We make a DAMN FINE team.  Show your mama some lovin’ today!

Love,

Bogart

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Excuse me, we have a little catching up to do.  You know, important Dale stuff.  Starting with exactly how good her butt smells…

Love,

Bogart

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I know that things have been really hard lately, and that you’re not feeling up to par.  And that you’ve been working too damn much.  And that you aren’t super healthy.  And that you feel kind of crappy all of the time.  But wait, I’ve got an idea – LETS GO FOR A WALK

Some days just sitting around in your jammies is all you can muster.  I understand, really I do.  We all have times when life kicks us in the behind (fuzzy or otherwise), and we want to hide from the world.  But you know what I like to do when that happens to me?  That’s right – GO FOR A WALK.

You are an awesome mama.  I couldn’t ask for anything more.  And at this point I have you reasonably well trained.  The kitties love ya, and boy do I love ya.  We all miss dad, and we all think you’re the cats meow (especially the kitties).  You can be depressed later - get out of those jammies and LETS GO FOR A WALK

Love,
Bogart

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But that doesn’t stop me from taking long evening walkies with mama, even if I’m tired or thirsty.

Definitely a little thirsty at this point in the walkie, it’s a good thing that mama brings along a tasty beverage for me.

Liquid goes in… liquid comes out.

Exploration is necessary, all of the new smells are FASCINATING.

What?  Exactly why do you need me right now mama?  There are some brand new smells over here.

Oh crap.  Does that mean modeling?  Damn.

Alright.  Modeling.  Majestic pose.

Majestic thirsty pose.

Oh this stinks.  I’m not in the mood for modeling.

Can you tell that I’m just not feeling it today?  I’ve got the “just take my damn picture” look in my eyes.

It’s not that simple to bust out majestic posing on a daily basis.  It’s not something that I can completely control.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

And sometimes there are just far more interesting things than your mama trying to take pictures of you.

Many times they are behind me.  Mama, what do I have to do to get off of this posing rock and check it out?

BAM!  Posing Perfection.  That’ll work, right?

I think I’ve done my best work for the day.  My work here is done.

Stay thirsty, my friends.

Love,

Bogart

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I shall rescue this one from your water-y clutches…

And drag it back safely to shore…

Into as much mud as possible…

OH YEAH.  I have saved this stick from a life of wandering along the currents, and gotten myself as muddy as possible.  WIN WIN

Love,

Bogart

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Someone has a pretty cool sensibility, however.   Proper re-use, indeed.

Take that old Charles Shaw bottle, add it to some sort of ground-plug-thing-y, and voila – cheapo automatic flower water-er.

If we grew stuff, we’d do this.  But we don’t.  And that’s better for plants everywhere.  We like to eat ‘em, not so much to grow ‘em.  But if you need any help emptying those bottles…

Love,

Bogart

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See it’s sparkl-y-ness…

Lets see just how delicious sparkles can be, shall we?  Mama tried to warn me that sometimes the sparkly decorations aren’t that tasty (apparently she knows this from previous experience), but I’m willing to sacrifice my taste buds in the name of science (well, in the name of snacks).

Hm.  One bite isn’t enough to make a proper decision.  I should have one more.

Rolling it around on my tongue, swishing it around on the floor.  No – still not sure.

This is important research that I am conducting here in my room.  Perhaps one more bite, you know, so that I can be sure…

Yeah, it’s yummy.  Sparkles and all.  You can just leave that here mama, experiment over!

Love,

Bogart

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There is a lovely trail for walkers, bikers, and dogs.  Lots of places to picnic and just sit and watch the water go by.

Stump at full mast – I like it here!

Next time I’ll have mama bring a blanket or something to sit on – not that I am ever in the mood to relax during a walkie (no matter how she tries to convince me).  I tend to prefer to plop down whenever the mood strikes – on the sidewalk, just before crossing a major intersection – you know, the moment that tired-ness strikes.  Also, I wouldn’t mind more company (mama thinks so too).

