Remembering Lexi

Many thanks to Deb Barnes of Zee and Zoey’s Cat Chronicles, author of Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond,  and founder of Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. And to Ann at Zoolatry for hosting this blog hop.

Puppy Lexi

Lexi got her first title in Freestyle Competition in 2016.

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Lexi in training at her first and third theater run in the Wizard of Oz, 6 years apart.

Lexi was often used as a prop “the little German dog” at the month-long Rocktoberfest event.

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Lexi loved to go boating.

Lexi had to drop out of the Blogville mayoral race due to poor health.

Lexi had many jobs. One was to come to the Methodist church where I worked, where she was loved by everyone. When she passed, the pastor held a memorial service for her, and everyone and their dogs were invited. This short video was taken outside of the church shortly before she crossed the rainbow bridge from the Big C at age 13. Warning: she is barking in it

Lexi was a different personality with whatever was asked of her. She knew her roles, and threw her entire self into each one. This video sums up her joy in life (look at her smile with the children) and her innate desire to bring joy to others.

I know that my heart-dog, my partner, is somewhere over the rainbow, still busy doing the things she loves.

Lexi the Schnauzer: May 7, 2003 – September 4, 2016

I love you, darling girl and think of you often. Your Mom

Memory Monday: Sammy Joe

Sammy heading to shore…                          and returning to boat

Boating Dog: My first boat dog, Sammy, deserves a lot more recognition than I can give him in one short (or longish) post. His passion was the lake and boating. If the traffic was heavy on the way to the lake, he ran back and forth whining, trying to encourage me to go faster. Like Lexi, he always knew what it meant when the boat bag got packed. On one occasion — as we were walking along the dock, heading to the car — a couple of pretty young ladies passed us on the way to their boat. Without missing a beat, Sammy made a U turn and walked beside them, staring up at them as he went. I believe the expression is, “You dog, you!” He always did prefer women over men.

Sammy age 8 years

Adoption Story: In 1991, four identical six-month-old pups were brought to the vet hospital where I worked in for us to try to find them homes. We didn’t normally do this, but this lady was a good client, and the pups were just so darn cute. At the time, all we had was a one and a half year old schnauzer, Freda. I thought it would be good for Freda to have a friend, and for my 12-year-old son to have his own dog. He picked one out and home we went. I suggested the name Sammy after a dog who lived down the street from me when I was a child, and the name stuck. Or Samuel Joseph whenever he was in trouble.

And the Rest: Sammy didn’t shed, he got ear infections, and he bayed like a beagle. With these and other characteristics, I had him pegged as a schnauzer/cocker spaniel/beagle/+ mix. He was a great help in keeping my side of the bed warm until I joined him. Then he kept my back warm while I spooned Freda. For years we slept all night like that, me the bologna and the dogs the bread.

Sam’s favorite trick — especially when I had company — was his “Grand Entrance.” He would nonchalantly exit the living room and stroll down the hallway to the bedroom. You could almost hear him saying, “La ti da de da de da. Don’t pay any attention to me. I’m not doing anything.” He would wait about ten seconds before  galloping back to the living room and spinning around 180 degrees, landing with his legs spread, his head high and an open-mouthed grin. It was easy to picture him shouting, “Ta daaaaa!” This never failed to bring smiles, laughter and applause. I could also prompt him by suggesting he do an Entrance. He would act like he hadn’t heard me, wait a few minutes, then head down the hall. In his mind, it always had to be a surprise, or it wasn’t any good.

Sammy loved to wear clothes. I discovered this when I put one of my son’s outgrown T-shirts on him and he walked around making sure everyone saw his new duds. He had a strong sense of self and always strutted proudly after a groom. It was as if he was saying, “Look at me! I am as good as my schnauzer sister!”

Celebrating July 4th and Sammy’s 9th Birthday with cake.

During this time I had a thriving grooming and boarding business in my home. Sammy made friends with most of the boarders, some of whom are shown above, eating cake on his birthday. Sammy is in the middle wearing his Independence Day scarf. This same year, Sammy was diagnosed with cancer. I assisted in the surgery while the vet removed a large tumor from Sammy’s abdomen. She flushed and flushed his abdomen with sterilized water, swishing it around with her gloved hand, while I sucked it out with a pump. She was trying to wash away any loose cancer cells. With this type of cancer, he was only given three months to live. All the prayer warriors went to work. He made a good recovery from the surgery, but the strangest thing happened. His personality totally changed. While still the sweet, loving dog we had always known, he suddenly became happier and fearless. It was as if he was thumbing his nose at death, as if he was saying, “I’m ready to live!” He was happier than I had ever seen him.

