Little People

Last Thursday evening, I had a surprise visit by the Little People. No, I don't mean the leprechauns from the 1959 Disney film Darby O'Gill and the Little People. I mean the Krivenkos - Big Bob (now there's an oxymoron if I've ever heard one), Tiny Tina, Little Lisa (who really isn't vertically challenged like her parents), and Small Samantha, my newest K-9 comrade.

Sam and I had a grand time chasing each other around the back yard. Unfortunately, she resides in Augusta, Georgia, so I won't get to see her as often as I'd like. But she enjoyed her visit to PA so much that she is planning to return in June to which I am looking very much forward.

Relay for Life

This entry is dedicated to my friend Ginny Blake who will once again be walking in the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life.” As many of you may know, Ginny is a cancer survivor determined to let nothing get her down, especially cancer!

If you aren’t aware, “Relay for Life” is a life-changing event that brings together more than 3.5 million people to:

* Celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer.
* Remember loved ones lost to the disease.
* Fight Back against a disease that takes too much.

Dad, Ginny and me

Thanks to supporters like you, last year Ginny raised $3,640 – making her the top individual fundraiser for Carlisle! I beg of you to consider digging out your checkbook to help Ginny become “Top Dog” once again this year.

I’ve “put my money where my mouth is,” and have made a personal contribution of $100.

Please join me in supporting Ginny in her campaign against cancer. No gift is too small, and all are deeply appreciated.

Checks should be made payable to the “American Cancer Society.” Contributions should be sent to Newman's Niche, 1167 Centerville Road, Newville, PA 17241, where Ginny will fetch them before her walk on May 30th.

Thanks in advance for your generous support.

Newman ~ aspiring young philanthropist

Just for Jollies

You will not get away from me Jolly Ball. If I cannot prevail by throwing a pound of lips on you, I’ll pound you into the ground with my massive paws like a pile driver.

Primary Election Day in PA

Don't forget that Tuesday, April 22 is PA's Primary Election Day.

Be smart. Do your part. Vote!

Vote early! Vote often!

Hmmmm .......

Miss Miracle Grow 2005

I must admit that I am not an expert on the subject, yet. But, from what I gather, my late sister Beulah Ruth has established quite a humming bird haven out here in Brushtown. People travel from miles around to hang out on the humming bird observatory deck, take in the flora and fauna, and relax while enjoying a refreshing cocktail from the Brushtown Bar.

As a matter of fact, several years ago Beulah Ruth and her lusciously landscaped gardens were featured in the gardening section of The Patriot News, a locally published news rag which she hoped might garner her international fame in Better Homes and Gardens. Although BR never made it into BHG, in 2005 she was named poster pup for Miracle Grow, a vital nutrient for producing happy and healthy plants.

Being an avid nature lover, Beulah decided to start a club where others could come and enjoy the fruits of her labor. So in 2000, she established the Brushtown Area Women's Auxiliary Flower Club, which hosts an annual flower social where Dad cooks dinner for an elite group of Mom's lady friends and waits on their every beck and call.

As my late Grammy Avis always said, "Feed them, and they will come!" So my little feathered friends, I have one thing to say, "Come 'n git it! There's a 24-hour, all-you-can-eat special happening at BR's humming bird haven

Sorry to all you other folks out there who work so hard hoping to catch a glimpse of a migrating hummer on its way to the Brushtown Aviary.

Show Time (and I don't mean the cable channel)

If you're keeping up with my blog, you know that I lead a pretty busy and exciting life.

Last Sunday was an extremely special day because Mom, Dad and I attended the 2008 Blue & Gray Cluster Dog Show held at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA - a mere 30 minutes from my house.

While the day started out a little rocky because we had trouble finding Ring 16 where the Eastern Boxer Club specialty show was being held, it turned out to be a wonderful day. I met so many nice new people who told me how handsome I am - even some of the owners who had their own boxers competing in the ring. A very special bonus was that I got to visit with my Grammy Lee and Aunt Beth Downey who were showing my boxer buds Frankie and Razor.

