The World Calls it Football

Cootie enjoys socc...er...football. She likes the thrill of it. The competition. The companionship. The grass stains and sweat and especially the snacks after the game.

She was thrilled to hear about the good fortune of the US team this week.

CHICAGO (July 23, 2009) -- The U.S. earned a trip to their third straight CONCACAF Gold Cup Final, following Thursday's 2-0 victory against Honduras at Soldier Field in Chicago. Clarence Goodson scored the game-winner in first-half stoppage time, and Kenny Cooper added an insurance goal as the game reached 90 minutes. With the victory, the U.S. will face Mexico on Sunday at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Kickoff on Sunday is set for 3 p.m. ET on Fox Soccer Channel, Univision and the Futbol de Primera Radio Network.

It's Friday evening and The Brownmeister thought the best thing to do (since I didn't give her the option of a chewy treat, another bowl of food, or a ride it the jeep) was to kick it around a bit.

She's done that and now she is resting. With her blanket.

Cootie Trades "Camp" for "Spa"

You may remember that Cootie Brown is a regular guest at Hubbard's Cupboard and an occasional blog contributer as well. A couple of years back when I had just started to blog with any regularity, Cootie stayed with me for a spell and we enjoyed a week or so of "CAMP" with all sorts of activities appropriate for that theme.

Well, she's back.

Arriving this morning after breakfast -- on her 8th BIRTHDAY, no less -- she has decided that she'd rather go for a SPA theme for this summer stay-cation.

Today she spent a good bit of time out by the fountain on the patio dreaming of younger days when she'd rather hunt geckos than have her nails done. She says that the sound of water's babble makes her think of the brooks and creeks and raging rivers where he loves to ramble and hunt with her friends. I'm pretty sure that all of that romping is also in her dreams.

She'll eventually grow weary of the spa treatments and we'll be on to other ventures, but for now, it is rather placid around here and I don't mind at all.

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If you are new to the blog and would like to catch up on Cootie's exploits, simply click on the "tag" above for "Cootie Brown" and all of the blogs which have been similarly tagged will magically assemble themselves in one long string. Oh, the joys of technology.

Undercover Cootie

One of the things that Cootie enjoys is chasing (and tormenting) geckos. Not the Geico kind that talk and wear little suits, the kind who live on the patio and in the bushes EVERYWHERE here. 

She'll dash out onto the patio and nearly fly from one potted plant to the other, under chairs and around the grill in search of her prey.

The thing is, they see her coming and most of them are smart enough to run. Run fast and straight up and out of reach. 

Cootie used a new tactic yesterday -- the disguise. I admit that she may have gotten the idea from something I was watching on television. So, here is Undercover Cootie ready to go out and blend in with the locals. 

I mean no disrespect for the Cootmeister and still fully support the strategy of disguises, but this flat out did not work. They still saw her coming and they still ran. 

Cootie...er, Half Pint

So, Cootie spent today watching Little House on the Prairie (with Filbert) and now she insists that I call her Half Pint and wants desperately to go fishin' with Mr. Edwards tomorrow. If I knew a Mr. Edwards (or just someone who wanted to take a dog dressed like Laura Ingalls fishing) I'd be happy to oblige. 

I wonder what the two of them will watch tomorrow. I'm hoping it's not Monk. I don't think I can deal with an evening of canine OCD.

Close Encounters of the Third or Fourth Kind

Cootie and Filbert are becoming fast friends. They really do look smart together, especially when Filbert is sitting on Cootie's brown blanket -- don't you think? And it is such a nice demonstration of sharing, too!

They got together this evening and planned out the remainder of their week. While I'm working all day, Filbert has gotten rather enthralled by a few television series and he's bound and determined to get Cootie into the mania. I hear that tomorrow they are watching a Little House on the Prairie marathon. 

I think that Filbert must have gotten some cheese crumbs lodged in his ear earlier today. He'd been complaining about not being able to hear properly. Apparently Cootie helped him with that dilemma. They really are such nice friends. 

Guess Who?

Cootie is back!  She's been here a number of times since the visit when she blogged, actually. I just don't often let her use my computer. I should, though -- she had quite the following when she blogged before. (I'll think about that.)

Cootie is only here for a short week, but I think it will be a good week. She is certainly enjoying playing with...well, that's for another day. 

This post is merely to announce that SHE IS BACK!!!

47 Treats and a VERY DISCIPLINED Cootie!!

Deb arranged 47 dog bones into this lovely 47...and kept Cootie from eating any of them. Do you see why I think Cootie is the coolest canine in the world?!!  (Yeah, she had the hat on with the balloon on top, but I think she decided it didn't go with her outfit.)

Happy Birthday, Deb!

It's Deb's birthday today.

Deb is Cootie's "mom" in that strange way that humans include dogs in their families sometimes. In fact, Deb and I met because of Cootie who needed a place to live for a few weeks when they first moved here from Tennessee.

I borrowed this photo from Deb's daughter's FaceBook page.

