Merry Christmas 2012

FROM THE "BLOG" OF
MISSY "O'SHOOT" KELLER

December, 2012

I, Missy "O'Shoot" Keller, realize that the majority of you have never read any of my "blogs", but I will give you the web address at the end of this letter.  My mommy has a lot to do and asked me if I would write the Christmas letter and make this into my Christmas Blog too.

We hope this finds you all doing very well and that you have had a nice year.  My year has been full of excitement, mostly playing with my toys, going for walks with my Daddy and being a good girl, so I can get those treasured yummies.

My sisters are fine.  I just love it to death when they come to our house and visit us.  You cannot imagine how much I jump and insist that they pick me up.  I really do insist, I make all kinds of noises until they pick me up.  I don't even care as much about the yummies as I do them picking me up and holding me.  I love both of them soooo much.

Kari is doing fine and still likes going over to California, when she can.  She, Tracy and my Mom went to San Diego on Memorial Day weekend.  Of course, they didn't take me with them, but I forgave them.  I stayed home with my Dad.  Kari is at a charter school and from what I hear from a past principal of hers, she really does a good job with classroom management.  He tells people she doesn't like "noise".  I'm glad she can handle those kids, but she spoils me...yippee.

Tracy is working very hard at her job and getting her Master's Degree in English from Northern Arizona University...online.  She is so happy that she has only one semester left.  It's pretty hard working a full-time job and doing all those papers.  It seems like when she comes to our house, she always has he nose in a book, BUT she does take time out to play with me.  Both girls will get down on the floor with me and really get me going.  They get me going so hard that I have to hurry up and get outside, almost with my legs crossed, and tear around the yard at bullet speed, before I actually go potty.  Sorry if that's gross, but it's the truth.

Daddy does the same thing as usual.  He goes for hikes with his friends and down to his brother's house in Maricopa, AZ.  He was going to go back to Iowa for his reunion this summer, but the stupid plane kept having problems, so I think about 5 or 6 hours after he was supposed to take off, they cancelled the flight.  He did not feel like taking it the next day, so he didn't go.

My mom is the same too.  She gives me lots of love and I am happy to be by her side.  She talked to me all the time and I love her lap.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Violet Had to Have a Bath

I know I talk a lot about my best friend and bed buddy Violet, but my mommy did the worst thing ever this morning.  I had Violet out in the family room and after my mom put the last load of laundry into that big contraption, she noticed Violet was laying on the floor. I watched as she snatched Violet up from the floor and watched her as she put Violet in the washing machine.  As I sadly stood in the doorway of the laundry room, I turned around to leave and my mommy told me Violet was going to get a bath.  I was shocked and I literally turned around and looked at her straight in the eyes and thought a BATH...oh no!  I know what a bath is and for the most part, I try to totally avoid them.  When my mommy tells me I need a bath, I turn around and head for any direction I can and hope she can't find me.  Of course, she always does though.

The point to this blog actually is not only that Violet had a bath, but when my mommy brought the folded clothes into the bedroom where I sleep, I had brought another toy in there.  Mr. Bumble Bee.  See, I do know the names of all my toys.  She could not believe that I had brought him into the bedroom. Well, I thought I had lost the love of my life, Violet, so I was replacing her.  I know you are probably wondering how could I love Violet so much and replace her so quickly, but I needed something in my bedroom. My mommy was surprised I didn't have my dinosaur in there, but whatever,  Mr. Bumble Bee was good for the time being.

My Violet is back, but at first I really didn't want anything to do with her because she didn't smell or taste the same. I know that is what a bath does to toys, doggies and people, but once my mommy made her squeak and then threw her and I went after her, I knew my old buddy was back.  Sorry Mr. Bumble Bee, I'll play with you out in the family room.

Never DOUBT Your Pet

I have been through this before, I have doubted my dogs and I admit I am extremely foolish for doing this.  Instead of Missy telling her story, I, her Mommy, am going to tell my story about Missy and a previous dog by the name of Cassey.