Although I never get tired of hearing how good looking I am, the best comment I heard all day was, "It would be a shame to neuter him without giving him a chance in the ring!" No, not a boxing ring - a show ring.

Aunt Cathy was kind enough to introduce me to Gerard Hughes (Gee), a professional handler, who stacked me and took me for a spin around the ring to see what he thought my chances are of making it in show biz are. Gee gave me the thumbs up so it's off to our first Match Show this weekend in State College, PA being hosted by the Nita Nee Kennel Club.

Mr. Hughes finds a Newman in a Haystack

A special mention is in order for my two new wonderful young lady friends, Paige and Jordan, whom I met while shopping at the show. I’m not sure if they picked Dad and me out of the crowd because they sensed that Dad is an identical twin like they are, or if it was because I am a boxer and they were wearing Eastern Boxer Club t-shirts. In any event, it turns out that their mom Helen is the vice president of Eastern Boxer Club, and she used to breed and show boxers, so she gave me the "once over" as well. Paige and Jordan were very helpful in giving M & D tips on how to make my "stub" stand erect during a stack, too.

My new girlfriends, Paige and Jordan

I must admit, by the end of the day I was more than a little pooped! So much so that I could not help myself, and I dropped a load in the ring. When a boy’s gotta go, a boy’s gotta go.

CSI: Brushtown - Premiere

It's the wee hours of the morning. The local law enforcement are at a loss, so they call in CSI Crime Dog, Newman on the Block, to investigate the heinous crime.

Not a pretty scene. As a matter of fact, it's down right butt ugly. An orange male orangutan, approximately one day old (delivered by Drs. Foster and Smith via FedEx the previous day) has been beheaded and poly fill brain matter is splattered all over the crime scene.

To make matters even more gruesome, the primate's eyes had been plucked out and laying next to the body (#2), and the voice box squeaker had been ripped from his throat (#1). The "Diva Dog Beanie Bone" left lying at the crime scene (#3) leads Newman to believe that it's some Pic'N'Knees, Pappy-Own, or Maltese Falcon trying to frame a Boxer for the brutal attack.

All evidence has been bagged, tagged, and sent to the lab for further analysis. Stay tuned next week for more developments as the case continues to unfold.

Deere Season in Brushtown

Nothing runs like a Deere

(except Newman on a Deere!)

The Root of All Evil

Because Mom wasn't feeling well this week, I only managed to book in about six hours at the office. After punching out on Friday afternoon, I got to meet my cousin, Hayley Sue Diane Cohick.

Although I have been caught on film imitating a German Shorthaired Pointer, Hayley and I are not really cousins by blood - nor marriage for that matter. While I do not completely understand the Knowlton family tree, judging from all the aunts and cousins I have, I think that it would take a four-year college degree to even begin to realize the convolution of my roots.

The Gall of Some People (including my Mom)

As many of you know, Mom was sick as a dog earlier in the week. She woke up Monday morning on her knees praying to the porcelain God which she hasn't done since her college days at Ship U. After downing some over-the-counter anti-nausea medicine, she managed to make it through a day of work although when she returned home she was still looking rather green around the gills.

As the sun set over Brushtown on Monday evening, more darkness crept into the Knowlton household when Mom developed a violent case of the "Flying Axe Handles." After spending the entire evening on the stone throne, Mom decided to take a sick day on Tuesday since she was literally wiped out.

Although very concerned about Mom's discomfort, Dad and I chalked it up to a bad case of "rummy gumption of the egg bag" which would pass with time. After several days of feeling like a bloated tick, Mom decided that a visit to the doctor would be prudent.

While the diagnosis from a physical exam was not conclusive, Dr. Robinson thinks that Mom might have problems with her gall bladder. She goes in Tuesday morning for an ultrasound to find out if it's a boy or girl gall bladder. I'm thinking Gus if it's a boy and Gertrude if it's a girl.

Hog Wash

Although this event took place almost two weeks ago, I am just finding time to blog about it because of my busy social schedule.

