When I was nine

I met my first basset hound. This was our family's dog, Napoleon. Circa 1967. He was a sweet boy who lived to be about twelve. He was my first big crush. He wasn't as good of a kisser as Bongo. But then, who could be? This photo was taken in my grandparent's back yard, dunno who the other dog is. click on the photo and you'll get a good look at the boy.

Lana and Rickey are super riled up

It has been over 95 degrees every day for the last forever in Encino. yuk.

Please don't look at me that way

Sorry if I over did the you tube thing. But remember, Bongo required constant entertainment/attention/eating/kissing. So we're definitely going to include a little more entertainment. Bongo wants Viacom to buy this blog in about six months.

Margery will get on your nerves, too

Andy and Lou, if you haven't met them

Little bear stays cool

He loves his ice. hey, this you tube thing is going to change our lives.

Lana follows that last one up

everyone is all hot on how cute my brother is. well, let me tell you, he is a total idiot. he can't even speak English and everyone wets their pants every time he cuts a fart like he just did algebra or something. I have just about had it. Two weeks locked away in the mountains with someone dumber than a post was almost more than I could handle. And it's pathetic the way my Papas fawn all over him in that sing-songy way, "Rickey Bear" this, "Rickey Bear" that. "Sickening Bear" is more like it. Anyway, i hear Dad coming, gotta go. Lates.

a message from rickey

grrrrr gr grr grr. grrrrr grr woof woof raoooooooooo warooooooooooooo wooof wooof grrrrr.

Bongo really enjoyed Big Sur

he liked to just lay on the couch and look at the ocean. sweet lil guy.

i'm not saying that I'm not nuts, but fyi: the living room was painted while we were on vacation and everything and everyone had to go out of the room. And Bongo had never been to Big Sur before. And he is all happy because he thought he'd never go on another vacation with us. silly dog.

my best girl feels better

lil angel had the best time in big sur. she's very happy these days.

we are back!!!

Good news!!! everyone's feeling great and we had a wonderful vacation in Big Sur. More later.

crap.

sugar spent the night at the hospital last night. She has fluid accumulating in her lungs from her heart murmur. the doctors are optimistic. everyone around here is very upset and worried.

the doc says that she will bounce back from this and that she's going on vacation to Big Sur. no stress about that, no sirreee.

Better'n medicine

I have the flu. I feel like crap, Take two of these and that should cheer up most anyone.

you know what the blue van means

Bath day!!!!!!!

Every two weeks Joaquin comes. The dogs love him. Rickey is getting used to this kind of pampering. Lana needs some Gold Bond powder on her pits.

And if we had blur-o-vision you could experience the full shake that Rick gives.

(......sigh)

good news: sugar had a great checkup today at the vet, 'cept for a dental infection that can be easily checked.
good news: that means we can all go to big sur in a month
bad news: we have to pay for vacation now
bad news: Larry won't be there unless Doddy lets me bring him. he looks kind of comfy on the mantel. even I think it's a bit much to haul ashes around. but only a bit.

(this was taken in big bear about two years ago, we had alot of fun on that trip. bongo loved hangin out with the squirrels that would cavort all over this deck. because of sugar's heart murmur, our Big Bear days are past us. can't take the altitude, y'know.)

Hey Papa

wooooroooooooowooooooorooooooowoooooooooooo

Everybody it's my papa's birthday! Woooooroooooooooooooo

BREAKING NEWS- Elvis is now appearing at the Hoppers

Our friends the Hoppers have a new boy dog named Elvis.
Rickey sez that he can't wait to show Elvis all his tricks.

We're awful happy for Laura and Nate and their family. We're sure Toby would approve He's super cute.

A reminder from Rickey

Tuesday is my Papa's birthday!!! I'm so excited!

I went to the Basset Hoe Down, back at the Basset Rescue Connecton Ranch. We got there super early and, of course, both my Papas got so busy saying hi to our friends that they forgot and left the camera in the car.

Everybody was super glad to see me and they told me that I looked great. My godmother Dawn thought I might have even put on a pound or two (hee hee hee i have) I'm starting to like a cookie or bit of chicken pepperoni every now and then.

