Just Because It's A Present Doesn't Mean It's Yours !!!

Dear Diary...Sorry I've not talked to you lately... I spent a lot of my time just trying to stay out of trouble...and that's no easy task for me...First thing that happened was the annual Christmas tree display...display ???...NO...it's the perfect back scratcher !!!...it's just the right size for me to get under there... gets me yelled at every time...if all those bells weren't on there I just might not be heard but I've also found that removing the bells gets me yelled at too...:(... We've had more people in the house the last few days... Ashley and Remy were both home...I like that...:)...I try to get in the conversation but barking is my only form of communication and well...yeah...gets me yelled at...and FOOD...lots more food around here...the humans seem to think it's ok for them to eat...snacking and nibbling on stuff all the time...can I do that ???...can I have some too ???...NO...more yelling..:/...and presents...lots of presents...but as I was told today...JUST BECAUSE IT'S A PRESENT DOESN'T MEAN ITS YOURS !!!...good grief...how am I supposed to know ???...I did get some presents for Christmas...NEW TOYS !!!... I have them all "chewed and broken in" just the way I like them...I like to keep one in the middle of the living room floor and another on my rug...Debbie keeps putting them away in the toybox and I keep getting them back out...you think she would figure out  that I have my spot I like to keep them...:)...I understand that soon all the Christmas stuff will be put away until next year...I kinda like seeing it but at least maybe it will be quieter around here...less yelling at the WonderDog...Hope you had a Merry Christmas and have a safe New Year...Love as always...Lucey...P S ...Christmas must make humans tired or less observant...yesterday I jumped up on the "forbidden couch" for a nap right in front of Debbie and she never yelled or anything...go figure...:/

It's The Only Voice I Have...

Dear Diary...Yesterday Aunt Karen stopped by for a visit...I'm always real happy to see her and she is happy to see me too...Aunt Karen calls me "Girlfriend"...I'm not sure why but she always calls me that...:)...Yesterday I was happy like usual to see her but this time for some strange reason she told me to "use my inside voice"...Now what is that supposed to mean ???...I used the same bark that I always do...the glass shattering one that Debbie claims I have...It's the only voice I have...the only bark I know...what's this inside stuff ?...I have several "purposes" in my WonderDog life and barking ranks  right up there...right along with cat chasing...football fetching...trashcan diving and "that occasional accident on the floor"... changing my bark to something else would just be wrong...how would the humans know when company was here ?...or Maggie the cat is attempting to eat and drink ?...or  my toys are caught under the forbidden couch ?...or a fly has landed on the porch ?... Without me and the bark that I have how will the humans in this house survive ???... They would have a tough time of it I'm sure...People could come in this house unannounced...Maggie would be able to eat all of her food in peace and more than likely gain several pounds due to lack of the exercise I see that she gets...my toys...well...they would probably gather dust in the toy box and feel unloved...and the flies on the porch...I hate to think of what could happen with that !!!...Use my "inside voice" huh ?!?!?!?...I think not Girlfriend !!!...I will stick with the one I have thank you ...I love you Anut Karen...very much...hoping you still love me... glass shattering bark and all...Lucey the WonderDog

If It Doesn't Belong To You...Don't Touch It !!!

Dear Diary...I had a great weekend...Both Ashley and Remy were home ...:)...so that means more attention for ME and the chance to charm my way into getting more food...It worked too !!!...There was lots of activity in the house for two whole days... I love that !!!...More hugs...More belly rubs...More people to drive crazy ...What fun !!!...But I did learn an important lesson this weekend..."If it doesn't belong to you...don't touch it !!!"...and that apparently goes double if it's someone else's underwear...:/...In my defense how was I to know that ?!?...I mean...really ?!?...Human underwear all looks the same to me...(except Victoria's Secret...that's the gourmet shoppe of undies)...AND  I also found out that it's not polite to snoop through the luggage to see what's in there...Debbie didn't get mad at me...but she wasn't real thrilled with my actions either...mostly I heard lots of apologies...and laughing...I will say that my victim was a real good sport about it...In in spite of what I did she still took me for a walk and played with me too...<3...Yep !!!...It was a good weekend...Feeling exhausted from all the fun...but happy happy happy...Love...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...Even HRH Maggie had a good time...she actually "allowed" herself to be petted more than three times...that hardly ever happens...wonder what she's really up to...???...

Fashion and Frost...

***Disclaimer...this isn't me...just a doggie friend with a questionable fashion sense...


Dear Diary...We've had a "killing frost"...at least that's what Debbie told me...and I saw that white stuff too...SNOW !!! ...I love to play in the snow...there wasn't enough this time for playing but it won't be long before there is...:)... All I really know right now is that I feel better...I can go outside and all the bugs that bugged me are gone...no more bites...no more flying in my face and other unmentionable places...and the scratching will be gone soon too as soon as my skin heals a little more...:)...and the big news is ...I GOT A NEW WINTER WARDROBE !!!...what girl wouldn't feel better having that ?!?...Ashley got me a new sweater...it has a reindeer on it and it fits me way better than my old sweater did...AND she found a new coat for me too...it's red and very warm...this winter I will wear both of them if the weather gets real bad like it did last year...I think I will look pretty hot in a red coat...it has a bow on it too...I'm actually looking forward to some snow just so I can wear my new duds...funny thing is I get the feeling that I'm the only one in the house that wants to see more snow...maybe the humans need to go shopping for some new warm clothes and they too could feel better about the weather changes coming...Flea free and feelin' good...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...Ashley also bought me a bee costume and butterfly wings...???...can anyone tell me what a "Halloween Close Out Sale" is ???...from the looks of it I find this very disturbing...Debbie always tells me to stay away from bees...why on earth would I dress up as one ???...and I have to say that black and yellow stripes do little for my fugure...:/...and the butterfly wings  ???...not going there...nope...I'm a WonderDog but I don't fly...I don't have the center of gravity for it...

Do I Know The Meaning Of...???

Dear Diary...Do I know the meaning of the word "NO" ???...well of course I do...Now that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to follow the order but I DO know what it means...There are days when I just plain don't feel like following the rules....and you can't tell me that humans always obey the rules either...I've watched...I've listened to it...I know...So that being said why can't I occasionally have those days when the rules can be broken ???...I know very well that the couch is a forbidden spot to sleep...so what...you do it...and I also know that chasing Maggie isn't allowed but she deserves it most of the time...and trashcan diving...well...you're the one who put the tempting treat in there so BACK OFF !!!...Ya know...some days I just don't want to take a bath...or chase the ball...or go outside...and  if I'm asleep...good grief...don't wake me up for bathroom duty !!!...I'll let you know when I need to go ...even if it is 3am...How would you like someone to do that to you ???...Call me "grumpy" or "bad dog"...you deserved to be growled at !!!...In the last few weeks I've put up with mosquito bites on parts of me I don't care to discuss...and the fleas...well...there's a special place that I'm certain is reserved just for them when they die because they bit me first and got a dose of the medicine I've also had to have lately...and the baths that I normally love ???...not so great on scratched sensitive skin...Do I have an attitude problem ???...you bet I do...and rightly so...I'm heading back to the spot where my bed used to be (I haven't got the bed back yet...thank you to the fleas for that one too )...I'm taking another nap...I'd appreciate it if the humans and that stupid cat would leave me alone...Not feeling the love for much of anything...Lucey the WonderDog...P S...And someone needs to tell the humans that as much as I love my Ohio State sweater I've had it on for four days now and it's not mixing with the warmer weather we've been having...I'd like to have it washed for the next game...and altered...I am 15 pounds lighter than when you got it for me...Another P S...Sorry...<3

She Thought She Had It Figured Out...Wrong !!!

