Stoutpup

That’s what we try to be. Calm and assertive. Good pack leaders. But sometimes there’s a rotten apple in the bunch, and by apple, I mean person, and by bunch I mean dog park, and it’s hard to be the role models our dogs need us to be. Here’s a good article I recently read from a man I admire very much for his patience, determination, and philosophy, Cesar Milan.

Let me just say this. If you are a responsible dog owner at the dog park and your dog tries to take another dog’s brand new flying squirrel toy out of her mouth, you stop it abruptly and move to another part of the park so everyone can go on enjoying their day. You don’t let it happen again until the dogs attack each other.

Be responsible. Know your dog. Monitor your dog’s behavior at the dog park. Dogs do work things out in their own way, but it is a dog owner’s duty to avoid situations that can be avoided. Such as unwanted repeat behavior! We are the pack leaders, we let them know what is okay and not okay.

Mr. Dogpark Douchebag, it’s too bad all hell had to break loose at the dog park yesterday. It’s too bad we lost our calm assertiveness because of your ineptness turned ass-holery. It’s too bad you tried to pick a fight with us with your puffed out chest and idiotic statements - because YOU were in the wrong.

I can see where your dog learned to be a dick. Your behavior was disgraceful and utterly retarded. It’s not your park. I’m not sorry for what I said to you, I’m only sorry my dog had to see it.

No, Cookie is not at the Liz Arden Red Door Spa. But you’d never guess it the way she gets pampered regularly at home. She’s worth every tail wipe and toe cleanin’. Cookie is as sweet as her name, and kept me from getting homesick at night by cuddling with me on the air mattress during my recent visit to the bay area. And her picture looks nice with October’s masthead colors.

1. Sunshine, crisp fall air and no rain in Seattle

2. Shoe and Hand Bag sale at Macy’s

3. Surprise visit to BFF Winston’s house

4. Found stack of People Magazines and Vogues in lobby

This is Lucy’s favorite month. Here’s she is pictured getting a jump start on the holiday by playing with her NBT (New Best Toy) Skeleton Man. Lucy was born on Halloween. She’ll be five.

Here’s a picture of Ol’ Sandy Jowls and the boys at Discovery Park enjoying the salty air. Lucy really wanted to run into the Sound and chase driftwood, but, you know, she’s a bulldog and everyone knows Bulldogs can’t swim.

Winston Lights up my day, that is. He’s my secret BFF! Because I have been wearing only bear pelts for the last six years I had to get some more real world clothes, so it was a good excuse for some mother daughter shopping time. Out to Lynnwood I went.

Here’s a nice little picture of Winston playing with his toys and showing me all the things he can do. What a smart guy!

Actually we are back from Phoenix. We had a great time and  wish I was still drinking Bud Light in the hot tub with my sister. But back to reality. Traveling always makes me sick and this trip has been no exception. Because of my recent assimilation into civilization after 6 years of being at home amongst primarily the company of two dogs and a cat, my immune system seems like it’s in shock. Indeed I am feeling like the Unfrozen Caveman Art Director. 

Your world frightens and confuses me…

Needless to say aside from the sickness and disease of the civilized man’s world, I am adjusting quite nicely. No one would ever know I was a caveman for so long. Just goes to show what a haircut and a nice pair of pants will do for a girl. In any case, Lucy seems to have taken a turn towards her wild animal instinct. She is officially banned from Doggie Daycare after allegedly “grabbing onto” a staffer and failing to let go when we were away. I find this really hard to believe plus I’m really embarrassed.  Ever since we lost Mazzy she has been acting like a real bitch. I feel bad.

Here’s a picture of cookie baking in the warm arizona sun.  Chocolate Chip! 

As the title says, It’s Hot! This has been a very steamy weekend in Seattle with temperatures in the high eighties. It’s been perfect weather for spending time out doors during the evening listening to music as the sun goes down. But the heat is not ideal for the dainty creature known as the English Bulldog. It’s also too hot too cook, so here is Lucy pictured outside Taco Del Mar waiting for Corey to get our Tacos so we don’t have to heat up our little kitchen making our own.

Day 1
One of the best things about living in Washington is all the Outdoor Recreation at our fingertips. We spent the weekend in Deception Pass which is one of the coolest places I have visited in Washington second only to Cape Flattery at Neah Bay last year. We made the hour and a half drive checking into our site at about 3 pm on Friday.

As Corey and I pitched the tent and set up camp, Lucy was a little uneasy about all the dirt and uncushion-y surroundings. But she quickly got over that as we headed down to the north beach a short distance away from our campsite. For a dog breed that notoriously cannot swim, Lucy loves the Ocean. She can either smell it or hear it off in the distance and will pull you with all her might towards the direction of the water where she will dip her dainty toes into the surf and also take mouthfuls of the salty water as happy as a clam. Up and down the beach we walked and then headed back to camp for dinner. Corey was able to catch the sunset from North Beach which is the picture you see above. As in the past, Lucy retired to the tent full of pillows and blankets for a summer night’s slumber at about 8 pm. We stayed up talking and drinking wine by the fire until the Park Ranger came around to tell us that radios were off limits past 10 pm. It was midnight. Fair enough.

Day 2
Now, why is it that my barely audible iPod must be shut off at 10 pm yet it seems required that children throughout the campgrounds start screaming at the top of their lungs at 5:30 am? I’m not talking about kids screaming for toilet paper or chex mix — both of which are completely reasonable shouting requests for a person of any age under the right circumstances — I’m talking a blood curdling “AAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHH!” over and over again. For no reason.

We made breakfast, and set out hiking, Bulldog in tow. Lucy is a pretty good hiker and she was a real trooper that day. She led us all over the park, we hiked several trails including a trail up to the bridge. Our last stop of the day was West Beach where Lucy fell asleep in the cool shadow of some driftwood - the sound of the waves crashing in the distance. Dogs normally sleep like 20 hours a day, so Lucy was pretty tired from the past two days of excitement. The beach was beautiful and a perfect way to catch the last hours of sunlight.

Lucy safely and snuggly asleep back at camp, we started off our evening at the band shell to see the Ruže Dalmatinke (Dalmatian Roses) a Croatian band from Anacortes. Very awesome.

Cousins Terry and Gina paid us a visit and we sat around the campfire talking and telling stories into the night.

Day 3
The next day, Corey and I had planned to wake up at the crack of dawn by running into the road in our bathing suits screaming at the top of our lungs, but that plan was foibled by the amount of beers we drank the night before so we ended up sleeping late, expertly packing up our camp and heading out. We popped by Rosario Beach to see the tidepools. Rosario Beach is home to the “The Maiden of Deception Pass” story pole. It depicts the story of the Samish Indian Nation. This entire area was settled by the Samish and Swinomish tribes and they lived on the land until the early 1900’s. An excellent detour on our route home for the story alone we decided - not to mention the awesome tidepool project.

Our final stop was The Anacortes Arts Festival on Fidalgo Island. Anacortes has a great downtown and we were so happy to have stopped. I anticipate Lucy will sleep for days after this action packed trip, she’s already got a jump start on that. We’re home and refreshed from being in the open woods and can’t wait to head out again soon.