The Joy of Mystery - Undercover Duckies in a Fountain

Ever since I was recruited to be a professional undercover duckie operative by my very own Purple Patrick Duckie, I've had to become versed in pretty much all tactics that rubber duckie operatives might engage in to get intel, run an operation, or "blend in". I've also had to go ahead and train Mommy in some of the basics just so she can survive and not get too freaked out when my rubber duckies go all "007" on her. Although I'm pretty sure Mommy is oblivious to the "spy games" my duckies and I sometimes play, and she's safe from any rogue mischief, I might have to re-evaluate my thoughts on her involvement in things. Duckie adventure, it seems, is following her.

A few days ago, Mommy and Grammy were spied on when they had to go "out of town" to an undisclosed business establishment for a very important appointment. They'd traveled an hour and a half in the pouring rain. It was thundering, it was lightening, and the rain fell like sheets of...rain. Mommy pulled up into the parking lot of the establishment in which they had an appointment, right in front of a large running water fountain. I don't mean the kind you drink out of, I mean the kind you throw a nickel in and make a wish.
They had arrived early and the business establishment doors showed a sign saying they were still "closed for lunch". As they waited in the car for the place to open back up, Mommy recalled that she couldn't help but feel as though she was being watched. As she squinted through the dim light of the gray, rainy day, her eyes fell upon two figures wearing sunglasses and pasty smiles on their faces...staring at her.

Thanks to my training, it was obvious to Mommy right away what was going on...these were under cover duckies engaged in some covert operation. But why there? And why spy on Mommy? And where were my duckies?? All of these questions flooded Mommy's mind as she secretly took a few photos for me to analyze when she got home. As soon as the sunglasses wearing duckies locked eyes with Mommy, they knew they had been 'made' and immediately started swimming about the fountain acting all nonchalant as though everyone wears sunglasses on a pouring down rainy day AND goes swimming in a fountain in the rain. The only other thing those duckies needed was a soaking wet newspaper with eye holes in the center so they could pretend to read while spying on Mommy and Grammy. I'm sure no one would have noticed their little orange bills poking through the classifieds.
I don't know what those rubber duckies were up to, but I'm looking into it. If they were simply there to protect the building as security guards, they were doing a fine job of it. They had Mommy and Grammy a bit nervous and I'm pretty sure no one would want to 'cause trouble' with them conspicuously milling about. However, if they really are undercover duckies trying to spy on people...they really need to work on their 'duck and cover'.

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I'm taking part in the "Monday Mischief" blog hop, where pet bloggers share their fun, adventures and stories from the weekend. Visit some of the links below to read other stories of mischief, silliness and fun happening elsewhere around the world!

The Joy of Surprises: Operation Red Wagon with Purple Patrick Duckie

As you know, I adore my duckies with a passion that is beyond compare. We have lots of fun and adventures, but nothing could have prepared me for the adventure I'm about to share....
About a month ago one of my favorite duckies, Purple Patrick Duckie had been missing for a while. I'd looked and looked, but he was nowhere to be found. Then one day I was minding my own business tearing up an empty kleenex box (I love doing it & Mommy takes out the plastic liner first) when my missing purple Duckie Patrick shows up out of nowhere. He jumped into the box and told me to "just act normal" but let him "lay low" for a while in there. It turned out he was part of a covert operation called "Operation Red Wagon" and I was recruited to help out. He couldn't tell me anything further but I was now unwittingly up to my neck in it too. I looked around cautiously as I thought to myself, "Goodness knows what he's got himself into...and now I'm involved too!"

Purple Patrick Duckie and I hung out together acting as "normal" as possible, but then he suddenly "disappeared" again one afternoon. I had started wearing my purple spotted hoodie, that matches him perfectly, as a show of solidarity and support of his covert "Operation Red Wagon" that he had recruited me into. Details were still sketchy, but he was teaching me some things. On the very day he again disappeared, we had been practicing his now famous "duck and cover" technique, but he was acting a bit odd during practice...standing a little too close, commenting on how "comfy" my hoodie looked and saying that being invisible was a "state of mind". I had no idea what kind of existential mood he was in, and was too tired to try and keep up with what he might be inferring. I lay down for a nap after our covert "duck and cover" training, but when I awoke, Patrick Duckie was gone. I was upset that he didn't say goodbye, but just figured, "that's how it is when you're a covert duckie operative..."

Three days later, right after finding out about my scary ear lump and upcoming surgery (at the time it was the end if January), there was a faint knock at the door. Mommy insisted I be the one to answer it. There sat Purple Patrick Duckie with Minkie Duckie (Pinkie Tuskadero Duckie's sister) by his side. I was so happy to see them both I didn't initially see what was behind them. We greeted each other with love and then Patrick said, "Pixel, I have a surprise for you. Operation Red Wagon has one last critical stage that needs your help. Will you be a part of it's final success?" "Of course!" I exclaimed with excitement. I'm always there to help my friends, and I knew it had to be something of utter importance for him to be gone for so long. I told him I missed him and hated that he just up and disappeared on me. He promised never to do that again but that it was important that he do this operation in secret.

