Tupper’s Top Five Favorite Things About Basketball v. 2015

Hanging out on my throne in the stands at the half, waiting for some scratchies.

This article originally appeared in the March 5 issue of The Archway, Bryant’s student newspaper.

To say that I love basketball is an understatement. Well, if I’m being completely honest, I love all sports in which a ball is being thrown around and might come tantalizingly close to my jaws.

You may have noticed that I often walk around with some sort of ball in my mouth. If you mentioned that fact to my mom, she might have told you that I refuse to move WITHOUT my ball. Hey, everybody’s got their “thing,” right? Someone who’s insecure about their intellect might always talk about grades…someone who’s insecure about looks might post, like, a THOUSAND selfies a day.

Me? I KNOW I’m smart and beautiful. And charming. And humble…BOL! Some people speculate that I like to suckle on a ball because I was taken from my bulldog ma too soon, but that’s definitely not the case – I lived with my bulldog mom till I was 16 weeks old. That’s twice as long as most puppies! Most of my bulldog friends (I got tons on Twitter, IG, and FB!) like to suckle on blankets or stuffed animals, too.

Anyway, Bryant Basketball isn’t ALL about the ball. I present to you “Tupper’s Top Five Favorite Things About Bryant Basketball”:

5. BASKETBALL. I know I said it isn’t ALL about the ball. But it’s a little bit about it! I love to watch the players run up and down the court bouncing it. It’s mesmerizing. Still waiting for someone to bounce it my way.

4. DRIBBLING. Glad to know I’m not the only one who does this. Dribbling, I mean. Oh…Ma says it’s a different kind of dribbling. Wait…so I’m still the only one drooling at the games? Ma says other people might be drooling figuratively for different reasons, but I’m the only one who does so literally. That’s cool. I’ve always been a rebel.

3. POPCORN. Sometimes, I’ll drop the ball when someone lets their kid carry his or her own popcorn ‘cuz that stuff goes EVERYWHERE when little kids try to walk and hold onto it at the same time!

2. MY THRONE. Do you see my throne in the picture? My Uncle DP made that for me. And he brings it to every game I go to so that I have someplace to sit because the benches are too narrow. Hey, my legs are too short to anchor me. It’s a ruff life being the mascot sometimes…BOL! My Uncle DP and Auntie Kristin are awesome. They are not only MY fans – they’re fans of all Bryant athletics and huge supporters.

And my number one favorite thing about Bryant Basketball is:

1. PEOPLE. Tons of people and most want one thing: To scratch my bum. I approve.

So there you have it. Tupper’s Top Five Favorite Things About Bryant Basketball. Don’t forget – I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vine. Get at me! I’ll see you soon. ’Til next time…WOOF!

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BaconQuest

If you follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Vine, you already know I am ALWAYS on the hunt for bacon. I call it my personal BaconQuest.

Sometimes, such as the day before a major holiday, the bacon seeks ME out!

Here’s how it breaks down:

1) Ma wakes me up from my restful slumber

Oh, hey…here to rub my belly, Ma?

2) I sense a pork-product disturbance in the atmosphere

Holy mother of Porky! What do I smell?

3) My sniffer’s working overtime

Just a tiny edge of this treat is visible!

4) I’m actually moving…into “treat-receiving” position

OMNOMNOM! GIMME, GIMME, GIMME!

5) Being told I have to wait…WAIT?? Do you know who I am??

What? Stay still? IMPOSSIBLE!

6) Making a grab for it

Faster than a speeding bullet when bacon is involved!

7) SUCCESS! BaconQuest fulfilled for today. I shall start my quest shortly for tomorrow…

YES! The most flavorful treat around!

Tupper’s Tidbits – Top Five Reasons For Giving Thanks

This article originally appeared in the November 15, 2012, issue of The Archway.

Less picture-taking, more belly rubbing!

I have been around the block a couple of times now…I know that the third week in November is a special time of year. When it comes to students, they’re most grateful for time off from school. And the rest of you humans are grateful for time off from work … don’t deny it; you know you are!

Well, I don’t have to take mid-terms or write papers or give presentations. Nor do I have deadlines and schedules. When I go to campus, it’s all about strutting my stuff and getting scratches for being so darn adorable. I LOVE IT!

