December 1st

As most of the Facebook posts say, it's already December 1st. Yehey. It seems like such a big deal. But it is in a way, I don't know what to say but in 5 days (not counting the weekend), I'll be officially starting my 3-week vacation. Yes, that's right. No work. I've squeezed everything in November and if you want something more, here's my out-of-office and I'll just try to get back to you in January.

If there's a time that I should panic, it should be now. December 1st reminds me that I haven't bought gifts yet. I probably would have to do it online, in an hour tops. Malls transform into this commercial mecca where close proximity is something to be expected. No thanks. Online shopping is fine for me.

As for the painful reflection, a sadistic year end exercise of mine, I am looking forward to it. I could be brutally honest with myself. I could list down things that sucked this year and judge from there if the entire year was a complete failure by my standards. If it is, at least January is just around the corner and it's still an opportunity to give thanks for your life. If it was a happy year, December would just be a piece of cake. Nothing could go wrong in this month. I like that power of invincibility.

Forgiveness, hmmm. Touchy. I do have a couple of people to ask forgiveness from. People I might have abandoned out of nowhere, completely detached myself from any communication or contact. I sound like an irresponsible parent, but I just meant in a friends perspective. Well, I have a couple of days to sum up the energy and not be a wuss about it.

December brings everyone to back to business, not the work business that you're thinking of, but business in fixing relationships, strengthening bonds and enjoying the things that really matter (read: immaterial). This month transforms people's thoughts that "it's okay to slow down" that "it's okay to feel alone in a room full of love." It makes us prioritize things that were put on a back seat 11 months ago.

December is not my favorite month, but it does have its good moments that I'm really looking forward to.

Hello Jump

When I go to my dogs, especially if I haven't seen them for the entire day, I get too excited. If the dogs see me in that state, they feed off from it too and go a little ballistic. They jump, pounce and run amok. Harvey and Chivas have gone past that stage and even for dogs their size, the effects are manageable. But Bruce is a bit different. He's big for his age and for a 5 month old puppy, if you're not physically strong enough and you're not prepared, he will easily topple you. Too bad he's the one who likes to sneak around.

There's something about dogs welcoming me at home that gives me a calming, euphoric feeling. It's as if all the BS I've received for the day quickly evaporates into nothingness. How they show their appreciation, affection and trust makes me feel like such a better person. As they say, dogs love unconditionally.

But sadly for specific cases, especially for large breed dogs, this could go off-hand. Bruce likes to pounce. That's his signature "hello". And when he does, he puts all his weight on you. All we can do is be prepared for slobs, couple of bruises and possible scratches. He's that heavy. Of course he doesn't mean anyone of us an harm. He's such a charming and sweet dog, but if he gets over excited, he will get physical and unintentionally hurt. Everyone in our family has their own stories of how their clothes got dirty because of Bruce. Now they just try to sneak out whenever he's around. That's just sad.

If there are exceptions to this, I would have to give it up to Nanay and Ate Ne, our two stern disciplinarians. Bruce doesn't jump or pounce if they're around. My aunt and Ate Ne have trained him to obey their "NOs" with stern eye contacts. Bruce still gets excited but for some reason, he restrains himself even if they have food with them. He just looks up, wags his tail and follows them like a crazed-love dog. I'm impressed. My dad completely ignores him, so Bruce is a bit uneasy around him and just tries to sniff him from afar. For some reason, all dogs have adapted to this silent understanding that my dad is off limits. As if they inherently know that only he can throw them off the street...including me. As for my mom, she does a poor impression of "No". It's kind of theatrical as she tries to avoid him and run away. I think Bruce finds it funny, cause he wags his tail and chases her instead.

Karla, JD and I have to work on this, especially me, the more stubborn one. I try to practice sit and stay when we see each other. Bruce does this exceptionally well, but he sits as if he waits who will be the first one to give in, not breathing, not moving and all eyes on me. Then I find it too cute and adorable. Next thing I know, I'm hugging him. He always thinks he wins this game as he hugs me back and I am always try to be not out of balance.

It's not him. It's me.

Playtime

Fever in Dogs

Detecting sickness in dogs often happens when something is already terribly wrong. Dogs do not immediately give off a very profound signal like humans or kids do when they start to feel sick. That's why it's easy to forget that dogs do get a little bit under the weather. One has to be aware of slight changes of your dog's behavior, level of energy or routine.

I remembered when Harvey became sick right after his vaccination. It was Sunday after dinner when we noticed him throw up, looking droopy and his eyes were about to close. His nose was so dry and he wouldn't eat. He was shivering. 

Of course, I did what naturally came to me. I panicked. 

I tried to call his veterinarian as I looked for my car keys. I was eager to bring him to the vet. I saw the look on my father's face when he saw me panicking. He thought it was a real emergency, but after finding what the fuss was about, he said it was I who needed hospitalization. Karla and JD were nowhere to be found. Globe's 3G was hopeless that time. I tried to google for remedies. My mom was on the phone with someone. Nobody cared. 

I was about to pick him up and bring him to the car when my mom gave me a half tablet of Biogesic. She told me my lolo from Cebu recommended it. He's not a vet, but he also takes care of dogs and he swears by this treatment. With no other options, I forced Harvey to drink the medicine. Then his veterinarian called. I told him my observations, which he ruled out to be fine. The vet said that Harvey's just having a slight fever and it will go away the next day. He assured me its normal after a series of shots. I didn't tell him about the Biogesic remedy though. True enough, Harvey was back to his normal self the next day.

That was as a horrific episode. But how would you really know if your dog has fever and what should you do? Do they even get fevers like how humans get it? Weather? Virus? Infection? And what are the signs?

According to what my friends share and what the vet mentioned, if the dog's nose is wet and cold, he's pretty much okay. But if it's dry and rough, it means he's under the weather. I don't even know if giving half dosages of human medicine is appropriate.


CAUSE:

According to medicinenet.com, a dog's fever could be brought by 3 known reasons:

Infection: This could be bacterial, fungal or viral. Infections latch on anywhere in the body, usually organs, and this definitely needs attention from the vet. You have to possibly rule this out.

Vaccination: 24-48 hours of fever is common after a series of shots. It's just basically the medicine working with the dog's immune system.

Toxins: When the dog eats something bad and inappropriate, it could increase body temperature. This also needs treatment and attention from the vet.

If the dogs do have repetitive fever, but the source like toxins and infections are unknown, an underlying problem maybe brewing. This could be caused by organ disorders, bone marrow problems and cancer. It's always best to involve the vet for dog fevers of more than 2 days.

