A Fudge Story!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This is going to be a story about Fudge.  My hope is that I can keep it short, simple, and sweet.  Fudge is my most loyal dog.  I had it all worked out that I was going to say if you add e-s-t or i-e-s-t to any word, there can be no bigger word or higher praise, but the whole e-s-t thing doesn’t work for most words that mean loyal, and on the adjectives it does work for, I just don’t like or they aren’t the choic-e-s-t.  See for yourself.

 

Main Entry:	loyal  [loi-uhl] Show IPA
Part of Speech:	adjective
Definition:	faithful, dependable
Synonyms:	allegiant, ardent, attached, behind one, believing, coming through, constant, devoted, dutiful, dyed-in-the-wool, firm, on one's side, patriotic, resolute, staunch, steadfast, steady, tried-and-true, true, true-blue, trustworthy, trusty, unfailing, unswerving, unwavering

I want to use loyalest and spell it just this way, so I hope my Fifth Grade spelling teacher can forgive me for one of the on purpose stupid-e-s-t misspellings ever. 

 

When I was home in Indiana, my mom said again that if truth be told, Vern is my favorite.  I get so tired of her saying this and it irritates me beyond belief because it is not true.  Sure Vern is goofy, a little needy, slightly nutty, and a cute little impish boy all rolled up in a big, hairy Doodle package, but Fudge is MY dog.  MY dog, and she never lets me forget it for one minute.  She may prefer John’s belly rubbing to mine, but she always waits to make sure I am coming along, too, if she thinks he is trying to sneak her out of the house for a walk or something.  She will wait in the house with me and follow me around to make sure I know she wants to stay with me or I should come along for the ride.  Fudge is not a Velcro dog and only does this when she senses we are about to be parted. 

 

Even when John tries to help by taking the dogs for a walk to get them out from underfoot when I have something to do in the house, I always feel like I am being a traitor to Fudge.  I am not sure what magical powers John possesses to make the children and dogs prefer to ride with me, but whenever we had to take two cars anywhere, both kids would always pick to ride with me playing the “she just touched me,” game while John enjoyed a relaxing drive.  I think it has to do with the fact that he can drive for up to twelve hours without uttering one word and has the ability to elongate his arm to reach small children in the back seat who are ignoring all verbal warnings.  I would pick someone else to drive with, too, if I could, and I have actually answered myself just to hear a voice on a long drive.  Sometimes, I will even explain to him how a conversation works and I will say something and then turn to him and say, “and now it is your turn,” only to have him say back, “what do you want me to say?”  Really, other than hearing a voice, I could have as riveting a conversation with my shoe.

 

This morning started out like any Sunday morning.  Vern came in and woke us up or rather woke me up and oddly enough John was rubbing Vern’s head, but still seemed to be in a deep, deep sleep.  It was the kind of sleep so deep his mind was unable to comprehend that a dog needed to go outside and you must rise up from the bed to make that happen.  It seems to happen a lot on a Sunday morning. Luckily, I took Vern seriously and out we went.  Fudge had her nose turned on, which automatically turns her ears off, and both were outside doing their own thing.  I emptied the dishwasher and when I went back out and called them in, Vern made a beeline for the yard because in all that time outside, he had just realized he was out there to do his business and must have sensed a deadline was nearing.  Fudge realized since Vern was now busy going potty, she had a few more moments to hunt.  Same story, different day. 

 

Once in the house, Fudge always heads back to our bedroom in the hopes that I will go back to bed and John can rub her tummy.  This is her absolute favorit-e-s-t time in the whole day and I settled her up with John and went back out in the living room to cuddle with Vern.  Vern had a bad night last night because our town had a celebration with fireworks and I wanted to make sure he had recovered.  We spent a little time with his paw around me and me telling him I thought he was the bravest dog I had ever met and then I returned back to my bedroom to hop back into bed.  I came around the corner to see Fudge had jumped down from the bed and was just sitting beside the bed (borrowing from the Walgreen’s commercial) at the corner of Do I Want A Belly Rub Street and I Should Probably Check on my Mom Avenue. Luckily for Fudge, I was coming back to bed and she didn’t have to put her loyalty to the test, but I appreciated the indecisiveness I could see on her beautiful face.  It is nice to know you might rate higher than a belly rub to your dog.  So, anyways, that’s my sweet, simple, but not so short story about my loyal-e-s-t dog.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Linda, LOL...when I travel with my girlfriends, the car ride flies by :) I think it is a guy thing!

Nancy, You have three to choose from :) I do read and I SING...LOL!! Maybe he doesn't hear me because he puts earplugs in that I don't know about :)

Thanks, BG!

Deanna, Thank you! Does Doug dance in the dining room, too? LOL

Nicky, Thank you! I will give her a belly rub for you.

Pat, LOL...I never want to forget my Fudge because she is usually the one stirring the pot :) Sweet Trav...he knows which side his bread is buttered on :) Does that make sense?

Thank you so much, Linda!

F, I like truest, but I still want it to be loyalest. I loved my fifth grade teacher. He always called me fractious :) I went through eighth grade with that nickname. Why, I do not know? LOL Thank you!

Thanks, Jane!

Thank you, Sheila. Perfection is a great word, although she can be a little instigator from time to time. So, does perfection still apply? LOL

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Nancy ~ just saw your post and I have to admit I "had" a favorite and the "You Don't Know Beau" blog was valid from Beau's point of view! Yikes.  I did keep comparing him to Charlie.  Now, I can say I love them both equally and they each have their wonderful qualities and "not so wonderful" qualities!! LOL
On the silent driver thing - has anyone out their had a silent ride with a female driver!!  I think the silent driver may be a guy thing!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Aww..... I truly don't have a favorite, but Ned is MY dog - never mind that Skip picked him out and that he rarely cuddles, when push comes to shove, he knows who his mama is and chooses who to be 'loyalest to.'

As to the silent rides, got you covered  - read a book, or, if that isn't something you can do in a moving vehicle, books-on-tape.

[BG and Gavin]

Beautiful and smart, Fudge is my favorite combination.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Fudge is the lucky-est doodle to have you as her mommy AND you're the lucky-est mommy to have such a true and loyal baby!!

Car rides with John sound an awful lot like car rides with Doug - SILENT!!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Ah, sweet gorgeous Fudge, give him a belly rub from me please :)

[Pat and Traveler]

Awwww.....sweet Fudge!  I've smiled sometimes when you've been talking about Vern, how you always sort of guiltily (not guilt-i-est   lol) included your sweet and loyal girl.

Trav is MY dog.  Even if I'm the only human who is usually around, he wants to make sure I come along on all walks, and when he's gone to doggy day care, he just finds a spot, settles down and waits for me.  When he's off leash, he doesn't run away because he's already close to where he wants to be.  

Love the photos of Caramel Girl! 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Fudge is a beauty. And Laurie ~ I do not miss any of your blogs - love each and everyone!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Well staunchest does remind me of staunching blood but what's wrong with truest. You just wanted to tweak the nose of your fifth grade teacher I think, but sadly she may be beyond tweaking. I can't imagine there are too many people who taught me who are still tweak able : ) At any rate we all know you love Fudge and Vern beyond measure.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think it's pretty awesome that you recognized Fudge with this blog.  She is such a good girl.