One thing we can all agree on, though, is that we may sometimes take things for granted and this is possibly the one time we all take a moment and think about how lucky we are. With Thanksgiving around the corner, I present “Tupper’s Top Reasons for Giving Thanks”:

Bulldog Buggy!

5. I HAVE A ‘BULLDOG BUGGY’! Hey, let’s keep it real. The campus is 428 acres. That’s a lot of ground to cover. I see you guys moving around campus in your gas-powered buggies. My legs aren’t even 1/8^th as long as yours!

4. THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS! Tradition in the Senecal house: All the scraps left on people’s plates get redistributed into our doggie dishes. OMNOMNOM! Gravy makes me so happy!

Amaze-balls!

3. MY BALL SUPPLY IS RESTOCKED! You can probably count the number of times that you’ve seen me without a ball in my mouth on one hand. Momma calls it my “puppy pacifier.” Special thanks to Bryant’s Alumni Relations Office and the Student Alumni Association for keeping me swimming in balls… 🙂

2. I AM THE BRYANT MASCOT!  I can’t even imagine being a regular dog now! When I hear applause, I assume it’s for me (isn’t it, though?) Our students are the best. They dedicate a lot of time to community service, including about 300 of them recently writing “Thank You” cards to members of our armed forces overseas this holiday season. I love them!

And the number one reason I give thanks:

1. THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE ME! Whether it’s my Momma reading me a bedtime story, students rubbing my belly and high-fiving me, or (my personal favorite) people who show their love by feeding me, I am fortunate to be surrounded by people who love me. I’m not the only one, though. So are you…I guarantee it!

So there you have it. Tupper’s Top Five Reasons for Giving Thanks. Don’t forget – I’m on Facebook and Twitter. Get at me! ’Til next time…WOOF!

Where in the world is Tupper? (Part 3)

In our last post, we left Mini-Tupper on the plane, headed to London, England…

*STRETCH* Oh boy! The parents and Mini-Tupper finally touched down at Heathrow Airport. There’s just not enough room on the plane, Mini-Tupper confided to me. Especially because Daddy Del kept taking HIS arm rest!

And, of course, their luggage wasn’t on the carousel. “Too tired,” grumbled MT (Mini-Tup), “let’s just head to the hotel.” So they boarded a shuttle to Le Méridien Piccadilly, right in the heart of London’s West End.

“Wot??? Our hotel is in the middle of Piccadilly CIRCUS??” said MT. “How are we going to sleep with the elephants and lions and loud music?” Silly Mini-Tup! Piccadilly Circus is like Times Square in NYC. It’s THE place to be with lots of interesting things to see and places to visit. “Wanna check it out?” asked the parents.

Ahhh! This is the life! Is there room in the suitcase to take this home?

“Later,” he said around a yawn. “I need a relaxing bath and a nap…is there a spa in this place?”

They had to call the concierge…there were only two robes in the room initially. It was worth the wait, though, according to MT, because it was “like being surrounded by a fluffy cloud.”

Hey, I just met you…and this is crazy. But here’s my number…call me, maybe?

After his nap, MT wanted to check a few things out in Piccadilly Circus. As soon as he saw the phone booths, he realized he wanted to check in with Momma T and let her know all was well.

To Be Continued…

You’re all human to me

Somebody called me “fat” again today.

*Sigh* Sometimes, it feels like nobody understands me!

Once again, I was judged, and found to be lacking – or, in this case, too plentiful.

Sometimes, instead of just calling me fat, people will ask Momma if I’m overweight. And at least 25 percent of those don’t believe her when she says that I’m well within my healthy weight range. You can’t really say a healthy bulldog should weigh 50 pounds in the same way you can’t say a healthy human should weigh 150 pounds. A whole lotta things factor in – height, build, etc.

Here’s what some people don’t know: According to the Bulldog Club of America, bulldogs are bred to have a “massive, short-faced head,” a “heavy, thick-set, low-swung body,” a “very short” face and muzzle and a “massive” and “undershot” jaw.

Sound like anyone you know?

In the end, we don't really know why anybody does anything unless we ask them...

But I don’t get insulted when you call me names…especially as long as you’re scratching me! Maybe my Momma does, because she does so much to take care of me – I’m allergic to wheat, soy, barley, alfalfa, kelp, salmon, and peas, among other things. And those are just my food allergies! So the Mommas home cook my food for me. And they wash my face, paws, and tail every day. Allergies are a common affliction among bulldogs.