The next year, a young adult German Shepherd named Ara entered our lives and home. Ara and a very much alive and healthy Sammy soon became fast friends.

Ara and Sammy (age 10) April 2001

Freda  the schnauzer was always in charge. Sammy never even tried to say, “You’re not the boss of me!” I was soon to lose Freda, at age 11, to complications of Cushing’s disease, from which she had been blind since she was five.

Freda and Sammy – April 2001

Below is the last picture I have of my sweet Sam looking healthy. He was ten here, and still cancer-free.

 December 2001

The following year, two years after his first bout with cancer, he was diagnosed with a different type of malignant tumor.Sammy celebrated his last Christmas in 2002 with a new Teddy Bear sweater. He was so proud to wear it!

I was to lose him before the new year. Remembering you with love, my dear boy, my Sweet Sammy. ❤

 

Nextdoor

Our neighborhood, like many others , has a Nextdoor website group. In short, it is a closed group for just the neighborhood folks and surrounding areas. People can post what is going on in the area in real time: crime; items for sale; services available; questions, especially about needing help with something, such as who is the best person to contact for a service. Through Nextdoor I recently found an individual to work on my old pontoon boat’s outboard motor. I dropped it off at his house this afternoon.

My first boating dog was my precious Sammy. When he succumbed at age 11 during his second bout with cancer, I renamed the boat the Sammy Joe after him.

Lexi wanted me to rename the boat the Lexi B. However, she realized Sammy only got that honor after he had left for the rainbow bridge, so she decided she was in no hurry. Now, after losing both my precious boat dogs, I can no longer bear to take the Lexi B out on the lake. Unless the mechanic decides to buy it -his eyes lit up when I said I wanted to sell it and gave him a price – I will park the Lexi B in front of the house with a for sale sign. I’ll also put it on Nextdoor, with this photo:

And so ends another chapter – a long and fun chapter -in the story of my life.

Memory Monday – First Boating Blog

from June 30, 2005 originally posted on Dogster when Lexi was 2 years old.

Me on my boat in the horrid yellow vest. Don’t I look like a bumblebee?

Today I swam eleven laps around my pontoon boat – a personal best – perhaps because no one was watching when I wanted back in after the fourth lap.  When we were done at the lake we went to Dairy Queen, a place that has the most wonderful treats. Brrr!  The ice cream made me very cold and I started to shake uncontrollably. I knew Mom would take my ice cream away if she saw me shivering so I gobbled my pup cup of vanilla ice cream (my favorite flavor).  It was worth it! To warm me up, Mom had to sit in the hot car with me until the shakes went away. I’ll make up for it tonight by puking on Mom’s bed.  Won’t she be surprised?!

Lexi the Boating Dog (2 years ago today)

Mom got another one of the nostalgic timeline pictures pop up again on her phone. I am sure your peeps get them too.  Two years ago today I was chillin’ out on and in the Tennessee River. Hmm, I wonder where my life jacket is? I bet Mom just took it off so I could dry my beautiful hair in the sun.

Since our boat isn’t running this summer, we have been staying inside to keep cool. How boring…

I am Lexi, the boating dog.

 

Mayoral Debate: You asked, we answered

Ok, so the sign says every Tuesday. It sure does feel like every Tuesday with all the mind-exercise I’ve had from the great questions. Today, however, is the last debate until this fall. Unless we change our minds, of coure. You can find Christmas’ and Arty’s answers on their websites.  So here goes.

You asked:

1-Do you think we can publish some guidelines/rules/mandates on flashy beasts at naptime??

 Being realistic, I think we can publish whatever we want, the problem is going to be to get our humans who use those flashy beasts to abide by our rules. Since we are sleeping when they so rudely awaken us with it, there is not much we can do to prevent it other than hide away somewhere they can’t find us during naps.

