Day 56

What a crazy busy day on the Island. The Captain and I awoke early and had a nice tour and breakfast together. I love Sunday's for that reason! Then, she immediately got busy like there was a firecracker in her pants. She grabbed a ton of these little jars and brushes and started putting smelly stuff in square shapes on the walls. I smelled some of it and it made me sneeze and another bit of it turned my whisker blue! Drat, and I can't get it off my whisker. It took her hours to do this in all the rooms, so I just went and rested on my bed and would check on her every 30 minutes or so and she would laugh, I think she heard me coming, and tell me what room she was in.

Then, we went on a long jog together touring the place with the pond and the stones in it. It was nice and sunny and still very cold, but much less windy than yesterday making the Island seem more tropical and a little less aortic. My belly was feeling funny so I had to stop and go to the bathroom a bunch. The Captain didn't seem to mind that I was slowing her down, she called it her "recovery run" and was fine walking when I needed to. She did seem rather upset when I got some of my poo on her glove. She kept running, but her face turned white and I could smell the poo. Suddenly, she was heaving along the path and was sick. We walked home and she had to tell Papa she was sick and couldn't talk. I felt really bad, it wasn't my fault!

We rested for a while after she showered and didn't smell anything bad anymore. Then, this red headed two-legged person came over. She must have four legged friends and roommates, because she knew a lot about the Captain's mental games and turned her back when I tried to jump and be excited and then let me smell her four-legged dogs scents before turning around and meeting me. I smelled two four legged master's on her. Her and the Captain drank a lot of this red and pale yellow beverage and laughed a lot while in their pajamas. They even went out and got yummy smelling food in those clothes and then played the games where the move around a lot. They kept playing that game where they have to swing their hips and the Captain laughed so hard she had to lay down on the couch for a minute to catch her breath. They kept me up way later than usual, especially on a night where I know the Captain has to work in the city. They seemed to have fun though and I know they had a good time.

Day 56

It is still just freezing on the Island so we didn't take many long tours today like we usually do on the weekend. Instead, Captain and I watched a tv show together while laying on the floor with the fire on so she could get warm. I chewed on my gal Henrietta for a while and used the Captain as leverage while I nibbled off each of Henrietta's toes. She used to squawk when I did that, but I guess she doesn't love me anymore because she didn't utter a peep. Then, again, I did also chew her face off, so maybe that is why.

Captain ate some yummy peanut butter after her long and rather cold run and even let me lick the container. Ohh, it was so good. I shoved my tongue deep into the bottle and got almost every morsel out.

Throughout the day, she ran in and out making numerous short trips in the car today and holding pieces of paper up to the wall that had different colors on them. I don't know what the heck she is doing? She finally came home with a bunch of different metal containers and sponge brushes. While she was doing all of this, there was a lot of racket going on next door and lots of trucks. I barked a lot and ran up and down the stairs when there was noise to protect the Captain. I wonder if these new two legged people will have four legged masters?

Tonight, our friends Anne and Jason came to see us and ate those rectangular things that Papa eats a lot more of when Papa is here. I wonder if he eats them on his adventure or not? I bet it is different where he is. I was really good while they were visiting and the Captain was proud of me. Anne was really tired and fell asleep on the couch while I laid on the other couch in the Captain's lap with her petting me the whole time. The Captain tried to explain to our friend Anne that this meant we really are meant to be best friends, but Anne just laughed and rolled over ignoring her and me. I was so tired when they left, it was past the Captain and my's usual bed time, that I went out into the cold for a couple of minutes and then went straight up to my bed and fell asleep immediately.

Day 55

The Island is FREEZING. It is soo cold outside. I can hear the wind whipping around the Island from inside the house and when I go out for my tours, I admit that I wonder if my urine is going to freeze as it is coming out and make me stuck to the ground. When the ferry drivers came, at least the sun was out but we jogged to the diamond shaped park place just to keep warm. I played hard with Mia at the park and slept on my bed in a nice warm ball the rest of the day. The Captain came home and I could tell she was really cold. She muttered something about wind chill and Papa's turn. I peed really quickly just in case it would freeze to my privates and was eager to get back inside. I cuddled with the Captain on the couch to keep her warm while we watched people on the tv run around in circles. I promised to always take care of her.

Day 54

What a great day on the Island with my Captain. We slept in just a little, the sun was just beginning to come up when we got up and I think it is actually coming up earlier every day now. We went on a great tour and now she brings those yummy cookies on all of them. She makes me sit and stay while she opens the door (this is really hard for me because I am so excited to tour the Island with her) and then makes me sit again and wait while she locks the door (keeping those vermin out) before I get my cookie, but it is worth it. After our tour today, she got ready but then stayed home with me! Yay! I brought my toys to her and shared them with her while she worked on her box. She didn't eat and I know she was starving, she clearly was trying hard to not eat and was trying so hard that she forgot to give me breakfast until later than usual. She felt so bad! Then, she left for a while and when she came home she ran straight to the cabinets and cooked herself some of that yummy peanut butter stuff I love on bread. Once she was feeling better, she took me on another tour. She brought the cookies again and anytime we got close to other two legged beings she would get between me and them and stand so close to me I was almost off the walkway. She would make me sit and then walk with her hand in front of me with one of those cookies. I didn't pay attention much at all to anyone but her. I think she is doing it on purpose, but I really don't care.

