Gifts!

The last time we wrote we mentioned a new friend in Malaysia but we didn't elaborate. This time, we will.

This past summer we got a fan-mail from a lady named Sarah. She complimented both of us outrageously, (we love compliments!), and she told us how much she enjoyed looking at our pictures and reading all of our thoughts and then she said she'd like to send us a gift because she is such a big fan.

We thought, "holy cow!" She seemed like a very nice lady - she said she wished it was cool enough in Malaysia for her to have a newf but since it isn't, we're the next best thing. She also said she'd been reading our blog since Nanook was only 6 months old! She wrote a bit about our personalities and she got us dead on - she totally knows us, you guys. And she wanted to send us a present. At first we weren't sure if we should accept or not because we hadn't really done anything to deserve a present and also Malaysia is very far away - shipping must be dreadful! But she insisted and so we thanked her very much and said okay.

Our presents arrived in August, (that's how far behind we are in our blogging! Sorry guys!), and oh my gosh they were gorgeous. They still are, because we've still got 'em. And since we're trying to be better bloggers and catch up on all of these posts that we missed, we finally did our photo shoot so that we can show them off to you guys!

The presents arrived with a very nice note attached that said that since she makes HUMAN jewelry, she was afraid she didn't have anything that could survive two robust newfs, so she hoped the Mama would wear the jewelry for us. We're okay with that. But we thought we ought to wear our presents at least ONCE - so we rocked 'em for the photo shoot!

First, Nanook-

Sarah Wrote: "The pink charm bracelet is specially designed for Nanook. The woofie charms represent Nanook who is always around his Mama, who is represented by the other charms. Because of his affection for her as can be detected by the pictures posted, (reflected in his eyes, the way he looks at her and to her), and also because he's such a Mama's boy! I'd like to call this one, "Nanook Loves His Mama."

(Mama's Note: I think he's looking so disgruntled below because he's thinking, "great - now NO ONE will believe I'm not really Bojie's girlfriend.")

(Mama's Note: Nanook has a long history of bending, or outright breaking, traditional gender roles. I refer specifically to the times when he wore marabou feather barrettes. Since Sarah has been reading his blog since he was 6 months old, she obviously knows all about it!)

Next, Pooka-

Sarah Wrote: "The clusters with beads in no proper order sets my mind to Pooka - all over the place, a little bit of everything, playful, Pooka's got no worries, he's just happy! He IS Pooka! The theme is because Pooka loves the sea so much. This cluster bracelet designed for Pooka is simply named after him."

And as if those gorgeous bracelets were not enough - she ALSO sent The Mama a present too! Actually, she sent her THREE presents, a bracelet, a necklace AND earrings. Pooka has been thinking about getting his ears pierced because he likes the Mama's earrings so much, but I think he'd look a bit dopey. His ears are way big enough as it is, he doesn't need to draw any more attention to them.

Still, since the Mama is a bit camera shy, she let Pooka wear her present for the photo shoot.

So guys, we want to get very serious for a second. We feel like this has been an object lesson in the way that all of us, never meeting, can still touch one another's lives - just by being honest and true and putting ourselves out there, a little. So often all you hear about are the BAD things that can happen if you share too much on the internet.

You never know what ripples your actions and choices will have out in the wide world - if a silly dog blog from New Jersey can touch and inspire a woman who makes jewelry in Malaysia, then ANYTHING is possible! Be brave - people can be, and often are, wonderful.

And if anyone is looking for some extremely cool jewelry, check her out!

Thank you again, Sarah for the gift of you!

All our love,

Nanook, Pooka and The Mama

We're Okay!

Sorry guys, I know we've been gone for like, forever. And it's totally uncool because so many neat things have happened! We made a new friend in Malaysia, we went to the Newf.net get together in CT, we met Randi's mama and papa, (OMD!), we have been to the beach and Pooka has totally recovered from his butt-surgery! Also, our parents had a party and we weren't invited.

Not. Cool.