Oh great and mighty Schuylkill, WE WILL BE BACK

Love,

Bogart

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Yes, this is the window of my favorite store – Just Dogs Gourmet bakery.  They always have fantastic window displays – this one works in some fab flowers from the Philadelphia Flower Show – along with a dog who is catching some big waves.

Doggles too, of course.  And check out that Hawaiian collar and bikini!  HUBBA HUBBA

Love,

Bogart

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Well, lets fix that with some new ones, shall we?

I must say, this fine pier is always empty when mama and I come around (it can’t be me, it must be her magnetic personality – repelling people obviously) – ok, it’s probably because we usually come here during the week or just before most people are getting out of work.  No complaints from me!

I’m feeling really protective of mama these days.  I mean, I know I make fun of her a lot (sometimes it’s just too easy) but we are a damn fine team.

Who else is foolish enough to fall for my insistence on midday walkies any time that she isn’t working a full day?  You really don’t know the work involved in convincing her that staying home is BAD.

But yeah, I’ve got it pretty good.

I protect her, she protects me.

Sometimes she could be a little quicker with the camera…

But then again, butt shots are always good.

E

Especially staring-off-into-the-distance-majestically butt shots.

Every day I give her my super patented Million Kisses.

I take this damn seriously.  That woman NEEDS kisses.  Do you see how tiny her head is?

Those kisses make us both smile.  I get some “chin action” (major rubbing of my full, leonine beard and neck) and she gets a face full of Bogie.

Damn.  More pictures.  More modeling.  This does get old sometimes, mama.

But wait… what’s that?

Is investigation required?

Nah.  Not important enough to interrupt our photo shoot.  And no other doggies involved, so I’m not really interested.

I am, however, still extremely handsome.  Whaddaya think, a new poster for the Ben Franklin Bridge?

Wow.  All of this posing and NO COOKIES SO FAR.  You must rectify this situation mama.  NOW

Ah… love is restored.

Love,

Bogart

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We all miss him terribly – probably no one more than mama – he was the center of my world and the guy who raised me to be the fine Dale that I am.  And even though he didn’t care for kitties at first, because he fell in love with a woman who had a lot of cats, he came around to the feline side of life.

And Behemoth – Dad’s favorite cat – is doing a lot better recently.  He had lost a ton of weight and was very, very sick, but mama has been working hard to get him better and fatten him up.  A Carvel cake will do the trick.

Behemoth is my favorite cat too.  He smells really right and lets me lick his head from time to time.

And Aeon – who Dad got for Mama when another kitty of hers passed away many years ago – wanted to help celebrate as well.

So every year, on March 1st, mama, me and the kitties have a cake and remember Dad.  We try really hard to think about the good times, but it’s also very, very sad for us.  That’s where the cake comes in.  It’s hard to cry and eat cake at the same time.  So we do our best.

And this was my very first ice cream cake.  Vanilla on the top for me and the kitties, chocolate on the bottom for mama.  It’s really nature’s perfect food.

Dad, we miss you so very much.  I try to be the best Man of the House that I can be, protect mama at all times, and give her the kisses that I know you would want me to give to her every day.  We’re just not the same without you, and I can’t believe that it has been 3 years since you have been gone.

WE LOVE YOU KLAUS

Love,

Bogart

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Love,

Bogart

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Whatever you’re thinkin’ mama, just remember how much I LUV YOU

Whatever you’re drinkin’ mama, just remember that I LUV YOU

Whatever is stinkin’ around here mama, just remember that I LUV YOU

Basically, I LUV YOU MAMA

Now can I have the damn cookie?

Oh come on… I said I LUV YOU, and I meant it.  NOW GIVE ME THAT COOKIE.  Really?  Does everything have to be a photo shoot?  Can’t I just share my love for you by devouring this fine cookie?

COOKIE COOKIE COOKIE

Ok, it looks like I’m going to have to probably just take the damn cookie when you look down at the camera.  It’s a good thing that I’m not shy.

Ok, ok, one final photo before I pounce.

And now for something completely different in the cookie world…

Yes, yes, mama, YOU ARE HILARIOUS.  A red heart cookie on my fine black button nose.  Hilarious, I say.

See how the cookie is sweating?  It would be MUCH HAPPIER to be in my belly.  LIKE NOW.

