End-of-Year Excitement

December became a very exciting month for Foo at his house. His favorite author, Victoria J. Hyla, got published with her first book, In Death We Part; he got to watch the Texans make it into the NFL playoffs for the first time; and he found a new Texan fan who was just his size and dressed even crazier.

Texans Foo-tball Fan

Next to nature shows, Foo's favorite thing to watch is Texans Football... partially because his  name is in "football" and partially because he has a really cool Texans outfit and platform so he doesn't miss a single play.

Put Me in Coach!

Meet the only person who is a bigger Texans fan than Foo. Jonathan always comes dressed to watch the game, but Foo is ready to play! Foo makes an excellent linebacker!

Foo-Tube

Ever since the TV was set up outside on the back porch, it has been nearly impossible to get Foo to stop watching TV. He particularly likes nature shows about lions. He's kind of a remote hog. Honestly... you could lose a finger trying to get those things from him.

Execute Him!

Because of Foo's deplorable, carnivorous behavior toward the centaur, Foo was set to be executed in the town square not only for that, but for being a slobbering rodent. At the last minute, he apologized to everyone, and luckily they let him go home.

Centaurs Are Friends, Not Food

Foo hadn't realized how hungry he was until he went to get his picture taken with this centaur. Needless to say, it didn't end well. There was blood, lots of it, before the authorities got involved. He needs to remember to eat lunch next time.

How Llama Are You?

Foo is not llama at all, in spite of the fact he always attracts them. This one wanted to get a little personal, but luckily his friend Beans was there to get him quickly to safety.

Noble Accessory

Foo continued meeting new and interesting people at the Texas Renaissance Festival, including this quiet, ghostly lady in blue who really wanted to take Foo home with her, but he had other plans.

Favor for Foo

As the knights prepared dutifully for their joust, Foo requested a favor from his favorite knight. Sadly, the knight blew him off in favor of a pretty young maiden. Happily, the knight proceeded to get skewered during the joust.

Barbaric Bravery

Foo was so happy to find his friend, Beans, thanks to the helpful garden mermaid! As soon as he did, his luck continued and they were led bravely back to the festival by this resourceful barbarian who knew exactly where to take them!

Mermaid Rescue

During Foo's search for his way out of the gardens, he ran into a really helpful mermaid who apparently could swim in the ground. She held him up high and blew her magic shell horn, and lo and behold, Foo found some friends again!

Foo-mily Reunion!

Like he seems to do everywhere he goes, Foo found another one of his cousins in the garden. The big golden brethren tried his best to get Foo to stay and play a while longer, but he really needed to get out and back to the Texas Renaissance Festival. He knew there was more to see.

Thar Be Dragons Here!

As he frolicked merrily through the garden at the Texas Renaissance Festival, Foo stumbled upon this magical dragon. Immediately, they became fast friends, and the dragon agreed to take Foo on a wild ride around the forest and garden.

The trip was fun, but at the end, Foo had lost his way and couldn't find his way out again.

Foo-sel and Gretel

While walking through the magic gardens at the Texas Renaissance Festival, Foo came upon a glittering house made for Foo. He was wary about the house at first, remembering the tale of Hansel and Gretel, but one quick lick determined that it was, indeed, not made out of candy.

Big Foo-t?

On Foo's adventure in the magic gardens at the Texas Renaissance Festival, he waged a battle of wits and weaponry for a day and a night before victoriously stumping and thus defeating this gigantic beast that tried to stomp Foo into oblivion. (It was actually no match for the mighty Foo, but he requested the story because it was better for the blog.)

Metal Tree... Very Pretty

... and the metal flower is sweet, but Foo found out that the fruit from the metal tree was impossible to eat. When he found this tree in the magic gardens at the Texas Renaissance Festival, Foo almost chipped a tooth trying to eat the fruit before others were able to pry him off.

Arrrrrrrrrrrgh! Thar Be Pirates!

Foo took no heed of this silly sign at the Texas Renaissance Faire. Foo wondered just how scary can pirates be if they're all cute and fluffy like this??

But then Foo met THIS pirate lass and he had to revise his opinion of pirates.... scary... no... intimidating... a little bit, yeah...

Foo Kilt It

Foo insisted that only real men wear kilts, so he promptly found a Foo-size version and proved he looked very dashing in the tartan plaid.

Foo looked so good that he even convinced his good friend Jonathan to try one on as well. Och aye, stopping wondering what they're wearing under them!

Shake Your Money Maker

Foo disagrees that money doesn't grow on trees, especially after finding this one that was sprouting 20s... Oh wait... it's already a dead tree, but it's covered in vines.... Foo recants his previous statement. Money doesn't grow on trees after all. It grows on vines!

Stick it to 'Em

Foo was honored to be able to get a picture with the Rare Texas Stick Fish. It was truly unlike any stick... er... fish he'd ever seen. Ignoring protests, he licked it and remarked that it tasted a bit woody.

