I can’t tell ya how tickled I am these days to be watching the Kerry Blues do their thang… mama and I are really absolutely enamored of them.  And THOSE BEARDS – they make me all tingly whenever I see them, especially after roaring to the top in Stanley & Stella’s Beard Competition.

So I feel very honored (and did I mention tingly?) to receive this award from them.

The award states: “This blog invests and believes in PROXIMITY – nearness in space, time and relationships!” In other words, blogs that receive this award “are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

So as always, I’m probably late to the party on this one.  In the interest of spreading the love, I’m gonna try to find other dogs who haven’t already received this, many apologies if you already have…

Asta (up over)

Nottie Scottie

Lorenza

Ludo

Sally & Rufus

Deetz

The G-Dales

Scruffy, Stan & Lacie

It was TOUGH to just pick 8 other dogs to send this to – I tried hard to find those of you who hadn’t already received one – which is sometimes the toughest part.  Mama and I read so many of your blogs all the time, so we did a lot of visiting to see, but alas, sometimes mama screws up.

So I’m just sending BIG AIRE KISSES to ALL of my dog friends to cover my butt (tuck tail first!)

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

OK pups, listen up!

Mama says that she’s getting a little crazy watching all of my Airedale friends all over the world add more pups to their packs.  She wants us to join in the fun!

Guess I have to get crackin’ on the baby-makin’.  And why not – I’m young, virile, AKC-registered, intact, and FAMOUS – what girl Dale wouldn’t want to do some dirty dancin’ with me?

The problem?  I NEED TO FIND THAT SPECIAL GIRL-DALE

She should be young, bearded, AKC Airedale Terrier, living with a loving and responsible breeder, and of course ready to mamba with me!  Ladies, I stand ready to diversify your local gene pool.

The fine folks at Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing want to help me in my quest.  They have given me 3 brand spanking new copies of Chicken Soup For the Soul: Loving Our Dogs to give to my readers!  This book has 101 of the best stories they’ve ever published, heartwarming and humorous stories about dogs.

I think I need a classified ad for my, ahem, services.  Yes, I’m looking for my baby-mama.  Someone who will carry my fine, handsome devil Dale babies.

So here are the 3 categories for winning yourself a copy of this great book (one winner in each category):

1.  Create my classified ad photo – take any of my photos on my blog and create (photoshop, collage, macaroni art, it’s all good) the photo that will catch the eye of my future special lady…

2.  Create my classified ad text – Witty banter just isn’t enough.  Write my personal ad for me.  I do want my future baby-mama to learn all about me, but I know that I have to do something above and beyond to stand out in the seas of black-and-tan fuzzy men out there.  Double entendres are actively encouraged, the ladies do love someone who can make them laugh.

3.  Bogart’s Choice – I’m sure there will be one entry that will stand out… maybe it’s too risque, maybe it makes me laugh but it’s a close second to another entry… but it’s still deserving of a prize.

Ok, so you’re rip roaring and ready to go.  Here is the fine print:

Entrants MUST be members of Dogs With Blogs, that is, you must be a dog with a blog to enter.  When you send in your entry, please include your URL.

You can enter as many times as you like, with either photos, classified ad copy, or both.

I will be using your photo and text to find me a girl-Dale.  Via my blog.  So you’ll see your handiwork there and by entering you agree that you’re cool with that.

All entries must be received by October 31st, 2008 and the winner will be chosen by ME on November 1st.

I will ship these ANYWHERE, so feel free to enter from any country.

I will post entries and excerpts from this great book throughout the month so you can be a part of the process.  It should get interesting…

So… help out a dog, will ya?  Lets extend the Handsome Devil lineage…

Send your entries to me:  bogarthandsomedevildog@yahoo.com

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Zip.  Zero.  Nada.

Very odd indeed – there is no reason for the card to fail, and when she tried to take a photo here at home it seemed to work just fine.  But all of the photos we took today show up as ZERO.  Ah well.  A shame, but what can I do – the limitations of the humans’ photographic equipment knows no bounds.

