tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969095016843794782012-05-10T06:58:22.963-04:00A daily photo journey through a year in the life of Future Dog Guide RomeroHobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-75834255078451272982011-06-08T20:35:00.019-04:002011-09-13T20:38:41.409-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">... could be your treasure! Romero has been helping us with the final preparations for our garage sale this Saturday - stop by if you're in the area. All funds raised will go to Dog Guides Canada in support of Romero.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GhTPjpopb2k/Tm_qXeyHqfI/AAAAAAAAGK4/Ej6lmqZ72BM/s1600/IMG_0997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" alt="Black lab Romero is decked out in his green Future Dog Guide jacket and thick red leash, sitting near the front of our open garage. He looks unusually young in this picture, with his head slightly tilted and his wide brown eye staring curiously towards the camera. Behind Romero is a large pile of STUFF stacked on and around a big plastic table. These items have all been sorted and priced for our upcoming garage sale. The pile contains, among other things, a red metal desk chair, a blender and other kitchen supplies, two bags of kids' golf clubs, shoes and boots, a Barbie suitcase, a humidifier, a push lawnmower, boardgames, a small blue bookshelf, and many miscellaneous decorations and office supplies." height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GhTPjpopb2k/Tm_qXeyHqfI/AAAAAAAAGK4/Ej6lmqZ72BM/s400/IMG_0997.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-7583425507845127298?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-62928642123817498412011-06-07T07:49:00.016-04:002011-09-12T22:18:55.951-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWATo8IiE7o/Tm63olKe7tI/AAAAAAAAGKo/ZgPULU3wiK0/s1600/IMG_0993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" alt="Black lab Romero is lying on the beige tile floor of my office near the corner of the L shaped wooden desk. In the nook behind him are several translucent green plastic containers filled with puppy jackets. Romero's thick red leash is looped over the back of my empty pinkish-red office chair. There is a brown dog bed at the foot of the chair, but Romero prefers to keep cool on the tile, and to make things difficult for me by lying directly behind the wheels of my chair." height="300" width="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWATo8IiE7o/Tm63olKe7tI/AAAAAAAAGKo/ZgPULU3wiK0/s400/IMG_0993.JPG" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-6292864212381749841?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-48401451576212451542011-06-06T23:04:00.000-04:002011-09-13T19:34:47.378-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-edrXutEfpiY/Tm6sRcxGARI/AAAAAAAAGKY/MJUxPLfDPCw/s1600/IMG_0987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" alt="Black lab Romero is lying in his open wire crate on a comfy bed of a brown mat covered with a bunched up red blanket. The crate is on the white carpet of my bedroom, and is surrounded by a cloud of black dog hair! Romero is happily working away at a medium-sized black Kong that is stuffed with wet dog food and frozen. Romero's tongue is out, licking the opening of the Kong. His ears are pulled back and his eyes are closed in bliss." height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-edrXutEfpiY/Tm6sRcxGARI/AAAAAAAAGKY/MJUxPLfDPCw/s400/IMG_0987.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Yum!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-4840145157621245154?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-29394049243535428182011-06-05T19:28:00.019-04:002011-08-03T23:01:00.924-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-An5MYaFpdgY/TjoFKekZBxI/AAAAAAAAGKI/ZgUF6CVXlSY/s1600/IMG_0981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="On a sunny day, Black lab Romero is lying near the bottom of a grassy hill with a baseball diamond behind him. The baseball game is in progress, and a group of pitchers in blue jerseys can been seen chatting just beyond the short metal fence that surrounds the field. A few spectators are leaning up against the fence watching the game. Romero himself is a very happy baseball fan. He's facing towards the camera, looking slightly down and to the right, with a huge smile on his face and his long front legs stretched out in the grass in front of him. He's wearing his green Future Dog Guide jacket, a blue and grey patterned collar, and a black leather leash." border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-An5MYaFpdgY/TjoFKekZBxI/AAAAAAAAGKI/ZgUF6CVXlSY/s400/IMG_0981.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>The Blue Jays were out of town today, so Romero and I headed to a different &nbsp;ball park in Toronto to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Intercounty Baseball League play a double header.