Ex- U.S. Army Andy Popa stated, “I’d like to support the cause.” When we conversed on Linked In. He thought that the idea of Bud & Roo was a fantastic idea! He wanted his daughter to have a signed copy of the book so he got in touch!
Here is Lisa, his 8 year old daughter waiting for her copy of Bud & Roo’s Spectacular Adventures- The Beach.
I am looking forward to hearing back on what she thought!
It looks like she’s an advid reader!
I remember having a conversation with my younger sister whilst she was visiting from the states. We were sitting at the long, large table in our family country kitchen. My sister snapped, “Don’t get a dog, Jessica!”
“Wait until the children are older- like 7 when they could help out with the walking.” I distinctively remember that the conversation was a bit heated for some unusual reason. I didn’t take any notice. If anything having a dog is easier than having children because dogs don’t talk back!
We were initially discussing the fact that I wanted to move closer to my family now that I had children. I come from a very close -knit family who are very supportive of each other. When my sister suggested that advice I could understand where she was coming from. She thought it would be too tricky to have a dog in the present situation as it might be problematic in the future when we wanted to move back home.
But, have you ever really rationally made a decision when had your mind set on something? I am sure there are some head-strong thinkers out there?!
I turned to her and said, “I am getting a dog because I am lonely.”
I never had children to fill a void in my life. I never dated any odd men to a fill a void in my life. (Girls just wanna have fun, hey?) However, growing up with animals since the age of three I quickly learned the benefits that often come with them when being constantly at your side. Living in the UK away from my family has not been easy for me especially given the fact that I have not been home in 7 years. This makes me feel very disheartened at times and instead of filling my void with a younger boyfriend, I decided to get a dog. I thought that would be the most sensible thing given the fact that I am married with three gorgeous children. I thought if I could have a companion, such as a dog, with me it would make the long, grey winter days seem shorter and feeling uncertain about my current relationship in a more positive way. And, like anything else it worked for a period of time.
In the book, The Attachment to Pets, psychologist pick through the benefits of having a dog. One benefit of having a pet is how the human brain reacts to touch. When petting your dog or cat endorphins from your brain are released which makes people feel happy. Whenever, I squash Buddy the Beagle’s ears it makes be feel warm inside… those are the endorphins being released. Every time he jumps up on me and says ‘hello, I’ve missed you’ as he waggles his tail it makes me happy. Again, endorphins are released making me feel happy. Afterall, love is the name of the drug. 
When the girls are over-tired and need some quiet time I could see it in their eyes how calm and at peace they feel when they are petting Buddy. It is a beautiful and satisfying thing to witness. And, it makes me happy that I have created that for them. I have taught them about unconditional love in a way that many non-pet owners cannot do. I have taught them how to love all of Nature’s Creatures and show compassion for those that live in it.
Months later I got a What’s App message from my sister. She sent me a picture of D.O.G. Dee O. Gee was her new dog. I sort of chuckled to myself. After all of this time she told me NOT to get a dog, she went out and found herself one!
Did she finally understand the benefits of having a dog?
Life is difficult enough having a husband. Add children into the mix and it’s well… sometimes over-rated. I haven’t had a facial in 7 years. Talk about a luxury. I haven’t seen the gym in 2 years. I haven’t slept in for 7 years. I haven’t gone to the bathroom with the door closed in 7 years. I have aged at least 10 years. And, I have been cleaning up poopie diapers for 6 years. Although, I must say as I was just helping my three-year old in the loo just one moment ago, at least children learn how to wipe their own backsides… eventually. With dogs, you’re continually cleaning up after them. It is an endless battle of using the pooper scooper (or using recycled Waitrose bags), vacuuming dog hair, wiping eyes and ears and the constant deodorising. Let’s face it. It’s what my children are going to be doing for me once I am a geriatric. Hey- what goes around comes around!
