On US Presidents...their pets and foibles....

This starts out being about "Presidential Pet Stories", which we can assume involves mostly dogs and maybe an occasional cat and perhaps a bird or two. But it gets better with Lions and Tigers and Bears (oh my!).


Two of my favorite stories...

Andrew Jackson taught his pet parrot, Pol, to swear. Pol outlived Jackson, and in fact had to be removed from Jackson's funeral service because it wouldn't stop cursing.

 Calvin Coolidge is known for not talking much, but maybe, like Dr. Doolittle, he talked to the animals – he certainly had enough of them in the White House with him. White Collies named Rob Roy and Prudence Prim; Chows, Shelties, and Terriers; raccoons, canaries, and a bobcat; a pygmy hippo; a wallaby; a black bear; and lion cubs named Tax Reduction and Budget Bureau. Coolidge started acquiring kooky pets while he was Vice President – was he our first presidential animal hoarder? – and is said to have walked his raccoon, Rebecca, around the White House on a leash or draped around his neck.

I would have like to have seen that!

Love,
Buddy

Its a Dog's Life!

Wow!  Did you see all the dogs in the news this week?

First, there was the Westminster Dog Show,

the top dog of all dog shows where they introduced six new breeds...

the Entlebucher (ent-lee-BOO'-kehr) mountain dog,

the Norwegian Lundehund (LUHN'-dee-hund),

the American English coonhound,


 (this guy has got to be my cousin, just look at that face!)

the Finnish Lapphund (LAP'-hundh),

the Cesky (CHESS'-key) terrier






 

and the Xoloitzcuintli (show-low-itz-QUINT'-lee), previously known as the Mexican Hairless.









These photographs were stolen copied taken borrowed from this website.


Then,

Malachy the Pekingese won the top dog prize at the Westminster Dog show (you know top dog of all dog shows).

A twelve pound hairball? Really?

Oh well, I suppose he deserved it.



AND

Uggie won the first Golden Collar Award,











beating out

Blackie

despite Martin Scorsese's best efforts to the contrary.









And my favorite...

Rin Tin Tin has a book written about him.

One of these days, that will be me.

Love,
Buddy

Finally V-Day is over...

It isn't that I hate Valentine's Day, it is that I don't like the hype and what could be considered unreasonable expectations of the day.  I am really sick of the shades of pink and red that have decorated all the stores since January 2nd and I hate having sentiment shoved down my throat.

I am a classy dog.  I show affection every day.   Some days I show it better than others.  I'd rather give one rose for no other reason than a passing thought than to be required to give a dozen because a specific date has arrived on the calendar.  Ugh!.

Now I can start looking forward to the next holiday.
Actually I was thinking that it would be Saint Patrick's Day - one of my favorite holidays,

but a quick look at the calendar shows that first we have to survive ;

President's Day (a Monday holiday)

Mardi Gras (aka Shrove Tuesday)

Ash Wednesday (the beginning of the Lenten season)

Leap Day

and the bane of my existence the beginning of Daylight Saving (I know, I know...certainly not a holiday but a day that I have to contend with non-the-less)

All the more reason to look forward to Saint Patrick's Day.

In the meantime I'll just have to survive by thinking happy thoughts. 

Like...

Doggie treats

Chasing squirrels

Gnawing a big ol' juicy bone

Playing with Spencer

Getting petted
and laughing a lot.











Yep, I think I'll survive.

Love,
Buddy

Ok, Ok, It is Valentine's Day

 Some love it, some hate it, some just ignore it.





I think I shall remark on it and let it go....


 If you have to be told to show your love and it has to happen on a specific day, then maybe there is something wrong with your relationship.  If you love someone, tell them every day and don't worry about the date.

Google 2012
Pre-2012
Possible Origins

 Love,
Buddy

Get Bent!

I am lucky enough to spend my day around art, good art, inspiring art, art to sooth the soul (not that my soul needs to be soothed but the art is certainly pretty to look at).   I am always on the lookout for something interesting to share.

So today I happened across this interesting site,

 which led me to this interesting site.