We had an incident in this house when we had Cassey that involved a cat.  Cassey hated cats and if any were in our yard, she would chase them out.  One day, she tore into our living room and faced our couch and was barking and barking at something.  I went into the living room and finally called my husband in there and he looked behind the couch and I'll be darned if there wasn't a "CAT" behind the couch.  We could only assume that it came in through the doggy door.  He took the cat outside and it went on it's way...so we thought.  The next day, all of a sudden, the same thing happened.  Cassey ran into the living room staring at the couch again, but this time, I didn't believe her.  I stood there telling her that there was NOT a cat under that couch, but she insistently continued barking.  This time, Kari pulled the couch out and we could not believe that the cat was back.  She pulled it out, picked it up and took it back outside.  I thought I had learned my lesson of not believing my dogs.

Well, I once again was tested in my belief of my dog.  Missy's best friend "Violet", her disgusting violet colored worm toy that she sleeps with and squeaks all the time, was missing.  I couldn't see her toy in her bed, so I asked her where it was? She looked at me with great concern and was looking in her bed and then up on the big bed.  I told her that maybe she had it out in the family room.  I went out to the family room with her to look, but nope, Violet was not in the family room.  We came back into the bedroom and Missy kept going to a spot between my end table and the bed.  With my DOUBTFUL  mind, I told her that it wasn't in there, there's no way she could have put it in that little area, but she insisted and was trying to get something.  I got down on my hands and knees, reached my hand in that area and I'll be darned...THERE WAS VIOLET.  I just couldn't believe that she knew that dirty little furry worm was in that spot.  I say she may have smelled it there, but I don't know, she's smart.  I tell her that if she was a human, she'd be a genius.  Sorry I didn't believe you Missy.

The Big Kaboom

Phoenix does not get rain very often, nor snow, which makes this the perfect weather condition for me to live in.  Every so often though, we will get a storm.  I do not like these storms because when it thunders, as my mommy calls it, I think it's those fireworks that the people in back of me shoot off.  When I hear that, it hurts my ears and I start barking.  Last night we had a huge thunder storm and thank God for my mommy.  She sits on the couch and I jump up on it, next to her and of course, I bark.  Well, I would get behind her back if she would let me, but since she won't, I pretty much turn in three circles first and then plop in her lap.  She will then put her arms around me and tell me that I'm going to be just fine.  Even when she knows a clap-of-thunder is about to clash, she'll put her hands over my ears, but that doesn't really help.  I know the storms don't last that long here in Phoenix, but even one loud noise is too much for me.  After the thunderstorm was over and done with, the people behind us decided there hadn't been enough noise, so they just had to shoot off one firework.  These, by the way, are the big kind that go up in the air, not the little firecrackers.  I know that I'm just a dog and supposedly do not have the knowledge of a human, but do these idiot people that shoot off the firework, think for one minute that we are going to think it's thunder?  Seriously?  They do it every time we get a thunderstorm, so I've come to the conclusion that not all humans actually have brains.

Dino and Me

I would like to introduce you to my SECOND favorite toy.  Remember, Violet is my favorite and is my bedtime buddy.   My second favorite toy's name is DINO, the green dinosaur.  I may have told this story before, I'm not sure, but my mommy and sister Tracy took me to a pet store and let me pick out my own toy.  They set two toys on the floor and I got to pick.  Well, I picked out the green dinosaur that you can see on the fireplace hearth.  I was picked Dino up and was trying to walk out of the store, but they wouldn't let me.  I think they told me that is called stealing and that's not a good thing...bad, bad, bad.

When my mommy tells me to get my dinosaur, I run to my toy basket and pick him out.   I know the name of all my toys...Violet, Mr. Bumble Bee and Dino.  Now that I know how to play with toys, I will get Dino in my mouth and run, shaking my head back and forth.  Dino never gets mad at me and never says anything until lately.  When my mommy or sister holds Dino and then throws him, he/she will squeak, but it never has before when I pick him/her up until the other day.  My mommy threw Dino, I ran after him and all of a sudden I heard this loud squeak.  The squeak did not stay the same sound, it was loud, but then went fainter...it's hard to explain, but is a funny noise.  Anyway, it scared the crud out of me so I dropped him/her on the ground and smacked it with my foot and again, he/she made the same squeaking noise.  I looked up at my mommy and moved back.  The nice little green dinosaur who never said a word, suddenly is talking to me. It's as if he got tired of not talking to me.  I'm not sure what he is saying, but I've decided it is fun now to make Dino talk.  I just love my toys.