Anyway: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

(Hmmmm. It's Erik Smith's birthday today too. Happy Birthday, Smitty!)

COOTIE @ Camp Hub (009)

Cootie has gone home with her family. Her last week of camp was filled with thunder storms and many normal camping activities. She did want me to tell you about one last class she took: Photoshop 101. She asked me to write this, I believe, because she didn't want you to think that the other images of her at camp had been "faked" in any way. I assure you that they were not. The only Photoshop work done in them was the addition of titles.

This is a typical response from anyone newly introduced to the power of Photoshop software -- suspicion that most images we see have been fixed in some way.


Anyhow, I'll put Cootie's class assignment project here for you to see. She thought it was fun.

COOTIE @ Camp Hub (008)

I know what I want to do next summer instead of this camp: I want to be the next Food Network Star!!

Since the season 3 finale was on television last night, I tried to watch as much of the season in rerun as I was allowed on Sunday.

I suppose this is a good time to tell you that I was asked to not come back to the etymology class after a rather unfortunate incident involving spiders. So I switched to the culinary arts and have found my niche in the universe.

I've made (or at least smelled while it was being made and I was wearing an apron, which has to count for something) curry chicken and rice with vegetables and a meatball sandwich on asiago cheese bread. I can't wait to find out what is on the menu today!

COOTIE @ Camp Hub (007)

I don't understand how everyone knows I had a banana for breakfast...

COOTIE: @ Camp Hub (006)

They remembered!

My birthday began early, with a walk around Myrtle Creek (a subdivision, not an actual creek...only ponds here and a golf course) at sunrise.

Then, after a short rest, I had breakfast on the patio. It was a lovely morning to eat outside. My trusty blanket reminded me just how truly loved I am -- even if my family has abandoned me to this Camp for two weeks.

As is traditional at the camp, breakfast was followed by my official birthday portrait.

You can see in my eyes that I was thinking of my family.

Oh how I miss them all.

Then I opened my gift -- a brand new rawhide bone. My favorite. It was a wonderful surprise to have this token of love and then to find out that my family had arranged for all of this -- what a wonderful day!!

Don't you love my hat?!!

COOTIE @ Camp Hub (005)

I've spent a good portion of the past two days chasing thunder. Pesky stuff, thunder. Loud. Unpatterned and therefore unpredictable. I could have caught up with it and made it stop, but it stays out there in the rain and I can't risk the wetness.

Tonight was game night at Camp Hub. I spent most of the time playing word games because I know quite a few words. I am now officially the Camp Hub Big Boggle Champion.

Tomorrow is my birthday. I wonder if anyone will remember....

COOTIE: @ Camp Hub (004)

Tuesday night at Camp is Movie Nite and since I totally behaved myself at meals and cleaned up my toys and even retrieved my blanket when I was told, I got to select the movies.

First, we watched Lady and the Tramp. Tramp is a kind of "bad dog" character who doesn't come from privilege like Lady does. Or like I do, for that matter.

Next, we watched Call of the Wild. I find that story so inspirational. Really, behind every great man, is a greater canine.

Then 101 Dalmations. That woman is frightening. If we would have ended with this one, I'd be having nightmares tonight, but we did not.

The late movie will be Turner and Hooch. I took this time between movies to get on line and blog a bit. I also took one of the humans here on a walk. If it wasn't for me, she would miss all the significant things along the way. It's like she can't smell anything! Humans can be so helpless.

COOTIE: @ Camp Hub (003)

I started my entomology classes today. I spend part of the morning (between naps) learning about insects. The image to the right is the teacher's beetle collection. It is very impressive. At first I thought they were chew toys, but someone told me otherwise just in time.

In the afternoon, we go outside amidst the flora and fauna and look for specimens. I know that my size and ferocious demeanor can frighten most bugs if they see me coming. So, I got to thinking (during one of my extended naps) about how I could get the upper hand.

My solution? Disguise. I'm sure I'll blend right in with all the other insects in the garden now.

COOTIE: @ Camp Hub (002)

I'm so glad that I brought my bright floral scarf. It was perfect for church this morning. I attended the First Church of the Backyard Garden here at Camp Hub. Everyone told me how much the colors in this simple accessory bring out the brightness in my eyes. I've always said that well chosen accessories make the outfit!

COOTIE: @ Camp Hub (001)

Hi. My name is Cootie and I live with my people, the Borlands, most of the time. Occasionally I just need to get away from it all and so I make the journey to Camp Hub where I am properly entertained and pampered. This Camp is really more like a spa than a camp.

I thought I'd give you a glimpse into my vacation through this blog that Camp Hub's Owner/Operator Ruth maintains.

I arrived today around noon and spent most of the day taking it easy. One of my favorite things is a good NAP. I try to get as many of those in a day as possible.

I did, however, enjoy a short safari. I so wanted to find the apes and let them know that I'm back in Camp. As you can see, I did make contact with Mama Ape and her youngest. I'm pleased to report that they are doing well and send their greetings.