La Storia di Lucia

Wanted: Free Advice!

2011-01-16T15:02:00.005-05:00

Ciao, miei amici!

La mia ragazza needs some grooming-tool advice (not that I, Lucia, need to be groomed -- I am lovely just as I am!) and I told her I would ask my dear pals in bloggie-land. We hope one or some of you may be able to give her some input because, right now, she is awash in a sea of pet-supply websites and after dutifully studying each and every one of them, she is still as perplesso (perplexed) as ever. (This is a very common problema [problem] in mia casa, but that's another story for another day .... heeeeeeeeee!!)

So, here's her dilemma: do any Aire-pawrents out there use a Mars Coat King to groom their Aire-pups' coats? If you're not familiar with what a Mars Coat King is, it's a stripping-type tool that helps keep dogs' coats in splendid shape. Here's a picture of one from the PetEdge website:

The problem is, there are many different sizes and blade-widths available, and la mia ragazza was unable to find -- after poring over all of her multitudinous bookmarked web pages -- which particular Coat King is specifically designed to be used on an Airedale Terrier's coat. I, Lucia, was stripped before we moved this past year (well, my saddle and face were stripped -- other parts of me were scissored) but la mia ragazza hasn't been able to find an Aire-stylist in our new home town who will do hand stripping, so she thought she'd give it a go, herself. (Santa vacca! There could be trouble in Lucia's beautiful universe!!) A friend who strips her little Welshie terrier suggested the Mars product, so la mia ragazza has been investigating, but she can't decide which model is best for my darling self.

Do any Airedale owners out there use a Mars Coat King?? Can you help la mia ragazza -- and save Lucia from potential hand-stripping butchery! -- with any advice?

In other developments, here is a photo of meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee in my new red coat!

It keeps me very toasty and warm during walkies on these cold winter days as it is lined with thick and luxurious fleeciness! (And if la mia ragazza doesn't get the right stripping tool and ends up pulling out all of my bellissima gingery furs in her zeal to groom me, I may end up wearing my red coat ALL SUMMER, too ....!!!)

Tanti baci!

Lucia

Snow Day!!

2011-01-10T10:41:00.012-05:00

Ciao, miei amici!

Santa vacca, everybloggie, look what happened in Lucia's beautiful universe today!!!!Wheeeeeeeee!!! E 'un giorno di neve! (It's a snow day!)

This is fun!

I, Lucia, love the snow!

Snowflakes are delicious! (Biggify this photo to see how I catch a snowflake!)

It's a very good thing that Santa Paws brought me un cappotto nuovo (a new coat) for Christmas ... although ... heeeeeeeee!!! ... it's often very difficult for la mia ragazza to get the coat on me as I am highly energetic and rarely stand still!! Nevertheless, look at the special note from Santa that came in the package with my coat. Awwww, Santa loves Lucia!

The note says, "Merry Christmas, sweet Lucia! You have been a very good girl this year! Kisses and Hugs! Santa Paws"

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

And here is a fotografia of mia bellissima cappotto (my beautiful coat).

La mia ragazza says the white stripe on the coat glows at night so all of my beloved neighbors can see me when I take a walk. Fantastico!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Monday, too, darling friends -- snow or no snow!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

2010-12-25T14:25:00.001-05:00

2010-12-15T05:06:00.016-05:00

Ciao miei amici!!

Santa vacca!!! (Holy cow!!!) I am brimming with la vergogna e la mortificazione (shame and mortification)! We read your bloggies the other morning and la mia ragazza felt so crushingly awful that we have been absent from DWBloggyland for so many months that she set aside her holiday baking (which -- heeeeeeee!!! -- she is miserable at anyway, so she doesn’t mind stalling on it!) to put this long overdue post on my bloggy. Rest assured, we are all fine and dandy here although oggi fa freddo –molto, molto freddo (today it is cold – very, very cold) -- and la mia ragazza is quite fretty about me not having a proper cappotto di inverno (winter coat). She told me to ask Santy Paws for one – and I did – and now I am determined to stay awake on Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve) to see if he squeezes down the comignolo (chimney) with a new coat and many giocattoli magnifici (magnificent toys) for me. Which I deserve, as I have been a splendid and good girl this year. Except for maybe this one time ...

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

So anyway, here are cinque cose (five things) that have happened in Lucia’s beautiful universe in the cinque mesi (five months) that I have been awayyyyy:

1. I had surgery to remove a troublesome spot at the top of my back leggie – which was terrible enough! – (Note from LMR: it was a scary time here – the vet was concerned that Lucia might have a malignancy – fortunately, test results came back negative) and then, worse, I had a very, very, very bad reaction to Auntie Sthetic (I did not even know I had an Auntie named Sthetic!) and cominciato ad avere allucinazioni (began to hallucinate) so la mia ragazza – who was so very terrified that she might lose her most darling and adored Aire-girl – rushed me to the Mergencyvet, where I spent about un milione di ore (a million hours) having many tests done. Alas, the Mergencyvet didn’t know that I was reacting to Auntie Sthetic and gave me a version of the VERY SAME THING to make me sleepy for the tests, and I went into another serious round of reactions which lasted for a whole other day!!! I had to take
molti farmaci (many medicines) for many days afterward

... and later, la mia ragazza even took me to a vettie who did agopuntura (acupuncture) to help my very sore back – but in the end, I, Lucia the Lionhearted, survived!! (Note from LMR: we think Lucia might have twisted or hurt her back as she was waking up, post surgery; instead of having her treated with yet another pain medication, I took her to a holistic vet who offers chiropractic and acupuncture as a way to alleviate pain. During the acupuncture treatment, itself, Lucia’s face changed from tense to completely relaxed. No more pain!!! It was really amazing ... even better, she's been completely fine since.)

2. We moved from our (former) very cold climate to a (new) much less cold one, although you would never know that today since it’s only nine degrees outside!

3. I had my fotographia (photo) taken with Santy Paws’ elf last week. Awwwwww! La mia ragazza is very smitten with my seasonally dressed self in this picture!

4. I have made many, many new friends, thanks to my twice weekly visits to doggie daycare:

Kobe and Scout the Standard Poodles

Mogie the Irish Wolfhound

The Beautiful Sophie (la mia ragazza loves this Vizsla girl … plllbbbbb!)

(Hubba hubba, Dennis!!!!)

Hal the LabraPlott

Coop the Labradoodle

Peking Gus

(Heeeeeee!!! Get it?? He's peeking!!)

... and 'Panga the Welshie

(She's a mini Lucia!!)

Muahhhhhs to all my wonderful buddies!!! (But I, Lucia, am the only Airedale at daycare!!)

5. I found out I am probably related to Farfel’s new sister, Star!! And I am also distantly related to Mischka the Airedale!!!! Ah, it’s so wonderful to have famiglia (family)!

I send many smoochies and huggies to all of my DWB amici, and also send out extra-special smoochies and huggies to Miss Sunshade and her mum, who presently have their paws full. Please run right over to their bloggy and give them some DWB TLC!

Tanti baci!
Lucia

PeeEss: Muahhhhhs to my beloved Buster and his bellissima baby niece, Gracie!!

I am TWOOOOO!

2010-07-28T06:43:00.004-04:00

Ciao miei amici!

Guess what???? Ho due anni!!! (I am two!!)

Although I am molto (very) excited at the idea of having my second birthday, for some reason la mia ragazza has been quite emotionally tormented by it. She keeps looking at me with teary eyes and saying, "Mia bella ragazza (“My beautiful girl) is growing up.” I, Lucia, find this endlessly amusing! Does she not realize that Airedales are like Peter Pan?? We NEVER grow up!!!! Heeeeeeeeeeee!! At two years, I am just as curious, frisky, playful, rambunctious, comical and energetic as I was at one, and at one, I was as playful and mirthful and gleeful and joyful as I was at six months – and probably at six weeks, too! Possibly even six days!

La mia ragazza has something up her sleeve for my birthday, I just know. But, I will have to wait until she’s home from work to find out what it is. Do you think it will be a party with cuppycakes … mmmmm cuppycakes … and hats and pressies!?!? I, Lucia, would enjoy that enormously. In fact, I think the only way I would enjoy it more is if all of my bloggie pals could be here with me to celebrate!! MUAHHHHH!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

Pee Ess: Once my birthday festivities have settled down a bit, I will come back and tell you about the very scary surgery I had to have two weeks ago, and the very scary thing that happened to me afterward. I though la mia ragazza was going to have a nervous breakdown!!! Sheeshh!!!!

2010-06-15T05:53:00.014-04:00

Ciao miei amici!

La mia ragazza, mia zia and I, Lucia, had a splendidly busy day last Venerdì (Friday!) Il mattino (the morning) began ordinarily enough with my delicious prima colazione (breakfast) of Orijen kibbles and a spoonful of yogurt (mmmmmm kibbles and yogurt …). Soon after breakfast, la mia ragazza turned me loose in the yardie so I could bark my usual congenial morning greetings to i vicini (the neighbors)

Ciao, cari vicini! E 'un altro giorno glorioso! (Hello, dear neighbors! It’s another glorious day!)

and then take care of various duties of a personal hygiene nature (NO!!! Please do not show that mortifying photo again!!), while inside, la mia ragazza dried i capelli (her hair) for 341 hours. Santa vacca! I, Lucia, could sing an entire Puccini opera ...

... in the time it takes her to fuss with her hair!!

When I came back inside, she put on my collar and leash and announced, “Andiamo, Lucia!” (“Let’s go, Lucia!”) She, zia (aunt) Conni and I went to the car, where she clipped me into my seat belt and then off we went. We drove and drove and drove and DROVE – I thought we probably had crossed the equator – and then finally, quasi due ore più tardi (almost two hours later), way, way out in the midst of molto verdi e alto alberi (many green and tall trees), we turned down a long lane and then … I saw something that looked like THIS:

La mia ragazza was too slow with the camera, so these are stand-in goats.

Santa vacca!!! Or, rather, santa capra!! (holy goat!)
I was fixated on those kids (heeeeee!!! I made a little joke!!!!) … until I heard the tell-tale and unmistakable sound of Airedales barking!!!!! Dov'ero? (Where was I? ) Era questo un dolce sogno!?!? (Was this a sweet dream!?!?)

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

I was absolutely perplesso e confuse (perplexed and confused) until I saw the large and colorful Airedale banner waving from a flagpole, and a sign on the gate surrounding the nearby house that read, “Airedale Terrier Crossing.” We were at an Airedale kennel!!! Just look at these glorious resident ‘dales!!!!

Ciao, i miei Aire-cugini! (Hello, my Aire-cousins!)

La mia ragazza was very glad to find such a magnificent Aire-kennel, with such kind, knowledgeable and aire-xperienced owners (molto grazie, Sharon and Rita!!!) not too far from la casa della mia zia Conni (my aunt Conni’s house). There are bella cagnolini (beautiful doggies) and meraviglioso proprietari (wonderful owners) who lovvvve Airedales, all set in the midst of serene, peaceful surroundings. I, Lucia, received a bellissima aire-cut while la mia ragazza and zia Conni chatted with Sharon and played with some of the doggies. And though I did not get a chance to make the personal acquaintance of any of those very compelling capri (goats) -- which, given my friendly and congenial nature, I very much wanted to do (pllllbbbbbbb to la mia ragazza, who wouldn't let me) --it was still an eccellente (excellent) day, all around.
Now, speaking of all things Airedalian, here is a pikkie of la mia ragazza’s friend’s Bullwinkle:

Si, si (Yes, yes), he is quite il bel ragazza (the handsome boy), and there is no question la mia ragazza is completely smitten with him. Ah, she is so fickle!!! What about her darlingest Lucia!?!?! But I wonder … sta per essere il mio fratellino? (is he to be my baby brother ?) Forse mio cugino? (Perhaps my cousin?) Will we ever meet??? Ah, destino! (Ah, destiny!) I, Lucia, am genuinely puzzled!

