365 Photo Project - Day 275

Taken: September 15, 2011

Location: Healdsburg, Ca

Since I talked about our new little pug man a couple days ago, I figured it was only right to introduce him to y'all. That's Ulysses on the left. That striking fellow on the right is Chamuco, who also happens to be Ulysses' uncle. See the resemblance? Seriously, take a good look.  Ulysses is a mister fluff ball with the most amazing teddy bear feet and a penchant for licking face, unfortunately. He has taken to waking my husband and I up in the morning with a full-on face-lick attack and we have taken to hiding under the covers until he goes away.

The first few weeks were very difficult. The new guy terrorized his uncle incessantly and we had to separate them a few times before someone lost a pug eyeball. But as any pug owner will tell you these are tough little dogs -- a big dog in a small package -- and they seemed no worse for wear. They're getting along famously now, according to my husband. I haven't seen them in nearly three weeks. I miss the little devils. Look at those faces -- I mean who wouldn't?

365 Photo Project - Day 227

Taken: August 15, 2010

Location: Healdsburg, CA

This is by far my most favorite image of my young pug, Chamuco. I love it because it perfectly captures his personality, I'm quite proud of this shot, as I am of little Chamuco who might be the most friendly dog in the history of dogs. My vet calls him the social butterfly. That's why I always worry he'll go home with one of our guests. :-D

365 Photo Project - Day 226

Taken: August 14, 2010

Location: Healdsburg, CA

The weapons of mass destruction. 

365 Photo Project - Day 198

Taken: July 17, 2010

Location: Healdsburg, Ca

365 Photo Project - Day 130

Taken: May 10, 2010, 7 p.m.
Location: Healdsburg, CA

Another pug photo. My almost three-year-old pug, Chamuco.  This is a slice of my life that's very easy to show you -- one of the faces I see every day.  I love this look of his, too. One thing I love about pugs is they all seem to have very distinctive personalities and they're very clear about letting you know about them.

Chamuco is much friendlier and cuddlier than my old man pug, Louie, who seeks out your attention only when he wants it. Chamuco always wants to be around you and he's constantly "asking" to get in your lap even during dinner, no matter how hard we've tried to get him not to beg at the table. At night, he crawls under the covers and always sleeps next to my husband but come morning,  he'll sit on top of me as soon as I wake up.

Mischievous doesn't begin to describe his personality.  Half the time when he does something "bad," he sneaks off to do it in another room. The boy knows his place -- he just won't mind it.

Lots of times he'll sit as he is in this photo, against a wall, a door or his dog bed and give us The Look. This gaze has different meanings depending on the time of day and the situation but no matter what he's done,  it's hard not to forgive him when he looks up at you with that face.

Shot this with my K100D and edited in Photoshop.

365 Photo Project - Day 88

Taken: March 29, 2010, noon
Location: Healdsburg, Ca.

I likely won't be writing much the next few days. I'm in the latter stages of finishing a writing project and when I get this close to "The End" of a script or novel, I find it's impossible for  me to focus on anything else in my life, my friends and loved ones included. They know me by now I guess but I always feel bad when I run into and/or hang out with my friends during those times I'm bearing down to finish a project. My thoughts are always elsewhere, usually in some far and distant land of my mind where all sorts of weird stuff happens. Not the kind of stuff you want anyone to know you're thinking about, not even your friends. Hell, especially your friends,

I'm a day late with today's photo because we spent our evening last night with good friends in St. Helena. They follow my blog and made a special request to ease up on the pug pictures. But when I went through my photos last night and this morning, this was the one that stood out. That's my young (actually he's nearly 3 years old now) pug, Chamuco aka "The Little Black Devil" giving me one of those looks he gives me when I'm leaving for work. Sometimes I take him with me and let him chew on a bully stick while I work. After awhile, he gets tired of chewing and falls asleep at my feet.

I used to work out of my house and got used to pugs snoring nearby or sitting in my lap (pugs love to be in the same room with you at all times) and cats curled up on top of my monitor -- until flat screens came into vogue that is. I remember when I bought my first flat screen monitor and no sooner had I set it up, my cat, Sassy, jumped up on the desk and tried to take her spot on top of the warm monitor. Unfortunately, she was unpleasantly surprised to discover there was no spot for her to sit on anymore. Who knew you were supposed to consult your cat on these purchases? Let me tell you there was a lot of guilt involved.

Anyone who has a dog or a cat understands how quickly they take over your life and your house. Before you know it and without even thinking about it, you suddenly realize that you make 100 decisions a day with your pet in mind. Decisions, I'll add, you would have made (a lot) differently if you were pet-less. In other words, it's not your house anymore, it's theirs. You are merely a visitor, a trespasser in their domain. The sooner you make peace with this concept, the happier you will be. Trust me, I know. I am, after all, owned by two pugs and a very old and very vocal cat.

I shot Chamuco with my K100D and converted it to B&W with Photoshop.

365 Photo Project - Day 75

Taken: March 16, 2010, 9:30 p.m.
Location: Healdsburg, Ca.

Another long day of running around doing stuff. I wasn't sitting at my writing desk until nearly 4 p.m. though I did make the most of it. I started into some work on my novel and by nearly eight, I had almost 2000 words. That's a good writing day no matter how you measure it.

As much running around as I did, though, I didn't really have a chance to get a good photograph. I tried a few things but nothing came out. So I set out to "create" one tonight, using my pug Chamuco, a single white rose (that's the same one here) and a little lighting. It was a challenge to get the black pug and the white rose in the same shot but I sort of managed it.

A little editing in photoshop was all it too.

I'm too tired tonight to write more -- I left it all on the page tonight which is the point anyway. But I will have some stuff to talk about in the coming days.

I'd like to end with a good wish for my good and dear friend, Susie, who had to put her cat Molly to sleep today. Molly's been sick the last few months but it's always a sad day when you have to say goodbye to the beloved creatures in our lives. Y'all know how I feel about my animals. The ups and downs of dealing with my older pug Louie, who has been ailing himself, has put thoughts of the end in the front of my mind. I just hope he'll let me know when it's time. Like I've said before, he's a fighter. And right now, he's hanging on with all four paws.

Rest in peace, Molly. I hope there's a cat heaven waiting for you and it's filled with lots of fish treats and bowls catnip, claw scratchers and cozy spots by the heater.