Who We Are

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

We Interrupt This Blog...

... for a very important announcement!

Woo, everypup and almosteverycat!  It's me, Dave, here with a news alert from Ao4 Headquarters:

It is now officially WATERMELON SEASON!!!!

DSCN1605 Dave

Woo.

Luv,
Dave

PS: Zim and I had Mom and Dad take lots more pix of our trip to Ft. Riley; we'll be sharing those with you throughout the week!

Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day 2011

Today is Memorial Day here in the US. On Armed Forces Day, we honor all members of our military, past and present. On Veteran's Day, we honor those members of our military who have served or who are serving in combat. Today, we remember our war dead.

Yesterday, we went to nearby Fort Riley. One of the many monuments there honors those who deployed from Fort Riley to fight in the War on Terrorism.

DSCN1574 Monument

The towers are inscribed with the names of Fort Riley's fallen soldiers and this tribute:

DSCN1576 Monument

The base of the monument is a pentagon and bears this plaque:

IMG_0670 Monument

Today, we honor our fallen veterans. May God bless their souls and comfort their families.  We will not forget you!

With great respect,
Zim, Dave, and our bipeds

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Serene Scenery Sunday

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  It's me - Zim - here with Serene Scenery Sunday.  Today, I thought we'd have another go at the peonies.  I mean, I tried last Sunday and that didn't pan out too well, at least photo-wise, and we really didn't get a good look at them earlier this week, either.  Let's head out front and give it another go.

Oh... first let's look at those rhododendrons!

DSCN1437 Nova Zembla Rhododendron
Nova Zembla Rhododendron

It's been hard for Mom to capture how rich their red is; I think she's getting better!

On to the peonies!  There are a couple different kinds in there, and we just love all of them.  Let's have a look:

DSCN1423 Peony

DSCN1425 Peony

DSCN1462 Peonies

DSCN1468 Peony

DSCN1469 Peony

I like those sort of double fluffy ones up at the top best, I think. Don't those make you feel nice and sere---- HEY!!!

DSCN1455 Zim and the Peonies
"Hey!  We're trying to be serene over here!!!"

Oh, sorry. I got distracted. I think you can imagine by whom.

DSCN1412 Maude

Yes, Maude the Bully Cat was trying to climb our Redbud Trees. Well, maybe that helped her find that inner zen.

Have a great Sunday.

Play bows,
Zim

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Movie Night With My Mom

Woo, everypup and everycat.  It's me, Dave.  Last weekend, Dad was out of town, so us boys worked overtime keeping Mom busy and entertained.  We pretty much kept to our regular routine, but since Dad usually picks out what we watch for movie night, I was curious about what Mom would choose!  I mean ... Mom never picks our movies!

We settled in like we usually do, and Mom turned on Netflix via Apple TV.  She made a choice and we started watching a show featuring someone named Miss Marple.  I wasn't sure about this at first ... but I found myself totally caught up in it!

IMG_2302 Dave
"Woo!  Now those two ladies are good guys like Miss Marple ... right?!?!?"

The show had all kinds of cool twists and turns and good guys and bad guys and guys who you just couldn't figure out ... it was great!  I kept trying to figure out "who dunnit"!

IMG_2307 Dave
"I don't trust this person, Mom.  Not at all."

I missed my dad, don't get me wrong, but I think movie night turned out pretty good!

Luv,
Dave

Friday, May 27, 2011

Photo Finish Friday

Woo everypup and almosteverycat.  It's me, Dave, here with Photo Finish Friday.  These pix are actually from last week, but Mom we thought we'd share them with you today.  It all started when Zim and I went out to the garden to help Mom get some shots of the peonies again.

I thought I saw something behind the plants on our retaining wall and alerted Mom by staring intently.

IMG_2315 Dave and Zim
"Zim!  There's something behind the peonies!"
"It's not Fluffy Black Cat, Dave.  I think I see her over in her yard!"

Zim was right - it sure wasn't his friend Fluffy Black. It was ... oh, here, since it's Photo Finish Friday:

DSCN1407 Maude
Maude the Bully Cat!!!

That's right, Maude the BULLY Cat! I know what some of you might be thinking - "Aww, she looks so cute and innocent." Am I right? Is that what you're thinking?

DSCN1408 Maude
"Mmmmeowww......"

Well, don't let that innocent look fool you! She acts all cute and nice and stuff and then ... check this out:

DSCN1405 Maude the Bully Cat!
"Hisssssss!!!"

I think The Who said it best!  (Click here, please.)

