Day 84

I am so tired still today. Captain woke me up early for our tour and I laid back down while she got dressed because I was so tired. After a nice breakfast she put me in my metal house, yes the one still in the garage, and left me. I felt like this was a little off as I think it is Sunday and a day to spend the day together, but I was so tired I was just thankful to have a bed. It must not be Sunday because after a while the king ferry driver came. We took a tour and went down to the diamond park but it was way too muddy for me to run around so he just played tug of war with me instead. He is much better at it than the Captain! Shh, don't tell her though. I still play with her to make her feel better:) When Captain did come home she was pretty tired and hungry, but definitely happy. I think she had a good race today. We sat and ate some peanut butter goodness together with bananas. I was totally in heaven! Later we had a good dinner together too. We rested the remainder of the night with Captain working on her box and me laying both on the couch and the floor trying to get comfortable. I would prefer it if she would just let me up in the two-legged being bed, but I think it is a total loss. Oh well, back to sleep.

Day 83

I was relieved to go in the ferry room today because I was exhausted and Captain kept me up half the night. I don't think she felt good and I could hear her typing on her little mini box talkie thing, she calls it iphone I think, and then talking to my Papa in the darkest part of the night. Unacceptable! As soon as she fed me this morning, I went back to sleep in my metal house, then those two legged men were back again. This time I could hear them the entire time. It sounded like they were just on the other side of the wall in my Papa's man room. I was given strict instructions, secret ones, that the man room was to be ultimately protected beyond all else except Captain. Yet, I was in my metal house and couldn't do anything about it. Luckily, they left much earlier than the other days.

Once the men left, Captain came and took me on a long tour of the Island where we continued to inspect the damage from the storm the other night. It was starting to snow and it was pretty so we both walked and walked enjoying the exercise, fresh air, and plenitude of sticks and sights from the storm. We came upon a bunch of bright colored cones across the ferry pathway preventing any ferries from using the path. There was a huge truck with two legged men hoisted in the air and an official looking two legged man with a hat, metal badge, and bright colored vest. Captain called him officer. He must be the other two-legged patrol person for the Island, I hear they have both two and four legged forces. Captain said hello and we continued to tour the site noting that none of the houses had lights or tvs on. I love tv just like my Papa so this would make me sad. On our way back, I decided that I should help the men clean up the debre from the storm. Being a big and strong four legged beast, I selected the largest tree branch I could find and worked hard to lift and drag it around towards the officer.



Captain explained to him that I was helping and he thanked me. He spoke to us and told us that over 1,000 people in Salem did not have electricity (no idea what that is) and that the tree I was pulling branches from was the cause. Yes, I could see how that would be a problem and I sure hope there was no four legged beast in the ferry room that got in the way of this tree. I am tired after just bringing the officer the one large branch and can't imagine how tired these men are after trying to remove the entire large tree. I wonder if they will leave me some sticks for tomorrows tour?













Once we got home, Captain practically tortured me with a towel before letting me in the house. As soon as she did though, I grabbed a bone from the man cave (those two legged men seemed to find three different bones), and darted upstairs to the couch. I snored on the couch for a couple of hours and even Captain took a little nap before making herself a pasta dinner with little round white things that smelled like the ocean. After a nice dinner together, she gave me yummie carrot with mine, we snuggled some more on the couch. I curled up right next to her and she just kept petting my head. I was in Heaven. Now, we are going up to watch more of those sports in the white stuff on tv and rest in the bedroom. Not a bad day afterall!

Day 82

I am exhausted. I was up last night in the garage listening to the barrels full of good tasty stuff bang around near the house. It was like what my Captain would call a bowling alley out there. Then, the power went out and this huge loud noise happened. I was glad to be in my metal house because it makes me feel safe, but I would prefer to be with the Captain. Luckily I got my wish. She came and got me and walked me up the stairs on my least and then blocked me into the bedroom. I didn't even care, I just curled up on my bed and went to sleep. It was so dark in the bedroom. The little box with glowing numbers was not even working and the wind, oh my dog god goodness was it windy. Captain and my beds were both moving around on their own because of the wind.

