14th of Feb is not Valentines Day

What's this all over the web-o'-sphere about Valentine's day? I mean really?


Yes I know it is the 14th of February and that does mean that this day happens to coincide with something to do with giving gaudy balloons or wilting flowers and oh, let's not forget giving your special someone a huge box of chocolate, which you as well as they will be complaining about down the track when the pants or skirt are just a little too tight around the area where 'said' chocolate will end up.

I mean really, what a waste of money not to mention the falseness that this day is we call Valentine's Day. Love should be celebrated all year round, minus the chocolate and terribly lame gift cards. But I think I have digressed from the point I alluded to by the heading of this post and that is...that the 14th of February is not Valentine's Day!

I could go into all sorts of reasons why this day in our day and age is nothing more than a marketing tool for taking more out of our coffers than putting love into our hearts or I could go on about the beginnings of what we perceive to be an actual day of reverence to a Martyred Saint (actually Saints) who all went by the same name Valentinius. The most known of which who was Saint Valentine, bishop of Terni. Unfortunately even He was never suggested as being a Patron of Lovers as Pope Gelasius I in 496 and the first to establish this day states, ".. whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God." Roughly translated as, "They did something but buggered if we know what!" But that's not the reason for the name of this post.

Chaucer, Methinks

You see, even if this day was brought about by the romantics of the 15th Century in particular the Father of English literature who wrote a fictional document and went by the name of Geoffrey Chaucer, does not mean that the 14th of February is Valentine's day!

But again I digress as the real truth about today, the 14th of February is...

It's Maximus' Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Mate on your day...  The 14th of Feb!!

Now to get the gaudy balloons and chocolate cake as this day of Love is only celebrated once a year you know?

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Sydney Tomorrow

How exciting!!!!
Tomorrow we are heading to Sydney to visit Amelie's Grandparents (my parents). It is a five-hour flight, so no need to say I am full of trepidation.

One.. I don't like airports.
Two.. As it is a late flight, I cannot sleep on planes.
Three.. Did I mention, Amelie is coming with us?

We can't take my mate Maximus with us and so he has had to be moved to a new residential area and has already been transported to the other house to stay there for the week. This is all good as I know he will be well looked after, yet I truly realise now how much a part of our family he is. Amelie has not stopped crying at the separation. I have been out the back a few times and with not seeing him there staring at me has really cut deep.... I actually miss him when not seeing his goofy look and affection. I know it is only a week and he will be back with us or we with him yet I am still sad.

My dog, my Maximus is part of the family. He truly is! We all love him! And I miss him already. A mans best friend? No! A families best friend forever! A brother to Amelie, a son to me... is my Maximus.

What will we do when he is truly gone forever??? I hazard to think!

oh BTW, we are going to Sydney Tomorrow... And in truth (just quietly)
I'll miss him the most...

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outside, inside

"I want to go outside."
"What for?"
"Because I want to."
"I don't want you to go outside."
"But I want to go outside."
"Well I don't want you outside. I want you inside."
"Well I don't want to be inside. I want to be outside."
"Ok, then I'll stay inside, as I like it inside."
"I like it inside too."
"No, you have to go outside now."
"No, I don't want to go outside."

"So, I'll go outside then."
"I'm coming too."
"Ok then."

It's all the dogs fault!

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Where's the sauce?

It is becoming rather disturbing.

It is the case of, What the? And Why?

For two days consecutively things have been appearing where most of us would consider it to be inappropriate.

But for a 3 year old it seems quite natural to pour tomato sauce on our rather lazy dog, Maximus. Yes, you heard me.... tomato sauce is now a collar around his neck. The smell must be driving him nuts! It might even wake him.

Ok. For my young Van Gogh that was not quite good enough or as much fun because today, lo and behold, She chopped one ear off!

Just kidding.

No, what it is, is that Maximus has a green leg! I thought he must have gangrene, oh no!

Thank goodness I didn't have to amputate as it was just green paint. Paint that was meant to be used for, I don't know, painting on paper maybe?

Our poor comatose K9 would be rather upset at this treatment if he could give a toss. He takes it as always as just another day with Amélie.

Now, who is going to bathe him?

And, where's my chilli sauce?

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Valentines Day?

I am participating in Pamela's Valentine's Love Letter Fest. Where I get to write a letter of Love.... I think.

