A New Years to remember

As this year draws to a close and the new year is set to begin, it's long been customary for people to take a little time to reflect on the events of the past year, and consider their hopes for the year ahead. It's a time for people to stand back and take a look at their lives, their work, their families, their friends; what they've accomplished, what they did right and what they did wrong, and what they'd change if they could.

It's also a time when people consider ways to improve themselves by setting personal goals for the future, something they call a New Years Resolution. That's just a fancy term which simply means: a set of promises people make to themselves. Promises such as trying to lose a little excess weight, getting rid of a bad habit or two, or getting themselves a bit more organized. Not exactly what you might consider lofty goals, but practical nonetheless.

The more I hear about these here resolutions, the more it all seems to makes sense.
We all could do with a little self-improvement.


So for the past couple of days I've thought long and hard about whether or not I should come up with some new year's resolutions of my own. Since this has been only my first year of life I have little to compare myself to. My life is relatively simple and I don't have much to complain about. As far as I know, I don't have any real problems or bad habits to speak of, and I have little reason to think the future will bring me anything more then I need or less then I want, but yet I still feel this need to self-examine.
Surely there are things about myself I could change for the better, I'm certainly not perfect, no dog is.

I have my strong points, as well as my not-so-strong points, although I have yet to figured out the difference. I'm sure there are things I could do around the house to make myself more useful, such as picking up my toys and putting them back in the box after I'm through with them.

No, wait......On second thought, no self-respecting dog in his right mind would do that. There's no need to get crazy. They don't expect too much from me to begin with, so there's no point in setting the bar too high. Besides, cleaning up after dogs is human's work, everyone knows that.
It makes them feel useful.

So let's think about this a bit. What kind of new years resolutions could a dog aspire to. The lives of humans and dogs couldn't be more different.
Humans need to work; dogs need to take naps. - Humans have bills to pay; dogs have games to play, - Humans like to watch TV; dogs like to bark at humans watching TV.
We drag our toys all over the house; they pick them up. - We poop in the yard; they have to clean it up.

As far as I can see, none of these things look like a problem to me. What kind of new years resolutions can I possibly come up with to improve my simple life.

Take more naps, play more, have more fun.

I would do those things anyway. Come to think of it, I have no real problems to speak of at all. It's not like I have to give up smoking, or cut back on my drinking. I don't have a weight problem, I only weigh 43 pounds. My hair's not falling out and I don't have closets full of junk to get organized, and God knows I don't have any kind of sexual issues to deal with, I was neutered last spring.

So what is it that I'm trying to do here anyway, looking for things in my life to change, when in fact, changes may not even be necessary.

Now that I look at it, this whole business of making resolutions might be completely lost on me. It's kind of like a solution looking for a problem.

Wow, It seemed like such a good idea at first glance but it's got me thinking, if it's not broken, maybe I best not think about fixing it.

The truth is, there's nothing about me that needs to change.
It could be, I'm just as perfect as I need to be.

My life is as happy as it is simple, and I want for nothing.
What could finer then that.

I'm actually starting to think that you people are the ones I should be feeling sorry for. You're the ones with the complicated lives. Compared to you people, we pretty much have it made.
Oh sure, dogs don't have bills to pay, but we also don't have jobs.

So, I guess I can just forget about all that self improvement business altogether and just concentrate on having a good time this New Years eve.

What the heck was I thinking anyway!

Maybe I'll stay up late and watch that big bumpy ball drop on TV. That sounds like it would be real interesting.

But then again, maybe I'll just find myself a nice warm spot to curl up in and get some sleep.

Either way it will be a New Years to remember.

Happy New Years to all.

Love Reilly ...

Reilly and family

Reilly's Christmas List...

Reilly's Thanksgiving message...

c

This will be my first Thanksgiving and I'm looking forward to spending it here at home, with my family and some of my new friends.

This has been a good first year for me. A year of great personal growth, as you see by my pictures.

I've come to know my new family, Mom, Dad, Marley and Zoe. just as they've come to know me. I've also come to know my new home with it's big back yard, and all it's places to hide and dig holes.

