After the rain 1/18/13

 It has been raining here for like a week. Last night it got colder and Emmie kept looking out the window like she was expecting something. I think it was the sun cause this morning it was So bright and pretty! She said we were going to the lighthouse today and we went over to her friend Melanie's apartment!

Melanie has two little kids and she talks to Emmie about babies and doctors. I guess they work together. Her husband must watch the kids. He was really nice. They let me hang out in their apartment and clean up their floors. Kid houses are the best. After they had breakfast and chatted for awhile, we went to get the car and took a ride to the beach!




At this beach they had a tall tower with lots of signs around it that Emmie wanted to stand in front of and read. The little boy, Braxton, took my leash the whole time and we played around the light house and on the dock! His Dad was teaching him how to skip rocks across the water. The little girl wanted to play too but she was really a baby so her rocks didn't go very far.

Emmie let me off the leash so I could run in the soft ground on the beach. I do like that super soft ground. She thought it was funny to show Melanie how I don't like the water. She acted like she was going to make me go in, but I would NOT get my paws dirty. I also got to jump on and off the dock, and Emmie let me jump really really high! But the highest jump I couldn't quite make and fell on my back. It didn't hurt. I still didn't want to jump high anymore after that though. Hey, I'm almost 50 in dog years- she keeps forgetting that.












Anyway, we went back to the cars and headed toward home... or so I thought. We stopped to talk to Melanie's family in their truck a couple of times, and then we went back to that super old city on the water- St. Mary's!

 The kids wanted to explore everything, so we walked way more than we did last time. I got to smell around an old house, the city roads, someone's yard with a coffee house, some reaaallly old bricks, and the church. Emmie reads a lot, and we ran with Braxton for a little bit too. I love hanging out with kids, they give me so much attention! But any day where Emmie stays with me and the sun is shining is nice, too. I'm so glad we got to go back to that old city. I wasn't done smelling things there anyway.

I hope everyone else had a nice day, too... I'm tired and I'll write again when we do something else fun!

The Land of Merry

Well, I have been slacking again. We moved to a new apartment. Its in Merry-land. I don't know if that's like Disney land or what, but I like it. It's not so hot, but they have nice sunshine. Emmie took me to a plantation and a museum with a lighthouse, a really really old city, and the farthest point lookout down on the Chest A Peek bay. Yesterday we went into the big city and I got lots and lots of attention, and we walked lots and lots of miles. I was realllly tired by the end of the day. But I'll tell you about that in a minute.

 The first cool place we went was to the Plantation at Sotterley. They have a visitor center but nobody was there. The building they made into the visitor center was where the land caretaker lived in the 1920s. When we went up to get our maps another family came up to get their tour information together and they petted me and were really nice, but we didn't tour with them. I think Emmie wanted to read all the signs and they moved through the grounds much faster.

We went and sniffed around some really old rusty tools by this building they called the corn crib and then went over to see the barn. There was a building with the numbers 1757 put into the brick on the side. It smelled like they used to use this building like a stable and then a storage warehouse. It was one of the oldest buildings on the grounds.

We couldn't really go into any of the cool buildings because there was nobody there to watch us, but we did poke around. Emmie read a lot of signs and took pictures. The old plantation house was really huge. I wish I could've sniffed around inside of there. We saw the old schoolhouse where the kids would have learned about their books and maps and stuff, and all these extra little houses- I guess for workers or guests or something. The best smelling one was the smoke house next to the kitchen. I would have loved to have gotten scraps of that stuff! The sun started setting on us at the plantation so we went on home that day.

 On Sunday Emmie took me to church with her. I wasn't allowed inside, but it was another really old building. Emmie wanted to talk to the people there about how our friends are coming in a few weeks for the March for Life. I waited in the car until she was ready to take me for a walk by the stones on the ground. We visited this statue of Mary, which I guess is why this is Mary- land? And Emmie got on her knees like she does sometimes, and then we got back into the car to find some other sights.

