ARF! Christmas is almost here!

Hi there!  It has been a bit since this pup posted, but I assure you that I am stuffed, alive, and barking!  I have just been busy trying to get ready for the holidays (and admittedly, watching too much ESPN Sportscenter).  I thought I would get caught up on life after the college football season ended, but alas this puppy was pooped and slept a good bit.

Now, I find myself freaking out because Christmas is almost here!  Beyond the excitement of getting presents, I find myself struggling to figure out what presents to get for everyone.  Mom and Dad aren't too hard, but what in the world do you get a big green gator, a purple seal, and a small blue bear?  I have absolutely no idea.

Well, that isn't entirely true.  I thought of some good gifts, such as a giant toothbrush for Gomar and a small gymnastics mat for Blue Bear to practice his somersaults, but for Seal I have absolutely zero ideas.  Every single time that I have attempted to ask him about what he would like, he merely looks me in the eye and says "Fish" or a slight variation on the phrase, "Fish Free of Walrus."  I am not even sure exactly what that second part means.  I've been trying to watch him in the grocery store when we go with Dad, but lately he appears to just enjoy sitting in the tuna aisle - maybe I'll get him a can of tuna or something similar.

Is anyone else struggling to figure out what to get people for the Christmas holidays?  Please tell me that I am not the only one worried about barking up the wrong tree when it comes to gift giving!

Stuffed Dogs Can Eat Chocolate, Real Dogs Should Not

I learned an interesting fact today as I was munching on a delicious chocolate bar.  As a stuffed dog that was wished to life, I enjoy some pretty good advantages over those puppies that are born, and today I discovered that one of those advantages is that I get to enjoy delicious chocolate whenever I want.  Apparently, the same cannot be said for real pups.

In fact, some have said that chocolate can actually be likened to poison for real K-9's, and that they should avoid it absolutely.  Before you howl in disbelief, let me tell you what I learned.

Chocolate, beyond being absolutely delicious, contains caffeine and theobromine, two different types of stimulants that both affect the central nervous system and the heart.  These stimulants also make dogs have to visit the fire hydrant more often as well.  Dogs are apparently highly sensitive to the these stimulants, and although a very small amount probably won't hurt, once toxic levels are reached real problems develop.  Some of the symptoms that man's best friend have to deal with can be as mild as the aforementioned increase in the frequency of urination, restlessness, muscle twitches, and even excessive panting.  While those may not sound too bad, they are often the precursors of a seizure, or worse, death!

I know, who knew that chocolate could be so dangerous?  We all have to do our parts to protect the puppies of the world, and in line with this I am willing to take all of your chocolate off of your hands so that you do not have to worry about your dog accidentally ingesting it.  If you see me walking around New York City, please feel free to approach me and give me all of your chocolate, as I am happy to help out in this capacity.

Protect your pups!  Give your chocolate to Podar!

Bleh Tigers! Go Dawgs!

Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone!  I am a bit late in writing, mainly because I ate too much turkey and then overslept by a good bit today.  If you think cat naps are intense, then dog naps take it to the next level indeed.

So, I am getting pretty excited about football, as both of my teams are looking to have an exciting postseason.  Virginia Tech plays tomorrow, where they will hopefully dog the University of Virginia team, and Georgia plays Georgia Tech.

However, before those games even happen, it looks the #13 ranked Bulldogs (GO DAWGS!) are going to be playing the #1 ranked team in the land for the SEC Championship on December 3rd down in Atlanta.  I am eagerly begging every chance I get for an opportunity to go to the game, and it looks like it is a good possibility that I am going to get to go check it out.  I am so excited!  Even if I don't get to go, I think it is very exciting for my fellow dogs to be playing the number one team in the nation.

Interestingly, because of the way everything has been working out, it looks like that Dawgs could actually help the Hokies into the national championship game.  Depending on how it works out, if the Bulldogs beat LSU, Virginia Tech wins out, and Oklahoma State loses to Oklahoma, it could well open the door for the Hokies to play.  If Virginia Tech wins later today, after Arkansas's loss on Friday, then the Hokies should be ranked #4 in the BCS Standings.  If OSU loses, that would make them #3.  Then, if VT wins out, beating the other Tigers,  and LSU loses... WOW!  #2 and playing in the title game!!!

Wishful thinking?  Maybe.  Time will tell!  GO DAWGS! GO HOKIES!

Chasing Cars Versus the Chase for the Nascar Sprint Cup

Like most dogs, I enjoy chasing cars.  There is something thrilling about chasing that big metal monster, and hearing the rumble of its engine as it attempts to get away from my ferocious bite.  I love to run until my little puppy legs run out of gas (or the car does), and it is a very exciting activity to engage in (of course, my dad isn't a big fan of me chasing cars, but what do humans know about the thrill of hunting the metal dragon on wheels).

Today, I got to see another great chase.  The final race of the Nascar Sprint Cup series was on today, and it was a great event to watch.  If you haven't been paying attention the way this puppy has, I'll give you a short recap.  Two drivers entered the day separated by three points, and they have racing each other hard for the last eleven races leading up to today's final competition.  One driver, Carl Edwards, has been the most consistent,, but the other driver, Tony Steward had won more races (four total).  Today promised to be quite the exciting finish to the series, and it wasn't disappointing.

After falling all the way to fortieth position due to some damage to his car, and after Carl Edwards had led almost 190 laps, Stewart managed to roar back to the front of the race and ended up winning the whole thing.  Edwards finished right behind him, which led to a very unique finish to the whole series.  It had to be decided by a tiebreaker, which meant that whomever had won the most races during the Chase (the last 12 races) would win the whole thing.

You got it!  As I alluded to above, Stewart after winning today ended up with five victories for the season, and thus won the Sprint Cup.  Amazing!

Also, on a completely random note, watching cars drive around the track makes me think of a dog chasing its tail.  Round and round they go, where they stop no one knows! Arf!

Hokies, Cowboys, and Tiger

WOO HOO!  The Virginia Tech Hokies won again this week, making me one happy tail-wagging puppy! It looks like my favorite team, despite that early loss to Clemson, is going to have a great chance to win the ACC again this year.  If they win their game versus the University of Virginia (or the University of Virginia loses this weekend), then the Hokies will win their division of the ACC and get to play in the ACC Championship Game.  Now I think this is a very interesting game, because VT is going to be playing the hated Clemson Tiger (yuck cats!), and they will have the chance to avenge their prior loss.

Even more interesting is that the Oklahoma State Cowboys, one of the last three undefeated teams in college football, lost earlier on Friday to Iowa State.  The number two OSU team losing has cleared the path for a one-loss team to now play in the BCS Championship.  Everyone is talking about the SEC teams or Oregon, but this puppy believes that it is possible for a one-loss ACC team to leapfrog into the game.  After all, if things continue as they are moving now, it looks like Clemson will be number five or six and Virginia Tech will be ranked six or seven in the BCS rankings, which will allow the winner of that game a great boost in the computer rankings.  I've got my paws crossed that Virginia Tech can pull it off, and perhaps get that elusive national championship that Frank Beamer and the Hokies desperately long for.

