My millisecond of fame...

So if you have a computer that can play "You Tube" -- watch this video about the Sedona Stupa, and Sarah and I are the two dogs you see scurry past the camera about halfway through the video. (I think the timer reads 2:45, if you blink - you miss us. ) And right after we scoot by on leads behind Chris and John, the next interview is John for a few words!

This spot ran on the air in Phoenix over the summer and then was on Sedona Now Network (owned by former child star Glenn Scarpelli andhis partner Jude Belanger). Now it is up on You Tube fot the world to see. And me without a cute little outfit on! P'shaw.

Anyway happy viewing! (You might even get a sense of what a stupa is! Sarah and I always try to go for the pet blessings there!!)

Love ya'll like a few minutes of glory!

-Joy Beagle

What up Dog?

Months go by so quickly, I am just amazed! I have been pretty "dog tired" from the holiday hoop-la, but I figured I better shout out to my blog posse.
So I was much more into this whole Christmas gig this year. Sarah showed me how to sit patiently and wait for the people to bring us a pile of gifts. We got a plush goldfish that makes "bubbling" noises, a plush goat/sheep that goes "baaaaaah", some natural jerky, some treats from Chris' workplace... and probably some other stuff that I am forgetting!

I saw my grandparents at Thanksgiving. Pops and Mooches came to Sedona (a very pet friendly town I must say...) and even brought me and big sis some squeaky toys! I love being a grand-dog!!!

Chris is actually away from home this week. He is house-sitting on the other side of the highway for 2 other Katrina rescue dogs! They moved in with Maggie (my friend the Shiba Inu) and Chris is loving getting to know Luna and Bailey. I sure hope he comes back home - he gets really spoiled staying at these nice homes for pet-sitting.

Okay, I'm rusty on the creative writing, so let's just end it here for now. I will be back... but probably not this year!

Love ya'll like the Big Ball dropping over Time Square.

-Joy Beagle

Hey Weeza... Remember Me?

Now there is a bit of trivia for y'all... can you name the movie that title is quoted from? I'll give you a hint... at one point Dolly Parton says: "We're a CHAIN!"

So anyway, I figured it was time to blow the dust off the keyboard again. I just woke up from a week and a half coma - self induced by turkey consumption. (Don't I wish. As always the boys were quite reserved in the amount of poultry that was given to Sarah and I. We barked, we drooled, we lay on our backs... hoping they would believe we were at death's door from starvation. Damned if they didn't see through all our best tricks though!)

Pops and Mooches came to visit us! That's what we call Chris' parents. They came in for a three day visit and we initiated them into the Three Dog Bakery family! They also got to go see the Stupa here in Sedona. All in all it was a wonderful visit - and they brought Sarah Basset and I both a new plush CHEW TOY!!! We are squeaking ourselves half mad with that blissful abandon that only a new chew toy can bring.

Gotta go sleep now. Chris is housesitting for six dogs and four cats across town... so I figured it was safe to venture out to the Arizona room and get online... but dang it's cold up in here. So I'm gonna head back to my futon and snuggle up next to my home-girl and sister Sarah B.

Peace ya'll.

Love ya like a big downy blanky on a chilly December morning!

-Joy Beagle

Grab a Donkey and Dance Ya'll!

This is an exciting night for all us pups who have hopes of a
different government and trajectory in this country!!! I tried to sneak into a polling place today and cast my
canine vote... but alas, even the little old church ladies that volunteer for
election day recognize a non-human form protruding from the mouth of my elegant
disguise.


I had hoped to appear menacing and intimidating, like a GOP volunteer trying to prevent a legitimate minority from voting... but alas, they saw through my rouse. I was tempted to bite them all in the butt... but I suppose our election results could do that for us!!

I love democracy... especially when it looks more democratic**.

Love ya'll like a crazy ole donkey trying to dance circles round a pachyderm...

Big lick,

Joy B.

** - the political views of the dog writing this blog entry are her own, and do not necessarily express views shared by her humans. Oh who are we kidding... you know those two big ole nelly queens are totally gonna be DEMOCRATS as well!!!!

FROM Reuters / Mary Milliken:

Only Arizona voted against its marriage amendment, but analysts said that does
not mean voters favor gay marriage.
"They were voting against a measure in
the amendment that would have denied benefits to domestic partners," said
Arizona State University analyst Bruce Merrill.

Home is Where the Kibble is...

Alright, alright... at this rate I am going to disappear from all the search engines - only posting once a month. But what's a girl to do?

We are now officially moved into the new digs, but I gotta tell ya... I see no end in sight to the unpacking. These humans accumulate so much junk it is UNBELIEVABLE. We're talking about more dishes than any household could EVER require for a dinner party. And clothes... oy vay. My two dads could clothe a small continent with all their apparel. Sarah and I feel quite fortunate that we can just walk around in our bare-assed beauty - especially seeing all the toil and labor that goes into washing, folding, ironing... (at least we hear some people do this. I have yet to witness my people undertaking these activities!)

Yes there are benefits to a simple life.

So what did we last talk about? Oh, who are we kidding... let's just pick a random topic and move on to today's post.

Wait there is one order of blog business... our friend "the chicken lady" has moved her blog. Be sure to update your bookmarks to the Dakini Valley blog. Ani Kunzang has met a formidable challenge in the wire eating squirrels out at the valley. I would chase and eat them for her, but alas... my Chris won't have me killing little beasties in any way he can prevent it! (Actually, I'm starting to enjoy the benefits of a karmically upright life.) I needn't harm any little critters these days... because there are home cooked meals aplenty in this new house. So nowadays I am saying prayers for those little rabbits in the yard and not even paying attention to the DELICIOUS... oops, um... I mean adorable quail under our fig tree.

It being 4:00 AM, I feel way too pooped (mentally) to post anything of interest... but I felt the call of my readers (you all are still reading this aren't you?) So for you, my beloved peeps... I type for you!

Random photo share: Chris' family at his cousin's wedding-



Love you like the endless bowl of kibble...

-Joy Beagle

Today's post also bids a congrats to Chris' dear friend Michael Granberry who is an animated film-making genious these days... check out his twisted wit at Red Hatchet Films !!

Dog Tired

Hey Ya'll, Sorry about the "few and far between" posting. There is a saying that "life's a bitch... and so am I" - well that applies quite LITERALLY to me. Chris and John hope to have me spayed very soon. I have gone into heat a second time (which really wreaks havoc on the linens and carpets when it comes on unannounced!)

Next month I get my followup since having the heartworm treatment... and if all those little chest raiders are out of my system - I get my girly parts adjusted. Woo-hoo!

The boys have been in a downward spiral of pure chaos. Sarah and I watch them toil and labor to get the house packed up and they keep talking about this place they call the "new house". Quite frankly it sounds divine! We gals haven't been over to see it yet... but there is this thing they call the "secret garden" that I look forward to pooping in. It's an outdoor fenced in courtyard with flagstone and a terrace that has an attached area (also fenced in) with an herb garden. The boys are all excited about their grilling deck, but Sarah and I just want to sniff, pee, and poo in that herb garden area!!! We will have a doggy door and access to outside ALL DAY LONG from the Arizona room. (That would be the California Room if you lived in San Diego or somewhere I bet!) This outdoor access thing is going to be new for me. Maybe I'll stop leaving the boys "gifts" in the living room!? Jury's still out on that one.