When we woke up, it was still the case that none of the lights were working in the house. Then, when we walked out of the house there was this huge sign, bigger than my Captain, blown against the front doorway. It said something about dirt and grime and Captain realized it was from the car wash down the way. I can't believe it got all the way to our house. On our tour there were sticks everywhere! I was too tired to get any and most of them were too big for me to carry, but it looked like quiet a messy night.

I of course went into the ferry room in my metal house for the day. Luckily there was a break in the rain and the water stopped coming in. Captain said that tomorrow it is supposed to turn to snow. Later in the day the new ferry driver Josh came and got me and we went on a tour together. I was a little self conscious and didn't know if he was participating in Captain's experiment with my poop so I just didn't go and saved it for her later tonight. I know she probably needs it.

Captain took me on a nice tour before dark. I think she needed fresh air. She opened windows in the house before we left and was talking to my Captain about feeling a little dizzy. After our tour she dropped me off and came home sweaty. When she let me in the house she scrubbed my feet more than usual and brushed me first. I could tell a bunch of stuff had happened in the house today and saw those men had really messed with Papa's man cave, but I didn't even bother to check it out and just went straight up to the couch. I don't even know if I can get up to go to my bed when the Captain is ready. I am exhausted!

Day 81

This Island is miserable. It has been raining those cold wet raindrops all day. Plus, even though I got two tours today and met a new four legged friend, I have been isolated to my metal house in the ferry room. The water is pouring in under the door and the towels Captain put there are soaking wet. I can see the water reaching our stuff and know she is going to be unhappy but can't get out of this house to help her. King ferry driver Dan the man thinks that I am happy to have my metal house back, he is right, but it doesn't mean I still need to be in the garage at 10 pm! When Captain came home tonight I could hear her and then heard a bunch of clattering. It seemed the garbage cans were clear across the street with one wedged up next to a neighbors car (shhhh, don't tell them) and the other rolling around in the street with the wind. I could tell she was unhappy when she came in literally drenched and dripping and covered in mud from those cans.

Captain let me out to let me potty and fed me a good dinner with some extra meat in it, but still I long to be with her upstairs. After I ate she let me wonder around in the garage and I found a little bear in the pile named Winnie. I have snuggled with him before I know because I recognize his blue pjs. I pulled him out of the pile and was sniffing him for a while and then got startled by the howling wind, wind like I have NEVER heard it before on the Island. I darted into my metal house and think I'll just stay here all night. Captain comes out and checks on me, but gives me no indication that I get to go back in the house. She smells strongly of cleaners and seems exhausted though she told me she is pleased with herself because she thinks every piece of my hair is now out of the house--another reason why I may find myself isolated to this ferry room. I sure hope when my Papa comes to visit soon he at least lets me out!

Day 80

I thought the Island was small enough, but now I am isolated to my metal house in the cold room that the ferry is usually in and the ocean, okay maybe just rain water, is coming in towards me. Plus, those damn two legged men are still coming in and out of the house in a big flock and I can't protect my Captain from here. This is very frustrating.

While Captain did let me out of my metal house for tours, they were in the wet cold rain from the sky and huge lakes on the ground where I walk. Really, I don't mind the rain from the sky at all, but I don't like getting my paws all wet and I don't have nice rubber paw covers like my Captain or the ferry drivers. At least I had my four legged boxy gal Mia by my side for one long tour and could show her the best ways around the puddles.

When Captain did finally let me in the house it was dark outside and then she would only let me in my Papas big tv room with her and it had a bunch of furniture in it. We watched tv and the fun snow sports for a little bit before she turned off the lights. There were those big harry four legged dogs on the television and they were pulling sleds. I could totally do that. One of them took up the screen and looked right at us, I jumped off the floor and almost had my nose against the four legged beauty's nose before my Captain yelled at me and made me lay back down. She said something about Papa and tvs and death and divorce. . . not sure what that was all about. She was nice enough to spend some time laying on the floor with me and did bring me a bed in from the garage so I could sleep next to her. I have to say it was also nice of her to sleep on the couch so she could be with me. She said something about the human beds being up, but that there was wet stuff on the walls and I would "make a mess." I don't know why she would say that but it was nice having her near me. Whenever she stopped petting me, I would gently put her hand in my mouth to remind her that I am suffering here and that she needs to be nice to me.

