It's my 9th Birthday Bash and 1st Comment-a-thon!

 

Dearest Payton,
I just want to tell you how much I love you and how much I have loved every minute of our nine years together.  All of the ups, and even the down times, are so precious to me.  It is amazing that you are still in our lives, but I thank God for you every single day, and always ask Him to bless us with many more days together.  You are an inspiration, a miracle, and an angel on earth.  Happy 9th Birthday, baby girl.  Enjoy your day!
Love,
Mom

Sorry for the sappy note from my mom, but when she asked for the laptop, I didn't know what she was up to.  I probably owed her one, but now we're even.  Anyway, let's get this party started!!  First up, let me share with you an awesome early birthday gift from the Southern Fried Pugs.  You will not believe what they sent me...the sweetest, most thoughtful thing that has forever sealed them in my dad's heart...and made my mom leaky as she was helping me open the package...  My very own Chicago Bears cheerleading outfit!!

Yep, I'm totally ready for football season to start now.  Go Bears!  Da Bearsss!  Thanks so much Isabelle, Petunia, and Tallulah!!  Mom and dad are slackers when it comes to checking the mail, but they did last night.  There was a bunch of cards and such from even more friends.  I feel so loved...you guys are awesome!  Thanks!  Who knows how long they have been sitting in the mailbox.  Sheesh!  I'll have to tell you the specifics about them later because mom said I might as well wait until tonight to open them, so I will.  Although I don't really have a choice given my lack of usable thumbs, now do I?

Now for some more GREAT news!  My inhaler came in late Monday afternoon so Gammy and Gampy are coming over tonight!!  And mom promised me a very sweet treat!  This is going to be a great birthday party, so I better get some rest... 

Oh my pug, I'm up!  What a dream!  I was traveling the globe in my private jet with my frequent-flyer friends (Lola Pug, Sid, Suki, and Puglet) there to help show me the ropes!  Gampy better come through with his promise of a private jet for me tonight so I can visit ALL of my dear blogging friends, near and far!  My mom said not to hold my breath because Gampy promised her a pool a very, very long time ago and it never happened...although he says that my "training" pool from last summer counts.  Hmmm...yeah, good try, Gampy, but I'm not sure that cuts it.

Anyway, did mom just say it was almost time for my party?

I can taste the nomables already!

I should probably make sure everything is in order!

Mom, get your butt out of that chair and let's get to taste testing all the food before my special guests arrive!

Sheesh!  My work around here is never done.  I hope mom has it all together because I'm so excited!  I'll be sure to post pictures of my party and tell you all about it later this week.

Ok, enough about me.  Remember, this post is also my Comment-a-thon to help out Wilma's "Stuff My Doghouse" project that I told everyone about last Friday!

So please remember to leave a comment on this post today (March 21st) before the clock strikes midnight CST to help a good cause, specifically the Homeward Bound Pug Rescue and Adoption of Oklahoma!  And thanks to those of you who have already donated directly, especially those that said they would do so in my honor!

Love,
Payton

PS.  I just want to give a shout-out to Sid for the inspiration to visualize my dream using the Ken Burns effect!  If you haven't seen his studly potato video, it's a must!

Howdy Partners!

I'm so happy to be back at the reins of the blog again.  After my mom posted an update on my condition yesterday, I barked in my sleep, face-timed with Gammy and Gampy, and then when dad got home I grabbed a toy and chomped on the squeaker!  My energy level isn't quite back to normal and I have to catch my breath more often than before, but I am continuing to get stronger and feeling better.  I am so blessed to have such great friends, and I know it helps mom a lot to know so many are praying for me.  We will continue to keep you posted on my progress, and I will make sure that mom follows through on promises of extra treats.  Did she think that I wouldn't read my own blog?!?

Without further delay, let's talk adventure!  Some of you guessed right...Texas!

Just to warn you now, this post is going to be as big as Texas.  There is so much to talk about and my mom took a lot of pictures.  My adventure started Wednesday night when I had visitors.  I couldn't believe my eyes when Miss Tiffy Tippy Toes showed up at my door!  Tiffy took a tour of the house, but then we ended up in our usual hang out spot...the kitchen!

After a long drive south to see me, Tiffy was getting pretty tired and rested her pretty face on the table.

Don't you just love this picture of Tiffy with her momma?!?  We all had to get up early to set off for Texas (yes, Tiffy was going too!), so we headed outside for one last potty break.  Tiffy helped me patrol the perimeter, and then we synchronized our poops.  I only mention this because our peeps were excited about our mad skills.  Hehee!