SIGNS:

But how do you know if the dog has fever in the first place? What are the foolproof signs and symptoms?

According to petmed.com, one of the main signs that dogs have fever is unexplained or sudden weakness. If you call your dog and he seems to be unresponsive and unusually weak, this is a foolproof sign that something's wrong. If the dog doesn't have any appetite. If the dog sneezes, drools too much and has swollen gums. Physically, if the dog has a hot and dry nose and has unexplained nose and ear discharges. And if the dog does shiver, vomit and has diarrhea. 

Those are the foolproof signs that your dog is sick. But if you ask me, you can already tell if there's a change in personality. If the dog looks at you with a  droopy face, unusually struggles to respond and practically ignores you, that's already a signal for me that something's gone terribly wrong.

CONFIRMATION and ACTION

Now you figured out that something's wrong what do you do?

It's best to confirm your observations by using a rectal thermometer. According to pet websites, this is the most reliable method to determine your dog's temperature. Dogs have naturally higher temperature than ours. The normal temperature of dogs according to petmed.com is 99.5-102.4 Fahrenheit (37 - 39 Degrees Celsius). If it goes higher than 103 F, that's already a sign of elevated temperature that could be caused by fever.

You could use the normal digital or glass thermometer with your dogs, same ones you use for humans. You just need a lubricant or oil to avoid further discomfort for the dogs and an extra person to help you get the temperature.

Now that you have confirmed that the dog has fever and the vet is out of reach at the moment, what do you do?

• Give him access to lots of clean water. Do not force it though, an access to water would do. Just like in any fever there's a possibility of dehydration. 
• Give a blanket. If the dog is shivering, comfort him with a blanket. If he doesn't want to, don't force it. 
• Give gentle massages. This works wonders. It calms the dog down and makes him sleep.
• Keep him in a cooler place. Use cold compress in his stomach to bring relief. 
• Homemade broth or soup helps (vegetables or chicken)
• If the dog doesn't want to drink water, give him a few ice cubes to lick. 

Most importantly, if you know that the fever is not caused by any series of vaccination and it lasts for more than 24 hours with the temperature skyrocketing to 104 to 106 Fahrenheit, you need to get him to an emergency animal clinic immediately. 

Having fever sucks and you could just imagine how your dog feels. The important thing is try to make him feel comfortable and pray it's just a one-day thing that he just needs to shake off. As owners, we need to pay attention, stay calm and be informed.

Hunger.Guilt.Trip

I caught Bruce in this gentle moment while he was waiting for the kitchen door to open. He wanted to go inside to eat leftover food, but to avoid chaos and overeating, we did not let him pass.

His food is specially made for large breeds and we feed him three times a day. Every meal time we fill up a venti-sized Starbucks cup with dog food, but it seems it's never enough. He cries if he smells cooked food. He cries when he sees Harvey eating his dinner. I don't think I'm depriving him of anything. I just don't want him to get fat.

I must strengthen my reserve. He's only a puppy, 5 months to be exact and he looks like a full grown dog. If he must cry, then let it be.

I was this close to feeding him cheese sandwich though.

____

Two Saturdays ago I went to Tagaytay with Mitch's friends. We had dinner there and hung out. It was so freaking cold. I loved it! I cannot wait to be back. 

But hopefully on my next trip, I'll bring the rest of the pack with me. Probably during Christmas break. I want them to experience the cool weather. And with that, I would need at least three more people to go with me.  

ROAD TRIP!!!

It'll be fun. Promise.

On our way to Bruce's school

____

When I got home, Ate Shiela told me that some christmas lights were dismantled in the garden, near Bruce's cage. 

I could read between the lines. They're probably blaming it on Bruce.

As long as I'm around, he's innocent until proven guilty. 

The Cycle Continues

Every time Mitch visits, Chivas barks and growls non stop. Mitch would eventually get pissed and just to prove his supremacy, he would pick up the little pomeranian.

The pomeranian would freeze, but as long as he's in Mitch's arms, he will stay quiet. But Chivas throws me this weird look of "How could you, owner?" Possibly cursing me in dog language.

Mitch relishes his few minutes of victory until he puts Chivas down.

Then it's barking and growling all over again.

I think the relationship is unrepairable. 

Christmas Lights: According to Papa

Ever since my father stepped past middle age, he had become more sentimental and a bit childlike. If he really wants something, he makes sure he gets it even if he throws rational views out of the window. He gets what he wants with so much urgency and with an extreme level of concentration. He is now known to do things that we, his kids, sometimes marvel at. He's not going crazy, but he's just being  true, spontaneous and passionate about things.

One of the things he is passionate about are Christmas lights. He wasn't like this before. But for the past few years, as early as November, he wants different kinds of lights engulfing our house. He doesn't appreciate color coding, themes and synchronicity. He said it's very limiting. He wants more lights and more color. For us kids, it looks like chaos with a high electric bill. For him, it's art. Where does my mom stand in this? She knows better than to argue. He gets a little bit sensitive when it comes to his Christmas lights and we would never hear the end of it. Before he pulls out his litany on how he wants us to live our lives, we just chose to let him be.

As soon as the Christmas boxes were pulled out from the attic and an electrician was hired ,we had to instill the tone of simplicity. We wanted him to tame down the lights a bit. We wanted him to be aware of the difference between a festive house and a fun pub house.

Upon hearing our kind and cushioned remarks, my father kept quiet. We didn't know if he was offended. But apparently he wasn't listening to us. That afternoon, he went to Binondo with the driver to pick up new lights. We prepared for the worst.

For two days the electrician labored. And I came home tonight to a finish product.

It's actually better in person. I'm at a bad angle and with a  crappy camera. 

I wanted to complain about the bushes. I don't think lights are needed since we have colorful capiz decors already. I love the vertical lights in palm trees that look like rain. It reminds me of the one I saw in Alabang. I deeply wanted to share my opinions but I saw my dad very pleased during dinner.

"Ang ganda ng mga ilaw, anak noh? Makulay." (The lights are beautiful, right? Very colorful)

How can you say no to a grown-up's festive mood? As a daughter and just because it's Christmas, my thoughts on these lights don't really matter as long as he's happy. I must give him credit. He toned it down a bit. So without hesitation, I said "Oo. Maganda nga, pa."

Vacation Vacation Vacation!

Everyday gets harder and harder and harder.