Day 79

I believe I said it yesterday, but whew, Captain and I are exhausted. I think I am even more exhausted than her because as I write this she is still going. Luckily we slept late this morning--later than we have slept since my Papa left--we got up at 7 and went on a tour quickly because I think those me were coming back before 8. I was right, soon after having my breakfast I was ushered into the garage where I took on my diligent watch from yesterday. I think there were even more people in the house today than yesterday, but it was hard to tell from the garage since I could hear them more often than I saw them.

Today when my ferry driver came to visit, she suddenly appeared at the large opening to the garage. I don't know how she made that door go open, but it was like magic and I was really excited to see her. I jumped around and around, but Captain made me behave because she put so much stuff in the garage from the house that it is hard for me to move around without bumping something. I walked with a little guy from Pug Island and he walked under my front feet for a lot of the walk looking up at me the whole time. He is a funny little guy.

After the men left, I heard the car leave too, but Captain was back after a while and took me on another tour before the rain or snow comes that she told me about. She warned me that if it is rain especially that I better get used to getting dried off even more because she is "not going to all this work and money for you to muddy my pretty walls." Geez, I don't do it on purpose!!! She is so picky sometimes. She made us both a nice dinner and then kept going up and down the stairs with stuff in her hands from the second floor. I could tell her legs were tired from her two runs today but she just kept humming and singing to herself while she worked. She is funny like that. She carried everything that was not furniture down to the garage and I got in some trouble when I raced her down the stairs when she had the convection oven in her hands. Opps, I was just trying to show her the way to my metal house. Then, she did some laundry too and was pressing those long white things that cover the windows in our bedroom when I finally gave up and got on the couch for bed. I snored while she continued to iron and then clean the shutters for the room where the guests sleep. Arg, just as I thought she was done I heard her moving a bunch of fancy glass stuff into the dish cleaning machine since there was no where else safe to put it. Finally, she got into her air-filled bed next to me and I bet she falls asleep within 1 minute. . .

Day 78

I am exhausted and laying on the big rectangular leather bed while I write this. I like watching the Olympics, and the ski jumpers are my favorite because I think they fly like squirrels, but really can barely stay awake. We stayed up late with Grandpupma and Auntie J and then Auntie J slept in our room for the last night. Captain got up early, but instead of running, she took me on a tour and then ran around the house picking more stuff up and taking it into the garage. Her legs must be tired as if she ran from running up and down the stairs. After breakfast she did the oddest thing, and put me in my metal house (I wondered where my metal house had gone) in the garage. I missed my metal house and was fine going in it just chewing my new bone from Grandpupma. Well, that was until I saw Captain through the window and these three two legged men walking around and then heard them enter the house. I barked and barked big loud barks and even made Penny the beagle start barking back when she went on her walk. Once no one was listening and I couldn't see or hear anyone I settled down. Every once in a while I saw those men and barked real loud to tell them it is my house, my Captain, and my Island.

After a while I got to go in the car again in my pop up house with Grandpupma and Auntie Jen. They had suitcases. We stopped to wash the car and I cried because I could see my Captain walking around the car but she wouldn't let me play with the water. I was good in the car while they ate at this restaurant that smelled like baked bread, Captain called it subway. Then, we rode in the car to this place where huge birds were flying overhead and making a lot of noise. Granpupma and Auntie J got out of the car and went inside with their bags and Captain just left them--I was sad and wondered what the heck she was doing. I sure hope she never does that with me.

I was glad to get to sleep some in my metal house again when we got home. Captain doesn't even walk me through the house, just right in through the garage and into my house. I didn't mind because I love my big bone, but I still was sure to bark at those men and threw a bit of a fit for a while before napping.