Thursday morning, right after breakfast, we piled into our cars and took off.  Mom thought I'd go right to sleep since I usually do after breakfast, but all the excitement got to me and I wanted in front with dad.   

But I soon calmed down and was actually pretty good in the car.  Must have been because Tiffy brought walkie-talkies so we could stay in touch while driving.  It was a blast!  10-4 good buddy, roger that, over and out!  We are silly girls sometimes and had fun in the car.  I'll tell you what wasn't fun about our drive...cold and rainy!  Yep, it was utterly miserable.  Neither of us would cooperate during rest stops.  I held it in for almost the entire drive.  It's a good thing Tiffy got me 2 cool fleeces because I needed them on this trip for sure!  I will have to model them later, although you will see the pink one in upcoming pictures.

When we were almost at our destination (Dallas/Fort Worth), we broke up the caravan and parted ways with Tiffy and her peeps, but don't worry, I'll see her later in the weekend.

Our destination was none other than Gracie the Agility Pug's house!  And guess who else was there?  My good friend Suki!!  Everyone was waiting at the door to greet me, including Gracie's brother (and Suki's sweetheart), Arnie.  Dad passed out treats right away to make sure everyone would like me.

clockwise from top: me, Arnie, Suki, and Gracie

Lucky for us treat dispensing seemed to be a reoccuring theme at Gracie's house, or maybe it's just that we kept anticipating it which made group photos easy to get.

I also got to meet Levi, one of Gracie's other brothers.  You may see him in the photo above (naked pug to the right).  He is so talented and sneezes on command!  I didn't get to run around with sister Snap (a beautiful boxer), but I was completely mesmerized by her and kept watching her through the gate.

Suki handed out presents.  Look how beautifully wrapped it is, with a homemade picture tag!

I was too preoccupied being at a new place, meeting friends in the fur for the first time, that I didn't open it, but as soon as I feel much better, mom said she will take some pictures because she knows I will love it.  Mom and I, and especially our chauffeur, dad, were beat after a long drive so we called it a night and headed to the hotel.  Better get our sleep with all the activities planned for us.

I was so ready for fun and adventure Friday morning, but the weather was not cooperating.  It has been in the seventies almost all winter in Texas, but the two days we were there it was only in the fifties and was damp and rainy.  Yuck!  But we didn't come all this way to stay inside, so we all ventured out to the Stockyards (where there just happened to be a 1000 Pugs photo shoot) to meet up with a very famous pug.  But first we explored the area and there were plenty of spots for photo ops.

Gracie was so upset she had on a coat that she walked around with her head down.  She made us all laugh.  I don't like clothes either but it was too cold to not wear any.  My dad works for Wells Fargo, and since their logo is a stage coach, we are going to have the last picture framed for his desk.  If the weather had been better, we would have taken pictures with the cows and other cowboy things.  Oh, well.

Soon it was time for the pug party at the Love Shack restaurant!  All the 1000 Pugs crew was meeting there, but since the weather was so bad, the only other pug that joined us was THE PUG!  Mr. Puglet himself, in the fur!

After Pug demonstrated his super modeling poses, he joined us for lunch at the table.  In the photo below, from left to right, Gracie is completely focused on a cup of dressing that she will later spill all over, Arnie is watching dad's hand as he eats nachos, Suki is getting cold, and Pug is utterly depressed that his human is cheating on him.

But soon Miss Amanda comes to join us and tries to make it up to Pug by giving him a hamburger.  Half of one anyway, donated by Suki's mom.

Our jaws dropped to the floor in amazement.  Pug should totally enter an eating contest.  The rest of us finished our lunch at a slower pace and we enjoyed being able to talk and get to know each other.

Gracie and Arnie waiting for a few nibbles of Love Shack chicken fingers.

Soon it was time to head back to Gracie's place.  But mom got a picture with Pug before we said goodbye.

Yeah, I know.  What's up with that?  Shouldn't I have a picture with Pug?  We better remedy that in Milwaukee after my 1000 Pugs shoot!  Sheesh!

At Gracie's house, there was a break in the rain so we all headed outside to take care of business.  And then Gracie and Arnie gave us an agility demonstration.  Suki joined in too.  I guess I was inspired because even I leaped over the 8 inch jump!  I also went through the tunnel, scrunched up though.  None of the peeps had cameras to capture my athletic moments.  My mom always thought that if I hadn't got sick, I would have enjoyed agility and I think she's right.  We were all pretty tired from a long but fun day at the Stockyards so we all found a lap to take a nap.  Unfortunately for Suki, Gracie snagged her mom's lap before she could.