Dear Diary... She thought she had it figured out...She really did...but she didn't !!!...Debbie thinks that when I hear Larry coming home I'm running to find "just the right toy" to greet him ... well...sort of...but not totally...I DO run to get a toy for him...and I AM real excited about it...but I also run to find Maggie and tell her that Larry's home...I always run to the stairway or the bathroom...(Her Royal Highness's favorite hideouts)...to tell her he's here...IF I find her I bark and bark and BARK to try to get my point across...that usually gets me in a lot of trouble...:(...All this time Debbie thought that I was barking to get attention...REALLY ???...I don't need to bark to get attention...I'm the champion of "being noticed"...and if I wanted attention for myself do they really think I would bring HRH Maggie along with me ???... Here I am...trying to be a "good dog" and spread the word through the house that Larry is here...I'm even willing to share a bit...and just a bit...of my time with Larry with Maggie but ... trouble...nearly every time...:/...maybe now that she knows what I'm really doing Debbie won't get after me to be quiet...Looking forward to BOTH Larry and Debbie getting home from work...Love...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...I wonder if I tried to learn "cat language" I would be better at talking to Maggie ?...Debbie seems to be able to do it... but then she's the only one in the house who seems to understand that stupid cat...Oh No !!!...could they have a secret way of communicating ?... not liking the sound of this... not one bit...now I'm feeling threatened...must.learn.cat.language.must.learn...

What's That Smell ???...It Wasn't Me...

Dear Diary...What's that smell ???  It wasn't me...Honest it wasn't...when I notice it I just leave the room...what's the big deal anyway ?...I have also noticed that the humans give each other funny looks and then start searching the room...for what ?!?...Did it occur to any of them that Maggie could be the cause of the mystery smell ???...I'm tired of them always assuming it was me...:(...Good Grief...how could I be the blame...I've had more baths lately than any WonderDog should...at least two a week and I'm told that it will continue until the bug population in the back yard is under control...I'm the one who is in this house all the time with that cat and I know better than them the stuff she does when they aren't here...Strange smells...stuff out of order...fur on the furniture...toys everywhere...Yeah...blame the DOG...blame LUCEY...blame ANYONE but the cat...all the while Maggie is quietly "grooming" herself and looking "oh so innocent"...she's not fooling me... just another problem for the WonderDog to try her best to solve,..Speaking of problems...I need to talk to my humans about the new dog food they got for me...I really don't want to hurt any ones feelings but ...I don't like it...it doesn't taste like my old stuff and it gives me a bit of a stomach ache... I saw a commercial on the TV about something called "indigestion"...I will have to find a way to talk to Debbie about that...Missing my old "diet" food and wishing I had it back...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...Guess what ??? My old food IS back...Debbie sent Larry to get it and she said to HURRY...She also bought new candles for the house...they smell wonderful...:)

It's THAT Time Of Year Again...

Dear Diary...It's THAT time of year again...What time of year is that ?...Flea and tick season...and around here there has been an explosion in the flea population...Having a creek in your own backyard is really a cool thing...most of the time...but this year the bugs have been nothing short of a disaster !!!...You can't go out there...and its not just me...the humans aren't wild about it either...:(...so...that being said why would they expect me to want to go out there to ...well...to do what I need to do every few hours...I should start at the beginning...the whole mess started several days ago...I tried not to let them know just how miserable I was and didn't cry until Debbie had gone upstairs to bed...(I really should have closed the bathroom door)...but she heard me and came down to see what the problem was...she caught me crying and scratching...I could tell she was upset...she promised to call the vet in the morning and tried right then to give me a bath...but I wanted nothing of it...I just didn't want be touched anywhere...but she kept her word and called the next day ...first thing too !...I had already had my flea medicine for the month and Debbie wasn't sure just what else she could do...The doctor said I really needed that bath and told Debbie about more medicine that I could take...So...I put my WonderDog "Big Puppy Panties" on and let them give me that bath that I didn't want...Wow...I should have caved in the night before...it was great...and it smelled good too...I got shampooed 3 times !!!...then Debbie gave me a peanut butter covered Dorito...one of my favorite things ever...and shortly after that I took a nice long nap !!!...Thinking back on that I wonder what else was on that Dorito besides peanut butter ?!?...I'm much better now and feel more like my old self...Debbie said not to worry and it's not my fault...the mosquitoes and fleas and bugs were extra bad this year and the good old Frontline isn't working like it usually does...and I can't take the flea "pills"...they make me sick...as for "going" outside...seems I still have to do that...:(...Good Grief ...why go where I know very well the problem resides ?!?...then its brushing and vacuuming and vacuuming and brushing...good thing I'm sleeping better these days...I hate that vacuum cleaner...Gotta go...I've had my Dorito and I feel a nap coming on...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...and at some point during this the humans took my bed and MY BLANKET away from me...I've been promised a new cover on my bed and a new blanket...after a killing frost...someone want to explain that to me ???

Far Be It From Me To Complain...But...

Dear Diary...Far be it from me to complain...but...things around here for the last couple of weeks have been a bit stressful...first the heat didn't work...yeah...the HEAT...I needed it...I had to resort to curling up like Maggie does and putting my paws over my nose...how degrading !!!...seems that something called a motor wasn't working so instead of heat we had a smell that Ashley thought was similar to a "bad BBQ"...really ???...I know BBQ and that wasn't anything close to it ...good or bad...I had to wait over the weekend for heat...and then the humans TURNED THE HEAT DOWN !!!...I don't care what the temperature was OUTSIDE ...it's INSIDE that matters to me...I bet all my dog food that they would turn it back up if they were here all the time like I am...:(...and if all that wasn't enough they had a new roof put on the house...Debbie says that it's the thing on top of the house that helps keep us dry and warm and cool and safe...OK...well...all I heard was an incredible amount of noise...it hurt my ears...the house was shaking and stuff was moving in here all my itself !!!...and the worse part was the strangers in MY yard...you all know how I feel about protecting my family...Hey... I didn't know any of those guys...I couldn't even use my "spot" outside with any kind of privacy...I let them know I wasn't happy about it too...So...I've had a cold nose and hurting ears...and a not so good attitude the last few days... Was I feeling sorry for myself...Yep...AND do any of you know about a" light" that I keep seeing in my house ???...it's only here when Larry is home...it runs across the floor and under furniture and up the walls...I've tried and tried to catch it ...but I can't...it even had me running in circles a few times...then the humans laugh and laugh...well Debbie doesn't laugh as much but I have seen her smile about it... She said not to put the light on the forbidden couch or someone was going to be in trouble ...Ashley even said that if they kept it she saw no reason for me to be on special diet dog food if a 99 cent light would do the same thing...I don't get it...what is this "light" ???...and now my dog food is in danger of disappearing because of it ???...I gotta go now...my head is spinning ...see why I'm stressed ???...Love anyway...Lucey the WonderDog... P. S. I love my humans but living with them is more than I can handle at times...They have no idea...But I just had a thought...I bet the roofers made a lot more noise upstairs in Maggie's palace than they did downstairs in my home...:)...she's probably still in hiding...:)

Dear "Lucey's" Diary...

Dear "Lucey's" Diary...Well...Well...Well...Guess who went for a little vacation to the Big House and left their diary unlocked ??? The WonderDog...and guess who found out that little fact  ???...ME...the cat...Life in the Tope household has been pretty sweet these last few days...Got the run of the whole house...My food bowl and water are easy to get to ...no "yappy" dog in my way... Oh...you need to know that the forbidden couch is nice...REAL nice...Ashley was more than happy to share it with me...yeah...you heard me correctly...your precious Ashley LOVES me..She attempted to play with me...I allowed this for a few seconds too...just to make YOU jealous ... There are so many cool things to explore in this house if I'm left to my own devices...your toys for one...:)...good luck finding all of them...and your blanket...???...it works great for a little light housekeeping around the old litter box...Yes...life here has been good...I've even discovered where your rawhide bones disappear to...if "Wonder"Dogs could climb like I can you too would know where they are...too bad for you...But...all good things must come to an end...I hear that you are coming back...soon...:(...so...it's off to my "nail salon" for a little sharpening...just for you...see you soon...Maggie...P S...Oh...and a big THANK YOU you big "furball"...I understand that you had to have a flea bath at the vet...that means I'm in for one too...paybacks Lucey...paybacks...

