Oh friends – be sure to check out brother Phenny’s latest escapades with Bashful. Boy, I wish the store was open on their adventure – I’m hungry! XOXO – Bacon
guess what? on sunday Bashful and me felt howly somehow… so we decided to go to a monastery…
…butt furst we walked through a forest…
… there were so much new smells to discover and my nose had an all you can smell party…
….there were peemails written by a fox… it said ring-ding-ding… and wa-papapapa-pow… makes no sense to me…
…then my dad disappeared from the photo, because he stepped in a hole, the only one in that whole forest and then he was huffy, because the mama laughed at him…
…but Bashful had mercy and invited the wounded warrior for a short rest…
… while we pondered if we should call an ambulance or Lassie&Benji…
…fortunately my dad is a mollycoddle trooper, he needed no amputation nor a cast …
…and so we waddled on and followed the arrows to da abbey…
Dear Bacon – Okay I admit it. I’m in a predicament… some would say stuck between a limb and another limb. I blame it on these pesky squirrels that seem to have taken over my yard. I was chasing showing one how to get out and he jumped in the tree. I followed. I know you have Journalist Rocky the Squirrel that lives in your backyard. Any suggestions on keeping the little rats squirrels out of my kingdom? Signed Hanging
Dear Hanging – Well you do look kind of uncomfortable there my friend. The first thing is to get to know those squirrels. I assure you they are not as pesky as you think. Really – I assure you. Make friends – you will be surprised what they will do for you think. Journalist Rocky the Squirrel and his clan keep out the other unwanted dogs and purr things from my kingdom 🙂
Dear Bacon – Honestly this is *not* what it looks like. I wasn’t kicking anyone. I wasn’t having a momentarily lapse of judgement. I wasn’t going crazy. You’re going to laugh when I tell you what I was doing. Really – are you ready? I was learning how to swing dance. Yep, swing dance. It works much better with a partner but I was practicing my moves. What do you think about that little pig? Signed Swinger
Dear Swinger – I am highly impressed my friend. Really I am. That is such a hard dance to learn and I’m impressed that you are doing it. If my hips could move like that, I would so join up for lessons with you.
Dear Bacon – I’m sitting in a pan I am. It’s the pan for the dog who is a hog (no offense). He chases me and tries to sting me like a bee. He no eat until he kisses my feet. Signed Seuss Without a Rhyme
Dear Seuss Without a Rhyme – Snorts! No offense taken. I get it. You and the dog are frenemies. You keep your enemies close to you to know what they are up to – usually no good. Instead of sitting in his bowl, perhaps hide that huge bowl. No bowl to fill, no food to eat and you can act all innocent like you don’t know what they are talking about when they ask what happened to his bowl. See where I’m going with this? Cause you know after a while, it’s going to get boring sitting in an empty bowl. Unless nature calls… then you have something to fill.
Dear Bacon – Oh dear mercy to the heavens. Please help me. My humans have went over the deep end. Signed Fill in for Nicki Minaji
Dear Fill in for Nicki Minaji – Hubba – Hubba. Look at you my sweet friend. I think you got the looks and the skills to pull this off. I wouldn’t be upset with your humans – I would tell them that if they are going to dress you up like Ms. Minaji, then they have to treat you like the star she is!
Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends. This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better. Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.
Together we can do this!
