Blog of Killbarney

Well, this isn’t exactly how it’s supposed to work, but Barney had such a pawsome visit with Maggie in Maine that we’ll let it slide.

You can see Maggie’s latest blog post to read all about the fun time they had at the Can Am 250 Mile Sled Dog Race, and see a video of Barney riding Maggie in the snow.

You can also find out where Barney got his new winter coat, and what the Maggies have in common!

With that said, lets recap some rules of engagement here:

• The Killbarney Tour is a stealth operation
• Recipients of Barney should email Jerry or a send PM to Admin with a few words about their visit along with a photo.
• Killbarney will then update his Tour Map and publish a post here announcing the latest stop.
• After that, members can then follow up with more details and photos in their own blog. (Non-blogging members can feel free to submit up to three photos.)
• PM the member of your choice to receive Barney next to get their mailing address, and send him on his way in a timely manner.
• Be sure to sign the trip journal included with Barney, and feel free to add a memento from your home town.*
• The host Tripawd to draw first blood shall have his/her people mend Barney, and add a needle with  a spool of heavy duty thread to the box.
• Other than that, anything goes!
• Get creative with your KillBarney photo opportunities, or make a video.
• Play by the rules and no one gets hurt … except maybe Barney!

*Once a few trinkets are in the box, we could treat this like a geo cache with each new host keeping an item and replacing it with something of their own. We don’t want that box getting too heavy!

While we wait and wonder where Barney may turn up next, around the mobile Tripawds headquarters here FrankenBarney better watch out. There’s a new dawg in town.

Barney came to visit us in Livermore, California from Gerry in Madison Wisconsin.

When Gerry’s mom Bri asked us if we could entertain Barney she said she had seen a sign! While doing the Barney photo shoot outside the Great Dane Pub (Nova was before Gerry) she saw someone walking two pugs and she just knew that Maggie the pug had to be next!

Maggie has been a little under the weather these past few weeks, not quite as energetic as usual. When Barney got here I must say she was not that excited to play with him. So Barney’s visit turned into him just hanging out as part of the pug pack. I even sort of look at him as a good luck charm now. I know this goes against the whole KILLBARNEY world tour thing. But he has survived Maximutt, Caira Sue, Nova, and Gerry, not to mention THE Jerry. He has made several cross country trips and never lost his luggage!! I’m not sure I know anyone luckier than that. And I must admit that I don’t harbor the Barney hatred that some have. For the people I hung out with the little purple guy you loved or hated was Prince! Maybe my attitude rubbed off on Maggie a bit.

So Barney was just one of the pugs – he slept with us at night, went to the dog park (in the stroller) even went to a couple of vet visits, although he waited in the truck – no sense picking up any germs! He visited my parent’s house, where the girls spend a lot of time. He helped me do our first sub-Q liquids at home. And he brought some really nice early spring weather. I kind of hate to send Barney on his way – but he needs to get back on the real KILLBARNEY tour. Hopefully his next host is ready to rock and roll!!!

See Maggie’s blog for more details and pictures, and stay tuned to find out where Barney ends up next.

Like that sweet ride of Maggie’s? Check out the selection of strollers for dogs large and small in the Tripawds Gear blog!

Where, oh where has Barney gone?

Only  Gerry knows, unless another Tripawds member is keeping a secret. But, where has Barney been? That’s easy!

Just check out the KillBarney Tour Map to see where Barney has been!

Complete with links to posts from all his visits, this map will track Barney and be updated each time we find out where he is. Stay tuned for the next stop in Barney’s Traveling Tripawds Adventure.

This just in from GerrysMom…

Whew!  Sorry this took so long folks, but Barney has been with us here this whole time, in chilly Madison, Wisconsin. And he has charmed yet another tripawd into letting him live another day (er, week).

If his tour had begun a few months earlier, and Yoda had received him, well Barney would be a dino-skin rug by now, no question.  De-stuffing stuffed animals was probably Yoda’s third favorite activity after chasing/catching real live animals and playing with/devouring tennis balls.  But Gerry is content simply to carry.  He ain’t heavy, says Gerry, he’s my Barney.

Gerry takes Barney for a walk

And so Gerry carried Barney on at least one walk per day, usually two.  He was fair and didn’t ignore his other toys, but kept in mind that Barney was only on loan, so the purple dinosaur got priority play-time.  The most damage Gerry did was pull of part of an already partially pulled-off tag.  I am pleased to note that Barney was made in America.  Well done, Barney.

