Here it is Thursday, January 10, 2008, and I thought we be back home by now. The first day I was shivering so bad I thought I would fall out of my chair, good thing Mom had me strapped in. When we finally stopped for a break, all I wanted to do is get out of the motor home and pee. Boy do I feel better. Since we are not home today, I guess I am in this for the long run. One good thing I get to sit at the table and eat and when Mom and Dad watch a movie in bed I get to join them until time to go to sleep then Mom says go to bed. I guess I am adjusting.
It is Monday, Jan 14th and I am still here. I am getting a lot of treats for being good. These humans don't realize how us dogs train them. I am sitting next to mom right now while she is typing, she likes me to keep her company. Dad is outside cleaning his bike getting ready for tomorrow. Mom and I are so proud of him and how well he is doing. Going to have stirfry tonight for dinner I will let you know how good it was. Bye.
Wednesday, Jan. 23rd. The ride is getting better. Getting use to being strapped to the chair. We stop just outside of Rodeo and saw the monument to Jeronimo, who ever he was, I did my usual thing when we stopped. Sure am glad mom stops often. We haven't watched a movie for a few days so I have to sleep in my own bed. It is comfortable though. Mom was just saying the other day that she would love to get a hair cut and a manacure. She said her hands are so dry. Maybe in El Paso. I hear mom every now and then a cuss word when she turns the wrong way and has to go back. It hasn't happened to often but stay out or her way when she does. Goodbye for now.
Sunday Jan 27th. We are camping for a couple of days so now I can catch up on my sleep. Mom said she was going to give me a shower, and use her hair dryer on my fur so I don't get cold. She is so good to me. I met some dogs in Columbus when we were camping but none of them wanted to play. Wish Morgan were here, she would play with me. Well I am going to take a nap, and I want to declare today a treat day so everyone have a treat. Bark at you later.
Wednesday, Feb. 6th.Wow I have been so busy this is the first time I have had to tell you what has been happening. We are in Del Rio Texas and I am starting to get the hang of it. Having a good time riding in my seat with my blanket and eating all the scrapes from mom's cooking. Tonight we had pancakes for dinner. I get a whole pancake to myself. I hurry up and eat mine so I can have some of their's too. Mom spent today grocery shopping and cooking up meals ahead and I get to lick all the dishes. I didn't get much sleep the last two nights because of the wind. I got into trouble this morning. Dad left some of his bagel on the table and went outside for a minute, so I thought he was finished so I took it. I am grounded the rest of the week, no bagels. Maybe mom will give me some of hers. But I doubt it because she scolded me too. Arf, Arf.
Feb 20th, this trip is getting interesting. We arrived in Galveston and got to ride a ferry to the rv park. Mom was so excited but I didn't see a thing because I was strapped in my chair. It doesn't take much to make mom happy. She keeps saying I am having a fun time. It was raining so I made my time outside fast. I am tired, maybe I can catch up on some sleep now that we are at an rv park for a couple of days. Mom and Dad are talking about taking the ferry back to the penisula for lunch, I hope they bring me something back. Later dude.
We had to take a ferry from Holly Beach to Cameron Tx. Just as the ferry was ready to leave the captain blew the horn. It was so loud my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. I was shaking and just wanted to hide under the seat. We stopped at a couple of parks where I could run free. I was running and running. Something I have discovered is grass, green grass. At first I wondered what this strange cover on the ground was. I even took a bite, not bad.
Well it is March 3rd already. I can't believe we have been on the road so long and I survived. I sure do miss my friend Wanda, she is the lady that took care of me when mom and dad wanted to go places where they would not allow me. I have a notion to write to Oprah. I bet she could change that. She is a powerful woman. Mom is doing laundry and is washing my blanket. It always smells so good after it is washed. I like it when she puts that fabric softener in the rinse cycle. Mom is having salmon steaks over salad tonight for dinner. I can hardly wait. By the way check out the new section for mom's food diary and recipes. Arf Arf.
Today is March 14th and we are camping at the Rustic Sands campground in Mexico Beach for a couple of days. It is nice to have a break from being strapped in the chair. I can run free!! They won't let dogs on the beach so I had to sit inside the motor home. I was able to catch up on some sleep though. I always get excited whenever mom and dad get back to see if they brought me anything. They bought two starfish. One is purple and the other is spiral. Of course they are not for me. Oh well maybe next time.