"Look behind me Pixel..." Patrick Duckie said. That is when I heard the low murmuring of little quacks here and there. Then I saw the most amazing sight my little duckie loving eyes had ever seen. A red wagon filled with a bunch of little rubber duckies that needed a home! "This is 'Operation Red Wagon' Pixel," Patrick Duckie said with delight.
I kissed Minkie Duckie and thanked her for helping greet them. They were all relatives of course. Can't you see the family resemblance? They'd been looking for a loving forever family home together and they found mine! I adopted every single one right on the spot.

I greeted each one and told them how much fun we'd have, what a nice place they were at now and what a great life they ALL would have with me and my family. They all seemed very excited, just like me. Mommy was kind enough to document the whole thing.

I checked around to make sure they were safe and then we all went inside for a nice dinner together.

This was truly one of the best surprises ever! I think I'm going to like these covert operations!!

I hope you enjoyed my "Operation Red Wagon" Tail of Adventure! Please leave a comment below and tell me what you think...
Happy Wordless Wednesday friends!! This blog hop is hosted by my friends at BlogPaws, and today's theme was "spoiling your pets" since February is "Spoil Your Pet month. I do believe I've found my favorite month...

Pixel Blue Eyes Celebrates the Joy of Rubber Duckie Day...ALL WEEK LONG!

HAPPY NATIONAL RUBBER DUCKIE DAY!!
Okay, officially it was January 13th, but to me, it's not just a day, it's a state of mind, so I'm celebrating National Rubber Duckie Day for an entire week!
I celebrate rubber duckies unlike many others you might know. Rubber duckies are my friends. I have many rubber duckies. I celebrate each of them for their uniqueness. I started out with one, and then the family grew. The one pictured with me here is Pinkie Tuskadero Duckie. She and I play together a lot, but I also play with her brothers Little Duck Blue and Green Day Duckie.
Do you know the history of Rubber Duckie Day? It is the birthday of Sesame Street's Ernie's famous Rubber Duckie. Isn't that cool? Learn more interesting Rubber Duckie Facts at www.rubaduck.com.

I started out with a beloved purple duckie named Purple Duckie. He was my very first one. We played and played all the time for a year, then one day he just...broke in half. It was sad and tragic. I moped for days...weeks. Mommy searched and searched for his family, and then one day they showed up! It was so wonderful, and that very day I made up my mind to never let another duckie fall like purple duckie again.

So, I used my nursing skills and Mommy's surgeon skills and we started a Duckie Hospital for injured duckies. That is how I still have Pinkie with me. That story I will be sharing later...but we did save her life. This photo is her right before her surgery last month.
Let me show you just how much I enjoy my rubber duckie friends. We have such fun together! I've created the BEST game, it's like a puzzle game, Mommy doesn't even know the rules, it's so advanced, but the duckies know. They love it! Here's a video of me and Little Duck Blue playing together:

I hope you leave today with a greater appreciation for the Joy of Rubber Duckies. Have fun celebrating the Joy of Rubber Duckies with me. Do you have a rubber duckie story to share? I'd love to hear about it!
This is a #WordlessWednesday Hop! Hosted by my friends at BlogPaws. Click on some links below to see what other pets are doing on this fine Wordless Wednesday.

Pixel & Pinkie Duckie Try Avoiding Temptation in the New Year

We all have our weaknesses...mine is food that seems lonely. I just want to give it a nice home with me. I'm working hard at not giving in to that temptation in 2015. I've already faltered once when Mommy walked away from her yummy sandwich for a moment. I thought she left it for me. I thought wrong. It was a harrowing 5 minutes as I had to sit on the hassock and "think about what I had done" in a "time out" in which I was not allowed back on the bed with her. Separation from Mommy can be brutal. After the five minutes, I offered her my lunch to eat, but she declined. I apologized, she forgave me & we snuggled together for some time. I do hate those times of weakness.

So, after that now infamous "Mommy Sandwich Snatching Incident", I'm looking temptation in the eyes (or in the bag of treats) and saying, "No more!" Besides, I've found that looking cute while sitting close to my Auntie while SHE eats guarantees me a few bites of whatever she's eating that is dog safe... Mommy had NO idea this was going on til she saw it the other morning. I'd better make sure she doesn't see that again or my treat ticket right there will dry up! Now where was I? Oh yes, looking temptation in the eyes...

"...NO Pinkie Tuskadero Duckie, I will NOT "split the bag of Rice Chex treats with you 50/50". I can't believe you are asking me that. How can you even think that?"
"... You know you'd never be able to eat more than 20%." 

Happy late #WordlessWednesday friends!! This is a blog hop, hosted by my friends at BlogPaws. Check out some of my fellow pet bloggers by clicking the links below and see what they are doing in the early new year! Care to link up with the hop? Instructions are below....