We went out to the boardwalk along the water so Emmie could read more signs by the water and look for a house. She kept talking about the Light house, and how she wanted to visit them. We passed lots of light colored houses so I don't know what she was looking for but the boardwalk was nice. There were lots of people there who smiled at me.
We met a man with sticks on his arms who didn't walk right. Some people came up to us by the door to a restaurant and he fell over on the dock. Emmie was really worried but he got along just fine with those sticks and his funny walk. It was almost like he had four legs but he didn't use one. Weird.
We finally found the lighthouse behind the museum center. It was a tall house with the porch underneath it and a little tower on top which I guess turned into a light. I still don't know why they have houses like that. I wasn't allowed up into the lighthouse so Emmie stayed on the deck with me and we just enjoyed the water for a bit.



After that nice walk by the water, and the plantation walkabout the day before, I was really tired. I hate when Emmie goes to work for so so long, but it was nice to actually have some rest. I got to sleep all day two days. She doesn't know this, but I like to sleep on the little couch downstairs! Shhh!

When we had another day together, we drove to this really really old city. I could smell the oldness. She says people lived there in the 1630s. I don't even know what that means, but it was a really really really long time ago. They called it St. Mary's city. OHH! Maybe that's where we live- Maryland, not Merry... haha, silly me. Anyway, there were some buildings with signs in front of them that Emmie read. They weren't that old, but made to look like it. She might not know that, but I can tell from the smells.

A new place

Well, we've made it. Emmie brought all the stuff in from the car so I guess we'll be here awhile. It seemed much faster this time. Even though yesterday was a Looong day in the car... Today we just got up & drove around the corner & Emmie got a new key and let me check the place out while she carried everything in. There are a lot of stairs in this one. I wonder if she'll take me to the beach later. We have a lot of work to do to get our stuff put away, but I'll probably write later.

Something is up...

This is Buster. I have a feeling things are changing again. I don't want things to change. I want my whole family to be here. Why didn't Gerry come to see me? I am so jealous. They put away all those decorations today... Dad and Emmie did. I am so tired. I miss my sister already. So sad. And everything hurts in the winter... Everyone leaves and everything hurts & my heart is sad. I'm just going to lay here in the middle of the house until someone notices me.

Home for the Holidays

I really have no excuse for not writing sooner; we've been home for like 3 weeks (or 6 months in dog years!) and I have thoroughly enjoyed sleeping on plush carpets and our old room and napping by the fireplace on the orthopedic dog bed and laying in the snow... but there is so much I haven't shared about our adventure in getting back here!

So where did I leave off...? Gerry came back to Texas to see me, and then like EVERYONE else came. We moved into a little hotel apartment for like two weeks dog time (they say it was only 3 days but I don't believe them), with Mom and Dad and Emmie and Gerry and Lisa and her Dad and these kids... it was crazy! The first time I met the kids, we went to the beach where Emmie liked to take me. They wanted to hold my leash and walk me around. I heard it was their first visit so I showed them the ropes. I warned them about that water and how it moves, and romped in the sand with them, and we went out on this pier where it was nice and safe and watched it get dark. They say the sunset is really pretty but I'm not sure what colors in the sky they're talking about. It was chilly for them, so we all got back in the car. The girl is named Madison, and she wanted to ride in the car with Emmie and me. We had almost all of the stuff in the back so I had to squeeze up in there and she got to ride in the front seat. Madison likes to talk about animals a lot and art and everything really. She is like a little adult already! She wanted to hold my leash a lot and cuddle with me and brush me and sing to me. I like her!

Oh, before we moved into the little hotel apartment, we went to visit the kids and Gerry and Lisa and Grandpa Ron on base. We had to stop at this gate where guys wore these funny green suits and held guns, and Lisa had to get us in. We went over these scary spikes that didn't harm the car to wait for Lisa, and then the guys with guns made us go back around through the gate and followed us back to the apartments. Something about these cards Lisa had and the visiting and such. I don't know but when we finally got out of the car I got to see where the kids were staying, only Emmie wouldn't let me inside. I don't understand these people thinking pets shouldn't be allowed some places. I need to be there to protect my Emmie! She doesn't have a gun.

Anyway, the kids ran around in the grass with me over and over and over again. We ran across the grass, then back, then around the tree, then through the dirt. It was so fun. I like kids. The little one sat on my back for a picture and hugged me. I like hugs.

