Raising Romero: 2011

June 8, 2011

141 - One Puppy's Trash ...

... 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.

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.

June 7, 2011

140 - Long Day At The Office

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.

June 6, 2011

139 - Stuffed Kong

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.

Yum!

June 5, 2011

138 - Outdoor Baseball

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.

The Blue Jays were out of town today, so Romero and I headed to a different ball park in Toronto to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Intercounty Baseball League play a double header.

June 4, 2011

137 - Hand Height

Romero has just reached the perfect height - I can pet him without bending down!

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.

June 3, 2011

136 - 7 Months, 54.6 Lbs

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.

June 2, 2011

135 - Garage Sale Prep

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.

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.

June 1, 2011

134 - Are We Going for a Walk or What?

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.

May 31, 2011

133 - Monster Under The Bed

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.

May 30, 2011

132 - New Friends

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.

Romero poses with friends "Ace" and Rafiki before the game

Our Seat: Section 524A, Row 4, Seat 106

Our Record: 5-3

Memorable Moments:

- Taking Romero's friend Rafiki to his first baseball game

- Red and white hats for Memorial Day (even though it isn't Memorial Day in Canada)

- Only one Blue Jay home run (Jayson Nix), but lots and lots of Blue Jay hits

- 11 batters batted in the bottom of the 4th inning (scoring 7 runs - most in one inning this season)

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.

May 29, 2011

131 - Walk For Dog Guides

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.

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.

May 28, 2011

130 - Lucky Pennies

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.

A successful penny and bottle drive left us with several jars full of coins. Off to the bank tomorrow!

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).

May 27, 2011

129 - Penny Drive Prep

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.

We're nearly ready for our penny and bottle drive tomorrow ... here, Romero poses with our newly-decorated penny bucket.

May 26, 2011

128 - Recovery

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.

I'm making sure Romero gets lots of rest and TLC as he recovers from his neuter.

May 25, 2011

127 - Boxes of Bottles

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!).

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.

Here, Romero is posing with the bottles that we have collected so far ... this is what about $11 in returns looks like!

May 24, 2011

126 - Neutered

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.

May 23, 2011

125 - He Can Sleep Anywhere (and Anyway!), Kennel Edition

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.

May 22, 2011

124 - Covered In Confetti

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.

Our Seat: Section 519, Row 8, Seat 102

Our Record: 4-3

Memorable Moments:

- Second game in a row, and third in four days!
- A family affair ... all 6 of us (including Romero) attended the game today
- Punching our All-Star Game ballots ... those are the white dots all over Romero in the photo
- Two Blue Jay home runs
- An exciting bases-loaded bottom of the ninth, though unfortunately nothing to show for it

May 21, 2011

123 - Baseball With A Side Of Bagpipes

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.

Our Seat: Section 525, Row 14, Seat 101

Our Record: 4-2

Memorable Moments:

- No guests today, just my pup and I enjoying an afternoon game
- Our first interleague game (it would be more exciting if the pitchers hit)
- A slow start for the Jays, but a come-from-behind win in the end

- 2 more homeruns from the major league HR leader Jose Bautista!

- And for good measure, another from Junel Escobar too
- Some post-game entertainment outside the park, including the bagpiper above

May 20, 2011

122 - Too Tired

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!

May 19, 2011

121 - The Roof Is Open!

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.

Our Seat: Section 518, Row 2, Seat 3

Our Record: 3-2

Memorable Moments:

- Romero's first "outdoor" baseball game, and my first this year

- The third game in a row that we've attended with Tampa Bay as the opponent

- 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

- Juan Rivera's "I got it" hand motions to the pitcher whenever he was taking a ball to first base
- Wade Davis' rather hilarious move to check on baserunners - maybe they couldn't steal because they were laughing too hard?

- A win ... putting both Romero (the dog at least) and the Jays back over .500

- The great games from Ricky Romero and JP Arencibia made all the more special after reading THIS

May 18, 2011

120 - Soggy Doggy

Romero is sporting a new hairdo after yet another day of rain ...