After Captain finished her day of work, we went for a nice long tour towards downtown and went to visit the place where letters come and go. I couldn't "get the mail" like I do at home, but I waited patiently as the Captain oddly put mail into the box instead of taking it out. I think she purposely took me into town so she could make me walk by more people and stand between us. It was really slippery and windy outside, but the white stuff was coming down and it was beautiful. It left just enough of a layer on the ground that both of us were slipping around and Captain kept telling me to wait and made me sit a lot. Luckily, she did have some of those yummy cookies so I didn't mind and I was good the whole time. To almost perfectly end the day, we are cuddling on the rectangular comfy place watching the television.

Day 53

I was very alert all day ready to protect the house. My friend and neighbor Cooper, well I don't know what they have all been doing, but there is a lot of noise next door and a big white truck was parked in front. Each time I started to rest, I would hear a noise and be ready to pounce if someone wanted to try and come over here. I don't know what they would want, but they cannot take any of our things with them nor can they leave any of their stuff with us. My alertness continued through the day when on my tour I did lunge at another dog that looked suspicious to me and like vermin. There was a different dog that didn't look suspicious so I left him alone and focused my attention on the ferry driver.

When the Captain came home we started on a walk but Cooper came charging out of his house and the Captain let us have one good play around the back area of the house. We had a great time and played hard. Then, Captain played tug of war with me before dinner. After dinner, I was still hyper so I did my crazy boy dance and then protected the door some while Captain took a bath. I will always protect my Captain!

Day 52

I was in a feisty mood today I guess. I enjoy being the big man in the house and not having my metal house in the way. I know the Captain is more nervous with it gone, and I do love sleeping in it, but the freedom to do what I want and lay on my comfortable bed or the nice cool floor after a long run and not being as confined is fabulous. I went on a nice tour with my four legged friend Mia again and had a ball playing and walking. A lot of the white stuff is gone and all the remains is dark brown piles of cold stuff. I went on another tour with the Queen ferry driver Yana and she brought my LOVE Nesta! I was so happy to see her. We had a great walk, well I got a little feisty and lunged at a big heavyset vermin, but I had a nice time with Nesta. I don't think she minds me hunting vermin. I don't know why the ferry driver's get bent out of shape about it. When I got home, I even shared my bone with Nesta.

When Captain came home we played on the run and I enjoyed my bones while she sat and rubbed on me. After a little while she started doing these weird things with her hands on her head and moving her body all around, she told me they are exercises. I think they are silly, so I laid down as close to her as I could get and tried to chew my bone on her belly to show her she didn't need to do them. She laughed at me. While she made herself some dinner, yummy smelling creamy stuff in a big pot that I think she called potato soup, I ran around with my toys. I got feisty again and ate the faces off of both Henrietta and her boyfriend Earl. After I ate their faces I pulled the plastic things out of their necks. Captain took them away and now my toys don't make the squawky noises. She said I am mean, but what? The chickens mouth off to me and I tell em who's boss. I am the boss! You hear that toys, I am your boss.

Day 51

The heat wave continued on the Island this am for our tour. We both slept a little later again as the Captain is still all snotty and in need of additional rest, but we had a great walk once she woke up. It was warm enough that the white stuff is all going away and the ground is wet. The Captain warned that big winds and rain are coming again (I don't have a clue how she knows this) and told me to enjoy the walk. Sure enough, later in the day when the ferry driver came to take me on a walk with my friend Mia, it was just starting to rain and by the time the walk was over it was coming down sideways and in buckets. It was nice having more room to dry me off than when the metal house was there. I did get into trouble with the Captain after my tour with Mia because I came upstairs barking and doing crazy boy when she was on the phone for an important call for work. She was really upset with me and had to ask boss, something called an AD, to hold while she told me to settle down. She didn't like it at all when I just barked at her and did more crazy boy.

When we went out for our evening tour, it was just raining at a steady rate and was not nearly as windy, but there were big puddles everywhere and even more of the white stuff was disappearing. We could now walk on most of the walking paths without sliding around on that cold icy stuff. Instead, I just had to dodge puddles while Captain walked right though them with her special big paw covers. She is now in bed hoping to sleep a lot tonight. I don't mind because she gave me a big treat on my bed to keep my busy after I write this. These big treats always make me sleepy after I eat them so I may just join her in a deep slumber tonight.

Day 50

I love Sundays on the Island. We woke earlier today than yesterday and the Captain sounded so funny when she woke up. We were not happy because someone called 6-7 times at 5 am and the Captain was worried it was my Papa trying to reach us and I was barking because I thought it was some vermin trying to get to my Captain. The Captain left for a while and came back really worn out and her nose kept running. I tried to lick it for her, but she started laughing and wouldn't let me. Instead, she took me out for a really long walk around the place with the trees and stones with the big frozen pond. The pond was unthawing today and the sun felt nice and warm--Captain even took off her paw covers for a large part of the walk. I was mostly very good on the walk because she had those good treats in her pocket and none of the people we saw today were vermin.

