T-Minus 8 Hours

At 6 p.m. our goddaughter Madgette arrives to stay at Chateau du Pug for the weekend while her parents attend a hopelessly boring education conference.

To this weekend of magic and fun, Madgette is bringing her cooking kit (complete with pint-sized cookie cutters and apron), iron-on gemstones and a t-shirt (can anyone say Bedazzler!) and her two doggies -- Blaze and Lady Belle, the miniature Schnauzers.

The Aggie and I are soooo happy to have our little buddy with us this weekend, however, we are less excited about her traveling companions.

And not so much Blaze as Lady Belle.

You see, every family has a Lady Belle. There's always that one kid or dog or person that just can't behave, no matter how hard they try.

Deuce is our Lady Belle.

AND.

No shock here: Deuce thinks Lady Belle is G-R-E-A-T.

They are tight. Bosom buddies. Like a modern day Stalin and Hitler – you know, before the backstabbing.

But instead of world domination and purifying races, they are more interested in pooping on the floor, then rolling around it, then trying to give you kisses.

I wish that were an exaggeration.

So the Aggie and I have been steeling ourselves for the doggy der Furer's arrival.

Deuce – sensing that his super-playmate/girlfriend is near – is already channeling various leaders of legions of doom. He woke me up this morning by battling a rebel insurgent, also known as the cat.

Across my face.

At 4 a.m.

Meanwhile, Madgette is already awake and packing for her trip.

Her mummy tells me it went something like this:

• Princess costume. Check.
• Stuffed animal named "Sonny the Pug." Check.
• Finger nail polish. In three colors. Check.
• Disney Princesses DVD Volume 872. Check.
  
  
• Hannah Montana underwear. Two pairs. Check.
  
  
• Disney's High School Musical. (Oh, muh gawd Zach is FINE.) Double check.
  
  
• Beg Momma Pug to take me to the Children's Museum because she might have mentioned it in passing three years ago, but I have a memory like an elephant. Check.
  
  
• Also, mention that we may have rushed by the Hello Kitty story in the Galleria once, but it was closed and now it MIGHT be open, so I'm going to coerce Momma Pug to take me back. Puhleeeeez! I'm not above water-boarding. Check.

Bring on the fun.

Check.