Speaking of Clemson made me think of another tiger.  Tiger Woods, after finishing third and actually leading at some point in his last tournament, has been playing in the President's Cup this week.  So far, he has been playing poorly, losing three of four matches.  The only news about his performance that has actually made some headlines is the fact that he shook hands with his former caddy.  Big deal.  I learned to shake hands as a very young puppy, and I assure you that it just isn't that hard.

Excited for more college football this weekend!

Frosty Paws

I saw a great quote today: "Frosty Paws can teach an old dog new licks."  Now, I'll be the first to admit that I am not a big fan of the old saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" (in fact, I posted about this yesterday), but I have to say that from an advertising perspective that is a very clever line.

Frosty Paws are the frozen ice cream treat that is made specifically for dogs, and they are absolutely delicious.  Purina makes them, and they can be found in almost every grocery store across the United States now.

It is nice to see people catering to dogs as we have very unique tastes.  Most people assume that because we occasionally eat our own vomit that we will eat anything and don't care about taste, but that is absolutely not true (just in case you were wondering, we don't like to eat our own vomit either, but they are reasons we do it).  Dogs actually care about tastes a lot, which should make sense if you just take a moment and think about it.

Most of the "taste" that people get from food is actually from the ol' sniffer, not from the tongue.  The tongue can really only detect bitter, salt, sour, and sweet - the rest of what people commonly refer to as taste comes from the olfactory organ, your nose!  Now, if you expound out from this a bit, you will realize that with a dog's superior sniffer that our sense of taste is also greatly enhanced.  We are secret gourmets!

So the next time you see a puppy at the table begging for some bacon or other delicious food, do not tell them to get away or pour them a bowl of dog food.  Share your tasty treat with someone who will truly appreciate it and we will love you forever!

Why Do They Call It "Being in the Doghouse"?

Today I was thinking about all of the negative human expressions that men and women use to express bad things in their life.  For example, it really bothers me when I hear humans use the expression, "so-and-so is really in the doghouse" to refer to someone being in trouble.  The expression has all kinds of negative connotations in the human world, but really it makes very little sense.  Take it from a pup who knows!

After all, I love being in the doghouse!  This place is great!  I can use my laptop, watch television, listen to music, run around, play with Gomar, Blue Bear, and Seal, or just kick back and chew on a bone.  Being in the doghouse is freaking awesome!

I therefore propose to humans the expression "being in the doghouse" no longer be used to imply that someone is in trouble, has done something bad, or in general is not in a good place with another person.  Instead, I suggest that the expression be used to refer to someone being all set in life.  Example: "Wow, check out that guy!  He has his life together... really in the doghouse!"

I think that this change in expression would really help people stop looking down on dogs' homes, which are just as varied and unique as human homes.  Instead of always referring to a dog's house in a negative manner, perhaps this positive change would make people think more highly of other phrases as well.  "Working like a dog" could become a positive expression instead of one that makes humans shudder and tuck their metaphorical tails.  "Can't teach an old dog new tricks" could come to stand for the proposition that wisdom is gained with years, and that youngsters cannot get away with things.  "His bark is worse than his bite" could come to represent the eloquence of a speaker, instead of the cowardly connotations that it currently has.

Plus, we would avoid hurting the feelings and making puppies around the world from learning to think in bad ways about themselves, their lives, their homes, and their species.  Don't you think this is a worthwhile goal?

Go Dawgs!

There is nothing quite so satisfying as watching some dogs take on some cats and come out victorious!  I just got done watching my University of Georgia Bulldogs defeat the Auburn Tigers, which means that as long as they can defeat one more pesky feline foe, they will play in the SEC Championship Game - so you better watch out Kentucky Wildcats!  Here come the Dawgs!

In other football watching news, despite being colorblind, even this puppy can tell that the Boise State field is ugly.  I hear it is a terrible shade of blue, and I think it might be time to give up on that gimmick.  A green field is good enough for everyone else, and if the score remains the same out there (undefeated Boise State down by 1 after a two point conversion by their opponent), the grass will truly be greener on the other side.  Boise State was saved late in the game by a pass interference call on four and ten, and as I write this with my furious typing paws, Boise State is lining up for a field goal to win the whole game - and missed it!!!  They are now out of the ranks of the unbeaten, and hopefully mean that the Hokies at least move up in the ranks (Georgia, having lost to Boise State to start this year, probably won't gain much position-wise with the loss).

Gomar is pretty upset today, as the Florida Gators once again lost another football game, this time losing to a bunch of fowl, the Gamecocks of the University of South Carolina (the USC of the east coast).  Florida just continues to play worse and worse, and I fear that Gomar might not have much to root for as time goes on.

I'm excited to keep on watching the rest of the night, as I get to watch Stanford take on Oregon, in what is a must-win for Stanford if they have any chance of winning (or even playing in) a national championship game.

Humans Have Weird Ideas

Tonight, I saw one of the stranger things that humans have had ideas about new ways of doing.  They held a basketball game on a boat under the sky.  What in the world were they thinking?

For starters, if it rains, the court will get wet.  If there is a fire, people have to jump into the water.  Plus, the boat was not even moving, so a friendly pooch could not even enjoy a nice breeze if he were in attendance.

Everyone seemed to love the idea though.  The President of the United States, who is like a pack leader for humans, was in attendance along with his wife, and my favorite sports station carried the game live.  North Carolina played Michigan State, and of course I was rooting for UNC because they have an animal mascot (Go Tarheels!).  The game wasn't very interesting, although there were a few moments where Michigan State made things interesting for a bit, and I find my attention wandering a bit as I began scanning the crowd looking to see if any dogs or cats were in attendance (I never saw one).

Watching the basketball game did make me ponder if I could ever get a college scholarship to play hoops.  I am fast, and I can bounce a ball off my snout after watching Air Bud, so maybe there is a chance...

Speaking of Air Bud, is it me, or is that guy crazy good at all sports?  How in the world did he learn to play them all in such a short period of time?  Phenomenal!

Hokies win!

ARF!  I got to watch a very exciting football game tonight as the Virginia Tech Hokies took on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in what was essentially a play-off game for both teams.  The winner was in a strong position to win the ACC Coastal Division - the loser pretty much done.  It was a very exciting game, and the true turning point in the game occurred in the third quarter when one of the Georgia Tech players took a swing at the Hokies quarterback, giving the Hokies a much needed first down.

After that, it was game over, and Virginia Tech won!!!  It looks like they are headed for a rematch with the team that handed them their only defeat this season, as apparently they will be meeting Clemson in Charlotte for a rematch to determine who is headed to the automatic berth in the BCS Bowl.  Exciting times to be sure!

You know what else was nice about tonight?  ESPN was finally talking about something besides Joe Paterno.  Now this puppy doesn't follow Penn State, but I am not a big fan of any cats or lions to start with, so that is not surprising.  What is surprising is the crazy students up there acting like the worst thing that has ever happened to them is occurring right now with the firing of Paterno.  Wake up kids!  Football is a game, and although it is easy to get excited and bark and pant for you team, there are bigger things in life and this will pass.

Hump Day

How in the world did Wednesday's become known as "hump day" and better yet, why has the name stuck?  When originally I was pondering this question earlier today, I thought for sure that it had something to do with the sexual tendencies of canines, but alas I found out that it is only American-English slang referring to Wednesday falling in the middle of the typical M-F work week.  If you look at the week as a hill, one you are past Wednesday it is all down hill from there, according to a random person I asked about this today.

