Summer Fun

Hi, all you woofers out there! Mom's been kinda lazy about updating my diary and it's been many moons since I've been able to have my say on here. Last night a whole bunch of human friends came over to play with me and I stayed up way past midnight playing tugs and getting love. My good pal Julia brought me a humongous peanut butter biscuit from the Outer Banks and I finally got to eat it last night. Holy smokes was that thing big! And delicious! Now am totally worn out and can barely keep my eyes open. Have been laying around either corgied out or slinky-spined all day.
Next week, am off to Gogo's house for a sleepover while Mom and Dad go to Wisconsin. I can't wait!

Soccer Obsession

Did my favorite thing ever today--chased my ball around the yard and snagged it away from Mom and Dad when they tried to kick it. Since the ball's a little flat, I can pick it up in my mouth and dart away with it. Ha ha! Love that more than anything.
Will admit I have a mild obsession with soccer balls, any ball, really, that's being kicked around on the grass. See one in a park and I go nuts. Would jerk my head right out of my collar just to go after it. Will chase it till my paws go numb. Can't do anything to fight it, so I just enjoy it. And have the time of my life when I finally get it all to myself!
"Call it impulsive, call it compulsive, call it insane."
--Barenaked Ladies

Does That Make Me Crazy?

Today and yesterday have been super windy and that makes me jumpy with all the smells in the air. Frolicked in the yard and barked my little head off at birds and squirrels and Dean next door. Chomped and chewed lots of good sticks which had fallen from the gusts. Wind makes me just a little bit craaazy!
My new video up above is from when my two uncles came to visit a few weekends ago. Their suitcases weren't too big and they gave me lots of good hugs so I loved them being here. They slept out on the futon in the living room so I got to sniff them real close each morning. We had a really warm day--just like spring!--and went driving around trying to find somewhere to explore. We ended up at the Potomac River and walked along the banks where it was peaceful and saw only a few other quiet folks. So many good smells though! Tall yellow grass and mudd and puddles of water. Big boulders to scramble around on and trees to wind through. What a place! And hiding right there amidst the city.
I gave Uncle Karsty and Uncle Ethy big doggy hugs when they went away. I hope they'll come back soon.

Happy 2007!

It's a new year and I have a lot to be thankful for. First and foremost, that Mom and Dad are back from their trip and I am home where I belong. The PetsHotel's pretty nice, but being the nervous nelly that I am, I just don't get enough sleep in there. And since I'm a picky eater too, I don't eat much either. Now I'm back to my gourmet duck and rice kibble and trying to get regular again...if you know what I mean.
Am very glad to be two years old now and in a comfy warm house with two great people who love me and give me pretty much anything a pup could ask for. Toys, grass, plenty of time to snooze, hugs, walks, and yummy food. My Fair Lady, eat your heart out!
Peace.

Autumn Backpacking Trip

Had a wonderful weekend backpacking trip to Shenandoah National Park. Mom and Dad kept oohing and aahing over the colored leaves. They were nice, but I was more interested in all the delicious smells at ground level. Hardly slept a wink in the tent trying to get comfortable and find a spot as good as my bed at home. Dad even took me into his sleeping bag to warm me up, but I got too squirmy and he couldn't move, so I got booted. We camped by Jeremys Run, which is really a pretty hefty stream, and I got to sniffer around off leash! Showed Mom and Dad how trustworthy I am by coming running every time they called me back. Went out on a big boulder and stood over the gushing water. Wow, was that a rush! The next day, I had to figure out how to cross the stream by a combination of rock hopping and water sloshing. I'm not really a water dog to tell the truth, but those stream crossings were pretty exciting! It was fun to find a different way across each time. Took a few big leaps trying to avoid some deep pools, but got wet anyway. Mom kept snapping pictures of me taking it all in stride. I have a little cut on my back paw, but I've been caring for it with lots of licks and it's healing up quite nicely. Backpacking trips are my most favorite thing in the whole world!