I feel that my sanity is slipping away from me every hour. The clock's tick on my watch is a torture. The pace of the days are frustrating. I don't read poetry but suddenly I feel poetic. I go into a chant, a drone at the corner of the office agonizing over something that nobody else can see. I don't expect them to understand, really.

I just don't care anymore. 8 more days, not counting the weekends. Goodbye 2012 (at work)!

___

I don't like the beach and I'm definitely not a fan of summer. 

Well first, I'm indifferent to beach water. I'm more of a pool person and I have never developed a desire to swim in sea water. I like mine with chlorine. The last time I swam at the beach I had a week-long allergy and a 2 day-fever. I think that was in 2009 and it was in Boracay, sadly. I had to pay a lot for insane dermatological medicine and I hated the way my skin itched and looked for 3 weeks. Never again. So I stay away from it. Besides, I don't like sand getting in my suit.

I'm also allergic to direct heat. I have urticaria, a skin sensitivity disease that I get from intense weather. I've been to HK and it was freezing cold, but I had no allergy attacks. So from there, we already know the culprit. 

As much as I don't like the beach, I dont necessarily curse it. Even though it's not my cup of tea, I do try to enjoy it in my own style. As long as there's good access to food and good company, I think spending time in the beach is bearable. In fact, I've been going annually to Boracay for the past 6 years with good friends and sometimes with family. Now I'm slated to go there with my good colleagues from Citibank, colleagues who turned out to be friends whom I havent seen in a very long time. I actually invited myself when I heard about their plans. Without wasting time, I booked my own ticket and room. Now I am all set! I don't have major travel plans for the holidays anyways, so this is a good option. December in Boracay is a first! This is bound to be fun and interesting. 

___

For my upcoming trip I will just RELAX. And I shall exhaust every essence of the word. I will stuff myself silly with seafoods. I'll get a Jonah's shake together with my grilled hotdog, enjoy sumptuous daily breakfast buffets, reserve one of the cabanas in the afternoons and be one with the hammock, swim in the pool and enjoy social drinking! I'll get to sleep for hours and drown myself in cable! AH the life of a bum!

I've been there before and I know what I should be expecting, but excuse the over excitement. I definitely deserve a quick vacation this year after a 4 month assignment in HK, a migration to support for another 4 months and an ongoing transition and operation woes until the end of the year. It's about time to let off steam and push those nasty troubles away. 

Simply, this is my time to relax and reward myself. It's also a time to think of my career and where I intend to go. It's also a celebration of thanks for the blessings I received. It's also a perfect time to ponder on my upcoming 29th birthday which would push me to 30 next year. Yikes. 

But first things first. I would need the following...non negotiable. 

1. More than triple stars Hotel 

Estacio Uno is my new favorite. 

Some say: "Do not spend too much for a room." Logic says that you just need a good bathroom and a place to sleep. Hence, find something cheap. So not true when you want to relax. The cheap-logic is fine if you're technically on an amazing race tour. But if the purpose is to relax, you need something more like above average. For better room and better service you have to pay up. That's just how things go.

Excellent, clean and lavishly designed rooms with a view would really enhance the relaxing experience. That is the main purpose of every Boracay vacation. I never go there for a tour anyways. If I spend time outside with my friends, those are during happy hours, but I do spend a lot of time in the room too. I sleep a lot, eat there a lot and catch up on my movies and blog. If I retire after a party, the room is the last thing I'll ever see. I prefer my room to be well appointed with an excellent bed, modern facilities and amazing space. I found all of that in this favorite hotel of mine.

If the purpose of the trip is to shop and do tours, go for the original logic. But if it's for a real vacation, the no frills, relaxing version, then the 11,000 bucks per night per room is justified.

2. Do-not-disturb Book material

This is hard. 

Every time I go to Boracay I bring a good book with me. The goal is to finish it before going back to Manila. I even do dry-runs two days before my flight if the book is really appropriate. The challenge is to enhance the experience. If I'm lucky, I would get to pick a really good book, something that would really leave an imprint my perception of the world.

In my Boracay trips, I've read Power by Robert Greene, Then we Came to the End by Joshua Ferris, The Magician by Lev Grossman and The Passage by Justin Cronin to name a few. They were all perfect with a shake on my left, reading under a shady cabana while swaying in the hammock. 

I have tons of books that are still new and waiting to be read. The last time I checked I have around 60 unread books all covered up. Some books I got from a bazaar in HK, most of it from my random trips to the local bookstore. This is the moment that I would really want to pick something from my own set. I don't intend to go to the bookstores anymore to buy a new one, but who am I kidding? On the weekend before my flight, I know I would still have one last look at the stores. 

Thanks to this 3 week vacation, I'm in the process of lining up books that I want to read. I'm already scanning through nytimes bestsellers for e-books or paperbacks and list down what I don't have. This is an exciting and ongoing process. I already have contenders for my trip and for the Christmas duration, some of the copies are already on hand. 

Bought it two months ago for the intention of reading it on a long Christmas break. I love Haruki Murakami. This book is thick and epic-worthy. I love getting lost with his stories. This is interesting.

I bought Book 1 last year and Book 2 this year and it's a shame that I haven't started at all. This calls for an intense moment and this vacation may be one of the opportunities that I have. I'm a sucker for fantasy genre. I get into a do-not disturb mode forsaking lunch and dinner just like what happened in Lord of the Rings and Game Of Thrones.

I bought this when I was in the process of migrating a HK project. I gave it also as a gift for a dear friend and colleague who has helped me battle insanity a lot. I'm not into non-fiction books in general, but I make a pass for good reads. I've read good reviews about it and the title just got me.

I bought this a year ago and it's in my to be read list ever since. I love Ayn Rand. I read Atlas Shrugged last 2010 on my US Trip and fell in love with it. I plan to read it again soon. I love how Ayn Rand magnifies the intricacies of human relationships with hints of philosophical views and analysis. The stories are epic and insightful. It's not just drama, but it makes you think. This is my version of an epic literary soap.

The first book I read from Lahiri was the Unaccustomed Earth. It's a compilation of short stories about life and mostly about societal and conflicts of cultures and migrants. I loved it. A friend recommended me The Namesake, on of her very best works. Good thing Fully book sold one of those hardbound compilations of select authors. Jhumpa Lahiri is one of them. Now I do have a back-to-back copy of the the Name Sake and Interpreter of Maladies.  I'm so excited to start!

The list could go on and on and on. The selection process of my Christmas reads is still in progress. Will let you know.

3. Beach Stuff

I need a new bathing suit, cover up, beach sandals and a beach bag. It's not too much. These are practically basics. 

