Happy Valentine's Day... from Grovie

A few weeks ago, I was out playing with Gretl in the snow. I broke out "the" mittens to shovel my walk and tossed them off when I needed to take pictures of Gretl being crazy. At one point, she did something super-silly and while I laughed, it made me sad too because she reminded me so much of Grover.

Not a day goes by that I don't think of him. But Gretl has somehow managed to inhabit his spirit. She is SO similar in so many ways (says a lot about nature vs. nurture!) =) But she's also her own crazy self. They would have loved each other. I wish they could have met.

As the tears welled up, and I went to shake them off, I looked down to grab my mittens, and saw a heart. My boy... saying hello. :)


Happy Valentine's Day from *all* of us. :)

One of a kind and never, ever forgotten.

It occurred to me last night while talking to a friend that I still haven't really addressed Grover's passing on my blog. While I've certainly accepted the reality of it, it's still incredibly hard to actually put into words that he is no longer with me. I took a slew of photos the last night he was with me, I burned two disks, saved them on two external hard drives, my laptop, and I can't bring myself to clear the compact flash card. I drive around with one disk in my car, and I carry the flash card with me in my camera bag. I can't bring myself to do anything with them yet, and I'm terrified of losing them.

In the mean time, I had to share with all of you how amazing my friends and family and acquaintances are. I have mentioned in countless emails and Facebook messages and phone calls and posts that I am still incredibly overwhelmed by how beloved Grover was by SO many people. The outpouring of love has been almost disconcerting. Here I am, destroyed by losing my best friend, and all I can think of is how sad his passing has made so many people! It also troubles me how eloquent and kind and wonderful every single person has been to me... I've never read such beautiful, thoughtful, well-written outpourings of the heart as I have these past two months. I hope I can be as supportive and eloquent when people need ME to lean on.

I wanted to share a couple things that... well, I can't even seem to find the words that do these justice. I've always been into photography my whole life, but Grover was really the catalyst for me. He made me really push myself into doing it a little more professionally 4 or so years ago. He was my favorite subject, the most willing participant, and downright hysterical. :) So, I have my handful of absolute favorite images that everyone else seems to treasure as well, but I don't necessarily have them hanging up in my house.

Imagine my surprise when I was gifted these amazing, unique, one of a kind pieces based on those favorite photos:

Gorgeous oil painting gifted to me by my dear friends Cathy, Christie, David, Kim, Liz and Sue...



Beautiful painting by my friend Angela who chose to make Grovie's beanie on his head into a heart. LOVE LOVE LOVE.



These paintings join the other one of a kind "things" I have collected over the years that have been handmade by other talented friends. Like my Grover sculpture by my dear friend Barb:



And my Grover Poochface from Pam that I won in a photography contest years ago.



Everywhere I turn, Grover is still with me.

I have necklaces of him, his pawprint in plaster, and of course, about a kabillion frikabytes of photos from the day he walked into my life 8 years ago. :)

And then this arrived today, which inspired me to post... I'm a blubbering mess. My dear friend Robin, an incredible woodworker and artist, made this with "Pointillism" - the practice of applying small dots to a surface so that from a distance, they blend together.



Along with a poem she wrote for "us." Seriously, grab the Kleenex. I'm giving you fair warning.

Your Grover-Man
I saw you first, your loving eyes
You kissed my head, I'd become your prize!

Your Grover-man, that's who I'd be,
From now through all eternity.

McDonald's fries, now that may be
The favorite food I'll ever see!

My mommy dear, please hear my heart,
I've adored you from the very start!

My funny looks, my teeth, my nose,
My crazy antics, an afternoon doze...

In snow we'd run, in spring we'd play,
I promised to love you day by day.

Just us alone, it's got to be,
God's plan for us, jus' Mommy and me.

We'd love, we'd sleep, we'd play, we'd see
A life of love through photography!

As time does by, I can really see,
You're happiest now, just you and me!

I've helped you lean, I've helped you heal,
I know time helps the way you'll feel.

As the time has come that I must go,
There's something that I want you to know.

When the time is right, with the way you feel,
Find another little heart to help you heal.

A bully boy or a bully gal
I know you'll find the proper pal!

And know dear Mom, I'll always be
The bully-boy you taught me to be.

I leave you now, off to "the Bridge",
The first thing I'll do is find the fridge. :)

Know this, dear Mom, my heart will be
With yours through all eternity.

I love you Momma,
Your Grover

I have the best friends ever. I'm so grateful.

