31/May/17 43% voted in last night's election

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

There are a few people that are upset today.  The party that they voted for, didn't win.  I think the Big Guy is a wee bit upset. 

Not at the election results.  That is over and done with for him.

He said that he served his country so that people in Canada would continue to be free.  A lot of people take the right to vote for granted and didn't vote.  The Big Guy served for them too.  

He just thinks that if he could fight for their rights, couldn't they take a few minutes to go vote?

Enough about politics.  As long as I got my kibble and some clean water in my dish, I am happy.

We got to go for a medium walk yesterday.  The Big Guy said that his knee wasn't as sore as he would have thought from the previous day.  But he didn't want to push it too hard either.

I am not pulling quite a much on my walks.  The Big Guy will often pull up on my leash and this lifts my front legs off the ground and points me in a new direction.  This new harness that they got me, if I pull too hard, it really tightens up on me.  But if I walk calmly, then the leash isn't tight.

Sometimes I forget and pull the Big Guy off balance.  That earns me a special tug on my leash.

Bye bye for now.

30/May/17 last day to vote in the Nova Scotia election

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

We were outside for a bit.  It isn't as warm out as all that.  For the end of May, it should be starting to get really warm and the temp should be in the high teens every day.  Yesterday the Big Guy wasn't having a time of his life as he was cold sitting out.  

They got to watch a little bird having some lunch.  He chirped a few times.  It was nice.

Then I found the rose bush cage

I ripped that right out of the ground

Tonya was teasing me with it

She used it like a Lion Tamer would

I chewed on it

I bent the little legs

I barked at it

Eventually, I flipped it in the air, and it went too far away for me to play with it any longer.

I went to the Vet yesterday.  I weigh 102 pounds.  So I have lost 3 pounds.  But this would be from all the walks that I go on.  The Vet was really happy about that.

Then they had to trim my dew claws.  A really nice young lady too my leash and walked ever so nice for her.  They brought me into the back room and there was another 3 of them waiting for me.

This is when they found out that I am not a vicious dog, but I am a determined dog.  They needed to trim my back dew claws, well they were not going to have an easy time about it.  One controlled my head, another tried to keep me on the ground.  Another held my leg while the 4th one did the trimming.  Eventually the job was done.  I was none too happy about it.

The Vet said the hardest part about trimming my dew claws, was trying to get me to the ground.  Once I was on the ground, I was OK.  I will tell you this, I wasn't happy, I just new, 4 against one isn't a fair fight.

So after we were done with the Vet, we came home, Tonya and the Big Guy took me for a walk to "shake it out".  

So all in all, it was a busy day yesterday.  I was some glad when I got home and I was able to play for a bit.  Tonya gave me a frozen treat too.

Bye bye for now.

29/May/17 went to the dog park again

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

Yesterday I went to the dog park and had a blast.  There was 2 lady Bernese Mountain Dogs.  They barked at me a lot.  Here is the proof that they would bark.

Me, I was just running around, playing with the other dogs.

We also went to this other dog park.  It was locked up though.  I guess you have to pay an annual fee to be able to use that park.  The Big Guy is more into free.

They came home and then after supper, they took me for a walk.  Even though I was at the dog park running around and playing, they still needed to be walked themselves.

Yesterday the Big Guy made a chicken soup with veggies.  No potatoes or other "bad" stuff.  He said that it was really good.  But I will never know, cause I didn't have any.

Today, they have a pork loin thawing in the sink.  I can bet I am not going to get any of that either.  

Although the Big Guy did give me a bone from a ham that my non-furry sister, Elaine, had cooked.  So I supposed, that was a good trade.

Bye bye for now.

28/May/17 I'm keeping my eye on you

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

We went for a walk yesterday.  WOW!  Didn't I get wet!  All my belly and legs were dripping wet.  Now it was raining earlier in the day, so of course, there is a lot of water that is still on the grass.  I felt it was necessary to walk though it.

There wasn't a lot of other dogs out, so I didn't get barked at a lot.  There was some, barking at me, from inside their houses.  

Later on, another dog passed by my house and I got excited and needed to bark at him.  The Big Guy didn't get upset, but would say over and over, "Max, no".  He really didn't have his heart into it like he did the other morning when I seen that other dog sniffing our garbage.