Fall Is In the Air

I am wiped. We had a great weekend enjoying the crisp and cool fall weather. Mom came home with three big orange balls and set them on the front step. When I got released to come inside after our walk, I gave them a good sniffing first instead of dashing straight inside like usual. Was a little crazy on the walk because first thing we saw this great big Beagle who gave us a long hoarse howl, but wasn't allowed to stop and sniff me hello. That got me super worked up. And with so many squirrels out gathering nuts and stuff for winter, I was in doggy heaven. We got to the little park on Griffith and Mom let me chase a stick under the tire. Tons of dry leaves covered the ground and Mom started marching and dancing through them, kicking them up and singing while Dad laughed. I went nuts for that! I zipped back and forth at top speed through the leaves with my tail tucked like I do in the house when I'm about as worked up as I can be. Then I got to go up the stairs and down the slide. Woo hoo, what fun! Now I'm pooped and ready to sleep and snore and drool in my little round bed all night.

Wrastlin' with My Buddy

My best buddy Gogo came over on Sunday and stayed the whole day. He got here real early cause his Mom and Dad were going out of town. Even though I was still a little squinty-eyed, I sure was tickled to death to see him! We went on a long walk and I showed him all my favorite spots in the neighborhood, including the park. It was nice and quiet out since it was 7 am on a Sunday. We even got to see the sunrise turn the sky all pink and red. When we got home, Gogo and I played in the yard while Dad mowed the lawn. It was still pretty early by the time we came in and crashed. I kept wanting to play and pestered Gogo till he got up and rolled around with me a bit. We chased each other around the house and tumbled across the floor. I finally got him worked up enough to nip at my ears. Boy was that great! I'm one pup who likes tough love. (Check out my Boxer stories in previous entries if you don't believe me!) After that, we dozed and lounged for hours. Talk about my perfect day!

Busy Mom

Mom has been busy lately with her new job. Hardly anytime to goof off online anymore she says. Some great stuff has happened to me in the past month. Last weekend, Mom and Dad took me to my homecoming--an event where all the dogs that got adopted through my organization came back to help raise money for other homeless dogs. It was great to see my old pal Jane again. She was the first one that was nice to me before Mom and Dad came to take me home. She said I looked very handsome after 10 months.
A few weeks ago, a whole bunch of friends came to our house for a cookout and we got to hang out outside all night. Best of all, my favorite buddy Gogo was there and we chased each other back and forth across the yard. He's coming to stay for a whole day in a couple of weeks. That will be a great day!

Hike in Shenandoah NP

Went on an awesome hike yesterday in Shenandoah National Park. It's a great place to go because it takes only an hour and a half to get there! The first part of the hike was cake because it was all downhill. We walked down a fire road so Mom, Dad and I got to hike side by side. There was plenty to sniff and I really loved the cooler mountain air and the shade of the big trees. We passed an old cemetery right in the middle of the woods. Then we started our climb back up. First it was a gradual trek up along a stream, then the canyon got narrower and narrower and the trail got steeper. We had lunch beside the stream and I got some treats and water and even a carrot or two from Mom and Dad's lunch. After our break, things got tough and there was a lot of rock scrambling to do. I went right over the boulders like a little caterpillar. We all worked hard to get up the trail and knew they didn't call it Little Devil Stairs for nothing. It felt great to get out and explore the woods and flex my muscles on the boulders. Mom and Dad listened to the audio book Must Love Dogs on the ride home, but I slept the whole way back!

Up and Down Dog

I'm up, then I'm down. Two seconds ago I was tearing around the house at top speed with my bum tucked under and my nails scratching up the carpet. Now, I have zero energy and I'm lying out hot dog style on the floor beside Mom. My energy comes in bursts and when my people are crazy, I am crazy too. When they are slow and lazy, I am the same.
On our evening walk I met a new pit bull friend named Meat. He had a huge bull mastiff brother, but we didn't get to sniff each other cause the mom was afraid he'd knock my mom and dad down in his excitement. They told us about a secret stairway that leads to a dog's paradise, with open fields to run in and a creek and trees. I think we'll try to find it one of these days.
Right before meeting Meat, I got to run up the steps and down the slide and sprint back to Mom and Dad. That park is one of my favorite places to go. I've also learned how to run under the upright tire after a stick. I used to be scared to go under it, but now I know it's a game and I love it. The slide is my favorite though!