The other novel feature of this house will be... (anticipation building drumroll...) a lady and 2 kids!? That's right, our friend Rabden and her children Ethan (6 year old boy) and Aviana (5 year old girl) will live there with us. That's gonna mean extra snacks according to Sarah. She lived with them when they were 2 and 3 years old and says they constantly have food in their little paws, and are willing to share it! I'm sure Chris will have his work cut out for him monitoring what the little whipper snappers feed us.

Anyway... once we move there are rumors I'll have high-speed Internet and so hopefully I will post more efficiently and frequently!

Til then my friends... I love ya like a new rental unit with an attentive landlord and faux hardwood floors!

Love, Joy Beagle.

PS safe travel to Chris who flies to Maryland tomorrow for an exciting weekend at the Poolesville, MD KPC Buddhist temple!!!!

The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire...

... actually, the roof is on the floor. Sarah and I were just snoozing away one day on the futon mattress we have comandeered...

when suddenly there was this sound like a ruckus! (Could you describe the ruckus!?) Like a wayward scud missile might have entered our attic!

When John ran to the bathroom to investigate the all too familiar crash... hwe found this:

Eeh gads! And so we bid farewell to our Hummingbird Home. Details on that to follow...

Love ya'll like Chicken Little under a fallin' sky

-Joy Beagel

igive.com, do you?

Hi there folks. I am trying to help Chris out with his fundraising efforts. He has the fun job that many of you humans do... raising money for worthy causes.

This method is pretty fun though. Do you shop online? I do. (At least when I can locate my dad's credit card... nobody knows you are a dog online, so they will actually sell to you!) This is a passive way to do what we do anyway, and help support a 24 hour prayer vigil, events that promote peace, animal rescue operations and more...

I'm supporting Kunzang Palyul Choling of Sedona just by shopping online for brand-name stuff at over 640 well-known online stores. And I'm getting free deals and coupons just by being an iGive.com member.

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Join to Support Kunzang Palyul Choling - It's FREE, private, & easy. http://www.iGive.com/html/refer.cfm?memberid=455822&causeid=36384

2. Shop the Mall at iGive.com. You'll see familiar stores like Lands End, Office Depot, JCPenney, Neiman Marcus, Expedia, Barnes & Noble, and eBay to mention just a few!

3. Watch the $$ roll in for Kunzang Palyul Choling! Up to 26% of EACH purchase gets donated!

----------------------------------------------------
Use this link to JOIN FOR FREE and begin supporting Kunzang Palyul Choling: http://www.iGive.com/html/refer.cfm?memberid=455822&causeid=36384
----------------------------------------------------
GREAT STORES AT iGIVE.COM And just in case you're thinking, oh yeah, who wants to buy something from Never-heard-of-it.com, here are just a few of iGive.com's 640+ stores:

Office Depot, Lands' End, JCPenney, PETsMART, Expedia.com, Gap, Barnes & Noble, Neiman Marcus, Best Buy, Dell, Vitamin Shoppe, QVC, Shop NBC, Drugstore.com, Orvis, Hallmark, Staples, and more!

JOIN NOW - Use this clever link below (ugly as it may be) and join with Kunzang Palyul Choling already selected as the cause you'll support.

http://www.iGive.com/html/refer.cfm?memberid=455822&causeid=36384

Love ya'll like a great online bargain that helps bring peace on earth!

Joy Beagle

P.S. iGive.com would like you to know that all thecauses at iGive.com have been listed by members for their own and others' benefit. They don't endorse the causes, and the causes don't endorse them. But I DO! So, c'mon, click on that link above.

Thanks Mary for this gem...

Our pal Mary shared this and I thought it appropriate for my blog!!

THE DOG'S DIARY

7 am - Oh boy! A walk! My favorite!
8 am - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9 am - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite!
Noon - Oh boy! The yard! My favorite!
2 pm - Oh boy! A car ride! My favorite!
3 pm - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite!
4 pm - Oh boy! Playing ball! My favorite!
6 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Mom! My favorite!
7 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Dad! My favorite!
8 pm - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9 pm - Oh boy! Tummy rubs on the couch! My favorite!
10pm - Oh Boy! People's bed! My favorite!

THE CAT'S DIARY

Day 183 of my captivity. My captors continued to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps
me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from clawing the furniture.
Tomorrow I may eat another house plant. Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving
around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded - must try this at the top of the
stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself
to vomit on their favorite chair - must try this on their bed, (or car.....)

Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body in an attempt to make them aware of
what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear in their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was. Hmmm, not working according to plan... There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More important, I overheard that my confinement was due to my powers of inducing "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage. I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait; it is only a matter of time...


Love ya'll like the cat that ate the canary...

Joy Beagle

Phoenix Phear

My goodness... I live in Arizona and I am shocked to have heard some news about Pheonix on CNN tonight. As a dog, I find the human experience to be a perplexing observation. I hear about this serial killer (and true, initially I was compelled to protect my Cheerios... but Chris straightened me out on the topic) and I simply get depressed. Here is some person, fortunate enough to have landed a human life (a VERY difficult task in Buddhist cosmology) and he wastes it killing other humans.

I cannot imagine the complex neurosis that must constitute this type of psychosis. I pretty much focus my time throughout the day concetrating on eat, sleep, affection and play. But somehow the human experience has become so jaded for some persons that they seek their happines through exterminating random strangers.

Can you imagine? What it must take to compel somebody to take a life... what tortured habit of mind could justify these acts? Ironically, most of us reading this post would consider ourselves incapable of such an action. And I agree, most of you are peaceful, loving people... you are good kind-hearted folks (not saints mind you... we are realistic here.) So, it might rub you a little odd to stay... have you murdered in this life? It's a provocative question that holds no judgement, but challenges you to consider potentially the TOUGHEST of all esoteric teachings. Have any of us swatted a fly? Or stepped on some pesky ants. Have we euthanized a beloved pet, or put on an antibiotic cream? (Oh come now Joy Beagle - you surely cannot consider these acts the same as a SERIAL KILLER can you?)

There are many high level spiritual beings who have taught the equality of all living beings. All of them state that every living creature, with no division into castes, or species, or even behavior categories... is deserving of our most precious love and compassion. This teaching (as my puppy brain understands it ) has never stated that it condones the activity of a serial killer... but it has argued that the nature of that individual is no different than the nature of Mother Theresa. Obviously their expression and use of their lives are markedly different, and that is where our judgement (unfortunately) has room to seep in.

But likewise, a cockroach in your attic, a fluffy bunny in your back yard, a deer in the crosshairs of a hunter's rifle, the very hunter with a finger on the trigger, a healthy bouncing baby on a grandmother's lap, or a confused and angry gangster member in "the hood" are all equal. According to the most blessed information ever to be spoken by a Buddha or Bodhisattva... these beings all enjoy the same capacity to become enlightened. Are they all in the same position right now to accomplish that enlightenment? Absolutely not. But the beginnings of our ability to love unconditionally start with our understanding of the equality of all that lives.

