Night 174: What House Look Like In Dark!

The Mom so funny... she run cross street in jammies and take photo of snow wif house you can't see beyond. Clearest thing you see is rectangle of trolley license plate in garage wif door open!

Tomorrow bein loud truck day, she take pitcher of gatherin snow like she never seen it before and maybe she ain't. Not sure.

And this bein the snow what gather on what left of the tree what Ike made fall on my house.

And this bein the house wif the Christmas lights what the Mom run back and turn on. I swear... she so funny! I just sit in warm house, shake head and marvel...

Nother pitcher comin up driveway. Can you even see what she shootin?

Snow what gather on shrub. Least now you can see somefin!

By way, while the Mom outside in her jammies, Uncle Jeff come out and make sure ever thing ok wif her and the Luke.

Good neighbors big comfort, good neighbors we got! And we need em... The Mom bit crazy bit unlucky, only so much the Luke can do to help. So Luke like havin back up!

Day 156: Random Thoughts

Saturdays are confusin for me. Go to bed same time Friday night as all others but not posed to wake up same time Saturday mornin?

Guess not by way of hearin the adjective the Mom used when she announced the time of my complete impatience... "six duckin fifteen", she said. Hey, I gave her an hour reprieve... our normal time is five duckin fifteen!

1. Breakfast on Saturday mornin might be bit later than usual. One hour late is bout my maximum.

2. Feel it my job to make sure the Mom know it daylight. Just sayin.

3. When the Mom go back to sleep after mornin routine... good idea upon her risin, to dance to food bowl. Never know. She might forget she already served breakfasts.

4. Watchin her work never fun but some time sighin and always scratchin make her stop. Note to self.

5. Imperative to point out workers in yard next door just in case they not posed to be there. Never know. Some time random electricians try fix problem neighbor don't really have. Good to have a Luke to try make their job miserable.

6. Fun too, to have the Mom chase you cross yard in jammies... though it also kinda barassin. Just sayin.

Day 105: Busy Work

The Mom came home early, and I was glad... till I figured out she was here to meet some guys that crawled on the roof and wandered all about the house and didn't even say hello to me.

Then right after that the big truck and crane made it to our house and beat hell outta my ash tree and picked up about 85% of our debris and left 15% in the street. And then the Mom and Adrienne had to pick it all up while I watched from inside in my Benny-Drill haze.

After all was done, though... we made up for lost time wif some good lovin!

Day 101: Emergency Meeting Of The Council

Agenda nor minutes will be published, but the Mom said a quorum was reached and a vote taken. Stragglers were even informed and unofficially polled, but the unanimous vote stood as cast. And she came home promptly when the meetin was adjourned... but she was gigglin a little.

Day 99: Ups and Downs

The Mom ran off to work early this morning, and when she got home... she fired up the stinkmaker and we took us a reasonably comfortable nap.

I say she stayed out and up too late last night, she said the heat is getting to her but it's prolly a little of both.

Buzz is that the trucks is swarmin round here, but we seen none on this street... so the two of us wandered down to Mrs. M's house to wait and watch wif her. I love Mrs. M., and I laid sweetly by her chair!

We was both excited and disappointed as we had a few lone trucks stop by and seen way lots more haul butt outta here, in spite of Mrs. M and the Mom wavin mournfully!

They'll be back in the morning... I

Day 94: Flurry of Activity

Mom's back and there's a flurry of tivity. Uncles James and Jason are bustlin bout. And aunt Dav and Benjy are on their way over.

Guess she had to all in the BIG GUNS!

Things That Annoy A Golden Retriever When The Power Is Out for Eight Days

Even a golden retriever gets annoyed from time to time... and especially when he's hot!

1. grumpy Mom.
2. black cat in front yard.
3. barking squirrel in window sill.
4. gas fired engines... generators, mowers, blowers, chainsaws and helicopters... ever thing but a CenterPoint bucket truck.
5. long grasses.
6. laundry hangin in the middle of the yard.
7. dogs aren't old enough to drink beer, wine or margaritas.
8. if only I could sweat...
9. static on the talking box.
10. power cords ever where.
11. obstacles... mostly ice boxes. indoors and out.
12. not bein able to predict what the Mom is doin next.
13. dirt on the floors.
14. the Mom sometimes smells bad (but i ain't gonna tell her).
15. too hot for the Mom to eat (bad for LuLu).
16. nay-bors gone other places.
17. all the meat's been cooked, et or thrown out.

Day 92: Unpredictable Dispositions

Been out in the front yard several times... trying to lure the nay-bors into a social. Most ever body's gone, though... prolly settlin in some aired place.

The Mom turned down invitations that didn't include me and also those that did... on a counta she said one, she wasn't gonna leave me and two, we both have unpredictable dispositions.

Guess we need to work on that.

Day 92: Excellent Rations!

Mom came home with some most excellent rations!... baked chicken and mac and cheese!

She tried to hide it from my juvenile eyes, but I also counted 18 beers and 6 bottles of wine. Guess desparate times call for desparate measures.


We ate a light lunch, and then Uncle Frank stopped by with an ice delivery from Katy, Texas that frankly (golden giggle) made our day!

Hope I can talk the ole gal into sittin out front in the driveway tonight. Ever time we do, there's a party!

And one thing I've learned... LuLu loves a party! Who knew!?!

A RESCUED Golden Retriever's Thoughts On Creature Comforts:

Ain't never had much to call my own till the last 91 days, so I got a fresh perspective...