And no, this is not entire wants, but a needs. Yes uh-huh. That's right. 

Sadly, I've gained weight this year and some proportions of my body do not apply anymore to my old suits. So I need a new one, something that's more...forgiving.

Naturally, my cover-up will definitely have to go with my suit. So I would need this one too. 

The beach sandals that I had I already gave to my household help simply because she wants it and I totally forgot that I had it. So now I only have 2 pairs left. One for driving and one that I use when I spend time outdoors, which I saw Bruce chewing the other day. So I'd definitely need a new for the trip.

As for the bag, I bought a beach bag in SM (i love SM) mustard color for 300 pesos two years ago. That bag has been with me since. I use it for traveling. I use it while spending time with the pack. I use it for the gym. I use it sometimes when I got to the mall. It's big, it's kind of water proof, multi-functional and I love the color. I think I've already used this in two of my boracay trips. It won't be that bad to get a new one. 

4. Update my IPOD

I swear this has been a running goal for the past few months. I bought a new IPOD Nano last April and it's still empty. I must start downloading songs!!! I promised myself this weekend I'll find the time. 

I pack light! With my sunblock, camera, book, IPOD and IPAD I'm all set to go!

I'm too excited for vacation, seriously. I think I'm going mad. 

Perks of Being A Wallflower

I have not read the book. But I read good reviews about it.

And I haven't watched the movie. But they say it's worth the time.

I bought this book early this year initially for my brother, but I kept it in my bookshelf with the intention of reading it at the right time. When the movie came the urge wasn't there yet. Until now.

I needed a fresh perspective. After finishing The Estuary Pilgrim and The Empress Orchid, I want a breath of fresh air. I don't want to read something utterly serious and political. I'm also not in the mood for epics and fantasy. I want a casual, contemporary and accessible story without losing a sensible grasp of reality. Coming of age stories have that fresh, youthful and energetic vibe with a dynamic plot that veers from disturbing, fun, enlightening to plain crazy. It seems to be an agreeable choice.

Some say this is a literary aid to The Catcher in the Rye, a story I've read when I was in High School, which I'm planning to read again soon.

I'm already on the 2nd chapter and there are already some topics which I can totally relate to.  Teenagers and their lives are in technicolor anyways. It's fairly easy to pick a plot from there. I should know. I think I was a wallflower myself. I admit it does have its own perks and I wouldn't have lived my teenage life any other way.

Miss my dogs

It's Monday and I already miss my dogs. I most especially miss the youngest, Bruce. He's such a puppy and like all puppies, they specially need more attention. It hurts to just spend a few minutes with all dogs when you know you've missed the entire day.

I'm getting too sentimental. I know I've got to work no matter how I get too occupied and robbed of energy. Sometimes I just fantasize of winning a 100 million lottery, having amassed so much fortune to not really care about money. I'd put up businesses, hire people to run those businesses, invest in stocks and pay for my tuition in advanced learning. I can blog all the time, help my chosen charity, have my family relax and most especially spend time with my dogs. We'd go to High street all the time, go to Tagaytay on weekends and have them trained every single day.

That would've been a perfect world for me.

____

When I got home, I immediately asked for Bruce. I always want to find out what the youngest one was up to.  

Today's report states that he ate two strings of Christmas lights from the garden. Now there's a bald patch in one of the bushes. When Ate Ne tried to reprimand him, he flashed the I'm-sorry-face. 

I'm afraid, the I'm-Sorry-Face will lose its magic soon. I might need to make FREE_BRUCE t-shirts or teach him to perform some tricks for the prosecutors to be happy and give him a light sentence. 

Bruce in 4 months eating something from the garage...and hiding it.

Too Much Coffee and Future Plans

I know I've had too much coffee when I got my 2nd planner from Starbucks in three weeks time.

To be able to get a planner, I had to pay for 17 drinks worth an average of 150 bucks each. 17x5x2. You do the math. The thing is my mom went ballistic. Though at my lame defense I am sure I didn't drink some, the point is I consumed the majority and paid all of it. There goes my attempt at saving and dieting before my Christmas beach break.

That first opportunity came when I gave a planner to a dear friend. On that day, she was suffering from a massive heartbreak. Out of the blue, her heart was crushed to pieces, pain I couldn't imagine. Since I'm not trained to cushion heartaches and have enough words of advise to share, I gave her the planner instead. Good thing I got the color that she liked. If there's a sane advise that I will stand by on, it's to find ways to move on and the planner is just a key to keep her right on track. I had an officemate who joined lots of activities after her breakup. She did yoga, pole dancing, spa nights, surfing lessons in La Union on the weekends, attended tons of parties and enrolled in a study program every Saturday. She squeezed in dinners with friends, old and new. That's what I wanted my friend to do, to preoccupy herself. And with the planner, she should be encouraged to fill in those blank dates.

The 2nd planner I gave to my sister. Unlike me, she's a planner person. She uses it for her meetings with clients and to schedule her next drinking session with friends. Her previous planners looked like a beaten cardboard by the end of the year. I know that she will maximize the planner to good use. But just as fate designed, she had just resigned from her work and is currently enjoying the job hunting scene casually. May the planner bring her luck and lots of offers to choose from

Too much coffee brought two planners for two ladies who would be facing too many positive opportunities. I think this also justified all those Starbucks trips for caffeine. I say always look forward to the greater things in life to come.

May the planners bring them purpose and luck on darker days.

The Estuary Pilgrim

While looking for a copy of The Last Empress, I decided to pick some titles in my egging tower list of reading backlogs. I initially wanted to buy a new book earlier, but due to more pressing circumstances, thanks to Bruce, I decided to just pick from one of my collections yet to be read.

There were lots of titles to choose from and I even ventured into the possibility of going for  teen-fantasy.

But I ended up choosing to read one of the stories from a Readers' Digest volume I brought a month ago. I just love Readers' Digest condensed book volumes. I get to read great stories ranging from popular fiction to memoirs. Thanks to Readers' Digest, I discovered the joys of reading Robin Cook (Harmful Intent) and James Clavell (The Noble House). Readers' Digest has introduced me to great mainstream writers without the need to spend so much. 100 bucks for 5 stories, great deal!

I think have more than 10 volumes of Readers' Digest in my collection. They're my savior for quick and good reads.

For tonight, I pick Douglas Skeggs' The Estuary Pilgrim. Synopsis is interesting enough. It involves stolen art and trying to keep it that way during the end of the early world war. The plot reminds me of Ken Folliet's Modigliani Scandal, which I enjoyed. In any case, it's a promising art suspense.

