Shave and a haircut - - two pics!

I haven't posted much lately - Mom says it's because we have such a routine and that this place has become my home that she's not surprised I've slowed down my writing. I really want to tell you about Christmas, though!

So Mom had to work over Christmas week but still had Christmas and Boxing Day off (I like Boxing Day - Mom puts on the oven mitt and we boxed darn near all day long! I was so tired at the end of the rounds I almost didn't want to go on my walk, almost...)

Mom took Friday afternoon off work to come home early. We were going over to Shawnigan Lake to visit Aunt Jo, Uncle Dale, Nathan, Anthony, Katie, and Snowball for the New Years weekend. I really should have gone to the Spa and Mom swears she tried to get me an appointment but Miss Natasha was booked up solid. Ah well. I was gonna have fun, regardless.

So I played and played, and tried to beat up both Katie and Wrangler, Aunt Jo's Uncle's dog. Caught that? Jo's Aunt and Uncle were here and they brought their dog Wrangler with them.

I think I've got a little crush on Uncle Dale:

Mom brought my blankie with her and spread it on a chair but I crawled from the chair over to Uncle Dale while he was relaxing on the sofa - I just wanted to cuddle up next to him and he took advantage and gave me a few pats - I think he kinda-sorta likes me too!

This is the chair I was supposed to stay on - please note the exceptional amount of fur I'm sporting. Sure wish Mom took me to the groomer before we went to the Island. I was full of debris, tree bark, leaves, and other unknown ickies by the time we left. Mom got me to Miss Natasha when we got home and I got SHAVED!!!!!!

Me and Katie. Katie is a Belgian Shepherd something-something cross and is such a WUSS! She looks all intimidating and such but my GOD, she'd lick you to death before attacking - Unless she's playing with Uncle Dale (her Dad) and I try to join in the fun - then all bets are off; she flipped out on me and all I wanted was to play with Uncle Dale. This is the closest I got to cuddling with Uncle Dale with Katie there, too.

Of course, I'm sure Uncle Dale got a kick out of having two women fight over him...

So after all was said and done, I ate too much cat food, played too much, got way too excited most of the time, had attention from two teenage boys, Aunt Jo thinks I'm simply adorable and Uncle Dale rocks my world. Oh, and Mom is too bossy and won't let me do anything.

Speaking of Mom, a few weeks ago she got home from work and there was as 'phone message from a local store (Tom Lee Music) that there was a Christmas Present there for her (!!) So WE go to the store and oh, could you just up and die???? An old friend of Mom's back in Alberta bought Mom a Freakin' PIANO!!!!

After some tense negotiations, Mom finally convinced her friend to let her return the obscene gift for much smaller, cheaper, more reasonable electric keyboard:

Mom practices almost every day and doesn't sound too half bad. She's trying to remember all she learned as a kid, and bought some books to try and teach herself. She said she might take lessons but not until next fall.

Damn nice present to get from an old friend!!!!

Mom has someone at her work (a "client") who's deaf so she signed up for American Sign Language classes that start on Monday night. If she takes all four levels she'll be in school until July, two nights a week, so likely won't be able to afford piano lessons until the fall.

Anyway, back to Me. Mom had to take me to Miss Natasha's when we got back from the Island. Oy, it was BAD!! I was matted, tuffed, dirty, and certainly in need of a Spa day. Mom knew I was in rough shape but she didn't think I was THIS bad:

Mom thinks I'm cold now so she's been turning on the fireplace more often. And at bedtime she tucks an extra blankie around me. What a sucker she is!!!

Ok, here's hoping it's not almost a month again before I post. And if it is, hopefully I'll have some more great pics of Yours Truly to share.