After a good nap, the Captain brought me in the house. It smelled a little funny and I could tell those men had been walking all over my house so I investigated the entire house. I ran from room to room and floor to floor smelling everything. It was so weird--the rooms had big plastic bubbles in the middle and nothing else in them. Captain and I's sleeping quarters had turned colors and now the walls were a pale blue. She told me it was just primer, whatever that is, but I still had to check it out. I like the color, it is soothing and like the sky above the ocean.

I wondered where Captain was going to sleep since the beds for humans, which once again I'd like to point out I used to enjoy resting on, were inside the bubbles. Almost as an answer to my question, she pulled out this plastic thing and aired it up in front of the fire place. She made it up like a bed and kept telling me off as she put air into it. Fine with me, this couch feels great and I am exhausted. Off to sleepy land I go. I think I'll dream of my flying squirrel that Captain lost at sea.

Day 77

The Island is full of adventure again and I love it. The Captain took me on a nice tour. I was tired because I stayed up with my grandpupma and auntie Jen even after Captain went to bed. She just can't stay up as late as them. But, then I had to get up early with her--whew, that was a hard Sunday morning for me. It feels cooler to me today, but luckily I got warm and cozy on my bed again when Captain went out for a run. After she got back and ate breakfast (again, yes, she eats a lot and had two breakfasts today), she left for a while to go to some meeting about her experiment with my poop and parking around the Island. I hung out with granpupma and auntie Jen while she was gone.

When she got back, we all loaded up into the car and drove to a different Island where many fishermen reside. Yesterday we were in the Islands of Lynn and Nahunt, but I think this Island was called Glocester. We stopped first at a store called Turtle Alley and the women in the ferry all went nuts. You'd think it was a diamond store, but they came out with bags full of stuff that smelled like food, but that I can't have because it makes the four legged beings sick. I think Captain got some treats for my Papa, but none for me. I wasn't too sad, because our next stop was another beach. On the way to the beach though, I thought my Auntie was going to spoil everything. Well, spoil was one word. Seems that kid in her belly got all aggitated with something and Captain had to pull the ferry over just off the highway so she could jump out and be sick in the snow. Talk about yellow snow. . . .ewe. She said she immediately felt better, so away we went to the beach. I was really worried there for a minute though. Thank goodness she didn't get sick in the ferry. . . Papa would have been mad at Captain. . .

The Glocester beach was much rockier and the wind today was strong and we were all cold. We walked along the boardwalk thing where were could see the water but I couldn't get to it. I was frustrated and kept looking down through the metal bar thinking if I just jumped, I could swim like yesterday. Captain said no way, first no jumping, and then no swimming because I was clean after last night's bath. I kept thinking about it though. After a bit, grandpupma and Auntie Jen went down to the beachy part to get some sand to take home. I came with them, but Captain only let me barely get my feet wet even though I really wanted to go in the water again. Instead, she and I climbed along the rocks and looked at the seaweed floating around. I love that I get to adventure near the water.

After the beach trip, we stopped and picked up these wierd clawed crabby creatures that smelled like the ocean. Captain had to go to a different place to get them she said, but this place had a good deal and a boat named Melissa which she liked. I had to ride the rest of the way home with these beasts next to my crate in a container.

Captain and the gals left me to sleep for a while so they could tour the Island and the shops. I rested and was fine not touring the Island, but was very excited when my granpupma came back with a giant bone and this huge cookie that I ate instead of my dinner. Speaking of dinner, the Captain and the gals took those beasts out of the container and I investigated one and really didn't like it. I sniffed it, pawed at it, barked at it, and tasted it's face but it even tasted crabby to me. Captain kept laughing hard and I just looked at her like "what is this?". Luckily, they plunged these beasts into pots on the sink. One tried to climb out to eat me, but Captain thank goodness tossed it back into the boiling death pot. I was saved. While, they ate the beats, I enjoyed my big cookie and they were finished at about the same time. I think my dinner was better since it never tried to attack anything.