I've learned a lot this year as well. I've learned all about Bumpy balls, chew toys and treats, trips in the car, and how much I enjoy a good hot bath.

I've learned that I can run faster and jump higher then Zoe, even on her best day.

I've learned how to stay out of Marley's way and to avoid her grumpy side, which is every side.

I've learned that ripping dad's sneakers apart is not a good thing to do, but oh so much fun.

I've learned about going to the groomer, the dry cleaner, walks around the neighborhood, and that I like going to work with Mom once in a while.

I've learned that when a door bell rings, it is a dog's job to bark incessantly at the front door.

I've learned that the best time of the day to enjoy loud wild barking games is in the evenings, when Mom & Dad are sitting, looking at the flickering light box. They often join in with their own loud barking.

I've also learned that the vacuum cleaner is frightening and unpredictable thing, that can wake up out of a cold dead sleep at almost any time, and can never be trusted.
Just the other night, I saw it come to life. It was terrible. It had Dad by the arm and was dragging him helplessly from room to room for about a half hour until it finally lost consciousness and died. I must say, it's about the only thing in the house I truly fear. I know Mom fears it too because I've rarely seen her anywhere near it.

Another thing I've learned is that I like people, and they seem to like me as well.

I've learned that everything in my world was made specifically for me, and my own enjoyment. And that's a good thing.

So this year I'll celebrate my first Thanksgiving with my family and friends, and while I'm feverishly wolfing down my giant bowl of dog food, I'll be thinking of all the things in my world, I have to be Thankful for, for which there are many.

And my hope for you my friends, on this wonderful holiday, is that your own cornucopia will be filled with all you favorite treats, and that all is well in your world, just as it is in mine.

Happy Thanksgiving
Reilly...

Happy Birthday to me ... Reilly of course

Yeah, that's right. Todays my birthday
November 17th
I'm One year old now and having a great day
Partying with my peeps.

TREATS FOR EVERYBODY!!!

Party on!

Now it's time for a nap.

This reminder from Reilly...

Tomorrow is election day, so I'd just like to remind all my good friends to please try to take a little time out of their busy schedules and go down and VOTE. I don't need to tell you, there's a lot of serious issues facing our country today, and there's a lot a stake in this election, So it's important that your voice be heard..

Now I can't tell you who to vote for, that just wouldn't be right. Who you vote for is up to you.

If you choose to stay home and skip the election then of course, you have no reason to complain later. My intention is simply to remind the public they can make a real difference in their government. And the best part is, it don't cost one red cent to make a statement.

SO GET OUT THERE PEOPLE!
Do the right thing,
Vote!

I'm Reilly, and I approve this message.

Happy Halloween from Reilly

Mom visits the Great Bumpy Wall of China

Hey check it out. Mom e-mailed me this really cool picture of herself standing on some big bumpy wall. She had to go to this place called China for a couple of weeks. Don't ask me where that is, I have no idea. All I know is that it's really far away and I haven't see her in almost two weeks. Who knows how she even finds these places.

The other night I asked Dad about it and he tells me it's on the other side of the world.
Oh yeah right. Like I'm suppose to know where that is.
Does he not know I've never been beyond the the back yard fence.

Anyway, like I said, she's at this place they call China. I don't know much about it, but I will tell you this: Every dog-toy I've ever known came from there. So as far as I'm concerned, that's good enough for me.
I'll bet ya the whole place is just stinkin of dog-toys. It sounds nice. I think the next time she goes, I'm going to ask if I can come along. I'd love to take a tour of that factory where those brightly colored chew bones are made. I just think that would be freakin fascinating.

It sounds like a great place for a dog to take a vacation, and from what I hear, they really love us over there.
In fact, I once overheard Mom & Dad talking about how in some parts of China dogs are actually served in restaurants. Wow can you believe that. Dog's in restaurants. In this country the only way any dog can get his tail inside a restaurant is if he's dragging a blind guy behind him, and even then you don't get to eat. What's that about.
I can see why Mom likes to go there, they're way ahead of us.

I can't wait to hear more about this place they call China. I hope she brings me back something that squeaks .