When we were in the little hotel apartment, we opened presents. There was paper everywhere!! I wanted to eat it all but Mom put it in those plastic bags too fast. The kids liked their little chirping birds and marble pouches. Emmie got a bike pump and headlight so she can ride in all the different places we move. Dad made wooden marble games for everyone. Mom made the velvet embroidered pouches that were sooo pretty and had treats for the kids in them. Emmie gave everyone books. I hid behind the curtains when noone was looking, because I like to be close to the outside walls. Emmie thought it was so hilarious she took pictures of me because I really didn't fit. Oh well, it was nice and dark and I wanted to take a nap!

After several days and nights in the hotel where the tissues were DELICIOUS everyone left super early in the morning and Gerry and Emmie finished packing up her car and we started driving. We drove and drove and drove and it got colder and colder as we went. We camped in a hotel room one night and then we came HOME!!! Buster was all over me when I came in the door, sniffing and asking where we've been and what I've done and I could tell he was super jealous, but I don't care. He got his grooming soon after Emmie got her hands on him and I didn't have to get brushed, so we're even now. Emmie put up that funny cone tree and spent hours putting little colored balls and ribbon and decorations on it, and she put the super breakable nativity over on the cabinets. I don't know why she does that. She still has several bags packed and all her shoes by the door so I know we aren't staying too much longer, but she dragged all that stuff out of the storage room for the time we're here!? Silly people.

We took Buster to the vet after we got home- his neck was hurting him, but I think he just missed us. Emmie gives the best massages and she gave him medicine so I think that made it better. The vet pet me over and totally surprised me when he checked my hind out, but they said I was clean and healthy. We both lost weight- which was good because I had been overweight, but the Dr. was concerned about Buster so they put him up on this table in a dark room and scanned him with this jelly machine and talked about a 'spot' but they didn't seem too concerned and we haven't been back, so I guess its OK. I'm just glad I didn't have to be scanned! Buster did really well though. He's used to tests. He gets sick more than me.

Anyway, it has been nice being home, and Emmie has been super happy. I think she saw a lot of people she was really missing in Texas. We're still a little anxious about leaving again, but I'll update you whenever that happens. The car still isn't packed so it might be another week, I'm just the dog, what do I know?

GERRY'S HERE!!!!!!!!

Gerry's here!!! Gerry's here! Gerry's here! Gerry's heeeeere!!!! He came over today to see me and take all those boxes and the other couch I'm not allowed on and the Christmas tree. We must be moving. Every time Gerry comes over they move things and sweat and then Emmi has to use that sucky machine all over the floors. They weren't here much during the day, so I guess that's why Gerry hasn't taken me for a run yet. He usually takes me out and we run around and play. But it was a pretty busy day for them, so I'm sure something big is happening. One time when they came back Emmi smelled a lot like another dog- a baby dog. Like a puppy! I wonder if she's thinking of replacing me.      Nah.  She needs me too much.  She can't even hear when people are outside our house that might be a danger to us... I have to tell her about it every time. Boy this place sure looks different without all of the decorations and the little couch and the closets are all empty. Maybe that's why Emmi is sad. This seems like a lot of work. Good thing they haven't figured out how to harness me into helping. Ha! I still have this bone to chew on- a lot of work of my own to get through before we leave this place. I'd better get back to it.

Change already!?

Emmi bought some more of that soft paper in the box the other day. Tish-yu's? I know she doesn't like when I eat them, but I LooOove those things! My belly kind of hurts today, but they are so delicious I can't help it! Hopefully she turns her head again so I can have some more later.

I'm a little worried because my Emmi is really down. She must have gotten some kind of news because she was crying really hard all morning. She started moving things around the apartment again and calling lots of people. I think I heard Mom on the phone for a bit. That was when she was really leaking that salty water. I tried to help clean it off her face but she didn't want that kind of help. She's been looking things up on the computer and talking on the phone to people we don't know a lot today. I thought we had to go back to bed but it looks like she doesn't have to go back to that place where she wears the purple outfit and is gone for So so long.

Not sure what it all means but we'll see soon I guess.

Emmi made this post today: http://corpuschristi.craigslist.org/for/3462056374.html

Plus she is baking so the house smells REALLy really good :)p She puts them up high so I can't reach but she does let me clean up the crumbs :) Mmmm