1. The single most important thing is having a people, 24x7, that makes you, your feelings and comfort the number one priority.
2. Luxury means the freedom of choice over the proximity to which you sleep with your people.
3. Bat-tree operated fans in of doors beat living in a backyard or a kennel any day of the lifetime.
4. Static on tv, while annoyin... is still tv.
5. Noise in the backyard is worth so much time spent in the front.
6. Thank God Kongy is fully functional and does not require tricity.
7. Finger foods on a droopy plate... need I say more?!
8. Holding a pen cramps my paw. Not having a compy or internet stinks.
9. Wheat thins are ok. But Ritz rock!
10. Nothin like the lack of comforts to make a wide a sortment of peoples come out and pet Luke!

A Golden Retriever's 13 Very Favorite Things About A Hurricane

1. Mom is home for a long time.
2. Lotsa peoples comin round.
3. Nay-borhood socials.
4. Finger foods and snacks.
5. BBQ and burgers on the grill.
6. My food needs no ice.
7. Long walks.
8. No vacuum cleaner.
9. Adventures in other peoples yards.
10. Pooping far, far away from home.
11. Naps outside.
12. Fewer distractions for the Mom.
13. Toodling in the trolley wif Mom (sans vet visit).

Day 91: Passing Time

Thought we were goin on a trolley tour this mornin since the Mom put on her toodlin and not her factory clothes... then all of a sudden Kongy came outta the box and I was here alone.

Ole gal was gone many hours, don't know how many cause the tv ran outta bat-trees and I lost count. And she came home outta sorts since she made a passle of stops and found no ices.

So... we took a little ride wif cool airs and went to what they callin on tv is a POD. Guess that's short for a long line of cars wif frozen waters on the end. She tole the kind peoples that we weren't in need of foods or waters, and they were moved to give us a extra bag of treasure you just can't find in these parts!

We came d'rectly back and placed the bounty into the treasure chests. Bags say Cincinnatti, O-HI-O and remind me to thank those folks for sendint it to us, cause it woulda taken the Mom a long time to get there and get back!

Next we watched a little of the not so colorful tv, took a coupla short walks out front and hung out in the back for a while. Mostly we just tried to be still enough not to be so hot.

I've had my dinners now and takin a rest, gettin ready for what I hope is the dusk to dark social gatherin!

I've grown quite accustomed to followin a little light beam round after dark, and wouldn't mind atall livin this life forever... if I had my internet and some cooler airs, that is!

Day 90: Coping With The Bad, Enjoying The Good!

Nother day wifout lights and cool airs.

No gatherin of the peoples last night, in spite of my encouragement to the Mom to start one. Kept runnin to the front door and waggin my tail.

One thing I've grown to love about life these days is the social stature I've achieved. Ever body knows me by name and pat of my silky hairs!

I'm a social giant!

Day 88: Kinda Love The Outdoor Lifestyle Again!

It's late and we just got back from Aunt Monica's and Uncle Oscar's. All my friends were there, and I even made some new ones.

Startin to really love livin (mostly) outside again... but that's prolly cause the peoples are outside wif me!

Before we went over there, I had to wrestle the windows shut and locked. And by wrestle, I mean that I followed the Mom from room to room and watched her use broot force to close em and then holding a flash light in her mouf, WD40 in one hand and a wrench in the other... try to get the lock back in place...

Tomorrow's her birfday and cause I can't check my poll, got no transport or other resource, decided I'm gonna give her the thing I treasure the most at this moment...

Day 88: Rockin Sam's Yard!

The Mom finished cleanin the backyard and patio, and then she fixed her and Uncle Mike a margarita. Said she was breakin out the top shelf horded best she had. To be clear, she was referrin to the ice (that Mrs. M's son brought in from Katy... and that she was kind and generous to share with her nay-bors!), not the tequila.

And then came the best part of all! I got to go over to Sammy's yard and run around and sniff and test the greenness of the grass on the other side of the fence.

Uncle Mike and Aunt Susan loved on me, and I had a x-tatic time. The Mom felt bad, though, cause Sam had to stay inside... so they brung him out to meet me with no fence betwixt us.

Guess he was a little mad to find me in his backyard and can't say I blame him. We both barked our fool heads off. Twasn't pretty and the Mom is disappointed in me.

I hate that and feel bad but let the record show that my long suit is havin all the peoples I love to myself (and sharin is my short suit).

Day 88: The Sheriff Posts A Sign

And he means it!

Day 87 / Day 88 Night Blends With Morning

Uncle James brought the Mom some Meskin beer, and since I'm her drinkin partner, she set me up with a stainless steel bowl and Ozarka waters... and we parked ourselves in the driveway to enjoy the cool airs.

Uncle Oscar came over to join us and later my various nay-bor-hood kin (including Aunts Michelle and Monica and Uncles Jeff and Chuy, Aunt Veronica and Cousin Gabby). I was quite sociable ceptin canine competition.

Fact one is... Luke likes all the peoples to himself.

Fact two is... Uncle Oscar rocks. He is way good to me, and I like him for myself, thank you.

Simple formula: Pork rinds (didn't know what they were till tonight) + Pecans = Love.

Day 87: Ike Opens Businesses Down The Street

Good poops are few and far between these days...

Plain and simple, ain't goin in the front yard on display to all my nay-bors...

And ain't goin in the re-established privacy of my backyard but up to my proverbial knees in waters (thank the back nay-bors who raised the fence and tied it up to their back porch!!!).

To make the baggin Mom proud, I've chosen to do my best work on the other end of the street!