Tanti baci!
Lucia

2010-06-05T10:28:00.019-04:00

Ciao, miei amici!!!

It is I, Lucia!!!!!!!!! (La mia ragazza says that is gramatically incorrect, but -- pllllbbbbb!!! --who cares what she thinks!)

Well, I have finally been able di persuadere (to persuade) la mia ragazza -- lazy, unmotivated, slackified soul that she is -- to sit down and type up a new post for my bloggie since the last one she did was 743 years ago. Santa vacca!! But she is a casa tutto il giorno oggi (at home all day today) and despite the many errands she says needs to run and jobs she needs to tend to, I explained to her that NIENTE (NOTHING) is more important than letting me say ciao to all of my doggie, kitteh and hooman pals in the bloggieverse, and she, for once, saw la logica e la saggezza (the logic and wisdom) of my thinking. So …. CIAO BELLA, EVERYONE!

I have some splendida e importante notizia (wonderful and important news) to report! My darlingest friend, Alyce

had cuccioli (puppies)!!!! Yes, the world is a better place thanks to dieci (ten) new Airedales

(Note to my bloggie pals: We used a bit of a creative license here since we don't yet have photos of the new puppies. This photo was taken at my breeder's kennel several days before I, Lucia, came home with la mia ragazza. The puppies are my brothers and sisters at eight weeks, and the charming, yawning puppy in the background is ME. Awwww!)

which arrived about otto settimane fa (eight weeks ago). And you should hear la mia ragazza carrrrrrrrry on about these aire-pups. If I, Lucia, had any possessive bones in my body, I would be follemente geloso (insanely jealous) of the attention she shows to the new doggies, but fortunately, I am una emotivamente sicuro (an emotionally secure) aire-girl and am in no way threatened by the UNBELIEVABLE level of interest la mia ragazza has shown in the little ones, in particular, un molto piccolo (a very small) aire-boy named Bullwinkle.

(He doesn’t look like this Bullwinkle … heeeeeee!!)

Oh, she is simply pazzo (crazy) for him, and I sense she is secretly plotting to find a way to make him my bambino fratello (baby brother). Can you imagine I, Lucia, sharing my space and la mia ragazza with a BOY!?!?! Santo fumo!!!

As for what’s happening in Lucia’s beautiful universe, well, nearly everything has been perfection, though I DID have a incontro difficile (difficult encounter) with a specific category of fauna in the back yardie, resulting in some not-so-insignificant personal discomfort. I was outdoors on a warm spring morning, chasing my tennis ball, body-slamming my cousin, Heidi,

and barking a friendly greeting to i vicini (the neighbors)

Buon giorno, beloved neighbors!

when I noticed the rose bush had bloomed like a pink waterfall over the side-yard fence.

Ahhhh! Bellissima!

So of course, I, Lucia, being the self-appointed impresario of all springtime loveliness blossoming in the yardie (heeeeeeee!!!!) decided to go over for a delicate sniff of the intoxicating pink-rose aroma. Well! Molte, molte impertinente api (Many, many impertinent bumblebees)

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!

were buzzing around i fiori (the flowers) and these winged ones were, as Mango would say, most unfriendly toward my darling terrier faccia (face). When they approached me, I, thinking they were going to give me smoochies, tried to offer smoochies in return, but they WERE NOT SMOOCHIE BEES!! Instead, they began to bite my adorable self!!! I, Lucia, ran away quickly,

To quote mio amico Dennis the Vizsla, "Aiiiieeeeee!!! Run away, run away!"

but still ended up with several stings on il lato sinistro della mia faccia (the left side of my face). When la mia ragazza came home from work later that day, she noticed me pawing at my head and investigated, then put a cold cloth on my face (ahhhhhh) and some disinfettante (disinfectant) and Auntie Bye O’Ticks ointment (I did not even know I had an Irish aunt!), but the next day I was scratching and pawing at my face even more, so off I went to my V-E-T, who clippered away some of my beautiful gingery furs and put on MORE Auntie Bye O’Ticks …

and THEN gave me a shot of steroids. I kept waiting for la mia voce (my voice) to get low from the steroids or to have super tennis-ball-catching powers from them, but all they did was make the itchies stop. Anyway, I am doing much better now although I do have a huge thirst, which causes me to drink vast amounts of acqua (water) …

and must frequently visit the yardie for – ahem -- i miei doveri personali (my personal duties),

I, Lucia, cannot believe la mia ragazza posted this photo! Molto mortifying!

but the V-E-T told la mia ragazza that is typical and ordinary after a steroid shot. Of course, I, Lucia, am anything but typical and ordinary. Heeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, one last thing: if any hoomans are interested in learning more about la mia ragazza’s friend’s splendid new aire-puppies, la mia ragazza says to let her know ….!

Tanti baci!
Lucia

Max Was Here, Too!!!

2010-02-14T11:04:00.035-05:00

Ciao miei amici!

I, Lucia, am quite excited to tell you that Max stopped by la casa della mia zia (my aunt's house) in Tennessee -- where I'm presently visiting -- during the southern United States leg of his worldwide tour!

Because I am a young and as-yet-inexperienced-in-the-ways-of-the-world Aire-girrrl, I asked Max to teach me a few lessons about what it means to be a clever, loving, considerate, intuitive and companionable doggie. So, whatever Max told me to do, I tried to do. But ... quickly realizing that I have the attention span of a gnat and thus follow directions poorly (la mia ragazza says, "spend three minutes watching Lucia in agility training and you'll realize how true that is" --- pllbbbbbb!!!!), Max decided that the best teaching method for me would be learning by doing. Here are some photos of our lessons. (We had to do it this way because la mia ragazza's Photoshoppy skills, as you all know, are nine levels below wretchedly abysmal ... heeeeeeeeee!!!)

When Max showed me how to investigate and patrol the garden ...

I did this ...

When Max told me how to walk nicely alongside the hooman so I could see my shadow ...

I did this ...

When Max showed me how to sing ...

I did this ...

When Max taught me how to chill out by relaxing in the grass ...

I did this ...

When Max showed me how to stick out my tongue (heeeeee!!) ...

I did this ....

When Max taught me how to play with blankets and shirts ...

I did this ...

When Max showed me how to stand on my back leggies ...

I did this ....

When Max explained how to make horsey eyes ...

I did this ...

When Max said, Lucia, always snooze in the sunshine ...

I did this ...

When Max told me to give plenty of huggies to those who love us most ...

I did this ...

When Max taught me the winsome, upside down glance ...

I did this ...

When Max showed me that daily walkies are beneficial ...

I did this ...

And when Max taught me how to have a good nap after a good day ...

I did this ...

On this bellissima (most beautiful) Valentine's Day, dolce (sweet) Max, I send you my heart. I only wish it could be as enorme (large) and magnifico (magnificent) as yours!!!!!!

Tanti baci!
Lucia

Eccomi, eccomi, ECCOMEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

2010-01-04T12:25:00.025-05:00

Ciao, miei amici!

It's me, Lucia, your longest lost pal!

La mia ragazza and I have been roving, roving, roving (keep that doggie roving….!) but I finally planted my paws and demanded that she get busy taking dictation for my bloggie so I can fill you all in on where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to. First of all, how was everybloggie’s holiday season and new year? I, Lucia, had a grande ma tranquilla (grand but tranquil) holiday, filled with lots of excellent hooman foodables courtesy of il mio nonno (my grandpa) who frequently sneaks snacks to me while la mia ragazza’s back is turned: “Mangiare questo, Lucia, mangiare!” ( Eat this, Lucia, eat!); pressies; visits with la famiglia (the family); and, as la mia cara amica, Asta (my dear friend, Asta), would put it, ore di sonno rilassante (hours of relaxing sneep).

Ecco alcuni momenti salienti (Here are a few highlights):

First, I ate a Christmas ornamento (ornament) from il albero di Natale (the Christmas tree):

This nearly gave la mia ragazza a Hardy Tack! She was making dinner on Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve) and noticed that I was walking around quietly (which is unusual in and of itself) and stealthily, carrying something in my mouth. She said, Luciadropppppit, but instead of dropping -- I couldn’t resist! -- I gave a mighty chomp and when she saw the silver pieces of glass fall out of my mouth, SHE NEARLY HAD LA VACCA, UOMO! (A COW, MAN!) But I was ok because, sensing immediately that argento ventro (silver glass) didn’t taste good, I went “pLEHHHH” and spit out all of the silver, right next to la mia ragazza’s bare feet. Heeeeeee!

She grabbed my adorable scruffly face and pried open my jaws – AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH – and looked everywhere, didn’t see any sparkly bits on my tongue or large and pretty white teeth, and then decided I’d dropped all the glass, which, of course I did. Sheesh, like I’d eat glass. Shoes, maybe, or cell phones, and yes I have sampled tinsel and garland, oh, and some Tuppyware lids, and ok, paper napkins, Kleenex and toilet paper -- mmmm toilet paper, how can a girl resist! -- but glass? I think not. Sunglasses, yes, possibly. But not sharp shards of glass. I am simply too clever an Aire-girrl for such foolishness.

Second, la mia ragazza, thinking herself to be in the spotlight at Teatro alla Scala, sang this pazzo (crazy) and very annoying made-up song (to the tune of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" -- har dee har har!) …

Looocheeeeeeuh the big-nosed Airedale

Had a very large black snoot

And if you ever saw her

You would ask does that thing hoot

… all throughout the holidays, honking on my glorious muso (nose) each time she sang the last line. Santo fumo (holy smoke), already!!! After a while, I had such a mal di testa (headache) from her relentless singy songing and nose pinching that I had to nab a couple of her aspirine (aspirin) and gulp them down with my dinner kibble. Jeeeze, give it a rest!

Third, I passed my Manners Matter class, where I learned a tad about T-Touch but more importantly learned how to follow certain commands like “drop” during a walk, “heel,” “leave it/take it” (I rarely leave it; mostly, I take it!!! Heeeeee!!!) and those other usual suspects, “sit,” “wait,” “down,” and “here” and sometimes even will actually do them when asked. Assuming there are magnificently puzzolente (stinky) (Nooooooo, not THAT Stinky!!) treats in the offing, naturally. La mia ragazza says I am a training-fickle ‘dale. Pllllllbbbbbbbb!!!!

Fourth, I will start Foundation Agility with the best teacher in the universe, Julie, in January. La mia ragazza says agility training will be just the thing to help us work off those holiday treats and goodies ... mmmmmmmm treats and goodies....

Fifth, I met my very own mini-me, a Welshie -- like Hootie, Taffy and Dyos! -- whom I call, 'Panga.

She was in my Manners Matter class and is also in my daycare group. I love my daycare group, and I adore my pal, 'Panga. Everyone says, oh Lucia, she is so cute, she looks just like you. Well, I know that!! Santa vacca, as if I don’t know what I look like!!!

Sixth, I was granted admittance to the Inner Sanctum, i.e., la casa di mio nonno (my grandpa’s house). Oh, I’ve always been allowed to visit there, but I was confined to the sun porch and was forbidden to be on any of the furniture. But now, Grandpa says I can come inside and even lets me take naps on il divano (the sofa) because he says I am un cane dolce (a sweet doggie).

Awwwwww, well sure I am! “Dolce” is part of my big official name, after all!! Now, of course, occasionally I get a little rowdy and grab up his pantofole (slippers) and chase around the house shaking one of them in my mouth, but COME ON, I’m a terrier! I have to grab and shake SOMEthing!!!

Seventh, I received un letto nuovo eccellente (an excellent new bed) and some wonderful pressies for Christmas, because, as la mia ragazza explained, I am a good girl. Ah, everybuddy loves Lucia!!!!

