Last week I took the plunge and joined the world of the tragically hip.  I am now officially an iPhone addict user.  I never thought I would upgrade into that realm of smart phones, but I have and there is NO looking back!  I can facebook, check email, IM, text, youtube, surf the web (my site looks cool via iPhone), visit my forums, twit and SHOP all from my phone!  I cant imagine life without all this mobile information at my finger tips.  Is it worth the hype…. absolutely!

Speaking of shopping… a few weeks ago I posted about the most awesome green dog beds (here) called Molly Mutt Dog Duvets. Since then I have ordered a second one and wanted to order a third  Molly Mutts Dog Duvet for the dogs to have upstairs in my bedroom.  The two I already have are working out so wonderfully I dont think I will ever own anything but ever again.  I left the house and went to go and see a movie (OK I saw Ice Age 3 by myself) I forgot to order the bed.  I had about 10 minutes to kill before the previews started and they turned down the lights so I pulled out my handy dandy iPhone and pulled up the Molly Mutts site just to admire and decide which one I would order when I got home.  I clicked on the “Your Hand in Mine” and saw the “add to cart” button.  Could I really order from my phone?  I selected the size and added “1″ in the quantity box and held my breath as I tentatively pushed the “add to cart” button.  I half expected it to give me a connection error but no… it went on to “proceed to check out” - OMG could I really be buying something right here in the movie theater?

I signed up for an account, put in my shipping and payment information… so far so good. Then I submitted the order. I expected that I’d hit a snag at this point but when it said success….. I almost jumped out of my seat and started doing a happy dance!  I wanted to shout to the whole theater “I just bought a Molly Mutt Duvet on my iPhone!!!”  For fear that I would look even more insane that I already did, sitting alone in a kids movie, I opted to tweet it!  Oh technology rocks!

What rocks even more…. Molly Mutt has already shipped my duvet!  I received notification this afternoon with a tracking number and it was already at the FedEx hub!  Talk about the most awesome service ever!! Excellent quality workmanship and superb customer service makes Molly Mutt an A+ in my book (not to mention my dogs seal of approval).  I should receive it in a few days and I will post photos of both of my new beds.  Brutus is sprawled out on his as I type - Saint Bernard tested and approved!

I have bought a few cool dog apps for the iPhone as well.  So far this is my favorite. Dog Diary $2.99 is a great app for dog owners. Organize your dogs pertinent information - this is great for owners like me with multiple dogs.  Each dog is listed separately with a picture icon to keep track of their info.

• Picture Gallery - Show off your favorite photos. Choose photos from your library or take new ones with your iPhone camera.
• ID - Birthday, registration, microchip, type/breed, name.
• Veterinary - Store your dogs’ vet phone and address, get directions from current location in Google Maps app, or call them with just one tap.
• Medications - Keep track of which medications your pet needs, how much, and when.
• Custom info lists - If there isn’t already a field for what you want, just create a new one.
• Notes - Keep whatever other information you want!
• Flexible - All data is editable, all lists are re-arrangeable. Re-size and order photos.

Last fall I took some pictures of the Newfies for my friend Bev and I put them on a disk for for her so she could print them out.  As a thank you, she gave me a gift card to Mutts and Co near the dog park we go to.  Totally unnecessary, but a welcome and thoughtful surprise.  The gift card has been sitting in my purse ever since.  I finally stopped by Mutts and Co with the card in hand and used it about 2 weeks ago.  I bought the COOLEST (pun intended) dog toy ever!

Meet the Dogzilla Deep Freeze.

This ingenious little invention is half rubber dumbbell and half “dogsicle”. The rubber half snaps to an ice tray and you fill it with water, broth or yogurt, stick it in the freezer and viola - you have a frozen dogsicle! I fill mine with diluted sodium-free chicken bouillon.  The XL will hold a full 8oz of liquid.  The liquid freezes to the protein infused rubber bone (which has wells in it) and gives the dog (and you) something other than ice to hold on to when licking it.

This is the first and last time the boys shared it. They always share everything… but not this!  It is highly prized item and they will run off and hide with it so they can enjoy it in peace. Since they are somewhat difficult to find in the stores right now (I am sure due to the heat) I ordered a second one off Amazon.com (actually ordered 3, 2 are for a friend in the UK) and they qualified for the super savers free shipping!  NICE.