So, I suppose as I watched this CNN story about the Phoenix rapist/serial killer... I am having a difficult time finding that space in my mind where I can love this person who is commiting this awful act against humanity. And yet I do understand that my confusion and anger towards the subject of this news story,is an energy that is only describeable as hate. Even if it "appears" justifiable because that person did something "bad" to someone "good" so we should all band together and stop this evil person. Well, I cannot disagree that people should make every effort to stop this heinous activity from continuing, so that this karmic hell that the criminal is creating for himself (and those who react to his actions) can end. But it is more crucial than it has ever been in history that we find compassion and understanding in our hearts and minds. Because angry energy - in any form - is a seed that grows into a large tree. As a tiny impotent seed - anger might look like "righteous indignation" towards someone who deserves it (or a gross little bug in our clean environment, or a 10 point buck that will beautify our hunting lodge). But when that seed meets with the conditions to grow into a full tree - it may express itself of a much larger scale - such as a North Korean Dictator, a war hungry leader of a democratic country, or a serial killer on a spree in a hot town in the southwest. Afterall... wouldn't those people have it somewhere in their mind that these people "deserved" what they are getting. "Right or wrong" is subject to argument... but the act of taking a life (in any form) is easily defined. Something is alive, some being takes that status away from it. Now that being is dead.

It's a dangerous topic I discuss tonight. There will be emotional reactions, perhaps. I still want to entertain you, engage you, and invite you into my blog world... and I love you all. But I would be a socially, spiritually and politically irresponsible dog if I did not encourage us to discuss these tough topics on occasion.

Love you like an insightful thought in the middle of a silly daydream.

Joy Beagle

Happy 4th of Drool-y

Today is clearly a day for celebration. We may not all be completely enamored with our country's "leadership" or the direction of some current political emphasis. [Don't even get me started on the image above where we portray "innocence and freedom" as a kid with a gun in his hand... alright, back on track now.] But unless some bone-headed few destroy the rights of all, we do enjoy many freedoms in this country that are unique to democracy. So in an effort to show my appreciation of that diversity, I (Joy Beagle - the Buddhist dog) present some Christian literature right here on my blog...

On the First day, God created the dog.
On the Second day, God created man to serve the dog.
On the Third day, God created all the animals of the earth to serve as
potential food for the dog.
On the Fourth day, God created honest toil so that man could
labor for the good of the dog.
On the Fifth day, God created the tennis ball so that the dog might or
might not retrieve it.
On the Sixth day, God created veterinary science to keep the dog happy and
the man broke.
On the Seventh day, God tried to rest, but he had to walk the dog.

There you have it. The Testament shared on a Buddhist Hound's website. Now THAT is freedom of religion and speech in essence.

Love ya'll like one nation under dogs with liberty and justice for all!

Joy Beagle

Hounding for Hollywood

Back in the Spring, Sedona hosted it's annual film festival (which is growing to be along the lines of a Sundance or Cannes festival more each year.) Although I did not personally attend, what with the whole dog thing working against me... my dad was there and got to rub elbows with some nifty big screen personalities. He was working as a "cord-carrier" and assisting the film crew of a local TV station as they covered the event.

Ned Beatty, a seasoned actor of "Deliverence" fame and much more, was just an arms length from Chris as the NOW network (remember them from the "Stupa-fied" post) conducted an interview at the gala. Also there was that lady from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" , Lainie Kazan. It's always cool to meet someone in the flesh, who you've seen on TV or in movies. Apparently my Granddaddy (a/k/a "Pops" - Chris' dad) was briefly in a movie called Turk 182. It was a crowd coverage shot at the Meadowlands where he ran across the screen (as himself) when he still coached for the New York Giants - but hey... it counts.

Anyway - I just saw the Sedona Magazine tonight with some photos of the festival in it and thought I'd share:

The Cover of the issue is shown at left. The center picture is my dad et al [L-R: Glenn Scarpelli, Dara Tokarz and Chris]. The picture to the right is actually a different event covered in the same issue of Sedona Magazine, but it is two friends and former co-workers of dad and my auntie Dara so I included it [L-R: Kathie Waide, Kim Meller]. Lots of fun photos in this summer issue that highlights friends and famous folks alike. It gives us a pleasant distraction from all the Sedona Fire coverage!

So how do I tie-in a recipe to this post? Hmmm, how about this (follow closely):

My dad works for Three Dog Bakery in Sedona. The original Three Dog Bakery in Kansas City has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey show. Oprah is famous, and so are Mark and Dan the founders of Three Dog Bakery (and the dogs Gracie, Dottie and Sarah!) My dad has met the famed Mark and Dan (who know Oprah) so naturally all this fame means we should share a Three Dog Bakery recipe with you. But Three Dog Bakery Recipes are PROBABLY trademarked - so I'll link you to where you could find the book by Mark and Dan from AMAZON.

There... that counts doesn't it!? I thought so.

Love ya'll like a random encounter with a big time celebrity...

Joy Beagle.

PS- Comment here on your Close encounters with celebs !

Belle Weaver-We Salute You!

Now some may call me a literary master! (Or maybe that is just the delusional voices in my little puppy head?) But of all the talented Beagles I have ever heard of - this dog is a TRUE hero. (And just to clarify, I am joking about the literary master thing!)

Belle Weaver, a/k/a "super beagle" saved her human's life. She is trained to check his breath for ketonic indicators of a diabetic seizure onslaught... and in worst case scenarios she can call 9-1-1 on his cell phone. The latter is EXACTLY what she did recently to save his life.

Tails up to you girl-friend! Any Beagle who saves lives is an ace in my book!

For Belle Weaver - today's recipe is a HERO sub. Sure, we dogs can't really eat those because of the salt and stuff... but a little table scrap is due in this case.

Thank you Belle Beagle. And thanks to KT, my dad's friend in Maryland who brought the Belle Weaver article to our attention in the comments from my last post!

Love ya'll like a favorite super hero saving the day at the last minute,
-Joy Beagle

Mother Nature is Stalking Me!

What is it with me and natural disasters? I barely escape New Orleans after Katrina ravaged the place, and now Sedona is poised to light up like a tender box!

Granted, the fire is sticking mainly to the National Forest and has not breached or compromised any physical structures yet, but in my heart I hear the pleas of my wildlife friends who cannot possibly all be outrunning this blaze which lept from 300 acres (when Chris was evacuated from work in uptown today at 5:30) - to 1,000 acres now (around 11:00). The photos here are some photos courtesy of Arizona Republic Website (credited to JD Maddie and Janessa Hilliard).

So far only a few areas have been evacuated, but the blaze you can see from most of West Sedona where we live is a little un-nerving. This is a close up someone else took:

and below is Chris' horribly unfocused photo but gives a point of reference from where we live (the top of the shot is the blaze, the red light in the middle is the shopping center about 1/4 mile from our house):

It was a strange day indeed. Chris tells me he got a call at work from the owners of his shop. They were packing their home at about 1:30 PM watching the blaze and pillar of smoke just North of their neighborhood in Rim Shadows. They packed their valuables into the trucks and brought their two dogs and their cockatiel to the bakery. Chris says that at about 5:00 the police and forest services shut off the neighborhood where they lived and also began shutting down traffic through Oak Creek Canyon (between Sedona and Flagstaff - where Woody Fire made the news this week.) As Chris drove away from the bakery at 5:45 - the official fire sirens were going off to close the canyon and evacuate residence to Flag or Sedona.

