Hotel Pooch

Well, yesterday we hit the road. On our way up to visit my girl, Alli, and help her move into her new apartment. It's a long drive to Halifax, Nova Scotia. We probably could have made it in one day -- but that would be a really long time in the car.

So we stopped in some little town in New Brunswick. We found a "pet friendly" hotel, and here I am sitting on the bed with my Bro, Greg. See that little dog biscuit? I got that from the front desk - wasn't that thoughtful?

I was a really good boy in the car. I'm in training, ya know, to be an RV pooch. I think I'm almost ready to graduate!

Oh well -- today I get to see Alli! Yeah!

Not to be sold or transferred

Here I am taking over a packing blanket that the J-man thoughtfully provided to us. Alpha was wrapping up some furniture for Alli's new apartment, and decided it was time to take it over. I liked the part about not being able to be transferred or sold ;-)

So the good news is ... we are going on a road trip again! And the really good news is that my Bro', Greg, will be home soon (he's here now, picture to follow in later posts ;-). And the really outstanding news is that I'll get to see Alli in a couple of days.

Oh boy, pack me up Alpha, I'm ready to go!

Hey, who's blog is this anyway?

OK, now that I have your attention, Frito ...

You can see that I am speaking for your Dad ...

And we both want to say that you have an awesome blog!

Ha ha! That was fun! Oops -- you didn't see who posted this, did you?

(If I close MY eyes, you can't see me, right?)

Gotta say hi #2

Oh look. Someone has arrived. I can tell by his scent, he is not from around here. So I gotta say "hi" and welcome him to our house. It is just the kind of friendly guy that I am.

What's up?

Hey, whatcha up to? Just thought I'd take a little looksee at what you are doing. Hope you are having fun! Life's to short for that other stuff, ya know. ENJOY!

Hey, could you keep it down to a dull roar

Parents. Some times you can't live with 'em, and sometimes you can't live without 'em. Ya see my parents held a little soiree this past weekend. And these things run a little long, and tend to get a little loud near the end of the evening. Can you say "too much wine?"

Now I really don't mind. Ya see I love to visit with all the neighbors, and I am a really good boy. But this tends to keep me up well past my bedtime. And right about now, I'm just waiting for everyone to leave so I can have some snoozing time. Can you tell?

Early Summer

Hey, what's going on? There was snow on the ground a week ago, then we had torrential rains and winds, and now ... summer is here?

You can see I had to retreat to the shade of the patio lounge chair. Toasty!

Oh well, I'll take it. I can always take a dip in the pond to cool off. And Mom says it's going to get colder later this week.

Maybe Spring will come after Summer this year ;-)

Kelly and Frito

Here's one of my girlfriends. You can see she just loves me. Giving me kisses while I show off my froggy legs.

Sometimes it is hard to contain all this cuteness.

But for you, my viewing audience, I will try my best ;-)

Gotta say Hi!

Continuing our hiike up Pack Monadnock, my God Father, dove-into-the-river-to-save-me-Dan, was taking a respite at the top of the mountain on the picnic table. Or is he dead? ;-)

So of course, I just have to go up on the picnic table to make sure he is alive, doncha think?

And once there -- gotta give him kisses too, right?

Hey, he's my God Father, ya know? Thanks for taking me hiking Dan!!!

On some granite

Took a nice hike with Dan and Alpha. Up Pack Monadnock.

Beautiful weather, but there was still lots of snow on the mountain.

So I decided to warm myself up on this here piece of granite. Let's here it for solar collectors ;-)

Digging to China

Almost there; almost there! Just a little bit farther!

I'll either find that rascally chipmunk, or I'll get to China. Isn't Spring wonderful?

Stylish

So ... whadya think? Do you like my new jacket? "Hey look at me" red with "oh so swanky" faux leopard trim -- quite stylish, don't you think?

Now I know what some of you might be saying. I look like some has-been movie star with one too many nip and tucks.

But I don't think so. And besides -- it's been cold and wet, and this jacket keeps me warm and dry.

Oh yeah, and for those of you that think it looks a little "sissy". I'm quite comfortable in my "skin", and that might just be reflection of your own insecurities. ;-)

Lotta love in li'l package

I'm just resting on the sofa, curled up in a little ball. And my parents start singing the "whole lotta love in a little package" song. Yep, that's me.

"Dog by Pond on Rainy Day"

Just call me Claude Frito Monet, or perhaps Pierre-Frito Renoir. With a tip of the hat to the French impressionists, I offer up this "art". What do you think?

Alpha finds it interesting that it was otherwise a "throw-away" picture.

I kinda like the fact that you can't see my eyes. Makes me something of a "universal" dog.

Hey Alli, can you translate the title of this post into French for me? I need to get in the impressionistic mood.

Lady (and puppy) in Red

Out for a walk (before the nor'easter that is currently deluging us).

Mom's looking very red, don't you think? And me too. We like to think we look snappy.

Happy Birthday, Alli!

Ohmigosh! I'm so excited! You can't see it, but my little tail is going wag-wag-wag faster than you can shake a stick!

Why? Because it's Alli's Birthday!!! It's the BIG 2-0! Limbo-land between teenager and legal adult in all 50 states. (But that doesn't matter much in Canada ;-)

Anyways. I understand that Mom and Alpha's gift has been lost in transit somewhere in the slowpoke bureacracy of Nova Scotia. So I thought I would give you mine RIGHT NOW! Wet kisses on the nosie!!

I love you Alli! Happy B-DAY! Have a great one!

AAcckk -- not gumby here

Hey Mom, watch out for the paws -- I'm not gumby here ya know -- they only bend in certain directions -- aacckk!

