Remembering The One and Only Pugnacious P

My dear friend Payton has left this life for a new one at the Rainbow Bridge.  She called out to me last night and I ran to her side to be with her as she said goodbye to this world.  She gave me something to give her parents today, some parting words she couldn't say to them last night.  I told her I would tell them today when they could finally breath again.

I held her paw and comforted her as she took her last breath.  She told me she wasn't scared because she was so tired of fighting the sickies.  As I lay my head next to hers, I promised I would see her again one day.  I told her I would never forget her and all the great times we had together. 

From our first meeting on September 11, 2011 as we honored those who lives were not lost in vain, to the birthday celebration in Indy for Ellie last fall, to ringing in 2012 at our pajama party, to our last hurrah in Big D at the 1000 Pugs photo shoot, we made so many great memories that will live in my heart forever.

Goodbye for now, dear friend.  Be good and remember that I will cherish our friendship always.

September 11, 2011

December 31, 2011

My heart is open

My spirit is full,

I feel no pain

Just the moon’s pull.

I joined all my old friends

In this special place,

Resting my weary body

Upon this beautiful space.

I had to leave

My body knew the signs,

So please remember me

And all the good times.

I’m never far away

You can still see my smile,

And know that I can see yours

Across the many miles.

Until we meet again

I’ll be watching over you,

Just like you did for me

Always standing strong and true.

So I bid you farewell

For now it seems,

And I’ll see you one day

And forever in your dreams.

From Payton to Mom and Dad

March 30, 2012

Getting Ready

Momma has been acting very strange lately.  I don't know what is going on because I'm always the last to know.

Today, Momma told me that I needed to pack a travel bag.  A travel bag?

"Do I need my airplane carrier, Momma?  Am I finally going on an airplane?"  

Momma told me that I didn't need my airplane carrier because I'm not going on an airplane.  That could only mean one thing - ROAD TRIP!

I love road trips!  Now that I kind of know what is going on, I need to get ready to roll.  Momma said we are "hitting the road" tomorrow for an unknown destination.  Unknown to me anyway because Momma said it is a surprise.  Oh, I love surprises!  

The first thing I had to pack was my favorite blanket and my pink pillow.  I cannot be without these items because they comfort me.

I grabbed my tutu because you just never know when you might need to wear one.  Momma just laughed at me when I put it in my bag but I'll show her.  I will find an excuse to wear it every day if I have to.

My Aunt Colleen gave me this cute little bunny the other day.  Immediately upon meeting him he told me he wanted an adventure so he's coming with.

Even though I have no idea where we are going, Momma told me that I didn't need to pack any cold weather clothes.  Hmmm.  That wasn't a very good hint, was it?

I picked out a couple outfits plus my jammies.  Do you think I need to pack more clothes?

And then Momma told me the bad news.  She told me it's suppose to rain where we are headed.  YUCK!  I hate the rain because I hate being wet.  I decided to sit on my rain jacket in protest before throwing it my bag.

I better not have to wear this thing!

 Once I was packed, I decided I was going to unpack until Momma told me where we are going.

"Tell me now or I'm emptying this bag!  Tiffy is not leaving until Tiffy knows where she is headed.  Period!"

Momma was none too happy with all the attitude I was giving her so you do know what she did?  She gave me a bath!  UGH! 

So now I am clean, packed, and ready to go.  Next stop?  It's anyone's guess.

Do Not Disturb

I'm taking advantage of the extra day this year to catch up on my sleep.  Momma knows better than to bother me so I don't need to put up my "Do Not Disturb" sign.

I hope to be well rested after today so that I can tell you about all the exciting awards I have received and the visitors I have entertained.  Stay tuned!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Heart Day

I  had a fabulous Valentine's Day.  I got all dressed up, went shopping for gifts for Momma, and spent the rest of the day admiring all the beautiful cards I received from my friends.

I'm so glad Winston asked me to participate in his card exchange.   Each day I would run to the mailbox, and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw cards from old friends and new ones.  It was like getting presents every day.

Momma has just about everything, but I still had to get her some gifts.  I bought her a pug plaque, a box of chocolates, and a very appropriate card.  

Isn't it cute?  

It made Momma giggle!

Look at all my cards!  I even received cards from friends who didn't participate in the card exchange. 