We had to hang out in our bedroom for DAYS while they ate and drank and danced. All those sniffs unsniffed! All those people unslimed! It was really depressing.

But we are getting back into the swing of things. Promise! Although it is hard because now the air outside our house is crisp and cool and we want to be outside taking naps and not INSIDE typing things. We are so glad that winter is back! Anyway, after we've had a good long talk with Photobucket about how long it takes to upload photographs, we will have LOTS of neat things to tell you about.

Lotsa Licks,

Nanook and Pooka

Nike. How Could You?

Okay sure, you say you aren't endorsing him again...but you're clearly willing to have him represent your products on the public stage.

Un.Cool. Here is how we feel about you giving Michael Vick free merchandise.

1. Angry. We're seriously annoyed, Nike. Why on earth would you be willing to have that murdering cretin model your athletic gear?







2. Worried. We're concerned that kids and other impressionable people will feel that your endorsement, in goods if not in monetary contracts, means that the crimes he committed are easily forgivable and ought to be forgotten. But so many dogs lost their lives at his hands that we will NEVER forgive him. And we won't forgive you either, Nike.





3. Depressed. We were really hoping you guys would make a stand about the kind of conduct that is, and is not, acceptable from rational adults. He made an incredible number of poor decisions and he acted with wanton cruelty and disregard for life.







The fact that you don't appear to care about that makes us want to bite something. Or someone.



Personally, we'd like to tie him up and leave him someplace dark and scary, with lots of biting insects.

We won't forgive Michael Vick, Nike. And we certainly won't be buying any of your merchandise!

Cancer? I hardly KNOW her!

The vet just called to say, "I've got good news!" No sign of malignancy in the biopsy. Pooka is officially cancer free and is going to be just fine!

Whoooooooo!

Pooka's Famous!

A while ago Pook posed for an ad photoshoot. The lady who designed our new dog bath wanted a new advertising shot. Since I had my sore paw that day, and the Mama said forcing me to pose for a photo shoot with an owwie paw would be WAY too Crazy Stage Mama, POOKA got to be the model. Boo.

We got an advance copy of the October/November Design NJ magazine, which featured the Show Home at Sheep's Run, and guess who has his very own full page spread? He's even on the website. Lookin' good, little brother...

Update on the Pook

Hey y'all - the Mama here. Pooka is home safe and resting semi-comfortably. His eyes are a bit itchy and he's not crazy about his stitches, but he can't reach them (not that flexible) and his appetite is very good. He was a bit woozy and weird when he first got home, but a drink, some food and a long nap have really perked him up.

Thank you for all of your well wishes and crossed paws! The biopsy has been sent to a lab for analysis and we'll know more in 48 to 72 hours. I'll keep you posted.

Pooka's Behind Takes Center Stage. Again.

Well, actually usually it is MY tush that is front and center on everyone's minds...because it is FABULOUS...but this time Pooka's tushy is having its turn.

Please forgive the graphic photo, by the way - and a warning: this post is going to be pretty disgusting. Women and children may not wish to read it. Anyone eating something might not want to read it either.

Here's the story. A month ago the Mama was watching Pooka run, which is always a pleasure, and she noticed a white spot under his tail, below and to the left of his anus. She called him over and investigated, and found a patch of skin that was a little raised, like a bee sting. When it didn't go away after a day or two she took Pooka to the vet. The vet stuck a needle in it, (HORROR!), and put it on a slide and eyeballed it but said he hadn't gotten enough cells to be able to say for sure if it was cancer or not-cancer. He didn't think cancer was very likely though, so he said to keep an eye on it, and bring Pooka back in if it got bigger. So every day, for the past month, the Mama has been looking at Pooka's behind. Hah!