XOXO

Julia

Falling in love is like owning a dog ::: Taylor Mali

I've been awake for 33 hours. I second shot a wedding yesterday and came home to a very sick Grover. And now I am home from the emergency vet, sans my little sidekick, who is stuck in a cage, on oxygen, antibiotics, fluids, and nebulizer treatments. He was so violently sick that he aspirated when he was throwing up, and has given himself aspiration pneumonia. Nothing I could have predicted, prevented or otherwise done anything for.

Last night, for the second time in a row(!), this poem was read as one of the ceremony readings. It moved me so much the first time that I wrote to the poet, Taylor Mali, who so graciously responded in kind. I was so touched that he took the time to reply and was giddy when it appeared in last night's ceremony.

I loved it from a marriage perspective both times I heard it. But today, it holds a significantly different meaning. My dog saved me when my marriage unexpectedly ended. I am so head over heels in love with him, I'm not quite sure what to do without him, as I shuffle around my empty quiet house tonight. I know he's in wonderful, caring hands at the 24 hour emergency vet, but he's not with ME. I don't "like being left alone for long."


Falling in love is like owning a dog

an epithalamion by Taylor Mali
www.taylormali.com

First of all, it's a big responsibility,
especially in a city like New York.
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security:
when you're walking down the street late at night
and you have a leash on love
ain't no one going to mess with you.
Because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable.
Who knows what love could do in its own defense?

On cold winter nights, love is warm.
It lies between you and lives and breathes
and makes funny noises.
Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs.
It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.

Love doesn't like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.

Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.

Love makes messes.
Love leaves you little surprises here and there.
Love needs lots of cleaning up after.
Sometimes you just want to get love fixed.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper
and swat love on the nose,
not so much to cause pain,
just to let love know Don't you ever do that again!

Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk.
Because love loves exercise.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once,
or winds around and around you
until you're all wound up and can't move.

But love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love
stop and talk to each other on the street.

Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.

------

Thank you again, Taylor. Especially tonight.

The Annual Grover Birthday Video!

=) It's nothing stellar. Trust me. The quality is crap. (Compression killed my images. I must have saved it in the wrong format, but I can't be bothered to re-do it.) The videography is crap. (I am NOT good with video. I don't claim to be. Ha.) But he's my guy and I always have to document his birthday. I've had him since he was just a wee pup.

For the record, bulldogs only live 8-10 years, and he's showing absolutely no signs of slowing down at 8. So that's why today is so special to me. I can't imagine life without him... 8 years old seemed so far away back in 2001.

So, a new honky chicken (to replace the plethora that have been de-footed), some fun outdoor chicken romping (indoor toys NEVER get to go OUTSIDE) and a delicious Bravo dehydrated bone. YUM!!! Rides and treats are in store for the weekend. =)



And if for some reason you can't see the video, a few highlights...


Bring it.


How many bulldogs do you know that can really CATCH?


Eight years old. Yep.




Take-off...


My handsome little snow-obsessed fool...


Thanks for humoring me. =)

Happy Birthday to my favorite little man, Grover!!!

My best little buddy on earth turns 8 today. Hard to believe he's been in my life since he was just a wee 11 weeks.

Happy Birthday!!!!! XOXOX

"Be silly. Be honest. Be kind." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy weekend everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Just a big smooch to all my loyal blog readers. =) Thank you all for always checking in on me.



XOXO!

Julia

"Outtakes"

I've been purging a lot of crap from my harddrives this weekend and I always get a kick out of the stuff I bypassed the first go 'round. The "outtakes" so to speak.

Everyone always tells me how impressed with Grover they are. How tolerant he is. How he works the camera so well. Well, I admit, there is a lot of patience on MY part... I don't always get "the" shot, and if I do, I rarely get it the first time. =)

For example...

The quintessential Grover vs. Rubber Duckie shot


CHOMP!!!


Ahhh... my peaceful little flower.


Whoops. I woke the beast.


Rawr!!!


My sweet little boy.


Such a tortured soul, isn't he?


=) He really IS so very tolerant. He's just a riot to shoot. I have way too many photos of him. I've had him since he was 11 weeks old and he will be turning 8 in March. And suffice it to say, my first digital photos are from the day I brought him home. So that's 8 years of "outtakes" that I can't bare to part with. Yikes!

My Superbowl buddy...

What more could a girl ask for than a bulldog to keep her company and her feet warm while flipping between the Superbowl and the Puppybowl? :)

I did snap a picture, but think the above is much sweeter, and I've never shared it before. You all don't need to actually see that, while Grovie is snuggly and sweet in a confined space (i.e. a chair), when given the opportunity to have sofa-time, he's ALLLLL about being as far away from me as possible... complete with facing the opposite direction and giving me a great view of his rump. And, oh yes... snoring.