Don't Be A "Snooty" Dog

Dear Diary...A few days ago I was told not to be a "snooty" dog...Now just what is THAT supposed to mean ???...I'm fairly certain that it wasn't a compliment...not from judging the look and tone in Debbie's voice...all I was doing was guarding what was mine...I thought for sure she was going to take my rawhide bone away from me...AGAIN...seems that she wasn't though...my mistake ... I don't get to have my rawhide bone just whenever I want it...Debbie worries that I'll eat the whole thing and I have been known to do that ...seems she was just tidying up a bit... but just what IS snooty ???  Debbie says it means proud...arrogant...conceited...superior...snobbish...showing disapproval toward others...Ok...If someone is trying to take something of MINE away from ME...then I'm guilty as charged...Proud...Superior...you bet I am !!!...I'm the WonderDog... and showing disapproval toward others...yeah...others who would take my food...or my toys...or my blanket...or my humans...or a certain cat that leaves hair and slobbers on MY STUFF..."snooty"...that's me...I see no problem here...Now for the arrogant...conceited  ...snobbish part of the definition...can you spell M A G G I E ???   Yep...perfect description of the upstairs resident in this house...just sayin...Love...Lucey the WonderDog... P S ...Sorry for the rant...she's been terrible lately...I think a flea treatment is in order for Her Majesty...if a flea would dare live on her...:(

The Dog House Rules...

Dear Diary...There are rules in this house...yep...several of them...but I seem to be the one who has the most rules to follow...:(... Some are easy ones and others can be next to impossible to follow...  Debbie tells me the rules EVERY morning before she leaves for work... and I mean EVERY morning...gosh...I'm not stupid...I do remember them...don't always follow them ...:)...but I remember...1)...Be a "good dog" while I'm away...this is an easy one...I'm always good...at least by my definition...2)...No peeing or pooping on the floor or any place else for that matter...Now I really am pretty good at this one...except during thunder storms... or if I get scared...or if I didn't get enough time outside before they left...or if the humans are gone more than 8 hours...see...none of the exceptions are my fault...:)...3)...No rooting around for food...this one is kinda difficult to follow...a hungry WonderDog is completely capable of obtaining whatever she wants...I have a "reach" you have to see to believe...no morsel of food is safe from me...I can open doors...unzip zip lock bags...open a locked trashcan...which leads me to ...4)...NO TRASHCAN DIVING !!!...now if perfectly good food wasn't put in the trash to begin with there wouldn't be a problem here...did you know that the inside of yogurt containers are delicious and so are paper plate leftovers??...I've even been known to eat used paper napkins...try it some time...it's good ...and lastly ...5)...LEAVE THE CAT ALONE !!!...Ok..this one is impossible to enforce...Maggie teases me... I can be walking along minding my own business and she bats her paw at me...(from the other side of the gate...the little chicken)...and if I don't notice her she meows until I do...she hisses at me...and gets all "puffed up" about nothing...Her Royal Highness rules this house and I suffer for it...So...The Dog House Rules...trying to keep them gets me in the "dog house" quite frequently...On the up side though...the humans in this house are pretty understanding and I don't stay in trouble for very long...all I have to do is a few of the "tricks" I've been taught and and they are putty in my paws...:)...Love until next time...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...I heard the humans talking about some kind of "challenge" that involves water...I smell a bath coming on...:/

Caught In The Act...

Dear Diary...Caught...I got caught...and Debbie seemed to think that it was top priority to get my picture before attempting to get the bag away from me...If that's the case then this diet thing can't be that important...BECAUSE she ran to get the camera that gave me the chance to finish off the rest of the potato chips in the bag...and they were tasty too...when questioned by Larry as to HOW and WHY I had the bag of chips the answer was that they were "stale" and thrown away...ummmmm...tasted fine to me ... if that's what stale is then I'm all for it...Now...about this picture...you need to understand that it's not ME at my best...not the most flattering picture of ME either...I'm much cuter with my head and face showing...but potato chips being thrown in the trash is a crime...and putting your fancy pink toolbox on the top of the trashcan won't keep me out ...I'm stronger than you think Deb...how do you like being outsmarted by a WonderDog ???...probably no more than I like having an unflattering picture of me out there for all the world to see...Don't mess with ME ...Waiting on your next mistake...and it will happen...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...I'm eyeing some cookies on the counter...move those over toward the edge just a couple of inches more...Thank You...:)

A Trip To The Big House...

Dear Diary...Larry asked me a few days ago if I was ready for a trip to the "Big House"...I thought we were moving or something and honestly the house we live in is plenty big enough for me...but guess what that really meant ...???...yep...another trip to the vet for boarding...I got left there again...now I did get great accommodations...(I got to bring my football along with me)... I got the luxury suite...(that means the big cage)...and it really wasn't so bad...Debbie and Larry were only gone for a short time and I got a good report from all the people who take care of me...so I was a good dog...:)...On the ride home I got to sit in Debbie's lap...I slobbered in her ear too and she didn't even get upset at me...All in all it wasn't such a bad thing...until I got home...I'm fairly certain that Maggie had a party while everyone was gone...if she's going to do sneaky things like that I think she should at least have the "smarts" to clean up the evidence...cat hair everywhere ... foot prints everywhere...litter everywhere...how can one cat leave that much fur around...???...I'm telling you there had to be some kind of party going on...the "forbidden couch" was used ...I know...I found the evidence when I was on it for my nap...the bathtub...the bathtub !!!...now I know that her food is in there but the amount of fur in it was ...well...disturbing...what went on here ?!?...I haven't been allowed upstairs...that area is reserved for "Her Majesty"...but I overheard Larry and Debbie talking last night and the party must have spread to the upstairs too...Debbie didn't sound so happy about whatever was found up there...so...keep going Maggie...you're pushing it...:)...Puzzled but enjoying Maggie being in the hot seat for once...Love...Lucey the WonderDog......P S ...I saw one of your boyfriends outside this morning...be careful Maggie...I think he's a drifter...:)

I Was Just Trying To Help...

Dear Diary...I was just trying to help...A couple of days ago I decided that helping with the laundry was a good thing to do...You see...the washer and dryer are in "my room"...it's not my room all the time but it's the room I like to be in if I'm having not so good of a day...that's the room that my crate was in when I was a puppy...the first year or so that I lived here I had to stay in the crate when no one was here...I didn't really like it very much but everyone said that it was safer for me (and all the stuff in the house) if I was there when no one could watch me...well...now it's my "safe" place and when the laundry is going it's just too noisy and cluttered for me in there...I really thought that shuffling the clothes around was a good move...how was I to know Debbie had them in certain piles ???...seems like two piles instead of three would move things along a little faster...and relocating the towels to the dining room wasn't such a bright idea now that I look back on it... So I had to have my bad day in another room and leave the laundry alone...:(...I was just looking for some peace and quite...my "cat scratched" nose was still hurting ... but on a good note...I didn't get in a lot of trouble for helping...I think Debbie knew that my nose hurt...she just moved the laundry back and told me "NO !"...I see Maggie snuggling up to Debbie all the time but I know she loves me... Still healing but feeling better...Love... Lucey the WonderDog

I Was A Birthday Present ...

Dear Diary...Guess what ???...I was a birthday present...I never knew this...I overheard Larry and Debbie talking about it ... Apparently I belong to DEBBIE !!!...didn't know about this either...all this time I thought Larry belonged to me and I was the property of no one..no really...that's what I thought !!!...Larry gave me to Debbie seven years ago right about this time...I do remember the day I first met my human family...it was real hot outside and I was in a big back yard with some other dogs...I had been to a couple of places to live but for some reason no one kept me for very long...:(...I was at one place where there wasn't enough room for me and the lady just couldn't keep up with me...I'm kinda lively !!!...then there was another place with a LOT of dogs...I didn't like it there...the last stop was a place with kids to play with but I knew I wasn't going to be there for long either...That place was a rescue center for dogs like me...One day I got a really nice bath and brushed up so I looked really pretty...I went through a gate and there was Debbie !!!...I went right up to her and licked her in the face !!!...I guess that was a good move on my part because I heard her tell Larry that she wanted ME...:)...then I met Remy and Larry too...we all played for awhile and then Debbie picked me up...(I was a few pounds lighter then)...and put me in the truck...I got to ride in Remy's lap...there were bags of stuff in the back seat...Remy let me look and there were lots of dog toys and food and bowls and my own leash and collar !!!...after awhile I got in the front seat and rode between Larry and Debbie the rest of the way to my new home...I knew on that ride that I was going to get to STAY with these humans...A couple of days later Ashley came home and met me...Boy was she surprised to see me !!!...seems she wasn't an animal fan but I'm happy to say that I've converted her...:)...OH  YEAH ...and sometime in there I met Maggie for the first time...:/...she's never recovered from it ...I was a birthday present...I belong to Debbie...<3 <3 <3...Knowing I'm a lucky and loved dog...Lucey ...<3

There Was A Fight...:(

***She may look innocent...but watch out !!!

Dear Diary...There was a fight...and I lost...and there was blood...It was mine...All I wanted was for Maggie to come out from under the furniture and play...but would she ???...Nooooo...she had to get all hissy about it and scratch me on the nose...and it hurt too...What's the big deal about playing sometimes ???...I'm a lot of fun if you just give me the chance...I would have shared my new ball with the squeaker in it if she would have just been willing to come out of there...But instead I got kicked out of the bathroom and told I had to stay in the kitchen for awhile...seems there was the chance of blood on the forbidden couch...:/...Good Grief...I can't even get a little sympathy around here when I need it...my nose hurts...cat scratches aren't fun...they seem to hurt even more as time goes on too...I'm banished to the kitchen floor and Her Royal Highness Maggie gets a room to herself with her precious food bowl and water...I bet she's in there sharpening her nails for the next time...:(...In need of a bandage and some love...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...Debbie says to stop complaining ...it's not that bad... the bleeding has stopped... guess that means I can have the run of the house ...will I ever learn ???...the bathroom door is open again...wonder if Maggie wants to play ???