When we got back from our walk, the Captain ran that purple colored noise maker that sucks up the dirt and my fur. When she got to the first floor she did the oddest thing. After she cleaned my metal house, she started ripping it apart! I got so worried and ran around in circles. She even rolled up the rug from under it and cleaned the floor. I just sat on the stairs watching her in amazement and confusion. Then, she drug my big overstuffed bed to the same spot and put a bunch of my toys on it. I went running from one bed to another and up and down the stairs pouncing on my big bed and even did the Crazy boy dance on the rug. I haven't done crazy boy since my Papa left because it is really a dance he and I do together mostly.











The rest of the day, I moved from bed to bed, and bed to the nice cool floor that surrounds my bed where the metal house used to sit. I was so worn out I couldn't even play with my football when the Colts played and WON the AFC championship. The Captain was happy and since she still didn't feel well, she went out and got one of those rectangular things for dinner that smell like cheese and goodness. I think her's was the kind my Papa doesn't like because the crust looked brown, but she sure enjoyed it with her hot drink and bowl of green stuff. Now we are going to bed early. I am still soo tired I don't even care, I am falling asleep again as I type even.

Day 49

We stayed in bed today and didn't wake up until the sun coming in the windows. Because it was so nice and sunny out and neither of us had been feeling well, we went on a long long tour and traveled several streets I have not toured before. The Captain carried yummy cookies in her pocket and I listened to her carefully so that I could have them. It seems like anytime we pass someone on the street she distracts me with them and asks me to pay attention to her. I don't know why she can't tell the difference between the vermin and the nice people, but she distracted me for both. She really isn't a very good vermin sniffer! I listened carefully and was very good for the entire hour and even listened when she said wait and easy on all of the really slippery parts of the tour. She walks funny on the slippery stuff and sometimes walks through the deep fluffy stuff instead and I love it when she does because we are good climbers together and it is much more fun climbing in the white stuff.

On our evening tour we saw a man, non-vermin, that knew my name and I knew him too. I quickly sat next to him once the Captain said okay and he pet my head. I don't think the Captain knew him, but I have seen him on walks with the ferry drivers and he is always nice to me. Captain seemed a little leery of the questions he asked about me, but she let me visit with him anyway. Seriously, like I said, she needs her nose checked for the vermin sense. If she doesn't have it checked she should at least trust mine more.

The Captain left after our tour and said she was going for "girls night" and since I was a boy I couldn't come. I was upset at first, I mean geez!, but then enjoyed my time at home and liked the bully she gave me when she came back. They make me so happy in my belly and sleepy that I am drifting off as I type this . . .

Day 48

I am trying hard to be good on my walks, but I will say that the hidden treasures in the white stuff make it hard to listen and stay with the Captain or the ferry drivers sometimes. They have started telling me heel and sit a lot more than usual. I think it has something to do with me trying to catch that vermin yesterday, but I don't get why they think that was bad? Captain does have to keep putting medicine stuff on her paw, so I think the tree really scraped and burned her, but I didn't mean for that too happen. If she had let me just catch him for her, it would not have happened! Plus, today the ferry driver made me sit and wait at the door when I really really had to go to the bathroom and she wouldn't listen to me when I tried to tell her. Finally I gave up and did what she said for the cookies. Don't get me wrong, they are the best cookies ever, but I really had to go. I think she realized it after I darted to the snow and went to the bathroom immediately. I felt a little off in my belly but didn't want her to cut the tour short, so I acted like nothing was wrong.

I still didn't feel great and rested until the Captain came home early. She sounded funny and I don't think she felt very good either. I felt bad about it, but I got sick and she had to clean it up even though she didn't feel well. She was super sweet and even rubbed my belly for me. We both took a long nap after I was sick and woke up only to eat dinner and talk to my Papa on the box. Then we went back to sleep and slept until the sun was shining in the windows in the bedroom the next day. We haven't done that since Papa left.

Day 47

The Captain really misses my Papa. I learned this first thing this am on our tour. I know she has told him her side, so this is my opportunity to write. See, the Islanders, well some of them, are not to be trusted. I have a keen sense of who these Islanders are and I can smell them out from two blocks away. I hear a good Islander coming, no worries, we walk along. I hear a bad one coming and I am on alert. Ready to attack. What I'll do when I catch one, I don't know. See, the reason I know the Captain misses my Papa is that I almost caught one of the bad ones today. We were touring the Island before sunrise (which is the best time to catch these vermin) and it was slick so the Captain was not paying attention to me but to the ground. This was my chance and I took it. I lept over the snowbank from the walkway to the driving part and almost caught one. One thing, I forgot I was tied to the Captain. She jerked forward yelling my name and that stupid word NO. I almost had the vermin when suddenly I felt a strong tug, way stronger than the Captain. Seems she had utilized one of the shade providing bark covered one legged creatures that stand still all the time, she calls them trees, to wrap my leash around. I tried to free myself and raked her arm across the tree resulting in words I rarely hear from her. She was bleeding--wimp!, but the bleeding resulted in her getting angry and making me sit while she smacked me. Then, then, ohh I can't believe it, then she apologized to the vermin!!! On the rest of the way home, she said words that only Islanders speak and that I shall not write here and used my Papas name numerous times. I don't know why he needs a dam around him, but she sure wished one for him! He didn't do anything, so I don't know what her problem was. Anyway, she called him when we got home and was so mad at me I just went and layed down on my fluffy blanket and refused to protect her while she got ready for work. If the vermin come in serves her right.