February 19, 2017 – Today was a test. A test of strength and dedication. Yesterday we took mom out for her birthday. I did amazingly good with my choices of food. No problems there and I even got a little walk in with some errands we did afterwards. Do you remember the dilemma we had last month with the refrigerator? Well guess what went out today? The washing machine decided it was done and called it turned in it’s resignation. Shaking my head. Of course it would do that when it was full of water and dirty clothes. So after getting out all of the dirty clothes, wringing them and taking them to my moms to do, we had to go shopping for a new washer. And while we were at it, get a new dryer. Why the dryer? Because the dryer is pushing 30 plus years and I know it will probably decide to quit next month. That’s the way it works, right? So I was tested this date fully. And by the time all was said and done, I was craving a real Coke like something you wouldn’t believe. I want to say thank you now to all the peeps who are on my Facebook page that helped me out in my time of need and talked me down. You are the best ❤ I did not get a Coke. I did not drink any sodas. I drunk three glasses of water and called it that. So, I’m still no soda’s since December which is a miracle. Miles Moved: 1.28
February 20, 2017 – Before I started changing my lifestyle, I tried on a pair of Levi’s that I used to wear. Don’t we all do that? I could barely get them over my bum and don’t even think about buttoning them. One edge was far east and the other far west and they were never to meet again. This morning, I tried them on again to test the waters. Over my legs, over my butt with ease. Shocker! And the button side and whole side almost touched. You can pass out now – I almost did. Eight weeks and I can *almost* button them. Now that is a feeling that makes you continue this path. Miles Moved: 2.62
February 21, 2017 – Do you ever have days that you feel short? I’m 5’8″ and most of the time, I walk talk and feel tall. But there are days when I walk that I feel so short like the ground is so close to my face. Isn’t that funny? I woke up this morning to a very high pollen count. Pollen is so early here in the south! Usually we don’t get pollen until next month. My nose and my eyes were having a race to see who wanted to misbehave the most this morning. I went for my walk and I think I dryed everything out. At least I can breathe now for a while. Miles Moved: 2.60
February 22, 2017 – I had to get my walk in today. I have a funny feeling that I will not get much exercise the next couple of days with everything that we need to get done. But today’s walk was good. Thank goodness for that. Miles Moved: 2.92
February 23, 2017 – Yep I was right. Today was a circus for sure. I do not recommend appointments for the accountant, lawyer, post office and nails all in one day. And, I may not have walked per say but I did enough bending up and down cleaning out the laundry room in preparation for our new washer/dryer installation scheduled for tomorrow. Miles Moved: 1.32
February 24, 2017 – I hate waiting for any delivery. There I said it. I waited all day for the delivery of our washer/dryer who didn’t get here until after 5:30pm. Then, the wrong cord was ordered for the dryer. They have to come back out tomorrow. Lucky me. And again I didn’t get to walk but while waiting for the delivery guy I cleaned the house all day. Miles Moved: 1.62
February 25, 2017 – Again another entirely day of waiting. The delivery got here finally after 6:00pm to change the cord. The guy was here for less than ten minutes. What a pain in the butt! Miles Moved: I didn’t wear my I-watch today. I was cleaning and didn’t want to hit it or get it wet
Thoughts for the week: Persistence. That’s a really hard word to come to terms with at times. We all want instant gratification. Trust me. I’m no difference. It’s taking me eight weeks to see physical changes and that is persistence. So far technically, I’ve only lost 12 pounds (our next weigh in is scheduled 03/04/2017). But everyday I feel changes and shifts in my body. It’s happening and I have to keep working towards my goal. That’s when we have to keep telling ourselves, “Keep going. Don’t stop.” Just when you think you can’t, you see or feel something different. This is a blurry picture but you can see the difference. See how lose the pants are? Finally! Something you can see that makes you feel like persistence is a good thing.
This week walked: 12.36
TOTAL 2017 Miles: 99.39
January Weight Loss: -12.00 pounds (88 more to go!)
February 26th is a day that fairy tales are made of – it’s Tell a Fairy Tale Day. Everyone loves a good fairy tale – kids, adults and animals. It’s a great way to bond with your friends. Pick a story or make up a story. Either way, it’s a great time for everyone!
It’s not a requirement to start with “Once upon a time…” but it is a requirement to have a happy ending. There’s absolutely nothing better than to the end with “and they all lived happily ever after.”
So, cozy up with your selected loved one and read a fairy tale or make up one. You all know that the pampered pig Bacon gets a bed time story every night when his mom tucks him up. (That pig is *beyond* spoiled!) I asked him to share one of her stories with his friends here and he said this one is his favorite. We hope you enjoy!
“Once upon a time there was a four legged hooved piggy who was adopted by a human family. We’ve all seen Stuart Little. A little mouse that was adopted by the Little family. Well, this family was just about the same. They really wanted a baby of their own but circumstances just didn’t work out. They did the next best thing and adopted a little runt piglet that was only three weeks old. They took Bacon home and created his own little nursery for him, catered to him and taught him how to become a little man.
