Midnight and Data

Looking at the world from different point of view

2006-08-30T21:54:00.000-07:00

MIdnight and Data

2006-08-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

2006-07-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen a dog try so hard to understand what you are saying? When Midnight is trying to understand what I am saying, she will cock her head to one side and just look at me. Sometimes I almost think she knows what I am saying.

What kind of dog is THAT?

2006-07-03T20:09:00.000-07:00

Tonight my baby (Midnight) and I drove to Chik-Fil-A. (They have THE best milkshakes around) I gave my order and drove to the first window. Midnight is not exactly as huge as Data, yet, but she is getting quite large. The girl at the window momentarily forgot what she was doing and just stared at Midnight....Midnight, on the other hand, must've known it was her time to shine because she immediately sat erect in her seat and stared back at the poor girl.

As I handed her my money, she asked, "what kind of dog is that?" Of course, I told her that she's a German Shepherd. She looked at MIdnight again and said, "But I thought those dogs were brown.."

I reassured her that she was a pure-bred Shepherd. Though I'm still not sure that she believed me. Once again she looked over at Midnight. "what is she, some kind of albino" There was , I hate to admit, a small part of me that watned to tell her "yes" my dog with brown eyes is as much of an albino as you are because you have blue eyes......But, I simply told her she's not an albino...the white coat is a recessive gene.

baby midnight

2006-06-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

When was the last time you saw a smiling dog?

Data and the Vet

2006-06-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

In seems like just yesterday, Midnight had to go to the vet. I guess Data felt jealous, so today was his turn.

Yesterday, I looked over at him and his usual shiny eyes were only half of their normal splendor. His left eye was (still is, by the way) a little foggy, a little swollen, and very, very red (very). I haven't seen him paw at it

He was just lying on the floor, looking up at me with his big puppy dog eyes as if to say, "mama, I don't feel good. What's wrong with me?"

He went to the vet first thing this morning. I can remember when he would act like some kind of nut at the vet's office. Not today. I think he was glad he was there. I've never seen him so well-behaved. (It was almost scary)

The prognosis: scratches on his cornea. He goes back next week.

playing in the sun

2006-06-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

someone forgot to tell Midnight and Data that it's the Dog Days of Summer.....

2006-06-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

There's just something about having to give a dog steroids for a possible allergy infection that seems a bit wierd to me. But, I guess it'll be well worth it if Midnight stops itching. Has anything new been brought into the house? has she been exposed to anything new? Have I bathed in scented shampoo? What kind of food does she get? Does she have any special treats? My dog has allergies. Super- The trick is findong out what gets her going. She's been banned from the bypass for the next two weeks, but it's possible that it could be te new candles that I bought.....Wouldn't that be a hoot-if Midnight was allergic to Yankee Candle Co. Candles (MeadowMist and Vanilla Oak are the best!)

Their Greatest Loves

2006-06-09T11:16:00.000-07:00

Mark's dad used to say that Lucky aka Luck-a-Buck (the overweight, fickle and extremely templermental dalmation) lived better than half of humanity.

I think it goes without saying that Midnight and Data are following right in her footsteps. I never thouht I would be the one to spoil my dogs.

Yet, here I am buying them food from the health food store and giving them RO (reverse osmosis) water to drink. During the summer months, I also put ice in their water, because their just not spoiled enough.

Do they appreciate all these little extras? I'd like to think that they do.

Their are two things, though, that they have come to expect. Bye byes and pigs ears.

Data has trained Midnight to run to the door when they see me grab my keys and head for the door. Then they will sit there with the best puppy dog looks that you have ever seen and hope upon hope that they will get to go on a bye-bye.

The pigear phenomenon is their latest indulgence. (yes, these two have indulgences)

Data begins by sitting next to the bag of piggies ears and then looks longingly at the bag and then back at Mark and I. Usually that gets him nowhere, so he will proceed to walk up to Mark, look back at the bag and bark. Not his angry-someone is invading my territory bark-it's more like a yelp-a very loud yelp. By this point, he's getting excited, his tail's wagging and he knows that it's almost piggie time-so he yelps...

O P E N W I D E ! ! !

2006-06-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

I'm calling Guinness next week....

she just may hold the record for the biggest mouth.

Lessons learned from dogs about friendship.