The torture continued after I ate my cookie. The gals were boxing items from the house up and made me wonder if we are moving? Will they give Papa our new address? I hope so. Captain sensed my unease and told me it is just for the painting and not to worry. Still, I was worried, until they distracted me with more torture. Although Captain gave me two plates full of peanut butter goodness, Granpupma got that tickling tonail thing out and grinded my toenails while I ate from the plate. I was good, but seriously, why must these women torture me so?

Day 76

What a day on the Island. I would declare today an adventure. Captain and I went on a nice tour this morning, then I went back to sleep on my round bed near the door so that I could wait for her and watch for intruders. I needed to protect my grandpupma and auntie in case someone else tried to come in the house, so I stayed there until my Captain came back.

When my Captain came back, these men came to the door. Unlike my grandpupma and auntie, these men clearly don't bond with the four legged kind. I can sense the people who are not bonding with us four-legged kind and I try and get closer to them and show them how great I am, but I think they take it the wrong way. While these men walked around the house with my Captain, my grandpupma had to sit with me and keep me from following them. I think they will be coming back soon and I vow to show them the kindness of us four legged kind.

I am glad I was good, because Captain put my cloth house in the ferry and put some of my favorite toys in a bag with towels and water. I know that always means fun and I was right! The four of us rode in the ferry to the beach. I played catch with my frisbee or 'flying squirrel' and since the sun was out and it was warmer than usual on the Island, I even went out into the water just until I needed to swim and played and played. I loved trying to jump and surf on the waves. Captain had some treats in her pocket and I was very well behaved. Everytime she told me to leave something or come to her I instantly did. I even dropped my frisbee so she could throw it out for me again. Plus, I helped grandpupma and auntie collect crab and sea shells from the water. They seemed to like the seagull fish things, but I chased them away.

I spent almost an hour playing in the water. It was great, well until Captain threw my frisbee and the wind caught it and it went too far out. It went close to these billed animals from the Island of duck that scared me a little and I would need to actually swim in the very cold water to get it, so while I spent 10 minutes longingly thinking about getting my frisbee, I decided to leave it for the birds (literally). Grandpupma said she would get me a new one.

At the very end of our adventure, I think I might have been a little bad. These two legged people were walking nearby along the water line and the man was swinging one of those plastic things with water in them that I played with as a puppy. He just kept taunting me with it, swinging it back and forth, back and forth. Finally I couldn't take it and just snatched it from him. I think he got mad and talked to my Captain in another language. She said she was sorry, which I don't know why since he taunted me, but anyway, she was sorry and we left because she got nervous when the man walked near the policeman she saw. Captain sure can hustle everyone together when she is worried. Luckily the man talking to the policeman was not the same man and Captain had nothing to worry about:)

Day 75

I slept really well last night and I think my Captain did too. I heard my auntie and my grandpupma in the other room, but was too tired to worry about anything but sleep. . . well, until the morning. I got up early like usual with the Captain and went on a walk. The white stuff was all coming down and it was so pretty again. It covered my back when we were out walking. We saw those men collecting the stuff from the barrels too, but I was good and didn't even pay attention to them. Heaven forbid I knock over the barrels the way I knocked over that ladies cart yesterday. We had breakfast together and then I immediately went to check on our guests. While Captain went outside to run in the snow (wish she would have taken me), I stayed inside and went and laid back down on my bed and went back to sleep since everyone else was asleep too. Once my grandpupma woke up, I visited with her and then went and decided it was time to wake up my aunt. I got really close and sniffed her face and then barked and whined until she finally got up and came down to sit on the couch with me. We all visited for a while and I went on another tour before they all left.

When they came back, they were busy cutting up a lot of vegetables and Captain let me have some of them in my dinner too. It was really yummy and the entire house smelled really good. After dinner, they got to eat stuff out of a red and white box. I heard Captain say something about Modern Pastry. They should make a Modern Pupstry. I think tomorrow they are going to play with me a lot more and take me on a long walk around the Island. I can't wait!

