The Summer of my Discontent

What a bummer; Mom and Dad can't get another dog. Well, they could, but they'd have to pay more money every month to have another one because the complex just changed its policy. Mom says there's no way she's paying "pet rent" because it's....extortion was the word she used, I believe. So no doggy siblings for me to play with for the time being. Mom will get me one someday, though. Of that, I'm sure.

My tummy's been bothering me again. After Mom shoved those pills down my throat back in February, things were good for a while. But now I'm right back to having...this is rather embarrassing....the runs. I don't always have 'em, but sometimes I can't even wait to be let outside. I hate it. I hate going on the floor because it makes Mom upset. She doesn't act like she's mad at me, but still, I know it's disappointing. And she's worried about me. I really don't know what it is and neither does Mom. So she'll be taking me to the doctor again soon. I'm so sick of the doctor. I know Mom is too.

It gets so excruciatingly boring around here sometimes. I didn't get to go for my trail run OR play with my neighbors. First it was too hot, then it was all raining and gross. Dad took me to the store this afternoon, though. Bought me a cow shoulder blade. Then he took me down to the pool where my Mom and little brother were. I got to just lay there and chew on my cow bone while Adrian swam and Mom sat talking to the neighbors.

I'm just chillin' on the couch right now. Mom's watching Animal Precinct. This show disturbs me more than she realizes.

Siblings?

So Mom has been talking about getting me a brother or sister. I'm not really sure what's going on, but I think it's good by the tone she's had. She says little things to Dad all the time, almost like she's asking him the same question over and over again. I think she's trying to train Dad. She said this is what she had to do to him before they were able to come and rescue me. Just between me and you, I don't think Dad's a very fast learner. I mean, I learned how to give high give in a matter of minutes, but Dad still hasn't figured out that Mom pretty much runs the show around these parts? I sometimes wonder about his faculties.

Anyways, Mom is all excited about something she keeps calling a Rottie. I guess whatever it is, it's a girl. I hope it's a dog and not another one of those weird, antisocial cat things. Blaze is all right for chewin' on, don't get me wrong, but jeeze! I've never seen an animal less interested in playing in my LIFE.

Well, Mom said something about being perfectly happy with a "mutt", but Dad says he wants a "purebred". Now, I'm pretty sure people have called ME a "mutt" before, so I think it IS a dog. But Mom refuses to buy a pet. She says she'd rather adopt than shop. So you can bet that if she found a dog that makes her and Dad BOTH happy, it's gonna be a rescue....like me:)

Could I be....TOO smart?

Today was....well, most of it was pretty boring. Mom got up and got my brother off to school, then went back to sleep. Then she got up again because my brother came home early from school. Then Mom went back to sleep again (Mom doesn't sleep well, apparently). I spent a few hours watching TV with my brother, Adrian, and then we went and got Mom up for the day. I was expecting to be taken out, however, much to my dismay, Mom kept ignoring my incessant pleas. She said it was "too hot". Get this; she used the computer, talked on the phone...all sorts of fun stuff FOR HER. But it was too hot for ME to do anything fun? OK, OK, so maybe she was just looking out for me. After my dad got up, they all put those funny clothes on and walked out the door with towels. They came back a couple hours later all wet and smelling like....they smelled like that stuff they used to use to clean the floors at that crowded cage place where Mom, Dad, and Adrian picked me up. Anyways, they changed their clothes, then left AGAIN. I'm telling you, I was beyond irritated at this point. I was actually starting to get a little depressed. They came home with food, though....and Mom gave me a couple french fries. Blaze didn't get ANYTHING (haha, stupid cat).

Then the big moment came. I saw Mom filling up a water bottle and getting socks on....YAY! It was finally time to go! Adrian was going to come with us, but I guess he decided to stay behind and visit my Bernese pal, Sydney. Mom took me down to the trail and just let me fly:) It was wonderful. There's nothing quite like crashing through the woods, the wind in your ears.

