Good Friday Morning, Everybody!

[Clintmax]

:donut::hi:
Well, here we are...one day before Christmas Eve! Are you ready? Two shopping days left! :bounce:
We have a new addition in the Clintmax family! Tony. He's a 6 week old, black, standard Poodle puppy! He is just a bundle of love! He loves play, give you puppy kisses and I have fallen completely in love with him! Josephus/Bandit, our cat, dosen't quite know what to make of him and hisses at Tony whenever he comes near and will NOT have it if Tony comes near him when he's eating. :rofl: Anyone have any helpful suggestions for me to help make this easier for Bandit?

On edit: I'm going to take a few pictures of him in a few minutes so I can post them so you can see how cute he is! Stay tuned!

[SeattleGirl]

1. Good morning, and good night Clintmax!

I'm headin' for bed. Gotta catch some z's before the big holiday travel blitz! You have a wonderful holiday, friend! :loveya:

[Clintmax]

2. Hello, Miss Seattle!

:hi::hug::loveya:
Have a good rest! And have a merry Christmas if I don't see you before then!

[SeattleGirl]

3. Thank you, friend!

:loveya:

[Clintmax]

6. You're welcome, Friend!

:loveya:

[SeattleGirl]

7. You sweetie!

:loveya:

[Clintmax]

26. You're a sweetie too, Miss Seattle!

:loveya:
Sleep tight and stay warm!

[Maddy McCall]

4. Hi!

:hi:

[Clintmax]

5. Morning, Maddy!

:hi:
Are you doing OK this early morning?

[Maddy McCall]

10. Kid's got a stomach virus.

I'm not up by choice. I'm up because I'm caring for my son.

Other than that, it's going to be a good day. I've got presents to wrap, and a couple of cakes to bake, although I'm hesitant to bake cakes for friends, when my son has a virus...afraid his illness could somehow spread to them?

[Clintmax]

13. Hmmm...interesting thought.

I don't know if it would spread to them through the cake or not. Seems highly unlikely though. Even IF some of the virus got in the batter, once you bake it, the virus would be killed. :shrug:

I hope he gets better REAL soon!

[NMMNG]

8. Good morning Clint!

Oh boy--a new puppy! As to the cat I think it will just take time. Bandit is used to having run of the place and now he has to share, plus there is a strange animal around. You might want to give Bandit some extra attention just to make him aware that he isn't forgotten in the wake of the new addition to the family. Also, while you need to correct him for "bad" behavior towards Tony, don't be overly firm when you do it or he may come to resent Tony even more.

[Clintmax]

11. Morning, Miss Buffy!

:hi::hug:
Thanks for the info! I've been trying to give Bandit as much attention as I always do so he knows I still love him too. I've had to correct him a couple of times for taking swipes at Tony, but I didn't even think about him coming to resent Tony because of that. I'll have to watch it. That's good information, thank you!

You doing OK this cold morning?

[NMMNG]

14. I'm doing fine

I've been eating way too many of the cookies someone sent over as a gift to the staff (one of those huge tins of butter cookies). Oh well, it's the holiday season so why not stuff my face, right? As to the cold, I have the thermostat set way up there. I only had to worry about the cold when I went out to do my rounds.

[Clintmax]

17. I LOVE those butter cookies!

We had two tins of them last week too, and I ate my fair share of them! Yes, it IS the holiday season and so any face stuffing is hereby authorized! :rofl: My thermostat is set at 70, and I'm still chilly. It's not supposed to be THIS cold down here in Florida. :scared:

[NMMNG]

19. Well, if you believe "The Golden Girls"

It gets cold enough down there that if your furnace goes out you have to snuggle with your roomies under an electric blanket while wearing parkas. :rofl:

[Clintmax]

21. LOL!

That was a good episode! I love the Golden Girls! Rose's scandinavian words crack me up every time! :rofl:

[NMMNG]

24. Me too

My roomie has the DVDs so we can watch them any time (at least season 1, so far).

[Clintmax]

25. I've been thinking about getting those too!

The Golden Girls and Bewitched! LOVE THOSE SHOWS! :bounce: "Would you like to try some of my gafluffen gerfen?" :rofl:

[Mutley]

9. Clint!!

I'm back! I missed you guys. :hug:

Congrats on the new puppy. :bounce: They're so much fun, aren't they? Just give kitty some time, and while he may not grow to love Tony, he'll at least get used to him eventually. Lol, cats are funny that way.

Oh, and I far as Christmas... I got lazy this year and bought all gift cards. Got my shopping done in one hour yesterday BWHAHAHAHA!

