March Mudness

Welcome to March Mudness at Camp Carnelian!  No, that's not a typo Dadthzs.....it's Mudness.

We are not warming up like we should for March weather, but enough has melted off the street that we have been able to return to our 2.5 mile road track.  Last weekend we walked that route both Saturday & Sunday and the combo of wet grass, snow, a winters worth of sand and salt created "March Mudness".  Summer and I are getting very familiar with the shower.  I don't think there is an end in sight for at least 30 days, with temps staying cool & the thaw is slow.   We went back to walking the lake after last weekend, as it's much cleaner on the paws and under-carriage.I am hoping Grandpathzs walking trails are clear, as I am ready for some Suburban living & a break from camping.

I've had a lot of extra chores at Camp the last 2 weeks.  Both Brett and JuJu got a bad virus so I've had to do more protecting than usual.  They both missed almost a whole week of work.  JuJu has been sleeping in the guest bedroom downstairs so I gave up my Temperpedic bed for the carpeted floor.  I lay right by the foot of the bed and face the door all night.  I've got her back.

While I've been a great protector, I also have ants in my pants a little bit.  Summer kinda starts it.  I am so accustomed to daily exercise that the few days we didn't do anything it was weird.  Summer showed me this trick that usually works on JuJu even when she is sick.  This is called "The Stare".

To top off a weird couple of weeks, JuJu cried at my fluff and puff on Friday.  I saw her through the window, watching me get trimmed up, and she had big tears.  When I came prancing out, she hugged me and told me how proud she is of me, how I am such a good boy, and how much she loves me.  I was kinda embarrassed Dadthzs.  Us dudes are confused by vulnerability of emotion in public. I guess I forfeited my man card when I'm standing there in a salon painted pink.  Either way, I made sure I sat by JuJu on the couch the rest of the night.

As I mentioned, I am off to Grandpathzs on Thursday night.  Summer is going to her Grandmathzs.  We are all back to Camp on Monday 4/9 so I'll check in once I'm back there.

I sure miss you Dadthzs. I am looking forward to June when you come home.

Love,

Bru

Back to the vet, and I met another new friend

Hey Dadthzs,

I've been back to shaking my head and flapping my ears, so Brett brought me back to see the vet today.  Sure enough, I've got another ear infection.  Brett & JuJu suspected this last week, but every time they have put the OtoMax in my ear, I run around the house like a crazed goof, crying and whimpering carrying on.  No one has the guts to put me through that again, so we went back for a more thorough diagnosis. 

Good news:  Dr. Olivia gave me a high five for my weight.  I am now 81.7 pounds and she says I look and feel great.  Brett asked if we should increase my food again, and she said that I could still lose 5 more pounds before a food increase.  Brett floated that idea past JuJu and she said "over my dead Scandahoovian heritage butt!  We need to keep Bru right where he's at, and he shouldn't lose any more weight."  It sounds like I might have some steak in my future.  High Paws!

Bad news:  Ear infections suck.  And because of my history of whimpering, they decided to pack my ear with antibiotic, right there at the doctors office.  I just about lost it, Dadthzs.  I high stepped it all around Dr. Olivia's office, crying up a storm.  Dr. Olivia (who is a peanut to begin with, and due to her small & petite stature shouldn't be trusted in matters of "ideal weight") got down on the floor, put her small hands on my cheeks, and in a soft girlie voice said "Bruiser, you're going to be just fine."  I stopped my crying immediately, and I haven't cried since.

Other news:  I met another new friend on Sunday.  Louie is staying on the lake with his grandparents for a week while his Dadthzs is out of town.  Louie is a 6 month old Golden, and he was super fun.  Here we are getting some treats from JuJu:

As you can see, we still have plenty of snow on the lake.  It's been tough to walk because our paws sink in deeper than the perceived surface.  So we are only taking short walks (a mile or so) at a time.  No one needs a torn ACL coming into swimsuit season!

I'll write one more time before I go to Grandpathzs on Good Friday. 

All is well at Camp Carnelian!

Love,
High steppin' Big Cryin' Bru-baby

The Fox in the Hen House

TGIF Dadthzs!

I'm not sure if it's the fresh new haircut that I got yesterday, or if it's my sensitive side that got me invited, but I got to be the only dude at Girls Night last night.

