Generic Black Dogs

It is the last day of the season (except for game 163 on Tuesday in MN).  A sad day.  It is cold here today and a little damp, just right for ball playing.  I do not know why there is a last day.  Why not play all the time?  How come they stop?  I would not stop.

I’ll let you know who I want to win in the playoffs after Tuesday’s game.  In that game I would like the MN team to win.

Here is a nice article about Black Dogs:   http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/09/18/notes091809.DTL.  It tells about how people think about black dogs, like what happened when our people tried to find homes for us after we found them.  That’s partly why they kept us instead.  We are glad they did.

Your friend,

Dave

We watch baseball on TV every day.  I like it.  Last night the Rockies-Brewers game was on.  Top of the 9th, Houston Street pitching, 2 on, score was 5-2 Rockies.  The people said wouldn’t it be funny if he allowed a home run to the batter, Jason Kendall to tie it up. And guess what… he did!  It’s funny because Kendall hardly ever hits home runs – he hit just 3 in the 2.5 yrs he played for the A’s (my favorite team).  And because Street got traded by the A’s for his tendency to cough it up!  So it was very funny.  We all laughed.

It’s almost the end of real baseball.  The extra stuff after the season is too fluffy.  Wouldn’t it be nice to just have the Yankees play the Dodgers (or whoever ends up with the best record) for a week and be done with it?  We wouldn’t have to hear a month of that annoying background noise on Fox.  It hurts my ears.

Hal came up with another plan.  She told me to walk really slow when I’m on the leash and act real tired.  Then I would get let off the leash so I can go sniff and pee on stuff.  Of course it works!  Hal is good.

It rained some yesterday.  This morning it was nice and cold and foggy.  We like it cold.  It’s better than hot.

Hello,

I haven’t been talking to you for awhile because I’ve been a little bummed.

Last summer, I had a problem with my back, and it made me not walk so good.  I think they called it FCE.  It was not fun.  I had to go a long way to the vet a bunch of times.  A couple of times my people left me there.  I don’t like that.

Anyway, since I don’t like to dwell on stuff like this, it looks like I am retired from ball playing!  My front elbows hurt, and my back leg doesn’t work like it used to.  I don’t know how to play ball softly.  I always play full speed.  So no more ball.  I also am not allowed to chase anything.  I go in the car every so often and get a shot.  I like going in the car.  I don’t feel the shot much.

Lately I have been feeling better.  So that’s good.  Hal is fine.  We have been getting less food for quite a while.  They tell us it is good for us.  I don’t know about that, but it makes eating really exciting, because we are always hungry.  I feel a little lighter than before.  They say that is good.

My favorite baseball team has not done very well this year.  I think they are in extended spring training for next year.  We still watch them.  I like the one who runs all the time!  Rajai.

Our people went away for a few days.  We stayed with Uncle Jim.  We like him.  This time he let us sleep in his room on the last night!  Our plan worked.  Hal said it would.  She is good with plans.

I am hearing talk about a “new dog”.  Wonder what that means.

Your friend,

Dave

Me and Hal on a walk.

I hear lots of talk about soon-to-be President Obama wanting a non-allergic dog. Hal and I think he should get a Generic Black Dog like us. We aren’t allergic to anything. We never need to be washed, unless we roll in something really good. There are lots of us in “Animal Shelters” who need homes.

Speaking of Mr. Obama… I like him, partly because he is black and white, just like me.

I think we have been really busy, so I have not written anything.

We took a big truck up to the new house. Lots of our stuff was in it. Me and Hal rode in the small truck, with more room than we usually have. Better for looking out.

We played ball this trip too. It was still kind of warm, but not too bad.

On the baseball front, my favorite team stinks. They are in a battle for last place. I do not think I would be very happy if I was on that team. I like to have fun, but I also like to do a good job. I always feel good when I catch the ball. I like people to clap for me.

Here is my best ending for the season:

• Cubs win their division.
• Phillies win the division and Mets do not make the playoffs. I have been told that anytime a NY team loses, it is good.
• Yankees and Boston tie for 1st place in the AL East. Which means I think NYY wins the division (10-8). Then they both lose in the ALDS.
• A’s beat Angels in the last 3 games.
• Dodgers beat Giants in the last 3 games.
• Colorado gets in the playoffs, just to be different.

Best World Series matchup: Cubs vs. Cleveland

Better than Cubs vs. Boston, because Cleveland is nicer. And they have not won in awhile either.

More later,

Dave

Here’s my favorite story this week:

Black Lab Drives Owner’s Car Into River

SAGLE, Idaho (AP) — Bad dog. Charlie the black lab drove his owner’s car into the Pend Oreille River. As Mark Ewing walked home Wednesday evening after returning from picking up a pizza, Charlie jumped into the car through an open window, and apparently knocked the vehicle into gear.

“He somehow got the car into neutral,” Ewing said. “My car just went boom, down an incline and into the drink.”

Ewing could only watch as his Chevy Impala sank into the river. No dummy, Charlie jumped out of the window as the car went downhill.

“There’s nothing weirder than looking at your car cruising down your driveway when you’re not in it and seeing your dog jump out and then watching your car go splash,” Ewing said.

Whenever someone says “black lab”, chances are they are actually talking about a GBD (Generic Black Dog). I think it is because “lab” is easier than “gbd”.

I am fine. Hal is fine. I am getting wet stuff squeezed into my ear every day. I do not like it. My ear kind of itches too.

It is nice and light every morning at the park. Better for seeing the ball. I do not quite get why sometimes it is this light and sometimes it is very dark in the park. No one has ever explained it to me. I would rather they kept it light for seeing the ball.

We found a red sweatshirt in the park this week. It had been there over night. I peed on it. It is a dog thing.

Later,

Dave

A lot has happened, and I forgot most of it. We went for the long car trip again, but did not get to play ball. The ground is hard now, so my feet got really sore. The people dug a big long hole one day and Hal and I helped. We laid on the dirt. We got really dirty. It was very good.

It’s June, so now the A’s can start winning ballgames. Just swept the Giants in 3, won 3 out of 4 from the Red Sox.  Why are they now going to Houston??  I don’t understand.

Your friend,

Dave

PS. My ear has been hurting, but I still play ball.

I think we are going on a trip very soon. I hope we are going to Oregon. I really don’t like being in the car for so long (Hal really really doesn’t like it), but as soon as we get there we forget that part. They are gathering the usual things and doing the things they do before we go. I hope I hope I hope

Played ball the other day and there was a puppy there. Looked like Hal and me only yellow. Looked like Vino. I had to defend my ball a bunch of times. Ran over her once (and hurt my leg a little). I didn’t have to bite this one this time. I bit Riley and Ike when they messed with me and my ball. It wasn’t that bad but the people got all upset. It wasn’t nearly as bad as when that pit bull bit me! Ouch.

Anyway, I am looking forward to rolling in stuff and playing daveball and chasing strange animals.

The A’s beat that Halloween team this weekend two times, lost once.  Ha ha ha

Your friend,

Dave

coughing it up

On Thursdays, we ride in the car to the park. We like going in the car. I get in the back seat first, then Hal gets in and stands with her head between the front seats. We like to get in the car the same way every time. The best part is getting out of the car and running into the park.

I played ball and still felt no pain. Maybe next week they will use the flinger to throw the ball. Riley’s person has been bringing the baby to the park this week. I didn’t used to like babies, but I do now. They laugh when you get in their faces.

I got back in the car to go home. Hal wouldn’t. So she walked and I rode. That was strange.

Your friend,

Dave