Goodbye Charlie

Contemplating Charlie's crossing

ANZAC DAY 2009

Today, Anzac Day 2009, our good friend Charlie crossed the rainbow bridge. She was a grrreat Sheltie, whose mom has a heart of gold. We feel her mom’s pain and wish we could make it go away. We know it is always good to look back and remember. So here we go.

Charlie’s blog debuted on 2 June 2007, while ours started about a week later on 10 June. We were welcomed to the DWB family as # 506 on 17 June, while Charlie joined DWB as # 675 on 14 October. It took us until 4 November for us to sniff out Charlie and said hi. In that first post we read, she was remembering her brother Higgins. We were fortunate enough to be the seventh dog to sign her guest book.

Charlie remembering Higgins

Reverend Lady Charlie the Antediluvian

of Goosnargh on the Carpet

Charlie’s popularity soo sky rocketed past us. We were fortunate to celebrate Charlie’s 14 and 15th Barkdays on 20 December in 2007 and 2008. Charlie had a lot of friends and went on a many cyber adventures. CCCSI (Cat/Canine Crime Scene Investigators) comes to mind. Our favorite adventure was the Hijinx cruise back on 8-11 May 2008. She went on a virtual tour of the Caribbean and stopped by Key West to have some pirate dog grog with us. It was there we hooked up with our good pal Mack. Charlie gave us four awards, helped us find our noble titles and we treasure it all. We will miss you Charlie, old gal.

The May 08 Caribbean Boat Trip

Argg, it is Essex, err Black Dog the Pirate

As for Charlie’s mom, our hearts and thoughts go out to you. We hope you continue to visit us, we so love your gentle words. You made a tough call and if you doubt yourself, please once again read the word from a hundred years ago. On Anzac Day 2009, you were the one in the arena.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
~Theodore Roosevelt~
With Dog Dad, we do a twenty-one woof salute.

"Woof, Woof, Woof -- Woof, Woof, Woof -- Woof, Woof, Woof -- Woof, Woof, Woof -- Woof, Woof, Woof -- Woof, Woof, Woof -- Woof, Woof, Woof."
Dog Speed on your journey across the rainbow bridge dear friend,

Essex, Deacon & Dog Dad

Ekka

A couple days back our paw-pal Reilly made us fair dinkum honorary Aussies. We take those kinds of honors seriously. We could have asked Dog Dad about Australia, but he’s a Yank. So we talked to our two pals Kanga-Pup and Little Roo. They said to check out what Queenslanders call Peoples Day at the Ekka this 13 August.

Kanga-pup and Little Roo

Let's talk Ekka

We checked cyber-paw space and found out over 90,000 people showed up for the 132nd Royal Queensland Show in Brisbane. Ekka is a giant fair and from what we read it is absolutely pawsome. They even had a Greyhound Lounge. We found two pawtastic photo galleries, just click on the follow two links - Brisbane Times or Quest News. You can read about its origin at the following link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekka.

We were late because we forgot what Charlie told us many dog moons ago. It is always tomorrow in Australia, or was that is always yesterday in the states. Egads, we’re getting confused. Maybe a few more cans of Pawsters and Kennel Brew will get us unconfused.

"Hey we are out of Pawsters and Kennel Brew "

"Auntie hurry back with the Pawsters and Kennel Brew before Dad gets home. I'm thirsty"

Outback

When Dad got home yesterday, he found a box addressed to us. We were so excited that we chased our tails. When he told us it was from his brother Stevie-grrr-Wonder, our eyes got really big. What could be coming all the way from Ohio for us?

We opened the box, and found two Australian Dog-Hats, a Pineapple and Kangaroo dog toy. Dad has asked Reilly's Mum where she found his hat. Dad told his brother Stevie-grrr-Wonder, and the rest is pawstory. Kangaroos are Dad’s second most favorite animal after a Collies of course. The reason has something to do with what a baby Kangaroo is called.

More importantly, we have a hat to wear so we can pay tribute to ANZAC Day with our cyber-paw pals in Australia and New Zealand. We can wear the hats when we feel down under. If Dad takes up on our hint he will order a carryout of steaks at a restaurant called the "Outback." Do you think that hint is too subtle? Dad did you hear us? Dad??

Essex and Deacon

A package for the Collies?

Look at the dog stuff inside.

Essex looking Pawsome.

Deacon is thinking of a big thick steak.

This pineapple is pretty neat.
I guess the Roos are just smaller Up-Over.