The picture pretty much speaks for itself.  I was the fox in the hen house.  I listened carefully and took good notes on what women talk about when the men aren't around.  I know this is one of the mysteries of mankind, and I now hold the answers as a trusted insider.  I'm going to share this with you Dadthzs, because I know you already have top level US government clearance and can be trusted:

• Rifles vs. Shotguns vs. Pistols vs. BB guns = What is the difference and which is the better option for squirrels on bird feeders?  Is there one universal gun that can handle squirrels AND muskrats?  If so, why would anyone ever need more than 1 gun?  CeCe wants to kills squirrels and muskrats from her back porch.  Stacy has already taken a gun safety course. Why do men shoot deer when they are so cute?

• Speaking of deer, did you know breeding deer is big business?  Humans harvest semen from large bucks and sell it to game farms to breed bigger deer.  Jodi grew up on a farm where they artificially bred dairy cows.  She knew all about the process and explained in great detail.  I felt like I was in sex-ed class and was grateful they couldn't see me blush through my red hair.

• There is a difference between an amateur saxophone and a professional saxophone.  

• How long does it take an 80,000 pound tractor-trailer to stop when going 60 mph? Wet or dry road conditions and weather conditions are contributing factors in calculating this, as well as weight of vehicle.  (Dadthzs, JuJu is a real nerd.)

• Our country needs to put a stop to distracted driving.

• Kids vs. grand kids.  Grand kids won hands down.

• Furkids.  We took the silver medal.  Adult kids took the bronze, even though all of the adult kids discussed sound like really good people.

• Cancer sucks.  That was unanimous. 

• Eyelashes do grow back after chemo, and there is some magic potion that helps them grow back thicker.  

• Women over 40 sometimes pee their pants a little, especially when they sneeze or exercise.  It's embarrassing for them, not to mention inconvenient.  There is a medical procedure that fixes it & it only takes a half hour under light anesthesia.  There is a guinea pig in the group who just went through the procedure, but her identity is super top secret clearance that I need to keep to myself.  

• Why would anyone take the time to make a pot pie crust from scratch when Marie Calendar does such a nice job making the whole thing?

• You can freeze Habanero peppers in a baggie, straight from the garden, and they last all winter. 

• The multiple meanings of the word "ass", and why it's confusing for people who are learning English as a second language.  The definition is not just "butt" or "donkey."  For example, a "smart ass" does not mean you're smart, or that your donkey is smart; but a "dumb ass" means you are dumb.  People don't really "get their ass handed to them."  A "bad ass" is actually a compliment, and not bad.
• This last topic concluded the evening and I suspect the laughter that accompanied this was a combination of the humor and the wine.

Have a great weekend Dadthzs.  It's warming up here and I think we are going to spend some time outside.  I hope the snow has melted enough this week so that we can go back to walking the lake while the ice is still thick.  I don't want to walk on the road and mess up my new fluff and puff.  (Ok, it just dawned on me - I got invited to Girls Night because I've got a little diva in my genes too). 

Paws,

Bruiser

PS:  Hill-Murray vs. White Bear in boys hockey section final tonight at Aldrich.  Winner goes to state.  I don't know what any of that means, but I heard JuJu talking about it so I thought I'd share since you are a WBL alumnus.   I think grandpa is going to the game tonight and cheering for Hill-Murray since Charlie plays for them.  Blood is thicker than alumni.  

The Olympicthzs

Hi Dadthzs,

Here at Camp Carnelian, we are really into TEAM USA now that the Olympicthzs are on TV.  We are a house full of patriotic lovers of 'Merica year round, but after Shaun White got the GOLD again last night, we are a bunch of goofs hooting and hollering at the TV.  USA! USA! USA! 

It finally warmed up a little on Sunday so that we could walk on the lake again.  We took this picture because JuJu had her goofy TEAM USA sunglasses on:

Last night we walked with Karen, Kasey & Bailey - 2.35 miles!  It was hard work walking through some patches of deeper snow, but for the most part I stayed on the old snowmobile tracks.  I had to do a lot of high knees, but it was worth it.

Not much else to report Dadthzs.  Thanks for keeping an eye on things up there so we can enjoy the Olympicthzs and the athletes are safe and sound.

Proud member of Team USA,
Bruiser

When do I get a vacation?

Hi Dadthzs,

I know you're back to Greenland and settled in for the next few months.  I was so glad to see you when you came back a few weeks ago!  JuJu didn't want me to post this picture because she thought it might make you feel bad, but I am posting it anyway so you know how much I love you.

This was me, after you left Camp Carnelian 2 weeks ago:

(JuJu got tears in her eyes when she took this picture.  She's not as tough as she acts sometimes.)