But, even though parents are broke half of the time when they have children it is still worth it; tired eyes and all. I wouldn’t change it for the world. It is what I wanted out of life and I always knew that. As for Buddy the Beagle- he came as quite the surprise. I knew I wanted a dog for our family. I wanted my children to grow up with a pet as I always did. My husband never grew up with a dog so he didn’t know what to expect. To his dismay, Buddy has grown on him completely. Plus, he does make a lovely companion when he wants to ‘go walk the dog’ down to the local watering hole.
I chose the Beagle because when I googled what sort of dog would fit into our lifestyle ‘Beagle’ came up in the search engine. I liked the fact that he was a medium-sized dog and that he shed very little. He has almost no dander which is good because I suffer from allergies. I like to go running and when he was old enough he could go running with me which sounded perfect.
What I didn’t know was that his nose ruled over everything and of course food followed next. When the park is very busy he needs to be on the lead because all of those wonderful smells throws out everything he’s been taught not to do at home. When I recall ‘Come’ I have to also shout ‘and watch your food!’ My husband gets so embarrassed (as I make HIM walk over to strangers to apologize)!
But, I don’t mind that Buddy is this way. We as a family have learned that this is how HE is. He is part of our family. We as individuals are NOT perfect in any way (I am most of the time, joke) and we accept each other as individuals within our family. Buddy doesn’t differentiate. The girls love him so much. And, he has many, many furry friends who come over to play with him. He is happy. After his long walk today to the park, pub for a drink and back he is sleeping sound on his little ottoman. And, yes… he has a smile on his face.
He is my only little boy and he is quite the lad. He likes to dance to a different beat as do I, my husband and each one of my kids. We are a unique family who is in love with a unique breed. He is not hyper or crazy in any way. He knows what he ‘should’ be doing, but he likes to press the boundaries. (I wonder where he gets that from?)
Buddy the Beagle makes us happy and being happy is the most important possession to have in life. When my girls are tired and they need that special hug they chill with Buddy on the couch. When my husband wants to get away from the thick of it all he ‘walks the dog’. When I am sitting here alone on the couch when my husband works late, Buddy is laying on my lap keeping me company. He is a top dog and we wouldn’t change him for the world.
Buddy & Bell- Here is little three month year old Buddy the Beagle learning how to walk off of the lead. He was really good until he got wiff of the sheep! It is something that is innate for him to chase after sheep. He probably could have been trained to help the farmer. But, instead we worked on his recall which is pretty good I think for a Beagle. If you give him his freedom he will always come back. He is just like man. I have learned a lot about my husband since having Buddy. After all, he’s the only little boy I have ever lived with and people are always referring to men as ‘dogs.’
Here is Sophs walking Buddy on the lead. He was three months here as well. It was nice for the kids to walk Buddy. After all, we got Buddy on Soph’s Birthday so it’s technically her dog. When he got a bit bigger he would only nip at her heels and no one else. She would scream, “Stop it, Buddy.” She would never put him in his place. But, she has learned to do that now which is great for her. And, he always sneaks up in the middle of the night and jumps on her bed to sleep. It is so important to have my children grow up with a pet. And, Buddy now 1 year and 3 months is getting better at learning. He is pulling less on his lead, listening better and of course pressing the boundaries even more. But, that’s life. And, it’s a good life. Life should be about Buddy chewing Soph’s Barbie doll and Buddy chasing the girls in a circle to get them to play with him.
I remember my first dog, Gretchen. She was a Doberman. The most gentle, gorgeous looking dog. I have pictures of me sitting on top of her like a horse. She was our guard dog.
I remember one day my cousin Angelique (who is British) hit me when we were playing. She was like 8 years old so that’s what kids do. Gretchen turned around and bit her on her shoulder. I could remember to this day round teeth marks on her arm and me thinking ‘Damn, right! Biache. Don’t mess with me!’ Although I was like four so probably didn’t use those exact words. But you get the gist. Buddy would never do anything like that as he is no gaurd dog; however, he does bark when he hears noises which makes us all feel safe.