As Bacon grew more and more each day and learned the ways of being a little human, he also grew more and more in his parent’s hearts. They wanted little Bacon to do nothing more than to blossom and be happy with his life. Bacon caught on quick to the human ways and started watching television, surfing the net on his laptop and even created his own blog. In no time, little Bacon became a little pig star in his own right!
Bacon adjusted to life at the Hotel Thompson and caught on so well with the schedule of the Thompson clan. He knew when it was time to eat. He knew when it was time to take a nap. He even knew when it was time to go to bed. He created his own little routine before bedtime every night.
Not only was Bacon happy at the Hotel Thompson, he brought happiness to the Hotel Thompson. Little Bacon became such a happy part in his parent’s eyes that they couldn’t even remember life without Bacon. He filled a void that his mommy had and made her the happiest mommy in the world. His mommy fully loved Bacon and Bacon fully his mommy.
And to this day, Bacon and his parents are living happily ever after at the Hotel Thompson.”
HA! You knew daddy had to be behind this shirt literally and figuratively, right? He said this shirt has both of us written all over it. I barked. Mom said she should get daddy a matching shirt. Now that’s funny. Today we are suppose to get our new washer and dryer. I hope so. Maybe mom can calm down a bit afterwards and maybe then we can have a better weekend than we had last weekend. I hope so anyway.
I heard mom talking to a neighbor last night. Mom was holding me and said neighbor told mom that I had legs. No way! Get out of here. I have legs?! Did you know that? Anyway said neighbor told mom she should take me for walks…. on a leash. Really? I wanted to tell this said neighbor to take herself for a walk on a leash. Really? Stay out of my business please and thank you. The gall of this person. Mom kept her cool though. She told said person that I could go for a walk but she would have to carry me back cause you know this cute little body is not made for long walks. No way! That’s why I have me a puppy carriage. I walk in style… or should I say I get pushed in style. Barks and rolls with puppy laughter.
Mom/dad have lots of errands to get done today/tomorrow. Mom even had to take off work to get everything done. You do realize what that means, right? It means no snuggles during the day time for us anipals. That’s kind of crap I say.
Some of your from Facebook know that mom/dad have a secret they are keeping for the end of the year. They are not telling. I can’t believe that it’s still a secret cause mom/dad they have tendency not to keep their mouths shut. Unlike a certain oinker – I can keep a secret. Looks innocent. But today, they are working on stuff for that secret. All I know is there is LOTS of paperwork that mom has been going through, signing and filling out. She has been a busy girl. She has sent things out, gotten replies, signed sheets and sent them back.
It goes on and on like that and has been for a couple of months. Then mom/dad huddle in front of the laptop oohhing and aawing over things and mumbling to themselves. And now today, they have appointments with the accountant, the lawyer and they have to go to the post office to send more stuff off. What is up with that? What can this giant secret be?
And then tomorrow… Lord help us all friends. Tomorrow we have another delivery coming to the Hotel Thompson. Not surprise deliveries – a washer and dryer. Last weekend, the washing machine decided to give it up and quit. It was tired. I can’t really blame the washing machine. He was 18 years old and had a great service life. The washer was 30 years plus old so mom/dad got both replaced. And yes… we just got a new refrigerator last month. Shaking my head. Mom is about to lose her mommy mind with the appliances here at the Hotel Thompson. Let’s all pray that the delivery goes smoothly. If not, you will hear my southern mommy going ballistic. ❤
Today’s Shopping Around the World is being hosted by our cousins Teddy and Angel Sammy from TWOspoiledcats. This month Teddy and Angel Sammy are hosting main meals that do not have meat. Now this is a tough one. Anyone that knows my daddy, knows that he is definitely a meateater. So mom got creative. She told daddy he had to come up with a meatless dinner. HA! It’s not so funny or easy when the job falls on the daddy. Good one mom! So without further ado, this is what daddy came up with for Shopping Around the World.
