Our trip to St. Louis

Yesterday Mom worked part of the day and when she got home we packed up the car and drove to St. Louis. I was so relieved to see that the suitcases did not mean they were leaving me and I was going with.

We checked into our hotel and apparently my warning barks to let the family know I hear other people are not that welcome here. I keep getting shushed and I am only doing my job, which is to alert everyone.

I was very excited when we arrived and it took me awhile to calm down and feel comfortable enough to eat dinner. We spent a pretty good night sleeping, except for the times I was shushed for barking and today we are going to go see our Dogster friends. We are meeting at Purina Farms and going to spend lots of time at the Doggy Olympics. I will tell you all about the fun we have there later.

Purina Farms Doggy Olympics 2010

Yesterday we met our good friends Duffy, Georgie and Jackson at Purina Farms. Pepsi and Cindy Lou came too so we got to visit with them again.

The Canine Games or Doggy Olympics at Purina Farms is an annual event put on by the Samoyed Rescue Club. We went last year and enjoyed it so much we planned to come again.

When we arrived I was pretty excited to be there. There were already lots of people with their dogs there. We registered and mom bought tickets so that I could participate in the events. We found Duffy and Georgie and Jackson right away and went to sign up for the lure chasing event. Last year it was too muddy so they cancelled it so this was going to be first time I would do this. I loved it. I immediately knew I was supposed to chase that white thing. It was great fun! I ended up doing it 3 times! Other events we participated in were Agility, Tricks and Manners and running, were they clocked your speed. We also did the Purina Farms Halloween Costume Contest. Duffy won 1st Place! He was adorable in his sailor suit. Georgie won 3rd Place for her Hawaiian Princess costume.
We all won gold medals for our participation in the events.

After Purina Farms we went out to eat with our families at a restaurant that would allow them to bring dogs to eat on the patio. We had a real nice time there.

We spent one more night at the hotel. Today we are going to go to St. Charles and walk around the shops and eat lunch there and then drive home. I have had a wonderful time on my vacation, but I do eat and sleep better in my own home.

I can't wait until next year to go again!

March Madness

I live near the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana. Everyone here are big Illini fans. On Sunday the teams that were chosen to play in the NCAA tournament were announced and with 65 teams, they chose the University of Illinois to play UNLV in the first round. So here I am a Fighting Illini fan and my team is playing my sweet hubby Duncan's team UNLV.

This is causing quite a rivalry in our family. Poor little Monty our adopted son, does not know where to sit or what to wear or who to cheer for. Even though he is split, I think he is leaning toward UNLV. The moms have made a bet on the game. If the Illini win, Duncan's mom has to send my mom something from their boutique. If the Running Rebels win, my mom has to send Duncan's mom some designer sunglasses from her place.

Dad found out that next year these two teams will be playing each other again and one of those games will be in Las Vegas. I think the pawrents will be making another trip to Vegas to spend time with the in-laws and see that game.

We will have to see how this comes out. Will The Illini win?
Will UNLV win? Will little Monty be traumatized by this? Will the moms pay up on their bet? Will Duncan and I have our first fight ever? Stay tuned.

The Great Basketball Rivalry Outcome

Last night was the big game between University of Illinois and UNLV.

At mom's work, everyone wore their jeans and Illini tshirts. Most of the patients that came in had their orange and blue on. The game was on at about 8:30PM our time.

Everything in the news pointed to a UNLV victory. The Fighting Illini have been inconsistent this year. They would get big leads and then give them up in the second half.

The game was especially interesting because Lon Krueger (UNLV's coach) used to be the U of I basketball coach. He was very popular here. Everyone still likes him very much.

Duncan's family are big UNLV sports fans and they were watching the game. I was watching at home with my family.

The Fighting Illini came to play and had a big lead in the first half and increased it at the start of the second half. UNLV fought back and they were cutting that lead down. Dad was very nervous.

The final score 73 Illinois and 62 UNLV! We won! What did we win? Another game to play and this time agains Kansas and another of our old coaches Bill Self. Rut Ro!

Duncan's mom very graciously congratulated my mom on Facebook and will be cheering for the Illini in the next game. We would definitely have been cheering on UNLV if they were going on too. Dad even bought a UNLV hat when they visited Las Vegas.

