T.G.I.F.

June 8, 2007. Well, here it is Friday again. Another week has passed and it puts us one more week closer to the trip to the lake. I have heard so much talk about this trip and who is going when. I am really looking forward to it, I think. It sounds like the lineup may be just me and Tom driving up there by ourselves in the van.

Caitlin and Matias might be driving along with us in their car, but nothing is for certain. Tamara and Jess don’t know when or if they are coming. Karl likely won’t be coming until August with his friend Mat. I don’t think I have met Mat yet. Say that fast three times.

This lake place sounds like it is going to be just made for me. I will get lots of off-leash time, in fact I will be all off-leash if I behave myself. I’ll get to swim and run around in the bush and meet other dogs and even ride in the boat, instead of just looking at it. Oh, and trying to eat it as well.

The past week has been a busy one. The weather has run the gamut from summer to winter and back again, all in a week. Three days ago, it was so hot it felt like mid-summer and I was really dragging my butt. Yesterday it was so cold and raining, Tom wore his winter jacket and gloves when he took me to the park.

I did really well at the park all week with obeying my commands and even doing it without the squeaker. Yesterday I had all sorts of distractions too. There were other dogs that I ignored. One of the Chicken Wing Dancers was inside the baseball dugout and I didn’t even go over to say hello, even though he was making strange gestures and sounds.

Today while I was on the park, one of the dancers snuck up on us, but it was only to ask the time. I went over to him and looked at him, but immediately turned away when tome told me to “come”. I’m really starting to be a good example for other dogs.

After that event happened, three of my friends arrived outside the outfield fence, but I stayed right with Tom. Just a few short weeks ago, that would not have happened. I would have been off to visit and no amount of calling would have gotten me back.

All week long, I have ridden in the truck with Tom and just sat quietly beside him in the front seat or lay down in the back. As soon as someone else gets in the car, I go mental. A good example of this was on Wednesday when we drove out the freeway to meet Karl. All the way out, I was quiet. Tom and Karl went to see Spiderman 3 and when they came out and both got into the truck, it started.

I was crying and barking and running around in the truck. At one point I even climbed up onto Karl’s lap and sat down. I was quiet then, but that only lasted about 5 minutes before I started again. This is one of two bad habits I just have to break. The other is my love of trying to chase bicycles and motorcycles.

It has been a long week for this sheepdog, but, TGIF and now the weekend starts, when Renee gets here. Tom has a surprise for her. She gave him a “Sheepdog Patrol” T-shirt for his birthday. Tom has made her a T-shirt of her own, but hers has the words on the back and a smaller version on the front, just above my picture. I think she’s going to like it.