Hi friends. I’ve had such a busy week.

I was at camp for a few days while mom was at the League of Women Voters of PA board retreat. I didn’t pack very much; just a toy or two so I wouldn’t be homesick. Aunt Jody picked us up in the camp bus and then we went to pick up my Aunt Marita. When we got to Marita’s house she loaded a big suitcase and another tote bag into the baggage compartment.

How many toys did you pack Aunt Marita? We’re only going to camp for a few days.

Then something crazy happened. We got to camp and Aunt Jody and mom walked me in and Marita wasn’t with us. She didn’t get out of the bus. She could have bunked with me. I had a nice suite with a cot and a sheepskin blanket. I got a treat every night and then my counselor took me on a moonlight stroll before bed. I would have shared my bunk and my treats and split my belly rubs with you….Maybe next time?

Since I was on my own, I played in the playground a lot with the other kids. I thought mom signed me up for horseback riding and archery, but my counselor never took me for my lessons. I was super bummed.

Hey mom……next time I want to go to horseback riding and archery camp and learn how to shoot with the big bow. Look how cool this is!

Pugsley the Destroyer……How’s that for an awesome name?

So I found out when mom picked me up from camp that Aunt Marita went to the retreat. She, Aunt Jody and mom shared a big suite and had a pajama party, which is really not fair because I have pajamas and I like parties. I’m not into the mani/pedi thing and I don’t let just anyone do my hair. That’s way too girlie for a big boy like me. I’m sure there was other fun stuff I could have done.

Mom said the retreat was great and the ladies on the board are sooooo smart and fun. I wouldn’t know………and I’m still a little pouty.

Then on Wednesday, mom showed me another new gadget she bought to use against me. First I got Bisselled; now I got Hoovered.

Leave it to mom to find a vacuum comb attachment. Really mom…..enough with the anti-dog appliances. There’s no dander left within a mile of me! My friends are gonna make fun of me forever!

I didn’t know at the time that I was being coiffed for my big date with my Aunt Lisette. Remember I wrote about her? She’s the author and TV star. She was visiting from LA with her friend Lisa from Melbourne (that’s Australia kids) and it was a total surprise.

We got to a café in Chestnut Hill and I thought we were just stopping for dinner. And then I saw Aunt Lisette!  I was so excited to meet her. She gave me my dinner and then signed my copy of her book, Molly Hacker Is Too Picky. I never had my very own autographed book. I feel so special! She also showed me a video of her dog Bentley digging in the sand at the beach. I’ve never been to the beach. I’ll have to put that on my bucket list. Lucky Bentley!

Of course, I did a great job keeping the riff-raff away, which wasn’t easy. I tried to blend in with the crowd, but between wearing my sunglasses (all dignitary protection personnel wear them) and talking into my paw a lot, people assumed I was with the Secret Service and kept trying to get past me to see who the VIP in the room was. I may be short, but my elbows are sharp. All my basic training at Valley Forge came in handy.

After my shift ended and we ate, Aunt Lisette cuddled me on her lap.

Lisa taught me how to speak Australian. I was so stoked to learn a foreign language.

Pugsley, you know that Australians speak English, right?

Mom, Australians don’t speak English. They speak Australian. Listen, “Woof mate! G’day. I want my burger on the barbie and then I’m going walkabout with the roos.” That’s totally not English!

Lisa invited me to Australia. She said I could stay with her cackle, giggle, snort. Will you drive me mom? It can’t be more than about 10 or 11 hours, right? I’ll be good in the car that long. I promise!

Pugsley, It’s about 10,000 miles to Melbourne and you can’t drive there.

Why?

Do you see all the blue on the map between the United States and Australia? That’s the ocean. You can’t drive on the ocean.

So we can drive to the ocean and then take a boat mom! Puleeeeeeze can we go? I want to play with the roos.

Why are you walking away mom???

CAN I AT LEAST GO TO HOLLYWOOD AND BE ON TV WITH AUNT LISETTE? I ALREADY HAVE MY HEADSHOT!

Mom just doesn’t get me sometimes. I’ll deny saying it, but this is my favorite photo of all.

And one last one….I didn’t know it at the time, but I gave Aunt Lisette my autograph too.

I hope it’s still on your leg Aunt Lisette and it didn’t fade away.

I swear I have the cutest toes!

So you’re probably wondering after all this time who Parsley is.

Well, Aunt Lisette texted mom a photo she took of me and her stupid auto-correct software changed my name to Parsley. Now Aunt Lisette and mom laugh at me and call me Parsley.

I DON’T LOOK LIKE A PARSLEY! And mom wonders why I chew her phone…..

Catch ya ’round!

Love, Parsley (I mean Pugsley. Darn it. Now they have me saying it…)