I Was A Brave Dog ...:/

Dear Diary...I was a brave dog...Today was the day that I got my summer haircut...Normally I'm not at my best when I get a haircut...I get left there for awhile and it scares me...the lady is real nice to me but when she starts cutting my hair she means business !!!...I know I just have to go along with it...in case you haven't figured this out yet...I can usually charm (or bully) my way into getting what I want but that stuff doesn't work with her...:(...I get the feeling that she works with a lot of other dogs and knows most of the tricks...darn...I got a real nice bath and brushing...I like that...:)...and when the cutters started I just looked out of the window at the rain and hoped it would be over soon...it really isn't THAT bad...just scary...the cutters make a weird noise and it feels strange...it would scare you too !!! ...Debbie came back to get me after awhile and boy was she surprised when she saw me !!!...She said that I was half the dog I was when she left earlier !...and I got a good report from the groomer...she did say that I was a "Mike Tyson" dog...I'm not sure if that is good or bad but it made Debbie laugh !!!  When we got back home Debbie gave me fresh water to drink and a little snack...I think it was a reward for being good...;)...she MUST have been proud of me...I left a lot of dog slobbers in her car and she wasn't even mad at me !!!...then I found my spot on the floor to settle in for a nap...being groomed is exhausting !!!  I have to admit that having most of my fur gone is a lot cooler...I just may have to snuggle up to my blanket this afternoon instead of chewing holes in it...Love until later...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...say...I bet I could sneak up on ol' Maggie...she probably won't recognize me with the new "do"...maybe getting haircuts isn't so bad after all...I'm seeing that I could use this to my advantage in the Dog/Cat Conflict in this house...anyone think I'll fool her ???

Vacation ??? I Think Not !!!

Dear Diary...The humans in this house have been on "vacation" for the past few days...I'm understanding that vacation means "getting away from it all" and relaxing for a bit...OK...:/...Before they left for this "vacation" I observed a flurry of activity... lawn mowed...flowers over-watered...car cleaned...garbage out early...house hyper-cleaned...clothes packed...fridge cleaned out...yeah...you get it...LOTS OF WORK !!!...I understand that they then drove hundreds of miles with other humans who were attempting to do the same thing...hummmmm...seems to me that they could have saved alot of energy and just stayed home....and where did I end up in this whole picture ???...at the Vet's office in a cage...well...it's a nice cage...a big one too...but ...in...a...cage !!!...then there were fireworks in the town I was in and well...I'm scared of them...luckily there were other dogs there in cages too...(I got the big one !!!)...so together we got through all the noise...a few days later Ashley came and rescued me...I sure was happy to see her...she let me sit shotgun in the front seat just like Larry does...I tried to sit in her lap but she said "NO !"...I guess that's not safe ...:(...Everyone is now home and back to work and vacation is over...thank goodness...but I started thinking about this whole thing and you know who I think got the "real vacation" ???...yeah...MAGGIE...that darn cat had it made while everyone was gone...the gate was open to the upstairs and her food dish was easy to get to since I wasn't there to stop her...she not only had the upstairs to herself but the downstairs too...complete with the forbidden couch (all the beds upstairs aren't enough) and the kitchen counter...(Debbie wouldn't like the counter part...but I bet she did it !!!)...and my toys and blanket...they smell suspiciously like cat slobbers...:(...VACATION...Yep...sure was one for some cat I know...Taking a nap beside kitty's food bowl and loving every second of it...Lucey the WonderDog  P S ...There's no place like home ...<3

Feelin' Accomplished !!!

Dear Diary...Tonight I feel accomplished and it's a darn good feeling too !!!...Today I had an opportunity I've never had  before...I got to bark at the mailman 3 times  !!!...That's right 3 TIMES !!!...the same mailman too...:)...First I was outside at just the right time at home this morning...I usually get to see the mailman from the window and unless I bark really loud he never knows I'm there...but today I was in the garden with Debbie and well...gotta warn her...uniforms can be very disturbing to me..and I barked A LOT !!!...(sorry Mr Mailman...:/)...then later on I got to go with Larry and Debbie to Grandma's house to do a little work...well... they worked...Larry was replacing a window and apparently handling glass is not something I'm allowed to do...and Debbie was painting and judging from the looks I was getting from her I could tell that helping was out of the question...sooooooooo...I sat on the front porch and patrolled the neighborhood just like it was South Main Street...but wait...who is that I see ???...Time to start barking.... It's that same mailman and he's wearing a uniform on this street too ... boy did he look surprised to see me AGAIN !!!...and just so as not to disappoint him I barked at him again on his return trip on the opposite side of the street !!!  It was a busy day for me...lots of street patrol...riding shotgun in the truck...and panting in the heat...yep...it was a good day...it sure is good to be home in the air conditioning with my food bowl and water and my toys... Gotta try to sleep a little now...I overheard the family talking about thunderstorms tonight... :(... I have to go with this accomplished feeling while I can...Love as always to all of you ...Lucey the  WonderDog...P S ...If you're out there reading my post Mr Mailman you need to know I really do like you ...it's your uniform that creeps me out...:/

I'm Alone In The House...

Dear Diary...I'm alone in the house...well...Maggie is here but she's not a comfort...It's thundering outside and Debbie isn't here...:(...I'm so afraid of thunder...I can't figure out where it comes from...I can't see it...I can kind of feel it though...it shakes the house sometimes...and sometimes it lights up outside and I can't figure that out either !!!...I always try to get upstairs to hide under one of the beds but "someone" put a new gate up on the stairway and I can't figure out how to get through it...I had the old one broken in just right...I could get upstairs at the first thunder rumble...but not anymore...the day started out so good too...quiet...cool in the air conditioning ...full tummy...plenty of water...now I can see that it's not going to end as good as it started....Debbie will be home soon to check on me and...well...I WAS SCARED !!!...she knows very well that no matter how "empty" I am if I get frightened there will be a mess to clean up...Good grief...I got left here...how am I supposed to open the door all by myself...???...Debbie locks this place up tight...AND I would need my leash and I can't put that on by myself either !!!...so...you can see that this "messy" situation isn't my fault at all....if I could have gone outside I would have...I really prefer that...but...someone carelessly left me here and now they will just have to deal with the consequences...That sounds like a good excuse to me anyway...:)...the storm is a little better...I'm not shaking as bad as I was...No...It's starting up again and it's worse than it was...:(...Gotta stop now...I think I hear Debbie at the door...need to put on my best "puppy eye" look...Wish me luck...Love as always...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ... I'm telling you...if I were just allowed a "pooping box" like Maggie has this whole problem could be solved...

Speed It Up Puppy !!!

Dear Diary...I'm confused and a bit upset...Why ???...I'm so tired of hearing "Hurry up Girl !"..."Put a move on it Lucey !"..."Speed it up Puppy!"...I hear this nearly every time I'm taken outside for my necessary  walks...Now that the weather is GREAT...thank you very much... my "spot" is back and I thought all was right in the doggy world but sadly that hasn't been true lately...:(...Seems there are mosquitoes that have set up camp in the Tope backyard and they love to feast on humans...If I'm not fast enough in doing my business I get yelled at...:/...In what world is that a good thing ???...Would they like to be told to hurry up ???...these things take time...it may look easy enough to humans but believe me it takes some thought and a few minutes to figure out where just the perfect spot of grass is located...the grass may look all the same to them but not to WonderDogs...Believe it or not there is an art to "lawn fertilizing"...Just thought you should know this...I hear nature calling...again...Humans...BREAK OUT THE BUG SPRAY !!!...Love ...Lucey the WonderDog......P S...Perhaps if humans wore fur coats all the time they could handle the mosquito problem...just sayin...

