See Beautiful

We are pleased to be joining the See Beautiful blog hop today, along with Sugar the Golden Retriever who is generously donating $1.00 to See Beautiful's non-profit of the month, St. Anne's Center - Lantern House PET AREA for everyone who joins the blog hop today.  Isn't she awesome?

I've learned a lot of lessons from my animal companions over the years ... 

Lessons in loving passionately and wholeheartedly even when you know the heartbreak of loss is waiting, unseen but keenly felt, down the road ...

Lessons in patience, when trying to communicate in a loving way with creatures who don't speak your language ...

Lessons in the joy that is yours when, through that patience, you forge a close and loving relationship, and a shared language, with another creature ...

Lessons in tolerance, when blending together animals of different species, personalities, and life histories into a harmonious family unit ...

And perhaps most of all, lessons in being aware that the many precious moments we share with them are, when strung together, the individual pearls in a luminous necklace of memories that help to in some small part sustain us when they have gone on ahead ... 

As one of my personal heroes, Ferris Bueller, was wont to say, "Life moves pretty fast ... if you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." 

Our animal friends are masters in the art of never forgetting to stop and look around.  They can spend 30 minutes intensely sniffing a single blade of grass.  When they feel the sun warm on their heads, they never fail to raise their heads skyward, schedules and deadlines be damned ... the better to soak in the blessed, healing warmth.  They love passionately and unreservedly, with no thought for any day of reckoning or loss that may be waiting somewhere beyond the horizon.  That may well be because they aren't capable of the foreknowledge of death, but I choose to believe that it's also because they would rather focus on sucking every possible drop of joy and beauty out of the present than on pointlessly worrying about the future.  

For these reasons and so many others, the two dogs and three cats I am so privileged to share my life with are beautiful beyond all words to me, and it never fails to amaze me that one of the reasons I'm so lucky to have them is because the beauty I see in them, that is all too obvious to me each and every day, was somehow not recognized by others.  Which is those people's loss, whoever and wherever they might be, and my inestimable gain.  

So this post is for Tucker, for Olivia, for Tanner, and Phoebe, and Finn ... 

My sweet and beautiful friends, thank you from the bottom of my heart for enriching my life each and every day with the beauty of your love, companionship, and abiding affection.  I can't imagine what I could have done to deserve it, but I am forever grateful, and although I know you will never read these words, I hope you somehow feel my love for you all, as I feel yours for me.  I believe that you do.  

Everything but the halo ...

I have written more than once about how Tucker is the perfect dog, (and how he, now, even has a tag to prove it!) but the truth is, I know that, objectively, he really isn't.  For one thing, the "perfect dog" is different for different people, and the very things that endear Tucker to me might be things that would bug other people.  And in fact, despite his being very near to absolute perfection in my eyes, there are still things about him that I wouldn't mind changing ... his barkiness, for example.  He'll quiet when I ask him to, but that doesn't stop him from being sure to let me know about every little thing that goes on in the vicinity, whether I want to know or not.  If an intruder is attempting to gain access to the house, intent on theft, murder, or mayhem, then by all means please let me know.  A leaf falling off a tree two blocks away is not quite so important to me.  Especially when it happens at 3 am.  

But barkiness notwithstanding, and despite the almost certain fact that he'll probably never rescue me from a burning building or alert anyone to the fact that I have fallen down a well, he is a darn good dog, and I honestly can't take much, if any, of the credit.  True, I happen to have been around a dog or two in my time, and the lessons I'd learned, and mistakes I'd made, with previous dogs probably helped me do more things right with Tucker than I otherwise would have, but even without that I think he still would have been a great dog.  So great, in fact, that I am often given cause to wonder just what kind of a moron it was who didn't recognize all the wonderful things in Tucker that I did, and do, and was stupid enough to give him up.  Whoever he or she was, though, did me a HUGE favor! (Well, me, and every other person lucky enough to know him - from my family, friends, and co-workers, to the UPS and Fed Ex guys ... because whether it's due to his Muppet-like appearance, his goofy grin, his irrepressible zest for life or his heart-on-his-sleeve freewheeling affection for every man, woman, child, or animal he meets, almost without fail everyone who comes in contact with Tucker falls in love with him.  He's just THAT freaking awesome!)

