While The Human Is Away

Sam;s badge by Zoolatry.

Jan:  Many thanks to Ann of Zoolatry for the lovely graphic of Sam and to all who have visited, left a comment, or sent an email since we posted Thursday on Sam's health issues:  (Body here, personality missing.)  I can't get around to visiting all of you to leave a comment, so I started to reply to those commenters I have an email address for, then thought better of it since I don't want Google to shut my email down thinking I'm spa--ing.  But everything has been appreciated. 

Sam is sleeping for a few hours at a time now and then pacing at least two hours before sliding to the floor wherever he is.  The weather has turned cold again so I have to lift him to his feet to walk him to his bed, lift him onto it, and maneuver him down, then position his legs so he can be comfortable.  When he is up and wandering, I have to keep an eye on him as he gets himself into tight places and could get hurt.  Or yank out the computer cords, or blow up the house (gas space heaters), or ... the list is endless.

He has moved furniture, including a bureau and a bookcase, gotten his head stuck between "floors" of the cat tree, tried to burn his nose on a hot heater, and worn me out from extricating him from places it isn't possible for such a big dog to be.

After he got "tangled" in Marcus's crate the other night, I was surprised to see he again wandered into it by accident on Saturday.  This time he walked straight in, waited, then u-turned to his left without falling over, and walked out of the crate.  I was thrilled.  But then he went to the corner outside the bathroom and stood there so long I backed him up and turned him around. 

Sam has not made a sound since he had the seizure on the 5th.  Not a bark or a whimper.   One really weird observation.  A dog's whiskers are sensors.  They have a purpose, one being to help him to not bump into things.   I noticed several days ago Sam's whiskers are gone.  I can't imagine what happened to them.

He is keeping me busy!   And now the crew can have their blog back.

BUDDY:  Okay, guys, she's going to shut the computer down soon, so we have to hurry.

MICAH:  I didn't think she would ever stop talking.

CYNDI:  Who gave her permission to take over our blog?

PERCY:  Uh ... I think I did.

MERCI:  Why would you do that?

PERCY:  Because she asked if we would mind if she said a few words and I said okay. 

RUSTY:  Were you drinking?  You know when it comes to words she can't count!

CYNDI:  That's okay this time.  It was for our Sam.

MARCUS:  We can all use a good laugh and we figure you can too, so we hope you will enjoy our Sunday Smile for today.

MERCI:  This is what Susie the Beagle does when her human is not home.

MICAH:  What do you dogs - or cats - do while your human is away from home?


If the video doesn't play, click here.

We didn't have a chance to do an actual selfie for today.  We hope it is okay to let Zoolatry's picture of Sam stand-in for one today.

Join the Sunday Selfie blog hop hosted by the Cat on My Head blog.

Micah's Sunday Selfie

MICAH:  Hey, Jan, are you there?  Is this camera on?  I can't see myself in the lens.  How do I look?

BUDDY:  What are you doing?  You look like an out of focus giraffe.

MICAH:  Do you think anyone will know it's me?

BUDDY:  Well, they will now that you've announced yourself.

MICAH:  Good.  I would hate to be unrecognizable for my first selfie post.

BUDDY:  I think this is a good time to present the Sunday Smile video.

MICAH: Two labs jumped in a canoe when it started to float away and a third dog swam out to  rescue them.

BUDDY:  What teamwork!  One lab dropped the rope in the water and the rescue dog towed them to shore. 


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Join the Sunday Selfie blog hop hosted by the Cat on My Head blog.

B&W Selfie Smile Winners

Cyndi: Happy Sunday to all our six of our readers.

Rusty: Are you serious, we only have six readers?

Merci: No, Cyndi is exaggerating. We actually have seven.

Micah: I thought exaggerating meant inflating the numbers, not deflating them.

Camreon: I think you mean depreciating the numbers, not deflating them. Unless someone stuck a pin in the numbers.

Sam: That would likely be Jan. She's in such a crabby mood since she started deep cleaning the house and cut a chunk out of her hand. If there are any numbers floating around, she's more likely to stick a pin in them than to dust or vacuum them.

Buddy:  Well, I guess we better get right to our post before she sticks a pin in that too.  This is our black and white version of a photo we published yesterday.  To see it as our Saturday art in sepia, the original, and HDR-ish, visit Today We Are Ish.  Go ahead.  Click on the link.  We'll wait.


Marcus: We promised to announce the winners of our Howloween ... um, Halloween costume giveaway today.  We used Random.org to pick the winners.  Congratulations to -

Miley from Miley's Daily Scoop.
                  and
Dory from Dory's Backyard. 

Please send us your shipping address ASAP and Entirely Pets will send you both a costume.  Be sure to include the costume you would like from the Entirely Pets link and the size. 


Percy: Our Sunday Smile is a very short video of a cat using sign language to ask for food from his human.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Daily reminder:  If you don't have a favorite shelter in the Vetericyn giveaway, please consider voting for PAWS, Norwalk CT once daily through October 15.   Many of you know of PAWS through Kevin from Animal Shelter Volunteer blog.  Your vote matters. 

1. Click on this link.  bit.ly/1qVZSBi  (it will open a new tab)
2. Click on "Click here to vote for a small animal organization". PAWS, Norwalk, CT will appear.
3.Click "Vote".

