good blog, then The Happy Heelers are always fun to see, either arguing or swimming or herding.  They have a blast.  One last one!  I have to go back to one of my newest pals Cloud the Wonder Dog who is singlefootedly trying to rid the world of squirrels.  Do we owe him a debt or what?

Now I read lots of other blogs and love them all, so you can just help yourself to this award and if anyone asks say Stella sent you!

A new blog to me is The Other End of the Leash written by Patricia McConnell.  Those of you who read and love her books will further enjoy this blogspot.  The blurb on the header says : Welcome to an ongoing inquiry about the behavior of people and dogs. I would like this to be a forum for people who are both intellectually and emotionally fascinated by the behavior of the animals at both ends of the leash. My hope is that it will become a place for an informed and thoughtful consideration of the amazing relationship between people and dogs—my two favorite species."  This is gonna be great, I say!

My Mom and I walked to town this morning and she gets all bent out of shape because I have to stop and sniff all the tires of all the pickup trucks we pass.  Not cars, just pickups.  Do any of you other dogs do this? I think maybe I was a country dog when I was a pup, but the smell is just the best.

Kisses,

Stella

My Rescue Story

Norwood is looking for us to post our rescue stories.  I am happy to do that, but mine isn't very long or dramatic!

In October of  2008, I had been in the slammer for three months!  That is an awful long time to a 2 year old pup.  I am mixed Border Collie and Labrador (a Borador!) and I had lots of energy and no where to spend it.  This is what I looked like:

One day my to-be Mom came into the Shelter to help around and had no thoughts of taking a pup home.  Her 16 year old Scottie Otis had passed two years ago and she thought she wouldn't have another dog.
(I fixed that right up!)   She didn't even look at me that first day.  The second day, she did start to think about getting another dog.  She stopped right in front of my cage!  She told one of the helpers that she had given it some serious thought and decided she wanted a medium sized female with a good disposition.  She wanted a dog that she wouldn't have to dress up in a little outfit just to go for a walk.  Then she asked this question:  Does this female have a good disposition?  The helper said, she did, she was wonderful when she first came in, but she gets more depressed and sad as the days go on.  Then my Mom said, I will take her!  So I got operated on, and then adopted to my Mom.  After three months in jail!  My Mom asked why no one looked at me and the woman said because a lot of people don't like black dogs!  Is that sad or what?

So, I have been here a year and a month, I love my Mom and she loves me.  My Mom is profoundly deaf, so I can help her with the door knockings and when the phone rings. 

I love my home, and my new bed, and even that dumb cat Ali Z is not so bad anymore.  I am a good girl who stays out of trouble because thats the way I like it and Mom does too.    When my Mom said she would take me, she never opened the door to my cage, or took me for a walk or petted me.  She just looked at me and Knew I was the right one.  We have worked out any problems we may have had.  If you want to see what I look like now, here is a pic of me on the back porch!

             A little different would you say?  Support rescue every chance you get, there are lots of good dogs like me just waiting, just waiting for you to point and say "That one!"

Love and kisse,
Stella

Be Nice to Others because You Never Know!

Hi Pups and Kitties:

In case you haven't seen this, it is just about the cutest I've looked at for a long time.  After you look at it, listen hard and that woo-woo laugh you hear will be all the Sibes and Mals breaking up over this.

Its at Hemmy.net about mid-way down the page.

This will be my Wordless Wednesday offering, and maybe I am on Huffle time, (as an honorary Husky, she is gonna love this!) 

I hope you all haven't SEEN it! 

Kisses,

Stella

Its Me! Ali Z!

Hi there Kitties and Pups!

Everyone getting ready for the Thanksgiving holiday?  We send our best wishes and hope you have a lovely time. 

Last week everyone seemed more interested in the Fat Squirrels than anything we had to say, but cest la vie!

We have just a few questions today so lets get on with them.  The OP Pack wonders what have those squirrels been eating to get so fat?  I think its sunflower seeds myself.  We had a dog that liked to eat the remainders under the bird feeder and she got so fat she could barely walk before we figured out what it was. Leave it to a dog, though, right?

The Thundering Herd said those are serious squirrels . . .have they been lifting weights?   No just porking up on anything they can find to eat, nuts, or other fatty stuff that will get them through the winter.  Maybe they do lift little weights in their dens, have a regular workout thing going on.  Maybe there is a squirrel Jack LaLanne who gives them lessons.  Who knows?  Check out the pic below, he may be the trainer.