Did you see those fat bombs he made?  Of course he will NOT share with me.  He says it's because there is chocolate in them.  Well there is also peanut butter in them, so they are not all bad.  He told Tonya, she has to eat one a day so she will make sure that she has enough fat in her diet.

I wonder what he is going to make today that I am not allowed to eat.  Then again, although I am not supposed to have this or that, I just constantly bug Tonya till she gives in and gives me some of what she is eating.  I even eat pickles with her.  Yes, they are sour, but I still eat them.  If they are good for her, then they must be good for me.

Tonya told the Big Guy that she wants to take me to the dog park again.  I had so much fun there last time.  It's been raining a bit, so if we go, it will probably only be in the afternoon when the grass has had time to dry up.

Bye bye for now.

27/May/17 I have a big mouth

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

So the other day, while we were out for our walk, there was three boys that were playing on their scooters.  One of them asked his friends if they seen the size of my mouth?  Before they could reply, he said that I would be able to eat a football.

So I have big paws, now I have a big mouth.  Then when Margaret Anne seen me, she said that I have a huge head.  Other people have asked if I am a St. Bernard dog.

Most of the ladies will say how BEAUTIFUL I am.  Sorry, not beautiful.  I am HANDSOME!  Why can't they get that right?

It will soon be time for the Big Guy to create another video collage.  Only a few more days left in this month.

Last night, they had steak and salad.  Tonya was good enough to cut the fat off her steak and put it in my bowl.  Can you guess what happened to the fat that was on the Big Guy's steak?  He ate it.  He said that he didn't get enough fat in his diet yesterday.

I wonder what he is going to make today?  Probably something that he will not share and I will have to bug Tonya to give up some of hers.  The Big Guy says I should only get kibble and some fruits.  He isn't a lot of fun when it comes to sharing his food.

Bye bye for now.

26/May/17 I am NOT sorry

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

The Big Guy got REALLY upset with me today.  He put the garbage out to the curb and another doggie came by and sniffed his garbage.

Welllllll.....  

I lost my mind......

No other doggie is supposed to sniff OUR garbage......

I jumped at the window and let out an incredible barrage of barks....

As I was being pulled from the window, none too gently I might add, I started to notice that the Big Guy was looking at me with his angry eyes!  

Geesh...  I was only trying to protect our garbage.

This is the thanks I get for sounding the alarm?  I get chastised.

You just wait.  Some day, there will be someone doing something in our yard and I will not say a peep.  We will see who's happy that day.

Bye bye for now.

25/May/17 playing hide-n-seek

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

Did you see me in the picture?  I am hiding.

Tonya got the Big Guy to walk me yesterday morning before he went to work.  That was certainly different.  There was dew on the grass and my paws were soaking wet when I got home.  There was hardly any other dogs outside.  So I didn't get barked at as much as I normally do when we walk in the evenings.

The leaves are finally staring to come out on the trees.  I would say that summer has just about officially arrived in Cape Breton.  Now if only the weather would warm up.

Last weekend, the Big Guy replaced the shower faucet stuff and he got an email from the company and they are going to be sending him free replacement parts.  So he will have to bring them back to the company that gave them to him for free.  That was REALLY nice of them to give him the free parts and then he only had to bring the free parts back to them.

The Big Guy did his first batch of Oopsie Bread.  Him and his recipes.  Of course he will NOT share.  He said something about making a bacon, tomatoe and lettuce sandwich.  I never had one of those.  He put some steak spices on the bacon for some extra zing.  Again, not that he is going to give me any...  Here is what it looks like.

Looks like a big cookie.

Bye bye for now.

24/May/17 turn and face right

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

You would think that the Big Guy gets tired of taking pictures of me each day.  Some mornings I just want to SLEEP!

Last night, we didn't get to go for a walk.  It was a combination of the Big Guy having to work late, him still recovering from his sore knee and the fact that it was raining outside.  Really, who wants to walk in the rain?

I was really quite bad yesterday.  Since the Big Guy was working from home, the fact that he got a phone call from work and the flyer lady wanting to deliver the flyers at the same time, didn't matter too much to me.  I needed to bark at her.  Boy oh boy did I bark.  LOUD barks as well.  Not little barks.  Tonya was trying to quiet me down, but I would have NONE of that.

My non-furry Memere has some knee problems as of late.  She was dancing a wee too much and now she has a sore knee just like the Big Guy.  She has been going to physio and she says that it isn't helping as much as she would like.

