Ooh E Ooh Ah Ah

One of my two-legged cousins was visiting Blue House Land this weekend and had to make a video for school. Guess who was one of the stars?

XOXO,

Josie V.

Wordless Wednesday

Hear that?

I think I just heard the sound of the GB Pack kickin' Michael Vick's butt tonight!

 Yep...woot!

Kisses,

J.V.N.

Wordless Wednesday

Right now we are in Mini-Snow-ta.  

It is a place.  It is a season.  It is atrocious. 

When I go outside now I have to wear my Christmas sweater.

My dainty little pe-bo paws get frozen in the snow and ice.  But I cannot complain because last time I did, mom said she would buy me dog booties.  I think the Christmas sweater is humiliation enough.

Brody and our cousin Maddie do not mind the snow, even though it is so deep we can hardly see over it:

(Somehow, even with my Christmas sweater, I manage to remain more dignified than Brody.)

When I absolutely must go outdoors I tiptoe up to my spot and then run back into the house as quickly as possible.

I think that it is better just to stay indoors in warm arms.

XOXO,

Josie Valentine

Home for the Holidays

Mom says there's no place like Home for the Holidays.  I did not know where that place is located but mom explained that at the holidays you get to go be with all of the people you love at the same time, which is pretty much my main objective, so I knew I would like it there.

It turns out that Home for the Holidays is in a town called We-Scons-In.  The first holiday was Thanksgiving.  It is difficult to describe it in words so I put together a re-enactment with mom and dad:

Dramatic Re-Enactment

At Thanksgiving,

I got to be Thankful for new people,

I got to be Thankful for old people,

and I got to be Thankful for plaid people.

I got to re-gift my crate.  YES!!  (But then it was re-gifted back to me...like fruitcake.)

I got to break the rules,

without getting in trouble.

I got to give comfort.

I got to leave Brody on the floor.  Hehe.

Soon we will be back at Home for the Holidays for a day called Christmas.  When we get done with We-Scon-Sin we will come back to Bluehouse Land and spend the rest of the winter curling up in front of the fireplace and waiting for spring time to come again.

Wordless Wednesday

Brody and our houseguest Gabbi

Dial-A-Bull

You don't usually hear about Fall being a time for new beginnings, but this one sure has been, at least for me!

For one thing, it has marked the beginning of my modeling career.  Believe it or not, Ms. Josie V. Nick will be appearing in TWO calendars for 2011: A Rotta Love Plus and BAD RAP.  Woot!!  I hear that the A Rotta Love calendars are going fast, so be sure to order yours today.  (The BAD RAP ones will be going on sale in a couple of weeks.)

My second new career is...

...wait for it...

...therapy dog!  Double Woot!!

One day Mom and I went to Teedy-Eye class like we normally do, but when we got there there we saw weird dogs that I had never met before, and a new Nice Lady was in charge.  I had to do all of the normal stuff -- sit, stay, walk nice, etc., but you are not going to believe this -- mom and Nice Lady wanted me to do it WITHOUT TREATS!  What the heck, people!

Anyway, just to be polite I did everything they asked me to do.  At the end, mom and Original Nice Lady (the normal Teedy-Eye instructor), jumped up and down like crazy people and took pictures of me.  Original Nice Lady even gave me something called a potato chip (okay it was more like 10 potato chips), so I must have done the right thing when I was polite for nothing earlier.  The crunchy deliciousness was definitely worth it.  

Then they tied a Teedy-Eye bandanna around my neck:

Teedy-Eye Represent.

On the way home, Mom put on her favorite Miley Cyrus song, dedicated it to me, sang it at the top of her lungs with a fake microphone, and cried a little happy tear....

OMG. it. was. so. embarrassing.

I did not have to wait very long to put my new skills to work, because soon after that we heard there was a little girl who had a Very Bad Fear of Dogs.   The girl's mom wanted to help her feel safe around dogs again, so she did what any logical parent would do -- she called a pit bull rescue, of course!  I met the Nice Girl and showed her that she did not need to be afraid of good doggies.  We had a very nice day and I hope I get to meet her again soon.