Luv,
Dave

Thursday, May 26, 2011

What To Do On A stormy Day

Ha roo, pups and cool cats.  It's me, Zim.  As many of you know, we've been hit by storm after storm after storm here in the midwest.  I thought I'd put a little tutorial together for you on how to stay amused on a stormy day.  Ready to get started?

Wake your bipeds up as early as possible and take them for a long walk before the storm rolls in.  That part is pretty much the same as any other day, but it's important.  You know the old saying - "A tired biped is a good biped".  Or something like that.  They need their early-morning exercise.  If you've timed things right, after you get home, you'll look to the west and see something like this coming:

IMG_2339 24 MAY 11 storm rolling in

That was the view here Tuesday morning, right as Mom had to leave for the vet's with Dave. Not the best timing, but everyone was/is safe and Dave heard good things from his doctor. (And got tummy rubs and treats, I might add!) Anyway, once something like what's on that horizon hits, there's no going outside. We walk in anything -- except ice and severe lightning. It's just not safe. So... time to find some entertainment! Here are my recommendations!

Get someone to chase you, by giving a little play bow:

IMG_2345 Zim
"Chase me, Mom!"

We call that "Zimstigating" around here, courtesy of Summi's mummi!

After too short of a period of time, your biped will want a break and, as in the case of my mom yesterday, will leave the room to go take a shower. Your work isn't done! How about tidying up the living room while she's gone?

IMG_2348 the bed

That's better, isn't it? But exhausting! Get some rest!

IMG_2347 Zim
"I wonder if the Bully Cat is out there?!?  Oh... uh... hi, Mom!"

Yeah, yeah, I know.  I'm not allowed on the Sitzbank.  And our bed over there in the living room?!?

IMG_2349 Zim
"Why, yes!  This is my handiwork!  Thanks for noticing."

Be proud of your accomplishments!  And then quickly, act cute and innocent - like so:

IMG_2351 Zim

Then once the lightning has cleared and your mom thinks it's clear...

IMG_2353 25 MAY 11 clearing skies
Clear skies on the horizon?

...get out and go for a walk!

IMG_2354 Dave and Zim
"Don't you love the feel of the rain on your fur, Zim?"
"Oh, yeah, Dave!  And I really needed a break from all that work!"

At least there wasn't any lightning!  Ha roo roo roo!

On a serious note, our thoughts and prayers go out to those who were directly in the storm's path.

Play bows,
Zim

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

My Rugged, Outdoorsy Look

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  It's me - Zim!  Dave and I couldn't decide what to post today, so I thought I'd just share this cool portrait of me:

DSCN1467ed Zim

It's my version of the rugged, outdoorsy look. What do you think?  Pretty good, huh?

Play bows,
Zim

Monday, May 23, 2011

Thought for Monday

Ha roo, pups and cool cats.  It's me - Zim.  Maybe if we look at Monday like this...

DSCN1450 Zim

...it'll cut us some slack.

It's worth a shot.

Play bows,
Zim

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Serene Scenery Sunday

Ha roo, everypup and everycat!  It's me, Zim, here with Serene Scenery Sunday!  Let's all think soothing thoughts and head out to the garden, OK?  That's what we did yesterday...

First, we took a couple pix of our peonies:

DSCN1410 Peony

DSCN1411 Peony

Aren't they gorgeous!?! Then Mom tried to figure out what I was staring at behind the peonies ... and ...

DSCN1399 Maude
Maude, the Bully Cat!
"Meow, Zim!"

...it was then that Mom decided maybe she'd take us boys on a special outing -- so we headed to the Kansas Ocean!

IMG_2273 Dave and Zim
"Now this is serenity!  Doncha think, Zim?"
"You know it, Dave!  I've gotta thank the Bully Cat!"

It was way better than taking pix of peonies!

When we got down to the ocean, I saw some friends of mine.  I laid down and sent them my Zen of Zim signals to come over and hang out with me.

CollageZimGeeseMAY11
Me and my Canada Geese friends!
"Come to me, my friends.  Yes, yes, that's it ...!"


I was still and quiet, and pretty soon they swam over to me. We spent some quality time together, then it was time to head on back to Ao4 Headquarters.

IMG_2290 Zim & Dave
"Zim, Mom said to get up and start walking and ... hey!
Are those gooses?  How do you do that?!!?"

It was a beautiful moment!  I hope you find some serenity today!  Look around you -- it can be found everywhere!

Play bows,
Zim

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Armed Forces Day

Today is Armed Forces Day here in the US, a day to come together to thank and honor those who serve.  This day was first set aside in 1949 to recognize the unification of all branches of our military under the Department of Defense -


- and to acknowledge the extraordinary dedication of America's uniformed patriots standing ready in harm's way, at home and around the world.


