Adoption day presents early!

So, I got a box in the mail just now from Ruby because it's almost my adoption anniversary and my dad thought we should wait to open it until the 2nd, but my mom said no and I said hell no and I got to open it and I got LOTS of cool stuff including a personalized hand-knitted bandanna!
So this was my haul: one bag of delicious Newman's Own peanut butter treats (Ike's mom here - thanks Ruby for healthy treats and no junk food!), one red, squeaky Popsicle, one blue Wubba and best of all, my tough-guy cool-ass bandanna! Oh and she also sent me a really nice letter that I am going to keep forever and ever and ever and ever.
This is a picture of me trying to tell my parents to cut the damn tape!

And this is a picture of me and all of my awesome new stuff (and Odin trying stealing my treats)!

And this is a picture of Duncan trying to convince me to send him to Ruby because she has such good taste in presents but I didn't because he was too big for the box.

And I'm not really sure what's going on here.

7 random facts/habits.

So, Gomer and Opie challenged me to a 7 random facts/habits post a few days ago and I've been thinking and thinking and thinking and now I'm ready but I don't know if I can come up with 7.
1. I like cats - Yeah Joe, I said it, and I mean it. I like cats and I'm proud. They're fluffy and I can use them as pillows and they're fun to chase and their food is awesome (and poop.)
2. I have the best mom and dad if the whole world - and that needs no explanation.
3. Last year, when I was de-boyified, I only had one nut down there and they needed to find the other one in my belly.
4. I have a bald spot on my stump/tail - my mom thinks it's because I had to be in a kennel a lot with no blanket (before I came to live here.)
5. When I can't fall asleep at night, I think about Martha.
6. When I come in from pooping, the first thing I do is play Get the Duncan - where I just chase Duncan.
7. Dessert is when I clean the cat bowls because they can't be trusted to get all the food.

Oh, and in case you didn't know - my adoption anniversary is July 2, and I'm super excited.

And here is a picture of Meg who was a very serious Boston terrier and who lived here before me and died 1 year and 2 days ago and my mom is still sad.

Roughing it.

OMG YOU GUYS - I ALMOST DIED! Well, not really almost died, but they tried to drown me in the St. Croix River - well, I wouldn't have drowned because my dad was holding me and the other time I was wearing a life jacket, but still.
I went camping this weekend in a little Northernish town called Taylor's Falls and then today we went canoeing and I am totally a sailor now and I got to sit around the campfire and eat graham crackers and hot dogs and I even got a little beer that spilled. And then I got to sleep in a tent with my mom and dad but I think we should have brought the big bed because that would have been a lot better. Oh, and I also got to eat some baked beans and we all enjoyed the consequences on the ride home.
So they threw me in the river - well, not really threw me, but you know what I mean and then after being wet like all day and being the most tiredest ever, I got a bath when I got home, WTF?
And the pictures were taken with the crappy camera because my mom didn't want to risk bringing the good camera.

This is a picture of me ruling the campsite.

And this is a picture of a field that we sat in for some reason.


And this is what we watched in the field.


And this is a picture of what I did during the horizon watching.


And this is a picture of me eating breakfast.


And then my dad did this.


And this is a picture of me braving the river.

And this is around the time they tried to kill me.

27 Questions.

Wally did this and he is the coolest so I'm totally copying him.
1. Your age?
6 years

2. Your age when came to live with your people?
5 years

3. What color is the collar you’re wearing right now?
black with silver studs (because I'm a cool dude)

4. Who is your favorite person other than the people you live with?
Um, I don't really like anyone but my mom and dad.

5. How much do you weigh?
21 pounds

6. Most expensive thing you’ve ever chewed up?
a bookshelf (but it was from Ikea so they replaced the shelf for $8 - awesome!)

7. Do you like other Dogs?
not so much

8. Who is your best non-human friend?
Duncan - my black cat

9. Squeaky Toys or Tennis Balls?
squeakies

10. Do you like to be brushed?
not necessary

11. Peanut Butter or Cheese?
cheese with peanut butter on it

12. Do your people cut your nails?
yup

13. Any formal education?
basic training at Petsmart

14. Couch potato or Energizer Bunny?
couch potato

15. Five nicknames your people call you.
Ikenstein, Steiner, Silly McGuillicutty, Steinenheimer, Steiny

16. What is your best trick?
high five and roll over

17. Do you like kitties?
mostly

18. What did you have for breakfast?
Royal Canin Hypoallergenic and I licked my mom's cereal bowl and some bananna

19. Can you hunt (aka have you ever killed anything living)? If so, what?
a spider, maybe

20. When & why was the last time you went to the V.E.T.?
3 weeks ago - because my mom works there!

21. Where do you sleep at night?
between my mom's and dad's butts

22. Do you like to swim?
hell no

23. Can you make puppies?
used to be a professional puppy maker but now I'm retired

24. Your favorite place to visit?
my food dish

25. Do you give kisses?
tons of wet ones

26. Can you potty on command?
um, no - can you?

27. To Cuz or not to Cuz?
not to Cuz (contrary to my last photo)

New rug.

So my mom and dad went to a garage sale over the weekend a couple of streets where all the Victorian mansions are and they cost like a few million dollars which our tiny condo does not. And at the mansion garage sale, my mom and dad bought a wool rug for $30 and it's in great shape (for now) and it doesn't even smell like pee and my mom says $30 is really cheap for a wool rug, especially one that doesn't smell like pee. And you guys probably don't know this about me, but I love rugs and carpeting and one of my favorite things to do is to wiggle worm on them so you can imagine that I was pretty excited about my mom and dad buying me a rug.
So here is a video of me and Odin testing out the new rug.



Oh and BTW - my mom likes her new job. And I asked her for a mansion for my adoption anniversary next month and she said no.

Artichoke leaves.

So holy crap it's so hot around here and my dad finally put in the air conditioner but now we need the right kind of extension cord or something so it's off to the hardware store down the street that gives me lots of treats!
Oh and my mom got a new job at a clinic in Minneapolis that does a lot of specialized procedures with cameras in the belly and stuff and my mom is super excited and she should be because they just interviewed her yesterday and they offered the job today. And she said some of the techs that work there have been there for like 15 years which is a really good sign but we want to move to Washington or Oregon in the next few years so she won't work there for 15 years.
And the coolest thing happened yesterday. So like 5 days ago I was at my grandma's house on a Sunday because that's what we do every Sunday and some artichoke leaves fell on the ground and I ate them and my mom didn't know. And for the last few days I haven't been feeling very good and my mom thought it was just the heat and then yesterday I barfed up three whole artichoke leaves and now I feel better!
And my mom hasn't been taking a lot of pictures lately because she said the camera can't handle so much handsomeness so I'm bringing out an oldie that shows how I feel right now.

Rescue dog challenge!

So all you dogs that I am totally jealous of who got to go live with your mom and dad when you were a baby are doing this baby picture thing and it's making my mom really sad so I thought I would create a baby picture for her.
So here is the challenge - all you rescued dogs out there, go to the internets and steal a picture of a puppy who looks like you and make it your own and post it on your blog. I know there are plenty of you out there and I tag Wally because you were feeling down about not having any pics.
So here is my baby picture.


Oh, and don't forget about the voting: I am in the SPCA photo contest - here and here too! - and so is Martha and so is Ruby so go vote for us!