04.18.2010 * Day 12 * A new Beginning....

I had a good night's sleep; think everybody did. We were up early, feeding the horses and then unpacking the long white box. Nancy did some vacuuming in preparation for the visitors who are coming today. I am totally non plus about the vacuum cleaner. Everyone else seems to run and hide. I just let it maneuver around me.

My visitors, three of them, arrived at 10:00am. Of course, all six of us had to bark and make a big deal out it! Nancy, Robert and the three visitors went out on the deck along with Phoenix, Hannah Gracie and myself. Phoenix promptly found himself a lap to jump into and I spent my time leaning against one of the woman visitors, Kjerstin, who had previously adopted two vizslas and recently lost her beloved Sunny. She pet me non-stop and is a very kind and gentle soul. I really like her. Her friend Paul, is a very nice man, soft-spoken and kind. Gracie and Hannah got lots of attention from them as well. Phoenix spent almost the entire time in Kjerstin's friend's lap (I apologize for not remembering her name - she was very sweet). When Phoenix wasn't in her lap he was in Paul's. I think maybe he wanted to be adopted and they did offer to take him; Robert would never allow that in a zillion years. Everybody talked about me and what they thought they knew of my past. I wish I could really fill them in on the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me dog! Kjerstin finally decided that she wanted to adopt me, today! Paul said OK and then they asked Robert if he was OK with that. I know he wanted to say "no" but he looked at me and my eyes told him it was fine by me, though I would never forget him and his kindness. The necessary papers were completed and inked. Paul tried to take a picture of me but I was my usual elusive self; perhaps in time. My new parents own a store of sorts in Berkley. I think it is a sporting goods store of some type. I will get to be a store dog with them when they are there. If you ever come to visit me, just mention my name and I'll see if I can't convince them to give you a discount. Finally, we all said good-bye and loaded into a tiny Honda FIT. I tried to claim the front seat but Kjerstin's friend beat me to it. I settled for the big round dog bed in the back seat with Paul.

Robert hugged and kissed me goodbye. There were tears in his eyes, of sadness or joy, I don't know; perhaps both. I will miss him and he me as I begin yet another chapter in my life....

04.17.2010 * Day 11

We awoke much earlier than we do at home and things got real busy. Robert fed the horses and then us dogs, though both Phoenix and I were far too excited to eat very much. Robert had a muffin and I eyed it jealously. We went out for another walk and there seemed to be dogs, people and big furries EVERYWHERE. More trucks and cars and dogs and people and big furries kept showing up. There was lots of noise and activity.

Robert brushed two of the big furries and then put some sort of contraption on their back. I had never seen anything like it and I wondered as to its purpose. Finally, Nancy showed up with the other dogs, Rothko, Hannah, Gracie and Dolly. Dolly spent the day with us up on the shelf in the long white box. Much to my amazement, both Nancy and Robert each got on top of a big furry. I was amazed and just hoped they wouldn't try that with me.

Phoenix, I and Gracie spent all morning and part of the early afternoon together on the shelf in the long white box. Several people came by at various times to make sure we had water and the opportunity to go outside and take care of nature. Finally, around 1:30pm Robert and Nancy and a whole bunch of other people came back and sat around talking. I got to meet them all as well as many other vizslas. I wish I could have had the chance to run free in one of the big fields but I know Robert was worried I would take off and not return. The thought did cross my mind but then I remembered what it was like on the streets....

Finally the big furries were loaded into the long white box and myself, Rothko and Gracie into the truck for the ride home. I claimed the front seat but Rothko kept standing on me as he tried to stick his head out the window. Finally, he retreated to the back seat and went to sleep. Everyone seemed tired.

After another long ride we arrived home. Everyone had dinner and then we all went to bed relatively early. Tomorrow, I have some visitors who think they may want to adopt me. I am kind of excited, and kind of sad in a way as well. I really like it here and have become quite attached to Robert. We will see what tomorrow brings....

04.16.10 * Day 10

My human is very busy today. He is taking all kinds of things out of the house and putting them into a long white box on wheels. I think it is used to haul the big furry creatures around. I think there is some kind of event going on tomorrow and I may get to go to it. I am pretty excited about the prospect.

Nancy showed up this afternoon and helped Robert put three of the big, furry guys in the long white box. Of course, first they had to catch them and two (2) of them did not want to be caught. I could teach them some things in that area. Finally, they fell for the old "food-in-the-bucket" trick and were loaded up. Then Phoenix and I got loaded into the truck and off we went for a long 2 1/2 hour drive. I saw all kinds of new and exciting things from the front seat of the truck. When we arrived we were at a place with big fields, lots of trees and a whole lot of dogs and other big furry creatures.

Robert tied the big furries out on some kind of leash which I thought were reserved for us dogs.
After he fed the horses he took Phoenix and I out for a walk. It was very breezy but pleasant out. I smelled all kinds of wonderful things and ran in the tall grass and saw lots of birds wandering around. Robert fixed us dinner and then he went off for a while and when he returned with a plate of yummy looking ribs and green beans we were jealous. Unfortunately, he did not share but did give us dog treats for not attacking him and grabbing his dinner.

We went for another walk after it got dark and Robert had some kind of light attached to his forehead. How weird, I thought; maybe he is an alien of sorts.