Eighth, and speaking of beds, because my beloved personal space – aka, my cozy crate --

-- is still at la mia zia Conni’s casa (where I will again), I slept crateless for the first time ever since coming to live with la mia ragazza. While I, Lucia, was perfectly and totally fine with curling up on the bedroom floor, la mia ragazza was so overstressed about my lack of crate that she patted the foot of the bed and said, “Lucia, up,” and that’s where I slept for the next few nights, before we came to Grandpa’s for Christmas. Full access to the hoooman bed!!! La mia ragazza says she was very proud of me because I didn’t crowd her too much. (Heeeeeeee!! THAT won’t be the case for long, will it!?!) She said, Lucia, you have nice manners … sheesh, I passed my manners class, remember!?!?!?

Ninth, la mia ragazza told me about my papa and showed me this fotografia of him, which is on the cover of an Airedale book that she found on the internets:

Isn’t he a dilly of a dad!? Just look at that fantastico profile!!!! Muahhhhh, muahhhh and triple muahhhhh!!!! La mia ragazza said Lucia, you look so much like your papa, which – for the love of Pietro (Pete) – why wouldn’t I???!?! He’s my papa!!

And tenth, speaking of gorgeous, handsome Aire-boys, my darlingest buddy, Cache, now carries the title CAMPIONE (CHAMPION) before his name!!! Yayyyyy! My beloved pal got his final AKC points in November. Here is his official photo. Isn’t he amazing and beautiful?? MUAHHHHS OF THE SMOOCHIEST ORDER!

Tanti baci, everybloggie!

Lucia

Almost Senza Parole Mercoledi

2009-10-28T10:03:00.002-04:00

Questo è delizioso!

2009-09-10T12:17:00.011-04:00

Ciao, miei amici!

La mia ragazza told me that a fotografia (picture) equals a thousand words, so I, Lucia, am delighted to present the following, ummm, eight thousand words for your personal enjoyment!

Tanti baci!
Lucia

My Sweet Little Friend

2009-09-02T19:42:00.003-04:00

Ciao, miei amici --

My dear little next-door-neighbor doggie pal, Trigger the Yorkie, very unexpectedly went to the Rainbow Bridge today; my darling buddy was hit by a car during his afternoon walkies. Please keep his mama and papa in your thoughts and prayers, everybloggie.

Run with the wind, my sweet, darling friend!!! I will miss our walkies together, but I know I will see you again someday!

Lucia

To dig ... or to dive??? That is the question...

2009-08-27T17:25:00.013-04:00

Ciao miei amici!

I, Lucia, have been away from bloggieland for a very long time and have missed all of my pals hooogely! Here I am, looking solitario (lonely) and molto triste (very sad)…

The fact is, a volte (sometimes) we have to look after il mio nonno (my grandpa) for a bit, and when we do … poof!

Without much – any!! – notice, we seem to scomparire (disappear) into thin air, like a mysterious magico atto (magic act). (Hmmm … does that make me the Great Ludini???? Or maybe Lucia Coppairefield….???? Heeeeeeeeee!!!!) Of course, we really haven’t disappeared; we are just away from the ‘puter for a while.

But … speaking of magically disappearing, while la mia ragazza and I, her darlingest gingery-furred Lucia, were away, I learned that my Principe Azzurro (Prince Charming), Busterigo,

and his famiglia (family) are thinking of disappearing down a rabbit hole – figuratively speaking -- into the vast nether-lands (will there be gouda? Mmmmm … gouda…)

in search of avventure (adventures) in Oz, lead by the intrepid Ms. Sephie and the insightful Ms. Bailey Blue. The problem, as I understand from il mio dolce Buster (my sweet Buster), is where to start digging this magical tunnel into fantastical new worlds. I discussed it with la mia ragazza and she said, “I don’t really know where to begin, Lucia, but I’d avoid tight, narrow passageways if I were you. They’re very creepy.” When I asked her why, she told me about a long, twisty trip she took up a flight of 463 steep steps in a dark, low-ceilinged corridor in Firenze (Florence), to the very tippy top of Signore Brunelleschi’s magnifico dome of the duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore.

She said that anydoggie with claustrophobic tendencies ought to avoid such kinds of confined places. Santa vacca, Santa Maria! I, Lucia, will heed questo consiglio (this advice) and will pass it along to il mio amato azzurro ragazzo (my beloved blue boy)! (Of course, la mia ragazza completely missed the point: Busterigo and his Kerry kin are digging DOWN, not climbing UP …. Sheesh!!!)

Ah, I digress … now, back to the conundrum of where to commence the dig. Ho un'idea!! (I have an idea!!) When I was visiting la mia zia (my aunt), Conni, and la mia cugina (my cousin), Heidi, last month, we drove past this place …

It is called Ruby Falls, and it has an amazing underground cascata (waterfall) …

Well, it made me think: perhaps not all passaggio sotterraneo (underground passage) entrances are meant to be dug. Maybe, just maybe, some are meant to be … dog paddled! As in … water! Eureka! I, Lucia, sat down with la mia ragazza at the lappytop and started to research potential watery entrances into magnificent adventures, explorations and fun. And of course, because I adore il colore azzurro (the color blue) so very, very much, I asked la mia ragazza to type “blue + water” into Google. Up popped page after page after page of results, which I steadfastly and dutifully plowed through until I stumbled on this: The Grotta Azzurra di Capri , in my beloved Italia!

A secret cave entrance!!! And it’s bluuuuuuuuuuuuuee!! Heeeeeeeee!!! Could the starting point for my blue boy’s big dig actually be a big dive through the Blue Grotto? Hmmm. Or!!! Perhaps there is a watery starting point right in Busterigo’s summertime back yard, The Pond!!!! Santo fumo!! The doorway to the big dig could be right under their collective blue noses…..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stay tuned to the Kerry Blues’ bloggie for more details because something tells me this is one itinerary you won’t find on Google maps….

Tanti baci!
Lucia

Di un anno!

2009-07-28T08:02:00.005-04:00

Ciao, miei amici!

Today I am ONE YEAR OLD!

That means I am officially all grown up!! (Although la mia ragazza STILL calls me her baby girl ... sheeesh ....)

My barkday celebration began a day or so ago while I was still visiting my cugina (cousin) Heidi, and mia zia (aunt) and zio (uncle) in Tennessee. Heidi and I put on party hats and had some tasty, sweet yummies to kick off the festivities, and THEN, mia zia drove back with us to mia citta (my city), so we will be celebrating again today, on my official barkday!!!! Yayyyyyyy!!! I don't know what la mia ragazza and la mia zia have in store for me today, but I, Lucia, am hoping for some torta e gelato (cake and ice cream) ... mmmmmmm torta and gelato .... because I have been paying attention to what happens to my bloggie pals on their barkdays and there always seems to be torta and gelato. Do you think I'll get some, too?????? Mmmmmmmm .... I sure hope so!!!

Just look at this bellissima (absolutely beautiful!) biglietto di compleanno (birthday card) I received today from mia cara amica (my dear friend), Asta! Thank you, Asta!!!! Muahhhhhhh!!!

Build your own Blingee

(And now that I am all grown up, I can drink that pretty pink pawtini!!! And probably one of Lacie's favuloso smoothies, too!!!! Heeeeeeeee!!!!)

By the way, la mia ragazza says she feels like it is HER barkday today, too, because she has me, her best present ever! Awwwwwww .....!!!!!! As for me, my best present is all of you, dearest bloggie pals! You make my world sweeter, brighter and happier!!!! Ti amo, everybloggie!!!!

Tanti baci!
Lucia

Vacation!

2009-07-20T23:01:00.006-04:00

Ciao miei amici!

I, Lucia, am on a little holiday with la mia ragazza and her papa! A few days ago, we took a looonnnnnnng drive from our casa (house) to visit la mia ragazza's sorella (sister), who lives in Tennessee. La mia ragazza says I was eccellente (excellent) in the car because I didn't bark, knock her papa's hat off his head, bite at the seats or nosepoke her hair. I did, of course, create some amazing noseart on the back windows, but you-know-who washed it all off. Pllbbbbbb!!!

The BEST part of the entire trip is that I get to play with my dearest cugina (cousin), Heidi, for almost a whole week!! Plus, Heidi has a big, hooge, enorme (enormous) yardie and it's all fenced in so I, Lucia, can run free! Here are some fotografie (photographs) of the two of us enjoying the beautiful yard and beautiful weather:

La mia ragazza and I have been verrrrrrry busy going here and there these past few days, but we promise to post more fun fotografie of our trip soon. We miss all of you, bloggie pals, and will catch up as fast as we can!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

Stuffie Studies

2009-07-07T16:26:00.020-04:00

Ciao miei amici!

I'll bet you didn't know that I, Lucia, am una studentessa di scienze (a student of science) and as such, greatly enjoy studying the tiniest informazioni (details) of whatever I can unearth in in la mia ragazza's office, bedroom closet and laundry basket as well as the numerous fossils and artifacts from archeological excavations in my yard. But I am particularly delighted by the segreti (secrets) that we can learn from the close study of stuffies and can spend endless amounts of time in complete fascination reviewing the construction of stuffie limbs, ears, noses, eyes and, of course, stuffie squeakers. In my scientific opinion, it is only when we know the intricato (intricate) details of the stuffie parts that we can truly come to understand and appreciate the stuffie whole. (Heeeeeeeee!!!! You know where this is going, don't you??????????????? Please be advised -- this is not for the stuffie faint of heart!)

Tanti baci!

Lucia

Celebrate!

2009-07-04T08:09:00.017-04:00

Ciao miei amici!

It’s the Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day here in gli Stati Uniti (the United States)! The Fourth of July is the anniversario (anniversary) of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which took place on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

It’s also a fine settimana (weekend) when friends and families celebrate with picnics, parties and fireworks – and, of course, many delicious summertime treats! As for those fireworks, I’ve heard OF them, but because I wasn’t born until the end of Luglio (July) last year, I’ve never actually HEARD them. Should I be checking the medicine cabinet for cotone (cotton) to put in my orecchie (ears)??? Hmmmm ….

In my last post, I promised more details on my new terrier buddies and how I came to meet them. So... here’s the scoop: It all started on Father’s Day, when la mia ragazza and I, Lucia, went to see her papa -- who is my hooman nonno (grandpa). In the car with the patate in insalata (potato salad), la mia ragazza’s flippy-flops and the doggie kennel was this darling gingery-furred passenger:

As you can see, I enjoy being chauffeured in the back seat as opposed to riding shotgun, which, in our car, is simply too confining for one as physically expressive as I am. I always relish (mmmm …. relish ...) these road trips because A) I get to sniff the air of new territories as we cruise through them ; B) I get to have a cup of ghiaccio (ice) from McDonalds, which I crunch to smithereens in the backseat; and C) I always end up visiting somewhere divertente e eccitante (fun and exciting), which usually affords my sociable self the opportunity to make new friends!

Once there, I visited with Grandpa for a while – he always gives me the tastiest snackies! – and then la mia ragazza and her sorella, my Zia Concetta (aka, Auntie Conni!) went for another short ride to a nearby doggie daycare, where la mia ragazza had made arrangements for me to spend some time playing with new pals. Yayyy! Now, this is no ordinary doggie daycare, nosignorrrre … this is a doggie daycare that’s home to magnifico Airedale-boy Cache, his mama, Alyce, their Irish Terrier buddy, Mick, and three other visiting Aire-pals!!!! Santa vacca!!! For an only-doggie like me, it was a thrilling treat to be surrounded by so many terrier kin!!!

Here we are arriving … my head was out the finestrino (car window) immediately to greet everydoggie!

Look closely at this fotografie. Can you see what I see!?!?! Buddies!!!!

Um, I would appreciate it very much if someone could kindly let me out of the car.

That’s right, you need to open the door, and please be quick about it; as you can plainly see, I have friends waiting. Come on, come on, come on …

LET ME OUT!!!! Puh-leeeeeeeeze!!! What’s a girl have to do to get someone to open the car door for her!?!?! Is chivalry dead!?!?!

Here is handsome Cache. He is the very first Airedale la mia ragazza ever played with in person, and she was instantly and totally smitten with him and with his mama, Alyce. Aren’t they both adorable!?!?

