Tentative Goodbye

As I mentioned in my last post, my family and I are moving back to the East Coast in three days. The house is almost entirely boxed up, including all of my toys and treats, which I'm not too thrilled about. Yesterday, Jesse came to the house to say goodbye. If dogs were able to shed tears, I would have. Saying goodbye to him was like saying goodbye to the best experience of my life. The time we shared together during the Iditarod was something I'll never forget, despite my short term memory. Jesse and Dave, who had come to see us off, took me out in the backyard and ran around with me, played tug of war, threw my ball, and scratched my belly. They said they'll come out to North Carolina and visit us sometime during the summer; needless to say, my tail started wagging furiously at the thought. Once Jesse left, Dave came over to help Mom and Dad continue packing. Although he can't lift much since he's still recovering from his injuries, it's always great to have him around (maybe it's the fact that he always seems to have a pocketful of treats? Not sure). I'll really miss him, but I know that he'll come out to visit since he made the trip east at least four times a year when we lived in New England.

I don't know why I'm so upset about moving, to tell you the truth. I think it may be because I feel as though I "found" myself out here in the wilderness. If you recall, I spoke a lot about becoming in tune with my animal instincts (catching bunny rabbits and other creatures of the wood), which I certainly don't believe you can do in the suburbs. I overheard Mom talking about living on a ranch in NC, so perhaps it won't be as bad as I assume.

As I said, we leave for our trek across the country in only 72 hours (yes, I can even do math). The computer will be packed by tonight, and who knows how long it will take for it to get back up and running once we relocate. So, I will unfortunately have to say goodbye now to my loyal followers. Thank you for listening to me despite my not being exactly human, and giving me wise words of wisdom when I'm stuck in a bind. I sincerely hope to reconnect with you all one day, but only time will tell.

Ever Loyally,
Lola

Next Step

So, I've got some pretty bad news. My family's moving. In TWO weeks. Mom just let me know this yesterday, so I'm a bit upset; I need at least a few months to warm up to the idea of something so drastic. Apparently we're going to be moving to North Carolina because Dad got a "better job" there. North Carolina? Really? We don't have any family near there, not to mention the fact that there are barely any seasons (yes, I suppose you could say this about Alaska too), and my family definitely doesn't have a southern drawl. I guess I'm mainly upset because I was just getting used to living here, and now I'm going to be uprooted. Again. Great.

Loyally,
Lola

Home Again

I'm finally home from our fishing trip. It was just great. We went away for a whole week, which is unusual, because usually we only go for a long weekend. The first few days we were there were completely dedicated to fishing. We'd get up at the crack of dawn and walk down to the river, set up our gear, and sit there for hours and hours. When I got restless, Dad would throw a stick or stone into the river and I'd fly off the dock in hopes of retrieving it. I'd swim around for a while, pretending like I didn't see it, while Dad yelled me directions. Once I got it, he'd scream with praise. There's almost no better feeling for a dog than being called "good girl" or "the best dog in the world."

Once midday passed, we'd go back to camp and make some lunch around the fire. Most times I would just be fed plain old dog food, but sometimes, if I was lucky, Dad would feed me some of whatever he was eating which was mostly refried beans, rice, and cheese, or some eggs and sausage. After we ate lunch, some days we'd go down to the river for a swim, or go for a mid-afternoon hike. Each day became progressively better and more adventurous. One time, I went on a high-stakes chase after a bunny rabbit. The chase lasted almost 30 minutes, despite Dad's screams to call me back. I was in heaven- my dog instincts kicked into high gear and there was no hope for getting me to turn around. Unfortunately for me, though, Mr. Rabbit got away, but regardless I had a blast. Dad, on the other hand, wasn't so thrilled.

Now, after a 7 day excursion in the woods, Dad and I have returned home. My brother and sister missed me so much that when I got back I had two new toys lying on my bed and a HUGE rawhide. That's been keeping me pretty occupied for the past few days, I must say. Anyhow, I had a great time on our trip and I can't wait for next year's- only 363 days to go!

