DARK DAYS.....

 Maybe you’ve noticed...?

This has been a Very Strange Year.

I’m older now ... and I sleep a lot ... so Maybe I’ve missed something?

For starters...Mom is around, Like Constantly.

And she’s  wearing her scarves Really high ... Even for Winter.

And she’s always washing her hands ... Like when I rolled in Poo.

And she seems pretty serious... All the Time.

And I haven’t seen Any of my Friends...In A Dog’s Age?

My bowl is still full,

My bed still comfy,

And we take LOTS of great walks!

(AND that sister Lucy is still as irritating as ever....)

But, Life seems different.

Quieter.

Darker.

Less laughter.

More naps.

Fewer Car Rides.

More TV.

More yawns ... and early nights ... Sigh.

And I wonder...

Is this Furever?

Mom,

What’s Going On?

The Times They Are a Changing.....Route 66

It's Mick Wagger here.....
And, it's been a very long year.
I'm officially in the double digits of my life
(That's 66 in Human Years)
And feeling every mile of it .....
Maybe it's the ache in my hip jumping off the bed,
Maybe it's the gas that's not from that nifty Shell Station,
Maybe it's the fact I can't quite remember where I last left Lambchop?
It's Ruff to admit, but I'm now in my Golden Years.....
Mom says, "Focus on the Positive"
There's still lots of great life ahead.....
Still kibble in the bowl,
Still walks to be had,
Still Sparky to chase,
Still UPS coming to our front door.
And, we STILL live in a free country .....Sort of.
But, I can't help but think I am heading down a long and winding highway,
Into Uncharted Territory.....With no return.
MICK'S TIP:
Make Today Count.....It's All We Have.....And God Bless Houston

SUMMERTIME.....And the Rolling is Easy!

I might have mentioned that my sister Lucy
Has a rolling fetish?
Give her the tiniest patch of grass, 
And she flops down in a crazy back dance.
Eyes wild, mouth grinning, tail wagging.....
She's the picture of innocent pleasure!
Lucy's especially gleeful to roll 
after we've been to the Spa.
(For some reason, 
Mom's not thrilled about that.)
Mostly, I just watch her and sigh......
Oh, the Young and Immature!
But, it's Summer.....The pavement's HOT,
And even a middle aged Guy like Me needs Frolic occasionally.
Oh, What the Heck!
I'm going in.....
SOMEBODY needs to watch that Girl !!

MICK'S TIP:
Strategically, 
Mom's seems way happier if you pick a CLEAN patch of grass.

Reduced Rations.......

Ever since my Birthday,
I've been living the High Life.....
Eating every kibble in my bowl,
Drinking double time,
Grazing the neighborhood street buffet,
Snapping up each wayward bite.
It's been a Party, a Celebration!
And I've enjoyed every Scrap!!
But lately, my collar's been feeling a touch snug.
My tummy has a couple extra rolls.
And Mom has been calling me "Fluffy".
HUH?
Just because these days I'm a little 
Broad Around the Belly,
Chunky, Husky, Filled Out, "GORDO"?
Does that mean a Guy's FAT?!?!?
Guess you could say,
I've been in Denial.....
I check out those sleek Vizslas next door,
Bounding about with limitless spring and energy,
and I realize..... I've let myself Go.
Sure, as a Westie, 
I've probably got a different Metabolism.
I'm built Stocky.
I'm never going to be 2' 2" 
Long legged and Svelte.
But, that's no excuse to be Obese!
The Vet told Mom that my 27 lb girth HAS to GO.
The mark for my breed is 24 or less.
OK, that's a healthy 13% drop.
Good for my heart.
Plus, I can fit into my cute little t-shirts again.
Suddenly, my bowl is filled with carrots, apple and GREEN BEANS.....
Yuuuuccckk!
Where is the yummy Salmon kibble, the Rice, the SWEET POTATO?
Where are those fabulous Paul Newman Organic Snax??
Mom says it's just for a couple weeks.....
Sounds like Eternity to Me.

MICK'S TIP:
When you're Living it up and Sucking it all down,
Remember..... Down the road..... There's a Price to Pay!
Unless, of course, you're GOOD with GORDO.

BTW, Your Sister is probably glad to chow down your beans.
Always a Silver Lining......

Top of the Heap.....