Army of Four in the person of Sgt. Zim said we don't have squirrels, doesn't that seem terribly unfair?  I got news for you Zim, there are millions of huge squirrels in your area and a military action taking place to get rid of them.  I am so surprised you don't know this.  Take a look at this picture:

They say they don't get much bigger than this one, which everyone in KS ought to be grateful for. You guys should check in at your home base, you are needed!

KB asks How do you teach a Wild Lab Puppy to be nice to Cats?  Oh My, what a question to ask a Cat.

I would guess maybe sedating the dog for a couple of years might help.  Send the dog to charm school or what might be obedience school with a major in Appropriate Cat Behavior.  Otherwise it requires real vigilance on the part of the dog owner/cat owner to see that the dog isn't hurting the cat.  I mean once when our Mom wasn't looking Stella put her whole mouth over my head. Talk about repulsive!  However, I am a declawed cat so I have always been at a disadvantage with dogs.  If the cats have claws and are quick they can inflict some pain on the dog which sometimes helps in Doggy Nice Lessons.  If anyone else has any suggestions, let us know, please.

Dennis the Vizsla asks Why is Trouble (his Kitty) such a Prima Donna?.  Oh, could it be anything to do with you, your goofy brother Tucker the Vizsla, the beautiful Trixie Big Dog stomping around in her territory, trying to talk her into doing things she doesn't want to do?  Yes, I think that could be part of it.  The other part of it is that she is just being a cat, she has little or no interest in anything you dogs do as long as you leave her alone, her food and water dish alone, her bed and her condo alone.  Her. Alone. 

Thats it for this week, please send me some non-squirrel questions to answer and I will do my best.  Keep those cards and letters coming!

Happy Turkey Day,

Ali Zophia

Okay, Okay!!!

I know when I have had a bad idea and will own up to it.  I thought maybe lots of dogs did damage to their homes and would like to brag about it, but only a few did and as usual Dennis the Vizsla is the hands-down winner.  He did about 400elevenseven million dollars worth of damage to his house and furniture (and they kept him, what love!) and no body else is much admitting to doing damage or monetary value.    Dogs write and say, sorry, I just don't do that kind of thing, or they do little things but not any more.  So we will cancel this little exercise and give Dennis the prize ( he must have a whole wall covered with them by now) as the Champeen Furniture Ruinator of All Time.  The prize will be on its way to you sometime later than now.  Here is a picture of Dennis contemplating what might be next on his agenda.  One thing though, Dennis has a blog that is more fun than anything, you can write imaginative comments and just have lots of laughs!  By the way, here is Dennis' winning entry:

                      hello stella its dennis the vizsla dog ummm ok heer is an estimat of the stuff wot i hav allejedly destroyd!!!

lether chayse lowndj wot cost about $3,000
lether sofa wot cost about $1,800
a windo seet wot cost nuthing on akkownt of it kaym with the howse
a ikea chair and futstool wot cost about $200
a futstul frum the kompany store (i think) wot cost about $80
almost evry pillo and blanket in the howse wot probly cost oh i dont no $150 all together
stuffeez but those dont kownt
the eksternal hard drive for mamas kompyooter wot cost about $100
i tried to destroy mamas ipod tutch but it wuz tuffer then it luks howevr i did manadj to dent it
a wire krate wot cost nothing on akkownt of sumwun gayv it to mama and dada for free
oh i forgot i also destroyd at leest haf a duzzen payrs of mamas shooz and varyus artikuls of her klothing!!! but mama buyz cheep shooz from faymus futware so that hardly kownts!!! oh and also the subjekt of the email shud be stuf wot i allejedly destroyd!!!! ok bye

ummm i feel like i am forgitting sum stuf but yoo no how hard it is to keep trak of theez things wen yoo dont rite them down!!! but i gess that is enu for now wot is that like $5,300 wurth of stuf??? thats a smal price to play for the plezzhur of my kompany dont yoo think??? ok bye  Dennis

For the small time furniture chewer, you must be an inspiration, Dennis.  You would be for me, Dennis, but, uh, I just don't do that kind of thing!

Next time I come up with an idea like this, somebody STOP ME, please!

Kisses,
Stella

Its Me! Ali Z!

Hello Kitties and Pups!

Things have calmed down here a bit today and so we have a few questions to get at!