They are a little messy when they start melting so if they are not actively licking or chewing on them they should go back in the freezer.  I have my guys eat it on the deck or laying on a towel. Trying to keep Brutus off he couch with it is a challenge.  he wants to lay smack dab in the middle of the couch so there’s a big wet spot where you sit. ick!

Since it can be refilled and reused over and over, its a great “green” way to cool down your dog during the hot “dog days” of summer.  Gotta love green treats!  I have used mine daily since purchasing it.  It certainly is WELL worth the money!

The Deep freeze are available in three sizes -medium, large and X large.

I absolutely hate some parents!  Especially of the Helicopter Dad variety!

This morning I was sitting at my desk gazing out my window watching people go by.  It was really nice out so i had the windows cracked and the saints were going nuts at every little noise so i had to close them.  Well just before I closed them the girls (8 &11) from two doors down walked by.  The had their 12 week old yellow lab (ADORABLE) and chi with them walking.  The lab stopped on my lawn and took a crap.  They started to walk off so I went and opened the door and this transpired.

me: “girls are you going to pick that up?”
girls: “pick what up?”
me: “the poop your dog just left on my lawn, do you have a bag?”
girls: “yes we have bags, but he didnt poop”
me: “umm yes he did, right there, i watched him”

I walked back inside and watched as the little girls walked off, no poop bag in hand.  I went over to the spot where the dog had pooped and as I figured, his little turds were still there.  I picked up the pile and was really irritated, I contemplated going and knocking on the door to tell their mother, but though better of it.  Its really petty when it comes right down to it.  But dont you know, they told their dad and not 10 minutes later he showed up at my door with the puppy and in a huff.

me: “oh, dont bring the pup to the door, I’ll come out” “my big ones get a little nuts”
him: “you talked to my girls a few minutes ago”
me: “yes, the puppy pooped on my lawn and I asked them if they were going to pick it up, which they didn’t”
him: “they said they walked the lawn twice and didnt see anything”
me: “I assure you it was there (points to spot), I picked it up after they walked away. (looks at me as if I’m lying)  If you dont believe me, I’ll fish it out of the trash and show you.
him: “well they had two poop bags and they said you were rude to them  If you have anythign to say to them, you need to come to me.  Im only 2 doors down.”
in udder disbelief at this point
me: “I absolutely was not rude to them. I have every right to address them when their dog poops on my lawn and they leave it.  I considered coming and telling you, but that seemed quite petty.  I have 6 dogs that I walk and pick up after.  Its something that is absolutely necessary when owning a dog.  I dont think you’d appreciate me leaving a pile on your lawn either.  I think I startled them when I opened the door and they were embarrassed, but I assure you I was not rude (trying to muster the biggest smile I could)”
him: “they are my girls from Arizona and they are not used to walking the dogs (well, that explains it right there, you have left them behind and think you can come in and be a helicopter dad on your 6 week summer stint.. nice)

Then we have some chit chat about Arizona and the U of A and how he went to Medical school there… sorry, just got my BA there im not a fancy doctor.  The pup is adorable though.  So far my track records with kids in this neighborhood is not good… I hope this trend does not continue.

GOD I HATE LIVING IN THE CITY!

Today Brutus and I met my friend Laura and two of her little dogs at the Friends for Life “Festival of Friends” in Canal Winchester.  This is an annual fundraiser event Friends For Life holds in June.  I try and go every year to support the group.  This is the group Eris came from and I have met some wonderful people associated with them.  It was so nice to see Gene again.  He was Eris’s first foster home before she came to me.  I wanted to take her, but she doesn’t “do” the heat so I opted to leave her at home.  I regret not taking her though, it turned out to be an overcast and cool day.  She would have really enjoyed it and I would have loved for Gene to see her and how far she has come.

This year’s event was REALLY small, I think it was a last minute decision to hold it.  Several local rescues showed up with adoptable dogs and there were some silent auction items - no, I didnt win anything .  A representative for Therapy Dogs Inc was there and we got some information on their organization.  Brutus, Rufus, Apollo and Zeus all have their CGC and TDI designations, but I have not kept up with their testing since we moved and have all expired so I need to have them tested again.  I really enjoyed doing therapy work with the Saints and Rufus absolutely loves going on visits and being loved on.  I think its time to get their certifications current so we can go on visits again.

Here are some really old pictures of Brutus on a therapy visit in a nursing home.

Therapy visits were always so relaxing for the boys and rewarding for me.  I felt like we made a difference to the residents as well as the staff.  I look forward to getting involved again and finding a nursing home closer to home.