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-2939404924353542818?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-71032829058764913102011-06-04T22:33:00.017-04:002011-08-03T22:26:51.748-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Romero has just reached the perfect height - I can pet him without bending down!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-NlWJSIcQ8/Tjn3NAVCRaI/AAAAAAAAGKE/7sCNB7GbHAs/s1600/IMG_0971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" alt="Black lab Romero and I are at the top of a mint-green carpeted staircase. I am standing and Romero is sitting on my left side in the heel position. The photo is taken from my chest level looking down at Romero. His blue and gray patterned collar is clipped to a thick red leash that is slung over my shoulder. My left hand is resting on Romero's head - he's just at that perfect height where I don't have to bend down to reach him. Romero is looking up towards my face. He looks rather comical with his big brown eyes rimmed in white and his helicopter ears sticking out from his head. With the angle of the photo, his front paws look tiny and delicate at the end of his long legs, and they are slightly turned out like a ballerina." height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-NlWJSIcQ8/Tjn3NAVCRaI/AAAAAAAAGKE/7sCNB7GbHAs/s400/IMG_0971.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-7103282905876491310?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-13327559339219920052011-06-03T21:13:00.020-04:002011-08-03T21:21:18.824-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JexGiLxkdB4/Tjnyme1Hy_I/AAAAAAAAGJ8/UhmujHpnP7s/s1600/IMG_0967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" alt="Seven month old black lab puppy Romero is sitting on the metal platform of a vet clinic scale, raised about an inch or two from the floor. He is looking forward but with his body facing slightly to the left. He has a gentle face, his dark brown eyes looking pleadingly into the camera. His head is slightly tilted and his right ear rests against his head while his left ear is slightly folded back and sticks out to the side. He is wearing a collar patterned with blue and gray squares. To the right of the picture is a wood-paneled counter, and Romero is now about 3/4 of the height of it. The scale's display is mounted on the wall well above the counter, and it reads 54.6." height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JexGiLxkdB4/Tjnyme1Hy_I/AAAAAAAAGJ8/UhmujHpnP7s/s400/IMG_0967.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-1332755933921992005?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-57543191003210603662011-06-02T23:39:00.024-04:002011-08-03T21:16:21.130-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zGoqS4dp_Z8/TjiZ5iYlPpI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/wjgQYzunwic/s1600/IMG_0962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black lab Romero is lying on the floor of our bedroom in front of a very big cardboard box filled with items for our upcoming garage sale. Only Romero's head and shoulders are visible. He is looking slightly off to the side with his silly left ear folded back against his head. The objects in the box are pretty random, but visible is a chair for a doll, a stack of clothes on top of a blue pillow, and a big white stuffed bunny sitting in a small wastebin decorated with pictures of poodle puppies. Behind Romero and the box are two bookshelves filled with books." border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zGoqS4dp_Z8/TjiZ5iYlPpI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/wjgQYzunwic/s400/IMG_0962.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>We'll be continuing our fundraising for Romero's "scholarship" with a garage sale this month. Romero and I are looking forward to getting this big box of STUFF out of our room.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-5754319100321060366?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-39087273561912860882011-06-01T19:58:00.016-04:002011-08-02T20:35:58.068-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vAkyXIUCA8k/TjiWNHou1XI/AAAAAAAAGJw/dfABk1aNWdI/s1600/IMG_0961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black lab Romero is lying on the white tile floor at the top of a small staircase leading to the front door. He is staring seriously into the camera and has his front paws hanging over the top step. Behind him on the left side of the picture, collie Tanner is relaxing in the corner right by the door, also staring inquisitively into the camera. A pair of running shoes is sitting by the door, all ready for an evening walk." border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vAkyXIUCA8k/TjiWNHou1XI/AAAAAAAAGJw/dfABk1aNWdI/s400/IMG_0961.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-3908727356191286088?