See?  HAPPINESS.

(the last thing that a heart-shaped dog cookie sees before it exits this world)

Yummo.  I really, really do love ya mama.  Cookies or no cookies (ok, I love you more with cookies but I’d love you even without – THAT’S LOVE)

Love,

Bogart

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And I’m lookin’… for a place to pee

And I’m hopin’… that you’ll throw that stick to meeeeeeee!

(feel free to insert your own musical interlude here – flight of the bumblebee, perhaps?)

Oh yeah.  My work here is done.

Love,

Bogart

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MY BIG BLACK BUTTON IS HERE FOR YOU

Mama has been a little out of it lately – and when she’s depressed, this does the trick like nothing else.  Button and beard.

Love,

Bogart

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Me and my mama.  We are an amazing team.

We love each other, we respect each other, and damnit, we just really, really like each other.

When the world tries to mess with mama, I bare my mighty Dale teeth, and when the world tries to mess with me, mama becomes a tiger.  She’s got my back, and I’ve got hers.

Some days it feels like mama and me against the world – and most days it’s just us (and our kitties).  Mama can get really depressed at times, I do my best to keep her spirits up.  Showing her “the button” (as dad used to say), always makes her smile.  The button is my big, black, wet nose.

Kisses All Around!!!!

While the tides of life throw us to and fro, mama is my life raft and I am hers.  I feel safe with her and you know that she’s safe with me.

We’re just a coupla crazy kids, just trying to keep on keepin’ on.  Mama says, KISS YOUR DOG and KISS YOUR CAT every day… nothing better than wet, sloppy dog kisses or sandpaper-y kitty kisses!

Love,

Bogart

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Bogart on Huffington Post

It seems that the lovely folks over at The Huffington Post chose a fine photo of me to illustrate one of their stories – now, it’s a not-so-kind short one complaining about dogs at outdoor restaurants and cafes.  Odd that they would choose a photo of a very-photogenic and incredibly-handsome dog such as I to illustrate a story about dogs behaving badly, but the comments section seems to lean heavily toward well-behaved-dog-is-fine-in-my-book, so I’ll let it slide.  And, they were good enough to give mama photo credit, so all is well and my fame only increases.

Love,

Bogart

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Mama is obsessed with my shadow.  Obsessed, I tell ya!

When we happen to be out at just the right time, with just the right light, she goes nuts.  Picture upon picture upon picture.  She’s a little bit crazy (perhaps you already noticed that), but I do indulge her from time to time.  Today is not going to be one of those times.

I am a man on a mission – wielding my trusty sticks (of which I have gathered several of the best specimens in my mighty jaws) and heading for my park.

Are you gonna just stand there, or are you going to come along mama?

You basically have one final shot at this before I commence chomping.  So make it good.

CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP

Mmm… STICKS.

Love,

Bogart

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It’s been a tough week around here after losing Willie.  My long-haired orange tabby pal was not just big in stature, but also big in presence.  All of our other kitties seem a little “off” and have basically been grumpy and needy all week.  I too miss him a lot, even though he didn’t like me all that much (he smelled awfully good).

Tonight mama and I went to pick him up and bring him home.

It’s hard to believe that this little, wooden box holds the remains of my big, furry friend.

Oh Willie, my pal, I would far prefer your furry butt and amazingly fluffy tail, but this box is darned nice.

You still smell good, and I will never forget you.  Now mama can put you on the little shelf with all of our other kitties and with Klaus (yeah, dad wouldn’t be thrilled to know that he’s surrounded by cats, but hey, he was surrounded by them before so I’m sure he will appreciate the company).

Love,

Bogart

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This is mama’s daily list of things to remember when taking me out for my walkie.  Because sometimes she forgets and I hate that.  See how we have cleverly added the most important thing to remember to the daily list?

Each morning mama uses this brush-thing in front of the mirror before she leaves the house.  What better place to remind her of the most important thing to remember for the day?

Mama.  I don’t want a stick up my butt.  PLEASE remember to hang on to my morning poo!  My butt thanks you in advance.

Love,

Bogart

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