White on White......

Snowflakes swirling over my head......
The softest cold under my feet.
Total quiet wraps Me and Mom.....
As we wander down the white out street.
She's in her world, I'm in mine......
Not a word do I hear her speak.
Still, I know her heart and she knows mine.....
Two separate paths destined to meet.
Perhaps we were one in a different life.
Perhaps we shared adventure big and small.
Perhaps there was love as there is today.....

Two Souls roaming Eternally.
I can't know what lies ahead.....
Being only a Dog after all.
But I trust her to lead me 
to greater good.....
Where all is white, 
and time stands still,
And gentle snow will forever fall.

MICK WAGGER

Bird Watching.....

At the risk of seeming a full blown Geek,
I have to admit that nothing excites Me
Like a morning following our neighborhood Birds!
Just beyond reach,
Two feeders hang over key windows,
And we Kids patrol them like 
Alcatraz  prison guards.
With laser focus, Lucy and I stalk our 
Feathered Friends.....
Robins, Sparrows, Magpies and Chickadees
Ours is a very diverse bunch!
Without a sound we watch, 
'Til every perch is full with busy beaks.
Wings are beating, seed is falling, 
A sacred bird communion!
And just when tension is highest 
And we can stand no more.....
Barrk, Baarrk, BaRRK, BAAARRRK, BARK!
Off they scatter to the trees!!
Lucy and I puff up.....
Once again, we've protected Home and Hearth.
No time for self congratulation though.....
There's more to do.
NOW is prime time to administrate those cheeky Squirrels!

MICK'S TIP:
As You Watchdog, beware your own perch.
I've landed in a heap on the floor more than once.....
Sadly, Canines have no Wings.
Imagine the World if We DID!

Loving Lucy.....

I've had a little Sister for 2 years now, and God knows it hasn't been easy.....
When she arrived, scruffy, scared and dragging a tattered toy,
she wasn't the most lovable rescue pup on the Planet.
She demanded attention, snapped loudly, stole my food and toys,
Even drew BLOOD!
And It's common knowledge that I wasn't thrilled.....
Thanks MOM.
But, I was thinking today how much things have changed??
I can't say where or when exactly,
but somehow along the way I stopped Hating her..... 
and started Loving Lucy.
Maybe it began with that first friendly tug of war.
Maybe she waited just a milli second longer to pirate my bowl.
Maybe she stole Lamb Chop, but shared her back a moment later.
Maybe, just maybe, her heart became a bit happier
as she learned to love our family way.....
Her Spirit felt lighter,she became a whole lot cuter, 
and she finally gave us All a break!
One day, I realized I actually looked forward to her coming through the back door.
I teased her..... and she flirted back.
We could eat in the same room, without hiding our food.
And, believe it or not, I actually WANTED to share my pillow with that Girl!
Families come in all shapes, sizes and flavors.....
Lucy may be a quirky Sister, 
But she's MY sister.

Life sure has a funny way of working out.

MICK'S TIP:
Faith, Hope and Love......
But the Greatest of These is Love.
Amen.

Keep Dancing.....

Here we are at the beginning of yet another Year,
and I know I'm getting Older (white chin hairs!)
Though not much Wiser it seems.
Chasing the same squirrels, scarfing the same kibble,
Barking up the same old tree.
And, it makes a Guy wonder, is that all there is?
Is that ALL there is??
If that's all there is my friend, then let's keep Dancing.....?
(Or, in my case, frolicking with Lamb Chop)
And yet, Life is too short not to EXPLORE!
Life is for finding the next Rabbit Den, sneaking Holiday Pumpkin Pie
and chasing the neighbors' cute little Pekingese ALL the way to the Reservoir!!
Yes, Mom will be disappointed in me..... but a Guy's got to LIVE!
2015..... I want to travel the world (or at least cross town), 
Meet new friends and stay out late (even if it's back yard howling)
I want to see, taste and do things I've never done before.......
I want to slide into NEXT year with No Regrets!
Come on Kids.....Are you with me?!?
There's FUN to be had, even if I AM an Old Man!
The Moon is Full, the Call is Wild, and I have some Fox Holes to sniff!

MICK'S TIP:
As they say on my Block,
If you're not the lead dog, the scenery never changes.
No problem.....I'm Alpha all the way!
Look out World, Mick Wagger is WAY Out Front!!

Fear of Needles!