Day 46

This heavy slushy stuff is wearing me out. While it is white and I get excited when I see it, it is hard to move through and makes me so tired. I ran around at the diamond shaped fenced in area with my pal Ely today and was sooo tired after. I was even so tired that when the Captain came home I didn't even get off my bed to great her. We had a nice bit of tug of war time and then she left for a while and I went back to sleep. She came home with a bunch of bags and I could smell the smell of new paw covers for when two legged people run. I don't get why new ones make her so happy, but she sure does get excited to have them. She had a big bag she set aside for my Papa and said he is a spoiled man, but she said it with a big smile and I think she loves spoiling him just like he loves spoiling her (he told me so).

Day 45

Captain tells me we are halfway to a visit from my Papa. I think we are both very excited but I might be most excited, I sure do miss him and the Captain is not as good at tug of war. She is best at snuggling though and as I write this is laying on my bed with me. She seems really worn out tonight so we came upstairs early and I barely got to see her today. She came home late saying something about voting, I have no idea what this is but don't think we four legged friends do it. I wonder what they base their votes on? If we four legged kind voted, we'd do it based on butt smells, but maybe the humans do too. Captain said sometimes politicians act like asses so it makes sense. She was also mumbling something about over a hundred laps around an inside track and something about two legged unattended brats. I wonder if she got dizzy running all those circles inside, I think she hated it, but I know why she did it--it is nasty out there today. I was touring the Island with one of my little four legged friends that lives downtown and the Queen ferry driver, Yana, and she and I totally agree that this wet cold stuff on my paws is not nearly as nice as the fluffy white stuff. Luckily, I was worn out from wading in the slush and passed another of the Captain's tests--the ferry drivers all forgot to shut my metal door all day today. I just curled up on my round overstuffed bed and slept in between tours. Captain was very very proud of me and did try to play tug of war even though she was tired. I wonder if that is why she is falling asleep as I write this?

Day 44

The weather on this Island is crazy and unpredictable. The Captain and I woke to winds banging against the windows and house at up to 60 mph. We got up early and went outside and it looked like white fluffy stuff coming down and covering the ground, but it hurt the Captain and my faces and felt hard and icy. We went back in and had a nice breakfast and then the Captain worked on her clothing machine thing upstairs. I helped her by keeping a lookout and barking at the big black and brown dog that hides behind the door. I don't know why he always copies everything I do, but it drives me crazy. Sometimes a woman that looks just like the Captain appears too, but this woman mimicks the Captain. She thinks it is funny, but I would totally beat that woman up if she would let me at them both.

After a while, I got bored and begged the Captain to go out. She put on those funny paw covers, a big thing around her neck and big puffy front paw covers and walked me all the way from our house to the park that usually has the diamond shape dirt in it. Today it was covered in the white stuff and the Captain was able to use those paw covers to climb up the hill the way I do. She even let us climb up through the wooded part even though she kept telling me to "wait." The wind was still strong and the hard stuff was still coming from the sky, but we didn't mind and had fun playing together. I found lots of big sticks that were knocked down onto the Island by the wind. I also tried to attack the funny paw covers once and knocked the Captain down. More two legged beings were outside on our walk home and they thought the Captain's shoes were funny too. I am just glad the shoes help her play with me. I wonder if when it is my Papa's turn if he'll come out in this stuff with me like Captain does.

I was so tired tonight that when the Captain went upstairs again to the machine, I laid down on my blanket on the couch and slept. I heard voices in the room, but think it was just her listening to someone read her stories so I didn't investigate--just too tired!

Day 43

This Island needs picked up. Now that the white stuff is melting, there is all sorts of yummy stuff to find. Even more than yesterday, I found all sorts of stuff on our tour this morning and left a lot of it alone, but there were some goodies too good to pass up. I did snag some peanut shells before the Captain noticed and then had to drop a flyer, piece of newspaper, and this unidentifiable object that the Captain saw and told me to drop. We didn't turn back so that I could see what it was. Much of these items were just on the ground near the piles of white stuff along the tour paths. I still loved climbing on these piles and prefer to do my business on the tip top of them which is quiet challenging now because I just sink into the pile rather than staying on top like I did when it was colder. I even found one item that the Captain let me carry home, though she made me put it in the blue bin when we got through our gate. I think I made a big difference helping save the Island and the environment today--the Captain told me the bins are made to recycle materials.

