Let’s play a game!!!
While “The 10,000 Pyramid”, “Press Your Luck”, and “Jeopardy” are my favorite game shows, let’s go with “Wheel of Fortune”.
We’ll allow Vanna White and ignore Pat Sajak!
If we pretend this is the bonus round, you’d get the R, S, T, L, N, and E free. That places an “N” in the third spot.
And, since I can’t play with each of you individually, I’ll pick the three additional consonants and an extra vowel for you, B – O – Y – C.
Okay, I didn’t help you very much. None of those are on there. 🙂
I’ll give you a few seconds to think about it.
Well, did you guess this?
As you know, “Xanadu” by Olivia Newton-John is one of my favorite songs of all time.
It was #3 on my countdown of my favorite songs of my first 35 years!
And, I’ve added the lyrics to several of my blogs and Christmas letters over the past few years — ♪♪♪ “a place where nobody dared to go” where “a million lights are dancing and there you are – a shooting star” ♪♪.
The first person I played this particular puzzle with was my friend, Katie, back in Duluth, Minnesota. Without any letters, she guess O-L-I-V-I-A, which was eerily close to the answer.
Last Saturday, my life, as I know it, changed drastically. I should stop babbling.
Let me show you the “Wheel of Fortune” answer reveal again.
Notice anything different this time?
My friends, let me introduce you to #Pug2023 — XANADU!
#Pug2023 is a technicality because she was born December 29, 2022, while her “people” were on trip to Tennessee. So, while she was born in the South, she’s an Illinois girl.
After over 11 years — 4,039 days more precisely — I’m officially a “Dog Dad” again!
She loves sharing puppy kisses and her adorable puppy breath!
I took a week off work to bond and to work on potty training. (Good Lord, I’d forgotten how torturous this is!)
A few things I noticed on the first day and these might be “pug” things, not just puppy things: She loves to lick you and she wants you in sight at all times. I think it’s a “pug” thing because I’ve read they’re “Velcro” dogs that want to be attached to you.
She’s so adorable when she’s sleeping…
…but, not so lady-like!
Until I got her, she had never been outside and it was interesting watching her react to the grass and leaves and temperatures in the 30s. She also experienced her first rain and thunderstorm. It definitely made her more focused on doing her outdoor business.
And, one thing I’d forgotten about puppies — the razor-sharp piranha teeth. The first day, the victim was my right hand with six cuts and scrapes! (After five days, 32!)
This below was the second morning after I woke her up to go out before sunrise. She came back to bed feisty, fussy, and bitey!
Tuesday morning, she bloodied my ear and upper lip! (Good thing I kept my mustache from my travels!) And, Wednesday, the lower lip! Yes, she’s fast and snappy!
It’s interesting because when she wakes up, she gives you a zillion kisses and when she’s sleepy, she becomes a fierce biter — just like children get cranky when they’re tired.
I’m not sure why I didn’t think about these earlier. However, on Tuesday, I quickly ordered her “Teething Puppy Chew Toys”!
Since I don’t plan on giving her people food, she’ll get to experience chicken and peanut butter flavor here!
Thursday update: Well, that didn’t work. I’m now picking up smaller twists for her to chew on!
On the second day in her new home, she got to meet her Aunt Tammy. On that first visit, she was ready for a nap and not very social.
However, on their second visit, Xanadu wanted Tammy to hold her and she showered her with kisses, too.
When I met the pugs, the other two girls were indifferent to me and wouldn’t make eye contact. The third one did and was full of kisses and started snuggling.
So, she became Xanadu — all 4.4 pounds of her — more than I, a preemie, weighed when I was born!
That’s exactly how it went with my last sweetheart, ABBA, in 2000. I let the golden retriever choose me.
When the mom and the puppies came outside, all of the little creatures frantically chased their mother trying to nurse — except one. The runt wandered around just sniffing the air and walked over to me. It curiously sniffed my finger, licked it, and then bit me.
I rubbed the little furry, beautiful golden, and picked it up. I held it for a few minutes and put it back on the ground and rolled it around in the grass. It was a girl and she became ABBA.
And, Xanadu is totally intrigued with the mirrors and wondering why there’s another pug! It’s funny watching her bark at the mirror!
Here’s a little video of it:
On Thursday, she discovered the warmth of sun shining through the window on her face and promptly fell asleep on the late winter morning.
And, one more thought: She’s been called many things since I got her and the biting started. But, thinking of the 1984 classic, “Gremlins”, I think she’s more Stripe (without the stripe) than Gizmo! 🙂
Now, I have a cuddle buddy that I might share my treats with — if I succeed at potty training and get past the biting stage until those little piranha teeth fall out!
Love,
Anthony & Xanadu
P.S. Her mom and dad’s names are Daisy and Cashmere. Miss ABBA’s mom and dad were Dolly and Fletcher!
P.S. 2 While her name is Xanadu, her nickname is already “Little Puggy”!
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 