Henry's World

Hello. I am going to take you on a trip to China. Yes that's right, Country Report  is the next post included on my countdown. This speech was given in second grade for the class's report on a country. I chose China, my mom's country of birth. Was started as just a speech given in class has turned into the most-viewed post on my blog. It has over 70 views. I'm astounded that this post has so many views, which is why I just had to put it on my countdown to 100.

The post that started it all. On August 3rd, 2010, chapter five of The Pug That Always Finished Second was posted. What was unique about this chapter was that, for the first time, Trinket's journal made an appearance. From asking Bucky about going to Pugtacular to celebrating his birthday, Trinket and his journal made a big impression. Eventually, both Rascal and Bucky would get their own journals, but Trinket's was the first. Sing, Bucky, sing! (you have to read the chapter to get that one)

The next moment on my countdown isn't one post, but many. In second grade, I had a teacher's aide named Mr. Martin. He taught our class a lot about poetry, and our class wrote quite a few poems. Most of the poems I wrote, I put here on my blog. If you want to find these poems, just go to the front page of my blog and find the label "poetry". I really enjoyed second grade because of Mr. Martin. He later became my fifth- grade teacher and he was one of my favorite teachers I've ever had. He also made second grade into an enjoyable time for me.

Next on my countdown comes a post I like a lot. Written in fourth grade, "Why Pine Tree Has Spiky Leaves" is my take on a folk tale. Told a lot by Indians, these types of tales used fiction to tell why a certain thing in nature was a certain way. This often allowed for turning plants and animals into near-humans, with the ability to talk, react, and move. Often these tales would include a cunning side, and a not-so-bright side. Like wise coyotes and swooping eagles, "Why Pine Tree Has Spiky Leaves" outwits all on it's journey to number 17 on my countdown.

I never really was a big fan of the snow. However, my favorite (and only) hobby in the snow was tobogganing. Now, of course, I don't like the snow, but it is fun to read some old posts of mine. I wrote a post in 2007 about tobogganing, and it is now the second-most looked at post on my blog. If you like tobogganing, then maybe you check this post out. It's short, but I like it. That's why I'm taking it out of the library, dusting it off, and setting it at number 18 on my countdown.

Next on my countdown to 100 comes someone very dear to my heart. As a matter of fact, he's sleeping on my bed as I write this post. Yes, that's right, Rascal claims the next spot. Rascal features as part of my story, The Pug That Always Finished Second. As a matter of fact, he's working on helping me with his biography. But more on that later. Rascal first appears on my blog in the post, Latest Update on the new Puppy. Rascal hopefully is at just the beginning of his stay on my blog. And stay tuned for his biography, Crushing Hopes and Dreams, debuting soon!

The Beginning of The Pug That Always Finished Second Is there a better way to begin the countdown to 100 then with the beginning of my most successful story on my blog? This chapter, originally written in second grade, was the only two-part chapter. The second part was written in fourth grade. The first part was what mattered. Bucky finished second and began an endearing tale of a pug and his oddball brother that set my blog on fire.

As most of my new readers may now (I know there are lots of you), I was recently given a blog award by my mom. Now, she was the one who originally introduced me to Blogger, so I feel it is right to say a few nice things about her. Her blog is called Bits and Pieces, and she is a hardcore blogger. For those of you that don't know what her blog is like, she has a devotion to knitting and pugs. For those of you that believe that sounds interesting, click here . I wouldn't be blogging without her. Now, I have a quick thing to say. If anyone who reads my blog would like me to read theirs, just leave me the link. I'm open to reading any blog, because I think that if anyone can cook, than anyone can write (Get it? Get it? Oh, never mind). So, I have two events for accepting this award. First, I would like to say seven things about myself: 1. I'm crazy about dogs. Anyone who reads my blog knows that. I have a dog named Rascal and I love him. Don't I, Rascal? Rascal? Rasc...

Today is a big day for my blog. I accept a blog award and begin a countdown to a very special number. But first, I have to begin with the bad news. Obituary of a Crab Anyone who followed my blog in the beginning may remember my early posts about my two hermit crabs. Goyle, one of the hermit crabs, passed away a couple of years ago. And then, last week, Crabbe, my other hermit crab, passed away as well. Crabbe was someone who was very close to me. In his later years, I didn't do much of his care taking, but I still could rest easy at night that I had a little crab in the room with me. He died after going through a tough molting. I guess it was his time. My dad buried him in a large shell he always wanted to get into. I suppose he finally made it. On what is an overall happy day, I had to stop and mourn a crab that helped me to get where I am today. He taught me a lot. He taught about the simple joys of having a life well-lived. He may not have lived 15 years, but he still g...