 My own personal angel ... can't you just imagine him with a halo?

Which is why it makes me sad that it's taken having my grandmother in the hospital (and now in a nursing home, and probably Hospice sooner than I can really think about dealing with) to really appreciate how much good Tucker was doing as a therapy dog before we stopped going.  When you see how much someone you know well and dearly love lights up at having the opportunity to hold a dog on their lap for twenty or thirty minutes, or even just see one or stroke its head, it makes you feel really crummy that you have this amazing dog who has the potential to bring a lot of joy to people who most need a helping of it and you have been too selfish to MAKE THE TIME for such important work.  

After all, even though it's Tucker who's really making the magic on these visits, (my grandmother is always happy to see me, of course, but it's Tucker who has the ability to break through the pain, the fatigue, and the general malaise of being terminally ill), he can't get there on his own.  It's a lot easier to make the time for these visits when it's your own much-loved family member in the bed, but everyone (hopefully) matters to someone, and if they don't, then they need those visits even more! 

So at some point, Tucker & I will be back in a hospital or nursing home (or other facility in need of therapy animals) and the human will be back with a renewed commitment to doing whatever has to be done to MAKE TIME for the therapy visits to happen.  Tucker's commitment, as it happens, never wavered, but unfortunately he has to depend on me to get him to "work."  We'll still be concentrating on our VIP patient for the foreseeable future, but the facility where she currently is does have other patients who are happy to see Tucker also, and we are committed to making time for them as well.  

It's a humbling thing when your dog is a better human being than you are.  

Play Date at the Park

Last Sunday it was a beautiful, crisp day so we headed out to a local neighborhood park to meet up with my aunt & uncle and their young English Bulldog, Bella, about whom I've written before here, to chat, enjoy the beautiful weather, and let the dogs run around. 

Tucker doesn't exactly love Bella ... she's bigger, heavier, and has no concept of personal space or doggy etiquette (Tuck is doing his best to educate her on this front, but to little discernible improvement thus far) ... but as long as he isn't in a confined space with her, he is ok.  And they actually did have a good time together sniffing around this park, which they had basically to themselves except for some neighborhood kids who were kicking a soccer ball around.

Some snaps from the outing: 

Tucker was warmly attired for the outing in his red hoodie ... and sporting his new ID tag (more on that later!) 

Tucker & Bella exploring the bridge ... 

Tucker exploring the bridge (this might be my favorite photo of the day) 

More of Tucker on the bridge ... lots to see from up here! 

Bella decided to see if her face would fit through the bars like Tucker's did.  (It doesn't.) 

Bella descending the bridge steps ...

When Bella's play became rougher than he preferred, Tucker simply climbed a tree ... 

 Ha ha you silly Bulldog ... you can't get me up here! 

Not one to dwell on lost opportunities, Bella decided to abandon trying to chew on Tucker's legs (in the most playful manner - no malice intended) and pose for a few more photos.

She really wanted the treat I had in my hand.

No one could say she isn't photogenic! 

Oh, we're leaving?  I guess I'd better get down from here, then! 

Whose blog is this?

Hi, everyone ... it's me, Tucker!  I know that we haven't been around much this week, but for once it's NOT because Mom was doing her best to work 24/7.  Actually, we've been on vacation this week, but still haven't had much opportunity to blog, because Mom's Aunt (our Great Aunt) K. has been in town visiting.  Well, actually, she's been at Grandma & Grandpa's visiting, and so we drove down there to stay at Grandma & Grandpa's, so that we could visit with Aunt K., too.  And that has been fun, except that Mom has been too busy eating, drinking, shopping, laughing, reminiscing, and looking at old pictures that I'm not even IN to help me blog. 