We have a small video tribute in honor of Barney’s visit.  Our apologies that the music will probably turn out a little wobbly, as usual:

I’m afraid it was so cold here that we didn’t attempt any exciting trips with our houseguest.  However, in honor of Nova, who sent us Barney, in part, because her family are fans of Madison’s Great Dane Pubs, I did take Barney there for a photo op.  For Nova, I was willing to walk around with a Barney doll in public, and hold him up in the air (attracting plenty of attention) to take that photo.  I just think that should be noted…

It was worth any embarrassment, however, because while outside the Great Dane Pub, I feel I received a sign regarding who shall receive it next.  If this person declines at this time, no worries, I will pretend I actually received a different sign and none of you will ever know.

Oh, I should note that swapping spit with Nova on the Barney doll caused him to have some Great Dane moments.  He sat on my lap one day after playing with Barney, and then crawled into my lap a little while later, reminding me of those adorable pictures of Puppy Nova.  So, if subsequent receivers of Barney see their tripawd start carrying shoes, or knocking things off the coffee table with their tail, or growing black spots on their tongue – no worries! – that’s just Gerry’s DNA rubbing off.  It’s probably temporary.

Thanks for the visit Barney and dogspeed in your future travels!

~ GerrysMom & Gerry

PS: I think Spirit Yoda must have been offing hunting wabbits all week, otherwise he would have talked Gerry into de-stuffing Barney.

While we wait for word about where Barney may be these days, here’s a memorable blast from the past – taken September, 2007.

One of the more memorable milestones from Jerry’s cross-country adventure was his visit to the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waturbury, Vermont. Another great day when he and Barney were getting along well.

That Opie is too funny!

We just had to share his comment on Barney’s visit with Queen Nova of Tripawds. No word yet as to where she has deployed our little fluffy foe.

BWAAAHHHahahahahahahahahahasnort. Nova loves Barney. Nova loves Barney.

Nova and Barney sittin’ on a bunk
Nova thinks Barney is a hunk

First comes slobber
then comes kisses
Now there sits Nova
and Barney she misses.

Forget about him, Nova. He’s purple, he’s spitty, he probably smells bad by now…you can do better.
~ Opie

Barney Surfaces in Linden, MI for an Appearance with the Queen

Hey! It’s Barney here. Boy, that Caira Sue the Batdog really did a number on me. I couldn’t wait to get out of California. Levitating, being torn limb from limb, and being passed over for a silly tennis ball was NOT FUN. But I was worried. When Caira Sue’s mom was packing me up in the box, I heard Caira Sue say, “Mom, please send that silly purple dinosaur far, far, away. Someplace cold and yucky, awful, to a state where no one would EVER want to live.” I knew that Caira Sue’s mom was really smart, because she said she knew just the place. But of course she did not tell me, I just heard her write the address on the box when I was inside.

I went on a very long ride on an airplane across the country and landed in Flint, MI. I couldn’t think of any Tripawds that lived in Flint, so wondered where I might end up. But I could tell this place was cold, wet, dreary. I rode around in a mail truck all day and was deposited in the garage of some house in the country in a small town called Linden, where I sat all day until the owners came home. I heard the knife start to cut the box and started to cringe. Oh gosh, oh gee, this place was going to be AWFUL, I just knew it.

The box opened and there was a friendly lady’s face smiling at me. Whew! But then suddenly these two MONSTERS appeared, these two huge slobbering BEASTS. I had never seen dogs so HUGE. One had four legs and was sizing me up like she was ready to eat me right then and there. The other, the 3-legged awful, hairy beast with a head the size of Texas buried her face in my chest, trying to drown me in slobber and lick me to death. Ohhhhhh noooooo! I knew this just had to be the end. She must be just trying to soften me up to swallow me whole.

“Barney,” the lady said, “Meet my Great Danes Emmy and Nova. Nova is a Tripawd, but she is blind, so she is going to want to lick and sniff you to get to know you.” Oh man. You should have seen it. These monstrous beasts had the biggest, most awful-looking fangs ever. Their heads were enormous. My whole body could fit in their mouths. I was sure they were going to eat me right then and there.