The Thundering Herd asked if  we got the new appliance boxes to play in, saying they try to eat them!

We have a small house and since I am an indoor cat, I don't get these things.  My Mom does use smaller boxes with holes and windows she cuts that I can play in.  It amuses her for a time, so I do it.  Do you eat the boxes or just the glue?

Khyra The Siberian says  Oh Dang! How Will I Make it Until THEN? (after I wrote and said my column would be delayed.).  Uh, I would hope perhaps you could watch some television, or maybe walk with your Mom, or perhaps your Doggy Nanny would read you a story.  Maybe go take agility classes or learn Flyball like Dennis the Viszla does.  Its a big world out there, dear!

Hamish the Westie asked if our new appliances were going to do anything useful for Stella and myself.  You would know Hamish, that a nice warm blanket just out of the dryer on a cold day is nothing to turn up ones nose about, is it?  I love that.  But you also asked what appliance would be handiest for Stella or myself.

We don't know if its been invented yet, but we can agree on this one thing.  We would like an automatic scratching machine.  Where we could go right up to it, and put our itchy part next to it and it would gently scratch us as long as we wanted.  Our Mom will do this for us now and then, but you know, we want it for Anytime!  What would you think of that?

Cloud the Wonder Dog says that the squirrels in his yard are the fattest he has seen and he wonders why this is.  This is simple, Cloud, they have plenty to eat and are filling up, not just their store rooms, but their tummies!  The females will be coming out with babies in the spring, so they like to store up weight for the days ahead.  Are your squirrels as fat as these are?  Watch out for them if they are!  Maybe the fat will slow them down so you can catch them?

All for this time,

meow, meow,

Ali Zophia

Cleaning up and a dog challenge!

Hi Pups and Kitties:

Today all we got is a new washer and drier.  My Mom says when you get old everything starts breaking down about the time you do!  She thinks that things lasted her parents a whole lot longer than they do her.
She had a lot of years (about 25) on the washer but she heard of someone the other day who only got seven  years.  Pitiful!

Dog Challenge

We were just over to Joe Stain's blog and his Mom replaced the couch in her livingroom because she said Joe and Tanner ruined it.  A little guy named Fred commented and so did Dennis the Viszla.  That made me think about how much money goes up the chimney for ruined by dogs furniture.  Now I know Dennis is a champ, but so are the Thundering Herd.    So here is what you do.  Just send me a  note at letoile@arvig.net
telling me what you ruined and how much it cost to replace it.  Then when we get some entries in we will give a prize to the biggest, baddest shredder  and one second prize.  Cats can join in but I really doubt they have the jaw power for this game.  We'll make November 30 the final date.  Share this with your friends too.  We want to see some big numbers here!  A picture won't hurt, but we'll take your word!

Kisses,

Stella

Its Me, Ali Z!

Goodmorning!  I am unable to do my column today because my mother has the house in an uproar!

Yes, we are getting ready for new appliances and we are throwing some things out and everything is just in too much of a mess for me to concentrate.

I will be back on Thursday, November 19th and this will give you a chance to write some new questions for me to help you with. Just fill in a comment for me, Ali Z.

Raow!  I don't like this!

Ali Zophia

An Irresistible Puppy in a Funky, Home knit Sweater!

This is Stella's Mom writing today.  I love to surf the net, and sometimes I find very good things and other times just so-so.

Today was a very good thing.  From Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon I get the Daily Dose.  This is a book recommended by a reader as something very special and Powell's sends it out daily.   This book is
Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitter's Guide: Stories , Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Answers, Jokes and Pictures. by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne.  You wouldn't even need to be a knitter to like a lot of this stuff, Stories, Advice, Opinions, Answers, Jokes.  Anybody could like that.  Then in the writing about this book was a url for a knitter's blog  http://www.masondixonknitting.com/   Which I visited because I AM a knitter.  The very first thing I saw was this photo of Kay Gardiner's dog Olive wearing a sweater that she had knitted for her.  And I lost my mind, my brain was overcome with cuteness!
                                                                                

I have had lots of cute little dogs in my life, from puppies like Olive to older dogs, but I have never had one even half this cute with a funky sweater on.  I just wanted you all to see her.

Thanks to Kay for allowing me to post Olive's picture.  Yes, I still love Stella and will forever.

Cheers and hugs all around,

Jo, Stella's Mom

I don't have my homework because . . .