We explored the Division Street neighborhood today, sniffing around lots of little cafes, and taking a really nice long walk through the neighborhood.  Lots of beautiful houses and pretty gardens.  We walked all the way over to Hawthorne and then back, stopped at Petite Provence for a little afternoon snackie, and then went over to the Woodstock neighborhood to visit Otto’s Sausage.  Dad sidled up to the outdoor sausage makers and got one for us to share – mmmmmmmmmmm.  It’s a place we’ll definitely be visiting again, hopefully mom and I will be able to recreate the golden moments that are missing from today’s post.

Tonight dad is making my dinner stew for the week – and he’s laughing.  Usually I get a mixture of beef hearts, liver, and other gut-ty goodness but this week there was an incredible sale on LONDON BROIL so guess what kind of stew I’m getting this week?  OH YEAH, it’s all about the London Broil baby.  Mama has already noticed how it isn’t as stinky in the house as usual when dad is cooking my stew, and I’ve been helping dad by sampling the stew as it goes along.

The London Broil so far seems up to my standards.

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Dad actually only had one errand to do – he just took the test to be a certified food and beverage handler here in Oregon, and he had to go to the office to finalize his test (he passed with flying colors!).  So mom and I waited for him outside (no dogs inside apparently… bastards).

Mama and I did a patrol – checked the perimeter of the building – to make sure it was safe for dad.  And yes, I can report that all was safe.

Then I was sure that he must be missing me (he was inside for awhile), so I placed myself right at the front door so he couldn’t miss me.  I wouldn’t want him to be scared!

Since we were already in the Milwaukee area, dad suggested we go down to the river and see what we can see.  So this was the very first thing I saw, and I APPROVE…

It’s awfully pretty here, and today is just lovely.  The Willamette River isn’t really clean, but there were people swimming in it, riding boats in it, and fishing in it.  I contented myself with running, jumping, and exploring the land and NOT the water.

Isn’t that a cool-looking bridge?  Wait until you see it up close..

It’s ALL WOOD!!!  Neato!!!

Dad had heard about a place called Elk Rock Island, so we drove around until we found the entrance to that…

Now supposedly, there is a land bridge that connects where we are to Elk Rock Island.

See those tiny people?  Guess what.  The land bridge isn’t there because the water is too high.  They were kind of crazy, walking through waist-high water to get to the trail on that island.  I sure wasn’t going there (and mom agreed)…

Hehehe, I’M NOT GETTING WET dad…

I knew that something smelled awfully good tho, something I haven’t smelled since the last time I was at Echo Park lake back in Los Angeles… I KNOW, IT’S GOOSE POOP!!!

Tiring.  Whatta day.  So much excitement when I expected none.  Luckily Portland is a town full of brewpubs where a dog can rest his weary haunches with a beer and some nachos.  This one is famous – The Lucky Labrador – it has a big back patio where dogs are welcome so LETS GO!!!

See that cool mosaic?  I was certainly impressed with their decorator.

I met lots of doggies while I was there but curiously they were ALL labrador retrievers!  At first I thought that was odd, maybe it was for Labs only, but then I realized that it was for all doggies, there are just a LOT of labs here in Portland!  This girl was a cutie-pie with a great-smelling butt.

OF COURSE we need to have another beer, and bring on the nachos!

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Today we had to take this guy:

My buddy Kafka, to the vet. I don’t know if you can see it in this photo, but he’d been overgrooming his belly and legs, so much so that he’s kind of bald. Mama wants to make sure that there isn’t anything wrong with him, she thinks that all of the stress of moving and having a new tabby in the house might be causing it – but she’s gotta be sure. I am left to guard the house during Kafka’s great adventure, a job that I will do but it’s not my first choice.

The humans were gone for a few hours and then they returned with THIS:

W-E-I-S-S-W-U-R-S-T

Let me help ya with that Dad – that’s a BIG sausage for one person to eat all alone… Happy to help!