The things I put up with just because Spring is delayed around here!

Ping-pong anyone?

Well this is kinda silly. How can I play ping-pong without paddle?

See, Alpha is always trying to keep the upper hand. Get me one of 'dem paddles, and I'll take you on.

And if I'm not winning, I just drop the paddle, and eat the ball. Grrr. Now could somebody get me off this table?

Vigorously

Look how vigourously I'm playing tug-o-war. I shake my head back and forth so fast, it blurs the photo. Cool huh?

I consider it one of my "action shots". And of course, it shows my tug-o-war prowess. Who do you think ended up with the knot, eh?

On the good furniture

See, with my short hair cut, it's easier for me to stay clean. Then, on the warm sunny days, when the living room doors are opened up, I am sometimes allowed up on the "good furniture".

But usually, this is only when we have company, or photo ops. You can guess which one this is. Oh Alpha.

Kissy Boy

I do not wish to be too selective. I like to share the love.

Ya see, only those within slobber-reach can be kissed directly. And they are ... quite often ;-)

But for all of you out there in the blogoshpere (and especially Alli) ... I send you bunches of kisses as well.

Because, as my family says, I'm just a "kissy boy". (And don't worry, I'm secure enough to handle it ;-)

Not the sweater, again!

Oh jeez -- just how long is this cold weather and snow gonna stick around? This is getting rather old.

And yes, I know I'm sounding like a bit of a flip-flop, since I was asking for snow only a few months ago.

Hey -- once you've tasted spring, it's nasty when the snow comes back and stays on the ground.

Come on Spring!

Work it, work it

Hey, check it out. Now I'm into weight lifting. Gotta do something while the snow inhibits my runs, ya know.

Kinda puny weight for a strong pup like me, but hey, I'm going for tone, not bulk ;-)

Nah ... this is my Bro's old weight set. He's progressed well past this level I'm sure.

Now as for Alpha ... maybe we shouldn't go there ;-)

Dreamy, sleepy

Snoozing in Alpha's office. Dreaming. My little tongue comes out for a lick or two. I peak open my eyes. OK, back to sleep.

This is ridiculous

First no winter (and no snow). Then winter (and a little snow). Then Spring. Now snow again.

We got 8" of heavy wet snow yesterday. Mom and Alpha cleared some walkways and some paths (thanks).

But I was really rather into Spring, ya know?

And as for ridiculous? Can someone tell me what I am doing up on this outdoor table in the snow?

Oh wait -- must be an Alpha photo opportunity. Puhlease!

Gotta keep 'em guessing

Ya see, ya gotta be careful. It can be pretty easy to fall into a routine.

Up at this time; pee; breakfast; more snoozing; etc, etc.

They think they have me pegged. Well, a while back the parents bought these rawhide bones (they said it was because I had bad breath -- well thanksalot). I tried them for a couple of days, but (seemingly) decided they just weren't for me.

Well, wouldn't you know, just to keep 'em guessing, the other day I just started knawing on the things again. Just went and found one and started a good hour of chewing. Did it again the next night.

Maybe it's because I overheard that they were going to return them to the doggie store. Never let any treats that come into the house leave uneaten. That's my saying ;-)

Shh, it's my disguise

Curious, aren't you? Wondering how I can be so good a disguising my appearances?

Well, let's see:

1. First true day of Spring
2. Means no snow cover, and nicely thawed garden beds
3. I'm a dog, so I like to dig
4. Musta smelled some critters down there, doncha know?

Yes, now be quiet. If I stand really still, my Mom will think it is a different dog that just dug up her garden somewhere.

Shh, it's my disguise.

Workin' on the pond

Well ... maybe not workin'. Maybe more like loungin'. But hey, I've been outside all day watchin' Mom and Alpha workin' on the pond. So that counts for something -- and yes -- one does get tired just bein' outside.

As for the pond ... well, we'll see. The dam blew out this winter, so Alpha came up with some half-baked (oops, did I say that?) idea involving a big piece of rubber and lots of clay. Haaaa. Well, I hope it works, becuase this here's my froggin' pond, doncha know.

Enjoyin' my walks

I hope Alpha's friend of a friend doesn't mind. But a lady named Bobbie Brooks wrote a poem to go along wth a picture of a dog -- and well, let's face it, I'm sooo much cuter than that other dog -- so I thought I might "borrow" the poem, because it really does capture my view of the world. Here goes:

What dogs say ... By Bobbie Brooks

are we done already? do we hafta go back?
i chased a squirrel an' two rabbits an' a chipmunk
an' i ‘most caught the chipmunk an'
i found where the deer sleep an' the tree where owl eats an'
can’t we do walkies s’more?
an' climbed on some AWESOME bigbig rocks
an' peed on lots of stuff so’s the other folks know we were here
an' lapped coldcoldcold from the creek an' yelled
at that stupid crow to stop followin’ us an'
do we hafta go back? i can fetch a stick for ya
throw me one throw me one throw me one
do we hafta go home?
i found some bird bones wanna see ‘em?
an' where turtle hides under a log but he was too
busy bein’ a rock
an' smelled poop an' ran fastfastfastfastfast
with the wind an' chased it away an'
rolled in something WONDERFUL
an' more walkies? moremoremore?
more?

Who are you calling "fool", Fool?

Hey, I know what day it is. And even if I look a bit goofy in this picture, I am not the April Fool's joke.

Guess you better stay on guard. Someone else might just might try to make a fool out of you! Fool!

(Aplogies to Mr. T, whereever he is, gold chains and all.)