This does not make much sense to me.  Maybe they should call it hill day, since it is at the top of the so-called week.  I mean, it isn't really a hump in the sense that it is referred to.  When have you ever heard anyone reach the top of a hill or mountain and say - we made it to the hump!  It just makes very little sense to this puppy, and I think that calling it hump day denotes a lot of connotations that might be confusing for all of the dogs of the world.

I mean, if I go to the park on a Wednesday and some other dog is confused about what day it is, I could be in for a lot of embarrassing moments and even some awkward running by yours truly.  Let's clear this up for dogs everywhere and stop calling this day 'Hump Day'.  Hill Day makes much more sense, and would be easier to understand.  Heck, even mountain day would be better.

Poker Superstar?

I'm lying here watching the World Series of Poker Championship on ESPN, where two mens whose names I cannot pronounce are battling head's up for the championship.  Staszko and Heinz have been going at it for awhile here, and I'm really not certain who I think is playing the best.  If I were to pick a winner, I would go with the older gentleman - Staszko, but what do I know.

I have been thinking the whole time that my future career might involve being a poker puppy.  It looks like a great job - sit at a table, look at some cards, make some money, and then go on and do it all over again.  I could get a pair of cool sunglasses, a hooded sweatshirt, and I would have a huge advantage over all of the human players - I have a better nose.  I could smell when they were bluffing, when they were scared, when they were confident, and I bet that this would give me a huge advantage at the table.  Plus, the fact that I have paws instead of hands would prevent me from doing weird and annoying tricks with the chips (something I hate watching on television).

The format that ESPN has switched to this year is interesting, in that they seem to be showing every single hand.  Most of the former coverage has always involved choice hands, but they seem intent on dragging it out by showing each and every hand (which I'm sure they normally do in head's up, but still it is dragging on and on).  I think this is where I would have trouble in a poker tournament.  I have very little patience, and plus I would have to go find a tree pretty often - it would be tough for me to sit at table for that long (although it would be nice to sit at a table without someone telling me dogs do not belong at the table).

Anyways, hopefully this game ends soon so I can get back to sliding on my belly across the carpet.

I Spy With My Eye

You know what I have noticed about New York City?  There are a lot of parades!  Most of the time, I just hear a lot of sirens, some people hollering, and the occasional chanting, clapping, and screaming, but really I have no idea what is going on.  I do not really understand why everyone needs to have a parade.  If I have a message that I want to get out, I tend to just howl out the window to make my voice heard, but I guess that human beings might be a bit different.

"Are you ready for some football?"  That is what the guy on television asks me all of the time, and the answer is a resounding yes.  As I sit here and chew my tennis ball, I am happy to report that one of my favorite teams, the Virginia Tech Hokies, are now in the top 10 of the BCS standings (right behind Clemson).  The Hokies can maintain their position or likely move up with a victory over #22 Georgia Tech this week, but they will have to be careful - that is the same team that surprised Clemson and destroyed their national title aspirations.

Speaking of the BCS, Alabama, despite losing to LSU, only fell one spot in the rankings.  Now granted, the game was close and a great battle, but we have undefeated teams out there - how does Boise win and not move up at all?  Sadly, it seems like Boise State will once again be overlooked in terms of the chance to play in the national championship, no matter how many wins they have.  Their best best is for the University of Georgia (go Dawgs!) to keep winning, and for TCU to put together a pretty good streak before they play them, but things are looking grim.

Now I just have to be a patient puppy, and wait for some Monday Night Football to get here.  The Philadelphia Eagles are playing tonight, and I'm barking for them all the way!

Dawgs Love Hawgs!

WOO HOO!  Today, my favorite Dawgs, the University of Georgia Bulldogs, crushed New Mexico State 63-16 in its homecoming game, helping the #18 team in the nation continue on its quest to achieve a Top 10 ranking after a shaky start.  This puppy's tail was wagging as the UGA quarterback, Aaron Murray, threw for FIVE touchdowns in a single quarter!  It made this pup wish I was playing fetch with him, he was so accurate.

However, the good news for UGA didn't end there, as the #7 Arkansas Razorbacks "The Hogs/Hawgs" toppled #9 South Carolina, leaving the doggie-door open for UGA to win the SEC East.  Of course, UGA still has to win-out, and South Carolina could make things interesting by defeating the University of Florida in their matchup.  If UGA does win out, it could set up a very interesting SEC Championship game, where the Dawgs would likely take on the number one team in the country, LSU.

So, for all of those hating on the Dawgs at the beginning of the season, this puppy hopes that you have been paying attention.  The University of Georgia couldn't mark their territory in the SEC East any better (without peeing on it of course - which I always think is a good idea), and hopefully I will get to keep barking all the way into a big BCS game.  Go Dawgs!

Seal Gives a Lecture

Today was an odd day.  My brother Seal invited us all to attend a lecture that he had prepared.  This was odd for several reasons, the first of which is that I didn't even know Seal could read or write.  Secondly, Seal inviting us to a lecture was a bit shocking, as to the best of my knowledge his activities normally include swimming, sleeping, and eating.  Last, I kept trying to figure out how Seal got access to a building and classroom to give us a lecture.  It was a bit strange.

When we arrived, Seal had a whiteboard all set up and a place for us all to sit.  His lecture was unsurprisingly about what we should have for dinner tonight, and also unsurprisingly, Seal wanted us to eat fish.

Now I'm a meat eating puppy, but fish is not exactly my favorite meal. However, since Seal went to so much trouble in order to get us to have fish for dinner, it seemed only right to do so.

In case you were wondering, the sum of his lecture was "Fish is good", and a rundown on the types of fish that he likes to eat.

I still cannot figure out how he got access to a classroom though, or where he learned to right.  I guess Seal will continue to surprise us as time goes on.

Almost Saturday...

Like the old song, this puppy is living for the weekend.  There are so many great games in college football, and I cannot wait for Saturday to get here.  The top match-ups are ridiculous good and filled with a lot of implications, so I am very excited to watch.

First and foremost, it is number one versus number two as LSU takes on SEC rival Alabama.  After the tornado ravaged Alabama last year, it is nice to see the national spotlight focused on Tuscaloosa and the community doing so well.  This game will have huge implications, as the winner as an excellent shot at participating in the national championship (unless the SEC East surprises them in the SEC Championship).

Speaking of the SEC, this dog is excited about another game this week as well.   with #7 Arkansas squaring off against #9 South Carolina.  South Carolina needs to win this game to maintain control of the SEC East over the University of Georgia, and Arkansas needs to win to have a prayer in the SEC West.  This should be an excellent match-up between two powerhouses.

Speaking of the SEC, if you look across the national landscape and at the top 25 rankings, it is amazing how strong the conference looks this year.  Once again, the SEC dominates the national spotlight.

Not to bark without speaking of my favorite team in the SEC, the Georgia Bulldogs are playing the New Mexico State Aggies out of the WAC (wack!), and need to be careful about overlooking this game as they attempt to continue salvaging their season after their disappointing start (losing to Boise State and South Carolina).

In the ACC, I'll be watching Virginia Tech versus Georgia Tech.  VT hasn't been playing well lately, and GT is coming off a huge upset win over Clemson, and this could be the game that defines the rest of the year for both of these teams.