Another fotografia of Cache (la mia ragazza is head-over-heels for this pupster … she took lots of pictures of him). That’s his buddy, Mick the Irish terrier, with him.

Here’s sweet Alyce again … mwahhh!

… and Mick, saying, “Hello there, Lucia!” (Ciao Mick!!!)

I had the BEST time with my terrier pals, miei amici – words can’t begin to describe the fun!!! La mia ragazza says I can go back to visit everydoggie there the next time we drive to her papa’s --- and I already can’t wait!!!!

Tanti baci!
Lucia

Questa è la mia bella lingua AND i miei nuovi amici!

2009-06-30T12:13:00.030-04:00

Ciao miei amici!

I nostri piccoli amici (our little friends) the Rocky Creek Scotties have come up with the coooooooolest "Stick Out Your Tongue" contest and I, Lucia, am delighted to play along! I have already seen many fantastico contest entries and am suitably impressed with each and every one of them. Our bloggieverse is rich with some very grand and magnificent tongue talent!!! (But, um ... one question to the King of the Goobs: do you have tongue extensions!??!?? Santa vacca, il mio amico -- your photos are so very impressive!!)

So, without further delay, I bring you La Lingua di Lucia (Lucia's Tongue) -- a dramatic performance in seven acts:

Puppy tongue

Pllllbbbbbb!! Who-put-this-glue-on-my-ears tongue

Jailbird tongue

Joyful tongue

Bologna tongue

Blleechhhh tongue

Poppysicle tongue ... mmmmmm

And!!! I will post more about this later, but la mia ragazza and I went to visit her papa and her sorella (sister), who is la mia zia Concetta (my Auntie Conni) last week ... and I got to spend the week in doggie day care with THESE pals, who live near il mio nonno (my grandpa)!!! It was FANTASTICO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is bellissimo (very beautiful!!) Cache, dolce (sweet) Mick -- a dear Irish Terrier like our amico Keeley -- and Cache's adorabile mama (adorable mom), Alyce. Cache and Alyce are the very first Airedales la mia ragazza ever saw and played with in person. Awwwwww...

But wait, there's more! La mia ragazza and I saw this in a store last week and I made her take a fotografia (photograph) for my enlightened pal, Mango. Don't you think this would help create just the right kind of ambience for his many deep and introspective meditations?? If you biggify the pic, you'll see the box even has his name on it!! How completely perfetto (perfect) is that!?!?!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

Oh Deer Me!!!!

2009-06-19T14:54:00.018-04:00

Ciao, miei amici!

I, Lucia, am very lucky to live in an area that’s surrounded by molti splendidi parchi (many lovely parks).

This makes for eccellente (excellent) opportunities for passegiatta (daily walkies), but it also poses un interessante dilemma (an interesting dilemma) for my high-prey-drive and easily distracted self: i parchi (the parks) are full of fauna selvatica (wildlife) and said wildlife is encroaching on il mio spazio personale (my personal space)!! Santa vacca! (Holy cow!)

It’s bad enough that I have to put up with the constant denounce (complaints) of some very vocale (vocal) bluejays that live in gli alberi (the trees) along my side yard...

or the um, plentiful and icky “gifts” of the of the oh-too-generous Canada geese and mallard ducks that swoop down into the nearby pond...

or the stinky skunks and trash-stealing raccoons that roam around at night as if they own the whole town, or the bunnies that show absolutely no fear when I bark, but just keep chewing calmly on MY grass. BUT THIS! This, miei amici, this was l’ultima paglia (the last straw) for me (you may have to biggify the fotografie to see what I’m talking about)

THAT’S RIGHT! Molti grassetti cervi (many bold deer) have invaded il mio quartiere (my neighborhood) and they are afraid of nothing, not even my most robust barking! Just take a look at this Jane Doe that la mia ragazza and I saw during yesterday’s walkies. Hmmph! I stood right there in perfetto (perfect) Airedale stance and growled and yodeled on my leash (heee! I sometimes yodel when I get really wound up!), but she did not even twitch un orecchio (an ear), much less look at me! Of all the nerve! Finally, la mia ragazza clapped her hands and La Signorina Cervo (Miss Deer) turned and calmly loped away. Pllllbbbbbbbbb!! Arrivederci (goodbye)and good riddance!

After that, though, I was so distressed and so determined to sniff everywhere Her Bambi-ness had been that I could not focus on my walkies.

Instead, I just began to pull on my lead until la mia ragazza calmly issued this warning: “LuciaSTOP.” And when I kept pulling anyway, she yanked on my nosey!!!

ON MY DARLING AND CHARMING NOSEY!!

(Note from la mia ragazza: Lucia wears a Gentle Leader collar for walks; it tugs on her nose if she pulls too much. Oh, THAT never happens....)

Ok, but the GOOD part is, once I stopped, she said, “Good girrrrl, Lucia” and I got an ear scritchie and ….

… a delicious Zuke’s Chicken Treat! (Mmmm … chiiiickennnnn. I, Lucia, enjoy poultry of all kinds …)

But the wildlife problem remains and other than jump into the car and leave town...

I am at a loss as to how to resolve it. Aiuto! (Help!) Mango, can you spare a squadron of your squirrel fighters to rid my neighborhood of these white-tailed jackals!?! And Dennis, you have such skill fending off those nefarious gophers; can you send back-up help on a Majik Flying Coaster? Buster, can you bombard these cloven-hoofed invaders with your Wilsons?? Agatha, Certified Junior Earth Dog, can you root them out like the big rats they are???

Something must be done … but what!?!?! My beautiful and peaceful Lucia-verse is being threatened daily by these very assertive interlopers -- they are taunting me, taunting me, taunting me -- and I just don’t know what to do! Any ideas or solutions you may have, dearest bloggie pals, would be deeply and sincerely appreciated!

Tanti baci!
Lucia

Senza Parole Mercoledi

2009-06-17T06:50:00.003-04:00

La Morta Anatra

2009-06-08T13:29:00.026-04:00

Doing Away with the Doldrums by Doing in the Duck

Ciao miei amici!

I just didn't know what to do with myself today. It was too hot to play outside for very long and la mia ragazza seemed to spend more time with the washy machine and the 'puter than she did her darling gingery Lucia. Pllllbbbbbbll!!

Giving me ear scritchies is better exercise for la mia ragazza's fingers than typing on the 'puter!!! Wait until you see how I took care of THAT ..... heeeeeeee!!!

Oh, la mattina (the morning) began with great promise, to be sure: I had some squisito (delicious) yogurt in my kibble AND got to lick il cucchiaio (the spoon) so lots of the yogurt got into my beard while a little dab landed on my charming nose, provoking a round of magnificent sneezing (aaaaaaaaaaachooo!). Then, once my breakfast had settled and I had visited some – ahem – private areas in my yardie, la mia ragazza and I played relay toss-and-catch with some of my stuffies and tennis balls, including the Big Blue Wubba ball – which, after an invigorating workout with my efficient white teeth, was fully freed from its blue Wubbaness. Yet despite my rough handling, it still maintained its delightfully ticklish voice:

After I spent several moments of listening to my blueless Wubba ball and my AirSqueaker ball sing, despair set in. I shuffled around mia casa (my house) in search of something else to do. Yawwwwwwwnnnnn.

I went outside and barked for a while … ho hummmmm ... then made a quick check on Little Pompeii and while I was there, innocently minding my own beeswax, la mia ragazza snuck up and …

FURMINATED ME! Santa vacca!

It was too hot and hoooomid to stay outside for long, so I came back inside and thought about body slamming through the doors of la mia ragazza’s office, something I think about doing a blue million times a day but rarely attempt to actually try. Why?? Because the doors are always being guarded by the hateful, malevolent, evil red sucky monster,*** which inhales adorable Lucia fluffs that have gone AWOL, so I exercise great caution near it (….grrrrrrr…..)

(NOTE from Lucia's ragazza: I keep the vacuum in front of my office doors on purpose. Lucia hates the vac, which keeps her from slamming through the doors and grabbing whatever she can from my desk.It’s more effective than a deadbolt lock.)

Finally, I decided to take a nap and curled up on the cool tile floor in the kitchen …zzzzzzzzz

I woke up a little while later, invigorated and refreshed, spotted my gialla anatra (yellow duck) and wandered over to chat with him a bit. But once I got up close and sniffed his sweet ducky smell, I decided I should give him a bacio (smoochie) … and then … well, one thing led to another and … um, you can see for yourself:
(Icky blanket alert! It looked better in the IKEA catalog than it did on the guest bed -- but now it does a good job of protecting the cushions from my paws!)

OH, THE DUCK-MANITY! OH, THE CANARD-AGE! Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

But even after ALL THAT the little yellow guy still had something to say! Listen:

At first, la mia ragazza thought I was channeling the duck, but really -- giggle!!! -- I just had the duck’s voice box and was making it talk. She took it away and put it up high on the shelf where I couldn’t reach it. Booooo!

Alas, poor ducky ... I knew you well....

Tanti baci!
Lucia

PeeEss! Two important things are happening on Tuesday -- first, I, Lucia, am spending the morning at the spa for a bubble bath and summer grooming. And second, the Dell computer service technician is stopping by to install a new keyboard in la mia ragazza's 'puter. I chewed up the "J" key this afternoon! Heeeeeeeeee!!!!

Boooooooooooored!

2009-06-05T15:17:00.015-04:00

Ciao, miei amici!

Eccomi! (Here I am!) At long last, I, Lucia, have returned to the bloggieverse!

Why have I been so out of touch lately, you ask?

BECAUSE LA MIA RAGAZZA IS A SLACKER OF MONUMENTAL PROPORTIONS! And by that I mean SHE IS THE REIGNING QUEEN, THE GRAND POOBAH and THE UBER-EST OF UBER SLACKERS!!

Plllllbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WHAT?? NO! YOU TELL THEM!! WAIT … DID YOU SAY FOR A BISCOTTO (BISCUIT)?????? OH, OKAAAYYYYYY….]

La mia ragazza, a.k.a THE REIGNING QUEEN OF THE SLACKERS, wants you to know that A) she was away, traveling and B) upon her return, she came down with the flooooooooo and has been sick as un cane (a dog) (wait …. why do hoomans say that??) with a sore throat and achies and a hurty head. To that, I say … big deal!!! I, Lucia, have been waiting, waiting, waiting patiently for her to stop eating poppysicles and going through tissues like a swarm of locuste (locusts) in a cornfield to UPDATE MY BLOGGIE, already!!

Hey, how about updating my bloggie?????

UPDATE MY BLOGGIE, PLEEEEEEEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alas, to no avail! So, in la mia noia (my boredom),

I looked for things to do since it was clear to me that SHE would rather have a personal rapporto (relationship) with Auntie Byotics than with her most darlingest of ‘dales. First, I laid waste to my adored giocattoli (toys), vanquishing my pink Puppy Wubba -- the preferred plaything of my youth -- and exposing its squeaky innards before focusing my attention on its brother, the Big Blue Wubba. I surgically removed their code (tails), amusing myself for a while with the gentle, feathery nosey tickles of the Wubbas’ frayed edges. Aaaaaachoooo!!!! I also de-stuffed tre (three) of my loofah stuffies, including this gurrrrly pink one.

But these small expenditures of compressed Airedalius Lucius energia (energy) were simply not enough to stave off the bad case of la-mia-ragazza-less doldrums that had descended upon me like a smothery gray nuvola (cloud), so I sought other diversions. And when la mia ragazza clipped me to the outside lead yesterday morning so I could tan my gingery furs in the beautiful sunshine, I saw a fabulous opportunity for physical exertion and mental stimulation: A new archaeological scavo (excavation)!!!!

So ... while you-know-flooooo dozed off in the lawn chair, steeped in NyQuil (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz) and with a death-grip on her casella di tessuti (box of tissues), I, Lucia—at last free from my ennui-ness, stealthily began … to … dig.

Who, me? Digging? Noooooo, I was just taking a nap ... my nosey is always dusty like this ....

