Post Beachdom Blues

I think that Roger, Thelma Lou and I are still suffering from a case of the post-beachdom blues. We had so much fun that we need a vacation to recuperate from our vacation. I'm but a shell of the bouncing brindle boxer that I was last week on the beach.

While I am extremely about "Celebrate the Boxer Day" at the upcoming American Boxer Club Regional Specialty on Monday, October 7, this picture surely doesn't show it. Obviously, I was not "cut out" for the work that Mom had planned for tonight in bed.

But seriously, who brings a paper cutter to bed? To think that she made fun of my Aunt Burt for taking a sewing machine on vacation!

Life is better blonde

Life is better as a blonde. Thelma Lou is not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because she's neither dumb nor blonde.

Live blonde or "dye" trying!

Shark sighting prompts response by U.S. Coast Guard

Land Sharks sighted on Corolla Beaches

After two species of land sharks were believed to be sighted on the beaches of the Outer Banks, the U.S. Coast Guard at Corolla, NC, was called in to confirm the tip.

U.S. Coast Guard patrolling the beaches in Corolla

The call came in from an anonymous sunbather who reported that the sharks, one an English Bull and the other a French Bull Shark, were spotted on the beaches of Corolla at approximately 5 p.m.

Anonymous Sunbather

"In all my years of living on the OBX, I'm not aware that a simultaneous sighting of both types of land sharks has ever occurred. It's exciting yet unsettling at the same time," said neighborhood watchdog Frank Vocci who was walking his pugs, Greycie and Ollie, at the time.

Neighborhood Watchdogs

Frank's wife Julie is thankful that she didn't have her grandson Dominic with her. "If it weren't for the recent birth of our second grandson, Jax, Dominic would have been with us. Like most curious little boys, naturally Dominic would have been drawn to them, Julie said. While neither the English nor the French Bull Shark is known to be aggressive, they can attack if provoked something that Julie said she'd rather not witness.

Coast Guard on High Alert

With the arrival of the Coast Guard, the beaches in Corolla are open today. Howl-ever, you may want to think twice before catching some rays and z's at the same time.

Happy Birthday to me!

Today I turned 6 years old. Not looking to bad for a middle-aged Boxer if I must say so myself. Actually, with all the compliments that I've receive on my good looks and ripped bod, I really don't have to. Sure, I've started to get a little grey around the ears, but what's a guy to do  ̶  break out a black Sharpie to cover it? Don't laugh, I've seen it done at dog shows already.

Newman on his 6th Birthday

Speaking of dog shows, Mom and I will be at the upcoming American Boxer Club Regional Specialty being held in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania from October 7-11, 2013. The week-long fierce "Battle for the Best Boxer" will commence with "Celebrate the Boxer Day" on Monday, October 7. We hope that you can join us for a fun-filled day of educational activities for all, including a Triathadog course, an AKC Sanctioned Boxer Puppy Match, a costume contest and ice cream social.

Also on tap for the day is an educational handling seminar with none other than Diego Garcia, professional handler of "Scarlett the Boxer," one of the most winning  ̶  not to mention beautiful  ̶  Boxer bitches in the country; DNA testing for degenerative myelopathy; and a Breeders Forum on "The Boxer Head," one of our most defining attributes. Check out the schedule below:

Life is ruff on the OBX!

We're beginning week two of vacation here on the OBX. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous. Roger and Thelma Lou were having a little bit of a "ruff" time this morning. While Roger is definitely one tough little dude, he clearly does not exhibit the epitome of boxer-strength and fortitude that I possess. During our walk this morning on the Currituck County Reserve, we had to take a little break because he seemed to be having a "ruff" time keeping up with Jasper and me. Of course, his little legs are only about 1/3 the size of ours.

Resting Roger

Thelma Lou also had a "ruff" time. She couldn't decide whether to wear the pink, flowered tankini that nicely accents the pink on her lips or to go with the itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, yellow, polka dot bikini which shows off her girly figure. Me, I just go au naturale.

 Decisions, Decisions

Happy G-Day!

Did you know that today is Grandparents Day? The brainchild of West Virginian natives Marian and Joe McQuade, Grandparents Day was first proclaimed a national holiday in 1978 when President Jimmy Carter signed the bill into law designating the first Sunday after Labor Day as national Grandparents Day.

While some cynics might view Grandparents Day as just another money-maker for the card companies, passionate pups like Rog, Thelma Lou, and I choose to celebrate the occasion with cards and calls to our loved ones. So whether you call your grandparent G-Dawg, Grammar, or Puppaw, make sure you let them how much you love them  ̶  today and everyday.

The sun rises and sets with grandparents

Got Crabs?

One might ask how it's possible to feel crabby at the beach? The following film footage explains it all. I don't know whether it's because Roger was born in Maryland and exposed to crabbin' at an early age or whether he's just a natural born killer, but Roger is by far the best crabber on the beach.

FYI — No crabs or Frenchies were injured in the taping of this clip.

Oh poo!

The first Monday in September is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Merriam Webster defines labor as an expenditure of physical or mental effort, especially when difficult or compulsory.

While I wanted to hit the beach first thing this morning, Roger decided that in celebration of his 6th consecutive Labor Day in the OBX he was going to do a little extra labor during his morning walk. Ever since he passed his Dog Scouts of America test at Mini Camp, he's become a little badge hungry and decided to work towards his Clean Up America II merit badge for picking up and properly disposing of 50 piles of stray dog poop. During just his walk from our house to the beach, he found and disposed of 5 piles of stray dog poop.

Logging "piles" toward his Clean Up America II Merit Badge

That's some irresponsible dog ownership especially when two of the deposits were right beside a Pet Clean up Station!!! Cleaning up dog poo is definitely falls within Webster's definition because it's not voluntary, it's compulsory. Just because people are on vacation, doesn't mean that their obligation to clean up after their pets should "go to the dogs" - even when it's Labor Day.

We're more than a little sick of this shit! Someday dogs are not going to be allowed on the OBX because of their owners' irresponsibility. Ok, that's it for my Public Service Announcement today.

Be responsible: If you dog poops, remember to scoop!