January 13, 2010

It is much warmer out there today. I even wanted to stay out a little longer at potty breaks. Poppy said this afternoon it was 47 degrees. That sure beat the below zero business we have had.

Anyway, Mamaw was ready to go for a walk and so off we went. Her in her crazy shoes with the spikes on them. She wanted to move along faster today. She almost didn’t give me time to smell the yellow snow. And of course, the spring thaw had started by the time we left cause she had to go to the Post Office and HyVee before she did anything else. I saw a couple cigarette butts along the way but no slowing down so I couldn’t grab em.

This afternoon Poppy decided to take us for a long drive. We were gone over an hour and it was such a lovely drive. The snow banks were pretty high sometimes and I couldn’t see over them but Mamaw said she couldn’t either. I sat on her lap and just enjoyed their conversation and the scenery. She was telling Poppy that she is going to lose 20 lbs so she will look good again and feel better about herself. She mentioned that she might be interested in a JOB! Oh God—does that mean she would leave me all day? Well, she said if she got a job where she had an hour for lunch she could come home and let me out. I wiped my paw across my brow on that one. So, it looks like Mamaw wants to make some changes in her life. She says once I am trained (which takes most of her day) she will be bored. Poppy said he could understand that.

Back home, a huge drink of water and Mamaw is ready for another walk. Of we go again, crazy shoes and all, and move right along again. I guess I’m just going to have to get used to the idea that she isn’t going to stop at my every whim to investigate. Well, that’s okay. The doctor says she has to exercise 3 hours a week and weigh in at his office so she knows she’s gotta get goin. When we got home, I was wet clear up to my tummy. The spring thaw really went to work today! And there were times on our walk that we couldn’t avoid puddles. That okay, I kinda got a kick out of it myself. But she said I had to SIT on the rug and STAY until my feet got dry. She would say GOOD STAY every so often and give me on of those liver treats I love so much. So, I stayed…

But she went and got the shovel. She put on her crazy shoes too and came into the living room and headed for the deck. Now that deck has snow 16-18 feet high. How does she think she is going to get out the door. Well, Mamaw is a very clever lady I can tell you. She took the window and screen out of the storm door and crawled out! I thought, “Oh my God, Mamaw, don’t you get buried out there”! She worked and worked and managed to get a path from the door to the other end of the deck. She came back in exhausted but told Poppy she had a really good start on it and would work on it the next few days.

They are “duded up” – means they are going out. Into the kennel I go! They were only gone about and hour and a half. When they came back, they had company with them. John and Judy Swanson are Poppy’s niece and nephew. Well, John came right over to my kennel and let me out! I can tell already I’m going to like him! I got all kinds of lovin from the company and really hated to go back in the kennel but they went down the stairs into the “hole” I talk about from time to time. Aw—I hear the balls rolling around so I know they are playing pool. Well—good for them; they need to have company more often.