Oh, the unmitigated joy of plunging paw to earth! The exquisite velvety feel of dirt beneath my nails! The olfactory overload on the super-sized Airedalius Lucius nose as it dipped into sun-dappled ground! Hello, buggies! Hello, wormies! Hello, shrubbie roots! Hello, squirrel-buried-acorns! I, Lucia, am here to free you from your terra firma shackles!!! Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

La mia ragazza woke up long enough to capture the action, so I am able to present to everydoggie, kitteh, hammie and hooman, this clip, my very first viddie posting (we hope this works…..!!!), which I have entitled “Piccolo (little)Pompeii – The Joy of the Dig”:

Note how I not only excavated the dirt, but also removed patio mattoni (bricks), too! Oh, I certainly have a future in architecture AND archaeology, there can be no doubt!

Of course, once la mia ragazza discovered the depth (heeeeee!!!) and scope of my project, she became more animated than Disney’s “Fantasia.” So much for the calming effects of NyQuil! She was so upsetted that it even drove away the Canada Goosey mama and her children,

and NOTHING KNOWN TO MANKIND OR DOGKIND drives them away once they’ve settled in your neighborhood! Santa vacca, send me back to the kennel**, already – I just can’t take the melodrama!

Tanti baci!
Lucia

**Yes, you heard me correctly: the kennel! While la mia ragazza was away, I, Lucia, was boarded with a congenial pack of otherdoggies at the kennel. Oh, what fun! I got to romp in the doggie playground with Jonny the Vizsla – who so closely resembled our bloggie pal, Dennis, that I kept asking Jonny, “Hey, are you SURE your name isn’t Dennis the Vizsla? No? Ok bye!” -- and I bunked next to a Golden Retriever buddy who reminded me of Paco, Milo AND Mason Dixie! There was a white poodle that looked like a scaled-down Sunny, a Chihuahua who reminded me of my beloved amico, Rambo, and a Goldendoodle who was the very image of Clive. (I was the lone terrierierrrr!) While there, I got to go for walkies around a big pond and indulge in a new flavor of Kong stuffie – BEEF!! Mmmmmm!!! La mia ragazza had extreme frets over leaving me at the kennel (which I will later use to my advantage, bwah-ah-ah!), but candidly everybloggie, I had a fantastico time!

PeeEss: I post this picture

for our new pupster pal, Miro, who recently had his ‘dale ears glued. This is me, Lucia, the day I had my ears glued by my breeder. La mia ragazza gets all teary when she sees fotografie (photos) of me as a young pup … sigh. I swear, she is an emotional wreck sometimes … not to mention THE REIGNING QUEEN OF THE SLACKERS!!!!!

BOOM ... WOOF!

2009-05-14T14:19:00.009-04:00

Ciao miei amici!

I have been barking my noggin off for the past ora (hour) or so because there has been TUONO (THUNDER)! I am not quite sure what this thunder business is, but every time I hear a loud BOOM, I feel the urge to talk back.

What is that noise?!?!

La mia ragazza doesn't exactly try to pet or snuggle me when the thunder thunders because she read in some doggie libri (books) that making a big fuss over thunder will only reinforce my reaction to it, so mostly, she just tries to keep doing whatever it is that she's doing when the BOOM hits. I'm very curiosa (curious), everydoggie -- how do you handle thunder in your homes? If you all get cuddles and extra attention, I'm going to stage a big protest to la mia ragazza!

Now, while this thunderyness is not so great, I am MOLTO, MOLTO (VERY, VERY) happy to report that la mia ragazza's papa is home again and feeling much better after getting several rounds of Auntie Biotics these past few days. We will be spending some time with him this fine settimana (weekend), just to give him a hand until he's 100 percent back to normal.

On the go again!

Well, wait -- la mia ragazza is spending some time with him this weekend, but I, Lucia, am going to be spending some time with my beloved Auntie Beth. Why am I going there, you ask? Because Grandpa needs to rest a lot and -- giggle!! -- sometimes I bark too much at things I see in the yard. Birdies, squirrels, bunnies -- ah, I feel the need to converse with them all! The goooooood news is, Auntie Beth's vicini (neighbors) have a 5-month-old Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier that I may get to play with! Yayyy! We will try to get some fotografie (pictures) and will post them so you can see this dear pupster. I also understand from la mia ragazza that I have a cugino (cousin) in that area -- an Airedale Terrier who's from the same breeder that I'm from. Wouldn't it be fantastico (fantastic) if I ran into this doggie while taking a walkie with Auntie Beth?? Santa vacca (holy cow), I would be overjoyed!

La mia ragazza told me that we will try to visit everybloggie before we go because we have lots of catching up to do, but in the meantime, she wants to say [WAIT ... WHAT?? OK, OK, OK] ...Actually, she says she'll tell you in the PeeEss, so I'll sign off with ....

Tanti baci!

Lucia

PeeEss: Thank you so very much to all of Lucia's bloggie pals and their mamas and papas. Your prayers, good wishes and crossed paws (not to mention that wonderful Aire Zen!) for my father and my beautiful mom have meant the world to me. You all are so caring and so kind -- what an amazing community!

Lucia's Ragazza (Girl)

Un Favore

2009-05-11T16:58:00.006-04:00

Ciao, miei amici!

I have a special favore (favor) to ask of everydoggie, kitty, hammie and hooman and hope you'll be able to help. Ieri (yesterday) was a hard day for la mia ragazza because it was the first Mother's Day she had without her darlingest mama. Some of you already know that la mia ragazza lost her mama in Dicembre (December), so even though she had intended to post something yesterday about mamas and how straordinaria (extraordinary) and speciale (special) hers was, well ... it just made her too sad. I told her that I completely understood and not to fret about it. Unfortunately, there WAS some fretting done yesterday over la mia ragazza's papa, who is not feeling well.

Here we are on our way to see la mia ragazza's papa. It was windy!

So, here's the favor part: could all of you keep your paws and fingers crossed that he'll be bouncing back soon? I, Lucia, would be especially grateful, and I know la mia ragazza would be, too.

Mille grazie (a million thanks) dearest bloggie pals! Mwahh!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

Senza Parole Mercoledi

2009-05-06T10:29:00.002-04:00

Fotografie-less Passeggiata

2009-05-05T12:56:00.012-04:00

Ciao, miei amici!

Even though I was esausta (exhausted) from the thrilling and splendid wedding festivities in Salzburg -- plus my performance with il mio caro (my darling) Busterigo in “The Magic Flute” – la mia ragazza decided a nice pre-dinner passeggiata (walkie) would be just the thing for us ieri (yesterday). So, off we went to the park for a four-mile hike that took us past a bello ruscello (pretty stream) along a path that cut through magnifici alberi (magnificent trees) and lots of wildflowers. Why are there no fotografie (photographs) of this, you ask? Because la mia ragazza FORGOT TO BRING THE CAMERA! Plllffffbbbbb!

Once we finished our walkie, we both sat on a grosso masso (big boulder) alongside the pretty stream, and many admirers came over to ask la mia ragazza what sort of doggie I was. I got lots of attention and many pats, and quite a few little hoomans wanted to give me ear scritchies, and naturally, being polite and amiable, I indulged everyone.

In lieu of fotografie (photographs) from the park – which, to remind you, are not available because la mia ragazza FORGOT TO BRING THE CAMERA – she snapped a few pikkies from our yard so you can see what’s currently blooming there. Mmmm … lille (lilacs)! What dolce profumo (sweet perfume)!

Here are the beginnings of the peonies. We’ll have to wait a little while longer until their beautiful pink fiori (flowers) bloom.

And here are some hydrangea shoots, just waking up in time for spring …

… and some bambini (baby) clematis …

… and the feathery red leaves of the Giapponese (Japanese) maple tree.

And here is a rare gingery-colored Airedaleus Lucius (Lucia the Airedale), freshly clipped from the groomer. La mia ragazza says it is her most precious fiore (flower) of all. Awwwwww ….. I may have to give her an extra-big smoochie for that!!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

Senza Parole Mercoledi

2009-04-29T05:33:00.003-04:00

Santa Vacca! Awards!

2009-04-28T08:21:00.000-04:00

Ciao, miei amici!

A abundance of awards has dropped into my beautiful universe, all from my amato (beloved) bloggie friends. Clearly, I am the luckiest Aire-girl ever!

This is the Kreativ Blogger Award! Mille grazie to theBUSTER, Ms. Sephie and Ms. Bailey Blue for sharing it with me. Mwah! Here are its rules:

1. Post it on your blog and link to the doggie that gave it to you. 2. List sette (seven) things you love. 3. List seven blogs you love. 4. Email or comment on the blogs you love to let them know you've given them an award.

Ok, hmm … I had to think about this a bit, but here are seven things:

1. I love my bloggie amici (friends)!
2. I love to go for rides in the car, and especially love going through the car wash. I enjoy trying to bite the water when it hits the window. This sets la mia ragazza off into fits of risate (laughter), but being a natural and gifted comedian, I’m always up for making someone giggle. (Giggle!)
3. I love sneaking onto il divano (the sofa), even though I’m not supposed to be up there. I am obsessed with the pillows on the sofa and like to bury myself under them and then bark really loud.
4. I love beautiful Italia and looking through all of la mia ragazza’s fotografie (photos) from her visits there.
5. I love chewing on things – ‘puter cords, glasses, shoes, my new bed – they’re all delicious! My trainer said this is because I am very “mouthy,” which, apparently, is an Airedale trait. La mia ragazza calls it something else, but I can’t tell you what that is perche (because) this is a G-rated bloggie. (Heeeeeeeee!!!!)
6. Amo scavare (I love to dig). OMD, do I ever love to dig. I dig holes in the yard, holes in the giardino fiorito (flower garden) and holes in the planters – I even paw at the carpet when I’m attempting to bury a biscotto (biscuit) that I’m not quite ready to devour.
7. I love going for long walkies in the nearby parks with la mia ragazza. And I reallllllly love it when I meet nuovi cani amici (new doggie pals) or little hoomans along the way. I am incredibly sociable! (Note from Lucia’s girl: she’s like the Pied Piper of Hamlin …)

Now, as for bloggies that I love, well, the truth is, I love ALL of my friends’ bloggies because each is unica (unique) and meraviglioso (wonderful) in its own way, but since I can only pick seven for this award – sigh!! – here they are:

1. Naturally, I love Persephone, Buster (mwah, mwah!) and Ms. Bailey Blue’s blog. Frankly, la mia ragazza consistently falls to the floor in fits of giggling apoplexy over it. Somebody throw a bucket of water on her, already …santa vacca (holy cow)….!
2. I love Dennis’ Diary of Destruction because Dennis, Tucker and Trixie are always encountering strange and fascinating life forms (gophers, ninja hedgehogs, giant stuffies , bees, email bankers – you name it, they stumble onto it) and there never seems to be a humdrum day out there in Sandy Eggo.
3. I love Digsby’s bloggie because he is just so adorable. If you haven’t seen the post about his first aire-cut, run right over there now and take a look – it is very, very funny.
4. I love Deetzy’s bloggie because … awwww, who doesn’t love Deetzy!!?!! He’s a darling ragazzo (boy) with a huge and gentle cuore (heart).
5. I love Paco and Milo’s bloggie because they’re such beautiful, smiley goldies … and they live in the part of Italia that la mia ragazza loves the most.
6. I love Stanley and Stella’s bloggie because without their encouragement, I might not have a bloggie, myself, or have met so many of you!
7. I love my dear friend Rambo’s bloggie, because he is unfailingly sweet and because he barks Italian to me.
8. I love … wait … [WHAT?? NO WAY, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE!] La mia ragazza just reminded me that I am only supposed to list seven bloggies … plllbbbb! Well, to all my bloggie pals who didn’t get mentioned in this pathetically and tragically short list – which I have no control over! – please know that I love all of your bloggies, too!