It will be a tail-wagging good weekend, and I haven't even talked about the Big 10 or PAC (whatever number it is now) yet.  Can't wait! ARF!

Rabies Shots

So today I was gnawing on a bone and thinking about whether dogs in NYC needed to get rabies shots.  After all, extremely sad movies like the Old Yeller and such indicate that it is important, but these movies are a bit dated.

After some careful thought, it is my opinion that dogs do indeed DESPERATELY need to get rabies shots.  I mean, think about all that NYC has to offer - angry pigeons, hungry rats, crazy squirrels (or are they nuts?), and a variety of other wildlife that is out there.  It may be the city, but it is no less dangerous than any farm or forest, so it is important to make sure that your pups get their shots.

Speaking of shots, is it me, or are shots a bit expensive to get when compared with the cost of manufacture?  After all, the rabies vaccine has been out for a good while, and it seems to me that the effort of preparing one needle, inserting it in my rump, and then squeezing isn't all that expensive of a process, yet the costs seem to indicate that they may be injecting liquid gold into me.

Humans are always griping about the costs of health care, but let's not forget man's best friend!  We should concentrate on keeping the costs down for dogs as well, because all of that money tends to come from the same pocket, and we don't want our cute cuddly companions going without proper medical care now do we?

My Brother Has a Blog Now - The Adventures of Blue Bear

Well, it's official, my brother Blue Bear now has a blog, unsurprisingly entitled "The Adventures of Blue Bear."  I suppose that it is a great compliment that he is trying to keep up with his big brother and write his own blog, but at the same time it is annoying because now I have to share laptop time with him.  This is a bit of a problem because although I am somewhat of a slow typer, Blue Bear is 100 times worse as he likes to perform a flip between keystrokes (I know, it doesn't make sense to me either).  So, despite imitation being the greatest compliment, I fear for the future of my blog.

He has some unique ideas for his blog, wanting to take pictures all over the place, but more important to him is that he gets to share his favorite jokes each day.  I heard him telling one to Gomar earlier, and today being Halloween and all, I am sure that whatever it was the he posted has something to do with ghosts, goblins, skeletons, or spirits - his sense of humor is a bit out there a bit.

In other news, my apartment building is a bit weird today as all of these kids are running around celebrating Halloween.  Personally, I think it is awesome, but no one will let me out the door to go get candy, as apparently free chocolate is bad for dogs (I already snuck a piece, and it seemed fine to me).  So instead, I get to put my nose to the door and bark at the occasional child wandering by the door.  I would rather see all of the cool costumes, but the smells are pretty delicious.

Speaking of smells, I walked around the route for the NYC Halloween parade today, and despite the cold weather, it looks like there is going to be a great turnout this evening.  I'm looking forward to watching the parade go by and seeing all of the crazy costumes.

Oh well, time to continue my countdown to Monday Night Football. Happy Halloween everyone!

Victory for the Dawgs!

So, as you may or may not be aware, but yesterday there was a big game in the SEC in college football, as arch-rivals the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the University of Florida played.  Now, as you may have guessed, in our family Gomar root for the Gators, and I of course root for the Dawgs.

I am happy to report today that UGA pulled off a fantastic victory down in Jacksonville, and after a bit of a drought, has tasted the sweetness of victory yet again!  Did I mention that Gomar and I had a bet on the game?  Guess who is going to be sleeping on the couch tonight?

The whole day was a pretty good one for a pooch who loves his sports.  I got to watch the hated Clemson Tigers go down (boo cats in general), but also got to watch the Virginia Tech Hokies win.  VT didn't play that great of a game against the questionable talents of Duke University, but they managed to get the job done.

Another great game that I watched that went late into the night was the Stanford versus the University of Southern California game.  I'll have to admit that despite not being a big fan of either, the game was highly entertaining, and the triple overtime victory for Stanford really did a lot for Andrew Luck's Heisman hopes.

Time for this puppy to get back to watching some NFL games - I've already watched the hapless Colts lose, and miserable Miami fell behind yet again.  It seems like the true competition in the NFL is to see which team gets to draft #1.

Why Aren't There More Dog Mascots in Baseball?

I am curled up chewing on a bone, watching the World Series, and I find myself thinking about something regarding baseball.  Why aren't there more Major League teams with dog mascots?

For example, the teams in the World Series are called the Rangers and the Cardinals, and I find nothing very intimidating about that.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I enjoy a dead bird as much as the next stuffed dog, but how scary is it to face the Cardinals?  The same thing goes with the Rangers... all I can think of is the Power Rangers, and they are not exactly what anyone would consider scary either.

No, I think a good mascot would be some type of ferocious dog.  It would probably intimidate the other team greatly, and there could be a ton of great press every time the opposing team comes to town.  After all, what dog wouldn't enjoy chewing on the opposing teams hat, peeing in the visiting dugout, or barking and chasing runners who attempted to go to first base?  Plus, if you had a guard dog aka mascot guarding home plate, you wouldn't even need a catcher because no one would dare to ever run there.

Call this puppy loco, but I think it is time for there to be more dog mascots in baseball!

Lassie?

In one of my previous posts, I think I referred to dressing as Lassie for Halloween this year.  I did a little random research and discovered something interesting regarding my television hero, and that is this startling fact:

Even though the character Lassie is a female dog, every single dog that ever played this famous canine was a male!  Imagine my shock upon learning this today!  I could not believe it, so I did some further research and it turns out that it is true!

The reasons for this use of a male dog were somewhat interesting.  Most of it appears to have been for purely cosmetic reasons, as a male dog has a thicker and glossier fur coat than a female (at least in the summer), so the directors and producers all thought that it looked better on television.  Can you imagine?

Another reason for the use of a male dog involves the ol' dog years phenomenon.  As we all know, dogs mature faster than their human counterparts, and the fact that a male collie is bigger than a female collie meant that it would help keep the human support staff (aka actors and actresses) looking younger for longer if they used a male dog.

Is it me, or is this absolutely mind-blowing to you as well?  I mean, for all of this time I thought I was admiring the heroic actions of a heroine canine, and instead I find that I have been tricked!  You would think I would have known better.  Sadness in the Podar house today.

Blue Bear Loves Waffles

It has been a while since I have posted a picture on my blog, but when I encountered Blue Bear eating breakfast this morning I felt obligated to post this picture.  Now, as you may have noticed, Blue Bear is rather small, but that doesn't stop him from eating a lot of waffles.  His preference is maple syrup, but he also loves blueberries (or as says Blue Bearies) on his waffles.  This morning I observed him eating in what was quite an interesting manner.  He balances on a fork, and then uses his bodyweight to catapult the waffle high into the air (making a mess all over in the process).  He then runs under the waffle, opening his mouth, and attempts to catch a bit of the waffle in his mouth.

Yeah, I know, it does not seem like the best use of a fork, but it is what he chooses to do.

I have often pondered what would happen if I help Blue Bear realize one of his life dreams, which is going fishing for Salmon in a river in Alaska.  I can only imagine how he might attempt to fish, be it with  pole or paw, but either way I bet it would be a sight to see.

Speaking of fishing, don't even get me started on Seal's rambles about going fishing.  His fear of walruses is somewhat bordering on the insane, as he refuses to accept that there are no walruses in NYC outside of zoos.  His paranoia rules him, and he constantly references walrus attacks whenever he stops somersaulting.