To all who have served and are now serving in our US Armed Forces - we appreciate you, we honor you, and we pray for you and your families daily.  And a BIG thank you to our favorite soldier of all time - our dad!!!

Play bows and luv,
Zim and Dave

Friday, May 20, 2011

Photo Finish Friday

Woo, everypup and almosteverycat.  It's me, Dave, here with Photo Finish Friday.  I have three pix for you this week but none of them are of me or Zim.  Can you believe that?  That's OK.  Two are of the full moon from earlier in the week and the third will help you understand what's been going on around here.  Let's look at Mom's moon shots first!

Here it is, on the rise:

DSCN1390 Full Moon

It was as bright as a spotlight! Here's a close-up:

DSCN1393 Full Moon

Ha woooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!  Sorry.  Intincts.

Our third pic won't come as a big surprise to you, but it will help show you how out of control things have gotten. Take a look:

DSCN1379 Maude the Bully Cat makes herself at home

That's right.  OUR garage being invaded by Maude the Bully Cat - aka Maude, TBC.  Houston, I think we have a problem!

Luv,
Dave

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Sneak Attack!

Woo, everypup and everycat (except for a certain bully!) - it's me, Dave!  As you could tell from Zim's Wordless Wednesday post, Maude the Bully Cat is getting mighty bold!  Yes, that was her knocking on our front door!!!  Can you believe that!?!?  We have more pix from that episode; we might post them later. She's got a lot of nerve.  I know everyone is attracted to Zim, he's got that magnetism that pulls all of us in,  but Maude the Bully Cat acts all sweet, then BAM!  She hisses and arches her back and acts all bully-like! She's just not a nice cat.  Take the other evening, for example ...

I was out in the front yard with Mom, helping her take pix of the peonies. Here's one:

DSCN1380 Peony Bud
One of Mom's peony pix that I helped with

She was trying to zoom way in and get a picture of a bug on a peony petal and needed me to give her more slack on the leash. (She can't be trusted out front off-lead.) I wouldn't budge. Mom couldn't figure out why - so she looked through my sights -- um... I mean between my pointy ears...

DSCN1384 Dave
"It's the Bully Cat!"

Maude the Bully Cat was trying to sneak up on me!!! What have I ever done to her!?!?

She just kept coming. Closer and closer...

DSCN1385 Dave
....and closer!

Mom told her "No!" but she must be part Siberian or something, because she just blew off everything Mom was saying. She got right about here:

DSCN1386 Dave
"Whoa, there, Bully Cat!  You really don't want to do this!!!"

...then launched at me, hissing and doing that arched back thing.  What the ....!!!

Needless to say, Mom stopped taking pix and made me go inside.  She doesn't want me to pull and re-injure my shoulder/neck -- and apparently doesn't want Maude to get hurt, even though she's a BULLY!!!

Anyway, she laid in a sneak attack on me again yesterday evening - then beat a retreat into our garage when I told her off.  That's all well and good, only that was how we were supposed to get back inside ... so Dad had to come out and rescue us.  That bully cat is really pushing her luck!

The moral of this story is that Mom should always take me and Zim out together so we can guard each other's six.  Or sixes.  Or ... whatever.  Beware of bully cats wherever you live!

Luv,
Dave

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The Grand Finale!

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  It's me - SGT Zim - here with a wrap-up on the bug invasion.  As you'll remember from yesterday, the giant robot bugs have spread all over town now -- to include right in front of Ao4 Headquarters!

Dave and I fought hard and fought well - and really took it to that robot bug!  Before Mom could even snap any battle pix, the bug had had enough!  It crawled over to a bug stretcher and started to collapse.

DSCN1266 Zim
"Yes.  Yes, neighbors!  It's safe to come out now!"

I had to let everyone know the battle was over and they were safe to come out of their homes.

DSCN1273 Dave
"You did it, Zim!  You killed the bug!  SGT Zim killed the bug!"

Dave was real proud of me - but honestly, I could NOT have done it without him!

DSCN1267 Zim
"Aw, hey.  It was a great team effort!"

I went in to make sure the bug was out for good.

DSCN1268 Zim
"Hmm."  Sniff, sniff.  "Bug blood."

It was a goner, that's for sure.  That guy you saw in the bright vest in yesterday's post had to call in a bug transport to haul it off!

DSCN1274 Dave
"It's like it was never even here!"
"Umm... except for that big hole in the neighbor's yard..."

Yep. The neighborhood - and the world - are safe from the robot bugs! ...at least for now!

Play bows,
SGT Zim