My Pretty New Friend

This is really cool.  We saw some strange little birds outside the other day.  Mom took a picture of one of them.  They are all green and yellow and pink and look like a little parrot.  These are the pictures Mom took.  In this one you can just see the green back as the little bird was hanging on the lower branch of the tree.

In this one, he's walking around on the wall.

Mom went to her favorite reference source (Google) and looked up what it could be.  It really is a little parrot.  It's called a Phoenix Love Bird.  And here's a better picture of them hanging on a cactus:

 They really once came from way far away in Africa and were somebody's pet.  But once in awhile a bird would escape.  And sometimes breeders let them loose.  And all of a sudden, many years later, they just live here in the wild.  Apparently they only like Phoenix, 'cuz even though they have escaped in other parts of the country, Phoenix is the only place where they've created their own colony.  Isn't that fun?

I hope they come and see me again.  They are really pretty.  I love love love my new friends!

Hope you see some pretty new friends, too.

Love, G

Can you spell Neurofibramatosis?

I want to dedicate my blog this week to my cousin.  He lives in California and has a dog who loves him a lot.  Frosty, (that's his dog) asked me if I would tell my blog people about my cousin Zach. 

Zach has NF (Neurofibramatosis).  And for many years, Zach has helped to raise money for research to combat NF.  He even has a Facebook page and he calls it Zach Attack!  Which I think is pretty great.  I don't know that much about NF except Frosty says it's pretty serious.  So I'm going to let Zach's mom tell you about it. 

Please don't feel like you have to give money.  I won't know if you do or not, but I will know that you know about the disease now.    That's what Frosty wanted me to do for Zach. 

 

Joyce Simmons Marks

September 24 at 7:15pm · Los Angeles, CA · 

Hi Friends!

Will you take steps with us to End NF?

http://join.ctf.org/teamzachattack

On October 22, 2016, we will be participating in the LA NF Night Walk to increase awareness of neurofibromatosis (NF) and raise funds for the Children’s Tumor Foundation...and we need your help. This year the event will be hosted by CBS weathercaster Josh Rubenstein, Freeform's star of Young and Hungry, Jonathan Sadowski, and supported by NY Jets kicker Nick Folk located at 4024 Radford Ave. Studio City, CA. It is a night fundraising walk with a glow in the dark theme and there will be food, wine, beer, kids carnival, and celebrity karaoke at the afterparty. Registration opens at 4:30pm and the walk starts at 6:00pm. The afterparty with karaoke will be from 6:00 - 9:00pm.

NF has touched our lives in a profound way. Zach was diagnosed with NF 14 years ago. He has a progressive brain tumor that required a total of 4 years of chemotherapy to arrest. We are lucky...Zach’s been off of chemo for 6 years! We are optimistic about his future hoping the brain tumor nightmare is behind us for good! But NF is a lifelong disorder and one that he will have to deal with forever. Please join our efforts to raise funds for research and support by making a donation to this worthy cause, and/or walk with us. You will help the Children’s Tumor Foundation fund research and provide information, programs, and services for the millions worldwide who live with NF.

There is no cure for NF. There are no effective treatments. But the Children’s Tumor Foundation has created a number of innovative programs that are already speeding up the drug research and development process. They are actively driving clinical trials and are bringing together top scientists to work collaboratively to solve the mysteries of NF. It is work that gives renewed hope to the millions of people worldwide who live with NF.

It would mean so much to us if you could help us reach our fundraising goal of $5000.00. If you can, please make a donation today by visiting my fundraising page below. Every dollar truly helps! If you would prefer to send a check, please make it payable to Children’s Tumor Foundation, include in the memo area “In Honor of Zach Marks and LA NF Night Walk,” and mail it to:

Children’s Tumor Foundation
Attn: LA NF Night Walk
120 Wall Street, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10005

If you would like to learn more about neurofibromatosis and the incredible work being done at the Children’s Tumor Foundation, visit www.ctf.org.

Children’s Tumor Foundation, visit www.ctf.org.

Thanks for listening and learning about NF and my cousins Zach and Frosty.  It's important.

