Hardly know where to begin

But I'll start with asking for some prayers and juju for my friend Payton. I finally got to meet her in the fur (more on that coming up), and she's having some health issues right now. Please keep her in your thoughts.

As for the 1000 Pugs excitement, I guess I'll start at the beginning. We've been getting ready for the photoshoot and the accompanying visitors for awhile. Mom got the house spic and span, we got baths, and the players have all been madly exchanging emails.

On Thursday, mom finished up her work, and headed home. Shortly after, Suki and her mom arrived!!! We exchanged sniffs and snorts, and got the car unloaded. Then it was off the store for some groceries for dinner. As soon as mom got home, a very special group of visitors arrived. Payton and her parents!!!

Payton ate some dinner in peace, while we supervised.

Gracie, Suki and Arnie watching Payton eat her dinner

More sniffing and snorting, and before we knew it, we were all fast friends. Now it was time for human food. Dad made his signature tacos, and the margaritas were flowing. We got to mill around, and get to know each other. Even Levi joined the action.

Gracie, Arnie, Levi, Payton and Suki "working" for their treats

Things wound down, and plans were made for Friday. We were all going to check out the Stockyards, and meet up with Pug, Amanda and all the rest of the brave souls out in the rain at the Love Shack for some visiting.

Thanks to Julie, Suki's mom, for the photos. My mom's a spazz about taking pictures, and never seems to get any.

Memory Lane - Tango

Next up: Tango

Tango being a real boxer

Official Name: Faux Pas Exotic Rhythm, OA, OAJ, OAP, OJP, NAC, NJC, TN-N, CGC

Born: July, 1997

Died: December, 2007

After Gunther died, mom got a fawn Boxer, and named him Tango. Gunther and Brandy were both brindle, but she decided to try the "other" color this time. Tango was very flashy, which means he had a lot of white on his paws, legs and around his neck. He also had the CRAZIEST ears. She doesn't crop ears, and his stood straight out from his head.

Tango looking pitiful. Check out those ears!

Mom wrote about Tango's life awhile back, in another blog post

Here's Tango's story

Tango trying to squeeze into one of the Pug-sized beds

Tango loved nothing better than hanging with his "peeps". He was pushed around by the Pugs, and loved every minute of it. He taught mom more about shy, fearful and insecure dogs than any other. She's glad she got a second chance with him. He became her shadow, and she still swears he's right next to her, keeping her safe.

Everybody's Irish....

....on St. Patrick's Day

Mom added this design to her CafePress Shop. Check it out!

http://www.cafepress.com/pugbox/8591048

Wordless Wednesday

Memory Lane - Brandy

Next up: Brandy

Brandy in a rare moment of relaxation

Born: July, 1990

Died: February, 1998

When Gunther was about 2 years old, mom decided to add to the pack. She was working at a vet, and a client called to say she had to give up her Boxer, Brandy. Mom had known Brandy from when she was a puppy, and was shocked at the situation. It appears the family had a new baby, and Brandy was getting ignored. Being a Boxer, she was having none of that, and started "acting out". The final straw was when she jumped their fence at 2 am, into the neighbor's yard, busted through the screen door of their bedroom, and jumped into bed with them! Yeah, a 60 pound Boxer.

Mom decided to take Brandy, and the games began. Brandy was NOT good with strange dogs when she was on a leash. She also did NOT come when she was called. Many an hour was spent chasing Brandy down until she exhausted herself.

So mom worked and worked and worked on making her a good dog. Eventually, she learned to come when called, and while she never really liked strange dogs, she would tolerate them.

Brandy waiting for dinner

As serious as Gunther was (he liked to play, but was very serious about playing), Brandy was the opposite. She was all silly, and would do anything for a laugh. She loved to run, and would hike and hike for miles, when mom took her to the mountains.

Brandy loved to run

She had a heart arrhythmia, and would faint at the drop of a hat. Then she would jump back up and be good as new. This went on for years, and mom thought for sure one day she just wouldn't get back up.

But just like Gunther, when she was almost 8 she got cancer. Her's was not as sudden, and she lived for a year after her diagnosis. She had a huge personality, and left a big hole our pack.

Next up: Tango

The Words for Wednesday

Hope that photo sparked your interest. Here's the skinny on what was happening:

About 10 years ago, mom was president of Pug PROS (Pug Rescue of Sacramento). She was also fostering a little black pug named Will. One day the adoption coordinator called to say that Jenna Elfman wanted to adopt Will. She already had a fawn girl pug, Gwen, and wanted to add to her family.

It so happened that she was coming to northern CA to film her TV show, Dharma and Greg, in Candlestick Park. So she invited a few PROS members to check out the shoot and deliver Will.

Mom had a blast! Jenna is very nice, her costar Thomas Gibson is better looking in person, and everyone on the set was wonderful. Mom is a huge baseball fan, and being in Candlestick, down on the field, was dream come true. The added surprise was that Steve Young was also in the episode, so mom got to meet him, too. For the record, he is a wonderful person. He spent a lot of time asking about pug rescue and getting to know us.

The photo of Jenna's pug peeing in the endzone (yes, it looks like she's pooping, which would be funnier) started when Gwen got the zoomies. She started running through the seats, with Jenna in hot pursuit. The shoot stopped while we all watched them dash up and down the stairs. Then Gwen made it onto the field, and the rest is history.

Wordless Wednesday