New Year, New Life, New Blog Design!

I thought maybe I'd make the plunge to a different blog host because I've just been beyond irritated with Blogger taking HOURS to publish my feed... but in the end, I decided that I was generally happy, and maybe I just needed a makeover.

So, I tweaked my template around yesterday, waiting for the snow to pile up, and voila! Much more what I was shooting for originally anyway.

And what's a blog post without a photo... gotta make sure it works! And gotta love my lazy, goofy Grovie.



And look at that brand new archive for 2009 over on the right. Fresh clean slate! So exciting!

Happy Boxing Day!

:) I spent Boxing Day shuffling massive amounts of data around my external drives (one of my Christmas gifties! And no, not a fancy Drobo, nerdies) and amongst my multiple laptops. And in between, I threw this goofy video together. I do not claim to be able to make videos. I also cannot hold my Flip camera steady. My apologies. Hee hee... But I just love my buddy. He hung out by my side all day. What more could you want?

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Christmas Eve Eve... an interesting day. A day that has not gone as I had planned. LOL... But little does nowadays! =)

Many of my blog followers and dearest friends have seen this photo a gafillion times, but I know that there are quite a few who have not. :) So to celebrate the delightful day that is Christmas Eve Eve, Grover would like to share one of his masterpieces. A masterpiece that proves sometimes the quality of the photo (from an old crappy digital camera 5 years ago) is not ALWAYS as important as the subject matter.

And all these years later, it still makes me laugh to look at. It was not a set up. I was outside with him, shoveling... he ADORES the snow, but it makes his sensitive feet hurt. So I gave him my mittens. And HAPPENED to catch this perfect pose.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve, my dear, wonderful friends. :)



I'm in a Winter Wonderland,
I've got my Two Front Teeth,
and Jack Frost is no longer nipping at my... TOES.

Bring on Christmas!

Bend It Like Grover

And yes, I realize it's the exact OPPOSITE of a goal... =) But it's so hilarious how intensely he concentrates that it might as well be a goal to me. It's a heck of a lot funnier than if I actually "score".

"Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken." ~Frank Herbert

And this is what awakens me.

What's better than seeing this fuzzy face pop up along side you first thing in the morning?


Thankfully for me, he LOOOVES to sleep in.

Change is a very good thing. =) Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween weekend!

Fire Marshall Bull

"Let me show ya somethin'!"


So, my mom tortures me every year.


Do you think that's fair?


She said I even looked like some old guy named "Dorf" with my short little legs. I'm too young to know who that is. Oh the humanity.


Aw crap... man down! Man down!


Well, don't just stand there! Call the Life Alert people!


Oh for the love of pete. Stop laughing - the pictures are blurry anyway!


Well, I love her anyway, and will protect her and our home...


... like a good firebulldog should.


Yep. Even though I know she's taking advantage of how patient and sweet I am.


Oh ok fine... pose to the left.


Pose to the right.


Now give me that cheese, woman! I earned it! =)


What can I say... it's tradition! 8 years strong! HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!!!

Bath Night at the Salty Grape...

Would you look at this stink eye? Someone was not interested in tubby time tonight. I disturbed his nap.


Of course, looking at the photos after the fact, all I could think of was Kujo. :) But the secret really was that I tossed him a freeze dried shrimp...


He really is an angel in the tub, even though he looks like a nightmare. :) They just made me laugh, I had to share... My living room smells like wet dog, but the wet dog smells like yummy oatmeal, milk and honey. It's a good trade-off.

Pawtographs Available!

Public service announcement to anyone who has purchased a copy of It's Not Over 'Til It's Grover!

We've had quite a few requests for actual "pawtographs" and since orders go direct through Blurb, the Star himself is not able to actually autograph anything. :)

So we are offering special "limited edition" book plates!



If you ordered a book, or are planning on ordering one, and would like a very special stomp of approval, please send Grover an email to GroverTheBulldog at gmail dot com with your address, and we'll be happy to put one in the mail for you!

The pawprint will of course be the REAL thing... might not be as well shaped and pretty as the place holder above, but it will be authentic!

(The funniest thing is that I got my order of stickers today, and in true dingbat fashion, I actually ordered them as you see above. WITH the pawprint placeholder. I forgot to delete the layer. Duh. So I've now ordered them AGAIN. Ugh. Please some of you photographers - PLEASE tell me you've done stupid stuff like this. =) I can't believe I did that. Not to mention, I'm now stuck with 50 stickers I can't use!! Ha!)