Albert's Story Archives

When I was young...
Like I said, I told Dad to put a picture of me when I was really, really, really young. The picture to the right was taken just hours after I arrived at my new home. I remember Dad sitting in a rocking chair while I dug my needle-sharp teeth into his arm. I was very content.

For a while, I couldn't get up stairs into the house without some help so Dad put some bricks to make some tiny steps. Wow, neat! There are so many things I remember about those days. Including that day that I got to roam free through the house where I discovered kleenex, chocolate Easter eggs and a packet of Crystal Light drink mix. Boy, was that fun! Unfortunately, Mom had to take me to get my stomach pumped. Yeeech! It was alright though because I later found out that chocolate was really bad for me.

Sunshine Liver Bar
These liver bars are really good. Gypsy and I ate one batch in just a few days. We sneaked some when Mom wasn't looking. Everything in them is good for you and yet they taste soooo good!

1 lb calf's liver
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 Tbsp garlic salt
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 cup white wheat flour
handful of dried parsley flakes

Puree all ingredients in a food processor. Pour onto a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil which has been oiled. (You can use a Pam-type spray if you want.) The mixture will be thick. Press flat and even. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Liver bars are done when the pink is gone. Do not over bake or the liver bars will crumble. Recipe may be doubled. You can also use fresh garlic and/or fresh parsley.

Fun at the Beach
In the summer, Mom and Dad take us to the Bean Hollow beach on Highway 1 just north of Santa Cruz, CA. Gypsy and I get to chase crabs and pee on the rocks. Gypsy likes the beach so much that she goes kind of nuts and sometimes she runs me over. I get really mad at her and chase her into the surf, where she gets all wet. Mom doesn't like when Gypsy gets wet because she brings home half the beach sand with her. But we also have a lot of fun, playing chase and running and getting plenty of exercise We both sleep on the way home after all of that running!

You're going where?
Mom and Dad went on vacation. Rats. Before they left, I protested by sitting in their suitcase. And they told us that we would go on vacation too but we just went to Art's place. Art's place is the Saratoga School for Dogs. It's pretty nice but I hate being away from Mom and Dad. Actually, the kennels are heated, we get lots of food (especially if I chase Gypsy away from her bowl...), we get to run around in a big yard and we get to tease Gunner, Art's big, old, black German Shepherd. When Mom and Dad came back, they smelled like fish because they went fishing in Canada. I was sure glad to see them though.

My Tumor Story
After an agility trial, I noticed a bump on my foot. It didn't really bother me but then Mom and Dad said I had to go see Dr. Bibb. She's my vegitarian, er... I mean veterinarian. I had to go see her because I had this "growth" on my back foot. Mom and Dad didn't say anything, but I think they were worried that it might be this really bad thing called cancer. So Mom took a day off from work and took me to the hospital. I was happy to see my doctor but then she carried me to the back. Now I got worried. I don't like to be away from Mom.

Well, I was in a crate for awhile and then the nice nurse lady came and I thought she was going to play with me but instead, she put me on top of a big table and the next thing I know, I was getting really drowsy. Well, I don't remember what happened next but when I woke up, I had this great big cloth-thing on my foot, I think they called it "bandage". Mom says the bandage is orange and made my foot look like a carrot. (Huh?... What's orange?)

I slept for a little bit more and then I heard Mom's voice. Boy, was I glad to see her! Mom took me home and she said I should sleep some more, which was okay with me because I was still kind'a groggy. When Dad came home from work, he gave me an extra big hug and I got to have a "special" dinner. Dr. Bibb called back a few days after the surgery to tell Mom that the weird thing growing on my foot was a "B-9-2-more". (Oops, Mom says that's... benign tumor.) I think Mom and Dad were really glad to hear that. My foot hurt after the surgery but it was ok because I got to skip school for a couple of weeks.
A Toy And A Beach
Mom and Dad got me a fun toy for my birthday. It's called Buster-Cube. I like it because Mom stuffs the cube with treats and as I roll this cube around and around, some of the treats fall out from a hole on its side. The more I roll, the more treats I get. Mom says I have to share this toy with Gypsy but I don't think she understands how it works. She tries to stick her big nose in the opening and when she can't get any treats out, she whines. She's sooooo annoying.

Mom and Dad took us to the beach the other day. We didn't get to play with the crabs much because the ocean was bigger. Dad said something about "the tide was in". We have tide too but it usually stays in the box over the big thing that washes our blankets. My blanket doesn't need washing that often, but Gypsy's blanket gets really stinky real fast. Peeeuuuuu! Mom says it smells like dogs. Uh... gee Mom, I wonder why... (wink, wink).
Gypsy and a Rat...
Oh, did I tell you the story about Gypsy sniffing out and chasing away a big rat that wandered into our back yard ? I'm so glad she got the rat before it moved into our house. Mom said she didn't think Doberman Pinschers were ratters. I haven't asked her but I think she thought it was a furry tennis ball with a tail. Gypsy stomped it with her huge paws. I think Mr. Rat got a big Excedrin headache.

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