“Don’t worry, Barney,” said the man. “We call these girls the “House Cats”. They may look scary to you, but you will find them to be the most loving, gentle beasts you will ever meet.” REEEALLLLYYY! HA! Well, poo poo on you, Caira Sue! You thought you were sending me to a horrible place, and your Mom was only half right. True, Michigan in general pretty much sucks. Yet hidden there is this quiet country town, nestled in a peaceful pine forest, a little ray of sunshine shines on a big ‘ol hunk of burning Barney love named NOVA. Nah, nah, nah, nah, NAH, nah!!

Nova snatched me up right away and went hopping off. “Oh Barney, I love you, I love you, I love you!” she said, “I can’t wait for you to meet all my stuffy friends, my jackelope, my lion, bear, bunny rabbit, moose, and more. I’m gonna kiss you, and hug you, and squeeze you, and love you, share my bones with you, we’re gonna take naps together, and we’ll be the bestest of friends forever and ever!”

This was MY kind of Tripawd!

Somebody told me once that Nova was known as the Queen… Queen Nova of Tripawds. We’ll they weren’t kidding. This Tripawd lives high on the hog and spends much of her day sitting on her throne (more like reclining on it), surrounded by her subjects (all the stuffed animals listed above), served her food in raised silver bowls, and has her own lady-in-waiting who caters to her every need. Nova just talks or howls when she needs something, and the lady comes running in to give her special eyedrops and medicines all the time, and these special wonder pills with cancer-killing mushrooms in them. That Nova’s got this lady wrapped around her finger!

A grumpy teenager saw me, and started to rib Nova. “You are the QUEEN, Nova! You must do what Queens do, which is say “Off with his head!” Nova would have nothing of it, though. I think she was already in love with me! “Oh fine, Nova, get involved with a commoner then. Next thing you know you’ll be abdicating your throne for the dinosaur you love,” he snickered as he stalked off. Nova told me to not mind him. Her brother had a bad experience with me when his Mom would make him watch my videos all the time when he was little.

Nova wanted to take me EVERYWHERE, even outside to go potty. Apparently, her usual custom is to drop her stuffy at the door before going outside, but she insisted on carrying me in her mouth outside while she did her business. Ooooooookay! Then she took me to her private quarters (aka her brother’s bunk bed) and we spent some private time together, away from all the other stuffies. Can you imagine? We just MET and already I am in the Queen’s bed. I could tell the other stuffies were sooooo jealous. I just KNEW that this was the type of woman who loved to hear “I love you” on a first date!

The only trouble now is that I am not sure Nova is ever going let me leave. She told me she wants to keep me as a permanent member of her court, which we both know is not what’s meant to be. I heard her lady-in-waiting telling her that soon I will need to move on to other Tripawds. I am a travelin’ man, you know. Nova understands although I can tell her heart is broken. We really had something going. But duty calls, to both of us. Her duty is to be Queen, and mine is to meet, love, and be abused by as many Tripawds as I can.

Nova and I had one last sweet night together that we both will treasure forever. And she told me that she knew just the perfect place to send me next. So I will be hitting the road very, very soon.

Thanks for the wonderful memories, sweet Queen Nova! All Hail Queen Nova! Dog Save the Queen!

Before Barney headed out for his first stop on the Killbarney Tour, he made a stop in Newport Beach to meet up with a few Tripawds members, including miracle dog Maximutt and his pack.

The first stop on the Killbarney Tour was a visit to the beach with Caira Sue in California …

Caira Sue received a coffee pot in the mail. It wasn’t really a coffee pot. It was Barney, hiding in a coffee pot box!

Barney came to visit us, so we thought we would take him to one of Caira’s favorite places to go. Sherman Island.

I don’t think he realized Caira Sue was going too. He attempted to hide a few times, but she found him anyway. At one point it looked like Adam and she were going to pull that guy from limb to limb! Another time it appeared that Caira was heading into the water to drown him. Poor Barney. But then something amazing happened – Barney levitated! No really! He did!

Caira finally lost interest in Barney and started playing with her ball…Barney got to sit on the sidelines and watch…I think I heard him sigh with relief.

He may have sighed too soon, however. When we were almost to the car, Caira grabbed Barney from my hands and ran across the street to the rocks! It was like she was saying “This creature isn’t getting back in the car with us!!!” She bounced him all over the rocks, and had Adam and I laughing til tears were coming down our faces. It was the funniest thing, ever!

Adam said that we now understand why the blog is called Killbarney.

Who’s next?