Donkey, Blu and Bella -- Twittering?!

Coming soon to a computer near you...
Tweets directly from Donkey, Blu and Bella.
That's right, the trouble-making trio will be twittering on their own.
As Bella says: Power To The Paws!


Even your Chihuahua can tweet

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Social networking is going to the dogs.

In its first-ever toy created for the canine community, Mattel isintroducing a product called "Puppy Tweets" that meshes the hugely popular Twitter with consumers' love of pets.

Puppy Tweets is a plastic tag with a sound and motion sensor that you attach to your pet's dog collar and connect its USB receiver to your computer. Then you create a Twitter account for your dog and enjoy updates all day from Sparky or whatever its name is on your computer or smartphone.

The tag is set with several pre-recorded tweets that are triggered by the dog's activities. So is he's running around, you might get a tweet that says "I finally caught that tail I've been chasing and...OOUUUCHH!"

If Sparky is napping, he'll tweet "Somedays it feels like my paw is permanently on the snooze button!" If he's making a ruckus, his tweet will let you know that as well, saying"YAHOOOOOOO! Somedays you just gotta get your bark on."

"Puppy Tweets capitalizes on two popular trends - the use of social media and real time communication, as well as peoples' extreme love for their dogs," said Susan Russo, Mattel's director of marketing.

Puppy Tweets is part of the No. 1 toymaker's line-up of new products for 2010 that it showcased to members of the media Thursday ahead of the industry's annual Toy Fair in New York next month.

Jim Silver, a toy industry analyst and editor-in-chief of TimetoPlayMag.com, said he was "curious" about Puppy Tweets when he first saw it.

"I thought that a 5-year-old doesn't know about Twitter," he said. But he said that Mattel is going after an entirely different market and "expanding beyond kids" with Puppy Tweets. "This is a product for adults."

Does it make sense?

Said Silver,"It's a good thing to try especially since no one else has come up with a pet product quite like this."

Puppy Tweets will be available at retailers in the fall, and will carry a
suggested a retail price of $29.99.

Did You Say Something?

Friend of SWD - Jeannie - attempts to gain control of the bed while her pooch Gracie has other plans and Bella pretends ears are what's missing on her head.

Three Little Monkeys Sleeping On The Bed

I give my three little monkeys huge props for saving me a spot on the bed. Now if only I were a contortionist...

Calling Donkey Out... Again!

Dearest Donkey,
It is a new year and the perfect time for fresh starts!
While I am grateful your other end is not resting upon my pillows, I would appreciate if you could manage to occupy your own side of the bed. Thanks big guy.
Love,
Mom
xoxoxo

Happy New Year from SWD!

Wow y'all... it's 2010! Is that crazy or what!

Speaking of crazy - this has been a wild holiday season - beginning with my Supersizing in Buffalo trip home for Thanksgiving.

While me and my more than ample backside are in post-Buffalo/holiday recovery mode, I want to take a moment to say Sleeps With Dogs is back and evolving in 2010! There's lots of exciting news and changes on the way. We hope y'all will come along for the ride!

In the meantime, postings resume... starting today.

Wishing you all peace, love, good health and tons of treats in the new year!

Wags & Smooches,
Rachel, Donkey, Blu and Bella

Supersizing in Buffalo!

Svelte Donkey

I am sitting here wondering why some dogs eat like its their last meal while others stop when pleasantly satisfied. And, wondering why cant I be a member of the latter group?! Or better yet, if I could just have Donkey's metabolism. He eats six cups of food a day and yet retains his girlish figure! Lucky bastard!

I recently returned from a trip home to Buffalo where every day I ate like I was going to the electric chair.

Buffalo is famous for it's wings (YUM), but to it's homies, the city is also known for countless other tasties! After two years away from my grazing utopia, I found it necessary to shovel-in as many of my favorite hometown morsels as physically possible.

Here is just a sampling:


Chef's spaghetti parmesan - Going to need dynamite to clear my veins - but it was worth every bite!


Mister Pizza on Elmwood Ave - cheese, oh glorious cheese!


Bob & John's on Hertle Ave. My love for this tuna sub began way back in high school. I'd been known to ditch lunch often for a trip to Bob & John's! And after all these years the tuna sub is still as delish!


Watson's chocolaty clouds of heaven! I brought a bag back for a friend (we work together). Kim's shift didn't start until 3:30pm. When I gave her the bag of sponge candy, it was half empty. Or as I like think on the positive side. It was half full!

Miraculously, I could buckle my airplane seat belt on the flight to Atlanta. I literally held my breath in order for it to lock! It was a close call.