Dad here. I told the mom I had this one. I can do a meatless dinner. Sure I can. I have that much talent. Okay, maybe it’s not how the mommy does things on Shopping Around the World but I’m a man… give me a break this time okay. So over the weekend since we had a difficult time, I told the wifey I had dinner. That’s when we went to a restaurant called Mellow Mushroom. See, I know you are suppose to cook and post recipes but I do have a visual impairment so I get a learning curve, right? Thanks friends.
We started out by ordering a lil salad to share. It had romaine and iceberg lettuce, shredded carrots, red cabbage, onions, cucumbers, green peppers, mushrooms, Kalamata olives, Roma tomatoes and mozzarella. See that’s a great start. And I added candied pecans for crunch. Yummo! The salad cost $4.49 and there was plenty for me and the missus to share. Sorry for the picture. I forgot to snap it before I dug in.
Now came the hard part. Getting a meal without meat. This was the most difficult choice in my life in some time. I mean heck, first up my wife usually makes my food choices and she knows I like my meat. This body was made for meat! Second up, I don’t do much cooking so I kind of had to cheat and go out since I was challenged with this Shopping Around the World. I thought hard about what to order as a meatless entree. I think I nailed it.
May I introduce you to a large wheat dough Mellow Mushroom pie with an olive oil and garlic base (extra garlic please), fresh mozzarella cheese and black olives – no meats. Doesn’t that look awesome. I also sprinkled it with red pepper flakes. The pizza cost $16.96. And here’s the kicker. Me and the wife like to call this kind of meal, a meal that keeps on giving. There is enough pizza to last a couple of more nights – Deal of the Day, right?
So for a total of $25.00 (including a tip), we have a meatless dinner that lasts three nights for two peeps. So that’s what, $4.17 a person? Not bad for a dude huh? So I hope I pulled off Shopping Around the World this month.
Thanks again to cousins Teddy and Angel Sammy for hosting this month. Sending you much love from the Hotel Thompson ❤
Welcome my friends to SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY. This is the time that I will introduce you to one of my fellow anipals so you can get to know them better. Some of them, you may already know. We hope that you enjoy this series!
Name: TinkerToy (but everybody who wants to live calls me TINK)
Age: 2 last October (that makes me a teenager, according to Mom, and that’s when she promised I could get my learner’s permit and start blogging, so I did – and I do)
Location: A great big apartment with a teeny tiny porch facing a little tiny yard next to a really noisy road in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mom works there, too – so we spend most of our time together. In her office.
Web/Blog Page: Mom hogs our only computer (no offense meant, Bacon!) – so I only get to be a Guest Blogger on ADDandSoMuchMORE.com every once in a while. Here’s a link to my very first blog post, Blogging Tips from a Shih Tzu
You can find others from there, using the Guest Posts drop-down on the bottom center of Mom’s menu bar – at the top of every page – scroll down to my name, and then click for a blog roll of what I’ve blogged (so far).
Except for just a few other 2-legses guest posts, she wrote the rest herself – 2-legs stuff, mostly (and kinda’ boring if you ask me), but she did write a GREAT one on the day she went to pick me up for the very first time. ALL I want for Christmas is . . . A Shih Tzu Puppy
What were your first thoughts when you met your new parents? At first I was sort of confused. Aunt Peggy took the trip with Mom to come get me in upstate Ohio. I’ve since figured out that Mom could get lost in a bathtub, so Aunt Peggy came to keep it a day trip instead of a weekend with a hotel stay in Kansas, she says.
I thought they were both really nice, but Aunt Peggy was holding me and making little cooing-clucking noises while Mom did some other stuff with my birth-Mom’s Mom. I couldn’t figure out what was going on until after the l-o-n-g ride in that big noisy wheelie thing that I now know is a wanna’-ride-in-the-car.
Mom held me on her lap wrapped in a really soft blanket inside a big purse with windows for the whole long trip — while Aunt Peggy pretty much ignored me, kinda’ dizzy from the whizzing in the big front window she kept staring at, I guess.
I wasn’t really sure we weren’t on the way to a new vet or something until Mom and I got out and Aunt Peggy kept on going. I was even more confused when we went inside. There was a big tree IN the house, with lights on it and a bunch of other stuff – and she kept putting me in scarves and things to take my picture.