That evening we slept in a part of the big long white box up on sort of a shelf which was so high up Robert had to lift us up. We all curled up under an unzipped sleeping bag and tried to sleep. The wind was blowing rather briskly and it kept blowing things off the tree we parked under and they would hit the roof and make all kinds of noise. On top of that, the tree also had several owls roosting in it. I thought I was part of Dr Seusse's "Horton Hears a Who" story. Phoenix kept pushing Robert off the cushion he was on and I kept moving from one end of "the shelf" to the other. Robert kept dragging me back from the edge. I guess he was afraid I'd fall off and hurt myself. Several trucks arrived during the night and their clattery diesel motors woke us more than once. Finally around 3am the wind stopped and we all fell asleep for a few hours.....

04.16.2010 * Day 9

A pretty uneventful day; spent most of it lazing around on the couch or a dog bed. Part of it I spent on the dog crates in the kitchen looking out the window watching Robert do some really weird things to the MBZ in the driveway. I mean, I did not realize (old) humans could twist, contort and work upside down. I think he has more parts in boxes than are left on the car. Kind of makes me wonder if he'll ever get it all back together again. Maybe I should hide a few parts and see if he notices.....(evil grin).

This morning I went into the horse pasture and "devil dogged" around. Phoenix chased me for a while and I had a good time until I got stung by the "hot wire" fence again. I've just got to watch my step (or my tail) there.

This evening I watched more "House" with Robert and the other dogs. I think Dr. House needs a dog like me....

04.14.2010 * Day 8

Last night I slept in the bed with Robert, Rothko and Phoenix. We all did really well. We woke Robert at 6:30am and made him feed us breakfast, which he obliged. There is something about mornings for me. I am uber-playful in the morning, jumping and hopping and twirling; must be my bio-rhythm.
After breakfast Rothko is ramped up to play ball...talk about obsessive-compulsive behavior! I like to go out and run around a bit. I play a little with Phoenix and Dolly as well. After Robert feeds the horses and cleans their paddocks, we all go out running in the pasture. Yahoo! Do Rothko and I ever get dirty, like little kids who deliberately jump in puddles to make a splash. I got stung by the hot wire around the manure pile the other day, but I have since forgotten. Today, before Robert let us back into the rear yard, he hosed Rothko and I off. Brrrr!

Phoenix is jumping around in my face as I sit on the couch this evening trying to entice me to play. I am not sure about him. He can be a bit over the top at times.

I had an unpleasant experience late this morning when Robert spied a gopher and dispatched it with his special ops sniper air rifle. Damn, can he ever shoot! I DO NOT like the concussive sound at all. I went and hid in the back bedroom under the bed. When Robert found me I made it very clear to him that he would have to wait until I am adopted before any more gopher sniping. I know he was very bummed but he promised me he'd honor my wishes. If he doesn't, I may have to chew the stock and scope of his rifle off....

As you might note, I have stopped counting my post-operative days. I am healed! Praise the lord dog! Amen brothers!

So now I am just pretty much waiting to see what the future has in store for me. I am gaining a smidgen of weight every day and I am looking forward to the Fun Field Day. I hope I get to ride there in the front seat with Robert and I hope lots of people stop by to meet me (and give me treats). For Rothko, just bring tennis balls.....

Last night Rothko, Phoenix, myself and Robert all snuggled under a blanket on the floor while watching three episodes of "House". It was fun, though Nancy thinks we were waiting for McCloud's Daughters (no girly boy shows for Robert). Maybe tonight we will watch Gray's Anatomy. Who knows what treasures Hulu or Netflix hold for us.

I am liking it here...life continues to be good....

04.13.2010 * Post Operative Day 7

Hurray! I am through with my medications and my soft diet. Robert still soaks my kibble and is supplementing me with wet food so as to put on some weight. My sutures are slowly disappearing and my ears are not inflamed. I get to spend time on top of the dog crates at the kitchen window whenever I want while Gracie the vizsla is temporarily away. I even get my favorite spot back on the end of the couch. I have been awakening in a VERY playful mood and want to play with Rothko and Phoenix but I am still a bit unsure of their intentions. Hopefully, in due time, I will sort out all of the relationship dynamics.

Robert has all but given up on trying to get more photos; I am just too wary for him in this regard. I continue to settle in and become more trusting each day. I really like it here and could easily spend the rest of my days with these humans.

04.12.2010 * Post Operative Day 6

I spent the night on the floor in the bedroom. Sometimes the bed is just too warm for me. This morning I was in a very playful mood, jumping, hopping around and play bowing. I am feeling much better and everyday I come further out of my shell.

I have started to eat kibblle again, though Robert softens it with warm water and mixes it with soft canned food. I am not nearly as skinny and ribby as I was when I first arrived here; still have a several more pounds to put on. The human would like to show you a new picture of me, but I have been most uncooperative with posing for him. He is going to have to resort to some really stealthy tactics to get a photo. However, I will be at the VCNC's Fun Field Day at Hastings Island this Saturday, the 17th, for anyone wishing to see me in person. My foster mate, Rothko, hopefully will be there as well.

Right now I am snuggling on Rothko's BIG round dog pillow which is next to Robert who is working at the dining room table. It is raining on and off here so I try and go out whenever there is a break in the weather.