Sunday, March 16th. Had a great time at the beach today. Soaked up a few rays and even got in the water. Mom said to dad, remember when Cuddles wouldn't even get in the water. I have grown up a lot. I could run on this beach, so I ran around for a good long time and then got in the water to cool off. Mom said that I run as fast as a greyhound, whatever that is, never heard of that species. When dad was riding his bike he found a little rug and gave it to mom. She washed it and now is mine, so when I lay in the sand I have my own beach rug. The other day mom and dad were having a discussion about the sports bottle dad carries on his bike. Dad puts cranberry juice in the bottle and fills it up with water, over time the cranberry juice stains the straw and no matter how much mom soaks it, it won't come clean. Mom said it looks gross and unhealthy, so she finally convinced him to use a new one.
Today is April 1st. Since my last entry we have been visiting family in Florida. Dad has a cousin, Nancy in the Tampa area, mom has a classmate, Sheila, in Tampa and we spent time with them. We got into Naples Florida on Sunday and staying with mom's niece Kathy, in an apartment, a place that does not drive away. How cool is that. My mom's sister, Joey, from Indianapolis is here also and mom's brother, Walt, from Ohio got a run to Sarasota (he is a truck driver) so we drove from Naples to Sarasota to have dinner with him. Mom and dad really have a cool family. I have had so much attention, I don't want it to end. But we are leaving tomorrow and heading on hwy 41 south to Key West.
Saturday, April 5th. Here in Key West camping right by the water. It is nice to settle in for a couple of weeks. I don't have to be strapped to the chair. I did get into trouble again. Mom made her and dad a sandwich and dad was outside and mom turned her back to get something to drink and I had my chance to steal part of dad's sandwich. I ate the top bread along with the ham and when dad came inside he asked mom what happened to his sandwich. Well need I say more. Dad keeps telling mom that he is going to take me to a taxidermist, I better quit pushing my luck. I know mom loves me and she won't let that happen, I hope?
Today is May 4th, Sunday and we are in Georgia now at an RV Park and mom is going to give me a bath. I like getting a bath because I can shake and get mom all wet. It has been a little warm so mom thinks a bath will cool me off. I have been sneaking into mom and dad's bed in the night and if I am real careful they don't even know I am there. If they did they would tell me to go to my bed. I have been getting away with it for two nights now.
Well sneaking into bed is no longer, mom and dad caught me and I had to go to my own bed. Remember when I told you that I was in trouble for taking half of dad's sandwich, well mom has been watching me like a hawk, but she will slip up sometime and I will get the sandwich. I don't care if I get into trouble it is worth it. When we visited my mom's brother's house I got to come along. They have a dog named Higgins and he is old and sick. He gets excited and passes out. I tried to make friends with him but he wouldn't play, but I did spot their cat and I chased it and the cat went under the bed and didn't come out the whole time we were there. I like a little authority myself from time to time.
You know I have a bone to pick with mom. Everytime they leave mom says we will be right back. What does she mean by right back, it means within 5 to 15 minutes to me but they are gone for a couple of hours sometimes more. So I don't believe right back any more. I just give her a look as she is going out the door. And to top things off, mom took me to a vet to get my booster shot and I am up to sixteen pounds so now mom has cut me off from chips and we had pancakes for dinner last night and mine was really small. She doesn't think I realize it but I do.
June 8th, we are taking off in the morning to head for Salisbury, Ma. for a night and then on into Maine. I sure hope they bring me some of the lobster they are always talking about. Have no idea how that tastes. Mom and dad went on a couple of tours here in Ma. while I guarded the house. They did bring me back some food as my pay, not bad for a days work. I have been seeing some strange animals here, mom says the are squirrels, they run up trees and run back down again, then up and then down. How boring. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday it was so cold here that we had to wear winter jackets. It was rainy too. One day mom is wearing shorts and the next long pants, socks, long sleeve shirt, and a heavy jacket. Mom is sick with a cold and she is taking several over the counter medicines but I am not sure it is working. She said she has to cure it herself because we can't go to the doctor. We will see what tomorrow brings. Mom gets bronchitis real easy.