Looking for the Last Empress

The ignorance in me thought that Chinese had always been one and only, but they do have certain ethnic groups. Manchu was one and their group ruled China in 1600s. Apart from this very interesting fact, I've always been fascinated about Chinese traditions, culture and monarchy. Their ways and particularities are so different from the English Monarchy that I am more familiar of. But just like any other field of politics, whatever continent, country and race, power is a widely universal currency to rule the nation.

The Orchid Empress delivers what the good reviews wrote about. It's a classic tale of a woman born during hard times, who had dreams, worked on those dreams, acquired power and eventually rules Greater China. The book gives us a vivid glimpse of China with their monarchy, traditions and the key roles that make the story turn. Eunuchs and empresses were put in a different light. This book was an educational and entertainment piece at the same time. According to reviews, it's loosely based on the life of Empress Dowager Cixi, the Dragon Lady. I heard that story narrated by our tourist guide when we were there in China.

Since majority of the story happened in the famous Forbidden City, I couldn't help but reminisce my China trip with my family last year. It was one of the most insightful trips I've ever done. Not only did I get to see the Forbidden City, but I was also able to climb the renowned Wall of China, learn about their magnificent history and breathe the air of a rising super power. The book did a good job bringing those palaces back to life. I especially liked how China named their palaces: "Palace of Eternal Beauty, Palace of Benevolence, Palace of Heavenly Purity." If I had to name a palace, I'd name it a Palace of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

The pressing problem is, I want to read the Last Empress, a sequel to the life of Lady Yehonala, but it seems it's sold out. I've checked two leading bookstores and it's gone. Just as I had feared.

No use procrastinating. Might as well read something else until I get a copy of that sequel.

Bruce's 1st High Street Experience

BGC is having their Passionfest this weekend. There are lots of street performers, street foods (healthy thought) and product booths in Bonifacio High Street. Better Dog Behavior Center is also a proud participant. Teacher Elsie invited us to check out the booth at the Pet Zone center. Just in time, we figured out that Bruce's High Street experience is long overdue.

Out of all our dogs, Bruce is the only one who didn't get to go to high street since day 1.

Harvey first experienced High Street the day that Mitch and I got him from the kennel on Nov. 1, 2008. He had no vaccines at that time and he pretty much resembled a full grown rat. It was irresponsible and stupid, but I was an excited dog owner.

Harvey immediately loved High Street. He was an outgoing dog to begin with so it wasn't really a problem. He loves public places. Always curious, playful and friendly. He is also considered a  high-energy dog, so most of the times we had to exert our efforts to control his wild side. But he's manageable. And since then, he's been to High Street like hundreds of times.

Coffee Bean HS

Waiting at Marta's Cupcakes

Chivas also tasted Bonificio High Street on the first day Mitch brought him to us. It was on the day I got home from Hong Kong, April 21, 2012 after a long 4 month assignment. After going to Pet Express to buy some supplies, my cousins from Cebu, my siblings and I trotted to High street with Harvey and Chivas. It was also the perfect opportunity for my cousins to taste Jamba Juice. 

Knowing Chivas background, he was naturally fearful, but probably because of his size, energy and temperament, he was such a pleasure to walk with and still is. Out of all the dogs that we have, he is the most hassle-free dog, no fuss dog. He simply follows you around and snobs practically everything. 

BGC Night

With Bruce, even if he is considered a low-energy dog, he still does have some spurt of energy with him. With that small energy, he could easily topple tables and create chaos. Ironically, he is the most fearful dog I have ever had. I don't know what happened to him in the early months, but he's really fearful in public places. It took some time and effort for us to bring him out. But with his training sessions in place and his mini-village walks, I think it was about time to do this.

We intended to leave Harvey and Chivas as we wanted him to experience this by himself. We also wanted to gauge his level of stress.

Compared to the first few weeks, I think he is now better. He follows our commands and he walks with us peacefully. He's not scared with elevated platforms and stairs anymore. He doesn't stop and hide. He's not all over the place and wild like Harvey, but he's not as confident and independent as Chivas either. He's somewhere in between. He still gets tense especially if he's walking in crowded areas, but he's fine. If people get inside his space, he doesn't do anything. In fact he just avoids contact. He never got mad. There were some dogs that barked at him and he was the one who wanted to get away. He's not an aggressive dog, that's for sure. But we're working on his fearfulness side. He never barked, never made a tantrum and follows our command if he gets too distracted about something.

All in all, Bruce's high street experience was a success. We got to practice some commands with him while eating dinner. There's no question that Bruce can definitely blend in with the crowd. He accepts humans and dogs, but with a hint of fearfulness that we're still trying to work on.

On our next High Street experience, probably on the days that I'm officially on leave from work (and that's in 2 weeks time), I would make this High Street thing a regular thing. Hopefully by then I could bring Harvey and Chivas with me provided that I have additional support to look after the other dogs.

It would be interesting. We would have an overly adventurous, energetic and friendly dog. An independent, snobbish and obedient dog. And we also have a charming, shy and fearful dog. Their mixes might be different, but their common factor is that they're never aggressive...ever. Together, they can mirror each other's strengths and confidence to make their High Street experience a happy memory.

JD Our Hero

It was Jd's first time to join us in Bruce's training session and it was Harvey's 2nd.

Harvey was there when Bruce got assessed in Better Dog Behavior Center. Based on professional observations, Bruce was so fearful and shy that he got his confidence from Harvey. Whatever Harvey does, he follows and if Harvey's not around, Bruce shuts down. So for a couple of weeks, as recommended by the trainers, I had to bring Bruce in public without Harvey just so he gets more exposed and be more independent.  I didn't intend to bring Harvey in Bruce's training sessions. And on the first day, we had forced to leave Harvey at home even if it broke my heart.

But on the 2nd day Harvey invited himself by getting inside the car. He sneaked up on us and made his way through the bushes. When we opened the car door for Bruce, Harvey immediately came out of nowhere and jumped in. He is such a smart dog that he knows if something's fishy and if that something involves a dog excursion. Of course in any dog excursions he has to be there. I couldn't bear to make him stay. I made a decision to bring him along. If he gets too unruly, we'd stay in the lobby.

But he wasn't. He was so proper and observant while Bruce was being trained. Bruce didn't even notice Harvey while he was at work. There was no problem after all. I decided to bring him along on he next training session. And JD decided to come along as well.