Well, on Saturday she looked at it, and she nearly fainted! It had grown! Boy had it grown! It was like, the size of an egg! (Mama's Note: It was. It was huge. It was horrifying. I totally freaked out.) So the Mama totally freaked out, and yelled for the Papa. He came and looked, and HE totally freaked out. The Mama said, "it looks like it is seeping something." And she got a piece of paper towel, wet it with warm water, and swabbed at the spot to clean it up. Only when she did that, it totally burst! And not just a little burst, either. It positively fountained! It shot clear across the room! It also shot clear across the Mama. (Mama's Note: Most. Disgusting. Moment. Of. My. Life.) The Mama sat back on her heels, said, "Oh my GOD!" sat in shock for a few seconds, and then ran for the bathroom. She had to clean it out of her hair, you guys. Hahahahahahahahahahaha!

(Mama's Note: *incoherent sobbing* I washed my hair five times that night. Five times. This could ONLY happen to me. The smell, the smell, the horrible smell!!!)

I was there, so I know what it looked like. Mostly it was a clear yellowish serum, but there was this dirty whitish-brown exudate as well. Like from a pimple. Only grosser. The Mama was in the bathroom for a WHILE. Then she came out and called the vet. Only here's the thing - we were in VIRGINIA! You know, Virginia, on the buffalo farm, hiking and swimming and having a fabulous time? Well, Pooka's behind sure put a damper on things. And not just because the Mama couldn't take us swimming that afternoon because she was busy washing her hair.

(Mama's Note: I relived that moment over and over again all afternoon long in my mind, you guys. In slow motion. Oh god oh god oh god.)

The vet was able to fit us in first thing in the morning on Monday. So the Mama, the Papa, Pooka and I spent all day Sunday driving back home from Virginia. Pooka's Magical Exploding Butt ruined our vacation! Okay that's an exaggeration but there was still a lot of hiking and swimming left to do, in MY opinion, and we didn't do it because we had to transport His Royal HindEndness back to civilization. Hmph.

Anyway, we got back to New Jersey and he had his appointment yesterday morning. The Mama had started to calm down a little bit after doing some google searching on the subject of exploding butt boils - she was thinking it was probably just a sebaceous cyst and nothing to really worry about. But when the vet saw it, then HE freaked out! He took a needle again, (seriously, what is the deal with vets and needles? Is it some kind of weird hobby?) and he got some more cells, and he stuck them on a slide and then he practically ran out of the room. He told the Mama that the rate of growth of this thing was very concerning. So then she started to freak out AGAIN. Only she had to be brave and upbeat for Pooka because he's a little sissy boy at the vets and he starts crying if he gets worried. Or sees another dog that looks worried. Or smells the smell that a dog makes when they are worried. Or thinks about anything. The Mama has to distract him by asking him to do his tricks and stuffing treats in his face to keep his mind off of where they are and why. Personally, I think that's ridiculous. I mean, I'm always happy when I go to the vet, and THEY TOOK MY TESTICLES AWAY! So what does HE have to be upset about? Seriously? Well, up until now, anyway...

Moving on, the vet came back after looking at the cells and he appeared much calmer. He said the worst case scenario, and the thing he'd been worried about, was seeing mast cells on the slide, because that would mean that Pooka's butt had a mast cell tumor on it, and it would be very tricky to operate and remove it because it is so close to his anus and you really need a big clean margin when you cut those out because they are bigger than they look. But he said he hadn't seen ANY mast cells on the slide, and he had been expecting to see LOTS of them, so that was a very good thing. All he saw, as a matter of fact, were red and white blood cells - evidence of an infection. Which we'd basically already known since when Mount Vesuvius-in-the-rear had erupted on the Mama, it had erupted white blood cells. Good times. He took Pooka's temperature, (no fever), and then he seriously investigated the area. The Mama told him she'd given Pooka's tush a bath that morning as a favor to him. As someone else has pointed out, that is the canine equivalent of always wearing clean underpants.

