Movie time

The other night, Mami went with my Tia Jennifer and the girls to see "The Golden Compass," and she told me all about it when she got home. There are a lot of animals in the movie, including lots of dogs and cats, and they're all kind of magical. The animals are all supposed to be soul companions of their humans, and everybody has one. When Mami came home, she said that I was hers, and that Lulu was Papi's. Which kind of matches up, because Mami is more bouncy and chipper like me, and Papi is more grumpy and yowly, like Lulu.
I guess the best part was the scene with the ice bears, which sounded real exciting but I think it would be too scary for me. I get kind of worried when I see shows where animals fight. I also hear there's a monkey that gets slapped. I kinda wanna see that.

Snow and cookies

This morning when we all woke up, it was snowing outside! It never stuck but it snowed for about an hour and it was very pretty. Lulu and I lined up along the couch to watch it. Then, after breakfast, Mami spent several hours making Christmas cookies, and I helped by sampling dough and licking up all the flour, as you can see from my white beard. After all the cookies were baked, I got to help eat a few before she popped them in the fridge. Yum!

A wag of the tail to you

It somehow escaped my notice that over the weekend, my number of visitors topped 1,000! As of right now, I've had about 1,070 visits to this blog. Thanks everybody who has stopped by. I now have friends around the world! Feel free to comment on my blog if you're new and you like these little stories about my life. Wag wag!

Holiday preparations

Sunday afternoon we finally dragged the Christmas trunk out of the living room closet and started putting up decorations. We're not getting a live tree this year because Mami and Papi are going to be visiting my Abuela in Albuquerque for Christmas so there's no use in putting up a big tree that needs water, 'cause it's one more thing for the house-sitter to deal with.
But she has a small tree, about my size, that she keeps in the closet, so she decorated it with white lights and red Christmas balls, and its very festive next to our Navaho rug. There's also a lot of Santas all over the place, and fancy things hanging from our dining room chandelier, and various pretty decorations that are all too high for me to sniff.
It looks very nice, especially at night when Mami turns on the lights. It gets very sparkly and it makes me kinda sleepy when I stare at them. I really like Christmas.

Monkey bats

For the last couple of days, we've been watching the Sci-Fi miniseries "Tin Man," on t.v. because Mami is a huge "Wizard of Oz," fan, and frankly, I'm lucky I'm not a boy or I might have been named Toto. Anyway, there are these characters on there called "Monkey Bats," which we couldn't find a picture of, but they're basically a bat-monkey hybrid with big ears and wrinkly noses and monkey bodies with wings. They're really scary, but at the same time a little bit cute.
So Mami and Papi think that I look like a baby monkey bat. I'm not so sure, but I don't think they mean to be insulting so I'll let it pass.

Redecorating

Sunday it was so rainy and windy outside that no one wanted to go outdoors. Papi went to school to work on the final proofs of his new book, and Mami and I stayed home and watched home decorating shows while we did laundry and chores. Then we got really inspired by all the stuff we saw, so Mami went into the guest room and took down all the Indian vases and paintings and the saris and bedspread and the purple pillows, and packed them all away.
Then she went into the linen closet and pulled out a big embroidered quilt abuela made her when she was a baby, and a whole stack of vintage table cloths and embroidered pieces, and hand-stitched pillows, and she redecorated the whole room. It was pretty neat. It looks like a whole different place.
Lulu was checking it out this morning. She likes birds, so her favorite thing in the room is the quilt.

Windy weekend

Hello everyone. Sorry I haven't been writing much, we've been real busy here with chores and work. Yesterday, Mami threw a baby shower for my Tia Becky, and we had a whole table full of snacks and two tea sets. It was so fancy. I got lots of snacks from my friends, including Doris and Annie, who like to give me cheese and cookies. Later on, Mami took the leftovers to work so that the photographers could eat them, because they were cold and tired from covering the Civil War game. I got to see my Tio Casey, and wrestle with him. I love to visit work!
Today it is so windy and rainy that the power blinked once. Mami is worried that it will go out because we have electric heat and it's cold! Hopefully it will be okay. Otherwise we have to use a lot of blankets.
So here is me in the kitchen this morning waiting for a biscuit. Mami ate sausage and eggs for breakfast and I didn't get any. Not fair.