Brewing Up Good Times

As Foo tends to be a beer divining rod, he bee-lined for the authentic beer brewery at the Texas Renaissance Festival. Oh did it smell good, and they were selling beer that Foo loved to say: RAHR!

Dragon-Parrot Foo

Foo and his good friend, Beans, met a man with a fine dragon parrot at the Texas Renaissance Festival. The foursome fast became friends, but Foo and the dragon seemed to have their own language so it kind of left everyone else out of the conversation.

Skyline a la Shedd

Foo thinks this is one of the best views of the Chicago skyline, and he's not wrong. Thrust out into Lake Michigan, the Shedd Aquarium provides a great perspective of this beautiful city.

Order Up a Tux!

Foo was feeling just a bit underdressed when he met this group of finely tailored feathered friends. Regardless, his feet were feeling kind of happy. Cha cha cha.

Iguana Be Friends

Foo really wanted to be friends with Iggy the Iguana, but his bodyguards thought it would be best for Foo to keep his distance so he wouldn't be lunch.

Jeeper Creeper

Foo was having a great time at the aquarium, checking out all the fish and other things, but he had a funny feeling he was being watched...

Fish Foo-d?

The sheer size of some of the fish made Foo really, really glad they were trapped behind glass and not able to snack on Foo, especially because these two looked a bit hungry.

That Sucks!

Foo thought it was absolutely hilarious that all this fish does is suck!!!! Yeah... he went there. 

Fish-Zilla

At first Foo thought the Shedd Aquarium people were just telling a bunch of fishermonger tales and putting up fake examples of these giant fish that swim in the fresh-water lakes.

But then he actually saw one for real... a real live arapaima. Now that's a keeper!!

Robo Fish

Foo liked going to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, but for the longest time, all he could find were mechanical fish.

Stone Man and the Fish

Foo was very excited to make his first visit to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago! After seeing this statue at one of the entrances, he just wants to tell people that you can love your fish, but just don't love your fish. It can't be good for the children...

Foo Hits Rock Bottom

Foo was so excited to be back in the Chicagoland area for a little while that he hit one of his old haunts, Rock Bottom. He sucked down some beers and ripped into the delicious Ballpark Pretzels. Yum, yum.

Gotta Drink It to Ride

Foo was fascinated to find out that this tie-dyed Rolls Royce could be his... if he redeems 200,000 Saint Arnold six-pack holders. He's got about 150, and bound and determined to reach his goal!

Brewery of Brotherly Love

While at the Saint Arnold Brewery, Foo met some fun and funky new friends from Philadelphia in for a brewery visit and a Phillies game.

All was well until everyone went a little crazy and wanted to lick him and kiss his butt. Aside from a little feeling of being violated, it's nice to meet new people.

Saint Foo's Brew

With the beer warm and nummy in his tummy, Foo went on a tour of the facility to see how the beer was made. Each of these receptacles is named after a saint. Some real, some for fun. He's petitioning now for the St. Foo name to go on the next one.

Foamy, Beery Goodness

Foo enjoyed himself a few glasses of the excellent Saint Arnold beer in the excellently appointed German-style beer hall at the brewery. It made for a happy Foo Dog.

Bar Bar Bar Bar

Foo was super crazy excited to get beer from Saint Arnold himself! 

He was a little miffed to discover that Saint Arnold wasn't actually going to be doing the pouring, but he accepted and enjoyed the beer all the same.

Beer Chips!

At first, Foo misunderstood the concept of why they gave him chips for his beer at the Saint Arnold Brewing Company. He complained a lot about the lack of salt even after learning what they were for.

It wasn't until he saw the bar in its glowy warm halo of light that it really dawned on him that they weren't snacks and could be redeemed for liquid gold.

All Hail Saint Arnold

Upon entering the Saint Arnold Brewery, Foo was greeted warmly by the Patron Saint of Brewers himself. As legend has it, in July 642, the parishioners of Metz, France, went to recover the remains of Saint Arnold from Remiremont to bring back to their town. It was very hot, and they had little to drink and the terrain was inhospitable.

When the exhausted procession was about to leave a city on the way, one of the parishioners prayed, “By his powerful intercession the Blessed Arnold will bring us what we lack.”

Immediately the small remnant of beer at the bottom of a pot multiplied into such amounts that the pilgrims' thirst was quenched, and they had enough to enjoy the next evening when they arrived in Metz.

Needless to say, Foo worshipped the ground beneath his portrait.

This Brew's for Foo

Foo just had to check out Houston's best craft brewery, the Saint Arnold Brewing Company. Not only is it the best, it's the oldest in its class.

Smiley Kyleah!

Foo loves visiting with family, and Jonathan's niece, Kyleah, just loved playing with Foo.

Sub-stitution Solution

After being thwarted at getting onto the U.S.S. Lexington battleship, Foo commandeered this interesting-looking sea-going vessel only to realize that there was no water anywhere to be found.

Oh What a Feeling...

... to be dancing on the ceiling. Clearly somebody had a good time, but Foo was rather perplexed that they would do this activity in a bathroom...