So the great basketball rivalry has ended and Duncan and I never had a fight because of it and Monty is not traumatized. They are just practicing their basketball shots for the next time we meet up.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day Mom! Today is going to be all about you. After I let you feed me, I will take you for a nice long walk. I will roll over so you can give me some belly rubs and let you throw the ball for me outside. I know you like that and I will give you lots of kissies today too. Since it is a holiday you do not have to brush me, clean me or brush my teeth. Don't forget my dinner and treats though! It is not that much of a holiday!

Daddy may not get a Father's Day Gift From Me!

Yesterday daddy took me to the vet, just because I have been scootching on the rug. Needless to say I was not happy! I do not like going to the vet and this was a very unpleasant experience. Today Daddy asked me if I wanted to go with him to the bank. I love going to the bank. They give me cookies! On the way home from the bank we drove past the vet and he pulled into the parking lot. I ducked down on the floor to hide but daddy was just playing a joke on me. He wanted to see what I would do if we drove over there again today! Not funny daddy! I think you should have thought this out better and not done this right before Father's Day!

Why summer is more fun

Yesterday the kids came over and they brought their friends to go swimming. I am the lifeguard at the pool and I watch them closely at all times. I run back and forth along the poolside the whole time that they are in the water. When I get hot I jump in and swim with them and then it is back to my job. It is very exciting. In the evening after they leave I catch up on my napping.

Today daddy and I were in the backyard and I kept watching the back door to see if the kids would come but they did not come today. Mom and I had a long walk this morning though. Summer is a busy time for me but I enjoy it. Mommy says tomorrow Bonnie is coming to stay with us for a week. Bonnie won't swim but she likes to play in the yard. I hope the kids come tomorrow.

Is there a Doggy Union?

My job is being lifeguard at the pool. In the summer the grandkids come over to swim and sometimes they bring friends with them. I work very hard the entire time that they are in the pool. I never take my eyes off them and I run back and forth along the pool the whole time they are in the water. I only take quick potty breaks or jump in and swim to cool off and then I am right back to work. When they finally go home I am one tired and hungry pup! I usually zonk out in the evening and nap to make up for all that work.

Lately the girl grandchild has been wanting to sleep over. I like when she stays over but she has been deciding at 9PM at night that she wants to swim again! That means that I am working a double shift! I think there must be some doggy union somewhere with rules that this is a violation of! I am horrified that I have to give up my naptime to go back to work. I am not getting paid any overtime either. Who do I complain to? If you know pmail me!

Thinking of 9/11

I was not born at the time this happened but Mom remembers the moment this happened vividly. Dad had been in the hospital and he had just come home two days earlier. They were having breakfast and watching Good Morning America before going to Dad's follow up doctor visit. The people at GMA switched to show that something had happened to one of the towers. They were showing the smoking hole in the tower and reporting that they had heard that a plane had struck the tower when the second one came in. It was so unbelievable. The towers collapsed while mom and dad were at the doctor visit. They heard about it as soon as they switched on the radio. They had never thought of that happening, also heard about the Pentagon and the United flight. Flights all over the country landed immediately. Families felt an intense need to know that other family members were okay even if they were not near New York or Washington D.C. Mom started worrying about my brother who works in downtown Chicago.

Ten years later the horror and sadness are just as vivid. The heroic efforts to save these people and later just to recover bodies, the families that suffered, the nation felt their pain. These people should never be forgotten. True American heroes all of them.

Mom and Dad tricked me today

This morning Mom and Dad told me we were going for a ride. We drove up to this new place. I was very excited. I dragged Mom across the parking lot because I could hardly wait to go in. When we went in I started sniffing around. There was a lady at the desk and she was talking to Mom and Dad. Then she wanted me to get on a scale. Uh oh! I started suspecting that this might not be the fun place I thought it was. By the time I went into one of the examining rooms, I had figured out that I was at the vet. A new vet, but still a vet! Yep, my worst fears were confirmed. They checked me all over and did things I would rather not talk about! This time I pulled Mom OUT the door! I will certainly know better the next time we go THERE! Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me!