Day 74

I was not the bestest boy today on my walk. I went out with the ferry Driver Josh while my Captain was working on the box thing. He told on me after the walk--I gotta train him better than that. Anyway, there was this two legged woman with a huge metal basket on wheels and all these bags of cans tied to it and cans inside it. I was walking with Eli and saw the woman first. She stopped in her tracks and I somehow jumped at the cart and knocked it and all her cans to the ground. The cans went rolling and Eli started "freakin out" as ferry driver Dan would say. So, Josh couldn't stop and help the two legged can lady and instead had to just say sorry and walk on. It seems I just have a lot of energy at times. (I also had too much energy at 6 AM this morning when a little lady in a pretty red coat said hi and I decided to say hi up close and personal and got in trouble with the Captain then too.)

Luckily she wasn't too mad at me. She left for a while and I was worried she was really mad at me, but she came back with two legged people who, well, who look kinda like her. She said one was my grandma and the other one is my auntie. I think she is carrying a little human pup inside her belly. I think I just may have to keep an extra eye on her, but right now, I just gotta put this blog down and finish off the last little bit of my big bone.

Day 73

I have a lot to be excited about today. The ground, trees, and even fences are all covered in white stuff this morning. Captain and I watched the sun come up over the white stuff and it was just beautiful. I was sad to see her go to the ferry on tracks today when we could have played all day in the white stuff.

But, she came home with two pieces of good news: my Captain's two legged mama is coming to visit and my Papa is coming home soon. I have never met this Grandpupma and hear she loves the four legged kind. Plus, my Captain's little sister is coming too. Captain says I need to be gentle because she carries a human pup in her belly and Captain is excited to see if I act any different around her as she has heard we four legged type have secret senses for the pups even when you can't see them. Then, I got so excited when she said my Papa booked his flight home and that it is in just 1 month. I can't wait to see him and cuddle with him. Captain told me that he is going to take me on a ton of walks, even if it is raining, just like she does. I hope they take me on lots of walks together. I am just so excited for all of these exciting events.

Day 72

I had the bestest day on the Island ever. Captain finally went back to the office and gave me some much needed personal space. Geez, I thought she would never leave. I love her, but man, even the four legged men need their space.

The ferry driver Josh came with another ferry driver Josh, I know, very confusing. Anyway, they brought a bunch of friends for me to play with and we all went to the diamond shaped play area. I was really good with my sits and heels the whole way. Plus, when we were at the play park the white stuff started falling from the sky. It was so much fun to play in the huge white flakes with my friends.

Later, Dan, the king ferry driver came, and we had a great walk in the white stuff with my small four legged friend Finne. He sure is funny looking, he came from some Island called Pug. Short little guy with a bunch of wrinkles, but he sure is my bud. We had a great walk and I was so good with Dan. I think he could tell my Captain has been meaning serious business with that heel word. Regardless, if I sit kinda behind their left leg, they reward me and tell me what a good boy I am. Like I have said before, I am a sucker for the good kudos.

To top this amazing day off, there was a pink bag left on the stairs. I stared at it all afternoon until the Captain came home. She smelled bad like she had been running, but I didn't care. I was happy to see her after my alone time needs were met and I really wanted that bag. I just knew it had something to do with the human love holiday. Sure enough, four legged love is way stronger than two legged love. In the bag was the sweetest card I have ever gotten from my true love Nesta. Now I know I also love Mia and Chicka, but you know, a man always has his true homegirl and Nesta, Nesta is my first and true love.

The cute card with the puppy on it says:

outside: Pretend that I'm with you . . .

inside: . . . because in my heart, I am.

pawed from Nesta: "My dearest Otis, You are my one and only Valentine! I miss your touch each and every day that we're apart. I miss your slobber on my fluffy bed and using your cheek as my chew toy. I think of you daily, and when we pass by your house in that green thing with wheels, I do the this thing my dad calls "freaking out"! I long for the day we can snuggle up together again. Forever Yours, Nesta"

Ah, she so warms my heart!