We parked in front of the facility and got the dogs out of the car. We were trying to get Bruce to do his "business". Karla was holding Bruce, I was holding the bags and JD was with Harvey. While baking under the sun for a few minutes, I just saw Harvey pulling out from his collar and aimed for freedom. It happened so fast, but I felt I was on slow motion. The image of Harvey getting out of his collar nerved me to death. I screamed and attempted to run after him. Bruce barked and Karla screamed as well. The next thing we knew, we saw JD dove into hard cement just to keep Harvey from going far.

An american couple and a trainer were shocked and wanted to help. They congratulated JD for his fast reflexes, but I had to take a step back and keep my heart from racing. Jack Russells are fast dogs. They're natural hunters and they're stubborn. I've read in some forums that Jack Russells are always for the hunt and they won't stop until they get it. Some JRTS do not go home for three days just because they are hunting for something somewhere. Harvey has that kind of damn-the-world trait. There were times Harvey would escape from our house and we would move heaven and earth to catch him. And it was in a secured street in the village. I couldn't imagine him running around in Chino Roces Avenue.

The truth is, if JD didn't dive and catch Harvey, I have every reason to believe that I might not see Harvey again. Either we lose him completely or he gets into a car accident. It was a wake up call for me. It was a wake up call to not bring him if there's no dedicated person to look after him and do not test new collars when out in new territories. Dogs react differently in public. They're more curious, aggressive and wild. One has to use the right and proven accessories for their own safety.

After collecting my sanity, Karla called me and told me that JD got injured. I saw blood dripping from his knees. He literally scraped himself with that intense dive. He had a look on his face like he couldn't believe it was happening. Harvey got injured too. Both of his inner thighs also have bleeding wounds because of the impact. Of course Harvey was being ignorant about it, but we were so worried. Special thanks to our caring teacher, she had ordered us some Betadine to disinfect their wounds.

I couldn't appreciate more what JD did that day. With his quick thinking and athletic abilities, he ran, dove and was able to capture Harvey. He saved Harvey's life and I would always thank him for that. If Harvey got away from me, I wouldn't have been able to do what he did. I know now not to get my sentimental feelings over my better judgment. Bringing dogs in public, no matter how used they are, entails big responsibility. They have to be at some extent protected with a focused person looking after them. Situations differ from time to time, dogs may surprise you with their actions and humans must be prepared to control it. We were not in control awhile ago.

It was an unfortunate experience for JD, but it was a major wake up call for all of us.

Training Day 3

It was Bruce's 3rd training day this morning. And after 3 more sessions, he would eventually graduate and move on to Family Dog Module 2. To be able to enroll there, he has to master the basic tricks first like stay, sit and down. On the 2nd module, the tricks will be a little more complicated. Stays would have to be longer with distance, sits would have to be more dramatic and everything has to be done with high level of distractions.

I'm fully confident he will graduate with flying colors. In terms of getting the lesson, he gets it so well to a point that he orchestrates the whole trick even if you we don't command it just because he wants to seek our pleasure and treats. He gets the command and he gets the pattern that we never go home frustrated and disappointed.

For today's lesson, we introduced the concept of "stay" by getting him at our desired position changing our distance, increasing levels of distraction and the time for him to be released from that position. Three different sets of lessons not to be intertwined at this point.

For the distance, we had to ask him to do the sit or down position in his mat, both lessons he learned last week, and we moved two steps back. For the timing, we asked him to maintain his sit position for 10-15 seconds. And for the distraction, we asked him to maintain his sit or down position while people walk in front of him with treats falling off outside his intended place. According to his trainer, this is one of the most difficult lessons the dog will have to learn and Bruce learnt it so well. We were all impressed.

There were just a couple of ironing out to do of course. Bruce grew impatient at times and had to bark at us for his treat. He had attempts of leaving his mat because of some treats falling off and he gets tense when we move back. But doing the rule of repetition, he knew eventually what we expect from him.

Again, practice is key.

Teaching STAY while Harvey, JD and I listen

Bruce the Sweety

It's been 2 months since we brought him to our home and I think he gracefully settled in. He is now truly a part of the family. We accommodate his routine, we give him attention, we let him roam around the house and address his needs like a baby that needs constant guidance. The rest of the pack accepted him as well. I couldn't be happier.

Everyone knows that he's very different from the rest of the pack. Though the youngest, he's the largest and heaviest dog in the group. He likes to play, but unlike Harvey, he is a low energy dog. Low Energy but equally destructive. Contrary to my fears, he is a very smart dog. I have Harvey as a benchmark. Two training days proved him to be a fast learner. In fact, he's not as stubborn as Harvey. Harvey has an independent streak. He does your command, but if he thinks he's done, he'll go explore on his own. Harvey is all over the place, but Bruce isn't. He's the type of dog that follows the master and doesn't tend to do his own thing. He sticks to the master's moves and commands. If there is no master, he just sits and hangs around. Whenever he walks with you, he would look up to you periodically like always wanting to get assurance. I think it's sweet.

All of my dogs do not retaliate. They look at the dogs who cuss and get uncultured around them, but they don't do anything. They don't bark, they don't attack, they just observe. It's as if they're observing an alien from out of space. It's probably how we raise them to be friendly. With so much love they receive from the house, and so much trust that we give them when we have guests, they know they are treated fairly and handsomely. There's no room to be aggressive.

Bruce may be big, but he's exceptionally sweeter than the rest of the dogs. He would pounce on you and does his massive hugs. He would lick you, sit on your lap and stay with you longer. He gives you that look that your heart will melt. He makes it known that he depends on you. He's a sweet charming fellow that likes to be hugged. Chivas is charming and likes to petted and be put-on the pedestal. Harvey is the independent fellow, who doesn't like cuddling so much. Buddy has this calm and aloof reserve. Bruce is the type who gives you so much physical attention that you forget that he is in fact a dog.

Bullmastiff breed owners say they preserve that unconditional love and attention until they get older. They're not as independent as Jack Russells and not as needy and demanding as Pomeranians, bull mastiffs are always for the master. They will always crave physical companionship.

As I look at Bruce everyday it reminds me of an impulsive but good decision that I made. He may be big and he would still get bigger, but he's getting sweeter everyday.

14 Days

In 2 weeks time, I will have my grand vacation. I will say goodbye to work at 2012 and would resume the grind when the year is new. Ironically, things started to become hectic these days. I would've accepted the usual grind, but additional meetings, presentations and document submissions have been bombarding my life this week. It's an additional pain to get to the finish line.