Dark November mornings

Papi let me stay in bed this morning when he got up early to grade papers. It was really nice and warm there, and I got to lay on the body pillow, which was even better. Before Mami left for work, she came in and made fun of me, but I don't care. Any morning where I can stay in bed until the afternoon is a good day to me.

Small

There are a lot of advantages to my size. People pick me up and hold me all the time, which is nice, and I can fit between two people on a love seat, with room to spare. I can get places in the house even Lulu can't, and I can wiggle free if I need to when Mami grabs me to put on a sweater or something. I also fit perfectly under the coffee table, as seen here, which is to my benefit, because when Mami and Papi eat in the living room, the snacks often land right at my feet. Also, I can take what they accidentally drop and drag it to where they can't reach me, and eat it before they get to me.

Projects

Yesterday Lulu and I spent all day in the guest room, helping Mami make a baby quilt for Tia Becky, who is going to have a little one very soon. Mami has never made a quilt before but she used to watch Abuela make them all the time, and she has lots and lots of fabric, so she decided to try it out. It was so much fun to jump on the bed and roll around with all the quilt squares, even though Mami yelled at me. Then Lulu lay on top of the fabric and I had a sneezing fit and got things all wet, and Mami chased us out of the room, but we came right back.
Lulu's favorite part was the cotton batting, which is fluffy like clouds and she likes to curl up in it. I liked pulled the fabric off Mami's lap while she was using the sewing machine. She said it took twice as long to make the quilt because of us. I don't see why. Anyway, she finished it and it looks really good. It has animals on it like bear and deer, and it's pretty navy blue and cranberry. And I think it has some cat hair on it too, which makes it extra special. It's Mami's first quilt and everybody helped.

Post-Thanksgiving siestas

Well, today was our family Thanksgiving because yesterday Mami had to work, so Mami's parents and my abuelita came to visit us today. The morning was very busy, because Mami and Papi were running around cooking things, and I tried to help, but they didn't drop much on the floor, which was disappointing. Finally everyone arrived and we all sat down to a big feast of turkey and mole and potatoes and calabacitas. I got a little turkey at the end, and then afterward I got a big juicy bone.
Abuelita wanted a walk so after we had cheesecake she and Mami took me around the neighborhood. It was so nice and crunchy out, with lots of leaves and blue sky and things to sniff.
Then we came home and everybody left but us, and we all took a really long nap, before another round of turkey. This time, I got a shortbread cookie for dessert, and then I passed out on the couch with Lulu. I hope there are more leftovers tomorrow.

Happy Turkey Day!

Such a sleepy day

With Mami home sick I spent all day with her on the couch. I tried to stay awake and be helpful but you can see how far that got me. Lulu sat on the other end of the couch to keep Mamis feet warm. Tomorrow she's going back to work so I wont get a chance to have as many snuggles, but it's been a nice treat.

A little dancin'

Mami got a bad cold today and came home early, and sometimes when she's sick she likes to watch cheerful things. This is one of them, it's a scene from an old Bollywood movie. I hope you like it. I think I would look pretty hot in gold lame.

Turkey bacon

We had a really, really late brunch this morning, and I just got finished eating a pancake and some turkey bacon. It was sooo tasty. I didn't get any coffee, but I don't think I'd like it anyway. It's super dark and rainy here, so that means no walk today, but I think Mami and I will play some ball later down the hallway. Papi has to go to his office and grade things. I wish he'd grade them here but apparently I am too distracting. I promised not to throw my ball at him this time, but I don't think that will work.

Smarty pants

Guess what? Papi did this test on-line that looks at your blog and figures out what kind of level of intelligence it takes to read it. You'll be proud to know that you all are geniuses! But I'd expect nothing less.

