Home Sweet Home

August 27, 2007. The past few days have been full of adventure and exposure to new things. The other day we went out in the boat but, Karl did not get in with us. I was very unsure of why that was and then Tom threw him a stick with a rope attached. Karl had this big white thing on his feet. Tom started moving the boat and the rope got tighter. Karl yelled “hit it”.

My brain registered that and I thought Karl was in trouble and at the same instant that I heard that, Tom made the boat go fast. The rope tightened and it pulled Karl off the dock. There he was, behind the boat, 50 feet away and standing on the water of all things. Wow!!!

We kept going like that and Karl would move back and forth behind the boat, which ignited my herding drive, so I started barking and running back and forth, until Renee held me. Karl kept doing that and then started jumping in the air. They apparently call this wakeboarding.

The next day, they did the same thing with the boat, only this time I stayed on the beach with Renee while Tom and Perry were in the boat. This time, Karl was behind the rope and lying on top of one of those big rubber things that have been on the beach all summer. This is called tubing.

Well, let me tell you, I liked this a lot less. I was barking and running back and forth across the beach because I could hear Karl screaming. I was sure he was being hurt, but I couldn’t see him, nor could I get to him, which frustrated me no end. They called this sport tubing. Renee doesn’t like it either, which is why she stayed on the beach with me.

The next day, the weather was very good, but Tom was really sick and so we didn’t get to take the boat out. Because of this for the first time this whole trip, we did not do a morning or an evening walk. Tom and I have done well over 500 kilometers in walking distance this summer, although, I have probably done twice that with the amount of times I run back and forth and take side trips into the bush.

Saturday, it was time to pack up and go home. It looks like we picked a good day as the weather was a mixed bag of everything. It was sunny in the morning, then windy and cloudy. There was thunder and lightning, and then it started to rain. It was considerably cooler too. Probably a good thing because everyone was working very hard.

We were going to do a weenie roast on the beach, but the heavens opened up and we couldn’t. Tom barbecued them on the deck and we had our dinner feast while watching “The Shaggy Dog”.

In the morning we woke up and it was still pouring rain. Everyone was a little tense and anxious, but they set to work doing the finishing touches on loading and closing the cabin. Too soon, it was all done, we jumped into the truck, Tom hooked up the boat and we were on our way. Goodbye to the cabin and my little slice of doggie heaven.

All the way home I rode with my front paws over Karl’s legs and my chin resting on my paws. I’m sad to leave the cabin, but, I’m happy to be going back to my “forever home” and wonder what new adventures I will face. Unfortunately it meant leaving Karl at his home and Renee at her home and now it is just Tom and I again. Grand Pappy Frank is still here too and I am very happy to see him.

Later on this evening, Caitlin and Matias arrived and they brought wonderful news. I have a new cousin! Caitlin and Matias moved into their own place while we were away this summer and so they went and bought themselves the cutest little puppy you ever did see.

She is tiny, just 11 pounds and is 7 and a half weeks old. She is a cross between a Rottweiler and a terrier. Her mother is 120 pounds and her father is 90, so she will not be tiny too long. In fact she will be huge. Her name is Shelby and she is adorable. My cousin! I was very gentle with her but she was a little bit afraid of me.

That didn’t last long and we started to play together until it was time for them to go home. I will post a picture of her when Caitlin sends one. We forgot to take pictures while she was here, because we were so excited about her arrival in the family.

I slept next to Tom last night and in the morning the sun was shining and all is right with the world. Tom is still sick, but was finally feeling good enough at noon to take me to the park for a run. Because of the city workers strike, the grass has not been cut in 6 weeks and it is very long. Our game of fetch turned into more of a game of search and find, but I got a good run in and now I am pooped.