Gummy Worms...Yuck !!!

Dear Diary...I've been in trouble again...It wasn't entirely my fault either...One of the rules around this house is " A plate left unattended is a plate licked clean.."...and that rule also applies to large containers of Gummy Worms...Ashley loves the things...Remy too...and Larry had bought a container of them for Ashley a couple of weeks ago...She eats them when she's home on the weekends...This weekend she left them in the living room and thought they were safe if the lid was sealed down...Wrong...Hey...I'm smart...She should know me better than that ... So while everyone was outside I decided to help myself to the candy...I made an important discovery...Gummy Worms taste TERRIBLE...they're SOUR...Yuck !!!...I don't know how she stands the things...:(...and just to be sure they were all bad I licked the sugar off of every one of them and left them on the dining room floor so they could be swept away...and I found out that leaving them on the floor was a mistake too...ooh...the look on Debbie's face when she found them...how was I to know they get sticky when the sugar is gone...apparently they look bad too...it took them awhile to figure out what was on the floor...I sure hope Ashley still loves me...kind of worried and feeling sorry for what I did...Lucey the WonderDog...:(

Fred and Ethel...

Dear Diary...I have some new friends at my house...Their names are Fred and Ethel...At least I'm TRYING to be friends with them...Debbie says they are hummingbirds...Ok...:/...now I've listened and listened and I have yet to hear them "humming"...oh they make noise alright but it's not any kind of tune that I recognize...I like music and listen to it a lot so I know what I'm talking about...They do make a funny kind of cheeping sound and when they fly they sound a lot like the bees that Debbie tells me to stay away from !!!...but humming ???...NO !...At any rate I'm trying to be friendly with them... I'm told I have to be very quiet and still if I want them to come closer to me...I try... but "quiet" and "still " just aren't a  part of this WonderDog...they fly right up to a thing that Debbie put out there that looks a lot like a flower...I guess it's like a dog dish for birds...Fred and Ethel sure like whatever she put in there..I bet they won't have to be on a diet like me...:(... I watched her make this food and you wouldn't believe how much sugar they get...it's like the coolest candy ever !!! Some animals have all the luck...Debbie said that they need plenty of food because she thinks they have a nest in the tree by the porch...that means MORE of these creatures will be arriving soon...I hope it goes better for me than when the ducks and geese were bringing out their families...they didn't like me very much...especially those geese...they can chase you !!! I think I stand a better chance of getting away from an angry hummingbird though...Well...I have to go...time for bird watching...Love...Lucey...<3

I've Made An "Observation"...

Dear Diary...I've made an "observation"...Hey... that's a big word for a WonderDog to be using huh ?!?...I've noticed that the weather here is just as crazy as the humans in this house say that it is !!!...Just a few days ago I was outside with Debbie and it was HOT !!!...she's started taking me outside with her while she's working in the dirt...(gosh I want help...:/ )...mostly I just lay in the shade and watch...then beg to go inside...Today I'm real happy to be back inside...it's kinda COLD out there !!!...the furnace is running and I'm back to laying in my Winter spot to keep warm...CONFUSING !!!...and a few days ago those terrible thunder noises were back again...I'm real scared of that...Debbie was with me for one of them and that made it a lot better  (she stayed downstairs with me until the storm stopped and I went to sleep ) but she wasn't here for the thunder on the last one...:(...I didn't do so well with it...but Debbie didn't get mad at me for messing up the floor...she just said that she should have been here and she was sorry... I'm not sure just how sorry she really was though...I saw the look on her face when she discovered the mess and the look as she cleaned it up...She must really love me ...If it were me I don't think I would have been so nice about it...Good grief...even I won't go near the "area" after the accident... So...is the weather crazy in Ohio ???...definitely ...most of the backyard AND my spot is under water ... BUT ...you would have to agree it's way  better than the snowy cold  stuff we had last Winter !!!...Love until next time...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...I've overheard that I may be getting a haircut soon...I think I'd like to keep my fur on for a while longer... it's always a bit breezy after a haircut and so far this season it's been breezy enough ...don't even get me started about the "wind" in this part of the country...yikes !!!

Sorry About That...

Dear Diary...It's been a long time since I've written to you...Sorry about that...I've been more than willing to talk but Debbie has been extra busy lately and as you all know I kinda need her help to do this...So much has happened here I hardly know where to begin...I think maybe...just maybe...the warmer weather has finally found us...I've got to help Debbie in the garden a few times in the past couple of weeks...I'm not sure that I'm really that much help...mostly I find the snakes for her...Now you would think that finding them would be a good thing but Debbie always makes me move to another part of the yard if I do get one...She says to leave them alone...I guess they bite !!!...I bet my teeth are bigger than any old garter snake but it looks like I'm never going to find out if Debbie has anything to do with it...I'm also not allowed to dig any holes to plant the flowers either...:(...if she would only tell me where to dig I'm sure I could do a great job for her...this also is something I probably will never know the answer to ...:/...I case you haven't figured it out Debbie is a bit over protective of her stuff...She gets garden fever every Spring and the whole house has to find a way to deal with it...I remember the year  she fired Remy for mowing the lawn the wrong way...he thought she was kidding but she wasn't !!!...I guess loving flowers is an OK thing...But the woman does have "her way" about her...and you had better listen ...get this one... I  have discovered that it's not acceptable to try to eat your food straight from the bag...that causes all kinds of trouble too...GOOD GRIEF !!!...I know for a fact and I have personally seen the humans in this house eat from bags...it happens all the time...I guess I can add this to the growing list of the old "double standard " in this house...There's lots more to tell but I will wait until next time...Love as always to my readers...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...I know about a hole in the backyard that needs attention...I wonder if maybe I would be allowed to help with that ???...I'm sure whatever Debbie has planned for it could use some fertilizer... I'm real good for that !!!

There Was A Mystery Smell...

Dear Diary...There was a mystery smell...you know...the kind of smell that shouldn't be there but you can't figure out just what it is...Could I smell it ???...Yeah...sure I could... I'm a dog...we have great sniffers...but I was used to it so it didn't bother me...It wasn't so great with Debbie though...she was determined to find it...she asked Larry but he didn't know...Ashley noticed it but she couldn't figure it out either...I actually witnessed Debbie crawling on the floor on all fours just like me...sniffing the living room carpet...( HEY !!!...that's my job )...she still couldn't figure it out...so she turned to the carpet cleaner...:(...I hate that thing...the vacuum makes a noise that I can hardly stand but the cleaner is much worse... the sound hurts my ears and the thing really scares me...but...she used it anyway...I swear she really loves cleaning the carpet...so I'm watching her clean away and the next thing I knew I was getting a bath  !!!...seems that when the cleaner got to the place that is "my spot" to relax and watch TV with the humans she found the smell...guess it was me...:(... that could explain why I was used to it...Now I LOVE baths...really I do... the water is warm and I get brushed and petted ... and talked to real nice...(I think they think I'm afraid or something...NOT !!!... ) but I'll never let on because I love the attention...then they used lots of fluffy warm towels to dry me and I get to go on the floor furnace to dry...but the fun part is getting to run around the house as fast as I can over and over again ...that's the best way to dry...so now I'm clean and all brushed out and look great...Debbie swears I'm a different color than I was ...Oh ...and I let her brush my beard...now normally I don't like that but Debbie said that I should have it done...Ladies with beards should always look their best...AND it occurred to me during all this that not once have I seen Maggie get a bath...she doesn't know what she's missing...:)...Got some extra attention and loving it...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...Debbie has brought it to my attention that cats HATE baths...hummmmmmm....you know something...I would give up weeks worth of dog treats to see that cat get a bath... I think it would be worth all the destruction and blood loss...:)

I Think They're On To Me...