Josie V. Nick, reporting for duty.

Now that I am gainfully employed both a Model and a Therapy Dog, mom and dad told me that it is time that I retire from my old job (Assistant Manager of Backyard Critters, etc.).  Ironically they made me retire on my best day ever on the job.  The day they asked for my resignation, I had caught a sassy rabbit that had been lingering too long by the tomatoes, taunting me with its Tail of Fluff and Insolence.  I was expecting Mom and Dad to jump for joy but instead they looked pretty sad.  After escorting me into the house they performed a brief ceremony for the rabbit, whom they even named. (Hop-A-Long, in case you're wondering).  Good riddance.

I am rambling a bit so I will try to keep the rest of my update short and sweet.  Yesterday I graduated from Rott N' Pitt Ed.  I will really miss that class and the Very Nice Helpers that answered all of Mama's questions and helped me be my best.  I will also miss the chance to parade around in front of Paige's camera once a week -- she is always capturing my best side!   Behold exhibits A, B, and C:

Walkin' the walk.

Taking a break with my #1 fan.

Even this fence cannot hide the cuteness that is Jo.

So as you can see I have been pretty busy, but not to worry -- I am still finding time for a good nap in the sun.

 

Til next time,

Josie Valentine Nick, CGC, TDI

Jo-Z for Prez

That crazy mom of mine has entered me in a calendar contest and, with your help, she says I might actually have a chance!


I, moiself, have always enjoyed a good competition.  If you do too, you can vote for me to be part of BAD RAP's 2011 Calendar here.   (BAD RAP is a fantastic organization that aided in the rescue of my fellow bust doggies.)

As Miss Piggy once put it, "There is the satisfaction of providing your public with a vision of true beautology, true sytlisity, - how can I put it? – true glamorositude."  


XOXO,

Josie V.

Back to Work

I don't know if you people have noticed, but summer vacation is almost over!  Time flies when you're spending all day chasing the critters.

Last night a big storm came to Bluehouse Land.  The thunder didn't wake me up but the sound of Brody's babyish whimpering did!  As I was laying awake waiting for Brody to be a man (like that could ever happen), I heard a big thump.  Mom and Dad got out of bed and all four of us looked out the window.  A big tree was attacking Bluehouse Land!  I really wanted to go outside and defend my kingdom from the tree but Dad made me go back to bed instead.  He really should have let me:

Anyway, now that summer vacation is almost over I have been very busy.  You would think it was enough to just do a good job at my critter-hunting, but you would be wrong.  Mom has me on a busier schedule than a Chinese gymnast!  A typical week looks like this:

• Monday.  Therapy Dog Class.  This is where I am learning to be a Teedy-Eye.  At this week's class I got to meet a lot of kids and I loved them a lot and they loved me too.  This is a mostly fun class except when the instructor puts the pile of summer sausage on the floor and all of us dogs have to LEAVE IT.  Whoever invented The Leave It should be locked in a room with Brody during a thunderstorm!
• Wednesday.  Tricks Class.  This class is the BEST omg I get so many treats.  So far I have learned pout, spin, high five, and crawl.  Next week there is a rumor that I will learn how to open a cupboard door.  (Really people?!  Sometimes, you humans do not think ahead.  But I am not complaining.)
• Thursday.  Dog Safety.  This is not a class but just a fun time where I get to hang out with nice kids and teach them that you should not flail at the dog but that you should instead act like a sane human being and give the dog a little time to sniff you before you assault it with your spastic gestures of friendship, thankyouverymuch.  
• Sunday. Pit Bull Education.  I haven't been to this yet but I will start soon.  This class is where mom and dad learn about how to remind me Who is in Charge Here.  In other words, it should be a real hoot!

I try to catch some beauty rest between appointments.

'Til next time, your one and only,

Josie Valentine

Kisses!