 

Dear whomever....

Valentines Day is fast approaching...

That day when you have to show your love to someone you have tried to show your love to all year round, or have I? That day, that if you forget.... there is hell to pay. That day (or the weeks prior) when there are so many hearts floating or hanging in every shopping centre and ads that make you think, "have I given blood?"

I feel my heart beating its last, as I really do feel discombobulated... (Yes, that is a word. I looked it up)

So where do I go from here? Valentines Day is such a capitalistic contrive to get us to buy more Hallmark cards and throw our savings on another gift, (as birthdays, Christmas, Weddings, Moving House, Births, New pool table,  "I won the footy.".. weren't  enough)

So what is Valentines Day to me?

Well for me it is a Day of capitalistic purchasing of Hallmark cards and gifts...

Why?

As Valentines Day for the past 4 years has been Maximus' Birthday.  That's 28 in human years so it's about time he got his own place!

Our pride and joy. Our Door stopper. Our pillow. Our farting, snoring, dribbling, God ugly pain in the butt companion. It is the Day he can lie around, eat all he likes and enjoy the comforts of indoor living. Different to no other day really. Yet we do get to put a party hat on him and have cake! So all's good with Valentines Day thanks to my Dog Maximus.

"Oh jeez! What was that? Sounded like Mount Vesuvius erupting!

Better out than in, I suppose. Now get Out Max! Yes And take that Robot with you!!!!

Yours Sincerely,

Happy Valentines/Birthday and remember your table manners.

No I am Not Gollum

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Friends

Mans best friend. A dog who will follow you anywhere when you have food in your hand, A dog that is full of energy, for about 5 minutes in a day between sleeping and eating. A dog that is a part of the family or is that, the family room on his bed? A dog that is not a dog, but a toy, a playmate and a friend to my little animal lover.

Maximus, with a large head, muscular body, a dog when we do take him for a walk scares children by his appearance or was it adults?

Guard dog

Maximus is, like I've mentioned Amelie's plaything (literally). He has been dressed up in hats, sunglasses, jackets and even shoes. They have had tea-parties together, story-time together and yes been asleep together. He doesn't complain, he doesn't move. He is just there! A previous post concerning my poor dog here.

Once upon a time

Do you have enough?

35 degrees C, let's cover him up

Maximus listens every time he is summoned by Amelie. Why? Maximus, don't you know you are about to be humiliated again.

Al Canine

On many occasions it is I who has to intervene and explain certain truths such as,

"Amelie, take your hand out of his mouth he could bite it off!".
"Papa, don't worry I have another one".

"Amelie, just hit the drum. Maximus' head is not a cymbal".

"Amelie, Maximus' head is not a chair".

"Amelie, his jowls aren't for carrying marbles!".

"Amelie, untie him from the close line and put the hose back!".
"Papa, he needs his bath".

"Amelie, it's really hot today, he doesn't need towels and blankets over him".

"Amelie, his legs don't bend that way".
"Papa, he's trying to hug me".
"His leg could break!".
"Papa, don't worry, he has another one".

The temperament and patience of Maximus astounds me. He is truly Amelie's best friend and we love him.

Best friends

Amelie screams, "Maximus! Here! '.

For Dog's Sake Max, Walk away!!!

Oh the Humanity!

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Maximus

Our Dog. His name is Maximus, Max, Puppy Dog or For God's Sake Get Out Of The Way!

He is the long suffering plaything of Amelie. Ears pulled, paws stomped on, back jumped on and tail pulled.

Amelie thinks he is more of a toy than a living creature. That could be because, most of the time he is just lying on the ground like a stuffed toy. We were concerned and still are wary of the reaction Maximus will have when he has had enough. But for now, he seems to be taking everything done to him like a real trooper.

Just today it was obviously time to teach Maximus, what rocks really taste like. As quick as a flash, my Speedy Gonzales had managed to place 5 smooth rocks into his mouth. He didn't even spit them out giving his face the appearance of a Puffer Fish.

Why he lets her do what she does is beyond me. As well as rocks in his mouth, my excavator has tried to put them in his ears, on his back and on top his head.

I used to separate my dog and my child for fear of Amelie getting hurt. Now it's a case of separating them for fear of Maximus being humiliated or even injured.

I hope he is around for a long time because, he is one creature in this house who lets my Angel get away with murder.

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