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.

May 17, 2011

119 - Ready For A Roadtrip

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.

May 16, 2011

118 - Talk To The Paw

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.

May 15, 2011

117 - Big Foot

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.

May 14, 2011

116 - Looking Down

Six month old black lab Romero is lying on the landing at the top of a staircase covered in mint-green carpet. Romero's front left leg and chin are hanging over the edge of the top step. His front right paw is resting right beside his head, and his back feet are both out to the right of his body. For once, both of Romero's big soft ears are held forward, framing his face as he stares into the camera.

May 13, 2011

115 - Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

Black lab puppy Romero is sitting in the garden in front of our house after being out for the last relief break before bed. He is sitting in an area of reddish wood chips next to a stone pathway. There is a large flat rock and some green leafy plants sprouting behind him. It's a rainy evening, with lots of little raindrops reflecting the flash from the camera. Romero's blue collar is attached to a red leash that loops forward towards the camera. Romero is not too pleased about the rain - his eyes are squinting shut, and his big floppy ears are pinned back against his head.

May 12, 2011

114 - Introducing The Halti

Black lab puppy Romero is sitting in our upstairs hallway, with an open white door behind him and the wooden bannister of our stairs on the right of the picture. The photo centres on Romero's head. He is wearing a halti - a head halter made of thin black fabric that circles around Romero's muzzle and clips together behind his head. A safety strap attaches to the halti under Romero's chip loops down and clips to Romero's blue and gray Blue Jays collar. Romero is looking directly into the camera with his big brown eyes. His mouth is slightly open in a half smile. This photo highlights the long black whiskers on his muzzle and chin. There is a small bead of water dripping from Romero's wet nose.

No, it's not a muzzle! The halti is a head collar, like a horse's halter. It's important for future dog guides like Romero to be comfortable with the halti on, as he may wear it when he is a working dog.

May 11, 2011

113 - McHappy Day

black lab puppy Romero is sitting on the greenish tile floor in the entrance to a McDonalds restaurant. He is wearing his green Future Dog Guide jacket, a green leash, and a bright blue bandana with yellow suns and a McDonalds M on it. Romero is in full working mode - sitting nicely and staring seriously into the camera. Behind Romero is a large window covering most of the wall, an through it you can see people sitting at tables enjoying their dinner. In the top pane of the window is a small white poster with a picture of a cute yellow lab in a green jacket, advertising for McHappy day.

Today was McHappy Day at McDonalds restaurants, with $1 from the purchase of certain items going to charity. In Oakville, these donations went to Dog Guides. Romero spent dinner time at our nearest restaurant greeting the diners and gladly accepting donations in exchange for some puppy love.

May 10, 2011

112 - Puppy Long Legs

This is a picture of black lab puppy Romero's head and shoulders as he lies on his side, half-on-half-off his round blue and grey dog bed. His body is in the upper third of the photo, and his long front legs stretch almost to the bottom. Romero is wearing his Blue Jays collar, and his head is off of the dog bed, resting on the tiled kitchen floor with his eyes almost closed. His ear is flipped back on his head, showing a bit of the light pink skin inside. Romero's long front legs look like those of a dancer. His right foot is resting just in front of his left, with the paw slightly upturned, showing his huge foot!

May 9, 2011

111 - A Boy and His Toys

Black lab puppy Romero is sitting in our family room beside his wooden toy basket. There is a small bone sitting in front of the basket; a nylabone, rope toy, and two brown stuffed toys on the other side. Hanging out of the basket is a neon green stuffed monkey with long arms and legs. Romero is wearing his Blue Jays collar, and has a dreamy expression on his face. He's facing the camera but staring slightly off into space. His mouth is open slightly, showing his pink tongue. His long ears hang down on either side of his head. Behind Romero and the toy box is a brownish-green couch. There is a fuzzy green knitted blanket hanging over the back of the couch.