Gomar remains silent, but I think he too would enjoy a good fishing trip, although he prefers to do so in the Florida Everglades.

Ah, family.

Chase cats? Why not?

Today, I was thinking about one of a canine's favorite past-times, the chasing of the cat.  Sometimes, I see television shows where people berate their dogs for chasing after those meowing little furballs, and I cannot help but ask myself why they bother.  After all, in today's world, with animal obesity being on the rise (not to mention childhood obesity, adult obesity, and pretty much any other kind of obesity that anyone can think of, it makes perfect sense to chase something.

I mean, think of children and what they do when they are young.  They chase each other!  Whether it is football, basketball, tag, running from cooties, they all involve one person chasing and the other person trying to get away.  It only makes sense that we should be encouraging dogs to chase cats, and thus provide exercise for both parties.  Also, motivation issues won't be there, because the dog will definitely want to chase the cat, and the cat will definitely want to get away, so it is a win-win for both parties involved.  Also, it is a safe activity for man's best friend, especially when compared to chasing cars, lawnmowers, or helicopters.  It is also really great for cats, who need to do something besides bat a ball of yarn around or lazily attempt to catch a slow moving butterfly.

Yes my friends, it is clear that we should encourage pups to chase cats, in order to ensure the cardiovascular benefits accumulate for both, and that people should stop berating their dogs for doing what comes naturally.  After all, the health benefits cannot be ignored.

Twitter: The New Bark?

Hi everyone!  Exciting news from your favorite pooch, as I now have a Twitter account.  That is right, you can now follow all of my barks, growls, snarls, and whimpers live!  You can check it out at Adventures of Podar.

Now, I am not sure this is necessary, but then again I feel compelled to keep up with the demands of technology.  After all, if I am going to have a blog, then I suppose it also makes sense that this puppy have a Twitter account as well.  Is Facebook next?  Stay tuned.

Moving back to my previous post, I still have not decided on a Halloween costume.  Gomar and I were looking at a NYC Halloween website today, and when we were trying to figure out what to do that entire weekend, he came upon a potentially brilliant idea.  He suggested that he, Seal, Blue Bear, and I all go dressed as each other!  Can you imagine how funny that would be?  This would also be a little easier, as if you recall, I already have my fake gator tail ready to go.

We didn't come to any decisions, as I had also been thinking about going as the Disney character Goofy.  I've been practicing my impression of his voice all day today, and I must say that I think I could do a pretty good job of impersonating that lovable character.

I'm going to head out into the city tonight and check out this new fire hydrant, so I will catch up with you later!  Follow me on Twitter, and make sure to leave me some suggestions about what to be for Halloween!

NYC Halloween

This puppy was highly concerned about where to go and what to do on Halloween, but thanks to a fabulous NYC Halloween site, that is no longer an issue.  So, instead of worrying about barking up the wrong tree and showing up at a party I wouldn't send my worst feline friend to, now I only have to worry about finding a costume that suits this hot dog.

Today, I was thinking about going as Lassie.  I know that sounds a bit cliche, and there are probably a lot of stuffed animals that have already been there and done that, but there is just something heroic and loyal about that dog that really inspires me to want that to be my costume.  Then again, I have no desire to rescue anyone who has fallen down a well, sewer, or subway grate in New York City, so perhaps I had better rethink my choice of costume a bit more.

In other news, the weather has started to turn chilly here in NYC, and I am happy to report that my fur coat is not getting thicker.  I know this may seem like the opposite of what you might think, as it would make sense to stay warm, but I like my current sleek look, and this also means that I won't have to worry about shedding in the Spring.  ARF!

Well folks, that is all for this evening.  I am going to continue to ponder what to wear for my first Halloween in New York City, and hopefully come up with a really cool costume.  I wonder if I could paint myself white and go as Brian from Family Guy... there is an idea!

Podar's College Football Update

Another weekend of college football has come and gone, and this puppy is happy to report that his Hokies won yet another game.  It felt a bit closer with Wake Forest than it actually was, but I still found myself panting a bit in the second half.  Other notable games this weekend in the ACC included Clemson's comeback on Maryland (which this puppy only cares about because every Clemson win makes Virginia Tech look better because of that crappy loss).  North Carolina almost staged a nice comeback, but fell short despite their successful onside kick.

In terms of the top five in the nation, things pretty much remained the same as they all won, although number six nearly ran into some problems with Texas.  Number seven Stanford won, and I cannot help but wonder if this is the week that they pass number five Boise State - they just have so much hype around a certain Heisman trophy candidate.  Wisconsin also looked amazing this week, but unfortunately the old Michigan team showed up on Saturday, leading Michigan State to a rather dominating win in that traditional rivalry.

I still think that it is going to come down to a Big 12 team and an SEC team, but I will say that I would love if an ACC team could make the national championship this year.  If everything goes well, this puppy will be headed to at least one bowl game to enjoy some fabulous holiday sports fun!

Pause Your Paws

This is truly not a dog's world!

Today I was looking at a DVD player and noticed that the word "pause" was written on it.  Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but it did get me thinking about the spelling of the word "pause" and wondering why it isn't "paws"?  After all, dogs have surely been around longer than DVD players.

I did some further research, and discovered that the first use of the word "pause" supposedly occurred during the 15th century by the English.  Now, I know for sure that dogs have been around longer than that, so this leads to one inescapable conclusion.  THE ENGLISH SETTERS are responsible.  Honestly, I would have expected the french poodles to be behind it, but if the use of the word pause instead of paws occurred in England, then clearly the blame lies with them.

Okay, fine, I'll admit that I'm not really upset about the words pause/paws.  I'm more upset about the Detroit Tigers winning the baseball game tonight.  Can you believe that a bunch of cats might go play in the Word Series?  Not to mention that the Detroit Lions are undefeated at the moment...

Clearly, cats are trying to take over the world!!!

Why do they call it the doggy paddle?

So this may seem like yet another random question, but I cannot help but wonder why they call a dog's swimming stroke "the doggy paddle."  After all, they don't call an elephant swimming the "elephant paddle", and when a cat swims, you never hear the term "cat paddle."  Where in the world did the term originate, and why did it stick?

It should be called something cooler, but I cannot think of a good name.  I will say, however, that I wish I could do the backstroke.  It looks more fun than hanging your head out of a moving car!

This may seem like a random post, but Seal has been bragging all night about what a great swimmer he is, and Gomar has been arguing with him about how gators are superior to seals in the water and on land.  Blue Bear has had no comment, other than to do 7 somersaults and giggle like a maniac.

Gotta love the family!

Should Dogs Wear Clothes?

The weather has recently shifted in New York City, and I have found myself noticing that a wide variety of dogs are wearing a wide variety of fashions.  Some of these dogs are dressed better than most people that I encounter, so I have found myself pondering about whether dogs should wear clothes?

Even more perplexing is whether stuffed dogs should wear clothes.  I have been paying attention to all stuffed animals that I have encountered lately, and I have noticed a startling disparity between those that wear clothes and those that do not.  Some stuffed animals have some very fancy duds (mainly the teddy bears - I saw one in a tux the other day), while others seem to have no clothes at all (examples include my brothers, Gomar, Blue Bear, and Seal).  Why is this?

