Soooo tired

Coming down from my Halloween sugar high. I didn't actually get to eat any sugar, but I got worn out from running to the door every time a Trick or Treater came by. My Tia Jennifer and Tia Becky came by too. And then after all the excitement there were BLTS. The bacon made me crazy! After that, Papi and I took a nap on the couch because it was just too much excitement.
Hope you all had happy Halloweens!

Happy Halloween!

Have fun, watch out for goblins crossing the road, and be kind to your animals!

Preparations

So tonight I helped Mami make a peacock headdress for her Jane Austen costume but she totally wouldn't let me eat the feathers even though they kept hitting me in the nose. I didn't think that was fair. I only needed to eat one. She had two. But now they're attached to this headband thingy and way out of my reach. Disappointing. As far as I can tell she's not making me wear a costume, at least, she hasn't tried anything on me or held anything up to see if it fits, which is a good sign. Maybe I can go as myself this year again.

Toe troubles

I have very fancy black toenails that match the rest of me, but sometimes they grow too long and its time to get a pedicure. I won't let Mami or Papi do it, because it makes me very nervous, so when they try, I bite reeeeal hard and scream and put on quite a show. So Mami takes me to the groomer's at the pet store. Usually this works pretty well, because the ladies at the pet store are really fast and efficient and it's over before I know it.
Well, this weekend when Mami took me in, there was this guy working there I'd never seen before and he was the one who did my toes. He took forever and he had me hooked up to this big steel rod thing, which I'd never done before, and the worst part was, on the back foot he took off too much nail and it hurt a LOT.
By the time Mami got me back, she was p-o'd with him and so was I but I was also mad at her for taking me there in the first place. So when she went to pay for the job and to buy some litter for Lulu, I waited for my opportunity, and when she put me down on the ground to get her purse out I took off! There was a lady leaving through the big moving doors so I went with her! I almost made it to the parking lot before Mami jumped me. She was pretty mad and scared. I got held really tight after that. She told me I'm never leaving the house without my harness again. Pooh.

On fierceness

I am very small and therefore people don't find me intimidating. When I bark, they laugh, and when I growl, they just shush me. It can be very frustrating to not be taken seriously. After all, I have an important job. I am the house guard dog. I have to alert people when the doorbell rings, or the mail comes, or someone rides by on a bicycle too close to the house. I need to have keen skills and maintain a constant state of awareness so that I can maintain the safety of our home. Here you can see me working on my fiercest face. Well actually, I'm yawning, but look how terrifying it is.

Hats

Sometimes, when Papi is going to be home late from class, Mami and I get silly and we try things on. We have a big collection of hats of all types and colors so we thought it would be good to try a few new looks for fall. I think more humans should wear hats, cause it doesn't get in the way of your ears like it does with us choodles. I think Lulu would look good in a beret but she doesn't agree. I guess it would keep the rain off if I wore a hat, but I'd rather just stay inside.

Lulu's video pick

A few weeks ago, Emma got to post a music video from Israel, so I thought I'd return the favor. When I'm in the office all by myself and no one is watching, I get onto Papi's computer and I listen to Japanese pop songs on YouTube. I can't get enough of them. Here's one I just recently discovered. I really like their superhero outfits. But don't tell Emma, she'll make fun of me.

Craft nappin

I have discovered the warmest place in the house is directly under the baby blanket that Mami is knitting for Tia Becky. It is getting really big, and it's very toasty, so if I curl up directly on Mami's lap and it goes over me, I get really snugged out. I can stay there for hours and hours. And since Mami's really trying to get it finished, she knits for a long time at night, giving me plenty of opportunities for napping.

Fried potato Sunday

I love rainy weekends at home with the parents. It means big breakfasts and coffee smells and snacks accidentally dropped on the floor, and maybe even a mid afternoon nap on the couch on somebody's tummy. Last night I slept under Mami's knitting project while she worked on it, which was mighty fine.
I had a bath yesterday which was unfortunate but brief and I do feel mighty fluffy right now. I've gotta go check if anyone's dropped a potato. See ya!