Between that and Finn basically taking over the blog the last week or so (which I allowed only because the cause was a good one), you might have forgotten what I look like.  So in case you have ... here's a little reminder.

I might be a little scarce this weekend, too ... Mom let slip that more eating, drinking, and general merry-making involving still more family members (probably all gathering to look at a bunch more pictures that I am not in) is on the agenda for this weekend.  But we'll still try to visit our friends a little bit when we can.  Maybe Sunday night. 

Until then, don't forget me, ok?

The Cookie Chronicles ... Part III

Happy Thursday, everyone!  It's me, Tucker!  Twice before on this blog, I've shared the trials and tribulations I've experienced  in the never-ending story I like to call The Quest for the Cookie! 

So yesterday, I was here at Mom's office taking a nap on my fuzzy blue bed (it is so soft and cushy, and never fails to send me off to Dreamland!) ....

Me, dreaming of cookies ... 

when all of a sudden I heard Mom say ... "Come on, Tuck, let's go to the cookie bank!"  

Well, as you can imagine, I was ALL IN when it came to that plan!  A cookie bank!  How had I not heard of such a place before?!!!  

Me, ready to go to the cookie bank!  

I could just imagine the vault ... rows upon rows of delicious cookies brought there for safe-keeping ... big ones, little ones, fancy ones with icing and sprinkles on top!  Friends, my mouth was watering!  But as far as I knew ... I had not made any deposits in the cookie bank ... so how was I supposed to make a withdrawal?  Were we going to HOLD UP the cookie bank?!!!!!  Mom is not a violent sort, and is normally a law-abiding citizen, so I couldn't imagine that was her plan, but I decided if it was, I would stand by her side and support her, just like I always do.  We could be a regular Bonnie and Clyde team, robbing cookie banks all over the place and then going on the run.  But then I remembered that Bonnie and Clyde eventually died in a bloody shoot-out ... and that didn't sound like such a good time.  I decided that I would have to talk to Mom about this if it appeared she was in fact going to hold up the cookie bank to get me some cookies.  After all, we already had at least seventy two bags of them at home in all different flavors, so I figured we were good for awhile.  

I gotta be honest ... I was pretty nervous there for a second.  Well, imagine my surprise when we pulled up to the regular old green paper bank and pulled around the side to the same drive through we always go to.  Phew!  Mom wasn't about to take me on a crime spree that could only end badly. That's when I realized ... I'd been mistaken.  I must have been dreaming, like the Traveler's commercial dog!  Mom must have said "Come on, Tuck, let's go to the bank and get a cookie!"  That made a lot more sense! 

But as you might remember, there have been times when I have been bitterly disappointed at this same drive through window ... 

So I put on my most earnestly adorable face.  Like this: 

Hello there, Nice Lady In the Window!  Would you be so kind as to send me a cookie through the cookie tube?  

And voila!  

Praise the Cookie Gods!  My adorable face worked!


But that wasn't all!  When Mom got her deposit slip back, there was a whole 'nother envelope with THREE MORE COOKIES INSIDE!  

YES!  It was a good day! 
 

You may also like: 

Part One: Excuse Me Miss ... You Forgot My Cookie!

Part Two:  The Cookie Gods Are Smiling!

Two-fer Tuesday With Tucker & Phoebe

It is sunny and HOT here in Tampa on the longest day of the year!  (North of the equator, anyway!)  Happy Summer Solstice, everyone! 

I call this move ...

Half on - half off!

Hope everyone's having a great day!

Happy Memorial Day!

Hi, everyone ... it's me, Tucker.  (And Phoebe and Cosmo and Uncle Riley) ... wishing all of you a Happy Memorial Day. 

