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Usually mom will play with me a lot, especially when it’s nice outside. And, it was real nice today–warm, sunny, slight breeze.

I took my ball outside this morning, but mom just sat on the fence watching me. When she didn’t play ball with me, I got a stick; I thought she might play with that. I was wrong. I guess she didn’t feel like playing today. But, I sure felt like playing. I took the ball in my mouth and ran way far out into the big yard. I dropped it and ran off. I ran around some more, mostly along the fence line, and then got my ball again. I ran up to mom and dropped it at her feet. She didn’t even throw it for me.

So, I got the ball again and ran way out into the big yard again, dropped it, ran around, got it again, brought it back to mom, and dropped it at her feet again. Still, she did nothing. So, I guess she just didn’t feel very well–maybe she had another headache.

Whatever was wrong with mom, I sure hope she’s over it tomorrow. It’s going to be another nice day.

Today was a so-so day. Try as I might, I couldn’t even find anything to bark at. I kinda growled when the garbage truck drove down our driveway at six o’clock this morning. I was about half asleep when I heard it, and Hilde wasn’t barking, so I just went back to sleep.

While I was outside, I looked everywhere for something to play with, torment, or make mad. I didn’t find any takers. Kasha didn’t want to play, and Hilde was lying in the sun–like she is going to get a tan. Mom didn’t want to play, either. I walked the fence line about five times, and there was nothing–not even a mouse. I sure hope tomorrow is a better day.

I don’t quite understand what recycling is, but mom says she does a lot of it: aluminum cans, paper, telephone books, plastic, etc. Right now, she has some VCR/DVD combinations, a projection television, vacuum cleaners, and speakers she needs to recycle, but she does not know where to take them. If anyone knows a place to donate these pieces of electronics, just email me here at my blog. I will give mom the message.

Environmental problems have become so complex that many humans feel they can have no effect on them. Although most of these problems have to be handled by the government or private companies, there are some things the human can control. Waste reduction and recycling activities can make a difference. I strongly urge you, as an inhabitant of this planet, to recycle everything possible to help ensure a safe present and future life of Planet Earth.

I didn’t mean to get on my soapbox, but there are important things we can do but only if we want to do so. Mom feels the same way.

It was dusk outside when I saw it. I started barking–guarding my mom and the others outside with me. I wanted mom to come over to see what I was barking about, and she did. I looked at her and thought “I wonder if she has ever seen anything like this.”

Have you ever seen a white owl? Well, I saw what I thought was a big bird in one of Live Oak trees in our little front yard, but mom told me it was a white owl. Do you think they come in colors? I know white is not really a color–it is a color that is devoid of color, if you know what I mean.

I know for sure it was very big; the branch he was sitting on was bending under his weight. How did I know it’s a male? I don’t, but I don’t think a female would be so bold as to come in a yard with humans, a Great Dane, a German Shepherd, and me. I can be ferocious when my dander is up. Mom said he was probably hunting for mice. I know you remember mice; I’ve told you enough about them. My goodness, that must the main reason those little furry creatures are coming into our house–they don’t want to be eaten by that owl. I don’t blame them at all; I don’t think I’d like to be eaten, either. I bet another reason they are coming in our house is because they have learned from parents, siblings, cousins, etc., that they won’t be hurt if we catch them.

Remember, Paul just takes them down to the creek and lets them go–with food. I know if I had a choice to stay outside and be eaten or going into a building and not be eaten, I would definitely go inside. Maybe I won’t chase them anymore; nah, I probably will.

There are at least two mice left in this house. I have hunted and hunted, but they keep eluding me. I will find them, though. Mom has even set the live traps with peanut butter cups in them. Apparently, they are very clever and sly, because they won’t go near them. They must sneak around after I go to bed to try and find something to eat. Truthfully, now that it’s very nice and warm outside, I have not hunted as diligently as I should have.

Warm weather, nice breeze, green grass–what else could I ask for–at least for playing weather. I do love to play. Paul took me up to the mailbox yesterday, and I minded him every time he said something to me. Our mailbox is the opposite way from the small lake out behind our house, but it’s about the same distance each way. He told me before we went that I had to mind every word or else I wouldn’t be going anywhere with him anymore, so I was on my best behavior.

I played outside almost all day today. I played with Kasha and Hilde; Wooly doesn’t play–he just watches us. Maybe he thinks he is guarding us. Who knows what a male thinks or if he thinks at all. I really like Wooly; I’m not being mean, I promise. But, sometimes he makes me crazy.

For example, when he lies right in the middle of the doorway, he expects all of us to go around. Me, I just bark until dad tells me to hush-up. Then, mom will make Wooly move so the rest of us can enter the room that he is blocking with his furry 85-pound body. I bet if mom shaved him, he would lose 10 pounds.