My dog peed on it or because my dog ate it!  Teachers get these excuses all the time. But we think it is crummy that kids and maybe even some adults use US nobel creatures for their excuses.  But whats this?

We were reading Time magazine and in the Verbatim section it said this:

SOMETIMES THE DOG DOES EAT YOUR HOMEWORK

Phil Malone, director of the cyberlaw clinic at Harvard University,

explaining that viruses can deposit illegal nasty content

on the computers of unwitting victims, causing innocent people

to be branded as users of this stuff.

What could be worse than this!  Blaming Dogs for it, thats what!

Try blaming bad peoples for it who do naughty things like this.

I know some cats who might do it, but I don't know of even

one dog who would.

Can we sue Harvard U for defamation of characters?

I think we should!

Think about it!

Kisses,

Stella

Special Event for Snickers!

Fergi and Jake are doing a very special event for Snickers tomorrow.  Snickers has been very, very sick and needs the Power of the Paw for help!  Thats you, by the way!

Here is what Fergi and Jake have said:

Last night looked as if it might have been her last.
This morning she rebounded with improved symptoms.

She is far from out of the woods
But she and her family
Including her gentle and loving brother Butchy
Have been granted another day.

We can’t help but believe
that part of the improvement is because of
The support and love that have surrounded her
From all around the world

Thanks to the linked paws
Of her blogging friends.
The Power of the Paw
We are asking everyone to set your alarms
And at exactly 11:00 PM GMT on Saturday 14 Nov 09

(Go to this link to find what time that is for you)

5:00 PM Saturday evening in Iowa
as Snickers' family sits down to eat
Turn toward them (in the central USA)
And join together in a silent minute
Of prayer, meditation, contemplation, reflection
Whatever feels right to you.


Followed by whatever means of communication
You choose.

Arrooing
Barking
Howling
Yipping
Yapping
Wooing
Meowing
Mewing
Purring

To wish and send Miss Snickers and her family
whatever is in your hearts
That will help them feel the Love and Support
They need right now.

Personally, we’ll be praying for a Miracle.
Then
Blow a Kiss
and send your Love and Prayers and Best Wishes
to Miss Snickers and her Family
and they will feel their arrival
in the breeze.


So do your very best to join all of Snickers' furiends and friends as we do what we can to help. If you can also help us spread the word, send out emails, post it on your blog, and feel free to copy the special banner of Snickers.

We have all helped a lot of dogs in serious illness and here is a chance for one more special one!  Be there!

Kisses,

Stella

Ali Z and Brazil!

Hello People, Pups, Kitties:

I really have no idea why you think I want to give you any details about my Samba workshop in Sao Palo, its really none of your business at all.  Would you want to tell me all about a special vacation you might have had?  I doubt it.

We had wonderful music (turn up your sound and hear some Bossa Nova ) to dance to all day.  We danced slow, fast, faster and interpretive.  It was all more than wonderful.  You saw a photo of my instructor, Lucas
Felipe Marcos, we had a grand time dancing every single day .  Then in the evenings we would seek out food and drink and a secluded place to be together.  He decided after a short time he wished to come home with me, and he did, but we got as far as Iowa and he said it was much too cold for him and he would have to hitch a ride south.  Which he did.  I continued on with my friends and enjoyed coming home.  Do you know it is very much Jungle there?  My first family de-clawed me, can you imagine me in the jungle?  No, No, No!

Fortunately, my mother has a collection of old Brazilian music tapes, and I play them much of the day now that I am home.  I have also had a large mirror delivered to my upstairs quarters where I can see my skills in Samba improve each day. 

I am only sorry that I no longer have an exciting, skilled partner to dance with, but thats life, isn't it?  For those of you who may not have seen Lucas dancing, here is a photo of him.

Such an exciting dancer!  All interpretive, never the same!  This is what I am  working toward, but it is not so easy to dance like this.  You have to be in excellent physical condition, and I am also working on that.

So thats all for now, I wish I had some photos of Brazil, but it was all dance, dance, dance.

Meow, meow,

Ali Zophia

Peeess:  I meant to add this url for a You Tube lesson in a most elemental box step Samba. Its very pretty though and you might like to give it a try with the right music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKI2W98XqSk

A new award!

Today we received an award from Kitty City Gazette telling us they like our blog.
Isn't that nice?

Thanks Kitty City Gazette!

Kisses,
Stella

Its Me, Ali Z!