Grattitude and Thanksgivingness

Taking a gratuitous moment for some thanksgivingness...
What I am thankful for: (in no particular order)

Family
Friends (near and far, old and new, online and in person)
My Pups (past, present and future)
Animal Rescue Groups
My voice (written and verbal)
New experiences and Special memories
Nature
Buffalo, NY
Orange Chocolate
Flipflops
Lip balm
Flannel PJ Bottoms
Sleeping With Dogs
You

Donkey Is A Repeat Offender!

Dearest Donkey,
The pillows in which your head rests upon are mine,
those in which your ass rests upon are your's!
Love,
mom
xoxoxo

No Thank You Tony Dungy, We Don't Want Michael Vick!

Dear Mr. Dungy,
You are a noble man, yet I assure you Michael Vick is not welcome nor wanted in Buffalo! Please take your unworthy cause and move on to another team.
Thank you,
Rachel, Blu, Donkey and Bella



Tony Dungy sees Buffalo Bills as 'dark horse' to sign Michael Vick

NEW YORK — Tony Dungy says Michael Vick could potentially wind up in Buffalo, which he says previously discussed signing the quarterback.

Dungy has served as an adviser to Vick since the Super Bowl-winning coach retired from the Colts after last season. Now a commentator for NBC, Dungy confirmed during the pregame show Sunday night before Philadelphia hosted Dallas that the Bills and Vick “talked originally” when Vick was searching for a team after serving 18 months in federal prison for running a dogfighting ring.

The Eagles signed Vick to a $1.6 million contract for 2009, with a team option for the second year at $5.2 million. But he has played sparingly.

“I told Michael to just worry about this year,” Dungy said. “It’s technically up to Philadelphia. If they want him back, he has to stay there. If they don’t, there are some teams looking for quarterbacks: Cleveland, St. Louis and Washington.

“But I think a dark horse is Buffalo. They talked originally. There was some communication there. I think that could be a good spot.”

Vick has not been the weapon for the Eagles some expected and he was in for only two plays in their 20-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Vick said his focus is on helping the Eagles win a Super Bowl and not where he’ll play next year.

“It’s what I thought it would be,” Vick said. “I knew I couldn’t come in and do anything that would disrupt the rhythm of the offense and what we had going on here. I knew I was going to have to be patient.”

Bills starter Trent Edwards struggled this season before sustaining a concussion. Ryan Fitzpatrick, a career backup, has been the starter with Edwards out of the lineup.

Vick didn’t want to talk about potential teams for the 2010 season.

“Me and Tony talked about my position in the future, whether I’m here or whether I’m there,” Vick said. “We talked about it, but the primary goal is to help this team win the Super Bowl.”

Vick has completed 2 of 6 passes for 6 yards and rushed 12 times for 27 yards, mostly out of the wildcat formation.

He said he usually talks to Dungy at least once a week and receives “great advice” from his mentor. Vick, who has talked to churches and schools about the poor life choices he’s made, has enjoyed his second chance in Philadelphia.

“It’s been great,” he said. “Every day I wake up and I just thank God I have another opportunity to play football. That’s what I’m thankful for.” (article from: democratandchronicle.com)

Ever Feel Like You Have A Monkey On Your Back?

Your morning adorable: Dog adopts orphaned macaque monkey in Thailand

Monks at the Tung Luang Buddhist temple in Thailand's Chiang Mai province recently began caring for a 3-month-old macaque monkey whose mother was killed by a hunter.

Helping them with the task of raising the young monkey is Tan, a resident "temple dog" who, Metro U.K. reports, has not only taken the monkey under his wing but even voluntarily shares his food with it! (story from: www.latimes.com)

Now MY monkey's name is Donkey and looks like this...



Imagine carrying THAT on your back!

Who Knew Florence Nightingale Had Four Legs?!

After being out of commish for five days with a hideous, inhumane, bronchial infection, I must give props to my three Florence Nightingales... Blu, Donkey and Bella. That's right, in their own special ways, my three wicked mongrels took special care of their ailing, cantankerous servant.

Donkey's role was permanent bed-warmer, and by that, I mean the jackass' ass never moved from my side. The photo below shows my exact view for the past five days.



Blu, the patriarch of the group, remained calm, composed and kept it all under control from command central - his bed.



And Bella, well she only destroyed one pair of shoes and my cell phone cover. Not too bad for an 11-month-old, crazy, one-eyed beast.



So, Each time my persistent 73-year-old, Italian mom said, "Want me to come down? I hate it you are all alone," I replied, "I'm not alone, the dogs are here."

I wouldn't want it any other way.

Slept With My First Seven Years Ago Today

It was Seven years ago today when I walked into the Atlanta Humane Society and walked out with my first dog. Blu is now 11 years old and going strong. Had I not entered the AHS that fateful day, I would not know the joy and comfort of
sleeping with dogs!