So last week, Tonya took a coughing jag and she burst a blood vessel in her left eye.  if only she could have done that to the right eye and then on both side of her iris.  That would have been cool.  She would have looked like a vampire.  Bla...  bla...  I vant to suck your blood...  ha ha ha ha

But she went to the people veterinarian and got a prescription to get eye drops.  While she was there, she bought herself a small bag of chips.  WOW, so many carbs.  She also got the Big Guy a small bag of hickory sticks.  He put them next to the TV that is above his computer.  He says that he doesn't have any cravings.

I guess we will see how long that will last.

Bye bye for now.

23/May/17 another 5 minutes, then I will get up

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

Yesterday we only went for a short walk.  2 blocks.  The Big Guy's knee still hasn't fully recovered from Saturday.  He replaced the faucet cartridge that is in the shower upstairs.  It is a single handle shower faucet and he needed to take the old faucet apart.

You should have seen him.  He would bring up some tools and then go get more.  Then you would hear him moving around.  Then he would go to the basement, more tools again.  Upstairs.  Out to the garage, more tools, back upstairs.

He eventually cut off the shower handle with a hack saw.  The allen key stripped to inside of the bolt head.  He watched a YouTube video on how to remove a bolt that the allen key got stripped.   One of the guys said to use a hack saw.  The Big Guy thought this was the BEST advice as he was about to replace EVERYTHING anyways. Once the handle came off, then he could remove the cartridge.  Since this was installed by a contractor about 10 years ago, he didn't know the brand name.  He was gone for about 3 hours.  He finally came back and started putting parts back in place.  That seemed to go very well.  Since the shower works again, I would say that he was successful in replacing the parts.  I don't get a shower that often.  That is unless I've been playing in the mud.

Do you know what they use to wash my white fur with?  Dove dish soap.  But only the blue stuff.  Not sure why they can use the other colors.  But the rest of my fur is washed with regular doggie shampoo.

Then I get to shake the water off me.

It's kinda funny as I will stand still in the shower.  They want me to shake while I am in the shower.  But the last time, when they told me to shake, I thought they went to get out and THEN shake.  I had water on the ceiling of the bathroom.

So, before I can go for another long walk, which is about 12 blocks, the Big Guy's knee has to get better.

The Big Guy said, his goal is to eventually walk me all around North Sydney.  That is way too many blocks for me to count.

Bye bye for now.

22/May/17 I'm thinking about destroying a cardboard box

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

No walk yesterday.  The Big Guy said that his knee was super sore.  But he was able to walk around Wal-Mart, No Frills and Giant Tiger.  I hear all these places have cement floors and they are hard on your knee.  

But I am pretty sure the Big Guy wasn't crawling on his hands and knees.  So why does his knee hurt him so much?

He wrote an email to his mum this morning and told her, his knee is better and he should be able to take me for a walk tonight.

They did go to Global Pet Food and they got me a new treat dispensing ball.  When I roll it around, out pops a treat.  A yummy bacon flavoured treat.  I can carry it around and drop it on the floor.  Here is a video of me doing just that.

That new toy is pretty cool.  It didn't keep me busy for hours and hours.  Only about 15 minutes.  It didn't take me long to figure out, there was something inside it that was yummy.

Today is Victoria Day.  It doesn't mean too much to Tonya and the Big Guy, they still have to go to work.

Bye bye for now.

21/May/17 I told you yesterday, the bowl is EMPTY

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

I think the Big Guy is trying to walk me into the ground.  Yesterday, even though his knee was really sore, he went for a walk.  So far, the longest walk ever!

Did you see how far we went? Google maps says that it takes 22 minutes to walk that far.  I am not sure who is walking that fast, but it sure isn't me.  I have to sniff stuff.  People stop us and they will pat me and say how beautiful I am.  HELLO...  I am handsome!

We stopped and talked with Krystal.  She is someone from the Big Guy's work.  They got back from getting groceries and we were walking past their house.  She waved and said that she wanted to pat me.  

Did someone say...  I want to pat someone?  Why yes, I do enjoy being patted.

As we crossed the street, I think that Krystal was having second thoughts.  She seen how big I am getting.  But she rubbed my chest and patted my sides and said how big I am.

We continued our walk and I kept sniffing stuff.

I got to met a little human.  He was only as tall as I am when I am standing on my 4 paws.  I sat down and the Big Guy held my collar so that the little human could touch me.  He said that my fur was really soft.  So I licked his face.  I don't think he was expecting that.