Dear Diary...I think they're on to me...Just when I thought I had finally gained control of this household over the cat I find that I have NO control...My persistence and constant barking for more food just doesn't seem to be working anymore...Someone ...somewhere...has gotten to them...They let me bark...and all I get is the normal amount of food I used to get in the "before time"...you know...the time when all I got was the lousy diet stuff...I'm not real sure what happened but I think maybe the vet is the culprit...Larry went there a couple of days ago to get more of that diet food for me ... ( I'd blame Maggie if I thought she was really smart enough to place a phone call but it had to be Larry...there's no way Maggie smarter than me)... the next thing I knew none of my tricks worked anymore...:(... The humans have ganged up on me...I can only imagine what terrible advise he had for them and it sure looks like they fell for whatever nonsense he told them...All this time I thought he liked me...:(...I've barked until my bark is hoarse...I've barked until I got put outside...I barked until THEY went outside...and me going outside isn't a nice walk either ...It's me leashed  to the porch all by myself ...sometimes after dark...and this morning Debbie got after me...She didn't yell...believe me that would have been easier...she talked real stern like she REALLY meant business and told me how disappointed she was in my behavior...SHEESH...that's the worse kind of lecture...All I could do was look as sorry as I knew how...use my best puppy eye look...and walk away with my head down...I went to my bed and stayed there for awhile...I figured staying out of her way was the best thing...I've witnessed this before with Ashley and Remy...When Debbie is so upset she doesn't yell that means BIG trouble... So like I said...it's back to the "before time"...all I'll get is two

meals a day...my treat ball once a day...my padded bed with blankets for comfort that is right next to my toy box...(that's full)...oh and my filtered water and my matching sweater and collar...all this... such as it is... while I'm forced to look at the overflowing food dish that belongs to Maggie... I thought I had all the time in the world to pester them and get my way...guess I was wrong...:(...It's quite possible I've met my match...Puzzled...But trying to be a good dog...Love...Lucey...P S...Oh...Maggie...I saw that "smug" look on your face this morning after my lecture from Debbie...perhaps she needs to find out about that hairball you coughed up after she left for work this morning...we'll see whose so loved then...........

Well...They're Back..

Dear Diary...Well...they're back...we have guests in the backyard...they've been here lots of times before...I remember...Debbie says that they are geese from someplace called Canada...Now I've never been to this Canada place but Larry and Debbie have...they said that all the people there are really nice and super friendly but apparently these geese things aren't like that at all !!!...Debbie has warned me not to get too close...(she doesn't get that close either !!!) She said that they are bigger than I think...they could chase me and that they probably have baby geese close so I had better leave them alone...Debbie loves to watch them and takes pictures of them... she said that there are a lot of other families of these creatures by the creek...I guess she is right...I hear plenty of noise back by the creek and overhead in the sky..I have tried barking back and starting a friendly conversation with them but they will have nothing of it ...For being guests you would think that they would be more polite...they strut around the backyard like it belongs to them...and swim in the creek water like its their own personal pool...and if I come out side ...or anyone else really...they make this weird honking noise ...turn their backs on us  and make it clear they aren't happy about it...Such manners !!!...They seem to make Debbie happy though so I guess I'll have to be ok with it...Soon there will be more of them when they bring their babies out for a swim...I'll have to be on my best behavior ...Debbie will insist...They must not have a human family anywhere to tell them about the social graces...You know what ?!?...I've decided that they couldn't possibly be from Canada...they just aren't polite enough !!!  Until next time...Love as always to my readers...Lucey the WonderDog...

I've Been A Pest Lately...

Dear Diary...I admit it...I've been a pest lately...a really bad pest...The humans in the house didn't even have to tell me this either even though they have repeatedly said it...I know what I am...AND I'm doing it on purpose too... I want more food !!!...this crazy diet food gives me more energy...more energy means more food...it's simple...what's the problem ?!?!?!...Watering down my food isn't going to work either just so you know...I'm smarter than that...Trust me...I know exactly how many pieces of food it takes to fill me up...short change me by one piece and I'll protest...smaller bowls aren't gonna cut it either...Don't ignore me...I got all the time in the world to wait on you showing up again...and my memory...oh...I'll remember that I'm missing three pieces of food...offering a toy instead of feeding me...well ok...but you better be prepared to PLAY...don't toss the ball a couple of times and ignore me again...and Deb...hiding the ball in the dishwasher won't work...I know it's in there regardless of whether I saw you put it in there...I can smell it through the shut door...I'm good...real good...got the best "sniffer" in Northwest Ohio...so...bottom line...FEED ME !!!  So I end up a 40 pound happy dog instead of a 35 pound "pest"...come on...make up your mind...I'm getting hoarse from barking all the time...and I'm sure you're near the breaking point so...GIVE IN...( I'm not !!!)...Love...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...Do any of you know if the weather is going to get better soon ?...It has come to my attention that I may be spending more of my time outdoors...maybe even getting to camp out in the back yard !!!

I'm A Glutton...Really ???

Dear Diary...I'm a glutton...really ??? I didn't know whether to be insulted or not...You see Debbie accused me of being a "glutton" a few days ago...Yep...I've been in trouble AGAIN...A few days ago I got to  have a rawhide bone to chew on...it's a treat I don't get very often but I always only chew small pieces and it gets taken away from me after a couple of hours...at least I think that's what happens...they always come up missing after I've had them awhile...Some dogs I'm told have actually swallowed them whole...YIKES !!!...but again...I've never done that...Debbie just figures that small amounts keep me busy but too much could cause an upset tummy...and she's always talked about my "sensitive stomach"...That rawhide bone was pretty tasty...and  Grandpa...<3...was here for supper so everyone was enjoying their evening in the dining room and talking...well...during their talking ....I ate the entire thing...:/...Debbie searched the whole house for it after Grandpa left...I was gonna tell her what I did but she was getting more upset by the minute and I chose the "beats me what happened to it " look....that was followed by checking the vet sites on the computer and trying to figure out what to do...Debbie found out the solution...What I thought was good news...going off my diet...didn't turn out as great as I thought it would be...I got plain old cooked rice...and soft canned food ...and LOTS of water...and pumpkin...now I really like pumpkin...it's good...and it has lots of fiber in it...so no complaints about that ...but I didn't really like the rest of it...I've also come to understand that this "fiber" stuff is somehow linked to my bathroom activities...for the next 4 days I had absolutely no privacy while I was outside...Debbie watched me like she paid for the event !!!...Good grief...I get shut out of the humans bathroom  for such actions...( an activity that Maggie is allowed to witness )...But ...good news is...I'm fine...I never got sick...not even a little bit...Things are again back to normal here except my secret is out...my sensitive stomach is really made of "cast iron"...As for being a glutton...Debbie helped me look up the definition...*Gluttony...is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires...*...and even though Debbie says this was her fault for not watching me more closely she still says I'm guilty...sigh...can't win...Love...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...I'm willing to bet I never see another rawhide bone again...Deb has probably already called the North Pole to tell Santa to not bring me one for Christmas this year no matter how much of a "good dog " I am...gotta start thinking of what to ask for this year...Oh...and I'm supposed to tell all of you to never leave your dogs unsupervised with rawhide bones or maybe consider never giving them to your pet at all...:(

I've Been Told I Owe Them An Apology ...

Dear Diary...I've been told I owe them an apology...Debbie has always tried to teach me to be polite..(She says that I'm stubborn and in desperate need of obedience school)....I've tried to be polite but I have to admit that I really don't quite understand just what that is...even though I'm a WonderDog I just don't get it...I'm gonna do what my instincts tell me to do...how was I to know that maybe it could be taken the wrong way ???..and that makes me feel bad...so ...here goes...

Dear Librarians...I am sorry I barked and growled at you ...I really didn't mean to hurt your feelings...I'm a good dog really...I'm kinda protective of where I live and I hadn't seen you guys for awhile...not since all the snow came YEARS ago...Maybe if I got a haircut I could see better and would have known who you were...so...I really want to be friends again...please ???...I always bark...ALWAYS...but I like nearly everyone...honest I do...Say...If you want I could guard the library for you too !!!...Lots of love ...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...Please accept this picture of some pretty flowers...It's a present from me just to you ...:)

***Oh...Larry...I know you are the one who told on me...maybe Deb needs to find out about the bag of nacho chips hidden in the kitchen...

I Know She Put It In Here Somewhere...