Now that is some funny art.  I laughed my tail off. 

Love,
Buddy

National Geographic Photos

I suppose just about everybody has heard of National Geographic or at least seen one of their photos.  This is one site you should take the time to visit everyday.  They have an enormous amount of information and you could get sucked into a black hole of lost time and image overload if you aren't careful.

 (Guess what this is)





But did you know they had a photo contest for kids? They must be raising a new crop of photographers for the future.

This one I liked.

But this is my favorite.  How cute is that?








Love,
Buddy

Feelin' Blue?

Not to worry. 

Sometimes the blue can turn into something beautiful.

Keep your head up little darlin' and I promise it will be better.


Love,
Buddy

I Want To Do This!

In the course of a day the studio receives a lot of information about art stuff.  There are art fairs, art festivals, art classes, art exhibits, art shows, art opening and artistic endeavors of all kinds, shapes and sizes.

Some are interesting (some are not) but today I found THE MOST interesting art project. Creatively, it ranks right up there with Project Runway and Destination Imagination.

It is called Mystery Build, and it does cost money, but there are prizes to be had.  More importantly, it is just the just the thing to have fun and get the creative juices flowing.  There is a theme and rules and most important, a deadline.

AND
There is a project just for kids.

Their website also has a page of art information that is worth a visit.

I especially like this piece by Paul Hill. 






Now I just have to figure out how to get my paws to create some art.

Love,
Buddy

Super Bowl?

When I think of the words Super and Bowl in the same sentence I think of food.  I think about dog type food, bones, meat, crunchy dog food and treats.



However, I hear there is something going on tomorrow called the "Super Bowl" and though great quantities of food will be consumed I guess it is really all about a game called football.  To tell you the truth, I don't know all that much about football.  In fact, I had to use Google to find out which two teams would be playing tomorrow.

In case you didn't know, they are New England Patriots

and New York Giants

and they will be playing their game in Indianapolis, Indiana.



Don't ask me, I don't know why two east coast teams are traveling to a whole 'nuther part of the US to play but I guess the site of the game is determined a very long time before they know the participants.

Anyway, I came across this article about some school in Baltimore, Maryland where the students were required to wear purple to school in support of the Baltimore Ravens (another football team) at a pep rally or they had to sit in the library.  WELL!  Talk about a misguided decision.  And after all that the Raven's didn't make it to the Super Bowl.

AND THEN
For all those who are really into football (and for those five of us who are not) I found this.  You can tour the stadium without having to drive to Indianapolis or paying $2400 to a scalper for ticket to the game.

AND if you aren't invited to or are having a party and have the need to watch the game I suppose you could go here to watch it.  I am planning on finding that Super Bowl full of dog food.

Love,
Buddy
I suppose  I wouldn't say no to some poppers.

Isn't February Just the Greatest Month?!

First of all just look at that name...the spelling is just off the wall.  It is spelled Feb-ru-ary but pronounced Feb-u-ary.  None of the other months can boast about that.  Did you know that it used to be the last month of the year before it got promoted to the second month?

Then, February is THE month that ends after 28 or 29 days.  All the other months drag on for another two or three days.  The thing about the 29 days only happens every four years which just happens to be this year.  Congratulations it is a Leap Year!

Next are all the really cool happenings and holidays that happen in February.
Ground Hog Day (2nd)
Super Bowl (5th)
Valentine's Day (14th)
Washington's Birthday (22nd)
Lincoln's Birthday (12th)
Mardi Gras (21st)
Ash Wednesday (22nd)
Dump Your Significant Jerk Week (5th through 11th)
Working Naked Day (1st)
Ice Cream For Breakfast Day (4th) 
Curling Is Cool Day (23rd)
Extraterresteral Visitor Day (9th)  no I'm not kidding
Pluto Day (18th)  and as an interesting side note to this Pluto is a Planet Day is celebrated in March.

and my favorite (because my artist, Ronnie who is an SOB, is holding me down, forcing me to type this) February is "Spunky Old Broads" month.

Go enjoy the best month of the year.

Love,
Buddy