I have finished the story, The Pug That Always Finished Second. I have to give thanks to my Mom and Dad, for giving me the support to finish it. It was a long journey and I couldn't have done it without my dog Rascal's tugging skills. Thank you Rascal for giving the idea. And thanks especially to my dear dogs, Trinket and Bucky. You two made it possible. This wouldn't be here without you. I'm sorry you couldn't see it happen. You were a special part of my life and will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS miss you. REST IN PEACE, TRINKET AND BUCKY

Bucky's Journal December 2, 2006 This was it. The time and the hour. This morning, I left for Pugtacular. I decided I would not come back to this house without that first place medal around my neck. I had taken a final run-through of my strategy that morning, and saw a surprise guest in the gym where I practiced. It was Freeway. He had decided to come with me for moral support. I thanked him, and soon, we were off. Me, Trinket, and Freeway stuck together in the car and when we arrived up in Antioch. At the front of the giant tent, I bid them farewell. I accompanied Mom over to get checked in, and found another surprise. Cali, one of the dogs defeated by Trinket in the tug-of-war contest, was handling dog check-in. I talked to her, trying to calm down my nerves. Mom lead me over to where Dad, Freeway, and Trinket had set up to watch. Freeway was babbling about racing strategy, and Trinket was thinking. I went outside to take a walk.  When I came back in, Freeway was ent...

Bucky's Journal December 1, 2006 I'm calm. Pugtacular is tomorrow, yet I don't have nerves. Pugs generally try to avoid being nervous. When your breed has an aura of pushing through those around you, you have to be very careful with the actions you take. But now I'm thinking. I need to stop. Not thinking is a trait in a pug. I finished up my final practice, my final tune-up for the Pugtacular race. My sprints were getting better, but it seemed whatever I did wouldn't be good enough to win at Pugtacular. I kept flashing back to the time Leia had, and shaking. No trick would get me under 15 seconds. I just had to hope something happened on the day of Pugtacular. Maybe she would wake up on the wrong side of the bed. It didn't matter. I felt sure she would win. But I wouldn't stop trying. I had gone to far to turn back now. All the effort I had put into this race made it impossible for me to think of finishing in second place. I put in the effort, a...

Bucky's Journal November 16, 2006 It was the day of qualifications. The qualifying races were held up in Antioch, where Pugtacular would be held on December 2nd. I was excited that Pugtacular lay only half a month away, and I felt ready for it. I felt I knew the pug Leia's moves, as yesterday I had a final meeting with Freeway. From now on I was on my own, but the last meeting had not been wasted. He watched the videotape of Leia racing, and analyzed it. He showed me her pros and cons, and told me how I might just beat her. I felt good. The qualifiers awaited. I would be in the third race. There were four races, and the top two in each one would move on to the race at Pugtacular. But I didn't want to finish second. I wanted desperately to win, for I thought it would prove something to my competitors. I wanted to set an example. Early in the morning, Mom woke me up so we could go to qualifications. It would just be the two of us, as Trinket was staying home to w...

Bucky's Journal October 1, 2006 Another new month on the path to Pugtacular. October began and I felt strong. All this time I had been training and building towards the long-awaited event in December. Every day brought more training. My endurance level was sky-high. I thought I was ready to take on the race right now, and I would win. Patience is a virtue, Trinket's voice said in my brain. Now, what is a virtue? I know chew means to destroy by way of teeth, but what does vir mean? And what is patience? I smiled and cleared my head. Being able to not think is a skill in any good pug. You have to believe that thinking does no good. I sure believed it. Mom walked into the room. "Bucky, I have news. A pug has volunteered to race against you. His name is Freeway. He will help you train." Well, this was interesting. A pug volunteering to help out another. This was certainly news. October 2, 2006 I had my first training session with the pug Freeway today. ...

Last time on The Pug That Always Finished Second, Trinket competed in Dogpalooza. After defeating 3 straight opponents, he fell to the first ever tug-of-war champion, Rascal. What will happen next? Rascal's Journal March 27, 2006 I wake up and find myself still basking in the glow of victory. Oh, how sweet the taste. You see, I eat like no other. I feast on those below my level. I crush their hopes and dreams, and they taste like warm, sweet vanilla to my senses. I wash it down with tears of frustration, and I eat my dessert, power and glory sorbet. Yes, I, Rascal, am a true champion, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Trinket's Journal March 27, 2006 I force myself out of bed. For what must be the thousandth time, I remind myself it was one competition. I did all I could. I really needed to move on, but I couldn't make myself do it. I really needed someone to snap me out of it. I pressed the button to open my crate. This technology, I thought, real...

Thanks to everyone for their support in making The Pug That Always Finished Second possible. The book is now 2/3 done. That is 10 out of 15 chapters. Look forward to more!

Last time on the Pug That Always Finished Second, we heard a very cocky Rascal claim that "victory was all but assured". Will this statement prove true? Will Trinket trip over a corncob? All that and more on the Pug That Always Finished Second. Trinket's Journal March 26, 2006 It was the day. March 26, 2006. That morning, the Dogpalooza website released the official bracket for the competition. I didn't know the dog I would be facing in the first round, a Scottie named Molly. The only dog I had researched about and cared about was Rascal. Everything else was mere details in the final report. And how was I feeling? Thanks for asking. I felt great. I had a good night's sleep under my belt and I was ready to go. That morning, I lay in my bed thinking (a dangerous habit, I might add). I felt like I should get some good old Rocky music following me. All I got was a pug snoaring. Dad walked in and let me out of my crate. "Trinket, I don't know how Buck...