It's "Charlie" Time

Yes, this is Charlie with his fat head sticking through the hole he gnawed between the gates of the fence when we lived in Georgia. It's hard to see but Ham and Rosie are right behind him, waiting for their turn to peek out.

Idiot.

When Charlie was about a year old, our oldest son, TJ asked if we would keep him for a couple of weeks. That was almost twelve years ago.

We're still waiting on him to swing by and pick up his boy.

We really didn't want to keep him at first. We already had two boxers, Rosie and Ham.

 Rosie died when she was about seven and a few years later we got Ziggy, another boxer.

Charlie and Ham are both thirteen now. Don't ask me how either one of them have lived this long.

                                    We all make fun of Sir Charles...he makes it really easy.

When we lived in Georgia, although loving all our pups, we each had one who pretty much slept by and hung out in our particular room or part of the house. Ham was always in Massey's room, Ziggy was with me in our room and Charlie spent every waking and sleeping moment in Zach's room.

When Ham went blind about eight years ago, we attempted to have lens implants surgically put in for him with help from many, many people. We discovered he had Heart worms and wasn't a candidate for surgery. We had him treated and cured  but the surgeon considered it elective surgery and discouraged the procedure, worrying his heart couldn't withstand anesthesia. I was upset at first but true to the Vets' words, ole Ham adjusted fine to being blind and has lasted over five more years, even surviving the move to Florida and a house and yard totally different from the one he knew so well in Georgia.

It took him about one day to learn and navigate the new house and yard. The boy is a beast at life.

Ole Ziggy has done really well here too. He was a terrible dog for the first two years and we considered changing his name to Houdini. He could jump a five foot fence like it was a baby gate, and often did. Once we couldn't find him anywhere. Massey saw this picture of him posted on Face book. He had wandered half a mile up the road to the elementary school and the nurse had him in the office.

                                                       Another idiot...that we love.


Once we had him neutered (and put up a new fence) he settled down nicely. We have a four foot fence here in Orlando and he hasn't tried to escape once, even with all the flamingos (cranes) yakking it up in the retention pond over our back fence.


Charlie has always been fine. When he was in Georgia, when on the car ride down on the move to Orlando and in the new house and yard. As much as we make fun of him, he's a pretty good dog. He's the laziest dog I've ever had. He goes out twice a day, maybe three times if he's feeling spunky. Other than that, he's on a dog bed, on the tile floors or on the sofa. The only problem with the tile floors is that he picks the worst spot in the room to plop down...always in the way...always.

Not good when you have one dog who is blind. To add insult to injury, Charlie goes ballistic when Ham bumps into him when he is laying in the path of his own blind navigation system through the house. Of course Charlie is too lazy to get up but has the most horrible growl which sounds like Cujo on a bad day. It even scares me...and gets Ham quite discombobulated.

But every Georgia game...Tim wants Charlie right by his side for luck. Tonight they play for the national title. Charlie earns his keep from Fall to the playoffs. I can't tell you how many peeps from back home mention Charlie to me when the Bulldogs are playing.

He's the dog we never wanted but the dog who is easiest to please and couldn't imagine not having his grumpy fat self as one of the pack.

I'm not a Georgia fan but Tim is, so for his sake hope "Chally-Boy" brings him luck again tonight.

Till next time, COTTON