[Clintmax]

15. MISS MUTLEY!

:bounce::party::hi::hug:
I've missed you too!!!

Yes, he's a lot of fun! And just a bundle of love too. Right now, he's asleep at my feet with his head laying on my foot, the very picture of contentment! I think Bandit will get used to him sooner than later too...I just don't want him to hurt Tony between times.

How have you been, Missy? Are you ready for Christmas?

[Mutley]

18. Does Bandit have claws?

Tony'll learn his place really quick. Bandit probably wouldn't try to hurt him too bad, just keep them seperated when no one is home until they get used to each other.

I'm ready for Christmas. Got everyone gift cards this year so they can get what they want. I'm heading down to my sister's on Christmas Eve where I'll see my mother and neice and nephew. Then my Dad and stepmother are coming to my house Christmas Day. Then I'm going to my other sister's house on the 28th. Phew! It's difficult to arrange Christmas in dysfunctional family land. :D

[Clintmax]

20. Yes, he does...

I've considered having him de-clawed on all four since he is an indoor cat, but I just haven't been able to bring myself to having it done to him. We have a kennel for Tony that he sleeps in and that's where he'll go when we're away until Bandit gets used to him being in the house.

Sounds like you're going to have an interesting time on Christmas day and the days immediately following. All my family is in Missouri, so I won't get to see them, but I'll be on the phone with them most of the day.

[Mutley]

27. Don't declaw him!

They cut off the tips of their little toes to get at the nail root. OUCH! Plus, if he ever does get out for some reason he'll be defenseless. Just clip them if he'll let you (be careful not to cut the quick) and that'll help.

Wait 'til you're puppy is grown, you'll look at him and say, "what happened to that sweet little ball of fur?" My older dog was 6 weeks when we got her and she was so tiny and fuzzy and cute. Now she's a beast who takes up the whole bed. :D

A friend of mine has family in Missouri, but he's happy to not have to see them this Christmas.

[Clintmax]

29. I can't de-claw him...

But he does let me clip his nails, thank goodness. Otherwise, my hands would always be a mangled mess! :rofl: I know Tony won't stay little long. But he's so loving, I know he'll stay that way, so I'm looking forward to the time he jumps up and lays with me and Greekspeak on the bed or on the couch when I'm watching TV.

[tjwmason]

12. Good morning Clint.

:hi:

I hope that you and Greekspeak are now happily reunited. Your new baby sounds quite adorable, I hope that Josephus learns to love him too.

I'm nearly ready, I have to wrap my presents and buy the cheese board today - but I think that that's about all to do now.

:hug:

[Clintmax]

16. Morning, TJ!

:hi::hug:
Yes, Greekspeak is here with me now! :bounce: It is damned good to have him here too, let me tell ya! I've never seen a better sight than him walking up the hall at the airport with a smile on his face!

I think Josephus will get used to Tony too. It's only a matter of time. Are you going to see your family on Christmas day and spend it with them?

[tjwmason]

28. Yes, family Christmas.

In fact oodles of family for the whole week - good to start with, but getting progressively more tiring.

My grandfather is being brought down south today, he's doing rather well at the moment - just had a cataract done and so can see better than for a long time.

[Clintmax]

30. That's good!

I know family can be a tiring affair, but it will be good to see everybody for a few days won't it?

[tjwmason]

36. Very much so

I wouldn't have it any other way. We're a close family, which is very good.

Do you get to see much of your family at all?

[Clintmax]

37. No, I only get to go see them once a year.

In the summer, during one of my vacations. I won't get to go during the holidays because, you know, I work in retail. I'm glad you get to spend Christmas with your family, though!

[tjwmason]

42. I see lots of my close family

But it's normally only Christmas-season and once or twice in the summer that I see my grandfather, uncle and cousins.

[Clintmax]

47. I talk to my Mom at least once a week...

They are half way across the country from me so it's not possible to just go over to their house whenever I want to. It takes 16 and 1/2 hours to get there! :scared:

[tjwmason]

48. That's one advantage of living in England

My close family is all in Bucks or Oxfordshire (which is just next to it), my grandfather is up in Yorkshire (when the family comes - God's own county), but even that can be managed easily in one day.

[Clintmax]

52. I'm glad of that for you!

You'll be around DU tomorrow morning, won't you?

[tjwmason]

54. Hope so.

No chance on Christmas day (if I were to wander off to a computer then my bloodied entrails would be left out for the birds to consume after a slow painful death at the hands of my sisters).

[Clintmax]

59. LOL! Well we don't want THAT to happen!

So, come in a say hello in the morning and then I'll see you again on Monday!

