I think someone spiked the cheese fondu

Ahem...

In some cultures, it's customary for the birthday boy to get everyone in his family gifts as tokens of appreciation for putting up with him for a whole year.

I'll take 100 grams of Swiss. I'm feeling rather yodelish.

Ask the Maui Monster

Dear Maui Monster...

My people are moving us to the suburbs. I heard you've been living there for the last little while. Is it true that we have to be on leash, even in the park?

~ Greener Grass?

Dear Greener Grass?

If the leashing thing isn't a law, it certainly appears to be a very strong movement. And I'm not sure why; there's a ton of space, hardly any cars and no food on the side of the road like in the city. There's sometimes bread in the school yard, but the crusts have all been removed.

Why I'm not a showdog.

How it should be:

How it is:

This is the Barbet in my neighbourhood

Gambit: Hey...you're Maui, right?

Me: Yeah, how'd you know?

Gambit: I grew up with Bonnie. Recognized you from the Dogblog. What happened to that thing, anyway?

Me: Well, it's kind of a long story.

Gambit: Like...the kind you'd document in a blog?

Me: Touché.

I would've taken a picture, but I can't find the camera.

Me: Hey Kai...what's with the mess?

Kai: Didn't they tell you? We're moving.

Me: No, no. We're just going to the cottage. This happens every year.

Kai: Nah, man...we're moving out of the apartment. For good.

Me: Can't be.

Kai: 'Fraid it is.

Me: But...the Northwest Nook?

Kai: Someone else's sunset.

Me: And hallway sports?

Kai: Someone else's arena.

Me: (Gasp!) And the bed?

Kai: Nope, that's coming with us.

Me: Okay. I was worried there for a minute. What do you know about the new place?

Kai: I heard something about croquet in the backyard.

Me: Sounds promising.

Kai: For you, maybe.

Diana the bilingual dog

Diana is Aunty Lia's dog. Grampa Tony loved when she responded to Estonian commands. I tried doing the same a few times, but only knowing the dirty words never came in handy (well...almost never, but that's a story for another time).

Diana died this weekend, and it got me thinking of the time she and I went tobogganing together on New Years Day. I remember her being so excited to ride down the hill in Uncle Peter's lap, and being so jealous that she never had snowballs on her feet when she got back to the top. Mostly, I remember how she smiled whenever she saw Aunty Lia.

Head aega, Diana. And when you see Grampa Tony, tell him I said tere. He'll get a kick out of that.