Presents!!!

Santa Claus came to our house today in a big brown truck. He left presents on the front porch and rang the bell instead of covering them with pine straw. I'm so glad he didn't come inside!

Turns out, the presents weren't from the North Pole after all. They are from my cousins Trevor and Audrey in Virginia. Daddy said they got more than a foot of snow up in Virginia this week. They must have shipped our presents just in time.

Daddy opened the box and put the gifts under the tree. Of course I checked them out. I needed to know if any were for me. I was excited to see three presents with my name on them!

Tico got three presents, too. He seemed awfully interested in my pile. Looks like I'm going to have to keep a close eye on my presents between now and Christmas. Wouldn't want anything to happen to them.

Tico and I helped Daddy wrap presents for Trevor and Audrey. We wrapped and wrapped and wrapped! Daddy laughed and laughed and said the kids were going to be so surprised. I hope so. I love surprises almost as much as car rides!

We also have presents from Grandma Buggs. She doesn't like it when you call her Grandma, but that's who she is. Daddy said she loves chihuahuas. What's not to like about someone who loves chihuahuas and sends me presents? If she wants me to call her Buggs I reckon I'll call her Buggs.

I can't wait to open my presents. Hope nobody got me socks, underwear, or scratchy sweaters. Toys and treats, however, are always welcome.

Chi-ao!

Our Day at the Office

Tico and I went to work with Daddy yesterday. You really have to be a good dog to go to work with Daddy. I get to go all the time because I am such a good girl. Tico has come with us once before, but only to run in to say hello to everyone. Yesterday we both got to go.

Daddy was supposed to bring the camera. He wanted some pictures of us playing in his newly renovated office but forget the camera. Just as well. We all know photography isn't his strong suit. When I'm famous and the money starts rolling in, we're hiring a real photographer I know up in Flemingsburg, Kentucky.

Tico and I have known the people at Daddy's office since we were babies and love them like family. Everyone is just crazy about us. Well, almost everyone. One lady is afraid we'll do our business on the new carpet. She must think we grew up in a barn or something. Tico wanted to pee on her leg. I reminded him such things were simply not done by us southern chihuahuas.

After making our rounds and saying hi to everyone, we finally got to see Daddy's newly renovated office. Nice, but not nearly as interesting as before. A dog could spend a lifetime sorting through all the smells in the old carpet. Now all I smell is new carpet, fresh paint, and Daddy.

Daddy put the baby gate up to keep Tico from wandering off and gave each of us a new chew stick. Then we settled down to do some work. I laid under Daddy's desk and worked on my chew stick. Tico positioned himself with his so he could keep an eye on the door and the people passing by.

Visitors popped in and out all afternoon. Time flies when you're having fun at work. By the time we finished our chew sticks it was time to go home. I hope we go again soon. And next time, I'm not working for anything less than two chew sticks.

Chi-ao!

A Changed Dog

Santa Claus has changed my life. I mean it. Before Santa, being a good girl really wasn't on my "to do" list. But ever since Daddy told me about Santa Claus I've been trying really hard to be a good girl all the time.

From playing nice with Tico to coming when I'm called, I am bringing my good girl full on. No pooping in the house, no chewing on the furniture, and no ripping the head off the snowman on the Christmas tree skirt or any of Tico's toys. I'm telling you, I'm a changed dog.

I have to admit, being bad is a lot more fun than being good. I know you know what I'm talking about. Knocking the trashcan over and sniffing through the garbage is a blast! Any dog would agree.

Being a bad girl makes Daddy mad, especially if he has to chase me. You should see Daddy when he's mad. Tico totally freaks out and freezes in place. Daddy's face turns red as he's running and huffing and puffing and yelling and cussing. I'm telling you it's hysterical. Ask any of our neighbors.

Then I found out you get nice gifts for being good and a lump of coal for being bad. Well spank me with a rolled up newspaper! Why didn't someone explain this to me earlier? Am I too late?  What do I do with a lump of coal?

Now that I understand how things work, I deeply regret some of my actions. Mistakes were made. I was young and maybe a tad impetuous. You live, you learn, you move on.

I hope Santa Claus notices how good I am all the time. Whatever he brings me, whether it be a lump of coal or something nice, I still hope he just leaves it outside under a little pine straw.

Chi-ao!

Christmas Pictures 2009: Out Takes

Daddy has been taking lots of pictures of Tico and me around our Christmas tree. Sometimes he even dresses us up. He says the pictures are for family, friends and of course, my fans. I think they deserve better.

You know I love Daddy but his photographic skills leave much to be desired. He says he took much better photos with his Kodak Instamatic, back when a camera was a camera. I suspect he's making stuff up. Let's take a look at some of his best work.

What was he thinking? For starters, the lighting is horrible, and I wasn't even ready. This is my bad side, too. Daddy likes this side because of the "M" patch on my hip. If you want to see my butt, I prefer photos that show the heart-shaped spot on my other hip.