That's cool. It sucks, but that's fine. I'll live with it. I'm still surviving aren't I? I just feel that time is never really enough. I try to rush from the office to get home by dinner time so that I can play with my pack. I've been just peeking at them these days and it's a foul option. My mornings are usually reserved in reading news and trying to blog. Thankfully I did today, posts have been egging in my list.

On the last day of work this year, I think I'd burst with excitement. If I get really intensely excited, I don't do the scream and jump part. Those moments are for temporary shallow happiness. But if I'm really happy, I tend to do the calm, but screaming inside version. It's like my fists clench hard, I look at the horizon and my mind and heart are the ones doing somersaults. In some moments, I cry out of nowhere and I am not the type who sheds tears easily. I'd get a good meal, go home, spend it with Mitch, play with my pack and sleep a nice heavenly sleep to prepare for wonderful days to come.

Two more weeks, 14 days. Insanity tries to set in. I think I'll make it. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Not that it means anything to me. When I was still dealing with the US market a year ago, thanksgiving just meant one thing. REST. Just because the market's down. Now that I'm back in the Asian field, I really couldn't care less. All I know about thanksgiving is Turkey, prelude to the Black Friday Sale and a constant reminder that Christmas is just around the corner and I'm late again in getting my shopping done.

Budget's a bit tighter this year. I had so many unnecessary things that I need to pay for. Probably next year would be better. I figured it's pointless to have regrets now, I liked those unnecessary, shallow things anyway. As long as my family's complete, I have work, there's lots of food and I could enjoy simple travels with friends, then I'm very satisfied. I'm getting older as well so the happiness radar begins to be more meaningful and less materialistic. I like that.

Happy Thanksgiving to all that matters!

Training Workaround

The key to a properly trained dog is practice. Relying everything on the trainer on a 1 hour session is never enough. For the dog to thoroughly understand the commands that could be life saving, they have to practice it with someone all the time. It doesn't have to be with one designated person. The trick could be practiced with different humans as long as they know what to expect and how to say the command. Thankfully, I have Karla involved with the training.

I think it's a blessing in disguise that she is undergoing a quarter life crisis that made her resign from her job. While still looking...casually...she has free time on her hands. She was in fact the one who bought Bruce's treats. I could practically ask her to do anything for me while I'm at work, which includes training Bruce during the day.

Just like any other adult woes, work robs us of the time to do what we want and what's essential. Not that I'm overly complaining, work after all pays my simple joys. In a perfect world, I'd be rich and not care about money, but the truth is, to be able to support my pack, I have to work. I'm just thankful now that I have a workaround.

While I'm busy with work on the weekdays, I rarely get to spend time with the dogs but just to say hello. This is where Karla comes in. Karla could step in and train Bruce throughout the day. Since she's also participating in the training session every Saturday, I don't need to tell her anything. She already knows what to do. And since she's been proactive in the sessions, I've made her the official trainer every Saturday. I've been demoted to a mere observer, which is more to my liking.

This gratitude also goes out to Nanay, my aunt, who joins us ievery Saturday and trains Bruce every night, before dinner.

Originally, if no one was made available, I would've asked and trained JD, my mom and our household help, but at least this part is kept off my shoulders. At least with Karla, I know she knows what to do and I don't have to repeat anything. I know that an important pointer wouldn't be missed.

I've never been thankful for a quarter life crisis. I think I've felt that before and it was a pain. The last time I experienced one, I believe I also resigned from my work with no warning. Well, I hope my sister finds what she's really looking for. I hope she gets her real dream job, but until then I'm happy to know that she's there to do what I can't do because of work.

Bruce's Training Day 2

On the first training day, Bruce already impressed us. For a shy dog who didn't know anything but sit, he was able to follow target lessons and commands. We learned that dogs, particularly mine, do listen if coaxed properly with the right methods. We also found out that Bruce is heavily food driven so we knew what to expect.

With three special treats in tow and a treat apron, we were ready.

The class started on time in the fabulous Better Dog facility as always. He learned three new lessons that day and had to recap the previous ones. Again, Bruce made our hearts flutter with pride. Teacher Elsie had to modify the lessons a bit to increase complexity because Bruce gets the lessons easily and sometimes already offers the trick before you command it. He would sit in front of you and look up even if you're not commanding anything. We would have to say "FREE" for him to relax and move around.

On the second day, he learned how to sit, down and go to the mat. 

Sit was easy. We taught him this already.

Down was a bit of a challenge, but he eventually got the concept. After learning the command, performing it was as easy as sit.

Go to the mat was quite hard. Better Dog lent us a sort of trampoline platform where we instructed Bruce to step on all fours and stay. There was a time we would hear him whining because he couldn't figure out that we wanted him do. He would do sit, go down and perform all the tricks he knows in front of the platform, but we wouldn't reward him. For this lesson, we had to undergo several repetitions, but he eventually got it. One problem that we have is that he doesn't actually have a mat at home. We have to buy one to be able to practice.

When we went home, we had to refresh him with the lessons throughout the day. He got the sit flawlessly and the down command. As for the mat, first thing's first. We actually need to get one. We're fairly confident that as soon as we have an official mat, practicing the command in a week's time would do the trick.

Bruce is still a work in progress, but we've been proud since day 1. He's smart and learns the trick fast. After spending an hour in the training facility, he takes the lesson with him at home. All we ever need to do is to practice it with him.

A couple of pointers and lessons I learned in this session:

• Always get the attention of your dog first before throwing commands
• Dogs are smart. Don't underestimate them. If they have absorbed the trick easily, the dog has the tendency to offer the trick without any command. Walk around. You need to command him so you would give him the treat, not the other way around. Use the word "FREE" to break the command spree. 
• For doing relatively difficult tricks, reward him with your best treat or reward him abundantly. 
• Always say his name in a positive tone. Remember, dogs do not understand what those words mean. They listen to the sound and the tone. 
• Training rule: 5 repetitions or 5 minutes, whichever comes first. Dogs too are easily bored. Following commands is work, do not overbore and overwork them. 

Supposed BFF Falling out

Chivas was brought by Mitch as a homecoming present. According to him, they supposedly bonded over an extremely long drive from QC to Paranaque. I remember how Chivas curled himself at Mitch. I thought it was so cute.

But something happened along the way. The supposed best friends had a falling out. Out of nowhere on Mitch's next visit just a few days after, Chivas became hostile at him. He would bark and warn him not to come any closer. He would transform that sweet face into an ugly menace. Chivas, no matter how Mitch exerts extra effort, would always express his special hatred at him.