With the planes and helicoptors all around, Chris and I were reminded of post Katrina New Orleans (although there were no Hum-Vees or camouflaged soldiers to speak of. )

So today we will discuss our "Recipe for (avoiding) Disaster!"

Every pet should prepare for evacuation - because these days between the hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes, politcal potentials and insanity of our world... we could take a lesson from those boy scouts who claim to "be prepared!"

This is our evacuation ready kit (which rotates periodically as things with expiration dates require.) We started this around the famous "Y2k"days, but have found on a couple occasions (like when Chris had to pick up in the middle of his life and scoot to New Orleans to help rescue pets like yours truly) that effort of "being prepared" made it easy to respond quickly to the needs of others.

Our basic Evacuation Recipe (all stored in a portable plastic bin):

a six pack of wet dog food cans (stewed beef - if you must know) and a can opener

a small bag of kibble (we like Beneful healthy weight these days)

3 gallons of fresh water and a ketadyne water filter

2 collapsable kennels (this # should be adapted to the number of dogs/cats in your home)

additional "people supplies" in our kit are:

a week's worth of camping food

toilet paper - in case housing is an issue and we must camp

a tent/sleeping bags

2 plastic plates, cups and cutlery for two

3 large trash bags and a clean sponge

a flashlight with batteries

3 ready to eat cans of chili, a box of saltines, and 3 bottles of Gatorade (electrolytes!)

An unopened pack of daily vitamins, shampoo, conditiner and soap

A Bath towel

Now this my seem "extreme" to some people, but have you been watching the news lately? It seems on any given day there is some population of our planet inconvenienced by an event. This is a way to be "ready to move into action" and help a hungry/stranded friend, neighbor or area pet who was not as prepared as you were.

Tonight we'll sleep pretty easy knowing that the firefighters are doing a great job "holding off" the spread of the "Brins Mesa" Fire. But should the need arise due to a shift in wind or fortune... this household is ready ro go with our "Recipe for (avoiding) Disaster."

One more though tonight. If you are a pet whose people "think ahead" - you should have them choose a person that you approve of to be a keyholder to your home. In the event that your person was unable to get home quickly, you could be assisted by that friend of your people to get into your kennel and rejoin your human companions at one of several pre-decided locations. We all learned from Katrina that sometimes our people can't get to us in time - and maybe planning your emergency alternatives will help reduce your stress and our dependency on rescue organizations in future emergencies!

Love ya'll like a good night's sleep from knowing you are prepared for the next day!

Love,

Miss Joy "Ain't-no-Disaster-Gonna-Bring-Me-Down" Beagle...

Stupa-fied Joy

Hello everybody. I thought I'd post this week's message and let Joy have a rest. Besides, we don't want her to get car-paw tunnel from the typing. (Eeeeew that was LAME!)

I wanted to announce a way you can see Joy Beagle "in action" from a television commercial. She and Sarah Basset are the dogs that "flash" across the screen in the Amitabha Stupa commercial (More on this shortly). If you don't know what a Stupa is, I recommend the website (that the commercial is on) as a resource.

The video/commercial is an amazing 5 minute piece that was put together by Skip Thomas here in Sedona and has aired all over the state on "Good Morning Arizona" and is cycling every two hours during June on the Channel 18 NOW network here in Sedona.

So hop on over there to The Stupa Site which is beautiful (thanks to Dawn Blanchard) and click over on the left panel midway down ("watch the Stupa Video") to see it in Quicktime. You'll get a brief glimpse (we're talking a milli-second or so) of John and I walking Sarah Basset and Joy Beagle... and John even got interviewed!

For fun here are 10 goofy facts about this blog entry:

1) We took Joy Beagle to the Stupa one day for a pet blessing ceremony.
2) It was Joy Beagle's first day ever at the Stupa.
3) Sarah Basset went as well.
4) Skip Thomas happened to be filming that day.
5) Two of the three times that Sarah has gone to the Stupa she's been in the Newspaper or on TV - strictly by coincindence.
5) The TV station is The NOW Network (Channel 18 - Sedona, AZ)
6) My friend Dara works there - she blogs too.
7) Glenn and Jude own the NOW Network.
8) Glenn used to be on "One Day at A Time" the sitcom
9) John and I met Glenn and Jude at PRIDE in Flagstaff in 2000.
10) PRIDE 2006 in Flagstaff was this weekend.

WOW life is crazy isn't it!?

Ya'll take care now... ya hear!

Six Degrees of Separation

I was having one of those doggy dreams today... you know the kind, paws are twitching... eyes rolling around in their sockets, and little dream barks quietly emitting from the throat. Anyway... in this dream I was chasing a rabbit, but I couldn't catch it. My Dads were yelling at me to leave the little fellow alone... and in the dream my feet would "run" but not make contact with the ground. It was surreal. When I came to, Chris was petting me and comforting me. I guess he is used to this because my sister Sarah Basset has what he calls "squirrel chasing" dreams all the time.

Sarah and I were talking later and we were curious why our Dads always discourage us from eating the bugs, chasing the cute little furry animals in the yard and doing all these things dogs are "supposed" to do. We couldn't really come up with a good answer, but Sarah says she's heard our people talk before about "parents" and that a lot of time you can't understand why they demand certain behaviors of you... then one day you look back and go "OH... I learned to behave differently because of that." Well, whatever it is, I suppose if I can't actually be allowed to hunt, at least they bring me those great toys that I get to rip the squeaker out of and de-stuff all over the living room!!

Moving right along to today's post topic: Sarah and I thought of a game (since our Bistro Bulldog updates aren't going as quickly as we originally hoped, we are "vamping" to entertain you!)

We call this idea the "Six Degrees of Seperation". We'll take a different twist on it though: in an effort to promote conversation between our reader's.

We hope you will each answer the following questions and we'll see if any of our paths have crossed in the past -- before this blog came into being! (I'll assume the obvious connections since a few of you do know each other.) In the comment section after the post, you can list the numbers and answers for yourself. Then we'll see if any of us had close karmic encounters prior to Hurricane Katrina. Here goes:

1) Where were you when my Dads were born? That would be October 1970 (Chris) and January 1971 (John).
2) Where did you live for any part of the Bicentennial year (1976)?
3) Where did you live when my Dads graduated from highschool (June of 1988)?
4) List a job you held or a place you visited the year my Dad's met - 1997.
5)Where did you spend New Years Eve 1999 into 2000? [Anybody remember Y2K?]
6) Is there anywhere else you've ever lived/visited that you feel like mentioning here?(Include years if you can remember them.)

These 6 questions are fairly arbitrary but we dogs are interested in how much you humans move/change and explore different surroundings. It is facinating. Maybe you'll find out you shared some "time and space" with someone else here, or maybe you'll learn something interesting about someone you already know!