So now the doctor told the Mama that it might be a sebaceous cyst, it might be a basal cell tumor, or it might be a perianal adenoma. Although he said he rather doubted the last one since Pooka is so very young. The options were to leave it alone, do a course of antibiotics, and see if it went away on its own, or to remove it. The sticky bit about leaving it, of course, is that if it gets any bigger, and it's NOT just a sebaceous cyst, that removing it in the future would be really hard since it would have gotten even closer to his important bits. The sticky bit about removing it is that Pook has to go under anesthesia, which always makes the Mama nervous, and it IS in a tough spot to operate on. Then the vet asked the Mama how she felt about it. She said she felt terrified - mostly because if she decided to leave it, and it WAS cancer, she'd never forgive herself. So the vet said, "well then we're taking it off."

So tomorrow my little brother Pooka, (whom we have been affectionately calling, "lumpy butt"), is going to have the lump removed, in surgery. Now he'll have a legitimate reason to whine when he goes to the vet. But to be honest, you guys, I really wish he didn't have to go. Cross your paws for him please!

Hiatus.

Hey - Nanook here with a status report. We've been on vacation! Okay not really. Or at least, it has been more of a STAY-cation, but we've been avoiding all things internet for a bit. Mostly because we don't have any new photos to show you guys, and we always think posts without pictures are a little boring.

However, we have got a really neat post in the works, about the amazing things that can happen when you are a dead sexy newf with his own blog!

In the meantime, enjoy this photo of me and my Papa having snoozy cozy time together.

Lotsa licks,

Noodles (and Poodles)

Did You Miss Us?

Hey y'all, Pooka here.  Sorry we've been gone for sooooo long guys, but there is a very good reason for it.  We were baby sitting!  And it is really hard work so we didn't have time to blog, even at NIGHT because by the time the babies no longer needed sitting on, we were EXHAUSTED.  

For the record, human two year olds?  Yeah, they never stop moving.  Like, ever.  I mean, I'm a CANINE two year old and I stop moving ALL THE TIME.  Sometimes I "hold down the floor" for hours and hours.  But human two year olds?  Not so much.  And they have a deadly fascination with bodies of water!  Nanook and I were on our guard the WHOLE time.  

We should never have let our humans put in those two koi ponds.  They are like deadly kid magnets.  Mosquito zappers for toddlers, if you will.  It required every ounce of our Newf rescue instincts to keep the wee ones safe.

If we let our guard down for a SECOND, this happened!

Oh my god!  Who has eyes on the baby?  WHERE IS THE BABY!?  CHECK THE PONDS!!!  If we discovered a situation like this, you better believe we got in there quick and regulated.

"I want three points of contact with the ground at all times, kids!  THREE!  Your tush counts as one!  I want to see hands gripping something sturdy!  I want to see feet in the water only!   Atten...HUT!"

"Fiona, that's only TWO points of contact!  Don't make me come over there!"

With two toddlers, two newfs become necessary.  Luckily, we ARE two newfs.  I mostly watched the little girl, because I'm Pooka and that's just how I roll...and Nanook kept a weather eye on Adrian.  

We're not exclusive in our affections, so I gave him a paw with Adrian every so often.

"Dude.  There are FISH in this pond!  Did you know there were fish in this pond??!"

Another important duty - guarding kids that climb trees.  Seriously, they could totally fall out of there and get hurt!  We glared at him and told him to come down, but he ignored us.  So Nanook got close enough to provide him with a soft landing if he should fall.  Heh.  A "VERY" soft landing, if you know what I mean.  Heh.  Heh.  

I mean that Nanook is a little fat.  That's what I mean.  You guys got that, right?  It'd be like landing on a fringed pillow.

I also guarded any and all explorations of the gardens - keeping an eye out for rabbits, deer, and other deadly creatures.  They are wily, and you just NEVER KNOW.  Look at the innocent way that that croquet ball is just lying there.  But at ANY MOMENT, it could strike!  Babies must be protected.  It is a 24 hour job.  We are only on duty about 8 of those hours though, because the rest of the time we are sleeping.  Obviously, in order to be our best - to keep our instinctive response to danger honed RAZOR sharp - we require lots of beauty rest.

With all that said though, there are limits.  Any toddler venturing this close to the bee hives is ON HIS OWN.

That's just nuts, right there.