OK. This one would be cute if we didn't look like deer caught in the headlights and were wearing our gay apparel. Details Daddy...it's all about the details.

In this picture we look like one of those pitiful, homeless chihuahuas in Los Angeles-area shelters. Won't you make our Christmas wish come true and give us a home before they gas us? Please? Seems a tad exploitive if you ask me.

Daddy should keep his day job and hire a professional photographer.  We're entirely too cute for mediocre photography.  Don't you think?

Chi-ao!

Holiday Preparations

We spent the day getting ready for Christmas. Daddy and I cleaned house while Tico and Anneedabus worked on our Christmas tree. Fa la la la la.

Anneedabus dragged boxes and boxes of decorations out of the attic. Tico got to help because he learned how to decorate last Christmas, before I was born. Age does have its advantages.

Once the tree was decorated Daddy made us don our gay apparel. I mean this stuff is really gay. Who would wear a red harlequin collar with jingle bells? At least he didn't have to wear the reindeer hat.

My own ensemble is a belted red velvet coat with ermine trim on both sleeves, around the hood, and along the bottom. According to the label it's by that up and coming designer, Made Inchina. If we ever go for a sleigh ride, at least I'll have something to wear.

We still have a lot to do before Santa comes.  Anneedabus still hasn't settled on a menu or started baking for the holidays.  Daddy needs to take me shopping, too.  Hopefully we won't see any dog clothes. 

Chi-ao!

Toodles Writes to Santa Claus

Dear Santa,

I hear you are coming to visit me and Tico in a few weeks. Daddy said you will fly to our house on a sleigh pulled by a bunch of reindeer. Are you serious?!?! Sounds like more fun than a car ride!

You'll come in the middle of the night, drop down our chimney, snack on our cookies and milk, and leave us presents. I'm frankly terrified! You or one of your reindeer will surely step on me. Is there no other way?

Cats in our neighborhood leave gifts for me all the time. I don't have to write any letters, leave any cookies, deal with them coming into our house in the middle of the night, or worry about being trampled by reindeer. Just leave your gift in the yard, cover it with a little pine straw and be on your way. See?

Daddy said you know if I've been bad or good. I am a really good girl. I've never been bad on purpose. If I run away now and then it's just to get Daddy's heart rate up. You gotta do what you've gotta do, Santa. I'm sure you understand.

It would be great if you could bring Tico a new sheep. I accidentally tore the head off the one he had and pulled all the stuffing out. Accidents happen.

It would make Daddy and Anneedabus very happy if you could bring them a new floor. The carpet was gross when I got here, I promise. There's nothing to be gained from pointing fingers now.

For me, well, I have so much already. Face it, me and Tico are more than a little spoiled. I'd love to see a world free of war, hate, hunger, poverty and animal shelters. If that's too much then maybe a bag of Puparoni for me to share with Tico. Really. Nothing for me.

I've attached a picture. A lot of people say I should be famous. If you agree you are in a position to really help me out. I'm happy to talk about official chihuahua rights, television shows, product tie-ins, a line of toys for kids meals and rights to my life for movies. Not that I've thought about it before or anything. Just saying.

Thank you, Santa. Anneedabus will leave a plate with an assortment of his nummy-licious cookies and stuff on the porch for you so you don't have to come in. I know we can make this work.

Love and kisses,

Toodles <3

Toodles Says Thank You

This week I got to pay Daddy back for taking care of me after my operation. He has the flu and was in bed all day Monday, Tuesday and most of yesterday. When Anneedabus was at work, taking care of Daddy was up to me. He's a lot better now. You can still barely hear him talk but I think we pulled him through.

Since Daddy was sick we had to cancel our car ride to Roanoke. Anneedabus loves to cook, and was going to fix Thanksgiving dinner for Grandma Buggs, Aunt Missy, Uncle Barry, and my cousins Trevor and Audrey. I've never met them but Tico has. He says Trevor and Audrey are our kind of people because they like to play ALL the time.

Trevor is almost 12. He plays all kinds of sports. His football team didn't lose a game this year and even won the Super Bowl. He's also in Boy Scouts so he gets to go camping and hiking. He's really smart and makes good grades in school. Daddy is so proud of him!

Audrey is nearly 10. She's a famous ballerina and has danced in several shows a year since she was a little girl. She must be beautiful because Daddy says she's even prettier than me. She could have any boy she wanted but she'll be too busy with her career for a boyfriend until she's at least 30. I just know when we meet we're going to be best friends forever.

Anneedabus is cooking all the food we were taking to Roanoke for our Thanksgiving Dinner. He says he's not cooking again until every bit of it is gone. The house smells great! I hope they put some turkey in our dog food.

I am blessed in so many ways. Thank you Daddy and Anneedabus for rescuing me and Tico and for loving us so much. We love you, too.

I am especially grateful for all of you who take time out of your busy lives to read our blog. Making you smile makes me happy. I love you all.

Happy Thanksgiving!