June 9th, here in Maine scoping out the other dogs. Saw a couple of dogs that I would like to meet, if mom lets me. She said ok and the pictures will say how I feel.
Today is July 20th, just when things were getting more comfortable for me, dad, mom, and I went kayaking on the Erie Canal. The things they get me in to. I had to wear a life jacket, which mom had to loosen because it is the life jacket they bought me when I was only 8 months old. We got in the kayak and I was nervous so I sat on dad's lap for quite awhile. But it didn't seem so bad so I got up and put my front paws on the side and scouted for them. Watching for any dangers that might be lurking around. I knew I needed to protect them if I wanted to make it back to shore all in one piece.
Mom and dad picked up my 2 nephews from the airport and wouldn't you know he made me kayak with them too. They really appreciate the things I do for them. Today is July 31st and my nephews have gone back to Phoenix and just when I think I will get some rest, off we go again. Mom had to fly to Indianapolis to attend her sister's funeral and she was gone for 4 days. I was glad when she came back. She has been a little sad but getting better. Tomorrow is a new month and I will see what exciting things they get me into now. Idios
August 11th, I had a great time in the backyard of dad's cousin house. There were strange animals that I have never seen before. There was a red bird that everyone said was a cardinal, what ever that is, I just know that when I ran over to check it out it flew away. Then there was something with a bushy tail and they threw some strange food out the door, which I found out later they were peanuts. I was inside at the time and this bushy tail creature would pick up a peanut and eat it. At one time it came to the glass door where I was and put its face right up to mine. It was taunting me but no one would let me out to get the little creature. There also was a rabbit, I almost had that. I finally gave up and just watched them around the yard. There were black squirrels and also one that was brown with a blond tail. Mom took a picture of it because she said no one would believe her otherwise. This trip is getting more and more interesting as we go along. Well goodbye for now and I will let you know what other adventures I have.
Mom told me I need to update my diary so here goes. Mostly through September mom and dad have been sightseeing and I get stuck at the RV. It does give me a chance to catch up on sleep. I have been sneaking into bed with them every night while they are sleeping and it is so cozy and warm. It has been cold lately where we are and I am sure they wouldn't want me to be cold and maybe get sick. Today I saw two large, very large which I thought were dogs but found out later they were deer by the fence where we are camped for the night. I started barking to protect mom and dad and mom told me to be quiet. She didn't want me to spook them away. She was able to get a couple of pictures. Spent some time at the beach today, the Copalis Beach in Washington, found a couple of sand dollars to add to the souvenir wall. We have been driving through the mountains and the roads are curvy. Mom kept saying this is fun driving through the mountains, but I kept watching things flying around, I was hiding so I wouldn't get hit. I only have two and a half months of this left, it will be good to have more space again but I think they will have to put in some grass for me, I don't know if I can handle the rock yard, now that I know what grass is. That is all I have to say for now, going back to sleep, bye.
Well here we are in October, just two more months of traveling and then home. I can't believe I have survived it. Got in trouble again the other night. Dad had left two pieces of sandwich on the table and when Mom was helping him get on his jacket I got one of them before I got caught. Mom has me on this diet because I have gained too much and I can't have human food anymore. Bummer! She means well and I know she is looking out for my health but I sure do hate it. It is a beautiful day today and warm, I am laying in the sun and it feels good. Love ya mom.
It is now November and we will be back in Las Vegas next month. This trip has been a great experience for me. I have learned a lot of new tricks to get what I want. I can fool mom but dad is on to me. I was able to sneak another half of sandwich when no one was looking. You just lay and wait for them to turn their backs and then go for it and take the consequences later. Mom makes such good sandwich's it is hard to resist. They have quit giving me any more of their food because I was getting plump. I have slimed down and feel more like running when I have a chance. When we were at the sand dunes I was free to run all I wanted.
It is Nov. 28 and the stay here in Rocky Point has been great. I can run free on the beach, lay and work on my tan so I can show it off when we get back to Vegas to Chocolate, Gretchen, and Morgan. I bet they will be envious. I will share all my trip with them when we can get together. On a more serious note, thank you mom and dad for taking me along on this venture. I have learned a lot. Idios Amigo see you in Vegas.