Love, G

Been Really Busy

I know.  You've missed me.  I haven't been here in a couple of weeks.  But I have an excuse!  I've been awfully busy.  While Mom and Dad were getting ready to go to Arizona, I had my last meeting with my Day Care Center.  As you probably know, St. Louis was the site of the Debate on Sunday between Cotton Candy Head and Mrs. Clinton.  So we also had to go down to WashU to make sure everything was progressing well before we left.

So I went to my Day Care Center.  I didn't tell them it was my last day.  I was afraid they might be sad and I always want my people to be happy.  That's my job.  And they seemed pretty happy.  Even the one guy who used to not like me (he would back away if I got near and Mom said I should stay clear of him 'cuz he was afraid of me.  I'm a pretty big, black dog and some people are afraid of big black dogs).  But this time he actually called me to him and petted my head.  Then he gave Mom a big grin and I knew we were all happy.

Mabel, the puppy wasn't there that day.  She was home sick.  My Auntie Debbie knows Mabel, too.  She says Mabel is my girlfriend.  Mabel is NOT my girl friend.  She's too young for me.  She's only a few months old.  She's not my girlfriend.  I don't have a girlfriend!

I left my Day Care and we went home to take a walk down to WashU.  They were putting lots of tents up.  They put the tents in cages like I used to stay in only really, really Huuuge cages.  Like these:

Once we decided everything was OK at Wash U, we got ready to leave.  Mom didn't bring my pillow.  I told her to bring my pillow, but she said I didn't use a pillow.  It just took up extra room.  So for the first couple of hours on the trip I couldn't get comfortable.  I didn't know how I was going to last 22 hours in the car without a pillow.  I begged Mom to find me a pillow.

My mom is pretty smart.  She invented a pillow.  She took the stuffing out of my doggie bed and made it into two pillows for me.  Then I could go to sleep finally.  I don't think she will forget my pillow again.

We stayed the night in Amarillo, Texas again.  Only this time we were able to find a hotel that had a restaurant nearby that let me eat on the patio with Mom & Dad.  We walked to the restaurant and it was fun.  I like it much better than eating in the hotel room.  The waitress was cute and nice.  She took Mom and Dad's order.  Then she said, "Your dog is looking at me like he's offended."  Dad said, "That's because you didn't ask him for his order."  And he was right.  So she brought me a bowl of water which was what I really wanted.

That night we watched Cotton Candy Head and Mrs. Clinton.  I went to sleep.  And now I'm going to take a nap with Dad 'cuz I'm still tired from all the traveling.

Have a good day.  It's really nice here in Arizona.

Love, G

Youngsters are getting Bigger, too!

We went for a long walk yesterday.  I didn't really want to go.  I did my usual STRIKE in the courtyard.  That's where I put my feet down and won't go forward no matter what mom does.  But she tried something new.  She said, "Guinness, we're walking to the Dog Park.  Now do you want to come with me?"

What, I thought.  Walking to the Dog Park?  Normally we drive.  Is this a trick?  I wasn't sure, but I decided I should give it a chance.  I could always go on strike if we went the wrong way.  So I agreed and ran out the courtyard.

When we got to the library stairs, I went on STRIKE again.  I just wanted to be sure.  But Mom said, "Guinness, did you forget?  We are going to the Dog Park."  So I gave in and went on.

Well, we DID go to the Dog Park!  And guess what?  There were dogs there!  And one of those dogs was a puppy Marmaduke.  I didn't even know Marmaduke could ever be a puppy.  And this puppy was bigger than me.  And he's only 8 months old.  Look at him!

He runs funny.  His human says he only runs in a straight line.  He doesn't do turns.  And he looks like a pony when he runs.  But I liked him.  And we had a lot of fun.  I was tired and had to rest before we made the long walk home.

I guess I can trust Mom if she says we are going to the Dog Park.

I really do like to walk.  I don't know why sometimes I just decide not to.  I probably need a Doggie Shrink.  Dad thinks maybe I do. 

Hope you have nice walks and go fun places like I do.

Love, G

My Auntie Debbie

I had a visit from my Auntie Debbie (the lawyer not the dentist).  My mom has a lot of friends who are real smart and do real hard jobs, like both of my Auntie Debs.  And this Auntie comes to visit just me!  And I really like that.  Mom thinks she comes to see her, but I know better.  She just pretends to visit my mom.  I start barking as soon as I hear her at the door, 'cuz I want her to know that I am really glad she has come to see me.