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-53543902533436970392011-05-31T21:33:00.016-04:002011-07-10T22:47:09.122-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RQU6uhoOP7A/ThpfvrFvzCI/AAAAAAAAGJY/xTV1iwADATo/s1600/IMG_0954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" alt="This picture is taken while I am sitting on my bed. Black lab puppy Romero is tucked partly under the bed, with his tail and backend curling out onto the white carpet, and his nose poking up towards the blue blankets that are hanging off the bed. Black lab Dallas is lying nearby, with her right arm and shoulder visible in the bottom left corner of the photo. At the top of the picture is a set of clear plastic drawers containing my dog supplies. You can see various dog toys including a stuffed tiger in the bottom drawer. Romero's red leash and green jacket are resting just beside the drawer." height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RQU6uhoOP7A/ThpfvrFvzCI/AAAAAAAAGJY/xTV1iwADATo/s400/IMG_0954.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-5354390253343697039?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-20006442813887746742011-05-30T23:30:00.037-04:002011-07-10T22:26:42.490-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhM_52YkvC8/ThpQKc3rlMI/AAAAAAAAGJQ/vIpLUzqAgbo/s1600/IMG_0941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" alt="This picture is taken inside the Blue Jays shop at the Rogers Centre. The main focus of the picture is a large, probably 6 foot tall, statue of Ace, the Blue Jays Mascot. Ace is a Blue Jay who wears a white Jays jersey and blue and white running shoes. Black lab puppy Romero is lying down on Ace's right, and his friend Rafiki is sitting on Ace's left. Rafiki is a slightly younger black lab puppy with brindle markings. Both dogs are wearing their green future dog guide jackets. Behind the dogs and Ace are several tables and shelves covered in Blue Jays merchandise, and various racks of Jays shirts and jerseys." height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhM_52YkvC8/ThpQKc3rlMI/AAAAAAAAGJQ/vIpLUzqAgbo/s320/IMG_0941.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">Romero poses with friends "Ace" and Rafiki before the gam</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">e</span></span></b></i></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Our Seat:&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;">Section 524A, Row 4, Seat 106</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Our Record:&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">5-3</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Memorable Moments:</span></span></b></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- Taking Romero's friend Rafiki to his first baseball game</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- Red and white hats for Memorial Day (even though it isn't Memorial Day in Canada)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- Only one Blue Jay home run (Jayson Nix), but lots and lots of Blue Jay hits</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- 11 batters batted in the bottom of the 4th inning (scoring 7 runs - most in one inning this season)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I knew going in that we'd see history - either Jojo Reyes would get his first win as a Blue Jay, or else he'd break the record for most consecutive starts without a win. Thankfully, it was the former! And a complete game for him at that! I have been a fan of Jojo since he joined the team, so it was great to be part of the crowd cheering for him and also to see his teammates congratulating him after the game.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-2000644281388774674?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-7118823100768507362011-05-29T14:23:00.007-04:002011-07-04T21:15:07.015-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcYzXpQRY64/Tg3MPKhRG-I/AAAAAAAAGI8/pekxBjWxWQQ/s1600/IMG_0935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black lab Romero is sitting on the stone pathway out front of the Dog Guides training facility. He is wearing his green future dog guide jacket and a red and black training leash. He is looking very proper, sitting up straight and facing the camera, with his eyes like little black marbles. Above him, hanging from the overhang of the red brick building is a large white banner advertising the Purina Walk for Dog Guides." border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcYzXpQRY64/Tg3MPKhRG-I/AAAAAAAAGI8/pekxBjWxWQQ/s400/IMG_0935.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Romero didn't get to participate in the Walk for Dog Guides this year (still recovering from his neuter) but he did get to pose with the sign once all the excitement died down.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-711882310076850736?