Loyally,
Lola

Gone Fishin'

Oops. It's been a bit since I've blogged last. I've been very busy with the fishing trip. Dad and I are on our way home now. Usually he brings his computer or cell phone, but this time he wanted to be completely cut off from the world, which is why I couldn't update my blog. I apologize. I will elaborate when I return home today or, if I'm too tired, tomorrow morning.

Loyally, 

Lola

Ready for a Road Trip

Have I ever mentioned that I love fish? I'm not sure if I have, but I figured I'd let you know since I'm going on a fishing trip with Dad next week. I'm incredibly excited to go, not only because of the fish, but because I get to spend some quality one-on-one time with my dad. We don't get to do that too often, especially considering my brother and sister are so young. Every year we do a trip like this. I think he does it to clear his head a bit and get his mind off of work for a little while, but I'm not positive.

Back to the fish- let me clarify. I don't like to eat fish, they actually taste rather disgusting to me, rather I love to play with them. I believe in an earlier post I spoke about the Koi fish we had back at our home on the East Coast, Gus. He was a trip! I'd swim up next to him and he'd swim feverishly away, then come back and tickle me with his slimy skin. It's always fun to go fishing because Dad lets me jump in the water and I just have a grand old time with all the marine life. Aside from getting ready for the trip, I'm not doing much else. I go for a walk each day with Mom or Dad, watch some television, nap, play with the cat, etc. Not too exciting. Oh! It's dinner time. Got to run!

Loyally,
Lola

A Dog's Life

It's been a little over a week since we ended our race, and I've almost completely recovered. I'm so happy to be back to my normal, hyper self (I can't say that Mom agrees). I've been bouncing around the house, playing hide and seek with the cat, taking naps, running up and down the stairs, and just wreaking havoc until my brother and sister get home from school and I finally get human companionship. After their snacks, they take me outside and we play fetch for about an hour. I've learned that the only way to keep them interested is to play tag with them, so it's sort of a symbiotic relationship. They get really excited about it (and could probably do it for hours), and I get to expend all of my extra energy, which my parents really appreciate by the time they get home from work.

Dave and Jesse have been coming over less and less frequently, to be honest. I get a bit sad about it at times, until I realize that they're adults and have jobs and lives of their own. When Dave comes over, he has a new light in his eyes. After the accident, he was really down- especially considering he was so close to competing in the race. Once Jesse announced that he would be giving Dave the new sled and gear, it really seemed to breathe a new life into him. I think the fact that he knows he'll be able to compete in the Iditarod one day is really keeping him upbeat. And boy, that means loads of treats and belly rubs for me! I just can't get enough of it! Jesse, on the other hand, thinks I'm getting a bit pudgy, so instead of feeding me he's been taking me for runs, which is just about as good, if not better, than the instant gratification of a Beggin' Strip.

Anyhow, my life is pretty monotonous at the moment, especially when you compare it to recent events (aka that thousand-mile race), so I won't bore you with the details. I am, however, going on a hunting and fishing trip with Dad in a week, so check back soon for updates.

Loyally,
Lola

Lazy Lola

It's been four days since we've been off the trail. Needless to say, I'm still recuperating. Some days I find it hard to get off of my dog bed. As a way to keep me motivated and stimulated, Mom and Dad have been taking me for long walks at night. That's helped with the pain a bit, but I've noticed I tend to get tired much more quickly than I used to. I just don't seem to understand why I'm so tired when I'm only three years old. I'm supposed to have endless spunk, but I feel like I've lost my spark recently. I'm sure it'll come back though with time. At least I hope it will.

Aside from sleeping most of the day, my brother and sister have been really helpful. They slip me dog treats when Mom and Dad aren't looking, which is great, but I definitely think I've been putting on a few pounds.

This weekend I get to see Jesse again. I've honestly missed him so much. We bonded on the trail, and will therefore be bonded for life. How can you not become close to someone who you risked your life with in the Alaskan wilderness? I haven't seen him since Saturday, so I'm very excited to see what he's doing with the money and how he's adjusting. For now, there's not really much to report as I'm as lazy as a feline. Hope I'm not boring you too much.

Loyally,
Lola