She also sent me some great gifts, as she knows that the way to a four legged man's heart is through his stomach--a nice set of ribs like my Papa makes in the smoker and a real cow bone with goodness packed inside it. Captain let me play with the ribs that squeaked and after playing some, I did taste them. They tasted more like my Captain's cooking than my papas I think. Just kiddin, I mean they tasted more like plastic.

Anyway, Captain is a great baker and she helped me prepare a nice present for Nesta. We cooked those amazing cookies Captain makes me, but this time we made a huge heart shaped one and carved my love's name into it. I can't wait to give it to the ferry walkers for her tomorrow and hope they don't eat it before she gets it. You never can fully trust the messenger you know!

Day 71

I guess it was a holiday on the Island. Most people seemed to be off work and were out on tours like it was the weekend. Captain was in and out of the house all day, often coming in for just 30-45 minutes before darting off again. Even still, she made sure to spend time with me so I stopped crying when she left after the first time this morning. I know it breaks her heart when I cry like that and that she hates leaving me, so I tried to hold back my emotion today. She took me on four different tours today, none of them were especially long, but I was happy to explore different streets and check out the perimeter for any vermin. We didn't find any today, but I try and stay diligent you know.

I have decided today though that I love fruit. While bananas have been my favorite for a very long time, I also enjoyed apple and orange pieces today. I prefer the apple best but banana is still my all time favorite. I saw Captain came home with more today so I hope she shares one with me for breakfast. Then again, it might go well with this bone that I am enjoying as I write.

Day 70

Hmm, it is some sort of special day for two-legged people. I don't really get it. They are all dressed in red and giving each other chocolates and flowers and mushy stuff. I thought I was really sweet to the Captain last night when we cuddled on the big leather dog/human bed together, but I guess I should have saved it for today. Here are some cute photos of me laying with my Captain.

I was still very tired today, so I slept most of the morning while Captain left the house with her big running bag. I think she was going to a race so I was sure to give her a big good luck kiss before I curled up on my bed for additional sleep. She came home happy, tired, and smelly so I think she must have done well. She said she got second place in the 20-29 age group, but that they made it a 19-29 age group so she didn't get one of the nice prizes. Oh well, she was still very happy and seemed very tired. Captain left me to chewing my bone for a long time--I got about 3/4 of the way through it--while she sorted all these papers all over the floor. It is a good thing I still had this yummy bone because I would have tried steeling some of the papers if I didn't have my bone. Then, we curled up on the couch and fell asleep watching a bunch of white stuff related sports on the tv, seems like the perfect lovey holiday activity to me. Hmm, the sports make me think about the white stuff. I sure wish there were more white stuff on the ground here to play in. I wonder if I could ride a snow board?

Day 69

I had the best tour of the Island today. I was starting to wonder if we were going to take one as the Captain ran this morning and then was out for a while and came back with bags. She said something about the mall and making returns(I have no idea what a mall is but I like balls and treats if they sell them there). She told me she was good and didn't buy anything, only exchanges. Then, my patience paid off. . .

we went on a really long tour all through town. We even stopped at the "Barking Cat" store. I don't get the name but I sure like everything in the store. I was a little rambunctious because Captain said I could pick any treat I wanted. I grabbed the biggest bone out of the bin I could find and even tried to help the man ring up my purchases. He gave me a big round cookie on the house and I was good and sat really still while he fed it to me. He laughed when the Captain was trying to sign the bill because I almost knocked her and a big wooden stand over trying to get at my bone. We kept walking and the Captain hid my bone inside her coat. After a while, I forgot about it even and was paying attention to the other stores. Then, we ended up at the store with all the metal cans and brushes again. This time, Captain sat and talked to the people for a little while and let me chew my bone. I was in heaven.

The people behind the counter remembered my name and said hello to me and a new guy came to meet me. He got up close to me and startled me. I thought he was going to try and hurt my Captain so I jumped up real quick and barked at him. He wasn't gonna hurt her though, so I went back to my bone while he took my picture and scratched my ears. They keep pictures of the four legged customers so now I am in the collection:) As for the store, yup, I think I just might get a job here and run the joint. I hope everyone likes the color bone!

