Step by step, rung by rung ...

Why can't I go up there with Dad?

Mark and I worked on the boat over the weekend, and Bubba couldn't bear to see Mark go where he could not follow. I grabbed the camcorder and caught Bubba's second attempt to follow Mark up the ladder.

I told him to stop, of course. Even if he could actually climb up onto the deck of the boat, it would take a crane to get him back down. I'm proud of the dear boy for being so game though. We do plan to build a stair to improve access for working on the boat, and then Bubba will be able to come up. When we were still living on the boat in the boatyard, we had a 1:1 stair which both Emma and Bubba's uncle Uno climbed.

Kathy, Bubba's 2lggd mom

Technorati Tags: Newf, Newfie, Newfoundland, dog, boat, ladder, video

Winter in North Carolina ...

This is about as close as I'll get to winter. Mom tells me I won't get to see snow, so I'm going to make the most of this chunk of ice.

It was cold, and some rainwater froze in a trash can lid. I dislodged it for Bubba, and he took big chunks of it off to the garden to crunch on, one by one. This is probably the closest he will get to "winter" as he knows it this season.

Kathy, Bubba's 2lggd mom

Technorati Tags: Newf, Newfie, Newfoundland, dog, video

Look ... you can just see how much this upsets me ...

Like, not at all really. My name is Bubba again. Whatever. Wake me up when it's time for dinner.

On Monday I got the news that one of Cub's/Bubba's co-owners insists that his call name not be changed, or else we may not keep him. Maybe the issue is that he has a history in the Newf world associated with that call name. Maybe the issue is that Cub is not that creative (a variant of "Bear" after all). I have to admit, I'm not that crazy about the name "Cub". But at least "Cub" is not too different a sound from "Bub", and he adapted with no problem.

When southerners use the name "Bubba" here's what it means (according to Wikipedia):

Bubba is a relationship nickname formed from brother, given to boys to indicate their role in the family, especially the oldest male sibling. For some boys and men, bubba is used so pervasively it replaces the given name. The nickname may also be used outside the family by friends as a term of affection.

But we are not southerners.

Bubba is also Yiddish for grandmother.

But we are not of Eastern European descent.

Bubba has also developed into a proper noun, used as a term of endearment, to describe someone who is especially lovable, adorable, etc. Also used to identify someone's significant other (i.e "She's my Bubba". It is said to have evolved from the word 'baby', but its origin is unknown. Used predominantly in the Chicago area, specifically in the Edgewater/Andersonville neighborhoods.

But we are not in, or from, Chicago.

Because of its association with the southern part of the United States, bubba is often used outside the South as a pejorative meaning low economic status and limited education.

And unfortunately, this is the meaning which is often assumed when Yankees in the south are tactless enough to use the term. If we were born and bred southerners, I'm sure we could call our dog Bubba without it raising much notice. But for Yankees transplanted to the south (and believe me, it's very obvious who's a Yank and who's not) to call Newfoundland Bubba is, at best, in poor taste; and at worst, politically incorrect.

Typical reactions when I answer the question "what's his name":

• Guffaws
• A raised eyebrow
• A chilly "you're joking, right?"

This is a very small town. The "fancy" side of town is three blocks wide, and the 'hood is the next three blocks. I just hope I never have to call him to me in the wrong three blocks.

Kathy, Bubba's 2lggd mom

Technorati Tags: Newf, Newfie, Newfoundland, dog

I made someone's day ...

Randi's actually! This is so exciting, because I am new to dog-blogging, and this is my first ever ever award. It's the You Make My Day Award! Thanks sooo much Randi! This means a lot to me, coming from and old pro dog-blogger like yourself.



Now I've gotta pass it on ten times. So, here goes

• Princess, Tank and Isaac
• Bella and Gabe
• Ayla
• Nanook and Pooka
• Orion Count Drulzelot
  

That was hard work. Now I gotta take a nap.

Sorry folks, the big guy can't count. He worked so hard on that list, I couldn't bear to tell him that was only five. Maybe I can get him to dictate more after he gets his beauty sleep.

Kathy, Bubba's 2lggd mom

I'm home ...

Hey, everynewf and everypup. Yesterday I got some fantastic news. My new 2lggd mom got a phone call. It was my Aunt Becky. My mom was pretty excited by whatever she heard on the other end. When she hung up, she told me that I will get to live with her forever and ever!!! I won't have to make another long drive across the country to change homes again. This is my home now. My forever home.

Now, don't get me wrong ... my other moms are wonderfully nice 2lggds. And they have been very loving to me. And I have had the opportunity to travel the country, and meet lots of neat dogs and people in lots of interesting places. And I have enjoyed struttin' my stuff in the show ring (I am one damn fine specimen of Newfness, after all)

But I will be very happy to just stay here for KEEPS! I like it here, because I get to go to work with my 2lggd mom every day. She loves me, and my 2lggd dad loves me too. I have great 4lggd friends, Emma the PWD, and two cats who are fun to chase when they run (which is only occasionally). I only share Mom and Dad with Emma ... they don't belong to any other dogs, just us two, so we both get lots of attention. We go to an enormous beach and swim in clean, clear water (kinda salty tho). We go visiting other people and dogs a lot, and all the people are nice, and pet me and give me biscuits, and all the dogs are friendly and like to play.

I wasn't sure, but I had a feeling the Mom didn't know if I would get to stay with her, or not. Turns out, I was right ... she wasn't sure. I might have had to endure that long drive back to the midwest. But now, that's all settled, and we can get on with being a great big multi-species pack! That's a picture of me and Mom ... don't we look happy?

Bubba's situation was not quite resolved until yesterday. I have not liked to talk about it, or think about it; I love him so much, I just wanted him to stay with us. He has a couple of co-owners, both excellent breeder-exhibitors. Becky's dogs all have a wonderul life in her home, not out in a kennel, and she was over capacity with five Newfs and an occasional puppy litter. She loves Bubba, but she has breeding and showing dogs in her home. Bubba is the great grandson of one of her dogs, and he had a home with her for a time, and finished his championship with her. She wanted the best for him: a home where he would be loved, and where he would get more individual attention than she could give him. Bubba is now retired from showing, but he could learn carting or water work, and of course some basic obedience. He has some tiny little issues like jumping up, and problems with being left alone, and a lack of experience with the greater world. But he is such a sweet boy. All he wants is to be with his people and his pack, and I feel that we are very well equipped to deal with his needs and insecurities.

This is a happy day for us all.

Kathy, Bubba's 2lggd mom

Technorati Tags: Newf, Newfie, Newfoundland, dog