Last week, Mom leashed me up, 
loaded me in the car, 
and trucked me off in a hurry.....
Lucy was NOT 
along for the ride.....YEAH!
Heading for the wild west foothills,
my heart was feeling the thrill 
of the Open Road.
Window down, Wind in my face, 
Adventures awaiting.....
When, SUDDENLY, 
Mom made a different right turn
and I knew Play 
was no longer in my future.
She took the turn that meant only one thing.....
THE VET!
OK, I'm a big boy.
I have broad Westie shoulders and can take this in stride.
Easy now.....Breath deep.....No reason to Panic.....
They are nice folks there, and I always get a treat.
Which is NOT quite as great to look forward to as 
Gopher chasing in the field,
but it's a consolation prize of sorts.
Maybe I'll get two?
SO, in we go, and we register and they weigh me
and I was down about 3 oz. 
(which is a tribute to Mom starving me at every meal)
and KJ said WHAT a good boy I was for staying so slim.
Well, I'm feeling better after that!
Then, we go into the examining room......
Where we wait a LONG time.
I pace and pant and jump on Mom 
and basically revert to my bad Puppy habits.
(I'm pretty nervous.....Don't tell my Trainer)
Finally, my favorite Doctor comes in with his Nurse,
and they talk all sweet and give me the treats (Yup, two!)
and I get reviewed from stem to stern......
Eyes, check.
Ears, check.
Body, check.
Butt.....Now, wait a minute!.....A Guy's got his dignity!!!
And, after some poking and prodding, All seems fine.....
Now, for the SHOTS.....OMG..... I HATE this part!
I try to hide.
Suddenly, I see more treats coming my way.....YUUUUMMMM.
Thanks Nurse Brandy.....Huh?.....All Done!?..... OK.....Not so Bad.
We head straight home, and Mom leaves me for a neat little nap on the couch.
She drives away to run errands, and I drift off.
An hour later, she's home and I jump up to see her.......
WHOOOOOOOOO.....Do I feel Whoosey!
Yikes!!.....My eyes won't focus and I can't feel my tongue.
Every part of my body aches, but especially the scruff of my neck.
I have a headache like Woody Woodpecker is pounding to China above my brow.
MOM......Help!
Something Is Not Right!!!
I'm dazed and drifting, but can hear her on the phone.....
She's talking to the Nurse.
OK, she says, OK.
Next thing I know, she's forcing a little clear pill down my throat and I hear......
BAD REACTION
Oh No.....Was I a bad boy, and this is my PUNISHMENT??
Double Yikes.....I would have turned on more charm, had I known?
I haven't felt this bad since I sucked down the green Fox poo......
Now, THAT was a bad day!
But, Mom scoops me up and hugs me 
and says I'm a Good Boy..... not to worry.....
and I fall asleep in her arms.
When I wake up later, it's dinnertime, 
Yaaawwwnnn,  and I feel Muuuuccchhh better.
Whew!.....That was a close one!!!
Good thing I'm a big, strong Westie at the Top of my Game.
Even so.....
Hopefully, we won't be making that tricky right turn again anytime soon!

MICK'S TIP:
When You're at the Vet, keep your eye on the Needles.
Don't be a sucker for the treats.....
The Sticker Shock is NOT worth it!

Passion Play ......

My Little Sister Lucy 
is a passionate pooch,
and She takes her feelings 
VERY seriously......
Her every emotion is nuclear,
and you could say she wears 
her heart on her sleeve.....
(If she had one...sleeve I mean)
From the moment She first arrived, 
She made her opinions known,
and it didn't matter a bit 
if they differed from mine.....
My days as Alpha Pup
had come to an end!
If She wanted attention.....
She spoke UP.....AAARRFFFF!
When She wanted fed.....
She hunkered down with that serious stare 
and a low no nonsense growl.
Time for a block walk?.....
Mom's shins were scratched and nipped,
until the leashes finally came out.
When She envied my favorite toy 
Lamb Chop.....Whoooshh.....
Suddenly LC was in HER mouth!
Primo spot on the bed.....Yup, you guessed it.....HERS!!!
There's no reasoning with Lucy.....It's Her way, or the Highway.
And, if I want something, She's bound and determined to want it MORE.
That's my new reality.
It's hard for me to understand sometimes,
But I have to admire her fanatical focus.....
The Girl knows what She wants and She goes after it!

Prima.....Diva.....Goddess.....Witch?
YOU decide.
But, you've got to hand it to her.....
She's pretty hard to IGNORE !

MICK'S TIP:
Don't get too attached to that comfy spot on the sofa,
Or your snuggly Zebra toy.
And stay out of her way when the Moon is Full.......

Giant Ice Balls from Mars.......

So.....You won't believe what happened a couple weeks ago!
Mom put me on the leash tie out for my afternoon relief.....
and somehow forgot me?
It had been a lovely day.....Typical Colorado blue skies and light wind.
VERY comfy temps for loafing around on the pink patio cement.
But that afternoon, 
the weather got really weird.
Suddenly, the wind started up 
and the clouds began boiling.
There was a spit of rain, and then the strangest thing.....
HUGE ice chunks began to fall from the sky!
Hundreds of them, 
like a horde of angry wasps!!
In seconds, the patio was morphed from warm and comfy to paw deep in ice cubes.
I took a beating on the head for a bit (Still hoping for Mom to appear.....YIKES!)
then skedaddled under the closest pine tree to wait it out.
The entire world whooshed and spun, 
and I felt like I was inside a giant washing machine.....
Patio furniture went flying, chunks of the roof fell off and every flower in our pots 
and yard just disappeared.....Gone in 60 seconds.....Sucked into the Alien Vortex!!!
It seemed like hours, but could only have been minutes.
Any moment, I guessed Little Green Men would appear.....
But, they didn't.
Just Mom, FINALLY, and SHE didn't look too happy.
She scooped me up, made a huge fuss over me, kissed me all over,
and I think there was a bit of mist in her eyes.....
I can't be sure if she was sad for her flowers, or for missing me?
I'm guessing the latter.
She saved me from the Martians and made it all better.
Thanks Mom!
I'm so glad too..... 
Cuz I get car sick really easy,
and can't imagine how I'd do in a warp speed flying saucer......
Bleeecchhhhh!!!

MICK'S TIP:
If you have an easily distractible Mom like mine,
keep your Bronco's Helmet handy.....
You never know when you might need protection from alien invaders.