Rock n' roll

I'm pretty sleepy this morning. Papi was up all night long with allergies, and naturally, I had to stay up with him. And then at about 6 this morning, when he went to bed, Lulu and I decided to run races. I would chase her until she ran downstairs, thump thump thump, and then she'd run back up and rush me and I'd run into the bedroom and we'd crash into things. It was pretty sweet.
Today I'm resting up, because this afternoon is Papi's department's annual picnic, and I'm planning on stealing snacks from everybody. Mami's gonna let me go, as long as I stay away from the brownies. Hurrah!

The destructor

Mami is making me post this photo of me after I killed Red Cat. I know I don't look too guilty, but I knew Mami could sew him back together, and she did. He is good as new, and even has a new squeaker in his belly, and I haven't torn him apart since! I guess Mami sewed him up real sturdy.
All my toys have been repaired now, and I've been extra special careful with them. I don't like it when she puts them in the closet and I dont' get to see them for days and days and days. It is very frustrating.
On a happier note, this coming weekend I get to go see my grandparents out in the country. I can't WAIT to run around in the grass and chase birds. And there's always PIE!

Dinner

Last night Papi was sick with allergies, so Mami made him his favorite meal, basil chicken and mashed potatoes, which means I got to eat a forkful of potatoes when the meal was over. It was pretty heavenly. They've switched me to a new kibble too, one that I like a lot better. In fact, I like it so much they've had to limit me to half a cup a day, and I'm still starting to get chubby. But I don't think I'll ever be as chubby as Lulu. She had a head start, after all.

Red cat's demise

My favorite stuffed toy is a big flannel cat that my abuela Flora gave me, named Red Cat. We have a love/hate relationship, Red Cat and I. We roll and wrestle and play and bounce, but sometimes, I shake him and bite him and throw him to the ground, and I love throwing him in the bathtub when Mami's taking a bath.
Well, last night, Mami was taking a nap and Papi was reading a book in the living room, and I had enough of Red Cat. He'd been saying some pretty snappy things to me, so I just pounced on him. That's when I heard the stitches at the back of his neck rip. As soon as I heard that, I grabbed hold and pulled, and stuffing started coming out. Well, as you can imagine, I got so excited that I just kept pulling and pulling and pulling.
But then finally I got bored and wandered off, and I didn't remember until Mami woke up, walked into the hallway and screamed. Then I saw what she saw, a decapitated Red Cat with his fluffy guts all over the floor.
Papi thought it was pretty funny, but Mami didn't. She gathered up all his stuffing and put it back in, and then she put him in the animal hospital in the closet, where Pink Elephant and Bear are waiting to be stitched back up. I wish she'd hurry up and fix them. I have more playing to do.

Lulu speaks

Hello all, Lulu here. Just giving you an update on the kitten front.
I don't actually know much about what's going on upstairs these days. It's been so hot, I've been spending all my time down on the futon, keeping out of the heat. I usually go upstairs at about 9 p.m., for snacks and scratches, when the air begins to cool off.
I'm even too hot to chase Emma off when she comes bouncing at me. I try to cool off by rolling back and forth on the wood floor in the hallway, and there's always this bouncy growly little beast trying to bite my tail or my ears. If I ignore her, she usually gets bored and goes away, but it's still annoying.
The other morning, I forgot myself and brought my favorite purple fur mouse upstairs and left it in the hall while I had breakfast. By the time I finished, Emma had ripped the mouse into 100 pieces and threw sawdust guts all over the floor. I was pretty upset, but it was my fault, leaving it where she could find it. I'll know better next time.
I'm hoping she goes up to Portland soon to visit Grandma, so I can have some peace.

Happy days

Today, according to the Internet, is supposedly the happiest day of the year on average for folks in the Northern Hemisphere. Given that it's in the mid 70s, the roses are blooming and I got to sleep in, I'd say they were just about right.
Yesterday it was a little too hot, especially since we took a long walk to campus during the hottest part of the afternoon. I was very pant-y by the time I got to Papi's office. The walk back was a little slower for me than normal. Humidity tires me out. I'm made for desert heat.
So today, I'm gonna take it easy, do a little dog yoga on the carpet, and maybe sleep until Mami gets home. We've pulled the curtains and have a cross breeze going, so it should be pretty nice.