We want to support the Kitties Blue Sunday Selfie blog hop, so we will pretend our black and white photo for today is a selfie.  (We did pretty good, didn't we?)

The Black and White Sunday blog hop is co-hosted by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Nola the Dachshund.

Cuff Him and Grill Him

Percy:  Yesterday we posted our weekend art.  We are re-posting the black and white version for today's B&W blog hop.

Cameron:  You can read Merci Blushes to see all the versions, including the original.

Marcus:  And then you'll see why Merci blushes.  And I had nothing to do with it, so no one can blame me.

Rusty:  Marcus, you always have something to do with whatever mischief is going on.

Sam:  That's right.  You were there.  You're in the picture.  It was all your fault whether you had anything to do with it or not!

Merci:  Guys, can we change the subject, please?  For once, Marcus really is innocent.  If Jan had opened her eyes when she took the picture, no one would ever know.

Cyndi:  Shall I laugh now or wait until Marcus confesses?

Micah:  He's already said he's innocent.  Can we grill him?  Cuff him to the chair, turn the hot lights on him, and grill him?

Marcus:  What did I do to you, Micah?

Micah:  Nothing.  I've just always wanted to say that.  It sounds like fun.

Buddy:  I know how you feel, Marcus.  They used to pick on me.  One day they'll grow up.  Meanwhile, we have an adorably cute video for our Sunday Smile.  Charlotte and her best friend Zoe the Basset Hound dance on the deck.


If the video doesn't play, click here.


Micah:  Here, Marcus, we'll make it up to you for teasing you today.  We'll post this photo from when you were little.  Your legs were too short to take it yourself but we'll pretend you did so we can support the Kitties Blue.

Join the Kitties Blue at Cat on My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop.

And don't forget the Black and White Sunday blog hop with co-hosts Sugar the Golden Retriever and Nola the Dachshund.

Percy Butts Cyndi

Cyndi:  Nooooo!  This is so not fair!  It's my week to do a Sunday Selfie and my picture is ruined! 

Buddy:  I don't see a problem.  You look beautiful, Cyndi.  What's the matter?

Cyndi:  How can you not notice?  That big butt in the picture is not mine. I am dainty and feminine and I don't have stripes.  I was photobombed by a butt.

Percy:  Hey, that's me and I resent being called a bit butt. I'm a pretty lean mancat.  

Cyndi: Jan, where is the camera?  I need a redo. 

Merci:  Wait, Cyndi.  Look at that beautiful face.  You are startling in black and white.

Cyndi:  Well, yes, but the picture is still ruined with Percy in it.

Cameron:  No, it isn't.  You can just pretend you don't mind sharing the spotlight with Percy's ... uh, hindquarters and you'll come across as a great sister and a good sport.

Marcus:  Here, we'll throw in a sepia version.  You know how we dogs love dirt.

Cyndi:  Are you saying I look dirty in this picture?

Marcus:  No, no.  I'm just saying I love sepia because I love the color of dirt and you look good in sepia.

Rusty:  What do you say, Cyndi?  Can we go ahead and post your lovely photo so we can all go to bed and this can auto post in the morning?

Cyndi:  Well, okay, as long as readers understand that is not my big butt!

Sam: Thanks, Cyndi.  Now we can get on to our Sunday Smile.  We love this short video with the dogs in wheelchairs.  They don't see themselves as any more disabled than the other dogs on the walk..

Micah: This is such a happy, encouraging video.  Notice how excited the dogs in wheelchairs are as they chase a stick together.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Daily Reminder until October 15:  And please help PAWS Norwalk, CT to win the Vetericyn giveaway.  Voting is so easy.  No apps and no sign-in. You can vote once daily through October 15.

1. Click on this link.  bit.ly/1qVZSBi  (it will open a new tab)
2. Click on "Click here to vote for a small animal organization". PAWS, Norwalk, CT will appear.
3.Click "Vote".

If you aren't voting for another shelter in this giveaway, please consider voting and sharing this with your friends to help PAWS Norwalk, CT.

The Black and White Sunday blog hop is co-hosted by Golden Sugar and Dachshund Nola.

The Kitties Blue at A Cat on My Head host the Sunday Selfies blog hop.

Marcus Takes a Selfie

Cameron:  We were so exhausted from watching Jan work around the house Friday, we didn't get our weekend art done so we didn't have a post yesterday.

Cyndi"  We have one for you today.  But since we didn't do the sepia and Caturday art, we won't do a black and white today.

Sam:  We almost did but Marcus' idea of a selfie would make you dizzier in black and white than it does in color. 

Marcus:  I'm so excited.  I volunteered to be first and Jan set the timer on the camera for me.  How do you like my selfie?

Rusty:  You look like an alien from outer space ... or inner space ... or the bedroom closet.

Micah:  You're supposed to stay still while the photo is taken, Marcus. 

Marcus:  You are?  I wonder why Jan didn't mention that when I posed?

Buddy:  She did, Marcus.  But you didn't listen. The more I look at it, though, the more it looks exactly like you.  Your mouth is always moving and your head is always flashing back and forth.   Actually, you did good, kid.  Your first selfie looks natural.  I can almost recognize you.

Merci:  Wee can't forget our Sunday Smile.  You'll enjoy watching this adorable kitten having fun exploring shoes, lots and lots of shoes.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Stop by The Cat on my Head (Kitties Blue) and join the Sunday Selfies blog hop.