This is me. Jessica Valentine. I have three kids. I am an American. I have lived within the UK for 7 years. And, it has not been easy. I married a Brit whom I met in NYC. We had some good times in Manhattan. I used to have shiny hair, I used to have a relaxed look on my face. Now, I always have a worried look on my face with wrinkles between my eyes, sort of like my dog Buddy. I referred myself to now looking like a deer with its head caught in a headlight.
I am an educated woman. Too many educational degrees under my belt that England doesn’t take seriously. I have struggled for 7 years here. It has been like living in a third world country for me (and excuse me if I offend, because I always do). I’ve had to dry my clothes in the smallest dryer outside in the barn, hang my laundry on the line, wash my clothes in the smallest washing machine, penny pinch, shop at charity shops because I have to not because I want to, be taxed on everything i.e. tv, cars, the Queen etc. The cost of living here is extortionate and because I have not been brought up here I know a different life. Although, it doesn’t help to have had strangers bad mouth me saying things like ‘All you Americans are the same’ as well as teachers say ‘you know how the Americans are’ (even though neither of those people have EVER even set soil in America. note: these comments were unprovoked!
Even though I have made a lot of friends here in St. Albans as well as Reading where I used to live I have found that people lose themselves after getting married and having children here. They don’t remember who they were before kids. But, then again… maybe they were the same before kids. Boring, dull, moody and drink too much. Yes, I like to drink my fair share, but I am not anxious or negative afterward. It is very difficult to raise a family when you’re not anywhere near your family. My family is speckled throughout the United States. And, yes at times it is very lonely. That is why I have my little man, Buddy!
I have had work jobs just to get by such as working at a gym, dog watching and blog writing that are a bit out of character. Don’t get me wrong, blog writing is what I am doing right now and many, many people do it. But, it requires a lot of time for very little money.
At the end of the day, I may be outspoken, opinionated, forward thinking… but what I am not is an asshole, unkind or unloving. I am a loyal, hard-working individual with many short term and long term goals and I have a vision for my family. I want my family to be happy. And as a family unit I think we would be very happy in a warmer climate by the beach.
I have had so many English people say rude things about Americans, I’ve had an English mother lash out at me in the Watford, Harlequin because she thought I cut the queue. You can read that story on my Hertfordshire Life Blog. I will save that for another book. But, I can assure the English readers this.. no matter what country you come from you WILL ALWAYS be accepted in America. And, no one would ever put you down or throw out slander to your face (or your back). It is not what America is about. But, for those English or even South African people who think they know so much about America (and have NEVER been there) you are greatly mistaken.
Do not judge someone unless you’ve walked in their shoes. And, lighten up! Life is too short to be so boring!
Likes: sun, beach, my children, my dog, love, good hair, sense of humour, confidence, grass in between my toes, fresh breath
Dislikes: ignorant people, mean people, bad skin, unkind gossiping, picking up other dog’s doo doo (but I would do if for my favourites), fake linoleum flooring in bare feet
Favourite Author: Charles Bukowski
If I were on a deserted island I would need: My black specs, lip balm, bananas, cold fresh water to drink, a man
Favourite Music: anything Bob Marley, Kings of Leon, U2, 80′s Brit, Indie
Jobs I’ve had: pizza maker, bartender, make- up artist, retail in clothing, merchandiser for magazines, wanna be DJ (yes, you can get paid to play CD’s at parties in NYC), a server Applebees (worst job ever), swim teacher, lifeguard, mortgage broker, beer tub girl, server, teacher, dog watcher, babysitter (I was the world’s worst babysitter I used to smoke loads of cigarettes before I had to get there), mowed lawns, writer, psychologist, mother (fo’ life)
Jessica Valentine is in the Canton, Repository On Line.
Former Canton author Jessica Valentine said she was prompted by her own children — ages 3, 5, and 6 — to write a children’s book.