Cash Advance Loans

Special choodle treats

Tonight, I got a surprise visit from my Aunt Candace and my friend Charley, who is a big dog but who doesn't scare me. Much. I love Aunt Candace, not only because she really knows how to scratch me, but because she supplies me with the juciest, smokiest, biggest bones ever! Tonight she brought me a new one, but Mami wouldn't let me have it because I've been eating a lot of bones lately and she thinks I should save it for later.
I was disappointed but then Aunt Candace found some biscuits in her pocket so Charley and I each got to have a special snack. I gave her lots of choodle kisses in return. I love surprise visits. They make me one happy choodle!

Heffalumps

I'm gonna take a stand and say that I don't like elephants.
Now I know this is going to upset some people, but last night, while I was sleeping on Mami's lap, this program came on about traveling in Ghana, and there were all these elephants stomping around and snorting. It was enough to wake me up and then I got pretty upset.
Usually I don't pay much attention to the television, but this time, I sat up and growled and snarled and barked until Mami scolded me and made me lay back down, but then when the elephants came on again, I did it a second time, until Mami had to turn the sound down. She said that an elephant would be more afraid of me than I would be of him because I look like a schmouse, and everybody knows that elephants hate schmouses.
But I'm not planning on making any up close and personal elephant introductions any time soon.

Windy weather

It is incredibly blustery here today, after a very pleasant weekend with sunshine and lots of pretty leaves. But this morning I nearly got blown out of the yard when I went out for my early a.m. constitutional. I went back indoors as soon as possible.
I didn't do a whole lot this weekend other than playing a lot of ball inside. Mami had to work and Papi was really busy with school again. I almost got in trouble last night when Mami spilled brownie mix on the floor and I nearly got a mouthful, but she was too fast for me.
It's so cold and blowy out I think I'll lay on the couch and nap until everyone comes home. I hope the power doesn't go out, but if it does, there's a polar fleece blanket to burrow under until they get back.

Bones!

Just me and my bone. Thought I'd share. Well, brag.

Laying low

So, my Tia Candace came by the other day with this big bag full of really excellent bones for me. They are all smoked and tasty and big as my head, so whenever Mami lets me have one for awhile, I disappear to one of my favorite hiding places and gnaw on it until I'm good and thirsty.
I get a little mesmerized when I chew on them, which can make me kinda jumpy. Lulu has learned not to walk too close when I have my bone, because I make terrible jumpy growly business at her when she comes near. Mami says that cats don't like bones. I would not jump to that conclusion. Even Lulu can smell how good my bone must be.
What's sad is, I don't get the bone when Mami is not home, because she says there could be splinters. So I only get it during "supervised time." I would like to sneak it when she's gone, but she puts it in the fridge and I haven't figured out how to open it yet. But I'm trying.

Life after the party

So it's taken me a couple days to recouperate from the wildness of Saturday night that stretched into Sunday morning. I've been doing a lot of power napping, combined with some rubber ball workouts, and stretches. I didnt' get to sleep in much this morning, but the house was empty most of the day and Lulu and I took advantage of the quiet. I like company, but I also like it when they go away.

Crazy party time!

Hello all! Got my photos back from the big party and thought I'd share a few of them with you all. It was a crazy night, the last guest didn't leave til 4 a.m., and I stayed up the whole time! Luckily I got to sleep in the next day, phew! Man, I got carried around by so many people that I can't even remember everyone. It was really fun and I got lots of snacks, and there was a fire outside that I got to sit by for awhile, and it was all really fun! Hope you enjoy the pics!

Dia de los Muertos

Happy Day of the Dead, everyone! We are gearing up for our annual party, getting the ofrenda ready and making lots of trips to the store for supplies. I can't wait for everyone to arrive tomorrow night! The house will be full of people and food and music and maybe even some dancing! OOOh!
Tonight though, we will light some candles and be solemn for a few minutes to remember those who have passed, like my dear friend Lucha.
I will blog more on Sunday or Monday and share some pics!

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.