2-Since you are vertically challenged (like me) we are wondering what your ‘platform’ of choice will be when you are at the podium?

I have already published my platform. It is also called a stage. I have called on some of my fellow thespians to appear on my platform.

My Platform

3-What is your platform for Mayor? 

I believe that all anipals are created equal, which means that All Anipal Lives Matter (with the exception of certain insects and worms).

4-Here is a three part question regarding kitty kats:

4a-What are your opinion on cats? Friends, foes, or supreme masters??

Kali

I know that some dogs and cats see each other as enemies. 

And I realize that some cats feel they are – or at least should be – supreme masters. However, I believe we can all live at peace and be friends. Here are two of my friends from Canada. This beauty on the left is Kali of The Canadian Cats. Kali just celebrated her 14th Gotcha Day on May 12. Below is Shoko, another beauty who has a lot to say. I am proud to introduce her as an official member of Team Lexi in this Race for Mayor of Blogsville. She is an invaluable asset and will be offered an important post in my cabinet after I win the election.

Shoko

 

4b-Are you planning anything to get our hoomans to share more of their food? Specifically of da MEATZ variety, but really anything (eggcept for vegetables which I has heard some peeples ackshually eat).

 I have a trick or two up my sleeve. Suffice it to say I sit at the dinner table every night and get portions of my Mom and Dad’s supper. I will share my secrets with you during my Tips from Lexi on Tuesdays when we are not campaigning and after I have recovered from my surgery.

Special benefits of sitting at the kitchen table.

4c-Do you support the idea of offishually changing Saturday to “Caturday?”

Only if we give one day of the week to dogs, and one day to birds, and one day to hamsters and one day to pigs and so on. Since this seems a bit problematic, I think it would be better to leave Caturday an “unofficial” day for the dear kitties to use as they like. This is consistent with my policy, “All anipals are created equal.”

 5-What will you do to help ensure international residents feel part of the Blogville community?

In Blogville, there are no geographical boundaries. My guy Noodle is working on a plan for double dates with anyone who would like to have fun with us. We will even play matchmaker if you want. We want everyone to be as happy as us. Check out our latest date.   Isn’t he just dreamy?Noodle is also a member of Team Lexi. He will have a prestigious appointment in my cabinet after I am elected mayor. 

 

 

Debate Tuesday: Vote for Lexi!

Introducing, Debate Tuesday!! That’s right, every Tuesday we, the Candy Dates,  will answer five questions concerning our platforms and information about Us!! 

For the first three Tuesdays we, the Candy Dates,  will be asking the questions of each other. After that, we will be answering YOUR questions!! So make sure to ask us questions in the comments, and, no worries, we should be able to all of them in the course of the campaign!! Make sure to visit all the Candy Dates!

Christmas at Paw Province

Lexi at Lexi the Schnauzer  (me!)

Arty at Dory’s Backyard

Now, On to this Tuesday’s questions, submitted by Christmas!!

1.What is your campaign slogan and why is that your slogan? If you don’t have one, what would your slogan be if you made one?
Christmas: My campaign slogan is “death for Vacula” because obviously, Vaculas are the worst thing ever.
Arty: My Campaign Slogan is “Keep Blogville Fun”. I love hosting parties, dances and contests (you might be able to tell that from the rest of my answers 😉

Lexi: I haven’t decided yet. Slogans are so limiting. I want options, don’t you? But if I had to chose one right now perhaps Peace Be with You would be fitting.

2.  If you become mayor, how will you announce it on your blog?
Christmas: I will do a long post about how grateful I am to Blogville for their support and I will give my mommy a big slobbery kiss on the face for being my awesome assistant and always supporting me.
Arty: After I thank all of Blogville for their support, I hope to host an Inaugural Ball. In fact, no matter who wins, I will most likely have a big pawty of the winners choice!!
Lexi: Fireworks. Definitely, fireworks. The fireworks may even have my face in them. I’ll have to work on that – or work on Dad to work on that.