It was so warm today that the Captain went out for her run in shorts and a funny looking bright green shirt with a hat and paw covers that made her look like a frog. I barked to protect the house while she was gone because the neighbors were moving their stuff into a big truck and were making weird noises. I don't want them to take my friend Cooper away with all their stuff. Captain must have realized this was what I was barking about and took me out to play with Cooper and Ely. I saw one neighbor coming out of her house and we all went to visit her, but she didn't like it and instead of saying hi kept yelling something like "shoo" to us and seemed afraid or something. I don't know what "shoo" means, but I stuck around to wait until she said hi to show her we were all nice. She slammed the door in our face and yelled something at the Captain that made her feel bad. I have a feeling I won't be able to play out there anymore and will be tied to Captain's paw and have to go to the big green place for playtime for now on.

Day 42

It was so nice and sunny on the Island. Sadly, the white stuff is disappearing, but the sunshine feels so good on my freshly washed back and face and the road is much warmer on my paws. The Captain and I went on our tour this morning and I inspected the green stuff that is appearing again in places under all the white stuff (which actually was not white anymore on most of the Island). I enjoy finding all sorts of odds and ends appearing as the white stuff reveals it, sometimes the Captain doesn't even know what I am digging for and then I pull out the treasure and show it to her. I even pulled out a small football today that I think is the same one I have carried around on tours before, hmmm the Captain did laugh when I showed it to her.

Speaking of football. The Captain put on that white and blue clothing she only wears during football even though it is a Saturday today. I heard her telling her friends she was busy tonight and we were watching the game together. That is nice of her and I sure do enjoy spending time with her. She even watched the game on the floor with the comfie rectangluar human lounging furniture and my fuzzy blanket so that we could lay together. I thought this was nice of her. Even nicer, she and I both went on a toy safari searching the house for all of my toys. We found a lot of them, but not my blue football that I love so much. The Captain told me I have more toys than some of the little human kids on the Island even. I am glad the Captain does what she says is "spoiling me."

However, the woman is crazy! Crazy! She stuffed my paws into one of her blue and white shirts and got the neighbor to capture our images in that little box she points at me all the time. GEEZ!

High Five! TOUCHDOWN COLTS!!!!

Day 42

Ouch Ouch, I have my first earache while on the Island adventure. Luckily, the Captain is also the Island's medicine woman for the four legged walkers because she immediately knew what to do and has started putting medicine in my ears. I try and be good for her, but it is hard because my right ear hurts so badly. The medicine has not yet started to make me feel better, but I trust her skills and gentle nature so I think it will work soon. In the meantime she laid on the couch with me tonight and watched television while petting my head and rubbing my belly. It felt so good that I stretched out long and human like the full length of her and as close to her as I could get. While she was laughing and highly entertained by some television show with yellow people and a young two legged boy who always gets into trouble on his Island of Springfield, I quickly felt her body relax against mine and we both fell asleep. I somehow think that both of us thought of Papa while cuddling and how we wished he could join us, but I really think we would need a bigger couch since she won't let me on the big human bed still (I have long since given up even trying by the way and now have 4 round little beds and my fuzzy blanket to choose between).

Day 41

The sun shined down on the Island today and was fabulous. The Captain left as usual after our tour and before the sun even started to come up in the sky. I went back to sleep in my metal house only to awaken later with the beautiful rays shining into the house. It was still chilly, but what a great difference the bright sunshine makes. I bet the Captain loved running along the water with the early rays shining all over the frozen whiteness. I wish I could go with her, I have heard the Island known as Boston is great and that my Papa liked walking along the water when he lived on that Island. Better yet even, I got to play in a pack of us four legged kind today and we even outnumbered the two legged humans. I walked proudly with Mia, Cooper, and Ely showing off how good I was to a new ferry driver that I hadn't met before who was with the Queen ferry driver Yana. I sure wish she had brought Nesta, then it really would have been perfect. I showed off my listening skills to the new driver and my friends and walked nicely with the group. Later, just Yana came back for another tour and we had a nice quiet walk which I think we both enjoyed after all the excitement. We even had some cuddle time after our walk. I stayed out of my metal house in between walks and for a long time until the Captain came home late. She said she was out with a girlfriend eating dinner in an old prison and had a fun time and she was really proud of me for being good out of my metal house.

Day 41

I was rather offended when I overhead the Captain questioning my ability to perform my watchdog duties. As a result, on our tour this am, I barked loudly at two people when they attempted to go to work in the morning and made the Captain literally jump in surprise. Then, while she was eating breakfast, I protected her by standing at the top of the second floor stairs and barking down at the first floor and then running to the window and barking out the window as well. Captain told me it was okay and hushed me because I was going to wake the whole Island up, but geez, isn't that what she wanted?

