WHAT'S MAJOR TOM THINKING ABOUT TODAY?

(If you're new to my post, please read my introduction of 03/24/2011)

Click the link below to see my first YouTube video.  I'm just wondering - can I finish my dinner before the music has ended?  It's a funny song, but I need to find a song by my favorite artist, Cat Stevens!  Yeah, that's right, and I guess I need to work on my video and editing details, too - I know it's not PURRfect yet!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdMG2sa9MbI

 Now, I don't ALWAYS think about just food.  For instance, I'm thinking about these things:

• Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
• Astronaut Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon with his left foot.
• There are 206 bones in the adult human body and there are 300 in children (as they grow, some of the bones fuse together).

BLOG HOG HAMILTON'S HAMMIN' IT UP!

How about some more jokes to get you over this "hump"day?

What happens when a cat eats a lemon?
It becomes a sour puss!

Why is it hard to play cards in the jungle?
There are too many cheetahs!

What happens when a frog’s car breaks down?
He gets toad away.

What do you get when you cross a parrot with a pig?
A bird who hogs the conversation.

What do you get if you cross a crocodile with a flower?
I don’t know, but I’m not going to smell it!

http://youtu.be/bgY2ad1BKz0

TROTTIN' ABOUT TOWN WITH HAIRY TROTTER

Be sure to check out my post on Wednesdays every week, where I will tell you about events and some of my favorite things to check out that you can share with your favorite friend or find your forever friend!

Check out http://www.thepoochpatio.com/

Councilmembers Ann Margolin and Linda Koop

at

Preston Hollow Park

6600 Park Lane

SE Corner of Thackery and Park Lane

www.DallasAnimalServices.org

Join the fun!

Adorable, adoptable dogs

from Dallas Animal Services and Rescue Partners

Special Low-cost Microchipping

Meet the Amazing Grace, the Dallas Loves Animals Spokesdog

FREE T-shirt With Every Adoption on April 2nd

FREE Dallas Loves Animals Wristbands and Trading Cards

(while supplies last) For more information visit www.DallasLovesAnimals.com

Dallas Animal Services and Rescue Partners

Invite you and your dog to join us for fun in the park

on

Saturday, April 2, 2011

11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

DEAR TABBY

(If you're new to my page, please read my introduction from March 22, 2011.)

DEAR TABBY:  I am a 7-year-old Golden Retriever in Dallas, Texas.  My issue is that I have put on about 10 extra pounds in the last couple of years by snacking between meals and not exercising every day.  My family is going on vacation next month and I want to have the energy to be able to play on the beach all day.  Can you give me some ideas to get back to a healthier lifestyle? - DOG TIRED IN DALLAS

DEAR DOG TIRED:  Unfortunately, yours is a common problem.  With busy lifestyles, we tend to skip regular meals and snack on junk food.  By doing this, we don't provide our bodies with the energy we need to exercise, which can lead to excess weight and unhealthy bodies.  I would suggest a balanced breakfast and dinner, one healthy snack in between, and include fun exercise such as walking or jogging, fetching a ball or Frisbee, or swimming in the warmer months.  Yoga would also be a natural exercise for you - start with upward dog and downward dog.  Be sure that you are really "doggin' it" and you will be ready for those "dog days of summer" in no time!  For inspiration, check out Charlotte doing down dog and going for a walk, and Caesar doing down dog and raking the yard.

SMILING AGAIN by Blog Dog Dan

Did you enjoy my special post on Sunday?  I hope Luci feels better about her daddy owner going away and is already keeping her mommy owner's lap warm'  Let's just hope that Luci didn't sneak into the suitcase and fly to Australia with him!  Click the link below to see some cute photos of smiling animals all over the world.  I've also included a poem about your smile.  Find something to smile and laugh about today and every day!
http://youtu.be/Lvpv2qtfakg

SMILE

I have something on my face, it goes from end to end

It’s there when I get a hug from grandma or my best friend.

When my puppy licks me in the face or my kitty rubs my leg

It’s there when I am a little shy and my face turns bright red.

I have something on my face, it goes from left to right

It’s there when I am happy and feeling cheerful and bright.

When my teacher gives me a good grade and pats me on the back

It’s there when I help my mom with my baby brother Jack.

I have something on my face, it looks like the letter "U"

It’s there when I tell you my favorite color is sky blue.

When it’s my birthday and my family gives me presents and cake

It’s there when we go swimming at the pool or the lake.

I have something on my face, you're right - it's a smile

Why don’t you try one on your face, at least for a little while.

Because when you smile, others will smile, too

Now doesn't that smile look good on you (and you, too)!