3. How will you advertise your run for mayor and will you do it alone or recruit others?
Christmas: Around my blog, I like to post fun campaign posters. The ladies love my handsome hound dog face! Oh, and I’ve actually recruited my pal Oreo as my campaign manager.
Arty: I have a great team I am working with, Mabel (from Idaho Pugs) is my Campaign Manager and my brother Jakey is my Press Secredude! I hope to be on at least one talk show (I hope my running mates will join me, but more info on that later!). Dory has promised me at least 2 days a week of Blog-Air time so anything is possible!
Lexi: I have posted my platform and have started posting some of the very best reasons to Vote for Lexi! on my own blog. I wanted Mom to hang posters around our neighborhood but she said that wouldn’t help. It is early in the race, and I am still weighing my options for my team. There are so many good bloggers/friends out there, I must choose wisely.

4. What will you do about the tree rats and Vaculas that are ruining our country?
Christmas: I will send out a notice to all tree rats that they must stay in their trees so we won’t have to chase them back up the trees 87 times a day! Oh, and about the Vaculas? I think if our police squad here in Blogville is strong enough, they can help destroy all Vaculas.
Arty: If I become Mayor, one of the first groups I will form will be a Tree Rat S.W.A.T. Team. We have a definite Squirrel Cartel problem that needs to be addressed! I agree with Christmas and, as a Junior Police Officer,  I can assure Blogville we will keep the Vacula problems to a minimum!
Lexi: Tree rats? I don’t think we have any of those around here, unless you are referring to those cute, cuddly squirrels that populate my backwoods area. I will listen to my future constituents about what they want done, if anything. Vaculas? If you are referring to vacuums, just stay out of their way, like on the bed, and they will not harm you. I support vacuums’ rights to come out of the closet. Can’t we all live in harmony?

5. How will you get Blogville members involved? What events/activities would you plan in Blogville?
Christmas: Every three months, I think I would do a seasonal post where every Blogville member that wanted to participate could send in a photo of them enjoying that season and we would share it in one big post.
Arty: I am very lucky that my Mama can do the Photoshops really good, and my brother Jakey is teaching me lots about Pizap and PicMonkey. I hope to have a few campaign events. Right now, Dory and I are helping Mama organize the B.A.R.. We hope to have a BBQ this summer, and of course, the Summer Olympics are coming up!!

Lexi: I think we could all go on trips together. We have already tried digging tunnels, and that didn’t work really well; instead, we could use big boats to visit across the oceans and do fun cruise things on the way. 

POTP for the Paw

Nothing much going on around here. Last Wednesday I had my acupuncture because my hip was starting to hurt again. Then Dad took me up the mountain so I could visit with Mom and have lunch with my friend Carrie. On the way home after work we stopped at another church where Mom and Dad are starting to go on Sundays. Daddy met us at the door and introduced me to Pastor Mark. Pastor Mark welcomed me into his office and told me to feel free to explore while he talked to my folks. After about an hour I knew it was past my suppertime so I started to remind Mom. I had to remind her loudly. She finally got the hint and we all headed home.

Thursday, before going to the children’s hospital, I stopped by work and got my treat from my friend Dave. Then I went on to the hospital, saw my friend Lois who always gives me a treat when I get there, and therapized some kids and nurses and a doctor or two. My friend Beth had a treat for me when I went back to work with Mom.

Friday, I really goofed up. I thought Mom wanted me to go downstairs to get groomed, so I kept running away from her. She finally gave up – and left without me! Later I found out that I had been invited to a birthday party!! I still can’t believe Mom went without me!! Happy birthday Jentry. I hope you had fun without me. I know it would have been better if I had been there. Oh, what, Mom? There was no food, not even cake? Well, I am sure Jentry had plenty of fun without me there.

This morning I got groomed. I knew I was picking up grooming vibes. Tomorrow is my teeth-cleaning-at-the vet day. They will do blood work first to make sure it is ok to help me go to sleep while they clean my teeth really good.  The teeth cleaning has been scheduled for a while. Now I also have to have my paw checked. I have had a tiny pink lump on my front left paw for a long time. Mom caught me licking that paw last night and of course she had to stick her nose in and see why I was licking. This is what she saw:

Exhibit A

You can’t tell real well from this picture, but it is a raised lump. By Mom’s reaction, I sure hope it isn’t anything bad. I sure hope I don’t end up having to wear a cone of shame. I sure hope I don’t lose my paw! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! POTP for me, please.