I think some of you already have this award but I'd still like to pass it along to Nelly, to Bobo and Meja (they already have one Kreativ Blogger award, but this version looks different!), to Digsby, to Clive, and to Sally and Paddy. Mwah!

Mille grazie (thanks a million) to Jake and Fergi and to Piper, Carrleigh and Lilly for this splendid Proximity Award! Here is its description: This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award. (All this prize requires is to pass it on!)

Well, many, many of you already have this valuable award so instead of passing it along to eight specific bloggers, I think it’s better to say that if you don’t have this award, I invite you to pick it up here and post it to your bloggie!

And now for Neno’s Award! Mille grazie (thanks a million) to Tula, Jake and Fergi and to Piper, Carrleigh and Lilly for bestowing this upon me! Here’s why Neno’s Award is given, followed by its rules: As a dedication for those who love blogging activity and love to encourage friendships through blogging.

To seek the reason why we all love blogging.
~Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it. (Oopsy! My bad!)
~Don’t forget to mention the person who gives you the award.
~Answer the Award’s question by writing the reason why you love blogging.
~Tag and distribute the Award to as many people as you like.
Remember to notify the awardees and put their links in your post.

It’s simple: I love blogging because I get to meet so many friends from so many places – and amici (friends) and famiglia (family) are the most precious things in the world. (Well, and so are treats….but that’s a separate bloggie post!) For any who don’t yet have this award, please help yourself to it here!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

Snackalicious Sabato

2009-04-25T12:48:00.000-04:00

Ciao, miei amici!

E’ molto caldo (it’s very warm) here today – at least a thousand degrees, I’m pretty sure – and tira vento (it’s windy). La mia ragazza had to run a few morning errands to places that allow doggie visitors, so she put me in the car with her and off we went. First stop: the garden center to pick up some grass seed. We need erba (grass) seed because --ooopsy – I have burned out some areas of the prato (lawn) due to my eccellente (excellent) and molto (very) efficient, um, fluid processing system.

Next stop: the pet store – land of free snackies at the check-out counter! What delizioso (delightful) surprises did I stumble upon there, you ask? Well, here I am checking out some huge bags of succulenti spuntini (succulent snacks). I love these lower shelves – they're just right for sniffing out the best items.

I pointed to these ...

and la mia ragazza obligingly put them in our cart. Mmmmm … peanut buttery chewies. I will devour each delicate finger of nutty goodness in a mere due secondi, forse tre (two seconds, perhaps three). Giggle!!

I also pawed at these, and she put them in our cart, too:

And look! Busy Chewnola!

Although I enjoy them very much, la mia ragazza is over la luna (moon) crazy about them because it takes me a long time to gnaw through them (long time = 10 hooman minutes), meaning I am prepawcupied for a bit. She says it gives her enough time to write one paragraph of an article, or wash her hair, or empty the dishywasher, or check her email -- all in relative peace. Per carita (puh-leeze)! I am truly not THAT annoying ... it's just that I enjoy heaping her with lots of attention!

And I got some of these because they remind me of my sweet azzurro ragazzo (blue boy), Busterigo. Mwah! Just look at his magnifico (magnificent) face on the cookie box. Honestly, girls, isn't he just da morire (to die for)!?!? E' cosi' figo! (He's such a hunk!)

Anyway, about these biscotti (cookies): are they ever megagalattica (awesome) -- simply la fine del mondo (out of this world)! La mia ragazza says they look and smell just like “people” cookies. She had better not get any ideas…!!

Here I am doing a quick review of rope toys:

I, Lucia, usually have several rope toys at my casa, but I so gleefully shred them in no time flat – leaving meraviglioso (wonderful) wads of damp thread all over the floor for hoomans to enjoy – that we are in a constant state of restocking my inventory. La mia ragazza calls this phenomenon, “Rope Toy Flux.” (Which is kissing cousin to "Stuffie Flux," and a distant relation to "La Mia Ragazza's Shoe Flux." Heeeee...!!!!) But as for those rope toys, once I start the shredding process and make any sort of respectable headway, la mia ragazza throws away the frazzled toy because it makes a big mess. Pllbbbbblll!!

On the way home, we dropped by my groomer’s place prendere un appuntamento (to make an appointment) for an aire-do next Wednesday. La mia ragazza wants the groomer to strip my sella (saddle) so it stays black, and my furnishings and face need a little work, too. I, Lucia, have never been stripped before but the groomer said that I am “blowing my puppy coat” (fffwwooooooo!!!!) and said stripping would quickly tidy up my darlingest good looks. I guess la mia ragazza changed her mind about cancelling my spa day due to the chewed-‘puter-cord expense, but I think that’s because it’s getting warm here now and she doesn’t want me to be too hot in excess gingery and black furs. It's good that she's a girl, like me. We have an understanding when it comes to the subject of beauty.

Hope you all are having a fabulous fine settimana (weekend), miei cari amici (my dear friends)!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

Cani e Gatti

2009-04-22T08:21:00.000-04:00

Ciao, miei amici!

This email showed up in la mia ragazza’s Outlook inbox this morning:

GATTI (CATS)!?!!?!??!!!

Why would Amazon think she has an interest in riviste o libri (magazines or books) about i gatti (cats)!!?!? Between the gray, rainy weather I woke up to this morning and THIS, I was molto, molto turbato (very, very upset) and retreated to my red sofa in a blue mood. I had to close my eyes and think some thoughts. I even fretted a little.

For all gattino ammiratori (kitty admirers) out there, I, Lucia, have nothing personal against cats except for the one who was mean to my friend Digsby’s mama, but let it be known that ours is a one-pet household and that pet is an AIREDALE! Oh, I’m not saying that la mia ragazza couldn’t – someday – bring home a doggie fratello o sorella (brother or sister) for me, perhaps another Airedale … or one of THESE (plllbbbbbb!!!)

but un GATTO (a CAT)!?!?!!?
This has totally upset my morning, my whole week and my entire beautiful universe. I may have to go off into a corner and sulk some more.

In other news, I did this last Sabato mattina (Saturday morning) to the 'puter's power cord:

I know it just looks like one little nibble, but it had big impact! It shut down our ‘puter for a while, until the replacement power cord arrived. La mia ragazza wasn’t at all happy about this, but it really wasn’t my fault. Honestly, it was not. I was curled up by her feet in a very friendly and sociable way, chewing on my chicken-basted bone, not bothering anyone or anything. Can I help it that the ‘puter cord was RIGHT THERE, in front of my muso (nose), and flew into my mouth when I chomped off the end of my bone?? Nooo!!
The problem was, la mia ragazza was already, um, slightly frazzled over finishing off my PhotoShoppy dress for Myrna's wedding. In fact, she had taken to self medicating with certain controlled substances in order to stay calm while using that rascally lasso tool to outline my charming but irregularly shaped head and darling beard.

As you can imagine, taking down the ‘puter in one fell chew didn’t go over so well. In fact, la mia ragazza was pretty irritato (irritated). I thought, sheesh, what’s the big deal, just get some colla (glue) and put the cord pieces back together, but apparently THAT’S not how you fix a chewed-up ‘puter cord. She looked on the internets -- grazie al cielo (thank goodness) for battery power -- and found a replacement. And then she told me I could just forget about my next spa session with the groomer because the power cord cost as much as a day of beauty. It is so amusing when I think about it: why would I care about not going to the groomer??? She might as well have said, “Lucia, you can just forget about having your teeth drilled today.” Oh, grande affare (big deal)!!!

Santa vacca (holy cow)!!! It just hit me: do you think la mia ragazza is looking for a kitty because of what I did to the ‘puter cord!?!?!!? Could I be ... replaced!?!?! Will she change the locks while I'm away in Salzburg!?!?! Oh noooooooo….!!!!!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

PeeEss: È Terra Giorno (It's Earth Day), everydoggie, kitteh, hammie and hooman. Be green! (Naturally, this is especially pertinent for all terriers, since we ARE, after all, earth doggies!)

La Dolce Dormita

2009-04-14T09:44:00.000-04:00

Ciao, miei amici!

As Hamlet once said, “To sleep, perchance to dream … aye, there’s the rub.” Well, to sleep and to dream, you first need a decent bed and aye, there was the rub for me! Santa vacca (holy cow), I had grown so much in these past months that my once-comfy crate pads had literally worn thin. I had been waking up ogni mattina (every morning) with sore leggies, pains in my neck and a generally poor disposition, so clearly, drastic measures had to be taken. After many nights of off-tunefully vocalizing my deep discontent to mia ragazza – which I usually did from the hours of 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. – she finalmente (finally) did some research on the internets and entro pochi giorni (within a few days), this ginormous object arrived at the door to mia casa:

Because by nature I am molto curioso (very curious) and anche perché (also because) I am, of course, il cane della casa, (the dog of the house) – ergo, it’s my responsibility to thoroughly screen all incoming packages, mail, hoomans, leaves and dustballs – I nosepoked mia ragazza until she got le forbici (the scissors) and cut the tape holding the box closed. Now, there’s nothing I enjoy more than to shred up a big cardboard box – and this one looked particularly tasty ....
but when mia ragazza reached into the box to pull out its contents, I was so enthralled that I barely took more than a glancing nibble at the box, itself. Why on earth would I want cardboard when I could feast my eyes on QUESTA magnificence (THIS magnificence):

So coolly and beautifully verde (green), so ergonomically designed, so sturdily constructed, so … superiore in ogni modo (superior in every way)! Surely Brunelleschi himself could not have engineered more fantastice curve (fantastic curves). I circled il glorioso oggetto (the glorious object) to complete my inspection and spied this:

But of course it was splendido e perfetto (splendid and perfect)! It was made in la mia bella patria ancestral (my beautiful ancestral homeland), obviously by gifted artisans of the most extraordinary skill and talent. I jumped right in to give it my patented la Principessa e il Pisello (Princess and the Pea) test. Hmmmm ... [cuddle … snuggle … burrow] … mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm …sì, è la perfezione! ( yes, it’s perfection!) Truly it lives up to its name: Perla! (Pearl!) And miei amici, I can confirm to all of you, my Perla is a gem of a bed!

Ah, mia ragazza, my leggies thank you, my darlingest fuzztush thanks you, my neck thanks you, my back thanks you, my chinnie (which can rest comfortably now, propped on the sturdy sides of my new bed) thanks you, Madonna mia, my whole entire Lucia-ness thanks you!

E ora a dormire, forse per avere un dolce sogno (And now to sleep, perchance to have a sweet dream)…. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……………

Tanti baci!
Lucia

Easter Greetings!

2009-04-11T11:14:00.000-04:00

La mia ragazza and I wish everydoggie, kitteh, hammie and hooman

Buona Pasqua (Happy Easter)!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

2009-04-07T00:04:00.000-04:00

If Music be the Food of Love, Click "Play"

Ciao, miei amici!

Call it fate, or kismet or -- my favorite -- destino (destiny) but sometimes, it just seems certain things are meant to be! This is a molto speciale (very special) post dedicated to il mio dolce azzurro ragazzo (my sweet blue boy), theBUSTER. Sigh ... he is un sogno! (a dream!)

(I'll let you in on a little secret: you'll have to read Buster's Sunday post to figure out what my post for today means...!!)

Tanti baci!

Lucia

PeeEss: Santa vacca (holy cow), la mia ragazza almost lost all of her remaining marbles trying to follow the PhotoShop directions, can you tell!?!? Giggle...!!!

Monday Morning Thoughts

2009-04-06T10:19:00.000-04:00

Ciao, miei amici,

These fiori (flowers) are for the people of Italia Centrale

Stiamo pregando per tutti voi. (We are praying for all of you.)

Abbracci di conforto,

(Hugs of comfort)

Lucia

Troppo Occupato!

2009-04-04T18:32:00.000-04:00

She’s been busy, I’ve been bored … that spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e
Un italiano lezione in una storia
(An Italian Lesson in a Story)

Ciao miei amici!

