Well I’ve indulged quite a bit over the holidays. In fact, my mommy’s been calling me Hoover cause I’ve sucked up every crumb that hasn’t been swept up before I could zero in on it.

Mom was indulging quite a bit herself. She was looking haggard and her skin was kind of dull from all the holiday stress so I “encouraged” her to make an appointment to get her face handled. Mom went to Deme a few days ago to see Jane Marie, mom’s nationally certified medical aesthetic specialist. Wow, that’s a fancy title. But look at Jane Marie’s photo (click on her name above and scroll down the page if you haven’t already)……there’s not a line or pore visible on her face. And mom says she looks better in person.

Mom came home glowing and with the softest skin – just like baby skin. I can’t stop rubbing my cheek against hers and touching it with my paw.

Noooooo, wait mom. I’m not finished writing yet. I don’t want to move over…………

NOTE FROM PUGSLEY’S MOMMY: CONTRARY TO WHAT PUGSLEY TELLS YOU, HE IS NOT TOUCHING MY FACE WITH HIS PAW BECAUSE IT’S SOFT. HE’S SLAPPING ME SILLY BECAUSE I DARED TO STOP RUBBING HIS BELLY FOR A SECOND WHILE I TRIED TO GET SOME FEELING BACK IN MY FINGERS.

Mom has her version; I have mine. I hate it when she reads over my shoulder while I’m writing. Next she’ll tell you the scratches all over her face are my fault too.

So anyway, I walked by the mirror this morning and took a good look at my face. Jane Marie, I spotted some fine lines under my eyes and on my forehead. They’re hardly noticeable, right? Sigh – I feel like everyone can see them. I think they make me look sad. Maybe even a little mean and grumpy.

Do you think I need to come in for a peel? Or maybe some Botox? I don’t want to wait until I get full blown wrinkles. How embarrassing would that be? So please let me know. I’ll make my appointment and have my driver – I mean my mom – take me.

I better moisturize and get my beauty sleep. Good night everyone.

Love,

Pugsley

               Ho! Ho! Ho!

My Aunt Teresa sent this photo from Dallas. Notice anything unusual?

How did they have a white Christmas and we only had a white Christmas Eve for an hour? I’ll have to ask Santa Claus next year! Maybe you have to tell him you want a white Christmas. Other than snow, I hope you got all the things you wished for this Christmas.

Love, Pugsley

Dear friends,

Look at this face and tell me it doesn’t make your heart melt.

I’m Princess and I’m wishing for a loving forever home this Christmas

Princess is a 2 year-old Pit Bull/Boxer mix and is the sweetest girl. She reminds me of Marmaduke….big, playful and funny. She’s being fostered by my Aunt Jody and Uncle Chuck and we’re all looking for a loving home for her. Mommy almost adopted her because I had expressed an interest one day while we were in Pet Smart that I might want a pet. I was thinking of a fish or maybe a parakeet. We don’t have a yard and I don’t think I could walk Princess because she’s so much bigger than I am. And she might try to eat my food or play with my toys. I guess I could learn to share my toys, but I made up my mind when I realized that I would have to share my suite with her when I go to the resort. I’m an only child and I’m used to my privacy and having all the belly rubs for myself.

So we’re trying to find her a good home with loving pet parents. If you know about anyone looking for a large dog who loves to snuggle, play and give kisses, would you let me know? You can write to me here. I’ll be conducting interviews with all of the applicants.

Love and Pug Hugs,

Pugsley

Sweet snuggly Princess

My mommy gave……………

What mom?

Whaddya mean there’s no ninth night of Hanukkah?

Since when?

Whaddya mean since always? What’s that about oil and a temple?

My list of things to ask the Rabbi is getting REALLY long.

Yesterday mom took me to visit Aunt Jody, Uncle Chuck and cousins/girlfriends/wife Alfie, Georgie, Chubbs, Wookie, Dingle, Berry, Ebony, Ivory and Princess. That was a big surprise so of course I thought it was for the ninth day of Hanukkah. Maybe it was an early Christmas present. Or maybe it was just because…..

The little ones yapped when I walked in and it’s always a bit scary at first. I thought I heard Dingle tell everyone to bite my calves like he does with people. I sat down so he couldn’t get to them. Chubbs and Alfie snapped at me, which really was not very nice, especially since I think Alfie and I got married during my week at camp last December. No one will confirm it, but the picture kind of says it all, don’t you think?

