Updated Page Finally

A cross-country trip, getting settled in, a doctoral program, plus two puppies two semesters in a row...well, Lakota's diary went nowhere, but I have, at last, updated this site with pictures. -- Lakota's mom.

Friday night date w/my boyfriend

My mom told me that on Friday morning she ran more errands, and then went in to work to finish up a few things so she could finally leave. She took me to the groomer's, Pour la Pooch, on Friday morning so I could be "all purty" when we travel. I was sad -- it is the last time I will probably see Gia and Gorge.

However, I had a date with Jupiter on Friday! That cheered me up. Jupiter came over to our apartment with his mom, Thea. Thea says we are too young to go out on a date by ourselves, and that we have to be chaperoned. Jupiter and I disagree, but he isn't old enough to argue with her. My mom says I'm spayed, so she doesn't care if I'm alone with Jupiter. Thea had Jupiter tutored when he was a puppy, but since we can't drive, and it is too far for us to walk to each other's apartments, and dogs aren't allowed on public transportation...well,we just have to have chaperones, or else we won't see each other.

It was fun. Our moms drank some wine while we played. I showed Jupiter all of my toys, and we played tug with some of them. I even won a few times! Eventually, though, mom started fading from her 4 hours of sleep the night before, so Jupiter went home with his mom.

His favorite toy after the squeaky balls was the duck. Mom bought it for me when her sister, Jacinda was visiting. He and I both like the duck better than the bear toy.

Finally Packed

Mom has been very busy the past few days, so I have had to supervise her and haven't had time to write. Thursday, the 29th, she ran a lot of errands in the morning. In the afternoon, she started packing again. On Thursday night, the same students came back and continued to load up the containers. I tried to supervise them, too, but mom wouldn't let me. She took me down the hallway to Chopper's apartment. Chopper is a Miniature Pinscher and he isn't tutored. His dad told mom that, "he's from Oklahoma, and he's not taking away his dog's dignity". I don't mind so much, that he isn't tutored, I mean, except that he bumps his stomach up and down against my legs when we aren't playing. His dad stops him, because he says it, "ain't gentlemanly". My mom just laughs and says Chopper is funny. Chopper's m0m just calls him, "Clueless", because he, "doesn't know where to put it". I just laugh at Chopper -- he can't help it, he doesn't know better.

Furniture Gone

I like moving.

Wednesday night, some students from USC came over to help my mom move her furniture and boxes. I tried to help, but Mom said I was getting in the way and and took me over to Belle's apartment, which is across the hallway. Belle is a short-haired black dog, and we had a lot of fun, sniffing, smelling, and barking at each other. We rolled around and played for hours. We kept egging each other on. Belle's dad even took us both out for a walk! Finally, Belle's mom, Jess, said it was bedtime and took me home.

When I returned, I discovered all of the furniture was gone. I was puzzled; where was I supposed to sleep if I couldn't sleep on the sofa? I had to sleep on the floor, although I didn't get much rest. Mom didn't go to bed at her usual time. In fact, she left all the lights on and banged around until 4 AM; she said she had to finish packing. I tried to sleep, but I couldn't, because she was so noisy. I wished she'd pack some other time!

Then she acted even more oddly. When she finally went to bed, she slept on the floor! Well, actually, she made a nest and laid on it. I thought she might be sick, so I leaned over her and stuck my nose in her face in the dark. She said, "What?" I thought it was funny that she was sleeping on the floor, so I started panting in her face to let her know. "Ew!", she said, "your breath is 'tinky. I need to buy you some Greenies." Then I knew she was OK, and went to sleep on the living room floor. After a little while, I decided to check on her again, just in case. I stuck my nose in her face again, and when she woke up I started panting. "GO TO SLEEP!!!", she yelled.

So, I did.

Four hours later, the alarm clock started beeping, and she started groaning. She called me to come, and I laid on the nest next to her while she cuddled me and sang my morning poodle song. Eventually, she got up, groaned again, and staggered to the bathroom. I went in with her, to make sure she didn't go out the Secret Escape Hatch without me. She sat down to go to the bathroom, and I tried to stick my nose in her crotch, but she stopped me. She always stops me and I don't understand why. How can I know everything about her if she won't let me smell her bum?

Trip to the Vet

Mom took me to the vet this morning. She said it was time for my annual vaccines, plus I have to get tested for heartworms and go on heartworm medicine before we get to the South. (I thought we were going to the East Coast?)

At first it was fun. I got to ride in the car and look out the window. When we arrived at the animal hospital, there were other dogs whose butts I could smell. Then we went into a room where a man in glasses and a smock felt my stomach, took my temperature from my butt, stuck me with three needles, weighed me and put a stick up my butt to get poop. Why didn't he just smell my butt? I don't understand humans sometimes.

My mom said I am "all set" for our cross country trip. We'll get the heartworm test results in 3 days. If I'm OK, I'll start on the heartworm preventative medication. She said it tastes good, but she's told me that before when she's stuck something down my throat.

I'm going to take a nap now. I'm tired; I didn't get my morning nap.

Packing and Boxes

This past Saturday, my mom went berserk and started pulling things out of closets and packing them into boxes. She tells me I am going to see this country from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean over the next few weeks. While I am sure this will provide me with all kinds of new poop to smell, I am not as concerned about this trip as I am about finding the Secret Escape Hatch from the bathroom. I'm sure it's there.

Sunday night my mom piled boxes up that partially blocked the door to the vanity area that leads to the bathroom. I went to the other door, the one that leads from her bedroom to the vanity area, and, hence, to the bathroom, but it was shut. I went back and stood in front of the boxes and looked at her over the top of them. It was frustrating. I could see her, but I couldn't _be_ with her. I thought about it for a few moments. The boxes were low enough for me to jump over, but too wide for me to be sure I would make it. My mom saw me thinking about what to do, started laughing, walked over, and partially opened the door from the bedroom so that I could join her in the bathroom.

While there appears to be only one entrance and exit into the bathroom, I am convinced there is a Secret Escape Hatch somewhere in that tiny room. If I'm not with my mom at all times when she is in the bathroom, then I'm afraid that she'll exit the bathroom through the Secret Escape Hatch and go somewhere fabulous and exciting without me. Better yet, I could go somewhere fabulous and exciting without _her_ when she is at Work, and she'd never know!