You know those days when you want your umana (hooman) to AGGIORNA (update) YOUR BLOGGIE, ALREADY and to giocare (play) but no matter how long you sit nicely and stare at her sweetly,

she just won’t stop working to pay much attention to you? And you know how you stubbornly refuse to give up because you just know that if she’d take a short break and lanciare la palla (throw the ball) with you, she’d really like it? And you know how you bark a little to remind her of this, but nothing happens, so then you bark louder and a lot more …

… until she gets up from her scrivania (desk) and says, “Let’s go outside,” and you’re really happy? And you know how you both walk outside and she clips on your lead and then goes back inside so you instantly realize that “let’s go outside,” really means, “you’re going outside” and you get a little … irritati (irritated)? And you know how you look around your yard, feeling frustrated, until you spot the dirt in the giardino fiorito (flower garden) and trot over to check it out, and even though you KNOW you’re going to catch the dickens later for doing it, you don’t care and so you start to … dig? And then you know how, before you realize it, your viso e zampe (face and paws) are all dirty and there’s un grande buco (a big hole) in the flower garden and lots of mud everywhere? And then you know how you hear la porta (the door) open and you think, wuh-ohhhh and then you hear something like this:

“LUCIASTOPRIGHTTHISMINUTEISWEARYOUAREADEVILDOG!!”

Well, that happened to me today. Sigh. Or maybe giggle … I don’t know which, really!! BTW, mia ragazza is testing out a new photo editing program that she found on the Internets – can you tell!!?!? She thinks drawing those red horns on my noggin is realllllly funny. Hmmph.

Importante!
And now, under the heading of, “Not Related to the Original Bloggie Topic but Very, Very Important,” here’s a molto speciale (very special) ode to Principe Azzurro. The literal translation of Principe Azzurro is “Blue Prince,” but it’s also an Italian idiom for “Prince Charming.” How perfetto (perfect) for mia dolce Busterigo (my sweet Buster!) the Kerry Blue Terrier!

Yes, I know it’s a little silly and not at all on the level of Busterigo’s magnifico (magnificent) haiku, but I had to come up with something quickly when mia ragazza pulled the rug out from under THIS, which I WAS going to write to Principe Azzurro:

“Who knows? Perhaps the same bird echoed through both of us yesterday, separate, in the evening...”

Sigh ... such belle, romantice parole (beautiful, romantic words)! But mia ragazza said someone named Rilke already wrote them
and if I pretended that I wrote them, it would be plagiarism. Oh, le complicazioni di romanticismo! (Oh, the complications of romance!)

Tanti baci!
Lucia

Some Sweet Nothings

2009-03-26T16:01:00.000-04:00

Ciao miei amici!

Pssst!

Have you heard?!? Petey is organizing a molto romantico (very romantic) evening of dinner and dancing this weekend at New York's famous Rainbow Room! Naturally, I'm a little biased, but if you ask me, nothing speaks of romance quite like speaking in Italian. So, for all of you amore uccelli (lovebirds) who'll be at the Rainbow Room this weekend, I'm offering a short course in how to say romantic things in Italian to your sweet little biscotti (cookies).

La Lingua d'Amore!

(The Language of Love!)

Mia cara (my dear)

Amore mio (my love)

Dolcezza! (Honey!)

Vuoi uscire con me? (Do you want to go out with me?)

Sei bellissima! (You're beautiful!)

Vuoi ballari? (Do you want to dance?)

Sei qui da solo? (Are you here alone?)

Sei cosi figa! (You are so gorgeous!)

Mi sono proprio divertita stasera (I had a great evening)

Mi ami? (Do you love me?)

I'm in love with you! (Sono innamorata di te!)

Of course, miei cari amici, sometimes uno romanticismo (a romance) is just not meant to be, alas! If that happens, here's what to say:

Mi dispiace, non sei il mio tipo (I'm sorry, you're not my type)

Non credo che stia funzionado fra noi due (I don't think it's working out between us)

Sigh ... amore!!

Tanti baci!
Lucia

Friendly Blogger from a Blogger Friend!

2009-03-23T08:01:00.000-04:00

Ciao miei amici!

La lezione di lingua italiana di oggi è:

(The Italian Language Lesson for Today is:)

Amici e Premi!
(Friends and Awards!)

I'm all bashful and a-blush over this little smiley-faced pal from mio caro amico (my dear friend), Dennis the Vizsla!

If you haven't yet stopped by to see Dennis and Dennis' Diary of Destruction, run right over there as fast as you can. Mia ragazza (My girl) falls on the floor laughing about a squijillion times each day over the utterly amusing musings of this molto divertente ragazzo (very funny boy) and his adventures with majik flying coasters, gophers and unusual methods of entrepreneurial financing.

I don't think there are many official rules for the Friendly Blogger Award except that the friendly thing to do (giggle!) would be to pass it along to some other amichevole (friendly) bloggers. So, without further ado, I am sending it along to alcuni di miei amici (a few of my friends):

Lilly, Carrleigh, Piper and Java , my new bloggie pals

Asta Urbanista because she's just so sweet and kind and always welcomes everyone

Tula Monstah, who makes me smile each time I visit her bloggie

Miei cari Italiani amici, Paco and Milo -- ti amo, ragazzi! (My dear Italian friends, Paco and Milo -- I love you, guys!)

Opy and Charlie -- and their mama and papa -- for all the hard work they do for DWB

I send this award along to all of you with plenty of Lunedi (Monday) mwah mwah mwahs!!!

Ok, now to other important Monday matters. I found this book in mia ragazza's tote

... and I immediately thought, santa vacca, lei sta scherzando!! (Holy cow, you must be kidding!) We are a uno cane casa (one-dog house) -- but could she be thinking of something, well, something MORE??

Tanti baci!

Lucia

At Last! (And I don’t mean the song!)

2009-03-20T13:49:00.000-04:00

Ciao, miei amici!

Ho avuto abbastanza di inverno, ogni cane, gatto, criceto e umano amico,
(I have had enough winter, everydoggie, kitty, hamster and human friend,)
so I have been focusing my thoughts on spring for the past few weeks …

… and keeping my paws crossed that it would get here soon!

So ... la lezione di lingua italiana di oggi è:
(... the Italian lesson for today is:)
Segni di primavera!
(Signs of Spring!)

When I heard the birds singing this morning, I just knew: spring had arrived in mia citta! (my city!) I could sniff it in the air!
I ran outside like a blur to look for it.
This very stubborn tree STILL won't let go of last year’s leaves – santa vacca! (holy cow!) Talk about refusing to embrace change!! But I wasn’t fooled by it!
I noticed that lots of other plants in my yard seem to be getting ready for the season – like these bambini narcissi (baby daffodils). Awwww!
And here are some grande narcissi! (large daffodils!)

Mia ragazza says she thinks this is a flower called Arance e Limoni (Oranges and Lemons) that she planted last year. She is glad to see it survived our hard winter!

Affrettatevi, lillà!
(Hurry, lilacs!)

Mmmm! Ortensia canne da ultimo anno (hydrangea canes from last year).

Now, if I can just reach one …
Got it!

I hope spring shows up very soon for all of you, too!

Tanti baci!
Lucia

PeeEss: To Noah, Tess, Willow, Lucy, Opy, Charlie and all dear, sweet pals who are wayyyyyyyy down south, I hope your autumn is full of beautiful colors!

Oopsy, wait, another PeeEss: Per favore (please), go visit Lilly, Piper and Carrleigh, a trio of Scottish Terrier cutie pies who are new to our bloggiverse. Now ... you all know I'm a smidgey geloso (jealous) of mia sorella (my sister) of another decade, Scottish Terrier St. Jinks the Good, but I have to admit, THESE three doggies look like they're going to be great new pals -- and lots of fun! Benvenuto, nuovi favulosi amici! (Welcome, fabulous new friends!)

2009-03-17T00:15:00.000-04:00

Ciao miei amici!

March 17th is a day of many special things, so ...

La lezione di lingua italiana di oggi è:

Celebrare la Giornata!
(Celebrate the Day!)

Mia ragazza is sorry for the poor photo quality. I was so excited about today that I wouldn't sit still!

It's il giorno di San Patrizio!! Wear something verde! Special playbows to all of the Irlandesi doggies, kittehs, hammies and hoomans out there, including THEBuster, Persephone and Ms. Bailey Blue -- our Kerry Blue Terrier friends -- and Keeley, the Irish Terrier. And speaking of Keeley ...

It's Keeley's birthday! Buon compleanno, caro amico!

And (drum roll, per favore) ... it's our buddy Stanley's Gotcha Day!!! We're so glad you're here, dolce Goob!

Tanti baci!
Lucia

What a Weekend!

2009-03-16T10:34:00.000-04:00

Ciao miei amici!

What a tremendously good fine settimana I had with mia ragazza! The tempo forecast predicted sunny skies and warmer temperatures, so on Sabato mattina, mia ragazza said, “Lucia, mia amora, we are going out for some fresh air and sunshine!”

Did she say "going out"???!?!?!

Mia ragazza packed up my leash, some snackies and my portable water dish, grabbed her sunglasses and off we went.

So, miei cari studenti, la lezione di lingua italiana di oggi è:

Andiamo il Parco!
(Let’s go to the park!)

Qui è un piccolo ruscello. L'acqua era molto fredda.
(Here is a little stream. The water was very cold!)

I walked along the edges of the stream , but I have a long way to go until I’m as good a swimmer as Paco e Milo and Dexter!

Aspetto! Ho scavato un osso!
(Look! I dug up a bone!)

Si tratta di un parco speciale solo per i cani
(This is a special park just for dogs)

Eccomi con i miei nuovi amici
(Here I am with my new friends)

Sulla strada di casa, abbiamo lavato l'auto. Mia ragazza mi permetta di guidare!
(On the way home, we washed the car. My girl let me drive!)

A pochi pollici più in retromarcia
(A few more inches in reverse)

Dopo aver giocato al parco, incontro nuovi amici e il lavaggio la macchina, ero molto stanco!
(After playing at the park, meeting new friends and washing the car, I was very tired!)
Vede il mio cuscino preferito giallo? Mi piace masticare su di essa!
(Do you see my favorite yellow pillow? I like to chew on it!)

Tanti baci!

Lucia

2009-03-11T22:02:00.000-04:00

A Tasty Lesson!

Ciao, miei amici!
La lezione di lingua italiana di oggi è ...

... cose buone da mangiare!

La banana

Di pollo e verdure cibo per cani

Spuntini

Occhiali da vista

Scarpe e stivali

Burro di arachidi

Telefoni cellulari

Modanature in legno

Biscotti

Taccuino

Camicia

Mmmm ... let's eat!

(That means you, too, Lulu and Lacie!!!)

Tanti baci!
Lucia

Good Things Happen in Threes!

2009-03-10T09:50:00.000-04:00

Ciao miei amici!

After weeks and weeks AND WEEKS of this kind of molto male tempo …

… I woke up to the sound of robins chirping in my yard!! And although it’s supposed to rain later today, I am pretty sure I saw il sole peek out a time or two already this morning, and the frigid cold is – poof! – gone from the air. I got so wildly excited that I had to sing (just call me Lucia Paw-varotti!!):

Other than this fantastico break in the weather, there are three other things to note today. I’ll do them in reverse order and save la cosa più importante for last. First, I’m going to see my trainer, Stacey, today. Yayy! I have to work hard, but I always have so much fun when I’m there! Second, because my “TWOsday” game two weeks ago didn’t work out so well (I was the first one to mess it up when mia ragazza dropped the ball on my bloggie last week -- booooo!), I thought I’d try something new:

Impara l'italiano con Lucia

That means, “Learn Italian with Lucia”! In every bloggie post, I’ll have some Italian words and their English translations, and will show you how to use them. I’m so over-the-top happy about THIS that I can feel la canzone coming on again!

Wait, wait, I need to calm down so I can give you today's term (uno momento, per favore). Ok, here it is:

Buon compleanno

That means, "Happy Birthday," and it's an eccellante term to learn today because of this THIRD and più importante item in my bloggie post:

It's Mason Dixie’s Barkday!!