Continuing the 8 Photos of Happiness Challenge

Noodle nominated me to participate in the 8 Photos of Happiness Challenge created by Ariel’s Little Corner of the Internet. How fun! In no particular order…

My all-time favorite thing…the stage. And this is a montage, so it counts as one picture, as Noodle said!

I love to go to Rock City with Mom and Dad for Rocktober Fest. I always see some of my peeps friends there and there is good German food for a good German dog, too!

This picture is from my 10-year-old birthday party. I had a Healthy Choice meal with my Mom and Dad and then my very own cake shaped like a dog. I know, kinda’ weird, but Mom meant well. Can you see the happy all over my face?

This one is from my last Freestyle competition. I love Freestyle!

Another birthday pic, this one from this past May. I love birthdays and I love Micky D’s!!

I love boating on my Sammy Joe, feeling the wind in my face.

I love to help Mom in the kitchen.

There are so many more pictures of things that make me happy, it is hard to choose the last one. Should it be of me at work at the church on the mountain? Or rolling in the ivy? Or taking a trip?

This is one of my nite-nite rituals with my Dad. Happy endings to happy days.

It’s now time for me to nominate the following blogs/friends:

One of my new friends Kona, at Mister Baloney Head

Sammy at, well, Saving Sammie

My friend who I wish would stay out of the street, Cupcake, at Cupcake Speaks

Sophie, who knows what a real terrier attitude should be, at corkscot (OK, Shelby and Sidney too)

I do not wish to be responsible for anyone’s unhappiness because I inadvertently omitted them, so If you want to join the challenge, just JOIN!

Rules and explanation of this tag:

• Thank your nominator/s and link them in your post.
• Link the creator (Ariel’s little corner of the internet)
• Post your 8 photos of happiness;
• The photos can be anything that represents a moment, object, place or feeling that makes you happy.
•  Pop in a brief description of the photo, why you chose it or let the photos do the talking!
• Spread the happiness and tag up to ten other bloggers!

Playing my Favorite Game

Mom and Dad spent most of the day moving things around. I sat outside and watched. First they moved a bunch of Dad’s stuff out of the shed. Then they moved a bunch of my brother Andrew’s stuff out of the garage and into the the newly emptied space in the shed. (Andrew, if you are reading this, I didn’t have any say in the whole thing.) (And they promised me you will like what they have done.) Then they moved Dad’s stuff that was now sitting in the yard into the garage where my brother Andrew’s stuff had been. What the? OK, so they did some cleaning and sorting in between, and I heard something about wanting to sell all the stuff that ended up in the garage. So maybe they actually have a plan. They are both big on organizing and have fun spending time together organizing things.

What didn’t happen was we didn’t get to have our dance party. I was mightily disappointed until Mommy said, “Let’s play your favorite game: Leave It, Find It.”

Dad has left now for a band gig. He plays a horn called a sax in a big band. That’s why we didn’t have time for the dance party, but he said we will do that tomorrow. Yip, yip, yippee! I am Lexi, the best treat finder ever!

Memory Monday: Boating

It’s Memory Monday and, since it is really stinkin’ hot out, I thought it would be a good time to reminisce about being on the lake (especially since Mommy is too lazy stubborn busy something to take me lately.)

Boating time

June 25, 2005

Today I swam eleven laps around my pontoon boat – a personal best (perhaps because no one was watching when I wanted back in after the fourth lap).  When we were done at the lake we went to Dairy Queen, a place that has the most wonderful treats. Brrr!  The ice cream made me very cold and I started to shake uncontrollably. I knew Mom would take my ice cream away if she saw me shivering so I gobbled my pup cup of vanilla ice cream (my favorite flavor).  It was worth it!  I’ll make up for it tonight by puking on Mom’s bed.  Won’t she be surprised?!

June 2, 2007

My pontoon boat is in the water! I have already had so much fun on it this summer. I mostly lie around and sun my beautiful body. Sometimes I lay in the shade and eat snacks. Sometimes I swim to a nearby island and smell all the luscious smells. Last Sunday I got a bit hot so I went to the edge of my pontoon boat to let Mom know I wanted to cool off in the water. What did she do? She reached for my life jacket. I hate that thing. It ranks right up there with clothes. She could tell I didn’t want to wear it, so she said she would make a deal with me. I wouldn’t have to wear it if I stayed close to the boat. I thought, ok, no problem. Mom lowered me into the water – I still don’t like to jump in –  and I swam around the boat twice before asking her to help me back in. Mom says I am the smartest schnauzer girl ever. I have a good life. I am Lexi the boat dog.