And to all of our retired and active service men and women (and their families), thank you for your service.  We appreciate your courage, and the many sacrifices, large and small, that you make to keep us safe.  We should not need a day on the calendar to remind us that freedom is never free. 

We're not lost ...

Our Mom's just really super lame these days.  Did you happen to notice that all the pictures/videos in our last three blog posts were taken in Mom's office?  There is a reason for that - and it's because we've basically been living there the last couple of weeks.  Now, I am as dedicated an employee as anyone ... and more so than most ... but I am getting fed up.  There are other things in life besides work ... and plus, helping Mom at work so much has forced me to neglect my blog and miss out on visiting our friends as much as I like to.  And, I'll just cop to this right now ... Remington, I promise that we haven't eaten any of your treats or played with your toys, but Mom has still not gotten to the post office to mail your package.  Olivia is mortified, as I am I.  And even if I have to put the bitey on her, like our friend Spitty suggests, I will make sure that it goes out on Tuesday.  (Well, ok, I won't bite Mom - I just couldn't.  It is not in my gentle nature to do such a thing.  BUT - if I have to mail it myself, I promise on my honor as a canine, that it will be in the mail on Tuesday.  Promise!)

So anyway ... Phoebe, Cosmo, Aunt K. and I are at Grandma & Grandpa's for the holiday weekend and we've been really busy playing with our Uncle Riley.  On Monday we're going to have a BBQ - I'm looking forward to that.  Maybe tomorrow I can get Mom to take some pictures of us to post so you don't forget what we look like.  But right now, Phoebe and I are tired ... and I think we're going to have to go to bed now.

Night night!

P.S.  Spitty, Olivia sends her love.  She, Tanner, and Finn are home getting "sat on."  They are not happy.  Then again, they wouldn't be happy if they were here, either.  That is one of the troubles with cats.  They are only happy when Mom never goes anywhere.  But of course that means that then Phoebe and I don't get to go anywhere either ... so since I love to travel, staying at home being sat on is just something they have to deal with every now and then.  Mom left lots of treats and nip, so I think they'll survive till we get back. 

Monday again ...

And I don't know about you guys, but I needed at least one or two more days of R&R!  (I spent part of yesterday getting my hairs washed, conditioned, and Puff-ified, and that always makes me tired.)

Maybe I'll catch a nap right now...

TGIF!

Happy Friday, everyone!  It's been a long, hectic week ... and I'm looking forward to the weekend.  We've gotten an unexpected reprieve from the early summer heat, and I'm hoping that the nice weather will last through the weekend.

Meanwhile, Phoebe and I have been busy helping Mom shop for our friend Remington , who was the winner in the drawing Olivia had a couple of weeks ago.  One thing's for sure - it's a new experience for us to shop for a pup as big as Remington!  Some of the toys we  looked at were bigger than Phoebe!  But we had a lot of fun doing it, and so did Mom!  And since Olivia, being a cat, doesn't really enjoy shopping trips all that much (she prefers to stay at home and have them delivered to her - isn't that just like a cat?), she asked us to pick out a few little things for Remington's cat sis, Ozabella. 

Tomorrow Mom's going to take everything to the post office and send it away to our friends.  We hope they'll like the things we picked out for them. 

Here I am giving the loot a quick review to make sure everything passes inspection ...

Well, have a great weekend, everyone!

What we do ...

Hi, everyone ... it's me, Tucker!  Sometimes people (and pups) wonder what it is that we do at work all day.

So we shot this short video so you could see Phoebe and me hard at work ...

Have a great day, everybody!

* Mom note - In watching this video it sort of looks like Tucker is mauling Phoebe, or that she is not enjoying the play session.  In fact, this was about thirty minutes into the session and she was getting tired, but previous to this had been tearing around like a Tasmanian devil.  Trust me, she always gives as good as she gets, and she loves to roughhouse! 

Tucker on Tuesday ...

Hi, everyone ... it's me, Tucker!

