After Thomas

Wow! My mom and I watched this great movie called "After Thomas". It was about an autistic boy named Kyle, who got a dog named Thomas (he named him after his favorite show). This poor little boy had autism so bad, his mom and dad almost sent him away to live at a school. But after he got Thomas, his life changed. He began to talk for the first time, and started using the toilet after watching his mom house break Thomas. They slept together every night. Thomas got very sick at the end, but then he got better. Boy! Can I relate to that! My mom tells me I need to be a good canine and help Joey. Mom says it would really help if I barked when Joey tries to sneak out of the house. I love Joey a bunch and he is my best buddy. One time I got out of the kitchen by accident and I followed Joey's scent up to his room and slept by his bed. He has this puppy blanket he sleeps with and carries everywhere, Boy, does it smell great! I try to sneak it away from Joey when I can get it and I take it in my bed.

Mom has been helping me with house breaking. Its really hard! But I've gone shoo-shoo lots of times outside today. I get a treat when I go shoo-shoo outside. I just have to remember to do it ONLY outside. My mom says to ring the bell when I have to go, but I can't figure that out yet. My mom rang the bell so many times it fell apart, but Papa took it home to fix. Papa can fix anything!!

I finished my medicine for pneumonia today. Mom says I need to focus on being a healthy dog, so I can keep growing, and learning how to go shoo-shoo, and learning how to help the family. I can't wait until they let me out of the kitchen (although there are usually great crumbs on the floor; mom is the best crumb-maker on the planet!)

Bad Things Sometimes Happen

Dad told me yesterday that sometimes bad things happen. I'm not sure that I understand what he means, but he told me that 32 people were killed at his school Virginia Tech, and then the man who killed them killed himself. Mom found Dad's Hokie flags and flew them at half-mast. Dad told me that 20 years ago he would have been sitting in one of those classrooms where that terrible man shot all those people. It is really scary to think that it could've been him, or anyone else for that matter. I guess life is short and we need to enjoy as much of it as we can. I am glad that I have a family that loves me. We prayed for the families of those that were killed and for the people who were hurt. I hope that all of them can pick up with their lives and become stronger, but I know some of them will have allot of trouble doing that. Dad says that Virginia Tech is a small community and that it must hurt everyone there. If you think of it, please pray for the school and for the students. You can also where maroon and orange this Friday to show support. I know that's a little thing, but maybe it will make people remember and pray. If you are a Hokie, hang in there. There will be better days ahead.

Finally, please listen to the words of poet Nikki Giovanni as she gives us hope. Some think the reaction was inappropriate, but I think it is a reaction of hope and triumph over difficult circuimstances. You can read the poem here.

Snow, Garage Sales and Big Scary Machines

This week it snowed again! I can't believe it... April snow! I want spring and nice warm days. I'm tired of going outside in the cold. It finally warmed up today, but I'll tell you about that later.

Mom had her annual garage sale on Friday and Saturday. It's always a big event, because Aunt Amy and Aunt Val, and Nano and Papa all bring their stuff over along with all the stuff that we have. Mom works really hard putting everything together. (here's a secret... I figured out that she's the one who keeps everything together in the family... shhh, don't tell.) Anyway on Friday the garage and driveway were filled with stuff. Now most of it is gone. Now we have more room to buy more stuff. Isn't that the American way?

Today it warmed up and Dad put me outside. They tie me to a post because I can crawl under the fence. Well, I'm just lazing around under the tree enjoying the soft grass and watching the birds when Dad gets out this big machine. At first I was a little curious, so I walked over to it. It was green and had wheels and a bag attached to it. Then Dad pulled back on this long cord and it made the loudest howl I've ever heard. It scared me to death, but I was tied to the post, so I didn't know where to go. Then Dad starts marching methodically across the yard... back and forth... getting closer and closer to me. Finally he stops near me and the machine stops howling. I walk over and see that the bag is filled with the soft grass I like to lie in. Anyway, after I figured out what it was and that Dad had it under control, I wasn't so scared any more.


Finally, here is a picture of Aidan doing his school work. Aidan hates having his picture taken, so Rhiannon took this one by surprise.

Rocky Balboa

Mom rented the movie Rocky Balboa on Saturday. I was named after Rocky and I was happy to wathc with the family. It was a great movie. And Rocky has a blog like me! My favorite part is when he adopts this dog and names it Punchy. Paulie says, "What an ugly dog!" but I disagree.

When the movie opens we find out that Adrian is dead, Rocky is running a restaurant and he has trouble with his kid. He decides to fight again, even though he's over 50. He trains (with Punchy) and has the fight. You'll have to watch the movie to see who wins. It was a great movie and the them is summed up by Rocky's speech to his son:

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!"

I think that sums up life pretty well. I've lived allot of that in my short life and I'm sure I'll experience more of it. I hope you can have a good attitude when life hits you hard and that you can keep moving forward.

Never Give Up! And Never Stop Believing!

In Sickness and in Health

I got really sick this week. On Wednesday, I threw-up 3 times in a row and then started shaking really bad. Mom thought I was having a seizure. She took me to the doctor and they thought that I might have swallowed something. When they x-rayed me, my lungs were completely white. They said it was pneumonia. I told Mom it was because she keeps making me go outside to go potty, but she won't stop! I have to take ucky pills, but Mom wraps them in cheese, so they aren't so bad. Anyway, by the next day, I was fine.

Some people have asked what pet food I'm eating and it isn't the pet food that's making lots of dogs sick.

Aidan drew a picture of me yesterday. I think he's pretty good. What do you think?

He says he wants to be a photographer (he took the picture on top) and artist. Since he's only nine, he has plenty time to change his mind. Aunt Patty went to art school and I'm sure that she can give him wise counsel about it.

Aidan also got his kite stuck in a tree (right after Dad said, "Don't fly your kite near any trees.") Aidan learned three lessons...

• Don't fly your kite near trees,
• Don't listen to the trees when they say they won't eat your kite, and
• Listen to Dad, 'cause he's been through this stuff before and made dumb mistakes too.

I hope everyone has a good week. Dad tells me that it is "holy" week, which is the week of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. If you haven't gone to church in a while, Dad says this is a good week to start.

I've got more I want to tell you about, so you may see an update shortly.