You think I’m lazy?

Momma carries me up and down stairs a lot. That’s because as a bulldog is growing, we can easily damage our joints and tendons because of the dense weight we put on our limbs. She probably doesn’t need to carry me anymore cuz I’m two, but she likes the workout!

She also recently found out that my paws were so inflamed because of my allergies that it’s painful for me to walk on them. So now I get Epsom salt foot soaks…just like Madge gives in the old Palmolive commercials!

You may have noticed that sometimes, I get pushed around in a stroller. Well, I’m not an exercise enthusiast, for the above reasons. Also I can overheat quite easily. Anything warmer than 60 degrees is really too warm for me to be engaging in any exercise at all.

I'm still so fly that I get all the girls!

I don’t expect you to know all this stuff, unless you have or have had bulldogs. That’s why I’m telling you… “engaging in dialogue,” and “actively seeking understanding across lines of difference” are part of pluralism, which is one step beyond diversity.

My “a-ha” moment was when I saw that Bryant is sponsoring the Sixth Annual “What is Pluralism?” Contest. That’s when I realized, “hmm…how would anyone KNOW why I do what I do unless I discuss it with them?” It’s so much better when we all participate and share our views, thoughts, and actions.

I encourage you to enter the contest if you are a member of the Bryant community. Don’t wait, do it now. All you have to do now is fill out a sheet of paper – they extended the deadline. If you can’t enter, you should still go to the contest on March 28 and see the entries. You will be moved.

Tupper’s Tidbits: Top Five Ways to Get Happy

This piece originally appeared in the Bryant University student newspaper, The Archway, on February 10, 2012

Pssst...come closer! I'll tell you the secrets to happiness!

Ahhh…Love is in the air! Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and with it comes the debate. *Imitating boxing ring announcer* In this cornerrrrrrr, we have the pro-Valentine’s people – lovers of love and those in a committed relationship…In this cornerrrrr, we have those opposed to crass commercialism, being forced to be romantic for one day, and witnessing mushy PDA by everyone around them.

But here’s the thing. According to the National Institutes of Health (“The Power of Love,” 2007), our bodies respond to love and affection through a hormone called “oxytocin.” Oxytocin does more than make us feel good. It lowers stress and blood pressure and improves our mood and increases tolerance for pain. Just remember, it doesn’t have to be another HUMAN and it doesn’t have to be romantic love that gets your oxytocin stimulated!

That brings me to “Tupper’s Top Five Ways to Get Happy.”

5. Work out. Now, I know that SOME of you think that ol’ Tuppy here doesn’t work out. But, throw my ball, and I’ll run as far as I need to, to get it, and I’ll be as quick as I need to, to keep it away from you. I have witnesses. And, I spend HOURS on Fridays playing with my four- and two-legged pals at Alpha Dog Center Dog Daycare in Cumberland.

4. Get out and enjoy nature. When *I* go out, I like to chase the ball and roll around in various interesting-smelling things. You might not have all of the same interests I do, though. There’s tons of stuff to do within a five- to 10-mile radius of campus, though. If you’re stumped, hit me up on Facebook or Twitter.

3. Listen to music. Upbeat stuff, though, not that whiny, depressing stuff. More than likely, Adele is not going to cheer you up…she’s phenomenal, don’t get me wrong, but I get more work as a therapy pet from people who put “Someone Like You” on repeat. Don’t do it to yourself. Seriously, I’m exhausted!

2. Get out and socialize. There are 80 clubs and organizations on campus…there must be SOMETHING you have an interest in. If not, you can start your own! Or, the Bryant Community Service Office can find places where you can volunteer. Making a difference feels so good!

Socializing with my pals Sara Larrabee '13 and Lisa Detweiler '12

1. Scratch me. I’m not kidding. The therapeutic effects of a pet are well-documented. My Momma Claire has a nonprofit organization that certifies pet-assisted therapy teams. Many hospitals, group homes, and schools are looking for such programs because the benefits are so varied. This is one of those win-win situations.

So there you have it. Don’t complain. Change what you don’t like. YOLO. ’Til next time…WOOF!

The Power of Love. (2007). Retrieved February 8, 2012, from http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2007/February/docs/01features_01.htm