Books

Today, Mami took me to the grade school where she volunteers, and I got to read books with all the little kids. It's a program called SMART, and it helps kids develop a love of books and literature.
I don't get to go to SMART very often because I get the kids too excited to read, but today was the last day of volunteering for this school year, so Mami took me in as a special guest.
I got to hear lots of good stories about dogs and bears and chickens, and I got to kiss lots of happy little faces. It was very fun, and I can't wait until next year when I get to do it again!

Warm weekend

Man it was nice this weekend. On Saturday, we all walked down to the waterfront to visit the Farmer's Market, and everyone else in town had the same idea! I met this tiny little blue merle chihuahua named Frida. She was only two pounds, and she was about half my height. We did a little nose sniffing. She seemed friendly enough.
Once we got to the market though, Papi had to carry me because there were a lot of big dogs around and I got a little nervous. Mami bought roses and tulips and cinnamon rolls, and Papi bought cheese and challah bread. Mami's big bag got all filled up with snacks. Then we walked back along the river to our house, and I got to jump on lots of little kids running around. Then I took a long nap.
Sunday was very warm, so I stayed inside with Lulu, while Mami and Papi went out to take in the sunshine. Today is going to be 90 degrees. I think I'll sleep under the bed, where it's cool.

Yesterday was a very busy day. Mami took me to the office! I wore my new pink top and everything.
It was so exciting, because I got to spend all day getting kisses from Mami's co-workers and running around the office and sniffing everyone and licking toes. Even the bosses don't mind when I come visit, because I never bark or have an accident, and I've always got good manners.
By the end of the day, though, I was soooo tired that I asked Mami to take me home. I had just had too much good fun. Then I slept and slept and dreamed that I worked in an office and had my own desk, with a big round bed underneath for naps. It was nice. I wore a little grey suit and I had a tiny briefcase. I was very fancy.

Presents

We got a big bunch of packages in the mail on Monday from my abuela in New Mexico. She sent Papi and Mami a lot of cool things, but most specially nice was the big pile of new outfits she sent me. Although I don't like trying on outfits very much, I know I look extra specially good in the outfits Abuelita gives me.
So now I have a new yellow raincoat and hat, a denim jacket, a black tweed jacket, two t-shirts, a blue coat and a white bathrobe with a hood. I can't wait to wear them, but I haven't left the house since they arrived so I haven't got a chance to go out in them yet, although I tried them on when they arrived. I'm so stylish!

Birthdays

Today is Mami's birthday. This weekend, we had a big party where lots and lots of people came and ate and drank and gave me kisses. Even though it was Mami's birthday, I was the real hit of the party, and thankfully, Mami didn't make me wear a dress.
It was our annual Cinco de Mayo party, so we had quesadillas and beans and fresh salsa and margaritas. Well, I didn't have any of those things. I did eat some chips that fell on the floor when no one was looking. That was nice.
Sunday I was so tired from the party that I slept all day long on my Tia Chelsea's lap. This morning I felt a lot better, so I greeted Mami with a birthday kiss!

Book learnin'

Yesterday, Mami and I took a long walk up to campus to visit Papi. I got to go inside and walk around in the hallways, and sniff in the classrooms, and generally enjoy being a dog about town. We had to wait awhile for Papi, because he was recording a podcast with some friends, and we have to be really quiet when they're recording, especially no sneezing or barking or whining.
Then I got to go in and sniff some books, which are always good for smelling. Papi and Mami have lots and lots of books at home, but they don't smell as old as the ones at school. Sometimes when Mami's reading, I sit down in the middle of her books, but she's not very happy when I do that. She makes me move. They're not very comfortable anyway, I prefer laps.

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit, Mami's been working late days and hasn't had time to help me put together a posting. Papi's got terrible allergies, so I've been kind of lonely. He just sits in bed and groans a lot, and then blows his nose. Lulu is sneezy too.
I managed to sneak one of his clean Kleenex out of his pocket and tear it up in the hallway, but Mami caught me when she came home late last night, and I got in trouble. She wouldn't let me eat any of it.
Today it's very warm and nice and Mami has promised to take me on a walk when she gets home. I can't wait! Everything is going to smell so good!

May Day

Today is International Worker's Day, and according to the television this morning, people are marching for worker's rights and migrant rights.
There aren't any marches going on in our town, but there are restaurants closing down for the day, and a buying boycott, and students staying out of school. For those folks who can't get out of work or school, they're asking that they wear white t-shirts in solidarity, and refuse to buy anything.
I don't have any money, so there's not much chance I'd be buying anything anyway, and it's too warm to put me in a t-shirt, but I'm going to shout my choodle shout of solidarity: Si Se Puede!