I received a lot of photo cards.  I love seeing my friends pose for pictures.  They all looked so pretty.

I even received a card from my BFF Tweedles that used tree seed pods (helicopters) as insect wings.  How creative!

There were so many handmade cards.  I am amazed at how creative all my friends are.

And of course all the cards smelled just like my friends.

"Is that the mailman, Momma?  I bet he is delivering more cards!   Open the door because I'm running out to get them!"

Thank you again friends, for making my first official Valentine's Day the best day ever.  

Vet Woes

I had to go to the vet on Friday.  I didn't go because I had the sickies but to get some shots.  I wasn't very happy about going so I decided to act crazy in the car.  I know I don't look crazy in this photo but I was.  

Momma was getting very mad at me because I wouldn't stop crying.  I wanted her to put my window down but she kept saying something about it only being 15 degrees outside.  Whatever!  

So I cried and cried all the way to the vet.  I was a super spaz so I doubt I will be taking any car rides anytime soon.

The first thing I did when we arrived was check for mail.  I checked and checked but couldn't find any.  What the heck?  Didn't they know I was coming?

I asked this guy where all the mail was but he was absolutely no help.  I think they should fire him because he is a terrible doorman.

Since there wasn't any mail for me, I decided to be polite and leave some for the next dog.  

"I'm here! Can I have a treat, please?"

Momma said no treats until after my appointment.  She is no fun at all.  Next time I am going to have Daddy bring me.

Doesn't this look like a totally random picture?  It kind of is.  Before Momma took this picture, she was talking to this lady.  The lady asked if she could pet me because she has a pug.  I don't know why the lady was there without the pug but she was very nice.  And Momma loved her hair.  I told Momma to take a picture but Momma was way too embarrassed, so she waited until the lady wasn't facing us and she snapped away.  You may have to bigify the photo but it won't really do the do justice.  Suffice it to say, Momma would wear her hair like this if her hair would do this, if she had a cute face like this lady, and if she were 50 pounds lighter.  

One reason I wasn't looking forward to going to the vet was because my favorite doctor, Dr. Lisa, left the practice.  I couldn't believe it and neither could Momma.  Momma just found Dr. Lisa again after many years and now she's lost her again.

But March Animal Hospital has all my info and I needed my shots so we decided to go there.  

"Why are we being kept waiting, Momma?  Dr. Lisa never made us wait.  I'm going home.  I will live without my shots!"

And that's when I heard them.  All the doggies behind this door barking at me.  They were telling me that this new doctor, Dr. Beloiu,  was very nice and that she would take good care of me.  Of course, I had to translate all this to Momma since she doesn't speak dog, and once I did, she was relieved.

Since I had Momma in a good mood, I figured it was the perfect time to point out the huge treat jar within reach.  Unfortunately, she wasn't in that good of a mood.  She ignored my begging and picked me up to show me this:

I had to point out that the doggies on the poster were labs, not pugs.  Labs have weight problems so that's why they are on posters.  If pugs had weight problems, they would be on posters but there wasn't one single poster with a pug on it. 

I never did get a treat even though I was a total angel for Dr. Beloiu.  I was so mad about the treat situation that I decided to take matters into my own paws.  I decided I would do something so embarrassing that Momma would have to give in to my demands.  So I pooped in the lobby while Momma was handing over lots of green papers.  My twinner Pearl would have been so proud of me!

Too bad my little plan backfired.  Momma was more mad than embarrassed as she swore up and down that I wouldn't get any treats until spring.  Oh, woe is me.

More Pink Madness

I was sitting by the door this afternoon soaking up some much needed sunshine.  I'm so happy the sun is back because it brought warm temperatures to melt all the yucky snow.  I am already so sick of the snow and it's only January!

I begged Momma to let me go outside to get the mail because I just knew the mailman had delivered something for me, but she refused to let me out of the house.  The nerve of Momma!  Anyway, I was not surprise when she came back in the house and announced that a package had been delivered from my good friends Zoey & Phoebe.  YAY!

Momma spent a morning last month visiting with Zoey & Phoebe when she went to visit Puglet.  Even Stubby met Zoey & Phoebe when he was on his road trip.  Daddy has even met them but not me, not yet.  I am working on a plan to take a trip out there to meet all my Bay Area friends really soon.  Shhhh.  Don't tell Momma.