SMILE by Blog Dog Dan

Tabby Cat has asked me to address a situation that her friend Luciano "Luci" is currently going through.  Luci's daddy owner is going on a trip, a month-long business trip to Melbourne, Australia (almost 9,000 miles from home), and Luci is upset.  Here's Luci's story:  Daddy owner was looking for a companion and went to  a local shelter.  He told the shelter worker that he was looking for a tabby or calico cat, and she led him into a small room where he visited with a lot of different breeds and colors of cats that were available for adoption.  With all the playing and visiting with the cats, this little black cat curled up in his lap and fell asleep.  The shelter worker came in and announced, "Well, it looks like you found your cat."  And that's how it came to be that Luci came to live with her owners all those years ago.


I think we can all sympathize with Luci when our owners go on a trip.  We all hate to see that suitcase get wheeled out of the closet and watch the packing begin.  The owners seem real excited about it, but we usually just walk away with our heads and tails down to show our displeasure.  We also sulk when they're away and ignore them when they come back.  I think we have to remember that they don't like leaving us either and worry about us when they're gone.  Just remember, your mommy owner is not going on the business trip and it's difficult for her, too.  My advice to you, Luci, is to sit in her lap as much as you can and purr loudly while your daddy owner is away.  Remember, he will be working hard and missing the both of you. 


So love, laugh, and smile as much as you can to make yourself and others around you feel better.  Watch Chaplin's Violin (all the way to the end) and hear the song Smile, sung by Michael Jackson.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu-rLA4POkI,

COOKING IN THE DARK WITH COCHRAN AND CHRISTIE

You may find it hard to believe, but people don't usually like a cockroach and a cricket in their kitchen.  I know!.......so Christie and I work in the kitchen at night and make all kinds of goodies for the next day.  The only annoying thing about working with Christie is that she makes this little "chirping" noise almost all night long!  We'll share the recipes and step-by-step instructions every Saturday.  To protect our identity, our picture will not appear on our post right away, but maybe later we'll show you what we look like.  We look forward to cooking with you! 

RANCH CRACKERS

1 16-ounce package oyster crackers

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 pkg. dry Ranch dressing mix

1/2 tsp. dried dill

1/2 tsp. lemon pepper

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Heat oven to 200 degrees.  Pour crackers in gallon-size storage bag.  Add rest of ingredients, close the bag, and toss and coat, toss and coat, toss and coat until crackers are evenly coated.  Pour out evenly onto baking sheet and place in oven for 15 minutes.  Stir once or twice during cook time.  Take out of oven and pour into serving bowl. 

ENJOY!

FIAMMA'S FUN FACTS FRIDAY

I'm the newest member of the Blog Dog Dan team!  I am an iguana, and my name means "flame" in Italian.  I am in my shedding period right now, so I don't look my best, but I am dazzling once this process is done!  Even though fruit is only 10% of my diet, I LOVE blackberries, watermelon, and bananas - that's the purplish blue spots on my neck in the picture (blackberry juice).  Do I need to explain the banana peel hat I have on?  I like yellow squash, turnip greens, collard greens, and dandelion greens.  The temperature in my room is usually 90-100 degrees in the daytime and near 80 degrees at night.  I also have special lights and climbing branches.  I'll show you my full habitat on one of the posts.  Speaking of such, I will be sharing some interesting and fun facts you probably have never heard of.  Here are five great facts to share with your family and friends:

• Despite the white, fluffy appearance of the fur of a Polar Bear, it actually has black skin.
• Cats use their whiskers to check whether a space that they are about to enter through, is too small for them to fit through or not.
• Vanilla is the world's most favorite ice cream flavor.
• It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
• The ears of a cricket are located on the front legs, just below the knee. 

WHAT'S MAJOR TOM THINKING ABOUT TODAY?

My full name is Major Thomas Jefferson Cat.  I usually go by Major Tom, Thomas, Tom, or Tommy.  When I lived in Las Vegas, my owners called me Tommy, but when I moved to Texas (where everything has to be BIG), my new owners gave me a BIG NAME! 

I often sit around and think about things (this is a picture of me on my window perch with my catnip-filled strawberry toy).  Boy, life really is great!  I also live in a house with two large and noisy dogs, Charlotte and Caesar, and an iguana, Fiamma. 

My post will be featured every Thursday, and I will be sharing my thoughts with you on “What is Major Tom Thinking About Today?”  By nature, we are a curious species, and I hope you enjoy pondering and learning new things as much as I do! 

Here are a few things to ponder:

Why doesn't McDonald's sell hotdogs?

Do you yawn in your sleep?

Why do they put holes in crackers?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

Do you open your eyes or wake up first?

BLOG HOG HAMILTON'S HAMMIN' IT UP

Well, at least I'm not going to "hog" the page like Hairy Trotter did with his post!  I have some funny jokes you can share with your friends today.  Happy Wednesday!