Later the same month

I was back in the water, swimming around my boat sans life jacket when Mom reached down and plucked me back into the Lexi B Sammy Joe. She said she saw really big turtles sunning themselves on a rock not too far from where we were parked anchored. She also said she had seen some one-legged ducks. “From now on,” she said, “you have to wear your life jacket, just in case.”

I don’t understand what big turtles and one-legged ducks have to do with anything, but that “just in case” has me scared. I won’t get in the water now. Not until I figure this out. I am Lexi, the four-legged schnauzer, and wantin’ to keep it that way.

Another Memory Monday (click here, folks, pups and kitties) story from my boyfriend, Noodle. Isn’t he the dreamiest!

Memory Mondays

My friends,

Thanks to creative pups and kitties and their moms and dads, we now have wonderful Selfie Sundays and Wordless Wednesdays. Now, I propose Memory Mondays. Because most of you have not read my blogs from early in my life, I am going to post one each Monday. I invite you to do the same. And if you don’t have earlier blogs, you can blog a memory from scratch. If you will e-mail a link to the blog to lexi@lexitheschnauzer.com, Mom will post the link on my Memory Mondays page. Please be sure to include the pup or kitty’s name(s) who are in the blog. Let’s see how this goes!

Lexi’s Memory Monday blog:

Don’t I look like I have wings?

July 25, 2005
YES! I’ve got new all grown up pictures now on my web page. I am so proud of them. And I didn’t even have to get groomed again (although Mommy snuck up on me and gave me a bath first – yuck). I think I should be clean enough after swimming in the Tennessee River. Speaking of which, Mom let me swim a little without my life vest on Saturday. It was a little scary, but Mom says I am an excellent swimmer! Now she is seeing great big turtles where I was swimming and says I have to wear my life vest all the time again “just in case.”

I didn’t get off the boat on Sunday at all, because I am still trying to figure out what this just in case is all about. Then my boat started not working so well, and we went home. Drat! I was getting to eat cheese twirls, and I was doing what Mom called self-serve in the boat bag because she had my special biscuits just lying loose down in there.
Maybe I will throw up in Mommy’s bed tonight. Won’t she be surprised!

Memory Monday posts:

June 2, Noodle took the challenge, because he is the bestest boyfriend ever! Check it out at the Adventures of Noodle.

First Boating Adventure of the Season

Mom spent a lot of time working outside today. Seems that part of it was getting my boat the Lexi B the Sammy Joe ready to go to the lake. The boy was outside working with her. He must have been doing a good job because I didn’t hear Mom yell, “Stop doing that and come help.” Then I realized what that must mean – we were going boating! I was so excited about the first time out this season. Of course, I am always excited about going somewhere, especially to the lake! I know Mom was worried about the Sammy Joe starting, seeing how it was the first time out this year. I am very pleased to say she started right up and off we went. I remembered that one of the first things we do is stop so I can get in the lake and swim a lap around the boat. It is very cooling. So I stood at the bow (rhymes with owwww) wearing my pink with white polka dots life vest to let Mom know I was ready. She just shook her head and dipped me real quick-like before pulling me back in. What she had been telling the boy was right – the water was cold! But it was still a lot of fun boating around the lake. Mom took some pictures to share. Notice how it looks like I could flap my ears and fly?

My Life in Slides by Lexi (the Schnauzer)

The Life of Lexi the Schnauzer from Amy Sandy

Boating and Fast Food

It has been an exhausting couple of days. Two days ago Mom came home from wherever she had been for over an hour and I could tell right away she was upset. Not a little upset, either. She even told my Dad to get out of her way. Wow. He backed way up way fast and didn’t say a word. Quick as a wink she changed into her boating clothes, grabbed her boat bag and plopped me into the truck. She hooked up my pontoon and off we went to the lake. I started doing therapy on her while we were still in the truck – she really needed it. He face was salty and her eyes were red. We spent the whole afternoon in one spot on the lake. I swam around the boat once to cool off, then napped on and off and tried to do a little more therapy while Mom took turns reading and laying in the sun.