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-4388035622573460282011-05-28T20:28:00.035-04:002011-07-01T09:21:22.939-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8itJzT4VkPE/Tgkhhb57cFI/AAAAAAAAGI0/IBpyWkzuL4U/s1600/IMG_7952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black lab puppy Romero is lying on the floor of my bedroom at the end of my bed. He is on the left side of the picture, wearing his Blue Jays collar, and looking slightly up and off to the side. His left ear is sticking out of the side, while his right one hangs down beside his head. Next to Romero are 4 jars full of coins. The first is a big white bucket with DONATIONS written across the front. The lid is resting against the bucket. It has a whole cut in the centre, and PENNIES FOR PUPPIES written around it. Next is a big blue Maxwell coffee can. Finally, a big peanut butter jar filled with pennies, and a smaller jam jar filled with silver coins." border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8itJzT4VkPE/Tgkhhb57cFI/AAAAAAAAGI0/IBpyWkzuL4U/s400/IMG_7952.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>A successful penny and bottle drive left us with several jars full of coins. Off to the bank tomorrow!<br /><br />Thanks to everyone who donated, and thanks also to yellow lab Expo who joined me for the event since Romero is still resting up from his surgery (I figured if I couldn't take a dog named after a baseball player I'd take one named after a former baseball team).</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-438803562257346028?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-80743816278814142712011-05-27T23:39:00.020-04:002011-06-27T20:26:32.978-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mdz3rEBhtI0/TgkHA5wdd7I/AAAAAAAAGIs/daG5okMn5vQ/s1600/IMG_0931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" alt="Black lab Romero is lying on the floor of the bedroom next to a big white bucket with a lid and a handle. The lid has a round hole cut in the centre, and around that is written Pennies for Puppies. A large label on the front of the bucket says DONATIONS Thanks for your support! Below that is a panoramic picture of eight black and chocolate labrador puppies wearing brightly coloured bandanas. The bucket is also decorated with red heart stickers (the same ones that come with Heartguard medication). Romero is facing the camera and leaning slightly away from the bucket with his front legs stretched out in front of him. He is wearing his blue and gray Blue Jays collar. His sleepy brown eyes are partially hidden in shadows. His floppy velvet ears are hanging down on either side of his head." height="307" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mdz3rEBhtI0/TgkHA5wdd7I/AAAAAAAAGIs/daG5okMn5vQ/s320/IMG_0931.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We're nearly ready for our penny and bottle drive tomorrow ... here, Romero poses with our newly-decorated penny bucket.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-8074381627881414271?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-32975371120151349902011-05-26T22:09:00.015-04:002011-06-26T10:30:35.017-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VgOAg-P3zeY/Tgc_HEUc7aI/AAAAAAAAGIo/mxmH6ApKx70/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="This is a close-up of black lab Romero's head resting on my leg as we cuddle on the floor together. We are sitting on a cream-coloured carpet and he is lying on his side with his head resting on my left knee. I am wearing beige corduroy pants and a red sweatshirt. My left hand is reaching down and rubbing Romero's head. Romero's brown eyes are slightly open, he looks quite relaxed." border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VgOAg-P3zeY/Tgc_HEUc7aI/AAAAAAAAGIo/mxmH6ApKx70/s320/IMG_0914.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I'm making sure Romero gets lots of rest and TLC as he recovers from his neuter.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-3297537112015134990?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-88183742677600793532011-05-25T22:18:00.027-04:002011-06-25T23:46:16.815-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will be conducting a bottle and penny drive in my neighbourhood this weekend for Romero's sponsorship (and am continuing to collect bottles and change throughout the year ... let me know if you have any to donate!).&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xRBXC28pL2Y/TgaXN-nk0II/AAAAAAAAGIk/stUmDiu5a48/s1600/IMG_0911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black lab puppy Romero is posing in front of a pile of empty bottles which are waiting to be returned to the Beer Store. This picture is taken in the garage, where the cement floor is covered with streaks of paint. Romero is in the foreground, attached to a red leash and looking up into the camera. His silly left ear is sticking straight out to the side as usual. Behind him are two boxes containing 24 beer bottles, several smaller boxes of beer bottles, and about twelve loose wine bottles." border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xRBXC28pL2Y/TgaXN-nk0II/AAAAAAAAGIk/stUmDiu5a48/s400/IMG_0911.