Did we get married?

And then Berry snuggled up with me one night, which created a huge problem for me with Alfie.

It’s not easy being a chick magnet

So yesterday everyone pretended they didn’t know me. Chubbs is usually my best friend at camp too. Maybe they forgot me since I don’t visit very often and I wasn’t staying overnight this time. I wonder if they treat all the campers that way. I stayed close to my mom where it was safe. She doesn’t yap….much. (Uh oh – I said that out loud!)

I met Princess yesterday. She’s a beautiful 2 year-old Pit Bull/Boxer mix who Aunt Jody and Uncle Chuck are fostering. Mom considered adopting her as my sister. She snuggled up to mom and gave her so many kisses. Mom’s clothes had paw prints all over them and her face was soggy from all the kisses. I was a bit skeptical, especially since she’s so much bigger than I am. Hell, her tongue is almost bigger than I am. And double hell, she’s bigger than mommy! Frankly, I’m not the kind of kid who likes to share, but I was open to the idea. We walked together for a while with Aunt Jody, Uncle Chuck and mom. Princess almost gave me a concussion because her tail was wagging so much and it kept hitting me in the head. I’m telling you – the ladies love me. It’s a gift….and a curse!

I’m Pugsley signing off for now……….

Princess and Mommy

My mommy gave to me……..

A s*%$load of cotton fiber from the sofa cushion she replaced. Yippeeee……I love to play in it and tear it to shreds. It’s HOURS of fun, especially when it gets really shredded! Mom knows me so well.

And Aunt Teresa, Cousin Isabella and Cousin Giovanni sent me a squeaky Gefilte Fish toy. It says, “Oy Vey!” and makes bubble noises when you squeeze it. It doesn’t have a carrot hat though. I thought all Gefilte Fish had carrot hats. Another thing to ask the rabbi.

For some reason my computer won’t let me insert the video.

HELP DESK!!!!!!

Mom just started laughing. I usually know more than she does. It may be time to call Cousins Sammy and Jarred. I’m so sad that I can’t show you the video.

Oh well…………..and mom gave me a bag of pizza treats from the Butt Wigglin Good Pet Bakery. YUMMY! I’m so totally off my diet. And I don’t care. I’ll start again in January. I can always take my clothes to Mary, my tailor. She can let out a few inches from the waist. Although, when I go to see Mary, she loads me up with animal crackers and string cheese. I LOVE visiting her so she’ll probably have to put elastic in my clothes too. It’s sooooo worth it. Here we are during our last visit.

Mary and me during a visit to Mary’s Tailoring Shop in Narberth, PA.

What a great Hanukkah this has been…..

Pugsley’s mommy interrupts this blog to tell all his friends what Pugsley gave to me this Hanukkah…..so many hugs, kisses, cuddles, laughs and fun. I think I am the one who hit the adoption jackpot when Pugsley joined the family.

Awwwwww thanks mom. I woof you too.

I’m Pugsley signing off. When mom’s in her gushing mode I’m bound to get a treat or two.

Until next time, I’m sending pugs and kisses to everyone….

My mommy gave to me…….

A rawhide reindeer treat….YUMMY!

And of course I had to eat it on my pillow on the sofa.

So many crumbs……too many to eat them all…….

Cleanup on the sofa mom!!!!

Chowing down……so busy……I love you mom!

Happy Boy

I will not be naughty during Hanukkah! I will not be naughty during Hanukkah! I will not…..

My mommy gave to me…….A SACK OF COAL! Maybe it has treats inside too. Yum! Let me tear it apart….

Like my mom, I’m really bad at math. I thought Hanukkah was over. I was counting the days on my paw and I guess I messed up.

Hanukkah is a very bad time to try to chew mom’s smartphone, especially since this is the 3rd one on which I’ve left teeth marks. I don’t like it when my mom talks on it, emails, texts or plays games when she should be giving me belly rubs. I showed her….while she was talking this morning, I chewed the heel on her shoe. And she showed me…..I got a ginormously long timeout. Mom keeps telling me that the money it costs to replace her things is coming out of my toy fund. If mom really deducted all the money I’ve cost her by destroying her stuff, I would never play again.

I mentioned in a previous blog that I was expecting Santa to put coal in my Christmas stocking, but I didn’t know coal for Hanukkah was even allowed. I thought only Santa could give kids coal and it had to be placed in a stocking. Since I don’t have a Hanukkah stocking, I thought I was home free.