Even all the boating and sunning and reading didn’t help Mom’s mood. I hate to say I benefited by it, but look, when a dog gets to go to the lake and out to dinner at Mickey D’s, yeah, things were going my way. Seems like I was the only one she could stand to be around that day. You’d better believe I was careful to be a very good girl. I have never before had a McD’s hamburger. OMG it is good! Later that evening I heard her say that she was taking me back to McD’s the next day for my birthday. I starting singing and dancing, and everyone laughed. I couldn’t help myself, I just got so excited thinking about that hamburger.

When we got home that night Mom sat down in front of her computer and in a very short time yelled at my Dad to come quick. After getting yelled at earlier to get out of her way, he came running lickity-split to see what was wrong. She told him to read something on her computer and they both started smiling and saying happy things.  Now I know why Mom wasn’t going to the church to work and why she was unhappy today. She had to find a new job so she could make money to buy my kibble and other things. Everything finally worked out great. She is going to work at another church and she is going to work at a non-profit when she isn’t working at the church. She seems really happy about it. I hope I will get to go, too. I will do therapy and keep food cleaned up from the floor.

Finally, the sun came up the next morning and my real birthday day started. After several hours on the lake in the Sammy Joe, I went to the pet store where I found some ferrets I wanted but no one would let me have them. I found some treats and we got those. There were dog beds that I was not very interested in, so we didn’t get any of those, nor any of the collars, harnesses or clothes we looked at. It would have been cruel to buy those things on my birthday.

From there we went to Mickey D’s where I got another hamburger and a dish of ice cream. It was a hot day so we sat in the shade and ate our supper. I ate my hamburger in about five seconds flat plus an extra second for the pickle. Mom couldn’t understand why I didn’t dig into my cup of ice cream. Duh…she still had some of her fish sandwich left. Of course, when she realized that was the reason, she shared it with me so that I could move on to dessert. Once again it took her a minute, but she finally figured out I wanted her to feed me the ice cream with the spoon. Once we got that established, I ate until I got brain freeze. I mean, I saved her a little bit of the ice cream at the bottom of the cup.

On the way home we took a detour to the dog park. A big white dog wanted to “friend me.” I was polite but not interested, so I didn’t “accept.” Why is Mom laughing?  I hear people say this all the time, so I think I should be able to say it too, don’t you? What’s Facebook?

Lexi the fast-food schnauzer

 

 

I think I almost drowned

OK, sure, I had on that hot pink polka dotted life vest that flies in the face of all that is called fashion. But I feed off my Mom’s emotions, and I think I almost drowned.
Let me back up a bit.
I was having a good, if not wonderful, day on my boat, the Sammy Joe. Yeah, yeah, I am still trying to get the name changed, but am beginning to think it might be like becoming a saint – you have to die first. So maybe we should just stick with the sainted Sammy Joe.
I digress.

I did my usual go in the lake for a swim as soon as the anchor is dropped. My beautiful black hair gets very hot in the sun and I know the lake water will cool me down. The water is actually still fairly cold this time of year, as well as dirty, but it does the trick. After being pulled in when I get back to the front of the pontoon, I shake and rub myself all over any towels and clothes that happen to be at my disposal. Satisfied that everything else on the boat is now at least as wet as me, I sun myself to dry on the bench seat. Today we were fairly near a camp along the shore. We were at least near enough that I could see and hear some of what was going on, so that held my interest for quite a while. Mom read her book in the shade of my boat awning, then she moved to a sunny position at the front of my boat and read some more. After about three or four hours of this I started getting just a bit bored. The wind had picked up enough that I wasn’t getting hot, so I hadn’t gone swimming again. In fact, the wind had picked up so much that it was creating waves that rocked us just like if we were caught in the wake of another boat. On top of that it didn’t look like there were going to be any treats today. I was just thinking about asking to go in for another swim when Mom pulled the anchor, started her up and headed back toward the dock. I stood at the very front of my boat, facing the side as Mom navigated the waves. When I face the front, Mom knows that I am playing hood ornament. I always go to the side when I want to go in the water. Seeing this, Mom stopped the boat, put the awful life vest back on me and dropped me into the water. What she did NOT do was drop the anchor.