I just wanted to tell everybody about my Pop's birthday and tell you that I'm liking it here alot. They both are super crazy for me and are teaching me how to bark and play like other kids. Don't tell them, but I plan to put a stop to the pissing in the house thing sometime around the middle of August. Just keeping them on their toes. Shhhhhhhhhh. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

A reminder from the Boss

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
Happy Anniversary Frances

Love,
your treasure,
Bongo (thanks for all the cookies and the occasional paper towel holder)




(Bongo says that that dogs get booze at the bridge and it's not bad for them there. hmmmmmm-drink responsibly, Larry). And don't ride in a car with Aunt Betty.

The guys I like the best

You know that Rickey will undoubted follow in Bongo's footsteps and with any luck have countless nicknames.

I told Doddy the other day that one of his first nicknames outta be "scotch tape" cuz he is like, stuck to you.

I mentioned to Uncle Mike the other day that Rickey has also liked the moniker "jr exec" and he's telling people that he is Dodson and my new "c.e." He has asked for a Blackberry, which he actually called a "blackbaby", and we have told him that he can have neither.

Get a load of how adorable Sugar can be

They couldn't have been more than four months old. Doesn't it look like Sucarita is wearing mascara? And those of you who know her know that she is snow white and red mahagony but not so black these days. So cute. And that Bongo has such a cute little can. Seriously.

Sugar is so darling and sweet. Her papa went to New York to do a Vanity Fair photo shoot for two days (or as she refers to it, "forever") and she misses him so much. She's snuggling with Rick and Lana right now in our bed. Or as I refer to it, "their bed".

The finest day of my life

April 26, 1998. My fortieth birthday. I had never taken care of a fish let alone a dog. Let alone two dogs. I was overwhelmed and all angry and pissy for about a week. And then I realized how much they both needed me and loved me with every fiber of their little darling beings. You just can't imagine how adorable they were this Sunday. And how incredibly hung over I was from the party the night before. But there I was, holding treasure in my hands. Look at 'em.

Sugar and I are celebrating our eight years together. We had a really nice walk this morning together. I am grateful for every second I have spent with her and I have no regrets about how she has spent her time so far, constantly adored. Adam and his wonderful boyfriend Daniel have graciously loaned us their house in Palm Springs for the weekend and Sugar and Rickey and Lana are very excited for a spontaneous vacation with their Dads.

I'm thinkin happy thoughts about Bongo, cuz we always had fun on my birthday. I know he's thinkin bout me too.

Happy anniversary Mr Man, you still thrill my heart every day with the thought of your smile. Big kiss to you and all your pals at the bridge.

Par-teeeeeeeeeeeeee

I seldom really cut loose but Dodson and the dogs have planned a small shindig for me tonight. I hate to have to get all dressed up, I would rather just wear what I'm wearing now.

Dreamboats

One of a jillion happy nights at our house.

I am a very lucky man to be surrounded by love. Bongo was a super snuggly sleeper, until he didn't want to be and then he went off to his teen boy dog space. And then he'd come back in the wee chilly hours of the morning. Sigh. I'm staring at the fireplace alot tonight.

There is crazy talk in our house toingiht: Doddy says there is a one year old lil boy out at the ranch, a tri color and Lana wants a plaything to boss around. And I really want a puppy so bad. But Sugar can't hate the idea. More later.

Bassets don't like chain link

When Bongo and Sugar were babies I lived a block away from work and occasionally they would spend the daytime hours enjoying life in a large covered cabana.

They despised being in it.

By the time Dodson came along the dog prison was long gone, converted into a greenhouse.

Look at my handsome man. I miss him alot today. Lately I think Sugar is missing him lots. Sigh.

Me and Bongo wacthed Goldfinger over the weekend

We both loaded up on snacks. I hate it when he asks for extra and then doesn't eat it.

These two really dig the place

Rickey and Lana love the park. It's really sweet and you get a nice ocean breeze because it's on top of the hill. They get really disappointed if they can't go every day now.

Sugar stares at the exit the whole time she is at the park

Geez. She is kind of a pain in the ass. She has always hated going on walks, especially on a leash, more especially if she has to keep up with others. She likes the park alot, she just insists on going at her own pace. Li'l girl. Sigh.

question o' the day

Where can you get shitfaced on green beer in Encino?

Sugar is the only one who likes booze, the little lass.

Man it was busy in the office today

This is what I felt like all day long.

Twins?!!!!!

Ok, so they're not twins. Not exactly. But close enough for me.