May 8, 2011

110 - Comfy Cozy Kennel

Six month old black lab puppy Romero is lying in his large wire crate with the door open. The floor of the kennel is covered by a thin brown cushion. You can see that it's shedding season ... there's a cloud of black fur on the cream carpet around the crate. Romero is lying on the right side of the crate, with his long front legs stretching diagonally to the left front corner. You can see the fluffy end of his tail peeking out from behind his left shoulder. Romero is looking sweetly towards the camera, his head just slightly tilted and his left ear held out from his head. His thin whiskers curl around his muzzle. He is wearing his blue and grey Blue Jays collar. There is a large red Kong ball resting beside Romero's right elbow.

May 7, 2011

109 - Gang's (Almost) All Here

Four dogs are lined up in my messy bedroom. From left to right - Dallas, a black lab wearing a red collar is lying with her back half out of the photo, facing slightly away from the camera. She looks rather un-enthusiastic, not thrilled about posing for a picture. Next is 6 month old black lab puppy Romero, catching up to Dallas in size. He is wearing a blue collar, lying in the centre of the photo, facing towards the camera but sort of staring off into space. His big, expressive ears are held forward, framing his face. Third is visiting collie Tanner. His long soft fur is mostly tan and white, with a few black highlights around his eyes and ears. He is lying right against Romero, staring into the camera, and has his mouth open in a smile. Next to Tanner's paw is a black and red rubber ring toy. Last but not least is big yellow lab Baloo, who is standing slightly behind Tanner. Baloo too is looking directly into the camera, but with a curious look on his face. Behind the dogs are Romero's open wire crate and a big carboard box full of stuff for an upcoming garage sale.

With most of our human family away for the weekend, the canine kids are all hanging out together. Missing is camera-shy silky terrier Noel.

May 6, 2011

108 - Silly Puppy Sit

Black lab puppy Romero is sitting on a wood floor looking upwards at the camera. His blue buckled collar is sitting low on his neck. Romero has a soft, rounded face with a long muzzle, dark brown eyes, and big ears that are slightly folded back in this picture. He is doing the classic silly puppy sit - back on his bum with his two back legs sticking out to his right side.

May 5, 2011

107 - Stretching In The Sunshine

6 month old black lab puppy Romero is lying on his right side on the cream-coloured carpet in my bedroom. The picture is taken from in front of his head, looking back at the rest of his body. His back legs are slightly tucked up by his hips, and his long front legs are stretched out towards the camera. He looks a little sleepy, with his eyes are slightly closed as though he's just waking up. He is wearing his Blue Jays buckle collar. The bright morning sunlight is streaming in from a window behind Romero. His legs are in the patch of sunlight, while most of his body remains in the shadow.

May 4, 2011

106 - 6 Months (+1 Day), 49.4 Lbs

Six month old black lab puppy is sitting on the metal platform of a vet clinic scale, raised about an inch or two from the floor. He is looking into the camera, but with his body facing to the right of the photo. His face is serious - he has to look good for his 6 month portrait - but his big goofy ears are held out to the side like wings. He is wearing his blue and gray Blue Jays collar. 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 49.4.

May 3, 2011

105 - New Bone Bliss

May 2, 2011

104 - We Voted

And if you're Canadian, we hope you did too!

Black lab puppy Romero is posing for a picture in front of a big Canada flag hanging on a blue wall. The photo is taking from below Romero's face, looking up at the flag. Romero is looking seriously into the camera, his brown eyes reflecting the flash and his wet black nose shining. In classic Romero fashion, he is holding his right ear close to his hear, and his left ear out to the side - silly boy!

May 1, 2011

103 - Early Morning

Even at 5:30am, I love waking up to this face ...

Five month old black lab puppy Romero is lying in his wire crate early in the morning, just after our alarm went off. The floor of the crate is covered by a comfy brown mat, and there is a red kong treat ball toy in the back corner of the crate. Romero is looking ever-so-sweet, pleading with his big brown eyes to be released from his crate and start the day. Visiting collie Tanner's tail is visible at the very bottom of the photo - he is lying in front of Romero's kennel.