The last time she came, I let her sit on my couch with me.  We wrestled and played.  I was real careful not to hurt her.  Mom tells me I have to be careful because I'm stronger than I think I am.  And I think I'm pretty strong, so that means I could probably push Auntie Debbie off the couch without even trying.  I don't think I want to do that.  Auntie Debbie might not come and see me again if did.  Mom took a picture of us.  I behaved myself for the picture.  I know how to pose for pictures.   I SHOULD.  As many pictures as mom has taken of me and I have to pose!

I hope my Auntie Debbie comes back again soon.   Actually, I hope all my Aunties come to see me.  I really like all my Aunties.  Auntie Deb the Dentist and my Auntie Annie in South Carolina who takes care of rescues like me.  And Auntie Kelley who takes care of me sometimes.  And Auntie Jan who takes care of me in Arizona.  I have lots and lots of Aunties.  Everyone needs lots and lots of fun aunties.

I hope you all have your favorite aunties, too.

Love G

I learned to shake!

Mom and I went to work Monday morning.  I had double duty but I didn't know it till we got there.  Then once I had made the rounds saying hello to all my friends, she made an announcement.

"We are going to teach Guinness to shake his paw today!"  What?  That was the first I had heard of this.  I guess Mom didn't bring funny pictures like the last time.  Instead, I get to be the funny picture.

So sure enough, we tried.  She made me sit.  Which I do very well, thank you!  Then she said "Shake", and she stuck her hand out.  I saw she had treats in her other hand.  I had to think.  What could I do to get her to give me a treat?  So I went all the way down on my belly! Everybody laughed.  And Mom said, "No, Guinness, not Down.  Shake!"  I just looked at her.  What's this "Shake" thing?  I'll do whatever.  Just give me one of those treats.

So we started over.  About 6 times.  She kept grabbing my right paw.  Then she would say, "Yes, Shake" and give me a treat.  Finally a light clicked on in my head.  I lifted my right paw.  Boom!  I got a treat.  I did it again.  I got another treat.  They were ALL laughing now.  I didn't care.  I had figured out how to get those treats. 

Finally we took a break.  I went around and got petted by my friends.  Jill, the girl with Down Syndrome was there.  I kissed her on the cheek.  It was a good thing to do, 'cuz it made her really happy.  She told everyone that I had kissed her on the cheek.  So I did it again.

There was another gal there who stays all by herself.  She was there the last time too, but she seems to like to sit in a corner where no one else is.  I went over to her and she was a little timid with me.  But I licked her hand and she petted my head.  Then she stayed quiet again, so I went back to the table of ladies.  While I was there the lonely girl walked by.  One of the ladies said maybe the lonely girl was afraid of me.  I didn't think so.  I went back over to her and do you know what she did?  She had a BIG doggie treat hidden in her pocket and she dropped it right in front of me and gave me a big smile.  She's not afraid of me.  She likes me a lot!

Then there was Nathan.  He always has a hard time eating his breakfast.  That's OK by me.  He spilled lots of milk on the floor.  I helped clean it up.  Nathan, you can spill your breakfast anytime you want. 

Mom made me do Shake a couple of times more and then we said our goodbyes and went home.  All in all, it was a good time.  I haven't had so many treats in a long time.  Maybe ever!  It's nap time for this puppy.

Love, G.

Life with Aunt Kelley

Mom & Dad left me again.  They went to visit Dad's brother and some other relatives in someplace called Annapolis and Rehoboth Beach. 

My Aunt Kelley came and took care of me again.  We watched the news and I was worried 'cuz there was a Hurricane going near those places.  The Hurricane was called Hermine.  Kinda like the gal in Harry Potter that Mom used to read about.  That's a good book.  Or actually lots of books.  Uh, oh.  I'm supposed to be talking about the Hurricane.

Anyway, the Hurricane stopped.  So I didn't worry anymore.  But Kelley kept me busy 'cuz our weather was really good.  We took lots of long walks and I got rather tired.  We watched TV together, but I couldn't stay awake.

I'll have to get back to you next week.  Sleep well.  And don't let the hurricanes blow you over.

Love,  G