JJ's Big Adventure

Continuing on the subject of JJ, Grandma J wants to share with you JJ's first trip to California. 

The five a.m. start time isn't exactly JJ's cup of tea.  Grandma J gets the stare-down for the first hour, or until she pulls into McDonald's.

A quick stop in Fort Stockton Texas, and a photo op with the giant roadrunner only intensified JJ's disdain for birds.


As often as  I go to California (yes, Grandma J jumps from first person to third person quite often), JJ usually gets dumped dropped off in Sierra Vista, Arizona to spend time with his bio family. But this time, circumstances with the bio family were up in the air.  Being a military family, they were in transition.  CSM John was coming back from Korea, and they would be on the move, or simply put, getting the boot from their home on post.  

So, with just a brief stop over for the night, we were on the road again.   Does anyone know when Grandma J's AZ grand kids got so tall? 

  JJ hates long road trips, but the California grand kids have never met JJ, and they will never have a dog due to their mother's phantom allergies.  Grandma J promised to keep JJ away from the afflicted person and the kids, since it was summer break,  were thrilled to keep JJ occupied.

As soon as Grandma J and JJ rolled into the driveway, they were greeted by Elise and her allergy suffering mother.   I kid you not, that is the face of an allergic mom. Grandma J thinks a fear of dogs can have the same results.

Elise and Christine loved taking JJ to Wagsdale Dog Park in their hood.
This dog park is part of their association, and it's only for residents of their community.  JJ had a blast visiting all the local dogs every day.  Christine discovered that all the "regulars" show up at 6 pm, and they are a nice bunch.   So, we started going at 6 pm every day and Grandma J really loved how much fun the girls and JJ had.   Christine and Elise were the only children, but the adults loved how they played with their dogs and were so anxious to pick up after the dogs....yes, these girls really did like being on poop detail.

This group has a monthly birthday party for the dogs, and even though we heard bits and pieces about it, Grandma J reminded the girls that we were visitors, and we weren't going to invite ourselves.  Well, we got invited!!  Christine and Elise  were over the moon.....JJ was quite nonchalant.

We made a trip to PetSmart and bought gifts for the birthday dogs......Frankie, Pickles, and JoJo.   Honestly, the girls were more excited about this dog party than Christmas.

Christine said that everyone was bringing treats for the people.  So we decided to make something that the girls love.   Rice Krispie Treats......

A summer/picnic version.

Let's get this party going! Oh yea......this is a party for people.....

And their dogs.......

Elise and Christine loved all the dogs.

JJ had the time of his live, and I think he misses all his California friends.

The Fearless JJ

It's been so long since I've blogged and there is so much to catch y'all up on.   Today I thought I'd talk about JJ.  He's been making friends in the hood and just like other species, he has favorites.  JJ also has developed an "only child" personality.  You know, a bit selfish, not sharing....yada, yada, yada.  So, here's a peek into what's happening in his world lately.

Meet Max and his mommy Joan.  Max and Joan are our neighbors and both are as sweet as can be.  JJ is not very nice to Max and for the life of me I can't figure it out because Max is so mellow and loving.  All he wants to do is kiss JJ, and yes, being an English Bulldog, he does have overactive saliva glands which causes a lot of slobbering.  Not a good reason for JJ to be mean though.

 The selfish JJ also hoards all the balls at the dog park.  He takes inventory and hovers over them like a mother hen.

  But hoarding all the balls and not sharing isn't the worst of it.

When poor lovable Max comes to visit with his own rawhide bone.....JJ takes it away.

 

 



 Poor Max.  Despite all the abuse, he still comes over and wants to slobber kiss all over JJ.
But there is something Max doesn't know, and if he did, JJ's big brave front would expose him for the chicken that he is........

 

Here you go....pictures don't lie.   JJ is a coward,  afraid of everything....even a pinwheel blowing in the wind. 

 

Confession of a Negligent Blogger

As we speak, Grandma J is sipping champagne out of a glass slipper hanging her head in blogger shame.   She has neglected her best friends over the last week or maybe more.

 But before you hate, just know that she reads your blogs using her Evelyn Woods speed reading skills..........

but alas her commenting skills aren't quite what they should be.  

But....things have been hectic, and she can't wait to tell you all about the loose screws her dentist put in her head mouth, and the drugs that made her loopy.

Or, as Rita would say, who put their shoes under her bed duffel bag in her bedroom because that's where  he  they would be sleeping.......

And you will never believe who waited patiently for their Daddy to get up in the morning.  All of a sudden Grandma J was chopped liver.

Yeah, can you feel the love?

xoxo Grandma J

Refuse To Be Ignored

You all know that JJ has a plethora of toys.  Some stuffed, some unstuffed, some rubber, some hard plastic.   All the squeakers get dismantled and most of the stuffing gets pulled out.   He still goes through and plays with all of them every so often.   

Last night he dragged out this old friend.   It's a green frog looking monkey that looks like Homer Simpson.  JJ acted like it was a long lost best buddy.   He played with it all night. 

JJ will play solo for a while, but then he decides he wants to play games that include Grandma J.  She can only ignore him for so long.....

Once again....when the tail goes faster than a speeding locomotive the speed of light, you know he's getting ticked.  That's in case you can't hear him giving me holy moly bologna.

If he were a human I would interpret this smack down as, "I said pick it up NOW...".