I’m on the hunt for mom’s phone….it’s time to call the rabbi for clarification.

I’m lucky I’m so cuddly and handsome. I’ll sneak up next to my mommy and rest my head on her cheek. In a few minutes she’ll forget all about how naughty I’ve been today. She will still read me a bedtime story and tuck me into bed. If I fall asleep and snore while my head is resting on her, she’ll crack up. Better yet, this calls for a full body snuggle and snore. Yep – that’s the plan…..make mom laugh and melt her heart by jumping on her and looking at her with my big googly eyes. If I wrinkle my forehead and give her a couple of pug kisses too before I fall asleep she’ll totally forget I’ve been a badass.

Note to self: Counted on other paw. Three more nights of Hanukkah. Be on best behavior until Saturday night.

Here’s hoping your Menorah is shining brightly!

Love, Pugsley

My mommy gave to me………

A snowman squeaky toy!!!!

I’m home from my vacation. The concierge came into my suite this morning to get me ready to go home. I didn’t know that included a bath and a blow dry. I got my nails trimmed and my ears cleaned, had breakfast, got another belly rub, went for a walk and then packed my suitcase. When I got to the lobby, my mommy was waiting for me. I got so excited that I knocked her over and gave her tons of kisses. I had fun at the resort and I’m glad to be home too. I missed my mom and my own bed.

Mom just gave me another present that cousins Miriam, Craig and Hershey gave her for me last night. DREIDEL PAJAMAS! And not just plain dreidel pajamas…..they have my name on them. I’m the coolest kid on the block. Look…..

Uh oh….the PJs are a bit snug. I think they’re Yorkie size. No worries, I can wear them as a bandana.

Mom also showed me another article about her Vets Journey Home weekend. This one is from the Reading Eagle:

Veterans Find Acceptance and Peace of Mind

Becca Y. Gregg

Before a room of supporters at the Jesuit Center in Wernersville on Sunday, Harry Schlegel had a milestone to mark.

“Last night,” he announced, “was the first time I slept in over a year without taking a full dose of my sleeping medication. I took half of the dose.”

To some, it might not sound like much. But for Schlegel, a former Marine who served in Vietnam, it was the first step in healing the pain he’d held onto since a combat injury ended his service in September 1968.

“This weekend gave me piece of mind,” the Reading resident said during a graduation ceremony for the Vets Journey Home, a weekendlong retreat aimed  at putting veterans on the road to emotional healing of their war wounds.

From Friday evening through Sunday, Schlegel and five other Vietnam veterans stayed at the Jesuit Center for therapy and fellowship led by program founder Gene McMahon and other volunteers, both veterans and civilians.

“A lot of vets tell us that they were ready to kill themselves, that this was their last shot,” McMahon of Mount Airy, Md., said of the now   nationwide program, which he began after serving two tours of duty in   Vietnam. “We’ll find out a year later that their whole life has changed.   And it’s not just them that it affects. It’s the ripple effect. It affects their spouses and then their kids.”

For more than 30 years, Larry Menkes carried with him the doubt that he was even a veteran.

“This has been a miraculous weekend for me,”  said the Warminster, Bucks County, resident, a former Merchant Marine who delivered supplies to troops in Vietnam. “As I got older, I started to think maybe I was a veteran and I should stop denying it.”

According to McMahon, for many of the veterans, the program provides the comfort and safety to tell their stories for the first time.

“Then we do what we call some work around that, using different   techniques to help with that (pain) they’ve been feeling, sometimes for   decades,” he said.

His voice shaking and his eyes tearing, Army veteran Bob Fisher of Villas, N.J., said what he would most take away from the weekend was “acceptance from my peers.”

Across the country, McMahon is set to lead upwards of 17 such retreats next year. All are free for veterans to attend, with the program even covering the cost of airfare for some.

“As a young man, I did what I was called to do, and I thank God he   allowed me to do what I had to do and come home honorably,” Army veteran Larry Lattimore of New York City said. “It just blesses my heart to look at young vets and see that they’ve become a better person because of programs like this.”

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You really have to see the photos to appreciate what the program means to the veterans: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=434206 Here’s one photo:

Honoring the colors and our veterans

Happy Hanukkah! I’m Pugsley, signing off to go play!