Now for the random food tie-in to keep my blog true to its content... feel free to enjoy some apples and carrots while you answer the "quiz" (they are a favorite snack of Sarah's and mine when our Dads slice some up and share with us! Collard stalks are something we enjoy that surprised the boys- they cut up collards, apples and other fruits/greens for the Iguanas. We get little nibbles while the preparations are made. Nibbles of the fruits and such, not the iguanas! Just wanted to be clear on that!)

Well, thanks for dropping by and hope you'll fill in some answers!

Love ya'll like a wild run around the house after one of those terrible "baths" that Dad likes to give me.

Bone-appetit,
Joy Beagle

Telly-bration in Sedona, AZ

All us dogs know that someday we must depart this Earthly plain. My buddy Telly is close to his occasion of passing. I pray that he can pass naturally without his people having to euthanize him. But I cannot control the universe. I have my personal doggy prayers, and I have my Dad to take me to the stupa to pray!

Today my Dad's boss sent him this montage of the "Celebration of Telly's Life." My dad's place of work is a dog bakery in Sedona, so they hosted a party and Telly got to come and bring lots of dog friends. They made him a cake, and all the dogs had a grand time! I could not go because I still want to growl and bite other dogs that I don't know... apparently that bugs my people. But I sure felt like I enjoyed the party vicariously through this posted montage! Good job Emily (Telly's mom)!!

Today's yum-yum of the day: Three Dog Bakery Peanut Butter Cake with Carob letters that spell out "In Celebration of Telly!" (My Dad got to put the letters on the cake, he's all proud of that and keeps nudging me to mention it!)

Enjoy the show (and it does have sound if you are in a place where that might get you in trouble!! But we all love Louis Armstrong!)

Love ya'll like Telly clearly loves this cake!!!

G'night,
Joy Beagle



Telly's Celebration

Dog-claration of Family Values

Well, every now and then something strikes you and it knocks you for a loop. In those moments you have to reflect on something safe, and warm and positive.

Think back if you can (and I hope all of you have some variation of this memory) about a time when you were just a puppy, or a little human puppy as the case may be. Perhaps you were in your crate, or crib or whatever... and your mom or dad or person came and picked you up gingerly, rocked you and cooed into your ear. They held you close and made you feel warm and protected.

And maybe you remember a time later in life when you were hungry or thirsty and that family gave you an abundant meal or a big bowl of water to drink. I think of the days that I hear the family car roll up the drive way... I race like a bullet to the door... tail blazing back and forth like a metronome on "fast forward". My parents walk through the door with an arm full of groceries but still manage to stop and pet me and my sister Sarah Basset. They quickly put groceries away and grab the leashes and flashlight so we can get a walk around the neighborhood before dark.

I hear Chris talk about his memories of his parents and he remembers sleeping on the floor on a Sunday while they watched football in Athens, or a moment in New Jersey with his parents that they all sipped cocktails and played "Hearts" with a deck of cards.

I share his affection because right now I can hop up on the sofa between my parents while they discuss their work day, and one of them might pinch off a bite of whatever forbidden snack and sneak it to Sarah or me. And they keep talking or they might stop and play with us for a little while before they go back into the office to pay the bills, or before one of them heads off to cover a late night prayer shift, or meet friends out for a movie.

I blend all these experiences in my little doggy mind, how similar they are, and how I miss my New Orleans family and I realize how important home and family feels to everyone who has been blessed with a supportive scenario.

Okay - so then I read what these guys in Washington want to tell me. They claim that because my two people are not born with different genitals, that my family is an abomination, should be legally prevented and is in danger of leading to beastiality, polygomy or something like fathers and daughters copulating. At moments like this, I wish I... Joy Beagle, could be president. Or at least a minister in one of these "churches" that are all speaking such hatred. None of you would ever have to read such B.S. disguised as "values" in this lifetime again. Cause I'd never ever expect someone to give up this warm feeling of family that I am blessed with.. just because my parents both have "gender: m" on their driver's license.

I pray for your human species everyday! And for voices of wisdom to become more prominent and drown out these foolish men who abuse their authority. Tonight's bone-appetit recipe is "humble pie" and I am eating it in spades to have been fortunate enough to have a gay family adopt me!

Well, I gotta go. This soap box is getting uncomfortable, and my Dad's have some more affection to share with this family before the day ends!

Love ya'll like a gender blind partnership that gives love and compassion to all the people in their life, despite a media battle they witness everyday that would have them feel unworthy of even the slightest human dignity.

(a disheartened) Joy Beagle

---------------------------------------------------------
HERE IS WHAT HAS UPSET THIS LITTLE PUP:


Weekly Web Message: Is the FMA a threat? Listen to the extremists in their own words.May 2, 2006 - Transcript

President Bush: "Our nation must enact a Constitutional Amendment to protect marriage in America."


Read what Sen. Santorum said: " in every society, the definition of marriage not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That’s not to pick on homosexuality. It’s not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be."

Sen. Orrin Hatch: As you all know, I don't believe in discriminating against anybody but when it comes to traditional marriage, I draw the line.

Rev. Pat Robertson: Self absorbed narcissists who are willing to destroy any institution so long as they can have affirmation of their lifestyle.

Bill O'Reilly: One of the arguments against gay marriage that we just spoke about is that if it becomes law all other alternative marital visions will be allowed ... you can marry 18 people, you can marry a duck... somebody's gonna come and say I want to marry the goat. you'll see it. I'll guarantee you'll see it.

Rev. Jerry Falwell: I'm against same-sex marriage but I'm against a Federal Marriage Amendment. That's like saying 150 years ago I'm opposed to slavery but if my neighbor wants to own one that's alright.

James Dobson: How about group marriage, or marriage between daddies and little girls? How about marriage between a man and his donkey? Anything allegedly linked to civil rights will be doable.

Rev. Lou Sheldon: Once you enter into the culture, into the music, into the gay bars, into the gay literature, into the gay theater, and all of that kind of - and gay travel - once you immerse yourself into that... only a sort of exorcism can release you from it.


Discrimination has no place in our country and certainly not in our Constitution. Stand up against the Federal Marriage Amendment. Go to hrc.org/VoteNo and fight back.

My Friends have a Blog!

I am so delighted to have stumbled across the blog of the aforementioned "chicken lady"... and her writing accomplice Norbu Tashi. These are two people that my person spent a lot of time with during the post Hurricane Katrina Dog Rescue efforts. They are pictured here with the usual suspects...



[l-r backrow: Alyce Louise, Norbu Tashi, Chris (my Dad!), Tooky, Cian, Nyima (the dog in Cian's lap) / frontrow: Ani Kunzang (my "chicken lady") holding Billy Elliot (little white dog - a fellow evacuee from N'awlins)]

Kunzang and Norbu have started the Dakini Valley blog to discuss life out at our people's Buddhist Retreat Center/Animal Rescue Haven (Tara's Babies). You can read up on their postings here.

