From the Desk of Carly,

Hi guys,

It's me, Carly.  Mom hasn't felt very good this week (she didn't even take me on a walk today, but I'm trying not to be bitter) so she said I could be in charge of the blog.

I've been wanting to tell you how much fun we had on Monday night but she's been sneezing and coughing ever since and I've had to lay right beside her to be sure she's OK.  I think she's going to be fine now, but I'll type quickly just in case.

Here's the deal, I'm afraid of everything.  You just might not realize how scary the world is.  Bikes, scooters, wheelchairs, motorcycles, ladders, brooms, vacuum cleaners, thunder, and hundreds of other things are just awful.  I could go on and on about everything that could come after a little Carly dog!  The very worst thing in this crazy new house of ours is the lawn mower.

Mom doesn't seem to like the lawn mower very much either.  I can tell because it's the only time she wears her stinky old shoes and you know how important cute shoes are to her!  (I don't know why she even needs all those shoes.  She only has 2 feet!)

Anyway, I've been working on being brave.  The other day Mom forgot to turn the TV off and I watched all these humans who want to help me change my life!  Dr. Phil was kind of boring, but Stuart Smalley really seems to understand me.  I've been telling myself over and over again that I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and Doggone it, people like me!

I finally felt ready to tackle my biggest fear Monday night.  I could hear Mom mowing the front yard and I gave myself a big pep talk.  Then when she went to the backyard I decided to go for it!  I ran out of my safe hiding place to the backyard and chased her, barking at that stupid lawnmower all around the yard.  It was scary at first, but it never came after me.  I think I taught it a lesson!

I thought Mom would be so proud of me and give me a big bone afterward, but instead she kept checking my eyes, ears, teeth, feet, everything and asking if something was wrong with me.  She thought I finally went crazy, but she was the one wearing stinky old shoes and smelling my breath!

No matter what Mom thinks, I'm proud of myself.  I'm not going to hide from that stupid lawnmower any more.  Next week I might try barking at the broom!

Carly