Just call me Sherlock

I know I woke my mommy up this morning by chewing on my toy, Violet, and literally squeaking it every second for about three minutes.  I get thrilled to death hearing the sound of that cute little worm.  I finally decided to leave her alone and took Violet out into the family room.  I knew her alarm clock was about to go off and I was right, at 7:00, her alarm clock went off.  She gets up and does everything she needs to do to get ready for the day.  I was laying on her bed waiting for my daddy to get finished with his shower, so I could take him for a walk and my mommy told me to get off the bed, so she could make it.  Like a dutiful little girl, I jumped off the bed, but decided to get my toy and see if she would like to play a little bit before the walk.  I became frantic because I couldn't find my toy.  I have two blankets in my bed and I was sticking my nose between those to see if I could find my toy, but it was nowhere in my bed.  I knew my mommy had been watching me all this time, but all of a sudden I hear her raise her voice and say "Holy Shit Sherlock, you are actually using your nose to lift and look UNDER your bed for your toy?"  Then she said, "Missy, you are the smartest little girl I have ever known".  Instinct baby, instinct is all I can say.  My mommy apologized for saying that "s" word, but I told her I know she was in such amazement, that I'd let it go this one time.  I didn't find my toy in the bedroom, but when we went into the family room, there it was.  Thank the Lord.  I don't know what I would do without Violet.

R E S P E C T

Not only did my sister and her roommate/best friend Lisa sing this song in a silly college video, but my mommy tells me I have more respect than a lot of people that she knows.  My mommy tells me that I am so respectful and for a dog, that is really something.  Let's check this out.  The definition of "respect" from my mommy's grade school dictionary is as follows :  1. honor; esteem (check), 2. care, consideration (check).  There are more definitions, but these two have more to do with the reason she told me I was respectful.  I know when my mommy is still asleep.  Well, she might be awake, but it looks like she's sleeping.  I used to tear into the bed

Okay, So I Thought I Could Fool Him

Last night, at my normal 8:30 scheduled time, my dad took me outside to go potty, but  I rarely go potty...I just want the yummy.  I mention 8:30, because that is when my mommy calls Grandma and always says "I'm giving you my good night call", and I recognize that statement every night and consider that my cue.  I ran into the room where he was and started telling him (literally) that it was time to go out potty and then he picks me up and carries me out.  I do realize I live the life of Reilly and consider myself quite lucky. Once we are outside, he puts me down on the ground and I smell and walk around and then he told me to "Go potty".  This is rare because he usually doesn't say anything to me.  Now, I didn't really have to go potty, but since he's so nice to carry me outside, I thought I'd make him happy and just move my back legs, as if I'm covering up where I went potty.  I honestly thought that I fooled him, but when we came back into the house (I walked in on my own, by the way) and he told my mommy what I did.  I guess I didn't fool him after all, but he still gave me a yummy.  Life is so good.

Monday Night Fight

If you look very closely, you will see my green dinosaur and my Violet, thus her name, in my bed.  Last night I decided that my beloved dinosaur, which I actually picked out all by myself at Petsmart, was going to be with me all night. 

When it was time to go to bed, my Mommy said that all my toys that were laying on the rug needed to get into their basket, so they could go to sleep.  She stood there looking at me and telling me to put them into my bed.  I looked back at her as if to say "What are you, nuts?" and ignored her request.  Since I didn't budge, as usual, she did it herself.  The minute she put all my toys into the basket, I ran over there and took my dinosaur out and decided it was time to play.  She said "No, Missy, it's time to go to bed.  Let's put the toy back in the basket".  She took my toy and put it back and I instantly ran to the basket and got my toy in my mouth once again and took it over to the rug. I was still thinking play time even though I knew it was time for bed.  Now, I've heard stories of three chances and your out, but she continued to stay calm.  She took my toy once again and put it back in the basket.  This time I decided I was going to get my toy and make a run for it.  The second she put it back in my basket, I tore up behind her, grabbed the toy in my mouth and headed for the bedroom.  She gave up and I WON!!!!  She told me that it was okay if I wanted two toys in bed last night.  I was so happy and laid my head down and went right to sleep.  You know, if she would have just left the toys out on the floor, I would not have even thought about taking my buddy into bed.  I doubt if she will learn from this though.  Just leave them where they are.