24 Dec 2009

This started out as a normal day.  Dad got up and made mom's coffee stuff.  Then mom got up and made breakfast.  I got to lick dad's bowl.  It was yummy.  Soon dad left like he does most mornings.  The only thing different this day was that James didn't go with dad.  They have been leaving together for a few weeks now.  So when dad left, mom went back to bed, and I got to schnuggle on dad's bed.  I was all nice and warmie, so I didn't get up until mom got up and made my doggie breakfast.  It sure was good.  I am a very lucky dog, and I have a very good life.

But then there was a surprise.  Dad came home early.  It was still before lunch.  Dad took off his work clothes and put on his home clothes.  Mom made lunch, and dad and mom had lunch in the living room and watched the news on the TV-thing.  After lunch dad went outside to do something called an OIL CHANGE on the Toyota.  I got to go outside with dad and watch.  I just like being with dad.  It doesn't matter what we are doing so long as we do it together.  James came out to help dad, and soon they were done.  They put away all the tools and cleaned up everything they took out.  Then James went back to the bunk house, and dad went inside.  Dad worked on his computer for a while and I slept on the doggie-bed in dad's room.  When dad was finished, we went to watch TV.  I like watching TV.  Some day I will write a DOG-BLOG on watching TV.  Dad fell asleep and took a nap on the couch.  I thought it was a good idea, so I took a nap on the floor by dad.

Mom woke us up a little later.  It was getting dark outside.  Dad must have been really tired.  Dogs can sleep anywhere and any time, so I was feeling pretty good.  Mom and dad started getting things together.  I could tell they were getting ready to go somewhere.  I followed dad really close - I didn't want dad to forget me.  I want to go too dad!  Then dad got my green dog-training bag.  Oh-goodie..... I'm a happy dog, a happy happy dog..... I get to go with dad.  I didn't have a clue where we were going.  But that don't matter none - that I do get to go along is what matters.  It will be fun, whatever it is.  Mom put Daisy and I in the dog-show van.  James got in to the van too, and we left the house.

Dad got on his radio and started calling KD6CUB.  I remember that call, that is Sean.  Sean answered, and he and dad talked some.  We didn't drive very far before mom parked the dog-show van.  But no body got out.  Dad was still talking to Sean. Then I heard some other cars drive up.  One was Sean and his 3 girls.  The other was Keith with Heidi and Bobby the skin-puppy.  I was hoping that Bobby had some cookies to share.  Mom and dad got Daisy and I out.  They put some funny collars on us that had bells that jingle.  OK - I remembered the collars from last year.  These are the jingle-bell collars.  I got to wear it when we went to the place with the big tree and all the lights.  Last year the collar smelled like Uncle Parker.  This year it only smelled like me.  So tonight must be Christmas Eve.  Cool... - so we got our stuff together and started walking.  I could almost smell the tree already.

Sure enough - in a few blocks we were downtown by the big tree.  There were millions of lights, and there was music playing.  And there were lots of people too.  So we all started walking around looking at the lights and listening to the music.  It was a little cold, but I didn't mind that much.  Lots of people came up to mom and dad and ask if they could pet Daisy and I or even take a picture of us.  So we were moving pretty slow.  It probably took about 2 hours to walk around all the area a few times.  There were other dogs there too, but dad wouldn't let me play with them.  No matter - it was fun anyway.  All the lights and the pretty music was just so much fun.  I was just a little puppy last year, so I don't remember a whole lot about it, but I remember I had a good time.  

So much has happened since last year.  I became a Great Dane.  I became a Star Puppy.  I became a Canine Good Citizen.  I earned my Rally Novice Title.  I got to go to some dog shows.  Dad took me on a few hikes.  It's hard to believe it has been a year already.  I have been on some really good Great Adventures with dad.  I really am a lucky lucky dog.

Mom started getting cold.  Dad wanted to stay longer, but mom wanted to leave.  So we started walking back to where everyone parked.  When we got to the parking lot, dad and Sean exchanged Christmas gifts while mom put Daisy and I in out beds.  Everyone loaded up and we headed for home.  When we got home, mom made our doggie-dinner.  All that walking made me more hungry than normal.  And I am always hungry anyway.  So I gobbled up my dinner and went looking for more to eat,  But there wasn't any more.  By this time mom and dad were getting ready for bed, so I got in my doggie-bed and went to sleep too.

It was another fun doggie day.