Is it raining AGAIN??!

no, mama, no. i do not want to go out in the rain again. i will hold it until the last possible second, i promise. ok not really but i thought about it pretty hard.

Yet another lazy day for the pugs

The pugs had a very busy weekend, traipsing all over the tri-county region, greeting all of their fans.  Never mind that it was pouring cats and, well, em, dogs, for most of the weekend.  

And that Cleo started the weekend off by sneaking 2 pounds of forbidden kibble while we were out, thus setting herself and us up for a looooooong weekend of what we like to call Diarrhea Watch.  This basically consists of leaping to one's feet as soon as the pug passes gas, picking up the gassy pug like a football whilst sprinting to the door, then throwing the stinky pug outside so that she can... sit there and stare at you, offended, like you're the one that's unstable.

don't be distracted by the relaxed puglet in the front. the one to watch is the one curled up in the back.  

again, resist the urge to pick up the pug in the front and shnergle her within an inch of her life. because as soon as you do, the one in the back will most certainly commence having the runs.

I mean, that paw is just asking for a smooch. NONONONOOO must keep my eyes on the ticking time bomb in the background.

'Walking' with the pugs

So, it's a beautiful day -- the sun is out, the gale-force winds are not blowing, and the ground is not soggy.  'DO YOU WANT TO GO FOR A WALK??!!!'  Lots of pug noise, yarping and excitement ensued.  So we leash up, and we're on our way.

This is how the walk starts out.  Cleo and Deedee looking like 2 little angels.  Actually, both of them have just done their business and are looking for a handout.

mama. it was a v impressive peep. gimme something.

Sasha takes advantage of the lack of rain to thoroughly investigate every square inch of ground on which to place her precious few drops of urine.

it has to be perfect

The 'walk' then slowly starts to fall apart.  First the geriatric pug puts on the brakes and lets it be known that it is time for her to ride the pug-carriage.

shouldn't there be a blanket in here? where r my grapes?

Then the other elder pug comes to a screeching halt and looks pleadingly at the jogger.  Which leaves just Deedee to keep me company on the actual ground.

u thought u got stares with 1 pug in here, just wait'll u see what u get with 2, mama

Lounging around

While there was plenty of opportunity for playing in the snow, 

it's not just bad photography, but truly almost negative visibility

... the pugs would have none of it.

we r sleeping and can't hear u

As mentioned previously, it's hard enough to get the puglets to do their business in the white stuff.  Never mind actually play in it.

if it tasted better that would be another story

Miss Cleo does not like precipitation of any variety.  Perhaps that's why she's perched on top of the sofa, as far as she can get from the ground. 

Cleo? would you like to go outside??

u have got to be kidding. i am a pug, not a polar bear.

Manic Monday?

Yes.  If it's also opposites day.

Helpful convalescing pugs

When one is feeling a bit (or a lot) under the weather, there is really nothing better than having a pug to snuggle. or two. or three.  Three is really excessive, but sometimes, one needs all the help one can get.

they've got their victim pinned in. 

the victim can forget about going to the bathroom with this kind of 'help' 

Cleo will even serve as an armrest

mama. i am helping dada to heal.

Chasing winter

Since it's over 70 degrees and sunny at home, we took the pugs to the mountains to get in some playtime in the snow.

The last storm was reported to have deposited 4-5 feet! No pug is going to be swimming around in all that snow, so there was a lot of shoveling involved at potty time.

those are some serious icicles

The pugs were seriously unhappy about having to do their business in the snow.  Even happy-go-lucky Deedee withheld for 14 hours because she couldn't find the right spot.

u cannot expect me to peep on this

Winter is back

Well, Spring has sprung right back out the back door, and Wet Winter has blown in the window.  What's a puglet to do without a sunny spot in the fresh outdoors in which to repose?

silly mama. why worry? there r so many spots indoors. 

So foolish.  Of course the puglets are perfectly capable of fending for themselves.  The sofa, as Cleo demonstrates above, next to the sunny window, is a great subsitute for the plush lawn of the outdoors.  

Deedee, below, will demonstrate that a pug does not even need to be conscious in order to be aware of being outdoors or in.

her paws are just waiting to be trussed up in a bundle

Sasha is the only pug that remains vigilant.  Years of experience have taught her to be no dummy. A pug must always watch for the next sneak shnergle.

mama i see u. stay right where u r.

Cleo is back at the vet

This time, just for a checkup. Turns out I've been negligent and have not taken her back for her annual dermatology checkup in over 2 years. oops. 

Cleo has serious allergies, which the fabulous vets at UC Davis have treated successfully with diet and flea medicine modification. She's on a kangaroo-oatmeal diet (no more homemade food for the pug), and on a daily flea medicine called Capstar. 

Why go into this? because Capstar in the past year has, through some fancy patent footwork, gotten super-greedy, thus skyrocketing the cost of a single pill from less than $1 to over $3. Totally ridiculous! I said. I'm switching to a cheaper flea med! I said. well, that was a big mistake. Poor pug broke out in a terrible itchy rash, and now she's back on Capstar. Teach me to try and save a buck. or two. or a few hundred. 

mama. u cheaped out on me.

Of course, I had to bring all 3, because when I tried to sneak out of the house with just Cleo, Deedee and Sasha put up some serious wailing and caterwauling.  

my fans would've missed me

 All three were totally focused on any treats that were coming their way.  Luckily for them there were a lot of them.  UC Davis is definitely on the short list for these pugs.

is that the door? is that a treat?

Is Spring here?

As far as winters go, this was one of the mildest.  Great for the pugs, since they hate getting cold wet feet.  Not so good for the garden or, oh, I don't know, the whole agriculture industry.  Normally, it would be raining and chilly this time of year.  Instead, I see this on our apricot tree:

stupid tree thinks it's sping and is already budding

Well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.  So, we all took advantage of the sunny blue sky to get outside and make us some vitamin D. 

I don't know who taught these 2 to sit like that

Cleo likes almost nothing more than to sun herself while leaning up against some plant.  In this case, a succulent.  Luckily, one without spines.

i'm not that stupid, mama

I think Deedee thinks she's a meerkat.  She certainly hops around like one.  Here she's showing off her perfect posture, while remaining vigilant on behalf of her pack.

i am almost invisible, blending in with this here grass

Sasha didn't want to miss out on the fun and games.  Little girl's arthritis has lately been bothering her a bit more, so that stairs are really quite the obstacle.  Which she surmounts by yarping loudly and imperiously until some human comes over and carries her.

the sun's rays wait for no pug

My little Sasha.  When did you get so old?