Cinder here! We were all busy celebrating Spring (wuz 65 degrees an sunny on Sunday), but The Man Upstairs turned the Sunball off again and winter came back. We hitched Dad up to his y-thingy and drug him around the Lake Park Sunday morning; then ran him around samore at the little park near the Shop in the afternoon. He got tired so he unhooked an let the Smoke and Me run just tied to each other. We're gettin a little better coordinated and are a lot better at not tryin to go on different sides of things while we're tied together. Smoke's figgured out that it don't hurt so much iffin he follows me around the trees 'stead of goin on his side .

SmokeMutt's been praktisin his skool lessins every day wiff Dad. They're a Hoot doin *sits* - Dad gets out the "si" part of *sit* and the Kid plops his butt so hard it sounds like Dad stompin his foot! Only rub his the lil' Dummie won't do it that good when they're heelin - Dad stops, Smoke stops an looks up with his *Duh, huh?* look, then swings out and sits down in front of Dad. I'm sure the Kid thinks "No; *skrunch around beside the leg*; *Sit!*" is some sort of legit exercise 'cause they do it so often . Dad sure seems ta get tired of reaching down and *skrunchin* the Kid's butt into the heel position. And of course his *Down* is still a slow motion collapse into a pile that leaves him pointed in just about any direction. They make a great sirkus act when they work as a team!

They were just about to start lessins around the Shop when "it" happened a while ago. Dad wuz doing stuff at his desk, I wuz nappin unner the puter, and Smoke wuz bone chompin onna rug by the door. I woke up ta the sound of water runnin . Hey, Dad; ya hear water runnin? Dad looks up to see the Smoke squattin onna rubber mat takin a *pee*. Dad hollers "No!" and jumps up. Smoke stops, takes a couple steps onta the carpet mat, and continues wiff his *pee*. Dad comes unglued and grabs for the Mutt - who, believing his life to be in danger, runs for the safety of the puter rug where I was. But he furgot ta shut off the pump, so's we got this piddel trail from the door mats to the puter. By the time they got outside the Kid's tank was empty, so there was no "good boy" for doin a little bit outside. Dad ties the Kid up short to the trash bin and gets the hose out to wash the mat and rug, which he drapes over the bin. Member the kid's tied up short, right where Dad's workin onna mats. Next thing I hear is ThunderLungs hollerin "Son of a ?itch" an he starts squirtin the hose onna bottom of his hard-foot. Hmmmm; step in sumpin, Dad? Don't blame the Kid, Dad - it's his most favorite spot and you DID tie him there yerself! Probably gonna be a minit or two 'fore lessins start, seeing as how certain parties are feelin a little *tense* just now...

As I've said before - sure do like having the SmokeMutt around... Takes all the old pressures off Me having to be the *good gurl* all the time. I can be my reglur ol' NawteeDawg self and still look like a Saint!

Hey, Andy & Trevor ~ Did the Hoomins assign a name to your new K-9 sister yet? I know you guys been talkin to our Kat - just 'member ours has razor-klaws and you don't! Bet your K-9 is gonna *Rule* in your house. Sure hope they don't chop up her fur coat an make her look like a sissy. Ask yer Mom to get her a bandanna to wear round her neck like Smoke and I do. That'll look better than a funky haircut!

Keep waggin' yer Tails, everbody!

------------------
/s/ Cinder & Smokey
the Rescued & Adopted
FurKids of *Phred*