There was this really bad dog.  He wasn't tied on.  I think he wanted to bite me.  Tonya told him that he was a bad dog and to go home.  He certainly barked a lot.

As we got closer to home, I seen Lorne.  He's our next door neighbor.  He doesn't have snow rails on his metal roof and this year, once again, the stairs got damaged when the snow fell onto the stairs.  I think I surprised him when I jumped up and put my paws on his chest.  He is really nice and he patted me and told me that I was a good boy.  He seen how big my paws are and put one of his hands next to my paw.  

When we got home, I had a BIG drink of water and then went to sleep.

With all the weight that the Big Guy is loosing, he can walk farther.  I wonder if we are going to go for a big walk today?  Guess we will see.  As of yesterday, the Big Guy has lost 43 pounds since 1st of February.

Bye bye for now.

20/May/17 you can fill my food dish again

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

Tonya only put a few things on the Big Guy's "Honey Do" list for today.  Stuff that really should get done anyways.  He is going to find out, just how hard it is to change a faucet cartridge for his shower.  I wonder if I could help him with that?  It started leaking about a month ago and he is only getting to it now.

Then he has to go to Sydney and get me some more dog kibble.  OK, at first, I really didn't like this new brand kibble, but I think it's growing on me.  It's sorta good.

While out for our walk yesterday, there was a small black car that was slowing down.  Turns out, it was Margaret Anne with her fella Greg.  She was calling to me, so I kinda ran towards the car.  Margaret Anne didn't like that too much.  She reacted like there was a HUGE bear running towards her.  She said that I have a MASSIVE head.  

Tonya said that Margaret Anne would be too nervous if she would come for a visit.  I would scare her too much.

One of the ladies that I got to meet outside, she called me from a different car.  Since she was driving, she couldn't come pat me.  She called me and called me, but I couldn't see her.  In the end, I did see her, but she drove away.  I guess she had some place to go that was more important than patting me.

I also got barked at by Darcy and Max.  Those are the dogs that belongs to Rob.  They were both outside and I really wanted to play with them.  Their fur was sticking up on their back.  They just wouldn't stop barking at me.  Rob said that they were not being very nice.

Well, I gotta go.  I have this chew bone that needs my attention.

Bye bye for now.

19/May/17 is Summer arriving early

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

The Big Guy was looking at the forecast for today and it's supposed to feel like +30.  We haven't had temps like that in a long time.

I only got to go for a short walk yesterday.  Tonya had to work about 10 hours.  So she was all cramped up when she got home.  But we went for our walk and I was pretty happy about it.  Only 2 blocks last night.  But I can remember last year, when the Big Guy wouldn't have been able to walk that far.  Now he can walk a lot farther.

There was a few people that tooted their horns at us while we were out for my walk.  Sometimes the Big Guy doesn't know the people that are honking their horns and will ask Tonya who that was.

Last night, the Big Guy took me to work to wait for Tonya to get off work.  He let me out of the car and I got to meet a few people.  I got to see Marie, Peggy, Chad, Steve, Mike, and Jeff.  The boys were amazed at how BIG I have grown.  Steve wasn't paying attention to me, to I jumped up and looked him, eye to eye.  I had my paws on his shoulders and then looked him in the eye.  I was REALLY surprised that I jumped up.  When Chad came out, I just laid on the ground while he patted me.

When we came home, they had supper and then went outside to sit to watch the sun set.  Well there was three new ladies that came over to visit with me.  They rubbed me and patted me.  They were really nice.  One of the ladies said that she had 2 St Bernards.  She said that they were much bigger than me.  I've still got some growing to do.  When I am done growing, I wonder if I will be the size of my furry daddy.  He was about 145 pounds.  I am not sure how much I weigh.  Tonya says about 110.  I will find out some day soon as Tonya has to take me to the Vet to get some medicine for fleas.  I don't want to get fleas.

I hope that I can see those ladies again. They were some nice.

Bye bye for now.

18/May/17 high five

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

We went for another long walk last night.  Remember the picture of the map that I posted yesterday.  Well we walked the same distance and the same streets, but this time, we walked backwards.

One lady stopped and gave me a few pats.  She said that I was pretty.  Grrr...  almost barked at her.  I am HANDSOME!  Not pretty.

There was other doggies, they were inside their yard.  They barked a lot at me.

