Daisys and the NKF

The Daisy Scouts were a lot of fun last week.  The weather was nice, so the troop leader decided to have the meeting outside.  Seven energetic 7 year old girls met Mommy and Daddy at the Rudymobile.

Even though it was really windy, the girls contributed many ideas for the story.  Mommy came very prepared.  She had an outline she put together describing each part of a story.  She also had questions ready that she could ask the troop to "keep the ball rolling."

Daddy was the official note taker and photographer.  Every Daisy contributed something to the story and Mommy tied it together.  I will include it at the end of this blog, in case you are interested in reading the Pourquoi Tale.

We have been selected to be recognized at the NKF volunteer appreciation event on June 5.  We feel very honored.  We hope we are helping by talking to others about the importance of organ donation.

Our outdoor activities may be limited the next few days if the weather guessers are right.  I'll just wait and see!  Have a nice Memorial Day weekend!

Love,
Rudy the Proud Poodle

A Pourquoi Tale

Long ago a group of 8 smart and funny friends became Daisy troop 55167.  The excitable girls got together every other Tuesday to plan fun activities and learn many things.  Megan, Amanda, Morgan, Maddy, Lauren, Rana, Freya and Ella enjoyed going out into the community to visit their local police station, and the library to learn how to “make” books.  The troop cleaned neighborhood streets to help take care of the earth.

Learning about nature, the world and animals was very interesting.  The girls talked with a blind author who helped them write a story.

For years the Girls Scouts sold cookies.  It was a yearly event all troops did to earn money.  Sometimes the money helped scouts all over the country.  The rest was used for many different things for the troop.

Buying supplies for the following year, going on field trips and donations for charity were all projects the girls planned.  They hoped to go to the Mall of America, Underwater world, skating and swimming.

Selling cookies taught the girls how to set goals, make plans and follow through.  It was a fun learning experience.  One year the girls also decided to buy children’s books to donate to kids in local hospitals so they would have something fun to read.  Each Daisy picked out two books.  It was very exciting!

And that is why Daisy Troop 55167 sold Girl Scout cookies, and my what a sale it was!

The End

Write - Love - Dance

The past week has been a mixture of activities and weather.  The weekends tend to be rainy and cool, but the weather guessers promise some sunshine for the next few days.

We have a new neighbor dog friend.  Her name is Gertie and she is really shy and cute.  Gertie's 9 months old, so she is still growing.  Right now she is between Boomer! and me in size.

We added a new safety tip of the month to our web site and Daddy made a few minor changes.  We had an email and order from a children's hospital in Chicago.  They said they really like my books as educational resources.

On Thursday, my book "Rudy O'Tooty" was featured on a blog called "Reading Minnesota."

Mommy is very happy about getting a new haircut.  Even though here eyes don't work, it bothers her when the bangs tickle her eyes.  I don't like my bangs tickling my eyes either.  Daddy and Boomer! never have to worry about that, but I don't know why.

We are preparing to visit our little Daisy friends next Tuesday.  They are the girl scouts I talked about last November.  They are using some of their cookie sale proceeds to buy books to donate to children.  We are helping them out.  It is so nice to know children want to help other children.  The little girls have big hearts and are very generous.  We applaud that and support it every way we can.  Mommy's going to help them write a story.  That sounds like fun.

Boomer! and I need to go practice our "Happy Mother's Day" dance now.  Bye for now and "Happy Mommy's Day!"

Love,
Rudy the High Stepping, Mother Loving, Book Writing Poodle

Life

The week has been eventful with beautiful babies being born and dear friends passing away.  It truly is a circle of life.  I'm glad we can laugh at cherished memories while we are amazed by new ones being created.

I don't know social media that well, but I heard about a new idea on Facebook that sounds interesting.  They have created a new status where you can identify yourself as an organ donor.  People don't have to - it's optional.  I hope it will go a long way to promote the importance of organ donation.

We would have to do about a million presentations to reach as many people as Facebook!  I hope it turns into a positive experience and helps a lot.  124,000 people need a transplant.

On the news today they said Minnesota lead the way with new individuals signing up to be a donor.  I am so proud of my home state!

Fabulous lilacs filled the sunny warm air today.  Boomer! and I ran all over the backyard.  He is so fast, but once in a while he slows down to let me catch up!  We are an awesome twosome.

Love,
Big Brother Rudy

Birthday!

Tuesday is my birthday!  I will be eight and feeling great!  The day before I have my annual check up at the vet.  For some reason, I always visit my vet right around my birthday?

Here is my birthday joke for all of you:
     Did you hear about the suspenders that got arrested?
     They held up some pants!  Tee hee!
Mommy and I thought that was really funny.  We do have a unique sense of humor.

I hope the weather will start to warm up again.  It was cool and kind of rainy the last few days.  Another coincidence, I got my hair cut right before the weather got cold!  I've been a chilly dog the last week.  My hair looks really cute though!  Here is a picture of Boomer! and me.

Love,
Rudy the Cute Poodle

A New Video!

Hi Everyone!

Here's a new video that Daddy made.  He worked very hard on it.  I think he did a great job!  Mommy and Daddy said that it was a lot of fun visiting the kids.  It's hard to believe that was almost a year ago.  It was snowing then, and it snowed today!  Coincidence?

Love,
The Proud Poodle

It Feels Great to be Turning Eight!

In two weeks I will be eight years old!  WOW!  Time flies.  I still feel like a young pup.  The weather hasn't been as warm the last few days so our outdoor activities have been limited a bit.

Mommy and Daddy had an event last weekend.  It was for Kidney Education Day.  (Formally called Gift of Life.)  This year they decided to focus on overall kidney health.  It was a smaller audience as it was also a holiday weekend, but very educational and some nice people.  They really liked my books.

We hope to visit a few schools before the end of the school year, we just don't know which ones they will be!  Mommy continues to come up with different marketing ideas.

A very nice young woman used my book (Rudy's Incredible Kidney Machine) to explain dialysis to her first grader's class.  She is a dialysis technician from New York.  She said it went very well and our book was extremely helpful.  I was very happy.  I like to help!

We received a very nice review from a children's librarian for Rudy O'Tooty.  It is posted on our reviews page at www.RudysLittleWorld.com if you care to take a look.

A lot has happened lately.  We just finished five events in five weeks.  We like that!  Mommy said it keeps her feeling well prepared and less nervous because it is easier to keep the momentum when we do them more often.  Daddy made a new video we will post soon.  He's very good at it!  I'll keep you updated!

Love,
Rudy the Mature Poodle

Kidneys

Every April we remind you about the importance of organ donation, especially living donors.  The need continues to expand.  With over 100,000 people waiting for a life saving organ transplant, it is imperative that we keep educating people.

It's too bad that the U.S. doesn't have the same organ donor system as Belgium.  In Belgium you are automatically considered a donor unless you opt out of the program.  Imagine all the lives that could be saved!

This April I thought I would share some interesting statistics about kidney disease.  1 in 9 people are affected with kidney disease.  Over 382,000 are on dialysis.  Dialysis is a process to sustain life, but it is not a cure.  Kidney disease touches many lives.

My family has been affected by kidney disease.  I have kidney disease and my Mommy has been on dialysis twice before her two kidney transplants.  Daddy is a living donor.  These are some of the reasons we feel strongly about our goal.

Some of you may be too young to donate organs, but you can talk to your friends and family to teach them what you have learned.  It's important to share information.

My tip this month is to learn something that interests you and share it with others.  Hopefully they will  continue sharing it and many people will learn.

Love,
Rudy the Never to Old to Learn Poodle