So because Grandma J is so good at interpreting dog speak, she did just that.

And of course JJ was right there to make sure she gave it right back.  Then the cycle begins again.

xoxo Grandma J

Don't Mess With My Stuff

It's his.....and it's his favorite, at least for today, and maybe tomorrow.

Even if he has chewed off all the pointy ends, and dismantled the squeaker.....it's still his, and it's his favorite toy.

It doesn't matter that the whole dang top is just about gone, and the tips have all been eaten, and did I mention that the squeaker has been dismantled?  It's still his....and he wants it back  NOW!

So, Grandma J tells the J-Man that his toy is in his toy box.   He actually doesn't have a toy box, but he used to, so it's still a term Grandma J uses for the place all his toys are located.  

Actually, they are piled up on her antique scale and  JJ goes through them every day, as if he's counting them.   His favorite changes from time to time.   He's been known to find something very old and decrepit in that pile and treat it like it's a long lost friend.

 

But today, it's his yellow rubber cone head toy that he wants.  And he can't find it, and he knows I had it....and he's mad as H.E.double toothpicks.

Grandma J put it back in the heap, but she accidentally buried it in the back.   JJ hunts, and he grunts while he hunts.  

He's getting closer....and the toys are all scattered about....but he means business, and he's not a quitter.  He wants his toy.

He finally gets it.  He checks it out......

Before Grandma J can say, "yeah JJ", he darts off lickety split!  Does anyone else say lickety split? I didn't think so.   JJ never looks back, never pauses, not even for a brief second. 

He retreats to Grandma J's bed.   His domain when the couch gets boring or when he wants alone time with his toy.  His favorite toy, for now.

xoxo Grandma J

Summer 'Do'

JJ likes his hair longer and scruffy.  Grandma J can't figure out if he's trying to be macho dog, you know, a real honest to goodness dogs dog.


But, in reality, it's summer in Central Texas.  Today the temperature broke 100 degrees.   Grandma J decided to get JJ's locks snipped.  It was for his own good.  And to be honest?  When JJ goes to Daycare, they have a few doggie pools, and it just makes it easier to swim with short hair.  Grandma J doesn't know why she shared that tidbit with you because JJ is afraid of water.

So, when she picks up JJ from his afternoon grooming, he is ticked.....he won't look at her.  He's seething!

JJ's not  a stupid dog.  He knows he has the upper hand, and as soon as they get home, he let's Grandma J know  that she owes him.

He stood his ground in front of the cupboard where his treats are kept.....and howled.  Just so you know, the picture is only blurry where JJ's tail and snoot are going a mile a minute.

Then he snatched his new toy that he always gets after grooming to soothe his damaged image, and had a chewing session.

Grandma J did finally get a picture of JJ to show his AZ family that he was ready for summer and not getting fat.  This is his summer look, except there is no blue Mohawk like last year.

xoxo Grandma J

Lest We Forget

Memorial Day we honor those who have fought for our freedom, some paying the ultimate price.

Some currently serve, like SMG John,  and we pray for their safety every day of the year.  It's beyond amazing that everyone serving today volunteered to serve their country.

And finally, a message from your friend JJ

xoxo Grandma J

Romping Through the Bluebonnets.....

sixty miles from home

After spending  most of the day Saturday driving over Dams and bridges, looking for professed sightings of bluebonnets all over the place, Grandma J, JJ and Phillip Johnny Bob finally went  to a cantina home and guzzled beer had some ice cream with fudge topping.

On Sunday, it was off again.   I mean really, just because we haven't had rain in months, and just because wildflowers need to wet their whistles, doesn't mean Central Texas can't have some bluebonnets, does it?  

With dry winds blowing at up to 40 miles per hour, and terrible wild fires off to the west and southwest, Grandma J continued her quest. 

There were plenty of bluebonnets at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock TX.  As you can imagine, there were tons of peoplethere.   Lots of kids running around, several families taking pictures, and some of them had professional photographers with them. Two young ladies were in wedding dresses. JJ couldn't wait to join the par.tay!

This is a file photo stolen from the internet because Grandma J didn't  think it would be right to take a picture of a bride for free when she was paying someone else tons of money.

Much to JJ's dismay, Grandma J moved on, and found a patch of Bluebonnets on a slope away from the crowds.   She drove her car up the hill because  it was quite a ways from the narrow park road, which is probably why no one was there.  

The wind was fierce on the hill, and JJ didn't like Phillip Johnny Bob leaning on him.  It was all he could do to hold himself upright and still.  

No matter how Grandma J positioned JJ, he kept watching  all the activity down the road.

The distraction gave Grandma J a ton of profile shots of JJ.   Not knowing how these pictures would turn, she kept switching between her phone camera and her older than dirt digital camera.   It was too bright out to see much in the viewfinder, so it was hit and miss until they got home and loaded them on the laptop.

Note to Santa, please a really decent camera  would be nice....in this lifetime!

The advantage of  going to the hill with the sparse showing of Bluebonnets, was letting JJ run loose and not having to keep him leashed. 

He loved it.....he loves running through the wildflowers.  And Grandma J was glad, and the whole world was happy.

* My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the devastating tornados in the Southeast, and the victims of all the Texas wildfires. 

You Call This Fun? Really?

How was your weekend?    Did you have as much fun as I did??