Love,

Bogart

PS – it turns out that Kafka is FINE, the vet thinks that mama was right about the stress! So stop licking yourself all day long Kafka!!!

BookmAIREk Me!

B-a-t-t-e-r-i-e-s

The word that stirs fear deep in the heart of my mom. For some crazy unknown reason, every battery that she puts into the camera dies out after a few furtive attempts at photography. Even this morning, after she bought a new charger for her rechargeable batteries (with new batteries to boot!), all specific for high-drain devices like our little Olympus, and we trotted outside to the park for some fun stick-work… after a few quick shots the damn thing died.

Notice how I try to maneuver dad into staying in the shade?  It’s still brutally hot here in SoCal, so if I scoot my butt over to the shady area then it feels a little c-o-o-l-e-r…

I think I’ll just sit here for awhile with this tasty stick dad…

Uh, can we stop throwing it for just a minute?  I really wanna sink my teeth into this one…

She’s pulling her hair out over this battery thang (and if you’ve seen her you know, she doesn’t have that much to lose!), and it is causing the world to be denied it’s daily dose of Dale.  She’s done a LOT of digital photography over the years and the camera isn’t new… anyone have any idea what to do about the evil batteries?

I suggested burying them out in the park and while she was with me in spirit, when it came time to open the camera to let the little suckers fall into their dusty grave, she just couldn’t do it.

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Mom filmed the indignity today.  I’m sure you dogs will see what I mean.

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

That is the question.

I have gotten MANY new Christmas cards but alas, the camera hasn’t been working well lately (mom screwed up the zoom somehow – she tried to blame it on me at one point, hell I think she’s tried to blame it on pretty much everyone at some time – and it doesn’t always come out when it should, rendering it just an expensive piece of plastic). As soon as that little problem is solved, I shall post my newest friends pictures!

So does that really explain why I haven’t posted for a few days? Well, mom seems to think that if there is no picture then there shall be no blog entry, because no one just wants to read about my adventures if there is no cute photo to accompany it.  I’m not totally convinced of this theory.  I think that my life is incredibly interesting to pretty much everyone in the world no matter what, so what if there is no photo?  Or then of course – mom – why don’t you get your priorities straight and either get that darned camera fixed or buy me a new one???

I feel better now.

Today’s photo of Bogie on the Moon – just in case you weren’t sure – is a (quick and crappy) PHOTOSHOP.  I didn’t really go to the moon.  I couldn’t travel back in time to play with Neil Armstrong.  But see mom?  PEOPLE STILL READ MY BLOG.

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Well apparently the battery for mom’s camera died again – it’s not that there hasn’t been incredible excitement in my life for the last two days, these evil little fuel cells just continue to conspire against me.

This is the last photo taken of me just as mom said, “Gee, it looks like the battery might be running low”…

I have been informed that this situation should change as of tomorrow.

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Apparently mom and dad went out for dinner tonight to a Mexican restaurant without taking me along. Yes I did everything in the dog handbook – looked up lovingly, went to grab my leash, sat and tilted my head to one side, even trying to squeeze myself between their legs when the door opened – but no luck. They still had the unmitigated gall to go out without me.

I spent a short time sulking after they left and then decided I must do something. I must teach them a lesson. This great injustice cannot go unpunished. It is simply unacceptable for them to go pretty much anywhere without bringing me along.

So I found mom’s makeup bag. Yes, her favorite one. Somehow she had forgotten to put it in her purse when she left. I very carefully nudged through the contents to find at least one treasured item – in this case a green eye pencil – and chewed it into oblivion. Then as I realized that it really didn’t taste that great (who says that revenge always tastes sweet? Sometimes it tastes kind of…. woody) I chewed the packet of Listerine breath strips. Mmm, nice and citrus-y. Then one more lipstick just to really drive the point home.