At first, I pondered whether it was some kind of socioeconomic class indicator, that relates directly to those whom we live with.  However, I have noticed that my humans wear clothes, so that doesn't seem to be a good measure.  Then, I wondered if it was a stuffed animals species type thing, but then I saw a dog wearing a raincoat the other day, and then yet another one dressed as Superman.  

So, I am left without a clue.  I don't know whether I should feel bad about running around in my bare fur, or if I should be worrying about wearing the finest threads - but what I do know is that peanut butter is tough to get out of fur, and that by itself may be reason enough to start wearing a bib at the very least!

Shopping For a Birthday Present!

My tail is wagging in anticipation, because this week is a very special one!  My special boy has a birthday this week!

Although, I suppose I should not call him my special boy, since he is actually way older than me, but hey, what is a puppy to call the person that they spend the most time with?  I am very excited, because this is my opportunity to really put some special thought into getting a birthday present.  I think that this is very cool, because I was actually a birthday wish come true, so the fact that I now get to help another birthday wish come true is very, very cool.

All of that said, I have absolutely no idea what to get!  I do not know what to buy a human for their birthday!!!  I mean, if it were another puppy, I would get them some tasty treats or a good tennis ball.  I mean, even shopping for Gomar, Blue Bear, or Seal is easier than shopping for a human (I mean, my brothers are very happy to please - Seal asked for a piece of lint for his birthday.)

I guess that I am going to start looking very seriously this week, and attempt to figure out if any of the classic boy gifts work - video game, toy car, or some type of sporting equipment.  That is, assuming I can find some money.  You would be amazed at how very little money a stuffed dog has to spare - hence the blog!

What should I be for Halloween?

This is my second Halloween, and I really want to get into the spirit of things and dress up as something amazing and cool... the question is, what will that be?

Being a stuffed dog has a lot of disadvantages, and apparently shopping for Halloween costumes is one of them.  Last year, I wore a specially designed costume and went as one of the 101 dalmatians, and got my "parents" to go as Cruella and the dad dalmatian, but this year I would like to do something a bit more original.  The thing is, it seems like I almost have to have a costume specially designed, because absolutely nothing fits.

So far, I have not came up with any good ideas, but I will keep you posted.  I definitely like the thought of going as Chewie from Star Wars, or maybe as the Hobbit, but I cannot quite figure out how to get those costumes and make them work for a puppy my size.  Another idea I had was going as a hot dog, but then I saw a dog on the street the other day and it looked a bit generic and weird.  Besides, I'm already a hot dog when it comes to my cool tricks and getting attention, so I don't think that is the right call on the costume front.

Wish me luck!

Barks - Really Worse Than Bites?

There is an old saying out there about "barks being worse than bites", which basically alludes to the fact that some people talk a big game, but really do not back up that talk with action.  In essence, this was meant to tell people not to be afraid of big talkers or scary meanies.

I have always been one of those who just barks without thinking.  I see the mail being delivered, and I bark.  I see another dog, I bark.  If the vacuum is brought out, I bark, and then quickly run away.  Sometimes, even when I am sending emails or posting on my blog, I "bark" without thinking about the impact of what I am saying.

However, I have been thinking a lot recently, and I have decided that a bark might actually be worse than a bit, especially in today's world.  Now, a bite hurts for a bit then heals, at worst leaving a slight scar.  Words, especially once sent out across the web, can easily travel the length of the world, and will last forever.

There is no taking back an email sent in anger, nor can you truly retract a blog post made in the heat of the moment.  The term "viral" denotes how fast these type of things can move, and how quickly they can spread.

This puppy is fully aware of the lesson to be learned here, and suggests that the phrase be changed, "A bark is always worse than a bite, and lasts much, much longer."  Be careful what you bark or howl out to the world, because you never know when it will come back to bite you!

Hurricane Irene: ARF!

Hi everyone!  Hurricane Irene is bringing the wind and rain to New York City, and this puppy is ready for it.  I have plenty of delicious canned food, and enough water to last me for days, so I am all set if this things hits.

New York City has different zones of evacuation for such a thing, and this puppy lives in Zone B.  This turns out to be a pretty good thing, as Zone A already had to move in case of flooding.  I think I should be okay because the hurricane is looking like it will not be as bad as people had expected.  Right now, it is spinning Category 1 style, and I won't have to abandon my apartment unless it somehow picks back up into a Category 2 storm.

Be safe out there, and make sure that have plenty of food, water, batteries, and a flashlight.  Charge your cellphones, and make sure that you have a radio in case you need to listen to any weather reports.  Hopefully, this all passes without causing any damage or harm, and with any luck, Hurricane Irene will soon be a memory.  Take care. ARF!

Life Is No Day At the Beach... At the Beach

The idea of the beach is exciting.  All of the pretty people, the ocean, the sound of the waves, and hunting for seashells all sounds wonderful... until you are actually at the beach.  I don't know how it is for humans, but for a stuffed dog, the beach is not the place to be on a summer day.

For starters, there is sand everywhere.  Not only does it get all over your fur, but it also burns your paws!  That sand gets really hot!  I found myself leaping from towel to towel in an effort to stay cool, inadvertently bonking people on the head with my shiny new sand bucket and shovel.  Also, the sand gets in my eyes pretty easily since I am so close to the ground, so I spent half of my time there blinking and rubbing at my eyes to try to get them clean.  I am not even going to get on the subject of so-called "sand fleas", but I will tell you that they are annoying.

Another annoying thing about being a stuffed dog is the existence of the ocean itself.  I mean, sure it looks pretty, but a stuffed animal is not exactly meant to explore the sea.  I put one paw in the water and suddenly it is so heavy that I can barely lift it.  You heard it here first folks!  Stuffed animals, magically wished alive, are extremely susceptible to water absorption.  Keep us dry and out of the water!

Probably the worst part of my day was attempting to tell people that Gomar was not going to bite them.  Everyone was freaking out when he came walking across the sand, and it didn't help that Blue Bear was maniacally laughing and somersaulting all the way down the beach.

Probably the only one of us who enjoyed the day was Seal, who loves being near the water, but even he got to be a bit irritating because he kept telling us to watch out for walruses the entire afternoon.  Humans may love the beach, but give me a nice day inside on a bed any day.  This puppy prefers the creature comforts of home!

Whiteout Party at Pranna

I am officially a NYC party animal now!  I went to my first ever "whiteout party" last night, held at Pranna which is located on New York City's famous Madison Square Avenue.  Since I do not typically wear many clothes, I was a bit concerned about my outfit for the party, but was able to find a cool white paw glove (not pictured), a great hat, and some white gold to give this puppy some bling.

The party was pretty great, and the place was packed.  I had to be careful about getting stepped on, dodge a few drinks, and watch out for high heels, but my tail was wagging all night long.  When I woke up this morning, my paws were sore from all of the dancing I did.  I drank plenty of water, so despite the crowd I was able to stay pretty chill.  One advantage I had over everyone else last night is that I don't sweat like humans, so I didn't have to worry about soaking my clothes through no matter how much I danced.

All in all it was a great night, and this party animal looks forward to his next big soiree.

Furry Animals Love Football

It may surprise you to learn that I absolutely love football.  I think it is my favorite sport!  Ever since I came to life, I have had this obsession with watching football.  I love college football, I love NFL football, I love arena football... I even love lingerie football (ARF!).