Shortly after you left, Brett & JuJu went on vacation too.  What's so cool about Mexico that you guys go there every year?  I don't understand why you all come home smelling like Margaritahzs either.  It's weird. 

I went to stay with Grandpa while Brett & JuJu were gone and now I think Mother Nature has something against me going to Grandpas!  Every time I go there, it's too cold for walks!  #Growl

I got back to Camp last night and found my familiar spot on the couch.  Brett was still in relax mode:

I am now back to King of the Camp:

I'm wondering since I'm technically still working 2 jobs (Autumn & Camp Carnelian Counselor) when do you think I am eligible for a vacation?  Do you think I should choose Mexico as a destination?  I don't care for tequila, but I do like the idea of a swim-up bar.  

The weather is going to warm up Sunday so I hear we are lake walking again with Kasey and Bailey.  I'll keep you posted on the gossip around the lake when I write again.  That cool guy Ripley has started an "ice out countdown" already.  Man these people are nuts.

Paws,

Bru

Somewhere on a beach

Dadthzs,

I know you're somewhere on a beach right now, enjoying a break from the darkness and cold of your post in Thule.  I hope you are enjoying the sun and warmth.  Things have significantly warmed up here too, and we took full advantage of that this past weekend.

Saturday morning we got a weekend camper added to the roster - my friend Stella Matchey.  I first met Stella on New Years Eve this year, but JuJu didn't get a picture of her at that party.  As soon as Stella got to Camp on Saturday morning, we headed out to walk the lake with Kasey and Bailey.  We had a blast and walked 3.65 miles.  I did really well, especially considering we haven't been walking much lately in this bitter cold.  Here's all 5 of us with JuJu:

Both Summer and I had to take some Rimadyl Saturday afternoon, but it was worth it. 

Saturday night we had some Church with Stella (and Kasey too):

It's so nice when you have friends you can just be yourself with.  You know how much I love Kasey, and Stella is really a nice friend too.  She gives me just the right amount of attention and just the right amount of space.  Dadthzs, it was pretty funny all of us sleeping in JuJu and Brett's bedroom Saturday night. It was truly like camping.  Wait, kinda like Glamping actually.  We did great!

Sunday morning we were back on the lake and walked another 3 miles.  I try to introduce myself to all of the people out there as we walk by.  It feels so good to get fresh air and exercise!  

Sunday night we had friends over to watch the Vikings game.  That's all I'm going to say about that.

We are supposed to get a snow-nami today.  The weather geeks are guessing 4-12".  Summer and I stayed home from work today since Brett will be back to the home office by 12:00.  JuJu didn't want to take us out in the Brubaru if she didn't have to.  I'll keep you posted if we actually get some good snow totals.  It will make your time in the sun feel that much more special.

Love you Dadthzs,

Bru

A break from the deep freeze

Hi Dadthzs,

I finally got outside yesterday after 2 long weeks in the deep freeze!  Summer and I have had cabin fever really bad, and it felt so good to get outside.  Yesterday the temperature finally got to 20+something.  It felt like a heat wave, and I could actually take my time to go potty without freezing my noogies off.  (Oh wait, I don't have noogies anymore.  But if I had them, they would have been frozen the past 2 weeks).

Here we are, getting ready to go for our long walk on the lake:

We went for a 2 mile walk with Kasey & Bailey, and their parents, and Brett & JuJu.  Kasey's mom and dad found this awesome stuff on the internet called "Paw Wax" and it's designed for us red heads who get ice chunk build up in our paws.  Kasey shared some with me and it worked GREAT!  And way better than those embarrassing booties we tried a month ago.  I made it 2 miles and only had to stop 2-3 times to quickly pick at my paws.  Here we are on our walk:

Bailey is 4 months old now, and she has the energy to try and keep up with Summer and Kasey.  I just hang back, patient.  Slow and steady wins the race.  Halfway through the walk, Bailey slowed down and hung with me and we kept a pretty similar pace.  What a great day!

We also spent some time outside, burning boxes, shoveling the rink, and just goofing off.  I slept like a rock last night.  The fresh air did me good.

I am really looking forward to seeing you this weekend Dadthzs!  I can't believe how fast the first half of your assignment has gone.  I know after this trip I won't see you again until June, but I think it will go pretty fast if I can stay active and busy.  There is always some action at Camp, and work is keeping me busy too.  I just miss you a bunch and can't wait to see you.

Love,

Bru