It's always like a dance with these two. Every meeting is like a first.

Just like that, Chivas killed their friendship with the person whom he first bonded with. And it's been like that ever since. Despite Chivas' aggressive behavior, he doesn't attack. Mitch manages to pick him up and forces him to surrender, but Chivas just freezes with disgust.

Mitch isn't an isolated case. Chivas also hates our driver whom he sees everyday.

Pomeranians are territorial and protective creatures. They are more of a toy guard dog that can be made useful. But unlike other dogs, Pomeranians somehow choose people they'll be friends with. If you're on their good side, they'll show their best, cute behavior. But if you're at the other side of the fence, prepare to be barked and growled at...forever. It's a running mystery.

I don't know what went wrong, but I think they're still trying to work things out.

Training Treats

Bruce, our 5 month old bullmastiff puppy, eats almost everything we give him. Thankfully he's not into shoes, bags or anything specifically ours. Strangely, he's into cloths and car covers to be exact. He  likes chasing mops and towels instead of a ball. Goo thing he tires easily too so lately his signature of destruction is somehow bearable.

So my dog is extremely food driven. One thing you need to know if you want to train your dog. According to trainers, food driven dogs are easiest to train. Unlike Harvey who is considered a play-driven dog, training a food driven dog means less effort for the trainers. Anything out of their ordinary boring formula is considered a treat so they will pay attention and try to get things right for the reward. Good food gives you an immediate rewarding feeling, it has an instant and huge impact. Given in good proportions, they will be eager to follow and do whatever you command. It's also less effort for the trainers. You don't need to match the energy of the dog. You just have to hand the piece and let it do wonders.

That was one of the things that the trainer assessed. Bruce eats everything that we give him, even the lousy food the trainer swears by other dogs do not eat. It helps too that Bruce only eats his puppy formula. Unlike Harvey and Chivas, we decided not to put human food with his bowl of dog food. This makes him less picky. Harvey eats his formula food with rice and some specially cooked meal Nanay makes for him, which made him a picky eater. He doesn't eat pure dog food which made him a little on the heavy side. Thank goodness he balances it with exercise.

For Bruce's second day of training, we knew what to do. We prepared 3 treats we know he would never say no to. Thinking about it, I thought the easiest way was just to buy packed treats from the pet store. That was the assumption, it's cheaper and less effort. But dogs know it too, nothing beats going natural.

CHEESE

Bruce likes cheese. This was the first treat that he really liked when we brought him to Better Dog. Shamefully, we weren't prepared and only had his dog food as a treat on the first day. The trainer tried different treats and gave him commercial biscuits and processed meat, but cheese was entirely his favorite. He would try to lick off the crumbs from our hands. He became extra attentive since then. I never thought cheese was an appropriate treat. Harvey seems to like it too.


COOKED MEAT

My sister bought a beef cubes pack at the grocery for 130 pesos. Half of it, we boiled and seasoned. It was his first time to eat this last Saturday and he went almost crazy. For difficult tasks, we reserve this treat for that.

COMMERCIAL TREATS

These are usually artificial bacon strips, biscuits and jerkies found in pet stores that are made by leading pet food brands. Though this is safe and hassle free, dogs tend to favor this less. They want the natural ones. If they've tasted cheese and real meat, they would know the difference.

APPLES and BANANAS

Bruce loves Apples. He eats bananas too, but Apples seem to gain his upper hand. Nanay would slice it in cubes and he would start following her around.

Bruce likes cooked meat, cheese and apples all in that order. Sometimes we do mix and match, but for more difficult tasks we rely on cooked meat to do the trick. Next week my sister plans to buy chicken strips for more variety.

Last Saturday, I had a hand at slicing cheese, cutting bacon strips, cooking meat and packing them in tiny ziplocs to be placed in the training apron. That whole experience was strange and something new to me since I don't even prepare my own lunch. It was like preparing food for a child that's going to school only that we're not going to a school and the child happens to be a heavy bullmastiff dog that tends to eat anything, anytime, anywhere. Good thing, he's all for food and not a picky eater. We understand each other well.

Treats are an aid for dogs to pay attention. It gives them a quick sense of reward. Cut the treats into small cubes and strips. The idea is not make them full, but for them just to have a taste of something tasty and out of the ordinary.

Happy Thought: Friday at Home

It's been sort of a hell week, not the worst I had in my life, but it was a definitely a hell week nonetheless.

Deadlines, Deals and Stupidity were constantly present which are perfect ingredients for work stress. That's why on the last hour of Friday at work, I was grinning hard feeling my heart was about to burst.

I picked up my bag, went to the parking lot and at 9 pm went to Mc Donald's drive-through for my dinner. I was not in the mood for dining out. Not in the mood to drink. I was not in the mood to party or even go anywhere else. I just wanted to go home straight, play with my dogs, eat my take out and blog.

Sometimes Friday demands uncomplicated plans. Sometimes Friday is best spent at home.

Happy FRIDAY!

Happy 5th Month Bruce

I love it when people have this uniform reaction whenever they find out that Bruce is still a puppy and just turning 5 months. They have this certain look on their faces like I'm crazy or something.Weird as it may seem, I take a certain pride from that. I will always be the last to say that I kid them not. 

The person who assessed him at Better Dog Behavior center two weeks ago dropped by in yesterday's training session. He had that same look and told me "Last two weeks, he was not that big. You know that he'll be huge, right?" 

Sure. I have an idea that he will be huge. I researched it of course and I saw pictures of huge bull mastiffs, but I admit it's quite different to actually see him grow. When I brought him home at 3.5 months, he was just slightly bigger than Harvey. Now, he can easily brush him aside, not that he would do that of course. Harvey is still his boss. By next month, we predict he will outgrow Buddy with the rate he is going. My 2,500 php Eukanuba puppy dog food lasted for 3.5 weeks last month, but now I think it would only last him for 2.5 weeks. He eats more, sleeps more and gets more funny ideas. This is the perfect time to train him and the only time before he gets too big!

But his scary size comes with a huge heart. This dog is charming, obedient and very malambing. His size contradicts his personality. He may be huge but he's getting sweeter everyday. He likes to cuddle and sit on your lap. Despite his size, you know that he depends his life on you. He never fails to show how he loves his family and he's the type who would protect us and the smaller dogs from harm when the time comes.

Today is his birthday. 10 pounds per month until he reaches 1 year according the bullmastiff forums. I wonder what he'll look like on his 1st year birthday party. I'm sure hell look huge, handsome and huggable!