We found out some very special news yesterday. Rickey's pedigree paperwork showed up and both Dodson and I noticed that his father's name was John Elway. Not such a common name and also the name of Lanaynez Elliott Hohman's father. A couple of phone calls told us that indeed they share the same father. Ir's very touching that he is not a stranger and actually her half brother and that there is real relation between them. Another brother and sister. Bongo set that up for her. Larry, you slay me sometimes.

Twins

I think they were about four months when I took this photo of Bongo and Sugar in 1998. Sigh. I'm missing Bongo pretty bad right now. It's just hard when somebody is really positive and happy all the time and then they aren't here. And I don't know if I mentioned it but I'm not the easiest person to live with and he liked me all the time no matter what. Sigh. Stupid paper towel holders just piling up.

Call Me Crazy

See what I mean about maybe there being something a little "off" about Rickey? He's very sweet and all, but every now and then.....Also I'm not so sure about Dodson's body language here being the wisest, all things considered.

I hate the Oscars cuz you have to get all dressed up

To be honest, I'd just rather hang out at home with Dodson and Sug and Lanaynez and Federico, in these comfy clothes.
Do you think I have a "hat face"?

Bongo as "Boueff Woofman" in BARKBACK MOUNTAIN

tell me with a straight face that you could say no to him. And then tell me why you would ever even think to say no to a guy like that. He gave me this look every day for seven and a half years. And then I unhesitatingly did whatever he had just asked me to do. We had so much fun every day we were together. We never got mad at each other, ever. Talk about "can't quit you".

i sure am glad Dodson took this photo. It really did capture the depth of his character. Boueff was movie star handsome.

Toby Hopper Joins Bongo at the Rainbow Bridge

Toby was our pal, and he passed away today. As his mama said: Toby was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in November of 2003. The doctors predicted he wouldn’t live longer than a couple more months. But the miracle boy defied the odds and surprised us all by not only sticking around an extra two years, but by behaving like a perfectly healthy dog — spirited, hungry, loving, hungry, energetic and hungry.

I'm jealous of him getting to be with my Bongo. Please Toby, safe passage and tell Larry I love him. He already knows for certain but he never tires of hearing. And would you be a love and ask if they have paper towel holders at the Bridge, we have quite a stockpile. And how we might get them there.

Did I mention that we are having a Rickey issue or two?

I really like him but we have to meet a behavioralist cuz he has a couple of weirdo issues. Afraid of the dog door. Thinks the indoor-outdoor carpet outside the living room is a potty. Most seriously he has growled at his other Papa more than once and though I really do trust them to work it out amongst themselves there's no reason for us not to ask someone who knows more about communication with dogs. He is a truly loving guy, his master had to give him to the Basset Ranch because of a fatal illness in late August and he got thrust into our house and our lives and he needs all the assurance we can muster.

And his sense of placement shows he is kind of witty, too. Thanks for the photo op, Rickey.

Without Bongo, These Things Are Really Piling Up

I'm not saying that Bongo had a cookie-eating-food-disorder, but apparently the lack of his drumbeat for "cookies for me and all my friends" has resulted in some appreciated weight loss but I had better change that regular shipment to 30% of what it was.

We haven't even started on this box and there's five bags in the cookie bin. I wish I was still powering through one of these boxes long before the next one would come. He loved these cookies. Li'l guy. (sigh)

Me and a Buncha Guys Watched the Superbowl

You know, it's not just the same without Bongo. Judy just drinks like a fish and then goes on and on about what a nice boy Laddie is and Cukor doesn't understand anything about football except that Roz Russell was a fullback. At least Larry would keep it lively with chatter about cookies and how much he likes kissing.

Puppy Bowl cheerleaders?

I just got a scanner so I can post all these sweet polaroids I've got of bongo (what a cute lil guy on the left) and sugar (adorably and wonderfully on the right).

I wish I could spend every second over again with mr man. But the first time around was pretty great. He and I both have affection deficit disorder and we were perfect for each other.

Bongo is sooooooo stoned

This is Bongo's mug shot from his rebellious teen months. From his bloodshot eyes you can see that he is totally baked. Sugar is passed out, a pattern that repeats itself over time.

Now do you see what I'm talking about?

Bongo, when he was jus' a lil guy, maybe four or five months old. So handsome. I'm missing him a lot today. Did I tell you that he was a super snuggly guy? I'm repeating myself. I don't care.