2006-06-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

Lesson 1. It really doesn't matter what color your friend is.
Lesson 2. Someone has to be smaller. (that's just the way it is)
Lesson 3. Friends teach each other how to play fair.
Lesson 4. The girl gets her way.
Lesson 5 . Sometimes the best thing about a friend is simply having someone there.

***more life changing lessons to come***

Is Midnight Part Donkey?

2006-05-31T08:51:00.000-07:00

Early this morning, Midnight andI went for a jog down at the Bypass Canal. we were on our way back, and I stopped for a minute to take a picture. Midnight's sniffer told her there was something really good a few feet away. So she did what any self respecting dog would do...she went to see what it was. I turned around and stopeed her just as she was about to devour a pack of Sweet and Sour sauce from Wendy's. (Whoever left it was kind enough to leave it open for my puppy to find it as well as their sandwich wrapper......a good tree hugger would never do that)

Anyway, Midnight sauntered over, knowing she was going to get in trouble. However, next thing I know, Midnight is running back to the temptation. I guess she figured it was worth getting in trouble for. This time she headed straight for the sandwich wrapper.

I call her name, but I think she temporarily went deaf. I called her again-this time she came.

But, as she was walking over to me, I noticed out of the corner of my eye her body began to shake. Naturally, my first reaction was "what is wrong with my dog?" As she walked around me Her body shook again, but this time I could see that it was more of a lower body quivering than a total body shake. I was still concerned, probably would still be, if I hadn't seen Midnight kick both of her hind legs out from behind her like a donkey. Yes, a donkey. WHen she did again, I was nearly rolling on the grass hysterical. I had never seen anything so funny in my life-Midnight saw me laughing and she ran to me, but she had to stop midway and do a donkeykick one, no make it two more times.

I went over and inspected Midnight's goodies. As I expected, they were covered in ants.
Maybe next time she'll think twice before she does what she knows she shouldn't.......(yeah, right. Who am I kidding?)

Midnight's First Day at School

2006-05-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Today, Midnight and I went to my school to clean out my classroom. As I expected, there was nobody around at all, so I very glad that Midnight was there.

She was very good for about the first hour-she was so excited about being in a new environment that she didn't seem to mind that I wasn't paying her any attention. **In the world of Midnight, all attention belongs to her, she thrives on it.....

I took her outside a couple of times and, boy, did she have fun prancing around. I think she smelled everything in sight. I'm not sure what she was looking for, she didn't tell me and I didn't ask, but I don't think she ever found it.

By the second hour, the newness had worn off. But, she did think up a new game to keep her spirits high. She decided that whenever I sat down to pack up books that she would bite me.
She had more fun playing this game. Several times she would (with great glee) see that I had just sat down and would proceed to run up behind me and take a little bite out of my arm, my leg...whatever was closest to he rmouth.

Riding in the car

2006-05-26T17:54:00.000-07:00

This morning I grabbed my keys and walked to the front door. Both dogs saw me and immediately ran to meet me, fervently hoping they would get the chance for a Bye Bye. This morning, I only took Data-I actually felt guilty about leaving Midnight behind. She looked out the window and watched in disbelief as we walked to the truck. As I opened the door for Data, Midnight could be heard barking at the injustice.

Data loves bye bye rides. He's not very easy to ride with, though. He's been quite spoiled. When he gets in his seat, he demands that the window be put down immediately. If it isn't, he will hit the window with paw..once, twice, three times. Usually by the third time, he is getting annoyed with me and has let me know it by phantom barking.

the phantom bark

2006-05-25T18:34:00.000-07:00

So, what is the "Phantom Bark"? Basically, the "Phantom Bark" is a noiseless bark. Data created it when he found out he would get in trouble for barking at us.

He's now a master at it. In fact, he's even been known to give someone a "triple phantom"
As of yet, Midnight hasn't seemed interested in anything that is noiseless. She likes anything and everything that puts attention on her-regardless of what that may be....sounds a bit like a child, doesn't it?!

I have a great video that shows Data showing off the phantom....I'll upload it as soon as I can get to my computer.

2006-05-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

Meet Data and Midnight.
They are both German Shepherd dogs. (Midnight is the beautiful big boned white... just like her momma!)

They are both highly intelligent and full of life.
I never dreamed that dogs could be so expressive, and in reality I don't think most dogs are as cool as mine. My two babies are funnier than most humans I know, especially those that think they are amusing. Has your dog mastered the "Phantom Bark"?
What is the "Phantom Bark?" You'll find out tomorrow.