But of course, this being the Bone-Appetit blog, we have to bring in the full dog angle. Shortly after I moved into the care and custody of Chris, I started hearing the stories of Sandy Chow. He held a prominent ranking among the volunteers of Tara's Babies because he actually knew how to behave himself on the end of that leash you people always like to clip onto our collars so we can walk you. (BTW - I must retract a gender faux-pas that I made when I commented on the Dakini Valley blog - I referred to Sandy by the spelling of Sandee - and called him a "gal-pal"! Imagine the blush in my cheeks when Chris informed me that Sandy was a boy and spelled this way. I guess it goes to show ya - without a good sniffing of the old back side, we dogs can't tell a whole lot about one another from a distance!)

But Sandy had a longing in life... to live at Dakini Valley with Norbu. And though the fates could not allow that at the time, this pup hears it from good sources that Norbu may be returning from his present home in Maryland to the gorgeous sacred land of Dakini Valley. Perhaps fate will bring Sandy, who was fostered to another location while Tara's Babies ramped up on infrastructure, back to the Valley to live with his fave person. (We fellow dogs just looked the other way when extra treats and toys "ended up" in Sandy's kennels after a day of Norbu doing dog care.) ; )

Anyhow, here is the gorgeoous Chow named Sandy:

A real Teddy Bear of a guy you can tell by his face!

As for my "chicken lady" - Ani (which is an honorific for nuns in Tibetan Buddhism) Kunzang would walk through my room every night to get to the "cat room". I would love to sit on the other side of the door when she would go in there, and bark at the kitten that would come to the door. Kunzang was taking the cats boiled chicken and checking in on them each day. She would come out of that room... and I tell you my friends, my tail would be going gangbusters! Cause that bowl in her hand would be placed right in front of me to lick the last traces of heavenly poultry out of the dish.


That brings me to the recipe of the day. Have your humans go out and buy a whole chicken. They should boil it in water, tear it apart and feed it to us dogs! Simple, inexpensive, and we think it's "the bomb"!! I call this dish "boiled chicken." : P


Love ya'll like a trip to the vet where they don't need information that requires a thermometer in my bottom!

-Joy Beagle

Az Republic Article

Hello Everybody,
I hope you will pardon a human post here in Joy Beagle's territory - but I came across the clipping of her rescue in the Arizona Republic, and I thought you all might enjoy reading (or re-reading) it here.

The photo here from the article is Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo holding Joy the day that I received her officially in my care as a foster parent. I cannot even describe the feeling I had looking down from the upper kennels and seeing this sight which I am thrilled was photographed and used in this article. Only moments after Jetsunma held Joy Beagle I was approached by Ani Alana (she is the lady photgraphed on page 1) and told that I should pack up my tent and move into the "bunk-house" because this little dog had given up hope and was in need of some serious nurturing and could not tolerate living out in the kennels anymore. I was to become her "momma" so to speak!

So I gladly took this puppy in my arms and moved her to a comfortable room in the trailer that we had on site. Jetsunma's daughter and I had named her "Joy" as an aspiration because she seemed so sad and at that point was not eating, walking or moving at all on her own.

Well, to say that I fell in love with her is an UNDERSTATEMENT! She began to greet me when I would enter the room each day by tilting her head and raising a paw (almost a cross between a "wave" and a "high five".) She began eating hearty meals and even got a special treat every night from "the chicken lady" our resident nun (Kunzang Drolma.) Ani Kunzang would let Joy Beagle lick the chicken bowl clean every night after she delivered freshly cooked chicken to the cat room that butted up against our room.

I could talk for hours about this precious little dog, who affectionately became nicknamed my "Monkey-Bunny" ... but I don't wish to bore you. Suffice it to say that Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo has facilitated two miracles in my life - Sarah Basset and Joy Beagle. She put in my custody both of these dogs that have opened my heart like no other relatinoships in my life! They are my children, and I love them desperately!



I hope you all experience this type of Joy - manifold in this life...

Peace to you all,
-Chris


SEE THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC ARTICLE HERE

D.D. Dan

Alright Bone Readers - prepare yourselves to meet somone who, until now, I could not have foreseen having mention on a blog. We strive to be cutting edge here at Bone-Appetit (although cutting edge generally refers to a knife blade preparing meat dishes for dogs on our site... but I digress.) My humans were out shopping at Basha's (a local chain of grocery marts here in Arizona) and they had spare change in their pockets - a rare event indeed. So Chris decided to create a feeling of abundance by shopping the coin operated toy machines in the grocery lobby. Among the dazzling display of charms, lick on tattoos and gumballs the size of small countries, my ever imaginative dad saw a no-brainer purchase for creating a post on this blog.

I kid you not, he walked right up to the self described Trailer Trash Figurine dispenser and dropped his quarter in, eagerly anticipating his prized trinket. Among the potential cast of characters, whose names he cannot recall as he tells me about this, was a non-descript, run of the mill, overall wearing chap named... "Doo Doo Dan"! That's right folks, his fecal referencing name was printed right there on the gumball machine, and it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to him now...

I hope that having his name in a post does not suddenly cause our advertising (which is based on content of the page) to begin recommending intestinal and digestive aids!

Did ya'll see the flattering photo Zack posted of me on his blog! If he weren't practically my cousin I'd kiss him!



Well - gotta bolt. No time to write a recipe of my own today so you can check out the "recipe of the month" over on my dad's website Home Pet Treats.com for a goody from the Payson PAWS IN THE PARK cookbook.

See y'all soon. Love you like a spot in the sun on the living room floor...
-Joy Beagle

Little Sister Blues...

Okay, now I'm seriously pouting! My Dad came home for lunch today and when he left he took the other dog with him! I'm simply disgusted by this.

In all fairness though... yesterday I got loaded into the car without Sarah and she had no idea why she couldn't go. But I went to Prescott Animal Hospital for another of those dreadful injections. This is possibly the last one, it was like a dose of "Heartguard" x 10 according to the vet. If all the adult worms have died from the previous injections... then this is supposed to clear up any of the microfilea (sorry - I don't have a CLUE how to spell that) so that they don't grow into adult worms. If all goes well with my 4 month checkup and I am worm free- then we are DONE with this treatment. So follow the prayer link at the bottom of this post and pray for me! (Chris and John keep putting in prayers that the dying worms are reborn in auspicious life forms... I gotta admit, living with two Buddhist Dads is very different!)

Okay, while the whole household is away let's see what we can whip up in the kitchen.

Alright there is some chicken here... I'll sautee that in some unsalted butter... be right back...

Mmmmm, that smells great... I chopped it into small pieces and now I'm gonna throw in some brown rice that my people cooked up and refrigerated. Alri ght I-m TyPinG Withh 1 PAw WhileEE I StIr ThEm TeGeTHer.

Whew, that took some effort. Now let's see - oooh sweet potatoes, I'll grate those up and boil them al dente. Back in a flash...

Alright... got my chicken, rice and sweet 'taters. I melted a little more butter in the grated sweet potatoes and now for a finishing touch... some frozen peas. They just need a minute in the boiling water from the taters (I was able to strain the water through a colander into another pan. That give the peas a little extra flavor.) Let me do these peas and I'll be right with you again...

ALL RIGHTY THEN... this feast is one delectible delight that makes me glad Sarah isn't here to have to share it with!! Well, I kinda miss her... but what's a gal to do? Left to my own devices I do what I do best... blog and eat. Bone Appetit mes cheries!!!

