Controlling Boy

Today, Guinness and I joined Daddy while he was on a cigar walk. We completed the loop around our complex, then headed for a our backyard. Guinness planted his feet and refused to move! I told Daddy, "I think Guinness wants a longer walk." There was still plenty of cigar left, so we walked across the street and around the block. Behind our garage, he did the same thing. The expression on his face said,"A longer walk please!" The cigar was not gone, so we did one more loop. That was the end of the cigar, and Guinness was willing to go home.

Unfortunate Thing, and then a Funny Thing!

I folded up the king-size comforter off our bed, threw it in the back of my SUV, and delivered it to the dry cleaner. When I carried it in, the clerk dropped a pile of clothes to the floor allowing me to flop the comforter down on the counter. She lurched backwards gasping, saying there must have been cat hair on the clothes. I said, "This comforter is full of dog hair!" She visibly and audibly was in immediate distress. Her response was, "You should clean it before you come in." Oh... Interesting... She had to excuse herself and run to the back for an allergy pill. I am sorry about that incident.

Several days later, I picked up my cleaning. When I arrived home, I noted there were TWO hangers. Here is the second --

I must have gathered a dog toy from the car into the folds of the comforter when I took it in! And they CLEANED it!!!! LOL

Addendum on 10/30: Guinness was playing with this toy and chewing on something which made a noise when it dropped to the hardwood floor. So I checked out what he had. The cleaning tag with safety pin! How dangerous was that?!

The Parade

Frank, the Candy Man with the dog biscuits, keeps his Mattie on leash because she tries to bite everyone. I tried to capture the ritual parade of Mattie leading, followed by Frank, and Guinness trailing at the end hoping for one more treat. Guinness follows them like this all the way around the field.

Watching Mommy

We were the only ones at dog park this morning. Guinness was enjoying sniffing all the wondrous smells, aka reading the morning paper. He wasn't paying any attention to me, so I decided to test him and wandered into a corner of the park to see if he would see me and follow. He did not, but he was headed for the path behind the trees to find me! So I called to him, he came galloping -- running past me and around in huge circles a couple of times. In other words, he HAD noticed I was missing, was looking for me, and was ecstatic to find me!!! :) He almost failed the test, but passed at the last minute!

Buddy Holly

Guinness and Holly are good friends, but they don't play. They sniff together. They wander around smelling the same things.

Enjoying the Camping Life!

Guinness relaxing on Uncle Gary's porch.

A couple of years ago, I tied him to the corner cement blocks and he pulled them out!!! :-0

Grand Day at Cousin Camp!

Today Guinness and I traveled to Letchworth State Park for Cousin Camp! First we met up with Guinness's Aunt Janet and Aunt Ruth.

Then Cousin Marlene and Cousin Etha appeared.

What a perfect, glorious fall day!!!

Guinness was a good boy, though you can't convince Uncle Gary of that! Mommy even bought him a dish of ice cream!

This evening, we stayed at a new Microtel in Olean which welcomes dogs. As we arrived, our next door neighbor came out of their room and exclaimed over Guinness who was all too eager to let them rub his belly. They said they have a yellow lab, Bear. I suggested they meet. So they opened their door, and the dogs charged for each other with great joy! Then they ran to the hallway and ran lickety-larrup down the hall and back a couple of times with their masters laughing our heads off and grateful that no one else came out of their rooms!!!

Uh-oh

This morning, when we went outside for our morning potty break, there was a mother, young son, and dog doing the same. Of course, Guinny went crazy to see a potential friend -- pulling at the end of his leash and barking fervently -- while I am explaining with my normal, "He's very friendly! He just wants to play!" The little boy said something which I could not hear above the barks, but I believe it was something like -- "Your dog should be under better control!" His mother reprimanded him for saying whatever it was.

Later, I saw the mother in the lobby. She commented, "Your dog is very excitable." Yep. That's one thing you can definitely say!

Awesome Day!

Dogs, joggers, and horseback riders were very welcome at the extensive preserved Petersburg National Battlefield. I drove through the park and stopped at all the pertinent places with Guinny. He had plenty of walking today after being in the car most of yesterday.

Here he is on the location that once was Fort Morton -- which my great great grandfather mentions in his diary!


Late afternoon, we began heading for home. At Winchester, VA, we stopped to find a dog friendly hotel. After two stops, we found one, but they were full. They suggested another. They also were full. At both hotels, I saw owners with dogs outside the hotels. I asked why so many dogs are there. It is dog show weekend!!! So we moved on to hotel #4 which was quite satisfactory and next door to a Cracker Barrel!

Boring Day for Guinny

Since I drove to NC this time, I decided to stop in the Petersburg, VA area to see the Civil War museums and battlefields where my great great grandfather served the Union. The weather was perfect for leaving him in the car alone while I toured.

The Five Forks Battlefield is fairly remote and definite red neck country, so I was a bit uncomfortable even with Guinness as my guard! But I did feel safe at the Visitor's Center. The Ranger gave me needed information and was very helpful. He told me where to find the field where my great great grandfather's Fifth Corps formed for battle before facing down the Confederates. I found the place, but two barking, unleashed dogs and a staring man did not encourage me to get out of the car. Guinness was on full bark too. Before going deaf, I took a shot from the driver's seat.


The suggested hotel, Candlewood Suites, seemed to be a great distance, so I decided to check one of the chain hotels that might be dog friendly. It was a DIVE!!! Even Guinness didn't like it! While combing my hair in the bathroom before going to find dinner, I saw, in the mirror, a giant cockroach on the wall behind me! After walking through a cobweb upon entering, I decided, that's it, and called the front desk to say I was checking out.

We continued the extended drive to Candlewood Suites, which was very acceptable in every way!