The Well Traveled Dog

Sorry it's taken me so long to publish a post. I've been busy traveling the country. I have been in 4 states in less than 4 weeks! It all began in Michigan (where I used to live). From there, I spent a week or so at summer camp in Philadelphia. Then, we went to a state called Virginia (which is where we live now, I think). Finally, we went a little further south and visited Cary, North Carolina. Phew! I'm tired.

While we (Mom, Dad, MomMom and PopPop) were in NC, we went to this really pretty campus. Mom tells me it's where Dad went to college. It's called Duke University. Have you heard of it? There seems to be a lot of pride for their basketball team. I guess they're pretty good. I wonder if they have a football team? I don't recall if I've ever heard them mentioned in the sports news.

Anyway, here are some pictures of our visit to Duke.

Dad and I outside the famous chapel.

MomMom, PopPop, Dad and I

I wanted to go in and see the chapel. Maybe say a few prayers but apparently, Saturdays are not dog visiting days. Oh well.

I kept PopPop company while everyone else toured the chapel.

Mom took some pictures of flowers at the botanical gardens on campus. This is my favorite one.

As you can see, I was super tired from the trip. I couldn't even make it my bed. Just passed out right in the dining room. You can see the new table and chairs that MomMom and PopPop handed down to us. I think my parents are happy now that they don't have to eat at a wobbly, plastic table.

Why I'm Not Eating My Food

I'm not eating too much of my food lately...here's why:

I'm just too tired from all the fun I'm having.

Morning sudoku wipes me out.
I swim a lot...

...which makes me want to nap even more.
But, my mom will say it's because Pop-pop feeds me his homemade smoked turkey.

The Rituals of Humans

After a few fun days at summer camp, my parents showed up. Boy was I happy to see them. We played in the backyard for a little while, went for a quick walk and then everyone gathered in that area where food is prepared. Then, my humans did what I can only guess is one of their weird rituals that I will never understand...sort of like how they set up a fake tree (I can tell by the smell) INSIDE the house in the middle of winter or like when they throw perfectly edible bones in the garbage...these are things I just can't figure out.

Well, tonight they topped all those things. Everyone sat at the table and then Grandmom placed this big lump of chocolate in front of my mom. Aaahhhh, the smell was intoxicating. I couldn't help all the drool that started flowing from my lips. But, then, THEN, the most shocking thing occurred. They lit the chocolate lump on fire!!! And then they sang about it and smiled and laughed. How is that possibly funny??!!!! Have my humans completely lost it? Just when I thought all would be lost, my mom blew out the fire. Phwew, what a relief.

I sat up a little straighter in the hopes that I might get a taste but I wasn't so lucky. It's probably just as well because I know what chocolate does to my tummy. I got terrible cramps and other GI issues when I ate a can of chocolate powder a while back. Tasted good but the results aren't worth the trouble. Well, I was just glad that the chocolate lump didn't burn and that my family got to eat it.

A Typical Day at Summer Camp

OK, I know it's been a while since I last posted. It was hard to get a good internet connection at camp so I'm writing all this a few days late. Actually, I'm in Virginia right now but I'll get to that later...

Anyway, I wanted to report what a typical day at summer camp was like for me...

8a.m. Wake up and get my grandparents out of bed. Make Pop-pop take me for walkies.

9a.m. Breakfast

9:15a.m. Morning nap

11 a.m. Morning swim for one hour

12 p.m. Afternoon walkies and dry off

12:20 p.m. Afternoon nap

4 p.m. Afternoon swim

5 p.m. Early evening walkies followed by dinner followed by nap

8 p.m. Evening swim then walkies then bed

As you can see, I did lots of swimming (and napping). Here are some pictures:

This is my swimming buddy, "Cool Turtle" a.k.a CT.

Here I am, rescuing one of my favorite toys.

Gotta shake some of that water off!
...and back in to save the next toy. A good dog's work is never finished.

More shaking

Relaxing on the front porch with my family after a long day of fun.