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Please, take the time to read a post from my "other" blog.  Thank you so much!

Special day...

Today is a really special day for me.  One year ago today I was brought into the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center for treatment.  While there, I met my new family and made countless friends.  I was able to heal thanks to the support of so many people across the country and even abroad!  Looking back over the last year, I can't believe the places I've been and the people I've met.  I am truly a lucky dog (although Mom says that I need vaccinations this week - I think those are shots).

Then...



and now, hiking with my doggie friends and family.  What a difference a year makes!



Home Sweet Home!

Today was a LONG day in the car.  Mom asked if I wanted to camp again, or just drive straight through... it doesn't take a genius to figure out my answer to that one!  Anyway, a long flat drive through eastern Colorado and Kansas, then a bit more exciting through MO, IL, KY and TN.  Mom is sorry we had to miss the world's largest ball of twine - it was too far out of the way.  I am not so sure...

Mom's drink

My drink - BORING!

Humiliating - I will not even look at the camera...

The house is just as I left it, I investigated every crevice just to make sure.  When we got in, Mom poured herself a stiff drink.  I asked for one, but just got water - Mom says I am too small for the hard stuff...  She says it is 5:00 somewhere.  I don't get it, because it is just after 5 am here.

We are both haggard from our trip.  Mom insisted I get a bath first thing.  Ugh.  Anyway, now, we are going to bed.  I am incredulous, because we just spent 18 straight hours in the car.  I slept most of the way - I can't figure out what Mom's problem is... insomnia, I guess.

and the word for today is WHITE!!!

We watched the sun rise at Balance Rock

Delicate arch

Our walk along the Colorado River

Vail pass

Look at all the snow!

So, I managed to get into trouble first thing this morning...  I didn't wake Mom at 4 am like usual, and decided to entertain myself.  I ate the rest of the camping marshmallows (white food), and most of a gobstopper.  The gobstopper was cool, because you could roll it along the ground and pounce on it - in fact, that is what woke Mom.  The gobstopper also left great streaks (white) on the hotel carpet, which Mom had to clean up on her hands and knees.  She was not pleased, but I was full and happy.  We stalled a bit this morning at the Arches National Park, because it was snowing in Colorado...  However, once we did cross the border, we noticed that it was still snowing - great white clouds enveloped the mountains.  Mom pulled over and found a nice long hike for me, in hopes that the snow would pass.  It did not, and boy was the sky full of it.  Mom's knuckles were white while driving through it.  Her face even went white when we got stopped by an accident - we were stuck in a tunnel drilled through the mountain!  She said she was glad I was there to keep her sane - guess she forgave me for this morning...  Anyway - we stopped so Mom could collect herself at Vail pass, before the roller-coaster ride into Denver.  Mom was checking out the snow, and stepped in some kind of hole - she was buried up to her ears in the white stuff...  The folks at the rest area had a good laugh, and I guess I got the last laugh of the day, when she emerged covered in white...  Too bad we don't have a picture of THAT!

So much to see!

Snake River, Idaho

Shoshone Falls, ID

Welcome to Nevada!

The salt flats in Utah



Making sure Mom is OK while she photographs the salt flats...  Notice the seatbelt.



Great Salt Lake.  Yucky drinking water.

I am exhausted.

We saw SO MANY THINGS today.  I am exhausted...  Mom picked a different way home, so that we could maximize our trip...  Unfortunately, that means we have to drive longer each day, or we are going to be late.  We started off while it was still dark this morning, and finished under a full moon.  I don't particularly like water, so I was not thrilled with the number of aquatic stops today.  Then, the one place I decide I am thirsty, I am shocked by the most salty water I have ever tasted.  Blech.  Mom kept stopping for pictures - I had to keep my eye on her, since she is traveling alone...  Tomorrow, we are going to see canyons, and then maybe go for another hike in Colorado.  Mom can see I am getting stir crazy again.  Have I said how much I hate the seatbelt?

On the road again...

This should have given her a clue...

Holy snow!  All of a sudden, and a LOT!

Back in the rain in Oregon.  What a difference a week makes...

This morning was rainy and miserable in Seattle.  I hate rain.  Mom made me go out in it anyway before we got in the car (that's one of her rules - use the bathroom before you leave the house).  I was so tired that I immediately fell asleep.  The last thing I remember was Mom telling me not to worry - we were going to try to drive out of the rain today.  Boy, was she right!  Out of the rain, and into the snow - what a pretty sight (she's not the sharpest - I had to remind her that rain turns to snow at 5200 feet).  Anyway, that slowed us down a bit, so we ran back into the rain and never made it out.  Tonight, we are at a hotel (yay!) on the Oregon/Idaho line.  Tomorrow should be a beautiful drive.  I hope the rain lets up...

To market, to market!

My play place

Heading downtown

At the market

The waterfront is pretty. I like to watch the boats...

I feel silly in this jacket

I really want to catch a seagull

Mmmmm.  Wine bar...



Fell off my stool, and slept under the table.  Note the silly jacket...

 Mom picked me up early today, just like she promised!  We went to the market and walked along the waterfront.  I tried to hunt seagulls like I do pigeons, but they chase me!  There were so many people and wonderful smells from the restaurants - I was in vacuum mode, and was able to snarf up several available morsels from the sidewalk, much to Mom's dismay.  I had to wear a silly jacket, because no self-respecting Seattle dog is without one when it is raining outside.  I won't tell her, but I sure was happy to have it when Mom and her friends stopped at the wine bar...  It kept me warm as I rested under the table.  The wine kept Mom warm, I think... 

Anyway - I was a good dog, and slept under the table while Mom and her colleagues talked.  Then, we walked back to the hotel, and I promptly fell asleep.  Tomorrow morning, we will go to the market again to eat cheese curds before we head back across the country.  I wonder what we will see next?!?