Day 40

Wow, 40 days on the Island adventure. We sure have had a lot of adventures. Today I had some adventure, but think it was mostly a test again. I think these tests are my version of work while the Captain goes to work somewhere off the Island. Sometimes she even tells me I need to get a job besides touring the Island, guarding the house, and bringing in the letters from other Islands. She even told me I am not much of a guard dog recently! I just know it is her when she tries to test me and refuse to play along. However, today's test I knew I had to participate in, luckily I was really tired from playing with a long haired golden four-legged-lady-friend (please don't tell Nesta, we are just friends). The ferry drivers came twice and then the Captain came home and tossed her big bag on the stairs and gave me three cookies on my bed telling me "now I am going to yoga and am leaving you out, you have to be good or else." I could tell she wasn't joking around so I forced myself, after eating all three cookies of course, to go back to sleep on the overstuffed round bed. When the Captain came home she woke me up and was carrying a lot of food in a bag. As she unloaded it and we ate dinner, I questioned if this thing she called yoga is really fishing and she had gone down to where the water meets the Island and seriously caught all the fish and seaweed in the ocean. After dinner, she cuddled with me while telling me how proud she was and I felt bad for thinking she ate up all the fish.

Day 39

I was such a good boy all day. I knew the Captain had worked hard to clean the house yesterday and sort through more items so I certainly didn't want to upset her or, worse, have her take my things to the needy Islanders (she says she is taking a lot of my papa's stuff there but she is just kidding--I think she is at least). I started the day right by lining up my toys right next to my bed while she got bundled up for our tour.
I was also good when the ferry drivers came and I got to go play with my Great friend Otis the Dane. We had a ball walking around the Island together like tw0 grown-up strong men. The ferry drivers left my door open again and I was really good. When the Captain came home we toured the Island again and both decided that a temperature of 30 is great! We were both so comfortable on our walk that we took a little extra time and went down some new paths on the Island. I was grateful for time with her so I left her three extra droppings for her experiment. After dinner, the Captain was tired so she got ready for bed pretty early (I think she tossed around a lot last night and I know I accidentally woke her when I rolled over onto Long Squack Silver--pictured above). I played some with my toys while she gathered all her stuff up and I don't know what happened, but one minute I was chasing my toy down the stairs and the next I was in a dark room and couldn't get out. The Captain must not have heard the door shut so I had to cry for her to come and get me. I was scared I was lost on the Island and wouldn't see her or my Papa again. Suddenly I heard her looking for me and could tell she was turning on lights so I cried again and she rescued me. I darted upstairs to my little round bed and swore I wouldn't move the rest of the night.

Day 38

So tired today. So tired. I woke in the middle of the night with such a full bladder I was crying and had to wake the Captain. I think it was all that yummy white stuff I ate while we played yesterday or something, but it sure did hurt. I was good and didn't jump on the bed or anything, but I sat and stared at her and cried and did hit the bed with my paw once. She took me outside and I peed for a long long time. It was so cold outside. We went back in and she tossed and turned a lot. I tried to wake her for our am tour duties, but she told me to go back to bed and that we would tour the Island later. We did, but we were both tired.

After a yummy breakfast, I had my food and Captain had eggs, an english muffin, and cereal, I watched Captain clean for a long time. I just laid on the couch and went to a different bed on a different floor when she was making a lot of racket. We played outside some and then later, we went for a running tour of the green place with all the stones and the pond. I was good until this shady looking guy went buy on a bicycle and stared at me. I decided to show him who was boss and the Captain got upset with me though she did admit he was odd. I was so glad when she took me home and left me alone to rest while she toured the Island some more. My friend Kathey came over for dinner with the Captain and she pet me a lot so I laid in her and the Captains laps while they watched football.

Day 37

What a fun day full of adventure on the Island. The Captain and I did our usual tour and then she left for a long time with those wierd paw covers. She said she was goning to race in them and I gave her a big wet kiss for Good Luck. I guess it worked because she said she came in second place in her age group.

After she talked to my Papa on that box thing, she put layers back on and thick paw covers and got her wierd paw covers out again. I got sad because I wanted to go outside, but then I noticed she was loading the ferry up with stuff for me too!!! YIPPIE. She drove me to a part of the Island still covered in deep white fluffy stuff covered in deep white fluffy stuff I have never been to with little rivers we had to cross on white fluffy stuff covered bridges and lots of trees (none that wear skirts, but tons and tons of her sisters and brothers). There were lots of hills in a part of it and Captain could move almost as fast as me with those fancy paw covers. I loved playing in the fluffy stuff that no one had been in and jumped and ran, and dug for sticks.

I even ventured out to explore the water that was flowing, but Captain made me come back when she heard cracking noises. She said I was standing on frozen water, it did feel cold once she mentioned it, and that it could break and I would regret it. I have seen stories of four legged ones being rescued by two legged ones and sure don't want that to happen. We played and played and explored all sorts of fun areas, I would run ahead but then stop and check on the Captain. We were there for a long time and I was so tired that I slept in the ferry and immediately went on my fuzzy blanket on the leather cushion and went fast to sleep for the rest of the night.