I had a Birthday recently......
And I partied with mixed feelings.
You know, I'm at the Age
Where it's not that exciting anymore.
Mom still works her birthday magic.....
Hats (YIKES!)
Cake (Turkey Loaf with purple frosting!)
Presents (NEW virgin Lambchop!)
Extra Lap Time (My favorite part!)
But the truth is.....I'm getting OLD!!
This was # 9 (Sixtyish for you Humans).
Where have the years gone??
Yes, yes.....9 is the new 5.
I'm in good shape, eat organic and floss.....
Roll in the grass and frolic like a pup!
But Still.....I'm Old.
With Mixed Feelings.
Mom's saying I'm Top of the Pyramid now.
It has a ring to it.
But Hey, could we maybe just say.....
I'm Top Dog?

MICK'S TIP:
Each stage brings it's Gifts.
Other than a great Turkey Loaf,
What will this year bring?
Think Positive.....
Believe it will be Amazing.
And so it will.

Launch Pad......

Springtime has come to 
Our corner of the World.....
Birds sing, grass is greener, 
Days are warmer, windows open,
AND, dog walkers are suddenly Everywhere!
Lucy and I hit the streets ourselves, 
At least once a day.
Got to stay in shape!
But we're inside dogs.....
(We wish it were different)
No fenced yard for Us!
SO, most of our daily surveillance 
Happens from the back of the couch.
Such a great perch.....
And, VERY little gets past our Attention!
Humans, Canines, Birds, Bikes, Postal.....
Arrf, Aarrfff, AAARRFFFFF!
It's a talent all right, 
To be snoozing peacefully,
While patrolling the entire neighborhood
With ear cocked and one eye open!
At the slightest noise, 
Lucy and I JET off the couch and down the hall,
Giving virtual chase to any interloper lurking outside.
Bark, Baarrkkk, BaArRkK, BARK, BAAARRRKKK!
Whew! That was a close one!!!
Almost missed them......
Yup, Vigilance is KEY!
There is a constant parade of dogs and their humans past our home,
And somebody's got to Administrate.....
We Westies gladly take up the challenge!
My most favorite time to Watchdog is during the Evening News.
Mom is settled into her chair, dinner's cooking, all those great Doggie
TV commercials are streaming by, and I am cozy on Mom's lap.
Suddenly, in a millisecond, there's a squeak outside and I have 
LAUNCHED off Mom's lap, claws out, teeth bared, 
and headed straight arrow for the front door.
Lucy is yapping close behind.
Bwark, BWarK, BBWAAARRK, BWARK!!!
Mom is hollering for us to STOP!!!!!!
And she's rubbing her leg like something hurts.
Hmmm......Is she OK?
I come running back and give her thigh a quick sniff.
Do I smell a bruise?
I climb up to her lap, my favorite Launch Pad, and settle back to nap.
Aaahhhh.
Just another day on the job.....

You know,
Come to think of it......
I haven't seen Mom wear short shorts
in a long, long time.

MICK'S TIP:
Keep an eye on strangers,
But be gentle on the ones you love.

Forever Friends......

Lucy and I have many Friends,
From fellow Westie Duffy
Down the street,
To siblings Winston and Petey,
Who winter in Scottsdale
But are here all Summer to street play.
Many we see from afar,
Walking with their Folks 
Past our yard.
But some we actually get 
Nose to Nose with!
Rumor has it there's even a couple 
New Kids on the Block.....
Cavalier Puppies.
Young Kids.
We're not allowed to see them yet!
There are Block friends, Park friends,
even Dogbook Friends.....
We love them all, in different ways,
Though it's pretty much Agape Love
(Because you know we're neutered)
Except for one Kid.....Guinness.
Lucy's True Blue Boyfriend
and who was a hunky Husky
With the longest eyelashes
You've ever seen on a Canine.
Lucy was crazy for Him,
and flirted whenever she'd pass.
Geeez.....Young Love.
I say WAS because Mom says Guinness
Passed over the Rainbow Bridge last week.
Lucy doesn't know yet.
She keeps looking for him.
Not sure how to break THAT news.....
Then, there are the Bearded Collie Twins.
Daily, we'd all race down their fence line,
In dizzy bursts of Joyful speed.
Mom says they moved away.....Wow.
Disappointing.....
Having Friends is a tough thing sometimes.
You share block walk mornings,
You sniff butt in that special way,
You bark greetings and pee on favorite rocks.
You look forward to seeing them.
Then, one day, you lose them.....
Never to be seen again.
I guess that's how Life is.
The risk of loving someone.....
Good thing I have Lucy.
No love lost there.

MICK'S TIP:
Never stop loving your Friends.
They are the closest thing to Heaven
We've got in this Dog Eat Dog World.
Let them know you care.....
Because one day, sadly, they might not be there.