April 30, 2011

102 - Lazy Saturday Night

Black lab puppy Romero is lying on his big round dog bed in the corner of our living room, closest to the camera. A large TV is mounted in a white shelving unit on the opposite wall behind Romero. The picture is pretty blurry, but I believe the hockey game is playing. There are three couches along the other three walls - a small maroon seat farthest from Romero, and two larger olive green couches on either side of him. There is a small wooden coffee table in the centre of the room. Just behind Romero, you can see Tanner, the visiting collie's head peeking around the edge of the couch. Romero is resting his head on the bed next to his left front leg. He looks sleepy, but his eyes are wide open looking into the camera, and his ears are slightly perked up.

April 29, 2011

101 - Time To Wake Up

This is a close-up of black lab puppy Romero's head as he rests his chin on a white bedspread. The alarm clock has just gone off and he is waiting for me to get out of bed and start our day. His black nose is wet and leathery. His lips are slightly flared out to the sides. His eyes are a very dark brown, and his right eye is fully open, but his left is slightly squinted, looking like he's still a little sleepy. His left ear is resting against the bed, so it curls out a little a the bottom.

April 28, 2011

100 - Cereal Aisle

5 month old black lab Romero is sitting in the cereal aisle at the grocery store in front of the shelves packed with Rice Crispies, Shreddies, and Mini Wheats. Romero is wearing his green Future Dog Guide jacket, a blue collar, and black leash. He looks very focused, staring straight towards the camera, but his right back leg is sprawled out to the side in a cute puppy sit position. Beside Romero is a black plastic grocery basket piled high with groceries, including a box of shreddies, a carton of milk, and a bag of nacho chips. This was the first time Romero accompanied me for a full grocery shopping trip and he did fabulously!

April 27, 2011

099 - Time for a Manicure

Black lab puppy Romero is lying on the mint green carpet in the hallway, with an open white door and a thin wooden bookshelf behind him. Romero is wearing his blue and gray Blue Jays collar. Lying against his front right foot is a pair of black and gray scissor-style dog nail clippers, as Romero prepares for his manicure. Romero is looking slightly upwards, with a half-moon of white at the bottom of both of his eyes. He is behaving beautifully as always, but is giving me a look that says he'd much rather be doing something else.

April 26, 2011

098 - "LEAVE IT"

5 month old black lab puppy Romero is is a down position in my bedroom with my messy desk in the background. He is resting on his left hip, with his back legs resting on a gray blanket to the right. On the carpet between his two front paws is a green dog treat (shaped like 3 peas in a pod). Romero has been asked to LEAVE IT, and is doing very well, looking into the camera instead of at the cookie. However, he does have a big string of drool hanging from one side of his mouth.

April 25, 2011

097 - Sleepover

Black lab puppy Romero is lying in the middle of my bedroom on the cream coloured carpet. He looks worn out, with his head resting between his two outstretched front paws. He also has a bright lime green, chewed up old stuffed toy under his right paw. Romero's new friend Tanner is lying on a thick gray blanket near Romero's back feet. Tanner is a big collie - he looks just like Lassie! He too looks pretty tired, with his paws tucked under him and his long nose resting on his blanket. Behind the dogs, the bedroom is rather messy, with various piles of boxes and stacks of books.

Romero thinks that dogsitting can be tiring, but he's happy to have a new friend to play with.

April 24, 2011

096 - Easter Bunnies

Black lab puppy Romero is in the easter spirit, posing with a pair of small white a pink bunny ears tied around his head with a pink ribbon. He is sitting and looking very innocently into the camera, he doesn't seem too bothered by his new set of ears. To the left of Romero is a wooden easter bunny decoration, slightly shorter than him and adorned with a wooden basket of easter eggs and a big purple ribbon tied around its neck. Both bunnies are sitting on a mint green carpet against a tan wall at the top of our stairs.