Hi Kitties and Pups,

As you know, I have been on a little vacation and I am somewhat behind so

lets get started with our questions!

The question I am most concerned about has come from Cloud who is worried about his cat, Boomer. Boomer, it seems is eating cobwebs and Cloud wonders if it is safe.  I did quite a bit of research on this Cloud, but what I found from one professional person is this:

<

Since spiders catch various insects, etc., in their webs, I'd not allow her to eat the webs as they and their contents can cause digestive and intestinal problems in your cat's system.>>  So that is it, call in Molly Maids or get rid of the cobwebs somehow.  Do let us know if Boomer is doing OK.

The Splorin' Wolfies wrote asking my why I am scared of Stella and retreat when she misbehaves.  Why not fight back?   Ah Wolfies, that is an easy question for a dog that stands three feet tall and weighs about 200 lbs .  First of all, I am not nearly as scared of Stella as I was once.  I have learned that I am smarter than she is, that I can run faster in the house, and can jump much higher.  As far as trying to fight her, it would be like a puppy fighting a bear.  Just not smart.  We'll be fine, thanks!

Martha and Bailey asked if I liked to dance when listening to my favorite Samba music.   Why, Martha, of course, it is the most danceable music in the world.  I think everyone would be happier if they danced a little every day, either alone or with a partner.  My partner?  Always my secret!

Steve,Kat and Wilbur wrote their cat Wilbur, continues being rude and they feel they are not thinking bad thoughts of him, or that he is attacking Steve when Kat dislikes him more.  This cat bites their Mom!
Steve, I really think someone should get this cat some psychiatric counseling.  I don't feel a family should have to live with this kind of abuse.  He may need to go off to an institution for a while until he gets straightened out.  He may require a program that will bring his whole family to sessions.  Its hard to say, but I will say this cat needs some serious help.

Florida Sundogs Trio wrote about a cat who went berserk in their home, knocking things down, breaking plants , a large picture, and lamps.   Trio, this is very hard to imagine a cat that is so totally out of control.  Was she alone during this time?  Does she have weather fears or noise fears?  What do you think started this?  Is this something she has done before?  You need to give this some serious thought and regain control of this cat.  I say she did it out of fear, and you might want to think about what she is afraid of and how to change  it.  Let me know what you have done and tell me more.

Max of South Africa was concerned about Cloud's question and wondered if Boomer is just trying to confuse the Cloud.  I suppose that would be easy enough to do, Max, but they are observing Boomer's behavior and seem very concerned.  You asked me is it correct not to trust a cat?    What does correctness have to do with this, Max?  You trust those you find trustworthy and don't trust those you don't.  If you are suggesting cats are devious, well, we have to be sometimes.  But I don't think that applies here. 

Mom's friend Khyra wrote about our possibility of a pet activated camera and wondered if it is (in her interesting language) a khollar kham?  Thats a collar camera for those of you who don't speak khyraese.
Khyra I am sorry we have nothing to report this time.  I had hoped to have it this week but because of my trip to Brazil, I didn't get anything done on it.  I will work this week and see if I can't report on it next time.  We want something that would be operable at all levels, which would rule out the khollar kham.

KB wrote saying she didn't know that cats knew about so many things . ..maybe I need a cat in my life!
KB, I think a cat in your life would be very restful and pleasant to have around.  And lets see, you have three big dogs, right?  Order three muzzles and all should work out fine.

Thanks to everyone for writing and I love reading your mail!  A special thanks to my good friend Huffle Mawson who loves to tell me I am wise and who doesn't like to hear that!

Meow, Meow,

Ali Zophia

Some stuff from Stella

Hello Pups and Kitties!

She made it back home.  That rowdy Ali Zophia had quite a trip too.  She isn't saying much about it though and we asked her if her instructor, Lucas Miguel Marcos, came with her.  She said something about getting as far as Iowa and he decided this was a cold climate he couldn't live in so he hitched a ride South.  Me and my Mom cannot say we are sorry about this, we sort of dreaded another tempermental cat in the house.  She says despite that her feet hurt, she will have her column ready for tomorrow.  Nice to know she will (ahem) dance on for us! (heh, heh)

My Mom got a small book of poems about dogs, called Doggerel and she says it has some great poems in it from way back when until now.    She found one that she thought you guys would just love.  Its called A Dog's Eye View written by Amelia Josephine Burr who might well have had it dictated to her by her dog.  