[swimboy]

61. Good morning!

:loveya: Please do all necessary to keep entrails intact. (Oops, there's that word again :blush: )

I'm baking this morning, will consume incredible quantities of unique family specialties this afternoon and giving out coins to the young'uns.

I'm fairly excited :bounce:

[tjwmason]

62. Good evening now.

Not on for long - got to dash for supper with my grandfather (newly down south), and the rest of the family.

I can almost smell the gorgeous scent of your baking right over here. :D Enjoy consuming it all :bounce:

:loveya:

[newyawker99]

22. *yawn* Good morning everyone!

:donut: :hi:

[Clintmax]

23. Good morning, Miss NewYawker!

:hi::hug:
I hope you're staying warm up there! :loveya:

[newyawker99]

40. Yes I am.

:hi: :loveya:

[Cannikin]

31. Good morning everyone!

[Clintmax]

32. Morning, Cannikin!

:hi:
I hope you're staying warm, Dude! It's FREEZING out there. :scared:

[Cannikin]

33. Its 37 here. Not too bad.

[Clintmax]

34. Yeah, but 37 is NOT 72.

I want my summer back!

[tjwmason]

35. Good morning Cannikin

You really know how to brighten up our days with your appearance. :D :pals:

[Cannikin]

38. Awe, TJ, you're so sweet you're probably bad for my teeth.

:crazy:

[Clintmax]

39. ROFL!

:rofl:

[tjwmason]

43. I do my very best for you.

:D :loveya:

[AirmensMom]

41. Good morning, Clintmax!

:donut: :hi: :hug:

I'm READY! :bounce:

Well ... as far as the shopping goes. I have some chores around the house to do today. :)

OK, so where's Tony's picture? You MUST share!

Bandit will come around in time, don't worry. We got a puppy, Sundance, when we had a 10-year-old kitty, Sesame. Sundance had the nerve to sleep in Sesame's bed! They were both in there together once, but only because Sesame was holding his ground. If Sesame was sitting with me and Sundance came over to say hi, Sesame would box his nose really fast with both paws. They had a strange relationship.

We still had Sundance when our current four kitties came to live with us and they all acted differently with him. Satchmo walked between Sundance's legs and purred. Sundance even let Satchmo taste his food -- must be a guy thing. Sabrina never once acknowledged Sundance's presence. I swear, she would have walked right through him at times if he hadn't moved. Sophie just liked the way he smelled (ewwww!) and rolled in his bed whenever he got up. He would come back and just look at her ... then look at me, as if to say, "Mom! Make her get out!" Sashka sort of knew he was there, but she didn't really like him.

Here's a pic of the first time Satchmo saw Sundance. :rofl:

[Clintmax]

45. Morning, Miss Airmens!

:hi::hug:
Thanks for the stories! I think after a few days, Bandit will get used to Tony. I'm very happy to have Tony here with us! He's such a lover boy!

[AirmensMom]

50. Whew! Thought I missed you.

Can't wait to see the pics (like everyone else). You sound SO happy! :bounce:

[Clintmax]

53. I surely am!

Wait till you see him! He's an absolute DARLING!

[AirmensMom]

55. Can't wait!

Meanwhile, I'm doing the cleaning and checking in every few minutes. Making progress ... but playing with a new pup is WAY more fun!

[Clintmax]

60. You got THAT right!

I posted a couple of pictures...if you haven't seen them already.

[wildhorses]

44. Good Morning Clintmax

can't wait to see the pics!!!

[Clintmax]

46. Hello, WildH!

:hi:
I'll take some here shortly and post them! Keep an eye out for the picture thread I'll start once I get some taken and posted to Photobucket!

[wildhorses]

49. patiently waiting......

:hi: standard size is the large poodle correct?

[Clintmax]

51. Yep...

He'll get about 2 or 3 feet tall at the shoulder. I won't do the little puff balls of fur on his back like you see sometimes...I think that just looks dumb.

[wildhorses]

56. me too.... there is cute and then there is too DAMN cute

:puke:

[swimboy]

57. Good morning, Clint!

:hi: Congratulations on your reunion and your new family member! I've been busy this morning getting ready for the family dinner this afternoon. Gingerbread is in the oven now and sweet potato casseroles are ready to go in next. Then I watched Bewitched, just because I could. I love being off on a week-day! :rofl:

Great to see you! :hug:

[Clintmax]

58. Great to see you too, Swimboy!

:hug:
Yes, we're all together now and I'm loving it! Greekspeak is here with me and Tony is a JOY! Sounds like you've got the cooking marathon in progress! Sounds great!