I make it my business to always, and I mean always, swim in a clockwise direction around the boat, usually just once. This time I found myself moving faster than usual along the first side. When I made the turn to cross the back near the motor, I started feeling the pull of the water. I made the second turn to swim back up the far side and get pulled in at the front. Then I realized it was like swimming in place. I don’t know if the current was pulling me away from my boat, or pulling my boat away from me. I just know I wasn’t making any progress. Mom reached over the side but couldn’t reach me. She told me to swim harder, but I was swimming as hard as I was able. She reached down and started paddling with her hands to try to get my boat closer to me so she could grab me. I think in her panic she forgot about the new, never used paddle she keeps inside the bench seat. Thankfully, her hand paddling must have worked; her fingers finally twined through the long hairs in my beard and pulled me around to the front where she could lift me to safety. Normally, I would have objected to being pulled through the water by my face, but this time all I felt was relief that she had ahold of me. I am Lexi, the not drowned schnauzer.

Summer’s Gone

October 24, 2005
Wow! What a great summer. I got to go to the park almost every day and run, run, run. Sometimes I had to learn stuff, but I learned to “heel” in only 2 days so I wouldn’t have to work at it any longer. I really HATE having to lie “down.” How can I be in charge if I am lying flat on my tummy! This does not work well with my dominance plan.

No more boat until next spring. These really creepy, jumpy, flying bugs were taking it over and it wasn’t as much fun anyhow.

Mom wouldn’t take me to the park today because she said it was too cold outside. I bet I can get her to take me when she gets home tonight – I will whine, whine, whine until she does. Won’t she be surprised!

Now, when I come in from potty in the morning, I jump into Mom’s bed and crawl under the covers to stay warm. It’s funny ’cause she says, “Where’s Lexi?” and I just hide under there and she can’t find me! Sometimes I don’t even come out until after she is gone!! It is warm and cozy and I just fall back to sleep.

New Pictures

Don’t I look like I have wings?

July 25, 2005
YES! I’ve got new all grown up pictures now on my web page. I am so proud of them. And I didn’t even have to get groomed again (although Mommy snuck up on me and gave me a bath first – yuck). I think I should be clean enough after swimming in the Tennessee River. Speaking of which, Mom let me swim a little without my life vest on Saturday. It was a little scary, but Mom says I am an excellent swimmer! Now she is seeing great big turtles where I was swimming and says I have to wear my life vest all the time again “just in case.”

I didn’t get off the boat on Sunday at all, because I am still trying to figure out what this just in case is all about. Then my boat started not working so well, and we went home. Drat! I was getting to eat cheese twirls, and I was doing what Mom called self-serve in the boat bag because she had my special biscuits just lying loose down in there.
Maybe I will throw up in Mommy’s bed tonight. Won’t she be surprised!

Groomed

July 7, 2005
I’m groomed. No use playing sick anymore.

Even so, I had a really good 4th of July. I went to a picnic where a full band played in the yard for over an hour, and everyone pet me and said nice things to me. There was a golden retriever mix there, and she was scared of me and wouldn’t play, not even when I stuck my behind up in the air and got down really low in the front. That usually works. Poor doggie. Mom wouldn’t let me play with the Yorkie, either. She said I would squish it. In any case, there is good food at picnics!

When the picnic was over I got to go to my boat and swim a lot because it was a hot day. I slept on the big bench seat and ate more yummy food from the cooler and boat bag.

I’ve been having so much fun chasing the joggers at the park. Mommy gets mad at me though and says I will have to stay on my leash if I keep doing that and don’t listen. I don’t want to stay on my leash and I want to chase the joggers. 😦 Not today, though – it’s raining. I am going to see how big my bladder is!

Boating on the Tennessee River

June 30, 2005

Today I swam eleven laps around my pontoon boat – a personal best (perhaps because no one was watching when I wanted back in after the fourth lap).  When we were done at the lake we went to Dairy Queen, a place that has the most wonderful treats. Brrr!  The ice cream made me very cold and I started to shake uncontrollably. I knew Mom would take my ice cream away if she saw me shivering so I gobbled my pup cup of vanilla ice cream (my favorite flavor).  It was worth it!  I’ll make up for it tonight by puking on Mom’s bed.  Won’t she be surprised?!