                         

And I'm just at work helping Mom today.  What's everyone else up to?

Just call me Paw-casso!

Hi, everyone, it's me, Tucker!  And, I just realized that I completely forgot to share with you my artistic masterpiece from last weekend!

So here it is:

It might not look like much ... but I worked really hard on it!

SEE?

 

It looks better if I'm in the picture, too!  Don't you think?

Ok, gotta go!  I think we're leaving work soon!  

A Day of Thanksgiving ...

Good morning, friends.  It's me, Olivia.  And I've been thinking ...

Earlier this week, I posted about how Mom forgot my birthday .  And to be honest, I still wish she hadn't forgotten.  On the other hand, though, I also know that it's not presents that make a birthday or other holiday special.  The most important thing, not just on birthdays or holidays, but every day, is that we have people to love, who love us, and I have that.  And even though Tanner and Finn do bug me sometimes (like about 23 out of every 24 hours), I wouldn't really want them to move away.  Well ... sometimes.   

Anyway, the point is, now that my righteous indignation over my forgotten birthday has faded, I realize that I'm a very lucky girl indeed.  So instead of thinking about ways to get even with Mom for forgetting it, I'm going to GIVE  a present to one of my new friends! 

All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me what your favorite birthday or Gotcha Day present has been, and I'll put you in the hat (really I'll use one of those randomizer things) to receive a very special present from yours truly.  The present will depend upon who actually wins, since I wouldn't want to send cat treats to one of my woofie friends, or vice versa.   

Well, have a restful Sunday, everyone  ...

Me, with my favorite brother ...

Sunshine, Blue Skies, and Balmy Breezes ... (otherwise known as the perfect spring day)

Happy Saturday, everyone!  It's me, Tucker ...

Yesterday was all sunshine and blue skies, with the added benefit of a lovely breeze that helped keep the sun from getting too hot.  (Unfortunately, yesterday was a workday, so we didn't get too much time to really enjoy it.  So I hope that this weekend will be more of the same!) 

You know, here in Tampa ... it's a lovely time of year ... right now.  But the truth is, we don't have spring like other places in the country have spring.  We don't have the whole daffodils springing up from damp green earth thing going on down here, although the azaleas are lovely right now. 

In fact, the "seasons" here often seem nonexistent, though a true native Floridian such as myself (a rare breed to be sure) can discern the difference.  But you do have to pay attention.  For example, our "spring" such as it is, can be rather short - sometimes it seems that as soon as we "spring forward" and start getting more hours in the day to do stuff like go to the dog park after dinner when it's still light out, Mr. Sunshine (and I don't mean Matthew Perry) seems to get significantly hotter ... and sometimes he gets so hot that he seems downright angry and almost as though he thinks we have misbehaved down here and he needs to punish us.  I can't figure out why, because I am always a very good boy, and though they're not as good as me, my brothers and sisters are pretty good, too. 

So Mr. Sunshine ... if you're listening ... we'd like to have several more weeks of this current weather, please.  And if you oblige me today ... I think it'll be a perfect day for cruising with the sunroof open ...

Have a beautiful day, everyone!

Strolling and Sunning on Sunday ...

Hi, everyone ... it's me, Tucker!  It's been a nice, relaxing couple of days this weekend, and the weather has been gorgeous with blue skies and cool breezes.  Here in Florida, it won't be too very long before we're complaining about the heat and humidity, so days like this are really precious and it's nice when they fall on a weekend so we can really take advantage of them. 

The cat kids have been outside on the porch since early this morning, stalking lizards and doing cat stuff ... and Phoebe, Mom, and I just got back from a nice walk ...

Olivia ... relaxing.



Tanner - enjoying a nice stretch ...





Finn - watching Mom

Phoebe  - looking for squirrels ...

Phoebe and me ... relaxing on the wooden bridge ... 

 Phoebe and me - in front of the Garden Club gate ...



Have a restful Sunday, everyone ...