It's good to be Reilly...

v

Boy it was one hot summer, but I must say, there's no better way to relax after a hectic morning of barking and ball chasing then to spent an afternoon chill-in out with a few treats and a big bowl of water out by the pool.




As you can see, Mom like to relax by the pool just like me.



What do you think, do I look relaxed?
You bet I am.. I'm Reilly

Meet my humans.. Mom & Dad that is...

Of the two humans I call Mom & Dad, this one is Mom. She takes real good care of us and always takes us in the car whenever she can.

c

Here's a nice picture of my Dad with my sisters. I would of liked to of been in the picture as well, but they say it was taken before I was born.
Whatever that means....

The Ball of Satan...

The thing to know about Zoe is that she's not nearly as prissy as she looks. She'll fight you for a toy more so then Marley ever would. And I dare say, there's one toy in particular that she'll go to war over any day of the week. In this house it's considered the Holy Grail of the toy box.
I'm talking of course of the legendary Bumpy Ball.

Or as I like to call it: THE BALL of SATAN

It's Zoe's favorite toy in the whole world and God help any dog who dares come between her and it. It took me months before I managed to even wrap my mouth around one of these babies without getting mauled. Even now I have to treat the Bumpy Ball with extreme reverence whenever I'm anywhere near the thing. Sometimes if she's in a real good mood, she'll let me play around with it for a while. That is until she thinks I've had enough. I guess that's when Satan kicks in.
I'm hopping to get my own for Christmas this year. And if I do, I'm not even going to let her near it.



I swear she's had one of these things in every color in the rainbow.


This is a picture of Zoe when she was even younger then me with one of her first Bumpy Balls.

A note about Marley.

My sister Marley is your typical girly girl. She loves having her hair brushed and getting all dressed up.
I don't know where she thinks she's going all dressed up, to the prom I guess.
Maybe if she's lucky she might get to go bye-bye in the car with Dad on his way out to get Chinese food.
Whatever...



This however, is not one of her high fashion looks. Unfortunately poor Marley had to go to the hospital recently for a operation on her tail and then had to wear this ridicules thing on her head for almost two weeks. She came through it just fine, but as for her her tail, well, ....that's another story.
.... At least she still has her looks.

It's hard staying clean in a dirty world

I always feel great right after my bath....

















But as much as I love getting a bath, I also love to play in
the dirt.

Reilly's first bath at home...

Hey... I like this. I like this a lot!




That's Zoe checking to make sure I'm all right.




Marley too wants to know, what the heck is
going on up there.

I'm starting to really like it here...

It seems Zoe and I are always playing some kind of game

I usually win

Afterwards we all line up for some afternoon treats.

Then Zoe and I like to take a little nap.
Not a bad way to spend a afternoon.

It didn't take me long to make friends.

So far Marley's been a little stand-offish
but big sister Zoe and I hit it off right from
the begining


As you can see, we're getting along
very nicely


In some ways she's more like a mother
to me then a big sister.
Hopefully that don't sound too wierd.

Checkin out my new digs

At first it was all a bit overwhelming, it took me a while to find my way around.
This place was big.









Here I am checking out my new bed.








Here I am with Marley. She thinks she's so tough, she thought she could stare me down, I didn't even blink.








Then, just to be nice, I decided to just bite the bullet and
let her check me out.

I was a stranger in a strange land

Here I was, on my first day in my new home.
I didn't now where the heck I was or what I was suppose to do. Who were these strange people, and just why was I here. As you might expect, I was feeling a little lost.

And who were these other two dogs, and what did they want with me.
It seems they were just as confused as I was. At first they didn't know what to make of me, and I have to say, I wasn't too sure about them either.




It took a little while, almost a day but eventually the other dogs, who they call Marley And Zoe, began to accept me when they finally realized I wasn't going away.
Yea.. I was here to stay, that's for sure, so it was only right they should start treating me like one of the family, which they did.

Funny thing is, I don't think they ever thought I was going to get any bigger then I was.
I really fooled them!

In the begining

This is a picture of Dad holding me
the day they brought me home.
I was only 9 weeks old.

And here's a picture of Dad holding me
9 Months later.
I'm a Big boy now!