NOW I know that’s how she celebrates Christmas, but I don’t mind sayin’ it was really weird that first day. But I figured Mom was a pretty understanding two-legs, since she didn’t leave my side for several days and nights. So I knew I’d be okay until somebody came to take me back home where all the trees stayed outside.
What was the defining moment when you knew you were in your forever home? That one’s easy – the treats. Mom already had my food, a couple of special beds, blankets, toys and stuff for me, and she knew that I was used to going potty on peepee pads. But I was afraid I’d have to go without my treats in this new place.
The first time she came near me with a piece of banana, I suspected that maybe I wasn’t going back home – that this WAS gonna’ be home now. When she finally noticed I was getting a bit tired of bananas and handed over the carrots and the broccoli, I knew my suspicions were right — and I pretty much figured that I had it made!
Not having to share helped me get over missing my brothers and sisters too. FAST. I didn’t even cry once. I actually love to be with mostly two-legses now. None of the four-legses ever have any treats.
What has been your biggest “Oh no, now I’ve done it” moment so far in your home? That would have to be a tie between shredding the toilet paper,, tearing up the peepee pads, and pulling the stuffing out of one of the couch pillows and burying it in special places all over our apartment. (I think the two-legses aren’t as fond of a change of texture now and then, and they get crazy when we four-legses LOVE it).
I could tell Mom was really mad because she used her bad-dog voice when she turned her eyes from that little box thing with the sounds and earmuffs she talks to all the time and caught me at it — and she growled every time she found another little bit of something I’d hidden somewhere new.
She still hasn’t put the stuffing back in that couch pillow, by the way. It’s on some list, she says – even though anybody could see it plain as day on the table.
Who do you have wrapped around your paws more – mom or dad – and why? I don’t have a Dad . My friend Xander doesn’t have a Mom, so I guess some dogs only get one or the other — and boy am I’m glad I got the one I did. Uncle Jason is great and all, but Mom’s a push-over.
She plays frisbee with me, fetch toys down our long hallway, and is pretty much always good for a quick game of find the ball under the furniture. She also keeps the tangles out of my coat (mostly), cooks special treats like sweet potato chewies, and fixes special food so I’m not stuck with those dry health-food chunks all the time.
When its nice outside and I’ve been really good she takes me to play with these little two-legses in the park. But the best thing is when we walk to a lake near where we live – and I get to play with the big 2-legses who are trying to rescue the fish on these sticks with strings. Before we head home I get up on one of the benches and she gives me a big drink of water – and treats, just for being such a great dog!
Oh yeah, and her bed is MY bed now. The ones I started out with are now reserved just for naps. I even have one on my own chair next to our computer – with a little step stool so I can get down if I get bored watching her work. Since we’re in the same bed anymore, I can sometimes even wake her up (when she’s still sleeping and the sun is really bright and some dogs want to go outside!) But not always.
I wrote all about the pain of having to deal with her sleep disorderin my extra-special article for N-24 Awareness Day. Sleeping with the Enemy: Mom’s N-24
What’s the biggest misconception that humans think about you? That I am a GIRL! There’s this great Cheers bar on my route (where everybody knows my name). My fan club hangs there, and we check in during our night walks. But they keep saying “she.” Haven’t they ever seen a topknot before? It’s not just girls who want to be able to see, for pete sakes – and my bangs grow really fast. Sheesh!
Hope you enjoyed meeting my friend – check back next week for another Spotlight edition!
Oh Yes – do a little dance – shake your booty – today, February 22, is a holiday that mom can definitely live up and enjoy – National Margarita Day! Mom especially likes either a frozen mango margarita with a sugar rim OR a habanero margarita with just enough spice. So whether you enjoy the spice, frozen, on the rocks or fruity – find that lost shaker of salt and enjoy you a margarita today in celebration of this fantastic holiday!
Miniature pot bellied pig and friends - Bacon, Houdini, Hemi and all of the Rock Clan with Journalist Rocky the Squirrel all out looking for adventures from the Hotel Thompson.
Piglove 