With love and a side of gravy,
-Joy Beagle

Send those prayers: Prayer Blog

A Bone to Pick

Hi hounds and humans,
Well what a CRAZY week this has been... first of all thanks to my blog donors we will be sending nice donations to Tara's Babies, The ASPCA and Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary this week! Thanks for your generosity. And from here on out, for comments you don't have to post anonymously... that was just for the initial voting!

Secondly, Bistro was mailed to Grove Beach California, and my Papa heard from his friend Terrie today (she's the nice lady that the majority of you voted for!!). Sounds like Bistro is enjoying his foster home near the beach and we can expect a photo from that area soon. Let's keep sending out prayers that he arrives safely at each destination and is well received like he was by the Marshall family! If not I've got this idea for a documentary/reality show about stuffed animal abuse...

just kidding.

Many thanks to our other potential foster families: 1) Mike and Michelle, 2)Blake 4)Michael G. 5)Patty T. Any of you would have been a FINE home for launching Bistro's tour.

BTW here is a photo of 3) Madison with her mom not long after she was liberated from that awful situation (can you believe somebody would tie this little booger up and leave her alone?)




Okay... while we wait for the next Bistro update... I thought of one of my favorite passtimes. Digging up all the buried bones in my back yard!! Well this being cyberspace and all... I'll have to improvise a little.

In this post I will bury 200 virtual bones to "dig up". The first three of you to dig up the "secret bones" will get a surprise! (I better think of what that will be real quick...) ha,ha. Nothing extravagant, but a little "reader appreciation/incentive" for our Bone-Appetit family.

Please only reveal one secret phrase here (just in case you happen to "dig up" more than one.) And by the way, you may have to "dig" on the target pages (hint, hint.) I hope for three SEPERATE winners so we can spread the Joy (so to speak!) Meanwhile I'll start burying these bones... (scroll down and follow links to "dig")

Love ya'll more than a long forgotten bone under a shady tree!

Joy Beagle


bone,bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone,

Basic rules if they weren't clear:
visit any of the 200 bone links above. If you find one of the three "secret" links... follow the instructions there to claim your prize. Make sure that we can e-mail you or identify you somehow so we can get your mailing address. I would NOT recommend posting it in the comment field for your privacy reasons!

Two minutes into today

Ok my cyber diary friends, it is past midnight and the polls are CLOSED...
we have a clear winner in listing # 3!

So tomorrow the boys (or girls) in blue, the US Postal employees of area code 86336, will begin handing Bistro off to his first location. I am asking all my canine mates for a day of abstinance from barking at, growling towards or biting on the persons of US Mail carriage. For Monday May 1st, 2006 in honor of one of our own (you know, minus the life-force) taking to the road in that postal carrier tradition - we declare it First Class Private Bistro Day!



Feel free to wear a red, white and blue collar or harness to show your solidarity!

And eat something yummy too... cause food rules.

Bone Appetite my darling ballot stuffers,

Love,
Joy Beagle

Where will Bistro begin his journey?

Okay, so I have to keep nipping at the heels of these humans to get them to launch this project. They have good intentions but they are a little overwhelmed by life sometimes. The problem is this... there is not a 100% decision on WHO to send the package to for the "kick off." [See first post here]

I have narrowed the list to about five candidates but I was hoping to take a survey (where the candidates are anonymous) so it could be fun and "driven" by the blog. If you know you are one of the candidates you can send as many people to vote as possible but for fun you shouldn't reveal your identity here until after the votes! If people guess, well that just shows how smart those people are!! So vote with your comments and we'll be on our way!!

I will tally votes until May 1st (Monday) - Here are your choices:

1) A couple in Maryland who are expecting their first baby this summer (and are related to my humans).

2) A person that lives in L.A. and is a musician/percussionist (my person went to high school with him.)

3) A person in California that got a dog in Georgia by saving her from a tree she was tied to as a TINY little puppy (and they were two of my human's best friends out of college.)

4) A guy in Hollywood who recently began his own little film company and who was listed in the credits of "Lemony Snicket" (he shares a special history with my person.)

5) My human's, stepmother's, cousin who lives in San Francisco with several pups of her own (she was the first person to ever tell my person about blogging.)

It's like "Postal Dog Idol"... good luck and let America Choose!

Love you all as though you were scratchin' that spot that makes my leg kick!
-Joy Beagle

Photo Credit: Those cool cats, er I mean dogs over at DogPack.com

Sentimental Pet Piece

I don't know the origins of this... but I thought sharing it with you here on Joy's blog would be a sappy and perfect opportunity for us all to go... "aaaaaaaw, that's so sweet!"

Goodnight all,

-Chris

What DO humans do at this hour?

I am lying on the bed trying to understand the insanity that keeps Chris up all night on his computer. I shuffle around from the bed, to my little doggie bed behind his desk, and a few other random spots around the house... but there he sits clickety clacking on that computer keyboard ALL NIGHT LONG.

I feel sorry for you humans. Having so many projects to complete all the time. As for Sarah and I, we have perfected the art of lying around all day, with intermittent bolts of energy and spontaneous barking. (Our favorite game is to run to a door or window barking frantically... it always makes our people think that there is an unannounced visitor, or at night a prowler perhaps.) But alas, when those silly boys go peek out the door or window, they find nothing that should provoke such a noise from us... it truly is an amusing game!

Tonight as I gazed at the computer screen, it seems that Chris is obsessed with Quicken - you know, that software that simulates a checkbook. Only judging by the contorted faces I would see him make, my person must have forgotten to notate some items in his checkbook that were CLEARLY causing some confusion with his mathematics! He always seems maddest when that little hyphen appears before the numbers in Quicken. I wish I understood you humans a little better!

Hey, a funny thing I want to share with you... my daddy brought home a postcard from work recently, and it looks like me! It's a rendering by a local artist... and if the dog in Ron Burns' "Andy's Pop World" was a girl and had a pink nose... by gosh she'd look like my clone almost! Check it out:





So naturally I think Ron is one of the most talented guys around!

Alright, since it is almost sunrise... here is a yummy dog treat recipe for ya:

Morning Gruel:

Have you human make up some oatmeal, the plain kind... and instant is just fine if you have it!

Add a tiny drop of vanilla, a dab of Molasses or honey - some tiny diced bits of an apple, a couple teaspoons of plain or vanilla yogurt - and Voila - you have a nice warm cereal to start your day right!!!

You can try some variations on the theme with pet diet approved add ins.

Ease your pups into this snack with small portions to begin. Any drastic change in our diet can give us "the runs" if you catch my drift?!

Bone-Appetit,
I'll see ya'll big ole insomniacs out there in the cyber-pound!

(Oh yeah, here is Ron Burns' "Don't Hound Me"... remind you of anyone?)

A Great News "Clip" From A Blogger

You humans are nothing if not resourceful! I was lying in my doggy bed behind Chris' desk this morning when I looked up to see what he was laughing at. On his screen was the Yahoo! story about Kyle MacDonald... this 26 year old who is in the process of trading a giant red paperclip (through a series of barters) up to a house! And he is having great success it seems. When Chris got up for a stretch break, I hopped up in the desk chair and and pulled up Kyle's blog immediately. I left a comment to thank him for his creativity. The blog is called One Red Paper Clip so click over and read all about his whimsical trading!