When I got home, I flopped down on the grass.  I was pooped.  But the Big Guy was pulling on my leash, he still needed me to go up the stairs and into the house.

Last night, they had these ham thingies, wrapped around scrambled eggs with veggies, and then cheese on top.  Do you think that Tonya would share?  Nope!  Not even a little bit.  She said no, because it had onions in it.  I would have ate it.  I like everything else that was in them.

The Big Guy had to take this extra pill.  He says it for "Gout" pain.  He doesn't seem to be in pain this morning.  So I have to wonder, is the "Gout" all gone now?  He said that with his "Gout", it was hard to walk.  But he did walk all that distance.  He said that I better hope that his knee doesn't get better soon, as he will be walking farther with me.  But if it means new smells.  I guess I am OK with that.

Bye bye for now.

17/May/17 Is that another dog that I smell?

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

I know when Tonya goes and visits her sister.  I can smell the other dogs and cats off her.

We extended our longest walk yesterday.  We added two blocks to the journey.  So far, just quite a mile distance.  Although Google Maps says 18 minutes.  I think we were gone about 30 minutes.

We got to meet someone that is afraid of dogs.  She was in her car, but she said that I look beautiful.  Ahhh...  hello...  HANDSOME is the word your looking for, not beautiful.

We went walked by Rob's house, his dog Max was in the front yard and he barked and barked and barked at me.  Rob says that he isn't friendly.  Then again, when I am on my own property, I bark a lot at other dogs as they walk by.

The Big Guy noticed that his forearms are loosing weight.  Geesh, ya big lug, you may wish to look in the mirror, your loosing inches all over the place.  I know he is worried about loose skin.  But I think I would love him all the more if he had loose skin and was able to stay alive because of the weight he is loosing.

Bye bye for now.

16/May/17 don't touch my chair, don't touch my bone

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

This is the bone that the Big Guy got me last year.  I am still chewing on it.  Some times I take it outside and chew on it there.

But I can pick the bone up in my mouth and walk around the house with it.  Then I will open my mouth and drop it to the floor.  When I do that, it makes a big BANG!  That makes Tonya jump when I do that.  The Big Guy, he gets that look on his face as if to say, you damage my floor and I am going to cut up that bone.

I believe it too.  He has some power tools in the basement that could cut my bone into smaller pieces.

We had more rain yesterday.  Geesh, so much rain.  So much rain that they didn't take me for a walk.  So I got anxious, restless, and wouldn't settle.  Tonya wanted to put me in my kennel a few times and told me to go in my "house".  But I didn't want to go there, and she didn't force the issue, so guess who didn't go in his "house".

The Big Guy was telling me that the temperature is supposed to go up to +18 this Friday.  Both he and Tonya have to work.  But that should me a nice walk that day.  They will not have to wear jackets when we go for our walk.

The Big Guy made some chicken this morning.  Oh my, doesn't it smell good too.  But they keep it all for themselves and don't share.  That is unless Tonya tries to eat it at her chair.  Then I put my nose right under her plate and look up at her.  She really hates that, but it means that she shares.  I got her trained pretty good so far.

Not so much with the Big Guy.  I could be starving.  He tells me to eat my kibble.  Then, if he feels like giving me something, he will put it in my bowl.  So begging from him is less than useless.

Bye bye for now.

15/May/17 this is MY chair

Good morning Cape Breton.

Maximus Handsomius here from my forever home.

If ever you come for a visit and you sit in my chair, get ready to share it with me.  The Big Guy tried to get me NOT to get up on the furniture.  That only lasted so long.  As you can see, he got soft in his older years.

On yesterday's walk, I got to see my non-furry brother-in-law, Terry.  He was going to the store for "smokes".  They can't be good for you.  Also, they are kind of expensive.  But he does what he does.

Then, I got to meet a new Swiss Miss.  She was very pretty.  She is party Great Pyrenees and part Bernese Mountain Dog.  Her owner took her out for a walk.  

Our leashes got tangled.  

She sniffed me and I sniffed her.  

We didn't bark. We just knew.  

But it was only a fleeing moment.  

We were pulled apart and had to go our separate ways.  

Just two ships in the night, passing by each other.

I hope that I can see her again.  If only for a little while.

I am going to go lay down now and have some quiet time by myself.  Sigh...  my little Swiss Miss, how I miss you...

Bye bye for now.