Roger That

As most of you know, Mom is a shop-a-saurus when it comes to the pet department. One thing that she hasn't been able to find, however, is a stuffed toy that I can't disembowl. Believe me, she's tried them all, including the virtually indestructible ones by Go Dog and Coleman, which really aren't much of a challenge.

First, I very methodically remove the grunter. Then, I rip every last piece of stuffing out of 'em. I rather pride myself in having been able to silence each and every last beast with which I've come into contact. That was until this past Monday when I think I might've finally met my match.

I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to my new little brother, Roger, a 21-month old French Bulldog.

I keep trying to find the seams to get a good start on skinning him, but so far, to no avail. Furthermore, I can't find his grunter. It must really be hidden deep within the confines of the little bat-eared beast. I think that we might finally get our money out of this one.

Take your money to the bank

Even though I won my first blue ribbon at the Talbot County (MD) Kennel Club show this past weekend, I didn't earn any points. Mom, Dad, and I still had a really great time cheering on my relatives, Blush, Jackson, and Frankie, who took Best in Breed two days consecutively. Not that I'm a betting man, but if I were, I'd put my money on Frank, because you can take your money to the bank of the Chesapeake Bay when my Uncle Frank is in the ring.

After Frank's Best of Breed win on Saturday, Dad's hands were once again called into action to showcase his purple and gold ribbon.

Frank takes a chill pill after his win on Saturday

Highlights from the Talbot County Kennel Club Show

I'm a handful

Just checked into the Tide Water Inn in historic downtown Easton, MD. So far I give it four paws up. There was a fresh bowl of H2O outside waiting for me when I arrived. And, they provided me with a "Paws Off - Pet on Vacation" sign for my door so I'm not disturbed during my afternoon beauty nap. I am particularly enjoying the ultra-comfortable down bedding. However since there are only two queen beds in the room, I guess that M & D are going to have to share one because no one is cramping this pampered pup's paw space.


If you read my last post, you know "hail" famous my Dad's hands are. However, I never imagined that he would have received a "hand job" so quickly after arriving in Easton, MD.


As you can see, I needed a helping hand from Dad because my first trip over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge took the wind out of my sails and rendered me incapable of holding up my head.

Puparazzi catches chilling storm on film

Although the start of yesterday promised to be an outstanding day of sun and fun at my favorite state park, the day literally went to "hail" in a handbag. At approximately 2 p.m. when the clouds started to roll in and thunder rumbled from above, Mom, Dad & I decided that it was time to beat feet and head out before getting soaked.

Ignoring the ominous black clouds to the west, we set out on Gullibles Travels and moved on to our next destination, Long Pine Dam and Lake, for some much needed swimming lessons. As we crossed from Cumberland County into Franklin County, we had quite a chilling experience when the temperature dropped from approximately 75 to 45 degrees, and we were pummeled with almost two inches of hail during the course of ten minutes.

Being the up-and-coming Puparazzo that I am, I had my trusty Jazz Elite Hi-Def video camera in my hip pocket and caught the following on film which was submitted to our local news stations. Much to my delight, I awoke this morning to find that both the ABC and NBC affiliates decided to air the photo of my Pop's paws presenting a pile of precipitation. Thank Dog he had just filed his nails.



Since the film's air this morning, the phone hasn't stopped ringing from hand modeling agencies and tabloids begging for more phenomenal photos. Although I doubt that anyone will be able to portray Pop's paws as perfectly as I, we are happily accepting offers from respectable hand modeling agents because his part-time job as Library Dawg is never gonna make us rich.

Although the award-winning weather photos are definitely a nice resume builder, I'm not sure how much more mileage I'll get out of them. My next leg of weather watchin' will take place in a couple of weeks in the Outer Barks, NC. While I hope to avoid seeing the Weather Channel's notorious storm-chasing meteorologist Jim Cantore, in the unfortunate circumstance that it were to happen, I will gladly exchange weather "tails" with him.

Aw shucks!

No, I did not fall off the face of the earth. It's just that I've been busy entertaining family that was visiting from Savannah.

In any event, many of you football fans, like me, are looking forward to another season of fun-filled college football. While I will be packing on the evening of August 29 for my upcoming trip to the Outer Barks, NC, the Nittany Lions will launch the season with activities on Penn State Football Eve beginning at 6 p.m. outside Beaver Stadium. Keep in mind, it's never too early for a tailgate.

With M & D both working at Penn State, we bleed blue and white in the Knowlton household. Don't get me wrong, I know from where my meal ticket comes. But if Joe Pa and his legendary Nittany Lions can't come any closer to winning the National Championship in 2008 than they did last year, I am seriously considering "shucking" my Blue & White jersey, packing my bags, and heading west to try out for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

While many of you might find my decision to possibly leave the Lions a bit characteristic of a turncoat, I must take my talent where it leads me. With sweet corn being in season in right now, my personal trainer, Hymie the husking house husband, and I have been honing our husking skills practically every day. After all as a member of the canine species, I would only be "lion" to myself if I thought I had more innate talent impersonating a feline than being a corn husker.

Personal trainer and junior husker hone husking skills