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here, Romero is posing with the bottles that we have collected so far ... this is what about $11 in returns looks like!</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-8818374267760079353?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-6118034546751712192011-05-24T16:49:00.000-04:002011-06-25T21:45:09.217-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQ3TGTbrEEk/TgaCVmYXAtI/AAAAAAAAGIc/amy5EaJWjPg/s1600/IMG_0908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="6 month old black lab puppy Romero is lying on a big, light pink fleece blanket in one of the large recovery kennels at Dog Guides, just after having his neuter operation. Romero is still a little out of it - his ears are pinned back against his head and he looks like he's feeling pretty sorry for himself. His blanket is all bunched up around him on top of the white tile floor of the kennel. The walls of the kennel are covered in larger beige tiles, and there is a glass door at the front of the kennel. In this picture, the door is unlatched and opened in towards Romero, so that you can see his reflection in the glass." border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQ3TGTbrEEk/TgaCVmYXAtI/AAAAAAAAGIc/amy5EaJWjPg/s400/IMG_0908.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-611803454675171219?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-55952530339391095932011-05-23T23:18:00.017-04:002011-06-25T20:46:31.284-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pUSkOAQfKTs/TgZ9LUsdo8I/AAAAAAAAGIU/8mENQLHgvfI/s1600/IMG_0902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black lab puppy Romero is sleeping upside down in his wire kennel. The kennel is up against the blue painted wall in the corner of my bedroom, next to a cylindrical brown laundry hamper and a wooden bookshelf. Romero has gotten himself into what appears to be the most uncomfortable position possible. He has pushed both his blankets up against the walls of the crate, and is lying flat on his back on the metal floor of the crate. His head is resting near a small metal bowl and a bone. His tail is sticking out the corner of the crate closest to the camera, and his back legs are resting against the bars of the crate. His front legs are tucked against his body like a kangaroo. Somehow, he finds this comfortable and is currently fast asleep." border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pUSkOAQfKTs/TgZ9LUsdo8I/AAAAAAAAGIU/8mENQLHgvfI/s320/IMG_0902.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-5595253033939109593?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-47887312710565555672011-05-22T19:32:00.049-04:002011-06-25T20:17:45.759-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Id6-caXF1-Y/TgZ0kDX38TI/AAAAAAAAGIQ/UNkh0bLWC4g/s1600/IMG_7948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black lab puppy Romero is lying on his side on the ground amid the blue plastic seats in the 500 level at the Rogers Centre. His head is lifted off of the floor, looking up into the camera. He is wearing his Blue Jays collar, red leash, and slightly dirty green Future Dog Guide jacket. His jacket and shiny black fur are sprinkled with small white paper circles, which have been punched out of All Star game voting ballots." border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Id6-caXF1-Y/TgZ0kDX38TI/AAAAAAAAGIQ/UNkh0bLWC4g/s400/IMG_7948.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Our Seat:&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;">Section 519, Row 8, Seat 102</span></span></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Our Record:&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">4-3</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Memorable Moments:</span></span></b></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- Second game in a row, and third in four days!<br />- A family affair ... all 6 of us (including Romero) attended the game today<br />- Punching our All-Star Game ballots ... those are the white dots all over Romero in the photo<br />- Two Blue Jay home runs<br />- An exciting bases-loaded bottom of the ninth, though unfortunately nothing to show for it</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-4788731271056555567?