Dear Diary...I know she put it in her somewhere...It's the beginning of day three of my food bowl being gone...I never would have thought that constantly demanding more food would have caused this situation to happen...I'm pretty sure I saw Debbie put it in the dishwasher...and I know that checking out it's location will only get me in more trouble than I already am...:(... But good grief... It's MY bowl !!!...My meals are arriving on time but...once the food is gone everything is gone...well...my water bowl is still there...but everything else is gone...did I tell you it's filtered water ?....but the food dish is gone...I have my very own filtering pitcher in the fridge that is just for me...they took my food dish...and my water is icy cold just the way I like it...no food bowl...I think just maybe they are treating me bad...did I tell you that next time Debbie goes to the pet store I get a new sweater for Spring...they haven't been nice to me lately...I want my bowl...Debbie moved my Serta bed to a different place away from the furnace because she thought I was getting too warm...they are mean to me....my food bowl...I have to find it...it's definitely in the dishwasher...I can smell it...oooooo...I can smell the hamburgers on the broiler pan ...which weren't shared with me...she's not watching...oh yeah...hamburger drippings....yummmm...you may think you've won this battle Deb...but not yet ...the treatment I'm receiving in this household is not acceptable...at least not to me...Feel sorry for me yet ???...Hoping for some love from my readers ...with hamburger drippings on my chin...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...I see my chance to try a trashcan dive...she's not looking...Debbie is picking up my toys for me...got my own toybox too...ugh...she locked the lid...and put something heavy on top of it...can't get into it...defeated.....................:(

Boy Did I Pick The Wrong Day...

Dear Diary...Boy did I pick the wrong day...All I wanted was more food...No one was paying attention to me ...I got tired of barking so I decided to check out the trashcan in the kitchen...Jackpot !!! ...a box that had something tasty ...only crumbs... but I was desperate...Once I have a treasure from a trashcan dive I'm not likely to give it up...Debbie usually tries tricking me into going to my food bowl to get me away from the prize I have...but not this time...she didn't give up getting it away from me...I wouldn't give up either...the result was a torn box with pieces of it scattered under the dining room table...( I prefer dining in style thank you )...She won...:(...and I went to check out my bowl for a consolation prize or at least the pleasure of dropping it on her foot...and what do I find...???...NOTHING...no food...no crumbs...no stray pieces of food near by ....NOTHING...not even my bowl...she took it...my bowl...she took it...:(...now I can only have it if I'm being fed...I pushed her too far this time...Don't get me wrong...I got fed...I did...I just wanted more...How can I ask for more if there's no bowl to go to and bark at until I someone gives in ???...no bowl to drop on the floor over and over again ...(metal bowls make a sound that is difficult to ignore)...no bowl that might have a tiny crumb in it...I've really done it this time...I need to get back in her good graces and I'm not sure just how to do it...Feeling slightly ashamed and a little disgusted at being out smarted...Lucey

I've Been Dreaming Of This Day For So Long...

Dear Diary...I've been dreaming of this day for so long...and I bet you have too...It's the first day of Spring...You may think that a WonderDog couldn't possibly know what Spring is ...but I do...Debbie has talked about it for a long time now and talked A LOT  to me about it...about how one day I could go outside without my sweater...or go outside without my paws freezing to the driveway...or go outside without wading through snow...or ...well..."go"...outside !!!...That means that my "spot" will soon appear again...Thank goodness...my spot being gone has been very disturbing to me (and everyone else...there's a lot of raking to do) ...So I began the Spring festivities a little early by trapping Maggie in the bathroom shortly before midnight...the bathroom door wasn't latched... I knew she could get out of there if she wanted to...I sacrificed sleeping on the forbidden couch and opted for the floor...right...outside...the bathroom door...she had to pass me to get out of there...hehehe...I figure I need to fight whatever battle I can around here to gain control over the cat...Debbie says that I'm persistent  if I'm anything...I'm not sure what that means but I'm not about to give up no matter how long it takes...Maggie was rescued when I got my breakfast...food ALWAYS trumps revenge...at least with me...Oh...and Deb...I heard you tell Maggie it was safe to go upstairs...I also know that you CARRIED her out of there to safety...traitor...Until next time...Love...Lucey

But She Didn't Stay Mad For Long...

***The following story actually happened today in a matter of a few minutes time...Ashley telling it was far funnier than the following ...but here's Lucey's version of the adventure...

Dear Diary...Something happened today...I got to go for a ride in Ashley's car...now that has happened before... not often though because Ashley is real picky about her car and doesn't like dog slobbers on the windows...but Ashley wanted company on her errands around town so I went with her and Larry did too...Ashley put me in the backseat and would you believe she actually expected me to stay back there ?!?...NO...I tried to get to the front seat and sorta got stuck on the console trying to do it...I think that upset Ashley a bit...but she didn't stay mad for long...Larry helped me out and then I got to ride shotgun like I always do...only I got to ride in Larry's lap...now THAT never happens !!!...(I ride in Debbie's lap every now and then)...What fun !!!...he put the window down and held on to me...I got to put my head out of the window and enjoy the nice day !!!...I was so excited...when we made the first of Ashley's stops I got in the backseat so Larry could get out...but I managed to put the back window down before Ashley could shut off the car...I don't think she was too happy with me...she had to come back to fix that...but she didn't stay mad for long...we got to ride around a little and then we had to come back home...Ashley tried to take me back in the house...I wanted to go with Larry in the truck ...how was I supposed to know that she had my leash ?...I guess I nearly pulled her over...sorry about that Ash...pay attention...but she didn't stay mad for long...(As for the little accident I had in the yard on the way back into the house...I was excited and well...I'm sorry...Debbie will take care of that...honest)...Now we are back home and I'm feeling much better about things around here...I don't EVER remember Maggie going for rides in the car or truck so I guess maybe I do have at least one privilege that she doesn't...as for Ashley...she can get upset with me real fast but I know she loves me...I just hope that when she discovers the slobbers on the back windows in her car she still feels the same way about the WonderDog...Love...Lucey...P S...Hey Ashley...the quicker you clean those windows off the better...dried slobbers are difficult to remove...:)...they're just like cement...:/

Shaking My Head...

Dear Diary...I'm shaking my head...Time and time again I see that Maggie has it made around here...she has a full food bowl that is kept in the human's bathtub...the entire upstairs to call her own with includes a big bed with plenty of pillows and blankets ...a nice spot to sun herself every day...one bed for sunning in the morning and another one for the afternoon...and her own special box for pooping indoors...INDOORS !!!...I can't imagine they allow her to get away with this stuff...I can't do that...I know...I've tried...all kinds of trouble breaks out around here if I try half the stuff she gets away with... it finally occurred to me today who is really in charge in this house...IT'S THE CAT !!!...To make matters even worse I'm convinced that the humans have no idea that they are being had...It's a sad situation...:(...Unsure how to handle this...must warn the family...soon...before it's too late.. Love...Lucey

In What Universe Is This Fair ???

Dear Diary... In what universe is this fair ?...This morning the bathroom door was left open and I decided to sneak in and see if Maggie was anywhere around...And what do I find ?...not only is her food dish full...it's overflowing ...AND I got one of those "if looks could kill" stares...she leads such a privileged life...sigh...I spend a lot of time at the bottom of the stairs and I know what goes on and I bet if I were allowed upstairs I could live this life too...she gets to sleep in the same room and  bed with the humans...:/...if I had the chance to bat at their faces at 5am I bet I would get fed...I bet if I could sit on them and be nose to nose with them until they open their eyes I would get fed...or chase cough drops all night until I get the wrapper off of it ...they would feed me...I bet if I used her litter box at  3 am and they had to get up to open a window they would feed me then too...I can see that the answer to the food problem here lies in where one gets to bunk for the night...hummmmmm...I would gladly trade the forbidden couch for Maggie's sleeping arrangements...a problem to be worked on...in the mean time...go ahead Maggie...gorge yourself...hoping your stomachache is a whopper ...with the wheels in my head always turning...Love...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...Sorry if I sound bitter...but like I've said before the double standard in this house is unbelievable...:/

What The Heck Happened ???

Dear Diary...What the heck happened ???...Yesterday it was warm and muddy underfoot...today...well...for the first time ever...the WonderDog is speechless...:(...Staying near the furnace and feeling depressed...Lucey...

There's Something Behind The Garage...

