Ever since my mom, Wendi, started her blog last year in July, my parents (Bobby and Wendi) go away a lot on day trips. Sometimes they take me to my grandma’s and grandpa’s, (Bud and Dolores), but often they make me stay at home. Don’t get me wrong, I like my home. I have plenty of comfortable chairs to sleep on, clean water, good food and a window to look out at the passing traffic. Plus I have four cats to chase and bark at if I get a little bored. Still, sometimes I really want to go with them. I make it clear by eagerly running back and forth from the door to them and barking just a little bit. (O.K. maybe more than a little bit.) But all I get is, “Bye Babies. Mommy loves you. Have a good day!” or “Bye-bye my pretty babies.” And then they leave me behind.
However, this weekend was different. This was my birthday weekend and Mom and Dad thought it would be good to take me with them on some of their trips. I’m sure glad they did. It was so fun! As any self respecting dog would agree, car rides are the best. It doesn’t matter if it is around the block or around the county, a trip in the car makes my day! So on Friday night, after Dad and I had gone for a little walk, Mom picked us up and we drove over to New Pittsburg so they could try a new ice cream parlor there called Scoops. I’m sure one of them will be writing more about it, but let me just say I got to partake of not only my small vanilla ice cream, but a couple of little bites of Dad’s salted caramel, too. Yum!
If that wasn’t cool enough, Mom and Dad decided that on Saturday I could go with them to Fairlawn. (I don’t really know where that is, but what do I care as long as I get to go with them.) We went there so Dad could pick up a shirt for a magic show he was doing later that night in some place called Triway District. Mom was pretty excited that Dad was actually considering buying a purple shirt. I guess she’s been trying to get him to expand his color palette, but with little success until Saturday. Anyhow, while Dad was in the store shopping, Mom took me out on my new leash (which is another story) and walked me around the parking lot. After a little walk, we went back to the car and waited for Dad. I was the first to alert Mom that he was heading our way. She really appreciates that so that she isn’t surprised when he comes to the door.
After shopping, Mom and Dad decided we should try Swensons, which is a restaurant where they wait on you at the car. They didn’t have to leave me in the car to get lunch, but instead lunch was brought directly to us! Now, none of us had been there before, so we had no idea what to expect. Imagine our surprise and my delight when the servers dressed in white shirts and blue pants run to the cars to take orders. We parked close to the building, so I had a pretty good vantage point from the back of the HHR. I got to watch them run this way and that way and around the cars and back again. It was awesome! I couldn’t help but let everyone know how I felt about all the activity, so I just barked and barked and barked! Mom and Dad tried to quiet me down, but how could they? The servers just kept running.
I guess Mom and Dad got a little tired of all the activity, because eventually they paid the bill and left, before they could even enjoy their meal. I kept a watch for the servers so that Mom would be alerted if any came near the car while we were driving away. I heard Mom and Dad talking about the next time they would come. They might park in the back corner or something. Once we left Swensons, Mom drove to another parking lot, by the movie theater and across from a place called Steak ‘N Shake and parked in a spot far away from all the other cars. Then Mom and Dad enjoyed their meals. I was pretty worn out by this time, so while I sort of paid attention to everything going on outside the car, I just kind of laid down and watched. I didn’t really alert them to anything. (Although in my defense all I saw was cars and maybe one guy walking through the parking lot. Nothing else.)
So just when I think my birthday celebration is over, Mom and Dad decide to go to Lodi to visit Grandma and Grandpa on Sunday after they get home from church. I guess it was Mother’s Day or something. Well, my Aunt Randi and Uncle Shaun came, too. I love my Uncle Shaun! Whenever I see him, I get so excited. My butt won’t stop wiggling and I just have to jump on his lap and bark my hello to him over and over and over. He likes me doing that, I know he does, cause he lets me do it every time I see him. Then the people ate and shared some of their food with me and Corky (my beagle/lab mix uncle). After that, Dad left with Uncle Shaun. I think I had heard that Dad was supposed to take me with him when he left, but I made myself scarce and everyone forgot that part, so I got to stay with Mom, Aunt Randi and Grandma. (Grandpa left too, but I think he went to the movies so the “women could have a spa day” whatever that means.) I didn’t care, cause I got to stay longer with Corky. We played a little, but basically I was exhausted and just hung out on the chair.
Then it was time to go get Dad from Uncle Shaun’s and Aunt Randi’s house. They watched the Cavs beat Atlanta (again, not sure what that means). I got to wander a little around the yard and tried to play with Nelson, but he was too interested in chasing Parker. Then a car trip home, a walk and finally a chance to collapse in my comfy chair. It’s great to celebrate for a weekend, but it really wears me out. I’m kinda glad my birthday only comes once a year.
