Mom told me that people celebrate the end of one year and the start of another. She said it was kind of like the whole world was celebrating its birthday. We are three days into that new year but it doesn’t feel like anything has changed. Mom did go for what she said was a First Day Hike at the state park. She didn’t let me go. Maybe I can convince her to take me some time soon. I’d love to walk through the woods and listen to the birds. So many new smells sounds like fun. If it was just the two of us, I wouldn’t have to worry about strange people scaring the birds.

Yesterday Mom started to collect all of the things she put out a few weeks ago. The funny little tin men were removed from the shelves and put into their boxes. I have been good this year – I didn’t knock a single one of them off the bookshelves. I actually think they were rather pretty there. This year the two big ones that she placed on the floor on either side of the fireplace, looked like they had actually fought in a battle. Both of them were missing their noses!

Sophia thought she should inspect the decorations Mom placed on the table before packing them. I was happy just watching as things came off one of the trees. It almost looks like a real tree, but I know it isn’t. Sad.

Today is sunny and almost warm. Mom says it is 65 degrees on the front porch. She took advantage of the warm day to pack away the last of the Christmas things. She removed the lights and then put all of the boxes into the garden shed. While she did that, Sophia and I got to be outside on our leads. She doesn’t like to let me be out if it is really cold. Sophia has lots of extra fat so she can stay warm on a cold day. I’ll admit I have gotten skinny. I don’t have that extra layer that will keep me warm. I told her to not even think about making me a sweater to wear this winter. That would be undignified. Sweaters are for silly dog. Missy is a silly dog but she has so much fat and so much fur that she clearly doesn’t need a sweater.

I go to the vet for a checkup this coming week. Mom is also worried that my shots have expired. I’ve had words with some of the stray cats that like to go through our yard when I’ve slipped out the door as Dad goes out. She is sure none of the strays have had their shots. I’m not sure I like the idea of getting shots, but getting sick doesn’t sound good either. Oh well; it is not like I’ll get to vote.

Mom decided we would wait a day to do my post. She had scheduled a trip to the vet. She didn’t tell me about it until she put me in the car. I let her know that I thought that wasn’t a nice thing. She did it anyway.

It actually wasn’t too bad. They did put that thing up my butt. I didn’t even yell when they did it. I almost sat still on the scale. If it had been warmer, I would have sat there patiently. It wasn’t, so I didn’t. I still weigh 11 pounds plus maybe an ounce or two. Then the nice vet lady came in to feel my throat, do the same for my stomach and then she listened to my heart. Mom seemed happy that every thing seems to be okay. Of course that meant I then got two shots in my butt. The nice things I was thinking about the vet kind of went away then. At least for now, I don’t need to go back for a whole year. Next week Sophia and Missy go to have the same things done to them. Would it be mean to laugh at them?