Cara bella Mason Dixie, I hope you get lots of torta, gelato e regali, but mostly, I hope you get lots and lots of amore because you are such a dolce e buona amica!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

To Molly from Heidi

2009-03-08T22:55:00.000-04:00

A Special Get Well Soon Message
Ciao, miei amici! I'm turning over the keyboard this morning to mia cugina, Heidi, the English Springer Spaniel. Heidi does not have her own bloggie (yet... everyone, tell her to join us!), so I'm having mia ragazza type for Heidi on mine.

Heidi has a very important message to send out to her ragazza, Molly, who e la nipote della mia ragazza, e la figlia della mia zia who visited last week. (Hmm ... did you get all of that?) Molly is under the weather oggi, so Heidi wants to send a dolce shout out to her, and asks that everydoggie, kitteh, hammie and hooman who can to also send Molly bunches of get well wishes. If you like, you can just leave them as comments on my bloggie, and Molly's mama will make sure Molly sees them later today.

Mwah, mwah, miei bloggie amici, for helping mia cugina to help HER ragazza to feel better fast!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

A Colorful Week in Mia Citta

2009-03-08T14:20:00.000-04:00

Brown Boxes, Pink Wilsons and Red Collars

Ciao bella miei amici! I’m sorry mia ragazza has been such a slacker lately with my bloggie, but she had company visiting this past week – her sorella, from out of town – and was sooooo preoccupied with spending time with HER that she forgot about taking care of MY bloggie! Booooooo!!! To try to soothe my feelings over this stunning creative neglect, she and mia zia gave me some tremendous and fun presents. (Si, si, miei amici, I’ll admit: I can be bought if the treats are right.) The BIGGEST one is this magnificent red and white soccer ball from mia zia. Doesn’t it just fill the space with mind-blowing architectural dimension???

Mia zia also gave me a whole can of pink Wilsons (playbows to theBUSTER for giving her the idea for Wilsons) because, given my compulsive and cheetah-like need to chew, I had chomped up all of my old Air Squeaker balls and killed the squealies in them.

The new pink Wilsons don’t squeak, but they bounce really high, which I just love!! I get so excited over the Olympic-class jumps of the Wilsons that I break out into a full tuckbuttrun of joy!

Just when I thought my cup was truly running over, a brown scatola was delivered to our front door by a man in a brown jacket and pants who got out of a big brown truck. Now, brown is very close to tan, and as I have tan paws and leggies, a tan tail and a nice, fuzzy tan face, I felt a good vibe from Mr. Brown and mama mia, was I ever on target with that! Wait’ll you see!

Mia ragazza put the box on the floor so I could give it a good sniff.

Once I had checked it out thoroughly, she took it into the kitchen and cut the sticky tape holding the box flaps closed. Out spilled this glorious fuzzy and squeaky splendor:

Wayyyy in the bottom of the box was a new leash for me, although I think it is really for mia ragazza. That’s because last week during one of our walks, I pulled really hard on my nylon leash and it slid fast through her hands and left a nasty looking red mark. She then yelled out one of my special names (I have many!): LuciacutthatoutNOW. Anyway, she got this new leather leash because my trainer told her it would be easier to manage me with it, and that it would last longer than nylon. (Hee hee: I have already chewed through two nylon leashes!!)

THENNNNNN, the next day, another regalo arrived in the mail: un bello nuovo rosso collare! My old nylon collars were getting a little snug because I am going through quite a growth spurt. (In fact, mia ragazza says she thinks I may be part quarterhorse because I am getting so big!) My new red collar feels much comfier. Ahhhh…

Grazie mille to mia zia, who not only brought me packages of special and very tasty yummies in her suitcase from like, a zillion miles away, but who also gave me the very exciting Wilsons and the saucy red and white soccer ball. Ti amo, mia cara zia! Please give mia cugina, Heidi the English Springer Spaniel, an extra smoochie from me for sharing you with us this past week.

And I SUPPOSE I’ll forgive mia ragazza for neglecting my bloggie this week since she DID get me the Brown Box of Fabulousness, my flirtatious rosso collar and the new leather leash. It’s not as tasty as my old nylon leashes, but it has an enticing al dente chewiness to it that I’m gradually getting used to!

Tanti baci!
Lucia

Loving Thoughts

2009-03-02T09:42:00.000-05:00

Our prayers, thoughts and love to la famiglia di Bogie.

Honest Scrap

2009-02-26T12:51:00.000-05:00

Honest Scrap: Telling the Whole Sorry Verito

BabyRocketDog and Hootie tapped me with the esteemed Honest Scrap award today, which means I have to tell ten truthful things about myself. Here are the official Honest Scrap rules:

"When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to said person so everyone knows he or she is real. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have 7 friends. Show the 7 random victims’ names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with “Honest Scrap" weblog. Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. List at least ten honest things about yourself. Then, pass it on!"

Now, please remember my girl’s pathetic techno skills and forgive us if she can’t figure out how to link back or create live links to those lucky seven I pass the Honest Scrap honors to. She promises she will try her best. So … here goes:

1. I wolf down my breakfasts and dinners in about one minute, flat. I’m a bit of a piggy!

2. I make peculiar noises in the middle of the night, including yodeling loudly and, my favorite, mmmmmm-ing as though I’m savoring a beautiful bowl of dinner. Although I’ve never really savored my dinner because I wolf it down in one minute flat.

3. Despite obedience classes, three kinds of special collars and all of my girl’s efforts, I still pull on my leash during walkies. She says one of her arms is now longer than the other.

4. I am keenly interested in the contents of the fridigerator and always try to nab things when the door is open. Once, I got a whole chicken (score!!); another time, I knocked over an unopened bottiglia of limoncello that mia ragazza had carefully toted all the way back from Italia, shattering it. It was crate citta for me after THAT one.

5. I steal everything: Shoes, gloves, sunglasses, books, hairbrushes, remote controls, keys, socks, plastic cups, cell phones, clothes from the dryer, sofa pillows – you name it.

6. I tuckbuttrun uncontrollably at least once per evening in a route that takes me through the first floor, up the stairs and then back down again. I usually make this loop about five times before I have to pause for a big slurp of water.

7. When mia ragazza is on the telefono with someone, I get jealous and start pulling on her sleeve or pants’ leg. Basically, I want to be at the center of her universe all the time.

8. There’s just something about ice cubes that makes me go totally pazzo. When I get one, I take off like a maniac through the house, dropping the ice cube and pouncing on it time and time again as it slides around. Eventually I crunch it up while in a full roach.

9. If mia ragazza has her hair in a ponytail and she bends down to give me baci, I not only pull on her ponytail, but I nab the ponytail elastic and dash off to chew it.

10. Across the hall from the foot of our stairs are double doors to my girl’s ufficio, a rich source of chewable papers and steal-able desktop items , so naturally, I am not allowed in. To gain access anyway, I run to the top of the stairs, pause to gather steam, then barrel down and body slam the office doors. Presto! Open!

So now, my lucky seven Honest Scrap honorees (please forgive me if you've already received this award!):

Persephone, Buster and Ms. Bailey Blue, the KBTs

Diggers the ADT

Ruby the ADT

Sally the WFT

My piccolo Italiano chi amico, Rambo, aka Topolino

ADT Faya and Welshie Dyos

Mr. T-Bone Beasley, the ADT

Tanti baci!

Lucia

2009-02-24T17:24:00.000-05:00

Italian Thanks and Scottish Terriers

Note: It’s only my third post and my girl is already messing up! She is verrry late getting this post onto my bloggie today, so I hereby extend the TWOsday game for all those who’d like to play. Take as long as you need!

Ciao, amici!

It’s TWOsday in my little cita, and that means it’s time to buddy up with a good pal (or someone you’d like to HAVE as a good pal) and say two nice things about them, as a way of saying thank you for friends. Now, my GIRRRRL is making me buddy up with mia sorella of a different decade, Jinks, and I have to say two nice things about her -- and that's mostly because the other night I nabbed one of the blue-million pictures my girl keeps of this perfetto (grrr…) Scottish terrier and gave it a good chewing. I am a smidgen jealous of Jinks, can you tell?

So, begrudgingly, I officially tap Jinks as my TWOsday buddy and here are the two nice things I have to say about her:

Uno: Not only was she a doggie, but she could also be a dustmop in a pinch and sweep the floors with her long skirt as she walked.
Due: She was little, so she didn’t take up much space.

THERE! I did it.

You’re probably wondering about this Jinks doggie, aren’t you? Oh, I might as well get it over with and tell you since mia ragazza is forcing my paw. (By the way, that's HER at the top of my bloggie post, but I'll bet you already figured that out. There are other photos of Jinks for this post, but my girl says Blogger is not letting her insert them ... that's ok with ME!)

So, here's the story: Before there was me in her life – and much as it pains me to acknowledge this – my girl had other doggies. Waaayyyy back, there was Teddy the Bull Terrier, who was actually the dog of her fratello, but my girl dug Teddy like, well, like I dig my yard. She says the only thing bigger than Teddy’s personalita was his heart. Now, I really don’t have any problem with Teddy because, technically, he wasn’t my girl’s pup – he was her brother’s pup. But then, later (sigh …), there was St. Jinks the Good. I call her that because to hear my girl talk about her, this doggie was simply too good to be believed – no barking, no chewing, no countersurfing (how could she with those short little leggies!?!), sheesh, no fun. But she was also known by a lot of other silly, silly names, such as The Jinkser, Jinksy, Mookie-Lou, Jinksy-Winksy, Jinksy-Doodle, Jinsky-Bean, yada, yada, yada …!

Jinks lived with my girl for 15 years, and after she crossed the Rainbow Bridge, my girl was so broken-hearted that she lived dogless for a long, long time, fearful that she could never love another doggie as much as she loved her dear Scottie friend. (Lucia’s girl’s editorial note: Lucia has proved that to be wrong! Ti amo, mia bella dolce Lucia.)

Go find your TWOsday buddies, amici, and be sure to say two nice things about them. If you want to post it to your bloggies, it would be lots of fun to read …!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

2009-02-23T14:17:00.000-05:00

A VERRRY Special Grazie Bulletin

Mia ragazza and I send out molto, molto thank you's to Stanley and the inhabitants of Gooberstan for all of the advice, support and just plain old niceness. You guys are magnifico!

Tanti baci to the extreme, dolce Gooberstanians!

Lucia

2009-02-21T15:45:00.000-05:00

Benvenuti a Tutti!

Finally! My bloggie page has been open for a couple of days, but this is my official first post. That’s because my hooman, who types for me, is greatly techno-challenged and has to read every direction for bloggie set-up and posting about a bluebillion times over just to be sure she’s doing it right. Mama mia!

Because I’m new and we’re just getting to know one another, I thought answering the Bernard Pivot interview questions that James Lipton asks in every episode of “Inside the Actors Studio” would get things off to a good start. If any potential amici out there would like to answer these same questions on your bloggie, that would be perfetto! (And, if this has been done already on furkid blogs, I’m truly sorry for the rerun.) It’s too bad my hooman has no idea yet how to make the questions a file that can be shared with just one click (tolja, techno-challenged), but if anyone can suggest a way to do this so you don’t have to work too hard to put the questions on your page, we’d be very, very much obliged. Here goes:

What is your favorite word?
Treat!
What is your least favorite word?
NO
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Running like a blur!
What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Unkindness toward any living creature.
What sound or noise do you love?
That sound of food going into my supper dish. Mmmmmm …
What sound or noise do you hate?
The sound of the door closing when my hooman has to go away.
What is your favorite curse word?
What’s a curse word?
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Archeology, because digging is so soothing.
What profession would you not like to do?
Mime. I love to vocalize!
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
See there, Lucia, all dogs really DO go to heaven!

Tanti baci!

Lucia

Important Pee Ess: Crossed paws and many prayers for Bogie and his famiglia.