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!!!

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!!!!!

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

Questo è delizioso!

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

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