Day 36

I was having a great time with my friends Mia and Ely on the Island today. That is until I noticed what was missing. All the trees I had marked as mine, and even those that weren't, had disappeared. Someone had stolen them even though I had deliberately written my name all over them, and some of them even twice! I don't get it, if people didn't want them like the Captain said, then why did someone come and take all my trees? Even the tree that wears the skirt was gone. I will really miss her. At least part of Christmas is still here, a new coating of white stuff is coating the Island tonight. Captain said we'll go hiking tomorrow in it after her race. I don't know what hiking is, but I bet she wears those wierd paw covers of hers. Maybe on our hike we'll find where all the trees went.

Day 35

My ears are bleeding. I don't know what happened or what the heck is going on this Island, but the scariest thing happened tonight. The Captain was in the kitchen and cutting up some yummy food. Just as I was about to help her clean up a dropping, this ear-piercing siren started to wail through the house and heck for all I know the entire Island. I realized the air seemed a little hazy and smelled funny and that noise would not stop. I was not sure if I was supposed to duck and cover my ears as if it were a tornado or if I should hide under the table for a hurricane. I thought it just rained and snowed on this Island! I prayed it was not an attack on the Island. I followed the Captain as she went to two different windows. I was worried because if it was an attack she shouldn't be near the windows and she was even opening them! She started swatting at the siren as if that would help, really what good will that do? Eventually the siren stopped and the Captain closed the windows again. Before she did, I went to each and looked out to examine the scene. I didn't see anything so I allowed her to go back to cutting up food, but I kept watch over her closely for a while.

Day 34

The Island is covered with trees that look just like the tree that wears the skirt that the Captain tossed out. They line the streets that we tour and each smells slightly different. Captain told me that they are outside because people are done with them since Santa and I got the gifts delivered on time. I think this is sad and that trees with skirts are pretty (and they make my Captain happy) and we should leave them up all year. Since these are already outside and more and more keep coming, I decided to mark each of them as mine on our tours so that Captain and I can collect them later and fill the house with them. I'll have to get the ferry drivers to help me gather the trees all up. Tonight, I marked a lot of trees because Captain was so proud of me for being good outside my metal house again (see resolutions pay off) that she took me on a long tour. While on the long tour this loud screaming noise happened and I dove into a big pile of snow closer to the noise, ready to pounce and protect my Captain. She just laughed and said it was okay, that it was a car with a loose belt (seriously trees in skirts and cars with belts, this Island is weird). Geez, I was on alert and right by her the rest of the way home.

Day 33

I knew I was being tested today. I was sad that the Captain went back to work, but I was determined to make her proud. She left before the sun came up with her big blue bag, told me I'd see a lot of the ferry drivers, and put me in my metal house. I just knew I would get to stay out later though so I was good and didn't mess anything up. The ferry drivers came and I got lots of good walks with my friends, I was not sure when the test would begin so I stayed in heel with my new harness the whole time. I enjoyed seeing Mia again and Nesta's mama the queen ferry driver. Sure enough, the ferry driver left my gate unlocked. I was so good and didn't move anything or toss any of the rugs around. The ferry driver left Captain a note saying so and brought a little puppy with her when she came back. We went on a walk in the place that is green with the big upright stones all over the place and the pond in the middle, Captain says it is where people go when they die and that she likes running there (especially with my Papa). We played inside for a little while too and I shared my toys and bones with the puppy. Captain came home later and hugged and kissed me and let me have any of the food she dropped on the floor while she prepared herself quiet an elaborate meal (I noticed spaghetti, squash, this weird purple vegetable, onions and a separate dish of greens and this red tasty round thing that left Captain's fingers red). She seemed pretty proud of herself as she was eating it and I am glad she is a little messy while cooking.

Day 33

I went rabbit hunting today on the Island, but really in the house. I found this fluffy rabbit on the bed in the guest room and snatched it. I love how rabbit tastes. The eyes are my favorite!The Captain took the rabbit away from me and hid it. A little later, I went rabbit hunting again while the Captain was upstairs with me. This time I pulled a little mini me off the dresser in the Captain's room and darted downstairs with it. She was upset and said "oh, my little Isabella, no no no Otis." Good thing I just got it slobbery and didn't eat the eyes off whoever Isabella is, I think I might have ended up with the tree that wears the skirt outside and covered in a foot of snow.
After rabbit hunting, I went out with the ferry walkers and got to see some friends. I played with the little pug Benjamin and the Captain even got to meet him. She thought we looked funny together. He is really small and feisty. Then, Benjamin and I got to go hang out with the other Otis that is very tall, Captain says he is great and dane like, whatever that means. I was tired when I got home and quickly got up on my fluffy blanket and slept the rest of the afternoon. The Captain left and while she was gone she left my metal door open and must have forgotten to put the gate up that blocks me from my fluffy blanket. I cried for a while and yelled for her, but then I remembered my resolutions and decided to stay downstairs, rather than go hunting again, on my new big bed and wait for her. She came back sweaty and gave me lots of good cookies telling me I was a good boy and loved on me. I didn't even care that she was sweaty and actually tried to clean off the salt. I was sad when she left again a little later, she said she was going to a Board meeting for the running club--definitely sounds boring to me and I fell asleep just thinking about it.