The date was March 20, and Mom and I were on our way to work. Although our favorite station is XPN, member-supported radio from the University of Pennsylvania, we normally tune into The River (97.3), which provides traffic and weather updates four times an hour.

Naturally, one of the traffic alerts peaked my interest because it involved one of our routes to work. A section of Interstate 81 was closed because approximately 38,000 pounds of pig lungs had spilled onto the highway beyond exit 29 in Southampton Township when the operator of the tractor trailer stated that he “blacked out,” according to state police.

Being the curious K-9 that I am, I asked Mom, "What in the world would someone do with 19 tons of pig lungs?" Not knowing the answer, Mom set out on a path to find the answer by contacting her old buddy Mr. Jeff, a Penn State Dickinson alumnus who works as General Counsel for Hatfield Quality Meats.

Mr. Jeff informed Mom that the lungs would be ground up into a slurry and mixed with grains to make pet food. At first, Mom thought that Mr. Jeff was just trying to pull the wool over her eyes, so she did a little bit of research herself. Sure enough pig, cow, and sheep lungs along with a lot of other bi-products are used in some pet foods - even premium quality food like RedBarn.

I guess Otto von Bismarck's statement, "Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made" applies to dog food, too!

A bit of Irony

You know the old phrase, "You learn something new every day?" Well I swear, right paw up to Dog, as sure as my name is Newman, that it's true.

Just this evening, I received an e-mail message from my Aunt Lee saying that she had read yesterday's Blog entry about Mom being a faithful blood donor. Well, it turns out that my real K-9 Mom, Laurel, Ch. Katandy's Night Magic, is also a blood donor dog. Now, how cool is that?

Coincidence or irony? You decide. Prior to yesterday, the last time that my adoptive Mom tried to donate blood, she was a little low in iron so maybe it is just a coincidence.

As many of you know, I am the complete opposite of what M & D had hoped to bring home - a 10-12 week old, flashy fawn, female pup. In any event, I know it was no darn coincidence that I ultimately became a Knowlton pup. I have no doubt that Beulah Ruth helped to line up the stars that put M & D on the path to Severna Park, MD.

Thank you BR for pointing M & D in the right direction! Your guidance has helped them overcome their sexist and racial stereotypical mindset. They now realize that color is only skin deep.

"Laurel" ~ Ch. Katandy's Night Magic

The Gift of Giving

This past weekend, I had a surprise visit by my new friend Scout Suter. She's a 1.5 year old, red, standard poodle and has the same type of fur as my fuzzy cousins, Hannah and Cooter. We had a swell time chasing each other around the backyard. She's very fast and, while I hate to admit it, may be a little more agile cutting the corners than I am at this stage in my racing career.

Judging from the stories that Mom has told me about Nana Suter, Scout is a chip off the old block when it comes to giving. On Saturday, she showed up bearing a bag of goodies which I have been enjoying immensely. Don't get me wrong, I love gifts! But, like the Suters, I try to live my life by the age-old adage, "It's better to give than receive."

While I'm on the subject of giving, yesterday Mom performed her civic duty and gave the "gift of life" during a blood drive sponsored by the Student Bar Association at the Law School. Just like clockwork - every 56 days - she schedules a date with a vampire phlebotomist to have a pint of blood sucked from her arm to help saves lives.

Please don't think that I am looking a gift horse in the mouth, but I must elaborate one of the gifts that I received from Scout. It was a matching collar and leash that bears the phrase "I'm taking my owner to DQ (Dairy Queen)." Being the little devil that I am, I considered taking a black Sharpie and crossing out DQ and replacing it with Masseys - the name of a locally owned and operated ice cream joint - because M & D love their homemade custard. But, Mom explained that would be considered a slap in Scout's face. After all, her parents, who owned and operated the Carlisle DQ for more than 25 years, provided Mom with her first job as a cake decorator which helped pay her way through college while learning the importance of responsibility and customer service, valuable skills that she has used to paw her way up the food chain at the Law School.