Howdy doody blogaroos. Squirmy here on the countdown to end 2023. Honestly, for us dogs, one day is just like the next – although we DO notice a difference in days when the clocks are changed. Particularly when we need to wait an extra hour for supper….Otherwise, every day is like Christmas to us! We celebrate getting up in the morning; we celebrate walks; we celebrate breakfast, snacks, supper,; we celebrate someone scratching our ears; we celebrate someone tossing a ball; we celebrate when we’re reunited with you – even if you just went into the bathroom; to sum it up – we celebrate life. Maybe not such a bad example for humans – especially when they are writing up their “resolutions” for next year.
2023 sure was an up and down year for us. While I continue to go to obedience classes, I didn’t enter trials like the Warden had hoped I would. While I did get a CARO Rally Novice title, I didn’t attempt any obedience trials. It MIGHT have something to do with my “visiting” during the stay exercises. When I first started my obedience training , that was a real problem. Then it seemed to go away. But guess what? Like a boomerang, it’s back. So the Warden says until she can feel 90% confident that I WILL stay, she’s not entering me in any trials. Maybe when I turn 10.
Nobody else in this household got any ribbons for anything either. But, really both the Coyote and the Boss have won a bigger prize- they are both here to see the New Year. The Boss has actually had very good health this past year, but he’s no Spring chicken anymore – so we party every month.
And as for the Coyote – holy moly he was one very sick dude. But against all odds, he is still here – lovin’ and livin’ a GOOD life. Every day he eats all his meals, we count it as a very good day. The Warden sent a Christmas greeting to the veterinarian who first saw him when he was so sick. She hasn’t seen him since then. Her response was “oh…my….goodness!” She was pretty surprised and happy that he’s still here. Thing is – she didn’t know he had well wishers and prayer warriors around the WORLD rooting for him. We want to thank YOU for having a role in him still being here.
Since Sue and Keith arrived we’ve enjoyed lots of walks, treats and ear scratches. It’s been awesome. Except for the Boss this morning….
It had snowed a few inches overnight and the world looked like a winter wonderland.
Unfortunately, despite the picture perfect backdrop, the snow was wet. And wet snow equals soccer ball sized snowballs on PON feet. The Boss did NOT want to walk. Sue was walking him – so she had to keep stopping to try and break up the snowballs.
The Coyote doesn’t seem to have as big a problem with snowball formation. Instead, he needs to be redirected from acting like a snowplow with his open mouth. He believes snow is meant to be eaten. And IF you eat enough, your innards freeze up and then you barf. But not to worry- someone will clean it up.
Meanwhile, while the Boss was walking like a wet bag of potatoes, and the Coyote was acting like a snowplow, yours truly was trotting along looking like a guy who rode his horse way too long. I was all bow-legged- but that didn’t stop me! Nothing stops me. I’m never tired. Ever. And stopping to take a photo does NOT make me happy…
But despite the less-than-peaceful walk for the humans, we canines DID enjoy ourselves. When the Boss knew we were headed for home, he definitely picked up the pace. Snowballs and all.
So here we are we bidding 2023 good-bye. Au revoir. Do widzenia. Adiós. Arrivederci. Auf Wiedersehen. Dag. Adjø. Hej då. Antio. Farvel. Sayonara. Dasvidaniya. Adeus. Namaste. Atiu. Do pobachennya.
We welcome 2024 – hoping it is filled with good health, lots of treats and happy memory-making moments!!!! We’re not making any resolutions- because we’ll likely break them by next week. Instead, we’ll keep it simple. Live large in 2024. Be grateful for every day – even when you’re weighed down with heavy snowballs. As long as you can still smile and wag – do it. Even for a minute.
Thanks for reading – see you next year!
Have a good one. Peace and paws up. Stay safe. JBJ.