Okay, back to my package.  I didn't know what was in the package but the envelope felt squishy so I knew it wasn't food.  I was so surprised when Momma ripped open the envelope to reveal this:

 A pink tutu!  A totally Tiffy pink tutu!  It is perfect!  Thank you, Zoey & Phoebe!

Of course, I had to try the tutu on right away.  It fit like a glove!  And it was so comfortable.  

I twirled this way and that, modeling the tutu from all angles.

"How does my backside look, Momma?"

It was very hard for Momma to get me to sit still because I wanted to dance.  I felt like a pink ballerina!

"Hurry up with the pictures, Momma.  The music is starting!"

 Thank you again, Zoey & Phoebe!  The tutu is the perfect gift and I will wear it every time I dance!

Wordless Wednesday

One Year Ago Today

Thanks for walking down Stubby memory lane last week.  Momma loved reading all the sweet comments everyone had to say about Stubby.  It's good to know that he lives on in everyone's hearts.

One year ago today, I was picked up on the streets of Grand Prairie, TX.  Animal services found me as I was chasing after cars.  I don't like to talk about my past that much because it's taken me a while to forget about it but I thought I would mention it today because it was the turning point in my life.  My new life began one year ago today.

Animal services contacted the wonderful people of DFW Pug Rescue who came, swooped me up, and help me close, telling me everything would be okay.  I was frightened, cold, and hungry.  

The next thing I knew I was getting examined at the vet and then taken to a wonderful foster home where I lived with three awesome pugs and two amazing humans.  The rest, as they say, is history.

My life is so different today than it was one year ago today.  I've never let the past dictate my future and I never will.  I look back today only to remind myself how lucky I am to be where I am today.  I have the greatest parents any pug could ever want, a loving home where my every whim is taken care of, and the best friends a girl could ever have - you.

Remembering

Momma said that today is a special day.  The day didn't feel all that special to me when I woke up but as soon as Momma sat me down in the family room I knew something was up.

Momma explained to me that it was one year ago today that Stubby died.  She always talks about Stubby but she never really sat me down and talked to me about him until today.  

I know that some of you knew Stubby and that some of you even met him in the fur.  Lucky you.  I never met but I just know that we would have been best friends if we had met.  He seems like the kind of guy that would do anything for you.  And that's exactly what Momma said.  She told me he was generous, kind, and very loving.  He was green, too, and it still makes Momma smile when she thinks of all the people he inspired to adopt more eco-friendly habits.

There is a pseudo shrine in the family room devoted to Stubby.  I think it's pretty cool that everyone who comes over can check it out because it's like Stubby lives on.

The top of the urn says "Until we meet again at the rainbow bridge".  Momma says that one day, a long time from now, I will meet Stubby there and we will run and play forever.

This was Stubby's special collar that he only wore on special occasions.  I once heard Daddy ask Momma if I could wear it and she could hardly answer no.  I understand why Momma doesn't want me to wear it so I don't ever bring it up.

Everyone is always amazed at how much this portrait looks just like Stubby.  My Auntie Nancy painted it for Momma and Daddy and lucky for me it's big enough that I can almost make out the whiskers on his face.  Momma talks to the portrait sometimes and smiles at it often.

Daddy gave this to Momma on her birthday last year, just a few days after Stubby died.  Puglet's human took this picture when Stubby was in San Francisco on his road trip.  

Do you see a little something above the first word?  That's a whisker that Momma found in a chair the day after Stubby died.  She scooped it up and held it in her hand for a very long time as if she were cradling lost treasure.  She knew she had to keep it so she taped it to the tile.  

Momma hardly ever cries anymore when she talks about Stubby.  The only time she does is when she remembers how she couldn't ease his pain and that's when I remind her that no one could.  She used to cry all the time, even after I arrived, but now mostly happy thoughts fill her mind as she remembers the 13 1/2 years she spent with Stubby right by her side.  

I am going to spend the day holding Momma close while she shows me all the pictures of Stubby.  She is going to tell me all about him and then I am going to go outside, look up at the moon and smile.  Stubby is up there, smiling down on all of us, always.