When they came in of course mom saw it immediately. At times it’s difficult for me to understand her – especially when she’s excited about something – so all I hear is “blah blah blah” and I just continue smiling and nodding my head until it’s over. She started picking up the pieces while dad brought out the doggie bag. Yes folks I knew that they wouldn’t risk complete destruction of the apartment and at least show up with the doggie bag.

It was just a few bits of steak and a nacho or two – but it was muy bueno.

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Ok, I’m really really really hating the fleas.

At least I’m pretty sure it’s fleas. Mom can’t seem to find many and I don’t seem to have any hot spots or other weird skin things… but I feel them. The little buggers are crawling all over me like the paparazzi do every time I step out the door.

Mom did the good human thing and tried the smelly stuff that went on between my shoulder blades (specifically so I couldn’t reach it… bastards) and that worked a little. But now I’m getting itchy and scratchy again.

What do we need fleas for anyway? I understand that there are many creepy, crawly creatures out there that I may hate but that we need – bees, spiders, and the like – but fleas? What positive thing do they actually do? I can’t think of anything, so I may have mom drop the nuclear flea bomb on them sometime this week (that is, the evil flea fogger that kills ‘em dead). It means we have to clear out the place, dogs cats and humans alike so it’s a pain (well, for them – I like getting out and about).

I will keep you informed of my progress…

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Yes, I did have another foxtail, it’s official.  I got to see my very favorite vet again, and was all excited when he came into the room.  Until I realized that this meant I was going back to the place with the mask that makes me all woozy.  And then waking up with my paw hurting more than it did when I went in, and all confused.

Luckily mom didn’t make me wait long, she came and scooped me up not long after I woke up.  I was so excited to see her I almost busted a stitch or two.  Whew – I didn’t – so we went outside where I quickly took the opportunity to poop.  Then she helped me get into the Bogart-mobile and took me right home.  I’m on happy puppy pain medication now, so I’m sleepy and suddenly that throbbing in my paw doesn’t seem so bad…

More tomorrow on the evils of foxtails once I wake up (I anticipate LOTS of sleeping)…

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Ah, crap.

Looks like I may have another foxtail – this time in my other front paw, just between my toes, exactly like the last one. How is that even possible? Mom checks me thoroughly every single time we come home after a walk. I could feel something kinda growing for the last few days and was licking my paw, even mom noticed and was trying to trim the fur between my toes to see what I was trying to get at. But it looked like nothing, however it didn’t feel like nothing.

And now today it’s all puffy again. Just like the last one. Except on the other paw. Mom and dad are going to wait a little this time to see if it tries to come out on it’s own so that I can avoid another surgery.

I wonder if we still have any socks left…

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Did you try to get on this blog yesterday?

If you did, you may have noticed that instead of seeing my handsome mug you saw an all-white screen with these large words:

403 Forbidden

Sounds ominous, doesn’t it?  It was just a minor screwup with my hosting company, but it definitely got me nervous…

So for everyone who was afraid that you couldn’t get your daily Bogie Fix, I’m here for you.

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Grrrrr….

So it was a foxtail that had made it’s way into my paw after all. Mom and dad took me to the vet this morning and then things got really hazy… when I woke up a few hours later my paw had been bandaged and I was feeling a little woozy.

So here is my PSA on Foxtails:  Foxtails seem to be really common here in LA (the vet even had a special charge for them on mom’s bill so you know they must see a lot of these damn things). They’re prickly and manage to get stuck in my paws of velcro a lot, usually I either chew them out or mom or dad plucks them off but basically they’re just a huge pain in the ass – ahem, I mean paw.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Then mom came to get me and I nearly broke down the door! Strangers were saying to her “wow, your dog really loves you” to which I jumped on mom even more (to make her feel good of course, but in reality I was just soooo happy to get out of there). They handed her a large lampshade-like thing (the mythic Elizabethan Collar) and told her to put it on me. Uh… where do you think that thing is going on me???

So I won that battle and we drove home. Now I’m going to have a nice sleepy-sleep and will hopefully be able to pose for those glamour shots tomorrow.

