Gearing Up

We've been home for a little over a month, now. I was glad to see Susie, but to be honest Nancy and I were ready to get out of Dodge, again, as soon as we got back. Too hot. Too much traffic. We miss roaming around. Nancy walks me every day, and I love it, but it's just not the same. We are lucky to have the nature center not too far away. I listen for "The View" music, and then I know it's time to go.

Susie had cleaned our whole house as a surprise for when we arrived home, and she had a welcome home party. It was good to see everyone. I have to see if anyone took pictures. Then I can show you how good looking everyone is-I need to find recent pictures, though.

Susie walks me, too. Last week, though, she was very sick with Salmonella poisoning, so she wasn't up to it, then. Nancy and I stayed over at her house because we were worried. I did get to walk in her neighborhood a couple of times. Most of the time, though, I spent keeping an eye on Susie while I was in her bed-she has the greatest bed! She took me for a little walk tonight, and it's nice to be out with her, again.

The other night I woke Nancy because I got so excited that I was barking very loud. Why I hardly knew myself because I sounded so ferocious. She got up thinking someone was in the house, but it was even better than that! There were four deer right outside our window! I wonder where they hide during the day.

A couple of weeks ago, Nancy, Susan, and I took a ride down to Whistle Stop on one of Susie's day's off. Nancy had been to the cafe' the last time we camped at High Falls State Park, but we didn't see the place where the kids in the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" walked along the dam just before the girl's hat blew off and the boy got stuck on the tracks and lost his arm when the train ran it over trying to catch it. Nancy thinks everyone should see this movie. I practically know it by heart.

Susie and Me Walking Near Whistle Stop

Like an Infinity Pool.

From the Other Side

Whistle Stop Cafe and the Town from Other Side of the Tracks

Nancy went to dinner with two of my very best friends, Miss Martha and Mr. James. They are Lisa's Mom and Dad. They don't let me in the restaurants even in my home town, but Miss Martha treats me like a real friend. She emails me, sends me cards, and is very good to Nancy. Out of everyone we know, Nancy says Miss Martha always knew what to say and what not to say during sad times.

Miss Martha and Mr. James

Nancy took the trailer in to Wild Willy's for some maintenance and discovered that we lost the stove, oven, etc., because they were never bolted down. They missed the last step on the assembly line and the people who checked out the camper didn't notice. No wonder they closed down. Wilder, yet, the air conditioner was never bolted to the trailer. How did we keep it on the roof? We put a lot of miles on camping in the east and 22K miles (on the trailer) going west! Willy and Nancy thought that was very funny. Willy's helper was busy playing with me out in the lot, but we could hear them laughing. We had to leave the trailer there for a week. We met John and Lisa, for dinner, on the way home, so that was a really nice surprise.

Willy (I guess that's his name) checked the roof, lubed the wheels (Nancy said she thinks that's what it's called), checked and caulked the roof, fixed the lock on the cargo door, fixed the electrical plug, and replaced both tail light units. We hope this will work because Nancy changed bulbs almost as often as she changed socks on the trip (Jack, quit exaggerating). Now, Nancy has to wash and wax it, and I won't even discuss the truck-I'm embarrassed to ride in it. Nancy said she's going to get it detailed. Rani's Mom, Miss Marie, took a ride with us when we picked it up. She lives in Utah, but we didn't know she was in town so we didn't get to spend a lot of time, together. We'll visit her the next time we go west because Nancy really wants to see Flaming Gorge and Centennial this time.

I'm a little out of practice writing a blog, but we like having the book from our last trip to look through and read about and relive our adventures. Teddy's human suggested that Nancy make her blog into a book. I got a card from Miss Martha which made me very happy. I also got a card from Miss Janis. I put them both in my book. Aunt Dorothy thought I "wrote" a book-I don't think she really knows what a blog is.

Nancy and I are hoping to be able to head out west, again, in the spring; maybe March. Aunt Marilyn and Susie will meet us in Reno, this time. That's the plan, for now.  Aunt Dorothy asked me if Susie could fly out, but she doesn't know about Aunt Marilyn. She will be SO surprised.

In the meantime, I decided to start this blog because we're going camping in about two weeks. We're going to meet Miss T., Jazz, and Molly (Yippee! Haven't seen them in ages) and Gail, Paul, and Mac down at Reed Bingham. Everyone has to be home before we do, so we're thinking of going to see our friend, Bama Deb, in Gulf Shores.

Last Sunday, Nancy went to Miss Barbara's daughter's wedding. What a celebration it was. I don't believe I've ever seen so many happy people in one place.

Beautiful Barbara and Adorable Chloe-think she loves her grandbaby?

To quote Lauren, "I BE MARRIED!" What a beautiful couple. When I can get more pictures, I'll post them. I had to "steal" this one from Facebook.

Nancy drove Susan's car because Susan couldn't go and Nancy didn't want to get my hair all over her. It's the first time Nancy's driven a car since getting the truck, and she said she had forgotten how smooth the ride was. We bounce all over the place in the truck, but we like it, anyway. Well, I got off track, but Nancy was telling me that she met Joanne and Bill (Nancy and Rich's best friends when they were all young and full of the old Harry), so that made the wedding even more perfect to her. Actually, Nancy said she thinks they're still full of the old Harry.

Nancy says they haven't changed a bit. It was so good to see them and spend time, together.

This was sort of a practice post-to set up the blog. We'll tweak it in the coming weeks.