Since I am living in New York City, I am a big fan of both the Giants and the Jets, although if I had to choose one over the other I have to lean towards the Jets.  It would be a close call though.  I also like the Atlanta Falcons, and recently cannot seem to stop wagging my tail when Tim Tebow is on the screen for the Denver Broncos.  There is something about that guy that inspires you to root for him, even if you aren't a big fan of his alma mater (although I personally am not a University of Florida fan, Gomar wishes me to let everyone know that he is a huge Gators fan - not surprising, right?).  I am not a big fan of the Oakland Raiders, mainly because their dreaded "Dog Pound" scares me to no end.

In terms of college football, I put my paws in the air and cheer for the University of Georgia (go Dawgs!), and I also like the Virginia Tech Hokies.  Although, to be fair, when I first started cheering for them I thought they were called the hoagies, and I really like sandwiches.

Myself and a few other stuffed animals have been thinking about starting a Fur Fantasy Football League.  Originally, we were going to put a flag football team together, but we cannot seem to find flags that fit all of us.  In addition, Gomar keeps trying to bite other stuffed animals instead of taking their flags.  I guess this makes sense because he has little arms, and grabbing flags is much harder than snapping jaws.  If we do start a Fur Fantasy Football League, we will have to figure out where to hold our meetings.  We are a bit ostracized in the real world, as a bunch of stuffed animals sitting around a table barking, oinking, growling, and other normal sounds sometimes bothers people.  I'll keep you posted on this as time moves on.

That is it for today!  Take care until next time!

Keeping Cool

Another hot day in New York City for this pooch!  I cannot stand how warm it has been, so I have been trying to think of new ways to stay cool.  My best idea so far - hiding in the freezer!  It stays nice and cold in there, and also gives me the privacy that is hard to find in this crowded city.

Of course, getting in the freezer isn't the easiest thing in the world.  That thing is high up, and I'm sure my "dad" wouldn't really like my resting my head on his frozen peas.  However, when you have a long-tailed brother like Gomar, anything is possible.

It took some doing, and a little bit of acrobatic daring, but at long last we were able to get high enough to get to the freezer and get the door open.  My intent was to rest in there for a bit all by myself, since Gomar hates the cold.  However, I discovered a hidden treat that led to my first puppy tummy ache.

Ben & Jerry's Fro Yo!  Chocolate Fudge Brownie, you are my dognip!  (Please note: Normal dogs should not eat chocolate - magically alive stuffed dogs are an exception).  This stuff is absolutely delicious, and I ate the whole thing in one sitting.

I'm too sleepy to blog anymore, but if you are hot on a summer day, you should try some delicious Ben & Jerry's yourself!

Hot Dog, Hot Dogs, and Blame

The dog days of summer may be behind us, and the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest may be long done, but this puppy thinks that there is no wrong time for a delicious treat.  I love mine with ketchup and cheese, and intended to take this picture with two hot dogs.  However, my brother Gomar loves hot dogs too, and managed to snag one off my plate before I had a chance to take the picture.

All of that aside, I love the delicious taste of this treat, but I find myself somewhat disturbed that I am eating something with "dog" in its name.  It seems somewhat cannibalistic and disturbs me to think about  the name for very long.  Why don't they call it "hot cat", or even "hot pig", as either one of those terms sounds more delicious, and is also more accurate.

T.A. Dorgan is to blame of course.  His cartoons of German sausages led him to coin the term "hot dog", and the name has stuck ever since.  In a lot of ways it is interesting to think about, because the site of the world famous Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, New York's own Coney Island, originally banned the term back in the day because it suggested that the tasty treats contained dog meat (shiver).  Now, the name is celebrated worldwide, and the ban is long gone.

Like a dog chasing its tail, Coney Island's attempt to ban the name unfortunately failed and led nowhere, but I encourage everyone to rethink this disgusting practice.  In the name of dogs everywhere, let's change this name to something more appropriate, in order that all K-9's can eat in peace.

Can A Stuffed Dog Be A Senator?

Today's thought comes after watching the news about the debt crisis.  All of the politicians argue and argue about how to do something, finally reach some kind of agreement, and then still fail to realize their goal - after all of the jumping through hoops, S&P still lowered the U.S. rating.

It got me thinking quite a bit, and I find myself dreaming big dreams of being a United States Senator.  I can picture myself now, appearing on CNN, arguing for a bone in every bowl.  I would get howls of approval, shaking paws, licking puppy noses, and I think I would do an excellent job as the first stuffed dog senator.

I did some research also.  Apparently, there is nothing that says a dog cannot be a senator.  Also, I'm pretty sure I would only have to be five years old, because dog years equal out to seven times the age of a human.  Since a human has to be thirty-five, then a dog should only have to be five.  Yes, I know, I am indeed a genius.  Plus, since I was born in the United States, there would be no worries on the citizenship front.

I'm going to keep this post short and sweet world.  You heard it here first: Podar for the United States Senate.

Thirsty Dogs and Toilets: Not this puppy!

If you watch enough television or movies, you've likely seen a dog drinking from the toilet.  These disgusting canines are portrayed as being unconcerned with hygiene or worry about whether or not their drinking water is clean, but this stuffed dog has news for you.

Not all dogs will drink from a toilet.  In fact, some of those find the entire practice disgusting, and cannot understand how our brethren can partake in such a gross practice.  I mean, if you take the time to really think about what you are drinking out of, then you cannot possibly continue to stick your tongue into that filthy bowl.  Sadly, some dogs just do not know better because they were never taught any different.  This has got to change!

As a stuffed dog, I feel that it is important to stop this practice.  Humans of the world, hear my words!  CLOSE the toilet bowl!  You would not like if man's best friend pooped in your favorite beverage glass, so please do not do the same to us.  Teach your puppy to drink from his own bowl, and you do yourself a favor too.

After all, remember those wet kisses that you all love so much?  Where do you want that mouth to have gone before?  Protect us, protect yourself, and close that lid!  Also, for all of those other stuffed animals thinking about trying the process - it takes a long time time to dry if you fall in.  Just a warning.

A Tale of Two... Tails?

Since I injured my paw, I have had a lot of time to think about a lot of random things.  One of the more interesting things that I have noticed about myself lately is that when it comes to my brother Gomar, I am sometimes green with envy... literally!  Unfortunately, I have discovered that I suffer from an extreme case of TES (Tail Envy Syndrome).

My stuffed brother Gomar, who happens to be a green gator, has this ridiculously long and flexible tail that is pretty fantastic.  He uses it for a variety of things, including picking up objects far away, swatting Blue Bear when he is giggling and dancing all around, or helping to pull Seal's head out of whatever object he has most recently gotten it stuck in.  Gomar's tail is pretty amazing, and it got me wishing that I had one too.

I decided to learn more about his tail and how it works, so I turned to the human's favorite pastime, and Google'd it.  Luckily, Gomar was not around when I did so, because he would have absolutely been horrified by what came up.  The first nine search results were all for Alligator tail meat, and the tenth one on the first page was about a man who got arrested for cutting off a 50 inch gator tail with a knife!  Terrifying to say the least!

