I'm back.

I'm really back.

Last week was half a bad nightmare, half a doggie's dream. You see, the bad stuff was basically my mom and sis left town. They left the state. They went Global. OK - they didn't exactly leave the country or anything, they went to Tennessee for a Global Destination Imagination. Apparently, sis did great with her team, and they got 9th place.

After my bonus day for day care on Thursday, Dad took me to my second favorite place - the Woofdorf. I got to stay for 2 days. Yeah! Guess who was there. No really... you have to guess. Stacy got to see her cousins, lots of them at a cousin's wedding. So - I celebrated with my cousin Copper. Copper doesn't get to stay home alone overnight either. We were both at the Woofdorf. I know. I smelled her. I didn't get to play with her, she was in Smallville. I was running with the big dogs.

There were was a big storm one night at the Woofdorf. Many dogs didn't sleep good. Including me.

So - everyone picked me up on Monday. Tuesday rolls around, and yep, I get to go to my regular dog day care. Miss Michelle wondered if I was loosing some weight. I wasn't sucking my stomach in or anything. Mom did explain that I was on a hunger strike when she was gone last week.

I slept really good on Tuesday night, and all day Wednesday. That is why mom thinks I am back. I was hungry tonight, I wanted to go for a walk, a long one, and my tail was wagging lots.

Yes, it is fun to go away, but it is better to come home. Especially when my mom is there too!

So - mom isn't home yet. Neither is sis. I really know that mom was thinking about me today. She signed me up for a rare Thursday at dog daycare. I think it was due to guilt, probably because she was worried about exactly how sad the sad eyes would be. Oh well. If mom is going to sign me up for extra days - I'm ready.

After dad picked me up, we went on a long walk. I'm dog-tired, so I'm going to catch about 80 winks.

Catch you later!

zzzzzz.......

I tried the hunger strike thing again this morning as there is no Mom in site. Was going really well until Dad cut up some hot dog for me. I guess I could have just eaten the hot dog - but somehow all the food in the bowl disappeared. Now hear this Mommy - I am on a sleep strike. That is right - I will sleep until you get back. I will have to decide how I will handle my daily walks and tennis ball catching. Mommy - JUST COME HOME!

Mommy called again . . . I don't think her and Dad talk near as much when they are both here. I have a theory. Mom isn't calling for Dad. She is somehow hoping I will answer. That will never happen. You see when sis is around the phone never gets a full ring in if she recognizes the number as one of her friends. I am an old dog and I can learn new tricks - I just need lots of practice and treats [it's a scam - I make the lessons last to get extra treats]. Anyways if the phone doesn't get a chance to ring how can I answer it. Plus I don't bark.

OK. I'm a lab and labs love to eat. The hunger strike has ended. Mommy you owe me - get home. If you think you can travel to a warmer place, drive some hot car and ignore your dog you have another thing coming. I not afraid to post as often as necessary. Of course it will have to happen between naps.

Hey - Daddy just cut up a hot dog and put in the food dish with my other food. OK - I'll eat the hot dog and leave the rest alone. Does that mean I am the opposite of a "select vegetarian"?

Mommy called again. She got the car thing worked out. The guy felt so bad for the mistake he gave her a red Mustang. Wouldn't I look good in red? Still holding my ground - no Mommy, no food in Riley's tummy

Mommy just called. She sounded mad. Something about getting screwed on a car rental. What a minute; her car in the garage. Why would she need a car. OH NO - she's not coming home tonight. Hunger strike - I am not going to eat the food in my bowl until she gets back.

OK, Mommy where are you? Oh why am I worrying. She didn't get home last night until after 8:00.

Oh, Daddy filled my food dish. I'll just take a little nap and eat when Mommy get's home.

Just got home from doggy daycare . . . oh look [oh smell] tuna water in my food dish. Mommy loves me. I know she's going to be home soom. Sis I'm not too sure about. She went on a bus with lots of other kids. Not a yellow bus, a blue and white bus with a bathroom

There is going to be fun at my house this summer.

Want to know how I know?

Because, today, some "Woofers"stopped by the house. Boy, I sure hope they like dogs. Of course, everybody likes me, so the "woofers" probably will too.

No, its not good around the house today. Not good at all.

Mom had to take me for a walk tonight. Apparently, dad picked the short straw that said "taxi-driver for sis."

Mom had to wear her winter jacket tonight. With mittens. Someone is not very happy. 'Nough said.

PS: We saw Bill and Patty tonight. I haven't seen them since the snow started falling. Bill and Patty must have been planning on seeing me. They brought me treats. Lots of them. Well they weren't supposed to be all for me, but apparently it was too cold for the 4 little dogs tonight...SO I got them all.

Today wasn't a dog day for me.

The world didn't revolve around me.

Apparently it is mother's day today.

The world revolved around my mom today.

Sis didn't want to help dad make pancakes for mom today, so I got to go with dad to the bakery. Except dad didn't let me into the bakery. It isn't dog friendly there.

Luckily, the sad eyes still worked, on dad and sis. Dad took me on two walks today. Sis played tennis ball with me. Mom- well she is just sort of lounging around.

Well you know what they say...Happy Mother's Day.

Tomorrow we'll be back to a regularly scheduled dog-sort-of day.

It's Saturday today. Dad went to work. Mom wasn't moving very enthusiastically today. Sis slept late. OK, she didn't sleep until noon or anything, just until about 10:30. So guess what. NO MORNING WALK!!!

Mom said it was raining. She said it was cold too. Mom is a wuss. Plain and simple. Mom is a wuss.

So, I just layed around. All day.

About 5:00, Mom finally felt sorry enough for me that she took me on walk. It is May 3rd, and Mom was wearing her winter coat. Mom sure wasn't happy about this. But hey - this blog isn't about her. I was very happy to get outside and moving. You know the song...if you are happy and you know it wag your tail!!! My tail was wagging. Enough said.

We were at the field, kind of like a dog park that we can walk to from our house. Sometimes there are other dogs. Sometimes there aren't. Today I hit the doggie jackpot. The mom and dad of Jeeves were coming home from somewhere. It probably wasn't an important place, because Jeeves wasn't with them. They talked for a long time. That's OK, because I let them pet me. And, even though Jeeves wasn't with them, I could still smell Jeeves. The dad was just petting me and petting me, and I was just smelling Jeeves. I think in business, that is a win-win situation. There is no down side here. Then Jeeves's parents left.

I wasn't sad. They decided to go home and get Jeeves. Why not, if the parents are just going to be talking anyway, they might as well let us doggies play. Jeeves and I ran around like a pair of young pups. I chased him, he chased me. I chased him. He chased me. There was more of that too. Then another dog joined us. His name was Sniper. Sniper is a (littler than me) friend of Jeeves. Don't forget, Jeeves is my St. Bernard buddy. We played a lot, sniffed a lot, and just had a grand time.

Jeeves was giving my mom a lean. All 120 (or so) pounds of him. That's OK with mom, though. Apparently my mom has always liked St. Bernards.

Not too much else going on.

Happy 50-degree spring days to you!
Riley