“They inspired me,” she said in an email, “as well as my little boy Beagle, Buddy. He is always getting himself into trouble going on spectacular adventures!”
Valentine, a Walsh University graduate and former St. Thomas Aquinas High School substitute teacher who now lives in England, wrote “Bud & Roo’s Spectacular Adventures — The Beach.” The book is illustrated by Suzy Jones Biggar.
The author and illustrator have self-published the book through Bugle Boy Publishing, but are looking into publishers in the United States to circulate the book in America.
The book retails for $10.99, and it can be purchased from the authors by emailing info@bugleboypublishing.com or by ordering through bookstores.
Valentine said that sales of the book are also being used as a school fund-raising program in England.
“For every book that a school sells, they receive 20 percent to use for school supplies, technology, sports equipment or whatever they wish.” she explained. “We want to remain active within our community and that is how we are giving back.”
The book is aimed at children 5 and younger, said Valentine.
There is something about a dog and how they like to sleep off of the ground. Is it about empowerment?
Here is a picture of our little Buddy. He is sleeping in our old house in a chair. Funnily enough, he doesn’t sleep in the same chair as he’s not allowed. He sleeps on the matching ottoman.
From the first time I layed my eyes on Buddy napping I thought to myself ‘he even sleeps beautifully’. He is a gentle creature. The only thing that goes through his brain are: food, play, love, and running. He loves to smell things. He is drawn by his scent. I know people are probably saying ‘all Beagles are that way’. But, I am that way. I have a very sensitive nose. If something is smelly my face screws up and if something smells nice I am definitely interested.
Some smells I like are BBQ ribs, my mother’s sauce cooking on the stove, nice smelling perfume or cologne (especially on a good-looking man) and the saltiness in the air at the beach. Some new smells that I like are my children’s hair, Buddy’s fur and Nan bread baking in the oven.
Some smells I do not like are cigarette smoke (I am a reformed smoker) and stale beer. A smell that I really can’t stand is the trace of a dirty mop on the floor. Stale. Stale. Stale.
Buddy enjoys smells of similar distinction. He enjoys ALL food smells both great and small, all feces such as sheep and horse as well as chickens (gross!). He has gotten better with chickens as he’s gotten older. But, never forgiven by my nosey neighbor as Buddy once killed one of her baby chicks in her house (which I still don’t believe because I never saw the evidence till this day).
Smells that Buddy doesn’t like. None.
He only sniffs on the ground when he is outside. It not only acts as his fingers, but as a memory. Think about it. Have you ever smelled something and then it took you back to that time? That is how Buddy works.
Did you know that dogs can smell smells that were left 20 years ago? Crazy.
So, here is the beginning to a beautiful and interesting relationship with Buddy the Beagle. My only little boy that I will ever have.
Buddy the Beagle was born a celebrity.
Buddy has always been very special. When our eyes first met I said to my husband, “Can we keep him? I love him!” I knew right then he belonged with us forever. The smell of his furry coat permeated through my nostrils up into my brain where it fizzled into fireworks. I just wanted to bite his ear and squash him I loved him so much. His ears were so long and his body was smaller than his head. He definitely had to grow into his head! Buddy’s personality was already present. He is quite the scaredy cat. And, very sensitive. He wants to go on lots of adventures, but he knows he shouldn’t. And, he wants to do it very discreetly so he doesn’t get caught.
After scraping up all of the money I had to purchase our new puppy I picked him up and I said to him, “Come here, my buddy.” I gave him a big cuddle and a kiss on his nose. The breeder’s daughter who was doing the handover said to me that Buddy sounded like a good name. And, we all agreed.
On our way out from the mini house or trailer the woman asked me if I knew who Bobby George was the dart player. You know, Mr. Bling. I said no. She mentioned on my way out that his wife bred Buddy as well as Dachshund. I told her that will be a fantastic story that my husband could tell everyone down at the pub.