No stinking papers

Yesterday evening, my new dog license arrived in the mail from the county. I've never had to wear one before, so when Mami put it on my collar I got pretty upset. See, it's big and kinda heavy, and it hangs down really far on me. And when I shake my head it slaps me on the cheek, and it gets in the way when I walk.
I was pretty dejected about it all, and when Papi got home, he saw that I was really sad. So when Mami got back from Aunt Becky's applesauce party, he talked her into letting me not wear my collar unless I'm going outside. I've got a microchip in my shoulder in case I get lost anyway, and I don't go out on my own, so as long as I promise to put on my collar for walks, I get to be nekkid. Hurrah!

Carpe choodle

It was a very exciting afternoon because Papi's Halloween costume arrived in the mail! At first, I thought maybe it was a nightie because it was all big and white like a sheet. Then I thought maybe it was gonna be a scary ghost costume, but it was too sparkly around the edges for that. Finally Papi put it all on and it made a little more sense. See, he's a Roman Senator, specifically, Cicero the philosopher. I wish he'd been Diogenes because he hung out with dogs, but this is ok too. Anyway, we'll take lots of pictures at the party, but this is a sneak peek for my blog fans!

Flores in October

It's pretty gloomy out here this time of year, so I thought I'd bring you a little bit of sunshine. Here is one of my favorite singers, Lila Downs, performing a song about an armadillo! Well, it heavily features armadillos, and flowers, and lots of cumbia! So enjoy!

Sweater weather

This weekend my abuela sent us another big package of Halloween stuff for our party, and when Mami was digging through it I began to suspect that there was something in there for me. I was really hoping it was a toy, like a stuffed pumpkin or that black squeaky cat Mami got me last year, but when she pulled out something fuzzy and striped, I started to worry. Turns out, I was right! It was a Halloween sweater!
Mami put it on me right away, before I could run. It has a maribou collar and chenille stripes and it is ridiculous! Mami thinks it looks great but I know better. Look at me! I look like an orange bumble bee or an OSU fan. Sigh. And she says I'm gonna have to wear it for the party. I don't think so. Next chance I get, I'm gonna go bury it in the yard.

Guest blog from Chuck

Hi! I'm Chuck, a friend of Emma's. This weekend, I went on a spectacular adventure to the foggy realm of San Francisco.

Here I am, getting ready to board the airplane in the dreary Pacific Northwest. I can't wait to get going!

I always make sure to double check the safety instructions, just in case of emergency, because it never hurts to be prepared.

Now I've arrived at my hotel right in the heart of San Francisco, and I'm looking forward to do a lot of exploring and shopping. Oh no! It's raining here too! I'm glad I brought my galoshes.

Finally, after a long day of adventures, I settle in for a drink at a cozy little hip bar. Don't worry, I'm not driving!

A new member of the extended family

Good morning everyone. I'd like to introduce my newest cousin. His name is Lucky and he lives in Albuquerque with my Tia Dodie. He is a chihuahua-schnauzer mix and he is muy guapo, no? Here you can see he is practicing in his little basket so that some day he can fly in a balloon during the hot air balloon fiesta. On Christmas, when Mami and Papi go to Albuquerque for a visit, they will get to meet him. I don't think I get to go, because it's very far and I don't like planes so much now that I'm a grown up. But I really would like to meet him, because he's more my size and maybe we could play.

Braaaaaaains

My godfather, Jake, is in a play in town where he gets to live out his dream by being a zombie in Night of the Living Dead. Mami and Papi went to a midnight showing last night and they said it was great and one of the funniest things they've seen in a long time. I'm glad I didn't go because I get scared real easily, and also, I would probably have gotten into trouble if I rushed the stage and jumped up on Jake in the middle of a scene. I don't think Choodles make very good zombies.

Halloweenie

I was messing around with Papi's computer this morning and used the special effects to turn myself into a bat. I thought it might inspire you with your Halloween costume planning. Remember, even cute can be scary if done right. Get to work!