April 23, 2011

095 - Dog In The Dome

Black lab puppy Romero is sitting near the bottom of the field level bleachers at the Rogers Centre before the game. He is wearing his green future dog guide jacket and red leash, and is sitting in the middle of an aisle a couple rows us. There are blue seats on either side of him, and behind him a short blue gate that opens onto the field. The green turf field is empty, save for a bat boy sitting beside a bucket of baseballs. The vast stands are almost completely empty too - it is still quite a while before the game is scheduled to start. The dome roof above is closed (it is still April in Canada after all) and the bright stadium lights are reflecting down onto the field.

Our Seat: Section 526, Row 6, Seat 107

Our Record: 2-2

Memorable Moments:

- Being back at the stadium less than 12 hours after leaving last night
- Watching pitchers (including Ricky Romero) warming up before the game
- Hearing one of the pitchers thank their coach for the help
- Sam Fuld = still awesome, though I wish he'd stop scoring against my team
- The (excellent) return of Brandon Morrow
- Two more Bautista home runs!! (and a walk and a single)
- Seeing the cheerleading usher for the first time this season
- Yet again, coming close in the 9th
- No better way to spend a Saturday than at the game with my puppy

April 22, 2011

094 - He Can Sleep Anywhere, Ballpark Edition

Black lab puppy Romero is lying on his side, asleep on the concrete floor of the 500 level stands at the Rogers Centre. He is wearing his green Future Dog Guide jacket, his Blue Jays collar, and a red leash that drapes over his shoulder. His face is completely relaxed, his top ear is flopped over the top of his head, and his front legs are stretched in front of him. Behind Romero's head, you can see the legs of the person in the seat next to him, as well as a fair bit of popcorn kernels and other garbage littering the ground.

Our Seat: Section 522, Row 16, Seat 1

Our Record: 2-1

Memorable Moments:

- My mom and sister joining us for the game
- Sam Fuld = awesome, even though he's not a Jay
- An improved outing for JoJo Reyes (I'm rooting for him)
- Jose Bautista taking two walks when he's a single short of the cycle
- The wave going around Rogers Centre / SkyDome (I know it's silly, but it reminds me of baseball games as a kid)
- Extra innings
- John McDonald WALKOFF HOMERUN!!
- Romero sleeping through all of this
- Chants of "Johnny Mac" as we walked back to the train station

April 21, 2011

093 - Donation Dog

Romero helped spread the word about Dog Guides at a subway station this afternoon, and got to wear a special "donation dog" vest over his Future Dog Guide jacket.

Black lab puppy Romero is sitting in the middle of a Toronto subway station, looking like a perfect dog guide ambassador! He is decked out in his Blue Jays collar, red leash, and green future dog guide jacket. Over top of his jacket, he is wearing a smaller purple vest. On each side of the vest it says DONATION DOG and there is a plastic pocket to hold donations. There is a blue five dollar bill in the pocket of Romero's jacket. In front of Romero is a red plastic Dog Guides donation bucket. Behind Romero are various pillars (we are on the lower level of the station), a small convenience store, and escalators leading down to the tracks. There is one person wearing a black jacket and light blue backpack heading towards the escalators.

Best comment of the day (from a lady who stopped to take several pictures of Romero) ... "He's going to be the next Prince William!"

I'm not 100% sure of what she meant by that, but I enjoyed the thought of Romero as royalty being chased by paparazzi.

April 20, 2011

092 - He Knows His Place

Yellow lab Baloo, black lab Dallas, and black lab puppy Romero are all relaxing in the living room. This picture is taken from the entrance to the room, which has olive green walls and a light hardwood floor. From left to right in the room is a brown leather chair and foot stool, a longer green chair with a coffee table in front and small wooden end tables on either side, and finally a maroon arm chair next to a large window. Baloo is comfortably curled up in the leather chair, his favourite spot in the house. Dallas relaxes in the maroon chair where she can look out the window. Romero, who is not allowed on the furniture, is politely lying down on the floor below Dallas' chair.

(Yes, Romero's the one on the floor)