Mom took me all the way to the end of the trail, then we started on our way back down the other one. I got to see a whole group of younger adult people. They weren't really KIDS, but not like my mom and dad, either. Mom says...teenagers? I think that's what she said they were. Anyways, as we were nearing the beginning of the trail again, I spotted something beautiful....something marvelous....something....so tempting. I don't have to tell any of you how much fun it is to chase deer, do I? I didn't think so. And there were THREE of them. Yes, three. They were bounding away because Mom and I scared 'em, but oh, I hadn't scared 'em enough. Oh, no sir, not nearly enough. I immediately felt the power go to my legs and I was gone. Those deer run pretty damn fast, though. I have to admit, it makes them more fun to chase. But then I ran into some trouble. The deer got away from me....and then I couldn't find my mom. I got so scared. I looked and looked, but I couldn't hear her or smell her or anything! It was getting dark...and I knew where I was. So I did what I thought best; I ran straight for home. I knew Dad was there, and Mom might be, too. I mean, if she wasn't on the trail, home would be where she was. I just had to find out. As I was running past a building in our area, a really nice man came out with his two dogs (a Boston Terrier and a Rat Terrier)....they're a little small for my personal taste, but hey, dogs is dogs, right? They looked playful enough, so I stopped to see if they wanted to play. But the man got a hold of my collar and took me home. Dad looked pretty confused...and Mom wasn't there. Uh-oh. Dad left, and when he came back, Mom was with him. I was so happy to see her. My tail started going and everything. But boy, she sure was steamed. She just yelled a little...not too much. Then she went outside. I guess she just needed to cool off or something. She said later she was just scared and worried about me, but she was glad I'd been smart enough to head for home instead of doing something stupid like running around in the street. After a little while, she came back in and put my leash on me. Then I got to go outside and play with Sydney and my red light! I LOVE chasing that thing. And boy, am I pooped. I'm crashed on Mom and Dad's bed now.

Even if life is scary sometimes, I sure am lovin' it here.

I got my wish!

The weather today is MUCH better. Mom took me out!!!!!!!! I had so much fun. She took me to the trail first, of course, so I got to run. My tummy was bothering me at first, and Mom could tell because she saw I wasn't running real fast. And I kept stopping to eat grass. Finally, I went into the tall weeds and threw up. Blah. Oh well, at least my tummy felt better after that. I thought maybe Mom would make me come home, but I guess she could see I felt better because she kept walking with me. But then I got in trouble. I'm not supposed to go off the trail at the end because there's a swamp. I've been in it before, and Mom always gets mad. The worst part is, I usually have to come home and take a bath. Well, I went into the swamp again. Mom was far from thrilled. She yelled at me, then put my leash on:( We left the trail and walked around on the road by all the houses. We went by the pond and I got to see the geese. I wanted to chase them SO bad, but Mom never lets me. It would've been a riot too since there were little ones with their parents. Mom thinks I'd get beat up....I'm not so sure. I think I can take 'em.

We finished our walk with the trail again. This time, Mom kept me hooked up to my leash until we were past the swamp. I suppose I deserve it. Besides, it wasn't long before we had passed it, and then I was able to run again! I went looking in the bushes for whatever I could find, but didn't have any luck until we got to the big circle. Mom went around the left, but I took the right path and found a rabbit! That little sucker was FAST. I ran and ran and ran, yipping the whole way, until I lost it. Damn! Ah, it was fun while it lasted. I heard Mom calling me, so I made my way back to her. She told me I was a good boy for coming back....she's so nice. Well, except when I get in the swamp.

We'd been home for a couple of hours when Mom took me out to the courtyard and threw my Jolly Ball for me. I've gotten a lot of exercise today. It feels nice. Adrian had his little friends over, and they're scared of me....I just want to lick their faces, but it makes them nervous, so I leave them alone. They all went running outside a little bit ago, and I so wanted to run out there with 'em, but I can't. So I'll just lay here. Dad hasn't emerged from his room yet. Mom says he doesn't feel good. Maybe Mom should take him some grass.

Rainy Days

I've been stuck inside ALL day. Mom was going to take me out to the trail to run earlier, but then said she couldn't. Something about it being "crappy" outside. Well, then she let me out on my lead to go to the bathroom, and it was pretty crappy....but I would've dealt with that. I don't mind getting a little wet. Maybe even a little muddy. I don't mind at all. Except then Mom would give me a bath, which is not one of my favorite things. I wish humans would buck up and stop whining over a little drizzle. I mean, come on, I need to get out of here! So I've just been wandering around the house. Sometimes I chew on my bones, but even that gets boring after only a couple minutes. I've been leaving Blaze alone. I just don't have it in me. I like chewing on the little bugger, but then he howls like a baby and Mom yells at me. I'm just not up for that tonight. I guess the day hasn't been a TOTAL waste...I did get some pizza crusts and pretzels. But they would've tasted SO much better after a good run. I hope the weather tomorrow is better.