Moving on, I next searched Wikipedia, where I discovered some interesting things about alligator tails.  The tails, which normally make up half of an alligator's total length, are mainly used for propulsion in the water.  This made me even more envious, because although the doggy-paddle is an effective means of transportation, there is something about the thought of swishing my tail through the water and moving fast that really thrills this pup.  Reading further, I also learned that the gator tail can be used for defense.  Again, I found myself having doggy dreams of wielding my tail on the streets of New York City, fending off pup-nappers and those who would try to steal bones, chew-toys, and pupperoni.

Gomar is lucky to have such a cool tail and I certainly think that it is a nifty thing, but then again if I search "dog tails" on Google, no recipes come up on the front page, so maybe I ought to be thankful for the cuttle little tail that I do have.  After all, what could be cuter than a stuffed dog wagging his tail as he eagerly seeks his next pat or treat?

Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Hello again.  As you can see, I am still injured, and my right forepaw is practically non-functional.  Hopefully, I will be better soon, but honestly I have no idea how long that will take.

This brings me to an interesting point that I want to bring up to those of you who may be pondering wishing your favorite stuffed animal to life - THINK IT THROUGH!  Caring for a stuffed animal is a very unique experience, and one that most people have never really considered.  For example, even though I know my owner/servant/partner/sleeping  companion/dog carrier loves me and wants nothing but the best for me, but he has had absolutely no idea how to handle me hurting my paw.  As he says, "No one wrote a book on how to care for your injured stuffed dog." 

Which, although it makes perfect sense, really frustrates me.  It is hard enough to move in a world build for people 10 times your size, with flesh, blood, and bones, but now I have to deal with this injury without the benefit of medical care or an idea of how long it will be until I am back on my ultra-soft feet?  SO FRUSTRATING!

I guess that the reason I am writing this blog is to help people with this very thing, so maybe I will be the one that ends up writing the book on how to care for your stuffed animal, or at the very least, how to care for one who has literally had the stuffing knocked out of him.  More on my recovery and treatment to come!

A Dog Without A Bone... or a Computer

Hi everyone!  Sorry that I haven't written in a bit, but I got injured recently while playing with my brother Gomar and have been a bit under the weather.  I have been trying to recover and live by the adage, "Let a sleeping dog lie," but resting and staying  off my paw has been difficult.

I will go into the details very soon in my next post, but suffice to say that a stuffed dog on crutches in New York City should at the very least be an entertaining read for anyone following my adventures.

Meet my brothers!

Wow, my first blog post went up, and literally about three minutes later my brothers were nearly up in arms about the fact that I did not put a picture of them up.  So, let me remedy that right now.

As you can likely guess, I'm on the left in this picture.  If I look a bit perturbed, you have to understand that having Seal, Blue Bear, and Gomar (the picture should be self-explanatory, but if not, Gomar is the green gator) all try to sit still long enough to take a family portrait is a bit like chasing your own tail.  You can do it, but it seldom works out the way you had hoped.

At any rate, those are the four of us, and we have a pretty good time.  We are a very diverse family (ignoring the fact that we were wished to life), and it makes for a lot of interesting days.  I think I mentioned this previously, but Blue Bear likes to do somersaults and giggle while doing it, which makes taking him anywhere a bit of an issue.  And, Seal is a bit... slow on the uptake, so that comes with its own set of problems.  And Gomar, well... he is a gator, and even though is a stuffed gator, he likes to bite, which can make it awkward to introduce him to new people.

Those are my brothers, and it is a sunny day in New York City, so we are all going to go out and get some fresh air!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Wishes Do Come True...

Hi there!  My name is Podar, and I am a stuffed animal living in New York City.

Right now you are probably thinking that the aforementioned sentence is maybe the most ridiculous thing that you have ever read or heard of in your entire life, and honestly, I am inclined to agree with you.  So, I guess before we go any further, I had better explain how I became an aspiring puppy blogger.

Things were pretty simple for me until about a year ago.  I was made in a factory, and like most other stuffed animals made in factories, I was shipped out with dreams of living with a fun young girl or boy, where I would be hugged, cuddled, attend tea parties, have mouths wiped on me, and in general, be loved to pieces (literally - that is how most stuffed puppies meet their end - we are literally loved to pieces).

However, my path turned out to be much different than I expected.  Instead of heading to your local Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Toys 'R' Us or something similar, I somehow wound up in a strange nightclub in New York City.  Instead of being held by young arms, I was hung by my neck with other stuffed animals in some type of game booth where people had to throw darts in an attempt to pop balloons in order to win me as a "prize."  Sounds great doesn't it?  Well, it gets even better, because this club served plenty of alcohol, and so the men and women that tried to win me nightly weren't the most dextrous of people, and thus I was there for a long while.

One night, after who only knows how long, this tall guy and his beautiful girlfriend (hey, I'm a stuffed animal, not blind) showed up to try and win me.  The guy was somewhat more accurate than your average drunken slob, but failed to hit a balloon.  The woman on the other hand was on fire that night, and nailed three balloons in a row.  POP! POP! POP!  Suddenly, out of nowhere, a hand reached out for me, and then I found myself being placed in the happy young lady's arms.  The rest of the night was a blur of laughter and alcohol, and I myself was just thrilled to be part of a family at long last.

I can almost hear you saying, "This is all lovely, but how in the world did a stuffed animal become real, and why in the world is he writing a blog?"  The first part of that question is easy, and the second is a bit more difficult, but I will do my best to answer both.

I think that I became real because the beautiful woman's boyfriend wished it to happen.  I know, I know, that sounds like some kind of fairy tale or or kid's cartoon, but I really think that is just how it went.  I don't know if he threw a penny in a fountain, rubbed a lucky rabbit's foot, wished upon a falling star, but it happened.  My personal opinion is that he just needed a friend so bad, and wished so hard for me to be real, that some force in the universe felt his need and made it happen.  Volia!  The world now has a stuffed talking dog that can move around, sit, rollover, and other cool things.  I would also be remiss if I failed to mention that it wasn't just me that became real out of this wish.  As outlandish as it sounds, he actually wished four stuffed animals to be real, so my "brothers" and I are now part of this big happy family.  (In case you are wondering, my brothers are a seal that isn't quite right in the head, a gator that likes to bite, and a somersaulting blue bear that giggles like a maniac, but I digress.)

So I guess that moves us on to the next part.  Why is an animated pile of stuffing writing a blog?  Well, there are several reasons, but first and foremost I am bored.  Everyone else has something to do all day, but the world doesn't really have a lot of use for a stuffed dog, so I might as well write.  Second, I figure the four of us here aren't the only ones who have been wished to live, so maybe  there are other stuffed animals out there who are feeling lonely and wondering if anyone else is out there, and thus I write this blog for them.  Another reason is that I hope to earn some money.  I mean, do you know of any classified ads running in the paper for a stuffed animal?  I am the slowest typer in the world (try typing with paws), and I don't know a thing about computers.  What job am I going to get?  Last, but not least, I figured this blog would serve as a how-to guide for anyone who has wished their stuffed animals to life.  It is not as simple as you would think, living the life of a stuffed dog, and I figured that this might help future owners, caretakers, parents, friends, or whomever understand the high's and low's of being a stuffed dog living in the Big Apple.

This blog is about my adventures.  I am Podar, I am a stuffed dog, and I am going to live my magical existence to the fullest!  Stay tuned to hear all about my life in New York City, and follow my adventures!