I certainly surprised mom today. I caught a little baby mouse and took it to mom.

I’m not sure she was surprised or shocked. She was on the couch looking through her mail when I jumped upon the couch, opened my mouth, and dropped it right by her. I was so proud of myself.

She immediately grapped me by the nape of the neck and called Paul. He got his gloves and came over to pick it up and take it down to the creek; I suspect to be with his parents. I don’t know why she grabbed me, because I wasn’t going to hurt it. I just wanted to play. It is still raining outside and I was bored; that’s the reason I was on the hunt.

Kasha and I had been on the trail for most of the day. Between us we narrowed down where it was hiding. It was in the hallway. I found it, and thought to myself “This would make a great present for mom; she would be proud I brought her my new toy.” Boy, was I wrong!!!!

I really don’t like those little furry creatures mom calls mice. No matter how many we catch and let go, there always seems to be at least one more.

Yesterday we caught two, and Paul took them down to the creek; where all the others were let go. We were watching television last night, and guess what? One of them came from somewhere and sat on Hilde’s eating rug, and looked straight at me and mom while we were sitting on the couch. I stared right back not knowing what to do exactly; I was surprised to see one so blatantly out in the open–right in the television room. I stared at it, and it stared at me; I guess he wasn’t scared of us. He probably knows if we catch him that we’ll just let him go. After a few minutes, he ran out of the room and into the laundry room.

I got off the couch and searched for him, but I couldn’t find him–just his scent. He won’t catch me just staring at him next time he comes around. I don’t know why I bother; he won’t play with me.

What is this kind of weather doing in Texas in March? I don’t understand it. Last Monday it was over 90 degrees, nice, calm wind, and a pleasure to be outside. Now, look at it!

I thought yesterday it was just going to rain and then go away; boy, was I wrong. It has stayed overnight. It is so miserable right now that mom has to absolutely make Hilde and Wooly go outside. I’m already tired of it. I want sunny and warm days with a mild breeze blowing so I can play outside. We little furry people don’t have that much to do, you know. Besides sleeping, playing is all we have if you don’t count eating. Speaking of eating, we had rice and bacon & cheese for dinner tonight. It was real good. Did I ever tell you how I eat my rice?

I’m kinda like Adrian Monk in some ways. I don’t like my food to touch; I want it separated. So, that’s why mom feeds me my food first, and, then, she puts rice in my bowl with some milk. She mixes it up so it is soupy, and sometimes, she puts pumpkin in it. Boy, that is really good!

Enough of food, back to the weather. It is awful, awful, awful. I think I will blame it on that groundhog in Pennsylvania; you know the one who does or doesn’t see his shadow on February 2 of each year. Well, mom told me he saw it this year and that we would have six more weeks of winter. Well, that six weeks will be here next week, and we better not have any more yucky weather, or I will be paying that animal a visit. You can count on it!

Hooray!! We finally got some rain. I know I can’t stay outside when it’s raining, but we sure need some green grass. You know we like to graze on it. It helps with our digestive system and our stomach. If we’ve eaten something we shouldn’t have, we can eat some grass and then throw it up; that’s one reason we eat it. Another reason is that, if we don’t get enough fiber in our diet, we can always eat grass to help. Our stomach and digestive system are treated differently depending on how much grass we eat or if we throw it up. Mom doesn’t like for us eat grass, but sometimes we just have to.

Kasha and I went outside a while ago and got pretty wet, but we had to do it. When we came in the house, mom got a towel and dried us off the best she could. I sure didn’t want her to get her hair dryer and neither did Kasha. Sometimes mom gets carried away when she tries to dry us completely with that contraption. She gets it too hot or not hot enough–never just right. That’s why I don’t want her to get it. The towel is much better in the long run.

Well, I guess I’ll just play inside today. I have my balls, my barbell, and anything else I can find to play with. I guess I’ll just keep busy and nap a lot.

I’m sorry about not writing yesterday, but mom had a headache all day, and I had to stay with her (to make sure no one bothered her). I guess she is going to have to go back to the doctor.

Mom felt better today but not enough to play outside with me. Today was not very exciting. All I did was to stay with mom except when I had to go outside. I wanted her to go with me (I did tricks for her; turning around in a circle, barking my special going-outside-bark, and kissing her). I suspect she did not feel good enough to go; I mean she would not even stand out in the little front yard while I was out there. I finally gave up, went back in the house, and just stayed with mom. She lay on the couch all afternoon, and I lay down at her feet so she would not be lonesome. Wooly went with dad, and Hilde went with Paul. I wasn’t about to leave her alone!

She did cook rice, though, and she’s in the kitchen right now fixing our dinners. Talk to ya tomorrow.