Dear Diary...There's something behind the garage...I know it's there...a stray cat ?...a raccoon ?...maybe a mouse ?...I'm not sure but I'm determined to find out...The last couple of days I've tried to check it out and Debbie is just as determined to not let me...:(...She says that it's muddy and icy back there and I'll slip and fall...don't laugh...I know she's right...(I've slipped before and injured my back) ...but I think it would be worth the risk to find out just what's living back there... I'm not one to let a couple of muddy paws stop me...finding another cat to play with would be fun...(Maggie just isn't into playing with me...I've tried)...a raccoon...not so much fun...they don't play fair ...and mice...I get rid of them...they scare Debbie and one of my many talents is "mouser extraordinaire" ...a title I'm proud of and take very seriously...So...Deb...let me find out what's out there... Let me protect this house...I'll find out if this intruder is a threat or just someone to play with...Please ???...Trying to do my job and do it well...Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...If it's another cat maybe Maggie would play with them...NOT !!!...she's hopelessly anti-social...:/

***MISSING***

My red ball...It's my one of my favorite toys...Larry gave it to me when I was sick...I've searched everywhere...I thought I knew where I put it ...Occasionally it gets put away in my toy box but it's not there either...I looked under the forbidden couch...not there...in my bed...nope...not there...it should be easy for the humans to see...and feel...it's slobbery and covered in dog hair...:(...if found please contact me at 1FI-NDMY-BALL...thank you...:)...Lucey the WonderDog...Oops...found it !!! Never mind...:)

This Old House...

Dear Diary...We live in an old, old house...Larry and Debbie say it's over 100 years old...I wonder how many that is in dog years ???... I'm great at overhearing conversations around here and I get the idea that old houses can be challenging...something always needs repaired...or is leaking...or needs tightened...or just plain fell apart...But there are good things too (Debbie had to give this one some thought)...like big old porches to sit on in the summer...nooks and crannies to hide in (Maggie takes advantage of this)...and best of all ...the floor furnace !!!...I admit to being afraid of it for the first few years that I lived here...I would always walk around it ...never on it...it scared me...it either felt too cold or too hot...there are holes in it...and strange noises come out of it...smells sometimes too...:(...but one day I realized that the humans in this house are around it a lot !!!...(especially this winter)...so I decided to be brave and see what the attraction was...IT'S GREAT !!!...heat comes up from there...lots of it...I'm on it every chance I get...Debbie had to take my collar off in the house because I kept getting my dog tags caught in it...:)...The humans around here now have to wait their turn to warm up...and they soon learned that if they do get their chance and leave the furnace for any reason they better not be gone long...:)...Until next time...gotta go...the furnace is running...Love... Lucey the WonderDog...P S ...Debbie says that I'm so bad about laying there that she's vacuumed up enough fur  to make another whole dog...wow...I hope not...I've got enough competition around here as it is...:/

I Got Distracted...

Dear Diary...I got distracted...I was only thinking about Maggie and waiting for her to come out of the bathroom...I didn't hear him come in the backdoor...The WonderDog letting anything get past her is real unusual...but it happened just this one time...Remy is home !!!...It was already dark outside and it looked like everyone was settled in for the evening...a couple of the humans here were even sleeping...one of them was on the forbidden couch and the other one was on the floor furnace...I heard Debbie say my name to get my attention ( the fact that she was awake should have told me something...:/)...I looked up and there he was...Remy !...I haven't seen him since I used to get in trouble for scratching my back on the Christmas tree...I ran right up to him and he remembered me after all this time...I asked him to take me outside and he didn't even grumble about the late hour...he just did it...:)...so I let him sleep on the couch instead of me...I just made sure he put the quilt on it...Looking forward to playing football and getting extra belly rubs...Love...Lucey the WonderDog...P S...I hope he's game for a 3am walk tonight...Remy is the only one who will do that for me...:)

It's A Terrible Habit...Not !

Dear Diary...Debbie's says that I've developed a terrible habit...I think I need to get two breakfasts...Now just what is wrong with that ???...It all started a few months ago...Larry would feed me and then Debbie would too ...It seems one of them didn't know what the other one was doing...(snicker...snicker...)...what WonderDog wouldn't take advantage of that ?...They did eventually figure it out though...then I got sick...during that time my food schedule was real messed up and I got fed several times during the day because of all the medicines I was taking...I'm back on the old schedule now...EXCEPT for the breakfast thing...LOL...they've tried everything to cut me down to one breakfast...one "tiny" portion and the regular one...NO...two equal portions...NO...one portion and then hiding in the bathroom...NO...trying to ignore me...IMPOSSIBLE...(Debbie claims I'm driving her "crazy" ..."crazy" must be near that "insane" place...I still haven't found out just where that is located)...I know the "full" line in my own stomach for crying out loud...They are worried about me gaining back the weight I lost...15 pounds thank you very much...(I'm proud of it too)...but they need to think of all the calories I burn off just trying to get that second portion...all the jumping...and running...and dancing...and toy fetching ...and barking (Debbie says it can shatter glass...I'm kinda proud of that too !)...My humans are pretty stubborn...but I can out-stubborn them every time... ya see that's the trick to it..."time"...I got lots of it and they don't...So...all is quiet here now...my tummy is full...had my drink of water...my morning stroll is over...and so is my morning workout for breakfast...it's time for a nap...until the garbage truck gets here...gotta let Deb know they are here whether she wants to know or not...Lots of love as always to my readers...you really do mean a lot to me...:)...Lucey the WonderDog...

It Doesn't Happen Very Often...

Dear Diary...It doesn't happen very often...but it did this week...I got left alone for the evening...Oh...they promised to come back in a few hours and they did...but I hate to be left alone after it gets dark...:(...Debbie left some of the lights on but I know that it's just Maggie and me here and she's not the best company...I think Maggie likes to be left alone...I can sit for hours at the stairway waiting for her to come down and never see her...Me ??? I need humans around me...especially if it's dark outside...I've said before that I guard this house and guard it well but when they're not here I hear noises and there's no one to tell...that makes me anxious and well...a little scared and a scared WonderDog is not a good thing ...so to entertain myself I decided to play with Debbie's Kleenex box ...that probably wasn't the best move on my part ...:(...I got lots of attention when they came back home and not the kind I like...Deb was a little upset with me...good grief I only ate two of them !!!...she's more protective of her precious Vicks Kleenex than I am of my food...she thinks they smell good...trust me...they taste even better...I had no choice but to try the Kleenex...Debbie moved the trashcans so I couldn't get to them...(sigh)...she knows me too well...But like I said...they came back...I really would have liked to go along too...I would have been good...I'd like to see Ashley too...I know when she leaves she goes to her home...I'd like to see that...Next time I'm going to ask if I can go too...Love as always...Lucey the WonderDog......P S ......I bet there's a whole bunch of new things to explore there...and I understand that there's no cat !...(just some deer in the backyard...I'm used to that...we have them too !!!)

It's Canine Evidence ...Honest...

2012...It's Canine Evidence...Honest...

Chapter 11 in the life of Lucey The Wonder Dog.....Lucey has had a quiet weekend and a well deserved one after the "fish" incident from last week...I'm still apologizing for blaming her for Hannah's untimely death....actually this isn't the first time she has been blamed for an apparent "murder"....a few years ago we adopted Lucey and added her to our family which also includes a cat named Maggie....Lucey likes cats but we never considered that the cat wouldn't like the dog....Maggie HATES Lucey.....an understatement really...anyway....one afternoon we heard Lucey upstairs barking at the cat and made her come downstairs before a fight broke out....a few minutes later l leaned over to pet the dog and came up with a bloody hand...this dog was COVERED in it.....(she has black fur so the blood didn't show up)...I was yelling that Lucey had killed the cat....I was certain that she had...and no one really wanted to go upstairs to find out either....Ashley heard all the yelling and wondered what was wrong with everyone....she was holding a purring cat that looked fine and very "innocent " too....seems there was a fight....all the blood was Lucey's and it was everywhere...the cat had scratched her pretty deep in a couple of places and then you know how dogs "shake" themselves off...I had two crime scene rooms to clean up.....Maggie may be a little cat...she really is small.....but she can hold her own with the dog...we now gate the stairway for the dog's own protection and Maggie is mostly an upstairs kitty...if there is ever an investigation done in this house I am publicly stating that the blood evidence upstairs is canine.....