Coveting

So lately, I've been feeling a little insecure about my scooter balls. They're those little green tennis balls that I get to chase in the back yard. Problem is, they get all dirty and slimy when we play, so Mami always puts them up when we go back inside. I caught onto that really quick, so I started not giving them back to her, and then she had to fish them out of my mouth, which got me really mad.
But lately, I've gotten paranoid about her taking my ball away, so much so that half way through a good game of catch I decide not to let her pick it up and throw it any more. I do it to Papi too. They get annoyed, because then I just carry the ball around and look grumpy, and the game's no fun for them. It's not fun for me either, but I get worried that the next time, they'll just take the ball back into the house.
Mami's finally started letting me carry it inside, which has helped, but then she always tricks me at the end by giving me peanut butter treats, and I have to drop the ball to eat them, and then it disappears. I guess I"m going to have to work through this on my own cause otherwise catch is going to stop being fun.

I work hard for my popcorn

Man am I tired, and it's all Mami's fault. Normally when she has a tasty popcorn snack, I just sit next to her and open my mouth and popcorn goes right in. But today, instead of automatic snackage, she made me work for my popcorn. I had to go fetch my toys by name and bring them to her, and each time I got one right I got more popcorn.
I know the names of all my toys, but I get really annoyed when I have to work when there's such tasty popcorn so close by. I finally got so mad, that I took my new pink weiner dog and threw it into the bathtub at Mami. I don't understand why it's necessary to work so hard for a buttery treat. I'm cute, it should be a given that I just get whatever I want. Right?

It's all a blur

Is it me, or are the weekends getting shorter? I feel like mine barely started and it's already over. Maybe that's because I spend a lot of my time sleeping on the couch, and it kinda blurs.
My godmother, Mary Ann, came down to visit from Vancouver this weekend, and she got to visit with Mami and my Aunt Jennifer and Doris. They wore disguises to surprise my padrina, as you can see here. It's always exciting to visit people you love.
Papi had to go away on Sunday to give a special speech in Denver. I guess they used a photo of him and me on a poster all over town to advertise his speech. You can't really see much of me in the picture though, just my ears a little bit. But I'm there all the same. Does that mean I'm famous?

Remember

It's time to start thinking about Halloween. Only a few weeks left to get your costume ready! I'm still thinking about it. I might just go as a Choodle, cause costumes are really hot and itchy. But Mami might make me wear something silly again. I hope it doesn't involve wings.

Brrrr!

Man, it really is chilly these days. I can't believe it! I know it's fall and everything, but my goodness. I've been super chilly when I have to go out to use the facilities in the morning, and when Mami takes me on walks (when it's not raining, that is). I'm gonna start wearing my trenchcoat pretty soon.
I thought I'd post a cheerful video to brighten everyone's weekend, so enjoy!

It's important

Baby it's cold outside

For a long time, Mami and Aunt Jennifer have had a bet about how long they could leave the heat off at their houses. Whoever won the bet would get two skeins of yarn from the loser for knitting. I was pretty sure Mami would win, because she just piles on the sweaters and blankets, but last night, she got a sore throat and gave up. I was pretty happy because the house got all toasty real fast, and I didn't have to wear a shirt like the other night.
Anyway, it was back to being chilly this morning, but I know tonight if it gets cold again, she'll turn it back on and I'll have a warm belly.

Knittin' club

I don't care for knitting much. It takes up too much room on Mami's lap, and I get tangled up accidentally in the yarn sometimes. Also, Mami won't let me chew on it, which is totally not fair.
But this weekend, before Mami had to go back to work, she went to visit my Aunt Jennifer and my cat friends, Smacky and Catters. This photo is of Catters, who is very good about not getting into yarn. But Smacky is rather more mischevious, so they both got locked in the back bedroom while the knitting happened. Smacky thinks all yarn is his personal property and is determined to unravel any that he finds.