Meet the menagerie.
I never had any pets when I was a kid, with the exception of two goldfish named Bo and Luke.
Duke.
Yes, I was a fan.
It was a good show. And they were never meanin’ no harm.
Plus, being in trouble with the law since the day they were born was kind of a catchy lyric.
Anyway. I grew up in a house without pets. I wanted a dog. And a horse.
I never got either.
I always knew when I grew up, I would have a dog of my own. Because my mom told me when I was the mom, I would be able to make the rules.
So now I am the mom. The making the rules part, I’m not so sure about.
K always had a dog when he was growing up. There was Shannon the Irish Setter. Rocky the Cocker Spaniel who loved to steal your food right off the table, and Casey the Chocolate Lab.
Well, the owners of Rocky and Bo and Luke Duke are all grown up now, with a house full of pets of their own.
In fact, there are now more pets in the house than people.
I always wanted a dog, but this is getting ridiculous.
There’s Nala, the matriarch. She’s six.
A better dog there never was. And she smiles for the camera too.
She is quiet and well behaved. She loved to swim and play fetch with a tennis ball. She sleeps next to K’s side of the bed every night and she rests under a table during the day. She loves to go for walks, she never wears a collar or a leash, and she will never wander away from home. She lets the kids play with her and play on her, and for the most part she is a good sport about it. She is everything a loyal canine companion should be.
She’s a keeper.
This, on the other hand, is Koko. And this is a picture of one of her best qualities.
She is naughty, makes a mess (see photo), and then gives me THE LOOK. The Look that says she feels bad about what she’s done. Can you see it? It’s pathetic. And then I am the one that ends up feeling BAD for being MAD at HER.
I am being played by a puppy, people.
I have been taken in by the cuteness. Big mistake. Her beautiful fur and big, soft ears do not make up for the rumblin’, bumblin’ stumblin’, locomotion that is Koko.
She makes a mess wherever she goes, every single day.
She drips drool from her mouth. Constantly.
She eats more than I do.
She whimpers like a baby.
She steps in the water bowl.
She walks in to people and things.
She is always ready to play.
She knocks things over with her tail. And they break. Or spill.
She cannot keep her wet face off of my sliding door.
She is lucky she is cute. And sweet. Because she tries my patience.
And then there are my sons fish. Four of them.
They are modern miracles.
We have had them for fourteen months and they are still alive and kickin’.
I have never had fish that had such staying power.
They obviously are not distant relatives of Bo and Luke Duke, who had to be replaced every two weeks.
This is our newest addition. She (or He) moved in on Valentines Day ‘08.
How romantic.
I would formally introduce you, but all the kids are at school and I am not sure what its name is today. It seems to change every day, depending on which of my children you ask.
I believe it was originally called Shelly. Original. And then Turty. Even more original. And then, you’ll never believe this one, Rocky. Uh-huh.
The tradition lives on.
If only Bo and Luke were still around.
Posted: May 15th, 2008 under Home, Picture Posts.
Comments: 14
Comments
Comment from Wendi
Time: May 15, 2008, 6:47 am
Glad to have met the rest of your family.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane with the Dukes of Hazard.
That was a trip I never knew I needed.
Thanks for the entertainment.
I sent you an email about your “mommy project” …hope it helps!
Comment from Chrissy
Time: May 15, 2008, 6:52 am
I loved that show! We had two fish called Rocky and Bullwinkle!! I had to ban fish from my house, because all we do is Kill them!
Your pets are all so cute!
Comment from Robyn
Time: May 15, 2008, 7:16 am
Ok, I had a dog named Dixie. Her middle name was Flash. She was a Basset hound. My husband is a fan, too.
We also had a friend who drove cross country with his girlfriend to purchase an original General Lee. Then he proposed to his girlfriend in it and drove it back across the country with her. The doors didn’t open, there were no windows, and it was summer. We live in Alabama and they picked up the car in Phoenix. That’s love.
Give my best to Rocky. He needs a girlfriend. I bet I can guess what her name would be!
AAAADDDDRRRIIIEENNNNNEEEE!!!
Comment from Thea @ I’m a Drama Mama
Time: May 15, 2008, 7:47 am
I had a few animals growing up, but I don’t think I would classify myself as an “animal lover”…
I know there’ll be a time when the kids are giong to want a dog and we’ll probably say yes, but I know who’s going to end up taking care of it!
Comment from Ashlee
Time: May 15, 2008, 8:48 am
I had kitties when I was growing up. I’m not really a pet person now. BUT, we have a golden retriever anyway. Why? Because my children and hubby begged for years and I caved. And my dog is a terror like yours is. Sigh. Do you want another one?
Comment from BecomingMe
Time: May 15, 2008, 9:05 am
Very pretty pictures and fun to read post. Love the names Bo and Luke for fish
Comment from Jennifer
Time: May 15, 2008, 9:49 am
Are you sure Koko isn’t a german wire hair named Sam? Because they are just about identical in every way! Naughty, Naughty, Naughty… But so Cute, Cute, Cute! Sam was born right after Thanksgiving… and I’m seriously counting down the days until he’s 5 years old. I actually want time to go fast - but only for his life. Not my son’s or mine. But please make him 5 already so he’s lazy and good and obeys the rules and leaves the water dish be and the garbage and the shoes…
Smiles!
Jen
Comment from Becky
Time: May 15, 2008, 10:44 am
Your posts are so funny. I get a total kick out of reading it every day. I grew up with dogs, but had my own goldfish for 13 years. I’m not sure what I fed it but that thing lasted forever. I of course didn’t have a cool name for it like you did for yours.
You have great patience to handle all the animals, and kids too.
Comment from Christie
Time: May 15, 2008, 11:20 am
Ah, but who can stay mad at a cute wittole puppy with those sad, dark eyes? Definitely not me. Clearly not you.
Oh, and the Dukes? ROCKED my childhood world. I wanted to be Daisy, and I hated that Sherriff Roscoe P. Coltrain so bad. That show was the bomb!
Comment from Suzy
Time: May 15, 2008, 11:59 am
Turtles live FOREVER. Did you know that? I should post all my animals on my blog some day. Only the dogs have made it on so far. And “dogs” is a loose term for these guys. I think Tess has some cat and chicken bred in her somewhere back in the breeding line. She’s a beaut.
Comment from Kelly @ Love Well
Time: May 15, 2008, 1:15 pm
So do you think your kids will grow up and forgo pets? I’ve always wondered about that pendulum swing.
For the record, I grew up with one, tiny little dog, and I always wanted more pets than that. My Mom told me the same thing. “When you grow up, blah, blah, blah.”
So shortly after we got married, Corey and I got two puppies. And then two more. We spent our Saturdays picking up poop in our backyard in Phoenix when the temperature was 120.
We’re pet-less now.
Comment from Carolyn
Time: May 15, 2008, 5:36 pm
Koko looks just like one of my dogs…exactly. Oh the dog drives me nuts. I think she needs Ratalin! I love animals and I would never be cruel to them, but I can tell ya, I can sure live without them too! If only the DH could live without them!
Comment from sheila
Time: May 15, 2008, 10:13 pm
i will print off your list of all the things koko does and keep it in my car then every time i pull over to the side of the road to look at the lastest puppy being sold i will read it…thanks for the help
was nala like that or is it just a lab thing?
Comment from Martha
Time: May 22, 2008, 5:58 am
I love your menagerie - especially how you caught those expressions on Nala and Koko’s faces. Hilarious!!
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