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-66884272173399549872011-05-21T21:29:00.047-04:002011-06-25T19:26:37.957-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Km3ZzYWI_ZY/TgZgd8H_mUI/AAAAAAAAGII/ZCeGpe4cnHA/s1600/IMG_7947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black lab puppy Romero is intently watching a bagpiper playing outside the Rogers Centre. Romero is in the bottom left corner of the picture, wearing his Blue Jays collar, black leash, and green Future Dog Guide jacket. He is facing away from the camera, looking across a wide dirt path to the male piper, who is dressed in full scottish attire including a green jacket and kilt. On the right side of the photo there is a shadow of a photographer who is capturing a shot of Romero. Directly behind the bagpiper is a small white canopy tent set up as a first aid station, with a couple people sitting on chairs inside. Behind that, a big white bus is parked on the road that goes around the stadium. A few people are walking along the sidewalk in front of the road. Across the street is a larger white tent that is set up as a temporary theatre, and behind that four tall apartment buildings can be seen against the clear blue sky." border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Km3ZzYWI_ZY/TgZgd8H_mUI/AAAAAAAAGII/ZCeGpe4cnHA/s400/IMG_7947.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Our Seat:&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;">Section 525, Row 14, Seat 101</span></span></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Our Record:&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">4-2</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Memorable Moments:</span></span></b></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- No guests today, just my pup and I enjoying an afternoon game<br />- Our first interleague game (it would be more exciting if the pitchers hit)<br />- A slow start for the Jays, but a come-from-behind win in the end</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- 2 more homeruns from the major league HR leader Jose Bautista!</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- And for good measure, another from Junel Escobar too<br />- Some post-game entertainment outside the park, including the bagpiper above</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-6688427217339954987?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-76238266595853357382011-05-20T23:30:00.011-04:002011-06-12T21:50:00.244-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9RYioxxqbQE/TfPnveq1eiI/AAAAAAAAGIA/9X356gIkpwY/s1600/IMG_0896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" alt="A very sleep black lab puppy Romero is curled up on his dog bed at the end of a long day. The thick rectangular dog bed is light mint green on the side, and beige with a leafy pattern on the top. Romero is lying right in the centre with his head resting on his front paws. His eyes are half closed with just a sliver of brown showing, and his soft black ears flop on either side of his face. A textured yellow nylabone ring toy is resting against Romero's front paws, just near his head. He's too tired to chew on it anymore!" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9RYioxxqbQE/TfPnveq1eiI/AAAAAAAAGIA/9X356gIkpwY/s400/IMG_0896.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-7623826659585335738?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-5596012636311723442011-05-19T23:41:00.005-04:002011-06-25T18:13:37.335-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3uegbO0mG-k/TfLWMHacfZI/AAAAAAAAGH4/q5U2B50g1cs/s1600/IMG_7939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black lab puppy Romero, wearing his Blue Jays collar and green Future Dog Guide jacket, is sitting in the second row of the upper deck at a Blue Jays game. Romero is looking back towards the camera, and behind him is a view of the Rogers centre with the roof open (also directly behind Romero is a fan with blue hair watching the game very intently). Our seats are on the first base side of home plate, so the picture looks over to the third baseline side of the stadium, including the Blue Jays dugout down below. The game is in progress, so you can see the umpire and the catcher's leg's near home plate (the catcher is partially blocked by the blue railing in front of our seats). The blue stadium seats appear less than half-full, with more fans in the lower levels than the 500 level. A few tall buildings can be seen beyond the open dome, though not the CN tower, which is on the opposite side from this photo." border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3uegbO0mG-k/TfLWMHacfZI/AAAAAAAAGH4/q5U2B50g1cs/s320/IMG_7939.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Our Seat:&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;">Section 518, Row 2, Seat 3</span></span></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Our Record: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">3-2</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Memorable Moments:</span></span></b></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- Romero's first "outdoor" baseball game, and my first this year</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- The third game in a row that we've attended with Tampa Bay as the opponent</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- Watching Aaron 'Pingu' Hill converse with the umpires before and during the game ... I think Aaron wants to be an umpire when he grows up</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- Juan Rivera's "I got it" hand motions to the pitcher whenever he was taking a ball to first base<br />- Wade Davis' rather hilarious move to check on baserunners - maybe they couldn't steal because they were laughing too hard?