It's all about ME!

Yesterday was a fun day! Mom and I went out for a LOOoooong walk yesterday, just me and her. I don't think she planned it that way, but we were out for two and a half hours! We left the house and I got scared because we were like two steps away from the gate and mom stopped and tried to make me go BACK IN! I was like, "MOM! It's the first nice day we've had in a while! You're TAKING ME OUT!" She left me by the gate, went back inside, and came out with poop bags. *whew*

We walked up to the hill where it was VERY windy. Luckily I was wearing my cool skull hoodie so I was fine. Mom had her camera and kept making me stop sniffing stuff so she could take my picture. I know I'm a good lookin' dog, but COME ON! We decided to go down the stairs to the river and walked along the path. I took the opportunity to pee on EVERYTHING! When we got to the bridge I thought we'd probably head home, but mom said, "Let's keep going!". We crossed the bridge, which is kinda weird because it's made out of bendy coated metal with small gaps, but I'm not a scardey-cat baby so it doesn't bother me. I like to look down at the river as I walk along, and it makes for an interesting smell experience!

We turned up the path on the opposite side of the river from where we were before and I got to stalk Canada geese, then we walked to the Stampede grounds and walked thru the Saddledome parking lot to the Roundup center where there were a bunch of trucks and commotion. I guess mom was looking for my dad who was there helping pick up his company's display from the home and garden show, but it turns out he was on the other side of the building, so we missed him. It would have been cool to see my dad, but we had fun walking around there anyway. Mom took my picture on the wagon-wheel benches.

We went to one of the empty parking lots across the street by where they're building the casino and mom took more pictures of me. By then the sun was coming out from behind the clouds and it even felt like it warmed up a bit! Mom stopped and asked this lady something and she said, "It's ten after two". I don't know what that means, but it meant that instead of turning and heading home we got to go even further! Mom said something about walking on pavement to wear my nails down. She cut them before we left, so I don't know why they needed to be worn down, but mom says they're supposed to be short and all this sitting around the house in the cold weather and her hating to clip them has let them grow too long. I say, "Eh, whatever".

We crossed the lot and headed towards downtown, the opposite direction of home! There were LOTS of trucks and loud noises and turned up dirt and other crazy chaotic things going on, but I was happy to be out, so I just kept walking. At a cross walk a group of teenagers petted me and commented on my cool skull hoodie. I bet they were jealous! We walked up another block, then finally started heading back in the direction of home. At that intersection I saw across the street that there were all these guys going in and out of a construction site. They all looked and smelled like my friend Ryan when he comes over and drinks a beer with my dad in the afternoon. I forgot my manners for a second and tried to pull over to them, but mom reminded me that just because they look and smell like my friends they aren't necessarily my friends! She did say that I get extra points for wanting to say hi to those particular construction workers because that was Ryan's job site! He wasn't there, though.

We walked up 11th Ave. and mom peeked in the windows of the building where I remember I used to walking with dad and Meridian and Natty to meet up with her in the evenings sometimes. There was no stuff in that building anymore. At the corner by a really tall building I saw a black cat sitting on a fence post of one of the first houses. I swear there was no building there before! I stopped and looked, then decided to get it! It arched it's back and mom hauled back on my leash and made me go around it. She said something about that cat standing it's ground and probably being capable of kicking my a**.

We kept going and before you know it we were at home again! That was a nice walk and I was very tired afterwards. I laid in the sun on the porch by the gate and waited for dad to come home. Meridian and Natty didn't get to go on our long walk so they still had lots of energy and they were kind of annoying me, but I try not to dwell on that sort of thing. I hope we can go on another walk like that soon!

Mom took LOTS of photos of me and there are a couple in my photo album now, but she said she'll put more in soon.