A Dog's Eye View

The people whom I take to walk
I love and yet deplore,
Such things of real importance
They persistently ignore.
The sights and smells that thrill me
They stolidly pass by,
Then stop and stare in rapture
At nothing in the sky.

They waste such time in stopping
To look at things like flowers
They pick the dullest places
To settle down for hours.
Sometimes I really wonder
If they can hear and smell;
Such vital things escape them---
And yet they mean so well!

Is that perfect or what? 

Ali Z. will see you tomorrow and I will see you on Wednesday!

Kisses,
Stella

Thanks and thanks and thanks!

First of all to a friend, Susie, who happened across the Samba workshop Ali Z is attending and sent this photo of her instructor Lucas Miguel Marcos in an interpretive dance.  She said she couldn't get any photos of Ali Z herself.   Classroom photos were prohibited.  But she did get a short conversation with her that she would be home this weekend and MAY bring Lucas Miguel Marcos with her!  Love in Sao Paulo!

Also to those who felt our support of Martha and Bailey was good and appropriate, thanks.  I have never decked a stuffee before and this wasn't easy but I felt it was the only right thing for me to do.  I doubt that I will be able to do it again, but I suppose it all depends on the circumstances.  To those of you who routinely kill off stuffees, you need to find another method to express your support.  A hunger strike perhaps, but whatever its gotta hurt a little!  And to Beckett and Cloud, No it wasn't fun, and no, I don't like doing it.

For those of you who wished my Mom well regarding her snooter, things are looking pretty good.  On December 1st she will go back and have Mohs Surgery, which is highly successful (99% cure rate), and its a one day thing, she will be home that late afternoon.  So, again, thanks for all of your good wishes, from my Mom and from me.

Congrats to all you Yankee fans who have been cheering your boys on, and to you Phillies fans, there is always next year.

Kisses,

Stella

A Big Pup Thing!

I think most of you know that Martha and Bailey are on strike re photo taking.  They are not permitting any pictures and if their Mum does try she will get wiggles, movement or a turned head.

The Army of Four wrote they plan a sympathetic action and will do the same .

I do this waggley, wiggly moving stuff all the time, this is not anything new for me.  So today, I did something in support of Martha and Bailey and the AO4 I have never, ever done before.  Its a little emotional for me, I want to say I'm glad I did it, and I will say that.

I killed a Stuffee!

There is a dead Stuffee in my livingroom right now.  Stuffee Gutz all over the floor.  My Mom is pretty upset, but its for a good cause and if it helps one parent to understand how tired we are of 24/7 picture taking, it will be worth it.

Sincerely,

Stella

Here is the Scoop!

Hi  Pups and Kitties!

Hows everybuddy?  I don't really have any big important news, just that we are gonna be gone for a day or more.

I'm not gonna be gone, just my Mom is.  She is going west to Fargo, ND to have some work done on her snooter.  We don't think its gonna be anything big, but it needs to be taken care of.  Remember a while ago, she had a little surgery on her snooter and it turned out there was some bad stuff in it and they didn't get it all. So try, try again, thats our motto.  I hope they fix it good because Sniffing is SO Important!

Ali Z will be taking the week off.  She is going to a Samba workshop for Cats in Brazil.  She is pretty excited and I think most of you are like me, we hope she likes it there enough to stay for a whole long time (furever maybe!).  Mom says that is NOT nice, but hey, its how lots of us feel (right Khyra? right Cloud?)
So don't look for her Dear Ali column tomorrow, but you sure can send in questions and she will get them next week (Oh, I know she's coming back, they always do!)

It was sure fun looking at all you pups and kitties in your Halloween costumes.  You all looked pretty cute, but Dory's Mama bribed her with Cheetos, toys, and big bonez to wear the squirrel suit.  If, FORCED, I would maybe wear a tee shirt or a cap, but there are not enough goodies in this world to get me to wear a squirrel suit.  Sorry, Dory, its just how I feel.

Other big news, which really isn't mine, but I hear Peewee is getting snipped so he can go to Doggie Daycare.  The poor guy was told he was gonna get tutored and he was all excited about it.

Here is another thing my Mom was excited to run across. Life as a Prison Puppy .  Remember a while ago she talked about NEADS  and prisoners training dogs.  This is a blog about that and what happens to them on the weekend, when the dogs go to fosters to learn socialization skills.  Check it out!

All for now,  I see you again on Wednesday this week.

Kisses,
Stella