Q: Why do dogs bury bones in the ground?
A: Because you can't bury them in trees!

Q: What do you get if you cross a sheepdog with a rose?
A: A collie-flower!

Q: Why do dogs wag their tails?
A: "Because no one else will do it for them!"

TROTTIN' ABOUT TOWN with HAIRY TROTTER

Be sure to check out my post on Wednesdays every week, where I will tell you about events and some of my favorite things to check out that you can share with your favorite friend or find your forever friend!

Okay, I know it's a month away, but I can't wait to see the Disney Movie African Cats, which starts April 22nd.  Go to disney.go.com and check out the trailer - mark your calendars!

Petco in Rockwall, Texas, has Find-A-Friend Fridays from 1-5 p.m. every Friday.  Petco in Flower Mound, Texas, also has Hamster Ball Derby April 2nd at 2 p.m. and Meet the Critters April 3rd at 12 p.m.  Their National Adoption Weekend is April 9-10.  PetSmart offers a lot of Pet Services in their stores, along with People Savings Pets. 

March 26th is the date for Texas K9 Classic from 11-4 p.m.  You can email camo@canopy.net for details.

Check out a nearby dog park this weekend!  Charlotte and Caesar like Railroad Station Dog Park off Corporate Drive in Lewisville, Texas.  There are two sides; one for bigger dogs and one for smaller dogs.  There's also an awesome skate park for our two-legged friends.

Find some time to take your dog out for a walk this weekend-it'll be good for both of you!

Dear Tabby

Hi, new friends!  My name is Tabby Cat and I give answers to my readers' questions on Dear Tabby.  Join me on Tuesdays (and maybe Thursdays) for some "catty" opinions to your problems.  I would enjoy hearing your comments to my answers, as well as your questions, too.  Maybe you'll see your question published on my post!  Keep reading!!

Dear Tabby:  I go to a small play group on Wednesdays and Fridays.  There is one Labrador Retriever that always goes after the ball that is thrown for me.  How can I tell him in a nice way that "sharing is caring" when playing in a group?  
Frustrated in Flower Mound

Dear Frustrated:  Unfortunately, this is a common complaint in play groups.  Everyone gets excited and wants to have fun when they are around their friends and fun toys, and some breeds can fetch a ball all day long.  I would suggest talking to the Lab first to let him know there is a problem and see if you can take turns.  If this does not work out, you can join another play group that shares more fairly or go to a play group on different days (maybe Mondays and Thursdays).  I'm sure that once you talk to your friend, he will be more than happy to "share the fun."  Remember, Lab stands for Loves-All-Balls.  Good Luck!
Tabby Cat

INTRODUCTION

Hello, my name is Blog Dog Dan!  I am a M-U-T-T (mom says it stands for Most Unique Tail Thumper).  I will have to "dig" up a picture of myself and show you, but I'm pretty shy when someone gets out their camera. 

My best friends are Charlotte and Caesar, who live next door; Tabby Cat, who has an advice column called Dear Tabby; Hairy Trotter, who will be talking about events and happenings around town; and Blog Hog Hamilton, who really likes to "ham" it up and tell funny jokes, rhymes, and riddles.  They will be visiting with me from time to time on this page!  I will be telling you stories about my day, too (my owner takes me to work with her and I visit with the kids in the daycare center). 

Come join my blog (with your parents' permission) and we'll have so much fun together!  I hope you enjoy this story by Charlotte and Caesar's owner:

　

IF MY DOG HAD A JOB

If my dog had a job, what would it be

He’s from a long line of champions and has a fine pedigree

If my dog had a job, what would he do

Work just for the money, or for a goal he could pursue

He loves riding in cars and feeling the wind in his face

Maybe he could be a Nascar driver and win a big race

He might drive a big rig and travel state to state

What would he choose; what would be his fate

He loves eating his food and cleaning his bowl

Would he be a professional chef; would that be his goal

He might own a little café or a fancy restaurant

What would he wish for; what would he want

He loves playing with his ball and running in the yard

He could be a professional football player like Brett Favre

He might play for a big league or on a local team

Would that be his destiny; would that be his dream

He loves other animals and has a very kind heart

He could be a veterinarian or a zookeeper to start

He might work in a big city or in his hometown

Would he be afraid to go for it; would he back down

He loves going for walks and learning new tricks

He could join the circus and do cartwheels and kicks

He could go on the high wire and be just as brave

Would he be so bold; is it something he craves

If your dog had a job, what would he do

Would you want him to be like your parents or you

If your dog had a job, what would he be

Or maybe it’s enough just to be happy and free

Best Friends Network - Social Networking that saves lives

Best Friends Network - Social Networking that saves lives