Day 32

I know I say it all the time, but I love the white stuff that covers this Island. I love to run in it, climb on it, hide in it, play in it, and even eat it. This morning it was even way up on the door to the house and fell inside when we opened the door to go play. I ran around like crazy checking everything out and making sure nothing had changed overnight. I found the poor Christmas tree covered in white stuff (she must have been cold last night outside and all) and found these great paw covers by the neighbor's door. I got in trouble for playing with those and had to give them back to the Captain.

We played for a long time and then I took a nap while the Captain went off with those weird big paw covers that allow her to run over the snow. She came back and got the TV working so that we could watch the football, between us this time she was much nicer to the people on the phone. I played in the snow again and the Captain and I drug each other all through the snow playing with my new red and green tug of war toy. She is getting much stronger so I had to take a nap while she watched the football in her new blue outfit. Remind me to thank her for my fuzzy new blanket. I sure do like it and fall right to sleep when I lay down on it.

Day 31

Have I mentioned that I love the white flaky stuff outside? We woke, to scraping sounds outside and I started barking to protect the Captain. We were confused because we were on the first floor for some reason and I expect we both dozed off down there, Captain dozes deeply with her cold medicine, and we didn't make it to our real beds. We chose to go out to investigate and found more of the white flaky stuff on the ground and coming down. The Kathey lady showed up but instead of playing with me like last time her and the Captain went off for a long time and came back smelly again. After the Captain cleaned up, she does clean up nice you know, all of our neighbors came over to our house. I was super good and sat in the middle of the circle moving from neighbor to neighbor for pets and tugs on my new toy with the male neighbors. The Captain rewarded me with play time outside with all my friends. Even more white stuff had come and we had a lot of fun. At one point the Captain went back into the house and the neighbors watched me. I went and sat by the door for a while in case the Captain had forgotten me, but the neighbors laughed and told me I could play and she would come back. Thank goodness she did!

The Captain left for a long time and came back with treats (see, resolution #1 paying off, I was good while Captain was gone and didn't mess anything up outside my metal house and she brought treats). She had two big new beds that we much fluffier than my old ones and a nice fuzzy blanket that she put on my favorite leather resting place on the second floor. She said it would help protect the old leather, I love the soft fuzzy feel and gave it a good test.

After another yummy dinner, I learned a valuable lesson and should maybe revise my resolutions to include #5--do not scorn the Captain under any circumstances. First, the Captain seemed scorned when messing with a box near the television (the one that is close to my new covered spot) and talking to someone on the phone about the box not working. She got off the phone and then the tree with the hat, shirt, and earrings must have made her angry. She had taken the earrings off last night, but all of a sudden she stripped off the tree's pretty lights, and skirt and started pulling on the trees head. She drug that poor tree outside and through white stuff now over my paws to where she takes the white bags of good smelling stuff. Then, to make matters worse, she took that noisy sucky thing, she calls it vacuum I think, and started to pull at the tree's skirt. I just couldn't take it anymore and turned on that vacuum thing unlike I have ever done before. I growled and barked and showed my teeth at it's long nose that it kept sticking where it didn't belong.

Day 30

I'd say the first day of 2010 was a great dog day (to sum it up I played in white stuff and had a very sweet day with Captain at home. I understand that humans make resolutions in the new year, so you may notice I threw a few in here throughout the day's events.

The Captain still didn't feel well so when the alarm went off and I went to "nose" her good morning, she told me to go back to bed. I was a good boy and went back on my round bed and dreamed for another half hour about the days where the Captain and Papa would put me in bed with them when they wanted more sleep. She rewarded me and we played in the white stuff for a while this morning (resolution #1--obey the Captain and you will get rewarded). The Captain left for hours and came home in the afternoon sweaty again and really tired. Her voice sounded better but her nose was all runny again. We took a bath together and sat by the fire so I would dry more quickly and then took a nap together. Later, I heard her talking to my Papa--I wish I could tell him how much I miss him too (resolution #2--learn to speak human). Then went on a long walk with my harness that I got for Christmas and I was really good, it reminds me of the harness on Santa's sleigh. I stayed right near the Captain (see resolution #1) and put my nose in her hand when she told me I was good to let her know it was for her. After our walk, the Captain put on music and we danced a little together. Captain and I really liked the music and she said the lady with the sweet voice was named Norah. While the music played, she cut up all this yummy smelling stuff and put it in a pot to cook for a long time making the house smell so good. From what scraps I found on the floor I think she included Papa's yummy Thanksgiving turkey, carrots, rice (though it was brown for some reason), and these onion type things she said were leeks that I did not like. She even put some of those carrots and the skin from the turkey in my bowl with my dinner (resolution #3--do whatever it takes to get Captain to share food with me, this appears to include staying out of the kitchen unless told okay, but more investigations are needed to fully develop this resolution). The Captain sat on the floor at the long short table eating her dinner and looking through a picture book so I layed down next to her with my head in her lap. She sang the Norah ladies' songs to me, rubbed my soft clean ears, and read the whole book even though she was done eating. I really think she stayed there reading just so we could spend time together (resolution #4--spend more time relaxing, especially with my head in the Captain's lap).