On the home front today, Chris is getting ready to send Bistro off on the first leg of his journey. We will post him to an undisclosed recipient who will hopefully notify us when Bistro arrives. I watched with anticipation Saturday night as the boys packed my buddy into his "US Postal" traveling vessel and took this commemorative photo:



This is going to be fun!

We should all wish Bistro a "Bone" Voyage...

Okay, that was pretty bad wasn't it!? Oh well.

Love ya'll more than my luggage,

-Joy Beagle

Introducing "Bistro" Bulldog

Hey Everybody...
I cannot even START to tell you how excited I am about this next post. I'm a pretty lucky dog. I came through that awful Hurricane, and ended up in gorgeous Red Rock country out here in Sedona, AZ. There were a lot of dogs that weren't as fortunate as me... and even though my new family is curious about where I came from and how I ended up rescued and in their lives - I just can't seem to recall my life before that storm. Guess a big ole mardi gras float may have hit me in the head or something! Anyhow, my new house is allowing me to relax and be more joyful. That is what my friend always says... my name was given to me as an aspirational title!

Anyway, since now I am going through a nasty process to get rid of my heartworms (I guess I got them from some silly old mosquito along the way) I have to stay pretty quiet and restful for the time being. That's why Sarah Basset and I decided we would sponsor one of our dog friends to go on a tour de force on our behalf. Now we can live vicariously through the adventure here on my blog!

We both suggested a doggy "replica" candidate to be the traveller. (Our people keep all these animals around the house that aren't real, they are cloth animals full of beans and white fluffy stuffing - side note: nothing gives me greater pleasure than when Sarah or I get to gut one of these and remove all the white fluffy stuff and that little squeaky thingy - what's up with that? Alright back to my point.) So, Sarah suggests Pickler, her stuffed Basset...



... but since Pickler is lifesize... I figured postage would be a bit steep to send her around from place to place. Not to mention when we did her application interview... I asked if she had any thoughts about the contest... she just stared at us and never blinked. Well, it did not bode well for her to be our roving Rover!(BTW-can anyone guess why we call her Pickler? Anybody watch that Tuesday night Fox show on TV that my people are always staring at? It has all those humans howling into a microphone... and that silly English alpha dog that growls at everybody. The term "Dogpound" gets tossed around like it's some special place... clearly these humans are CLUELESS about what to idolize.)


So, after Pickler is voted down, we agreed that the best candidate would be my buddy "Bistro" the bulldog. Here he is comforting me after my really awful heartworm treatments:




So he's the totally tricked out pup that will be hitting the road for the 2006 Bone Appetit Tour!

Well I don't want to give all the excitement away today... but suffice it to say we think Bistro is about to embark on the thrill ride of a lifetime! Good luck and Dog Speed!

Til the next pooch post, I'll leave you with the Joy Beagle recipe of the day. (Endorsed 100% by Sarah Basset... of course, she's been know to eat about everything our people put in front of her!)

Recipe #2: Liver and Brown Rice!

Daddy (is that too colloquial, okay I'll call him Chris) puts a cup and a half of unseasoned brown rice in the rice cooker with 3 cups of water. Then he takes a pint of chicken livers from the local grocer's deli and pan fries them in a little olive oil. While the organ meat is cooking thoroughly, he boils a pot of water and cooks two cups of green beans (frozen kind, not canned)with just a dallup of unsalted butter.

Basically when the liver and green beans are cooked, the beans get drained and added to the liver pan to simmer in the meat juice. Then a little tumeric and parsley are added and the pan is covered - but the pan is not over heat anymore. When the rice cooker has finished the brown rice, it is all stirred together in a big bowl, and then portioned out for Sarah and I to have for the next two meals. We LOVE this treat and it seems so much fresher than the mystery meat in canned dog food!

Well, we are drooling now so I'm gonna sign off and see if we can trick our Dads into thinking it is time to feed us.

Bone Appetit Ya'll!!!

Love,
J.B.

Hot Diggity Dog

Well, My person (who shall remain nameless) gave up on blogging. So as a young and on the rise writer myself, and incidentally a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, I (Joy Beagle*) hereby deem this a blog by the dogs, for the dogs!! (Your dogs, their dogs, anyone's dogs... it's for the dogs of the world!)

As was mentioned in the almost last post of RGBR there has long been a sense that we dogs live a secret life when our people are not home. Oh, they don't TRULY believe we steal construction equipment and go on daily adventures, wreaking total havoc with the humans we encounter... but my running mate Sarah Basset and I are happy that our people (John and Chris) become so amused at the tales of our pet antics. I figure there are lots of people out there like them!? Then again maybe we are living with some lone freaks among the canine companion realm! In either case... laissez les bonne temps roullez!!

Well... I also figured that now I have a place to share my recipes. If I can also research other doggie diet tips you will see them here. I am ready to explore this dog theme to the fullest and I hope you will play along! My paws hope to tap and type away at this keyboard every week until we have one Hot Diggity Dog of a blog.

My first delectible tip : Tonight Chris whipped up a mean old bowl of Pork Chops and and a side of tumeric oatmeal for Sarah and I. It was deafening to hear my Id tag banging against the side of the bowl as I woofed it down. I watched him make this stuff and this is what I saw:

1 cup of instant oats (plain - no sugary stuff of course!)
2 cups of water (Voila - quick oats are boiled and ready in five minutes)
He threw in a few shakes of tumeric powder - one of MY FAVES!!
A little pat of butter and some parsley were thrown in and he set that aside to cool.

Then he took a couple frozen porkchops and placed them in a covered frying pan with a little oil. The lid keeps Sarah and I from getting burned by spatter grease as we circle his feet at the oven like floor sharks!

When the pork had most of the outer frost melted off, he quickly added a splash of water ad lidded it before the "fireworks" began (you know - water in hot oil!!!) This steamed up the pan under that lid and helped make tender yummy pork chops. About 7-10 minutes over the heat and he poked the chops to make sure they were giving off clear juices. Once he couldn't see pink - the chops were removed and the meat diced off the bone.

Let me tell you, my home girl Sarah Basset and me - we PIGGED OUT (literally). You should give this a try if you feed your doggy good stuff. Remember not to salt or use onion or anything else that is bad for us pups.

And as my house trained human says to me every time he puts a bowl of kibble in front of me... "Bone Appetit!"

Love ya'll like a litter mate,
-Joy B.

[*-Joy Piggle is the name I was given after originally being called "Joy Beagle". I may use the two interchangeably. I am probably not a beagle at all, when I look in the mirror I see a little Pitt Bull (oh relax... all of us New Orleans evcuees had some Pitt Mix in us it seemed... it ain't all the terror it's made out to be) and possibly some Dachshound or Golden Retreiver. I'm sort of a Baskin Robbins multi flavor gal. But my People call me Piggle to allude to those famous (if not over exposed) Pug-Beagle "Pugles" that are the designer dog craze right now. I do declare, you humnans have a funny way of throwing all our genetics in a blender and coming out with some crazy canine cock(er)tails... ]