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- A win ... putting both Romero (the dog at least) and the Jays back over .500<br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">- The great games from Ricky Romero and JP Arencibia made all the more special after reading <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/article/995093--this-is-the-kid-we-played-for-tonight">THIS</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-559601263631172344?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-22010545752001196382011-05-18T22:15:00.014-04:002011-06-10T22:39:50.205-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Romero is sporting a new hairdo after yet another day of rain ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UwmUKUkMMz4/TfLQgC6r9CI/AAAAAAAAGH0/Tojy6LRCCD4/s1600/IMG_0889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A soggy black lab puppy Romero is sitting just inside the door of my bedroom after coming in from a pee break out in the rain. The picture is taken looking down on him, with his leathery black nose in the centre of the photo. The pupils of his big brown eyes look purplish as they reflect the camera flash. His fir, especially on the top of his head, is rumpled and sticking out in all directions. His ears are slightly pulled back, and in fact he looks rather adorably pathetic, and as though he's not too happy with this ongoing rain either." border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UwmUKUkMMz4/TfLQgC6r9CI/AAAAAAAAGH0/Tojy6LRCCD4/s400/IMG_0889.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-2201054575200119638?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-55660359917318715502011-05-17T17:49:00.016-04:002011-06-10T22:12:58.330-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eUUH8-HN5EQ/TfKSnCI80AI/AAAAAAAAGHs/yW7KkvzqQ00/s1600/IMG_0886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" alt="Black lab puppy Romero is lying in the passenger seat footwell of my car, ready to head out on an adventure. He blends in well as the interior of the car is all black. Romero is curled up in a ball with his chin resting on the passenger seat. His red leash, a red keychain on the console between the two seats, and a red backpack on the passenger seat stand out amidst all the black. Romero's beautiful deep brown eyes also really stand out in this picture. It's daytime, and the sunlight is shining in through the windows, giving a glow to everything." width="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eUUH8-HN5EQ/TfKSnCI80AI/AAAAAAAAGHs/yW7KkvzqQ00/s400/IMG_0886.JPG" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-5566035991731871550?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-3213530352535173992011-05-16T23:39:00.015-04:002011-06-08T18:23:20.090-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNCXz8piMUs/Te_u6C68IVI/AAAAAAAAGHY/-aYRGd9CYIQ/s1600/IMG_0883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" alt="A sleepy black lab puppy Romero is lying on his side on the floor of my bedroom. He is lying up against a large cardboard box in front of a wooden bookshelf. He is lying on his right side, with his right front leg stretched forwards. The focus of the picture is the pad of his paw which looks huge, especially from this camera angle with his paw in front of his face. Romero looks incredibly peaceful, completely relaxed on the white carpeted floor, with his eyes open, but just barely." src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNCXz8piMUs/Te_u6C68IVI/AAAAAAAAGHY/-aYRGd9CYIQ/s400/IMG_0883.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-321353035253517399?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296909501684379478.post-45160520038636816702011-05-15T23:49:00.008-04:002011-06-08T17:38:39.455-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4TmhUEwDHU/Te_qo8SMPYI/AAAAAAAAGHU/BY08oagswYI/s1600/IMG_0877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="This photo is a closeup of one of black lab Romero's front paws resting in the palm of my hand. My left hand reaches up from the bottom of the photo, with the palm up. Romero's leg stretches from the top left corner and the pads of his paw are resting in my palm. I admit I have rather small hands, but they look even tinier than usual compared to Romero's huge paw, which covers about two thirds of my palm. " border="0" height="398" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4TmhUEwDHU/Te_qo8SMPYI/AAAAAAAAGHU/BY08oagswYI/s400/IMG_0877.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/296909501684379478-4516052003863681670?l=raisingromero.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Hobbes Dogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03168649883112138723noreply@blogger.com0