I just love the expression on Suki's face as she looks at Gracie sound asleep!  The 'rents had fun talking the rest of the evening, making plans for the next day, and enjoying a wonderful spread of foodables, while we dreamt about stealing said foodables.

On Saturday, we headed to another 1000 Pugs location, downtown McKinney.  It reminded me, mom and dad of Naperville, IL.  We had a lot of fun shopping.

And posing for a ton of pics that the peeps thought would be so cute and funny.  I should say that I look pretty rough and tough with my pink fleese in these pictures because at this point, dad had my harness under it.  Anyway, before we left, we were so lucky to run into Pug again!

It was time to leave McKinney, but we had another stop to make.  We were invited to hang out with Tiffy and the pugs from The Pugpant Chronicles!  It was a fabulous pug party and so great to meet even more friends in the fur!

Left to right: Tiffy, Annie, Hannah (hiding), Java, Howie, Suki, Arnie, me, and that's Gracie on top of the couch!

When we got back to Gracie's house, my coughing became more frequent.  I won't go into the stuff that my mom already talked about, but I just want to give a public shout out to Suki.  She kept checking on me to see if I was ok and told her mom that she thought something was wrong.  I love my friend Suki for caring so much about me.

Thanks to Gracie, Arnie, and Suki for showing me their great state!  I had a blast hanging with them and also seeing my girl Tiffy, The Pugpant gang, and last but not least, Puglet!  What a weekend this was!

Love,
Payton

Holiday Rewind...Chicago photo shoot and carriage ride

Before I tell you about the rest of my "pug in the city" fun, I've got two things.  First, thanks for all the nice thoughts and comments regarding my recent PDE check-up results.  You all are great!  And second, I just can't wait any longer to talk about 1000 Pugs! 

I can hardly stand the excitement and anticipation for my chance to pose for THE Nikon, held by the one and only Amanda (Pug's human and his thumbs for The Daily Puglet)!  I am going to be one of the 1000!  My mom was able to help sign me up for the shoot in Milwaukee.  Which means I also get to go to Pug Fest!  You may have noticed a new feature on my right side bar for 1000 Pugs.  If you are going to be in Milwaukee for the photo shoot and/or Pug Fest, click on the side bar picture and email me!  I'm trying to organize a informal pug blog party.  Won't that be fun?  And to make things even more enticing, I think Gampy may be there too!

Ok, this does tie back with my recent adventures in Chicago.  While we were downtown, mom wanted to take advantage of the great scenery and take pictures for the December Shoot Your Own Pug contest for 1000 Pugs.  The theme was winter wearables.  We headed over to the Water Tower.

Mom thought this was a perfect excuse to break out my Pug Snuggly coat, matching Chilly Beanie (hat), and scarf.  Technically, the scarf is my mom's but she was no nice to let me borrow it.  Did everyone get my sarcasm there?  It was quite a sight to behold.  Mom was lying on the ground trying to juggle the camera while this "decked to the nines" pug was looking around trying to get the attention of strangers who might rescue me from the embarrassment.  I think dad was pretending he didn't know us.

Excuse me, sir.  Will you take pity on this pug?

How much more of this do I have to take?

I think we have a winner!

Well, we didn't win with the picture above, but we thought it turned out great!  Believe it or not, I was actually getting cold despite having on so many layers!  So we headed back to the hotel, but stopped quickly to take a few more in front of this mini Christmas tree.

Later on that evening, after all three of us had thawed out from the cold, we ventured out again to the Water Tower.  The lights were so pretty.

I wasn't sure what my peeps had in store because we were just standing around...waiting.  I guess it wasn't too bad.  The wind was blowing, but I was all bundled up and getting lots of attention from passers by and others in line, so that was good.  We kept hearing, "Does that pug have on a hat?"  Then a carriage pulled up and we got in!

It was so much fun.  We rode down Michigan Ave and even on Lake Shore Drive.  All of the lights were so pretty!  The driver was nice to take a picture of us. 

Mom wanted to get some ice cream from Ghirardelli (which is right across from the Water Tower), but dad and I thought she was mad.  Well, I was hungry of course, but I didn't want her to get some because I knew I couldn't have any.  So we just called it a night.  Just as well, because coming up next was New Year's Eve, and I wanted to see that ball drop!  So stay tuned tomorrow and see if I make it to midnight!

Love,
Payton