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

For those unfamiliar with these parasitic little bastards, just do a quick googling – every site seems to show the little razor-like teeth that they have.  I’d been experiencing some loss of appetite and some pretty funky diarrhea, which is what alerted the humans that there might be an issue.

But oh lucky me, they’re pretty easy to get rid of.  Just some nasty granules that get sprinkled on my wet food 3 times a day for 3 days.  The problem is that wet food just doesn’t seem tasty to a young handsome dog with intestinal issues right now… so a bit of force-feeding was in order.

First trying the old hide-it-in-a-piece-of-cheese trick.  Generally, this works.  I have to give the humans credit for this one.  The slice of cheese just looks so yummy all folded up with a special wonton center (the filling being, of course, whatever medication is required and not easily administered).

But with these granular packets it’s not so simple.  They fall out all too easily of a cheese pouch.  And I can smell them – never a good thing when trying to trick me.  Mom and dad have tried hiding the granules in chicken, cheese, several brands of wet dog food and – my personal favorite – cat food.  All to less than stellar results.

So it’s been best to force-feed me.  I have to get rid of the intestinal evildoers.  Then I can eat and poop with gusto again like the fine Airedale that I am.  And for all the other humans out there – if your puppy that should have a cast-iron stomach has diarrhea (especially dark colored) and/or isn’t eating with relish, bring in that stool sample for a checkup (and do us the favor, collect what we poop out rather than submitting your fine canine to the indignity of the poop probe!!!).

Love and intestinal fortitude,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

I’m always kind of ticked off when I don’t get my daily time at the dog park. Mom and dad just aren’t the best at explaining to me WHY WE CAN’T GO. I know there is a reason – there MUST be a reason – but it never seems sufficient to me.

Lets see – the earth keeps turning, check… the sun rose, check… so that all means that life continues to revolve around me and that means I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO THE DOG PARK.

Today the excuse was something about rain. So what. A little rain won’t kill ya. Even mom says that all the time to the crazy people here in the LA (did I mention she’s from New York?). But of course no one knows how to drive here when it starts raining (another tip from mom).

Anyway all I know is that today the excuse went like this: It’s raining Bogart, we can’t go to the dog park because it will be really muddy… blah blah blah… there might not be any of your friends there… blah blah blah… it’s so much warmer here at home in bed… blah blah blah.

Hoo-ey. If they won’t take me to the dog park, then they’ll still have to take me somewhere…

So it’s off to the park behind our house. I intend to stretch this type of thing as long as possible so that my paws aren’t the only ones getting muddy…

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Today my tummy hurts. I’m not sure why, but I just know that it hurts.

So I went in search of some nice, soothing grass. You know, what EVERYONE does when they have a tummy ache. And I ate.

And ate.

And ate.

And ate.

And ate some more.

And then, as if by some magical movement of my muscles, it arrived. A large brick of grass and everything that had been bothering my stomach. Scared me a little (mom wasn’t entirely thrilled, even though I did manage to get it out just before we went inside – how about some points for that, mom?) but then as my tummy almost immediately felt better I thought everything was allright.

Until the next urge to run out and mow down a field with my mouth occurred.

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!

Doesn’t look like much, does it?

It’s only the BANE OF MY EXISTENCE, the thing that I have to deal with every single pee trip outside…

What is it you ask? It’s the CANINE INTERLOPERS.

They live next door, and hide and lay in wait for me to exit the building. If you’re lucky you can see their furry black and white heads – or more likely just their ears – sticking up over the concrete wall. They wait for me to walk out the gate.

Then they strike! Barking and running around in circles like maniacs! Driving themselves into a serious doggie tizzy. Once I walk away calmly (like I always do – never let ‘em see you sweat) they’re quiet again until the next dog (or human, or stray cat, or piece of paper) goes by.

I really really hope that if I’m ever like that someone smacks me. I’m sure mom has already considered this.

Love,

Bogart

BookmAIREk Me!