Wait, just when I thought it couldn't, my day got even better. . .our new neighbor came over with a new lady friend for me. Her name is Chicka and let me describe her. She is a four legged beauty of the chocolate color, of average height and a svelte 70 pounds. She is 2 years old and being of the Labrador Island, she has tons of energy. I am in love. I first expressed dominance over her and she just rushed into my house ignoring me, my kinda lady. She even tried to steal my new big bone, but Captain saved it for me. We played, even though I was already exhausted, for about 45 minutes outside while our parents talked. I can't wait to play with her again. The Captain might arrange a play date for me tomorrow and have dinner with our new friends. I hope so, that would be a grand Valentine's day.

Day 68

I am so tired today. Captain kept us both up late last night, first getting home very late and then tossing and turning all night. I don't remember her ever doing this when my Papa was around. I was just about to leave the room when she finally settled down. The sun was out when we took our tour and it felt nice. I waited and waited for her to take a break from the box, but when she did she did not take me with her, but put on clothes and went running without me. I was sad, but when she came (smelly I might add) she gave me a nice yummy chewing piece of that pig stuff I love. I do believe she calls it an ear.

The ferry driver came and we picked up my gal Mia and took her on a walk. I was so happy to see her (don't tell Nesta, but I may have two girlfriends now). She is a funny boxy lady. She gets startled by her shadow I swear and I have to tell her it is okay. She just walks right next to me after I do that, almost like she is thanking me for being a big strong man. I eat that stuff up, I can't help I am a softy.

Captain was really tired so we layed down on our fuzzy blankets together and she played some video games and I swear she literally fell asleep playing the game. So much for entertainment! We woke up and had some dinner and then just went right back to bed.

Day 67

I love that the Captain is staying home with me, but I don't know why she won't spend all her time with me instead of the box and the phone. We had a nice tour and it was the day when all those big barrels are out with all the interesting smells coming out of them. Because we walked a little later than when captain goes into the bigger Island, we saw all these men in bright vests stealing the stuff from the barrels. At one point I lunged at something on the ground and then the men watched while the Captain yelled at me and tried to pry it out of my mouth. The dinner roll was so yummy and since these men were watching, I rufused to give in and fought harder than usual to keep my prize. Even though I know the Captain was really mad at me, after our tour, she did rest with me a little next to my fuzzy blanket under her very own fuzzy blanket and that was nice, but then she left and went to the box. On several occasions, I would take her my toys and check on her progress. She would play for a few minutes and then ignore me again. I even went and layed down on the top of the stairs again like yesterday so I could see her better, but this time I did start to fall and didn't like that one bit.

I played hard in the diamond shaped grassy area with Eli and ran around and around and around. I was so happy to feel the sun on my back and be with my friend. The ferry driver worked on commanding me to do things, I prefer playing but since he gave me yummy cookies I played along with him and did what he asked. Maybe if Captain had had a cookie on our earlier tour I would have dropped the dinner roll--na probably not. I got really hyper again when I came home from my play time and saw Captain was still home so I raced around the house and did my "crazy boy" dance. Captain yelled at me to knock it off. I have no idea what that means.

Because I played hard I guess, Captain kept telling me I smelled--how insulting. After our evening tour together, she got in the glass walled room with me and got me all wet and washed lots of dirt off of me. I was grumpier than usual and told her about it. She kept saying crap like "you don't say" and "tell me about it" so I did, I just let her know that I was unhappy with her and wanted my Papa back. She dried me off and fed me and then left just before bed time for several hours saying something about a surprise birthday party. I remember when she did that for my Papa. I hope the person she was surprising liked it and had as much fun as my Papa did.

Day 66

Captain kept waking up all night last night so I left my little round bed for a different one, it is nice to have several options around the house. When she woke up, I heard her talking to my Papa and got all excited. For just a minute I thought maybe he was here. Alas, no, but at least the Captain stayed home again with me. We kept looking out the window waiting for the white stuff, but it really never came.

For a little while it did come and was very wet. Instead of the ferry drivers, my Captain took me on a long walk and I was super good. I did not lunge at anyone, stayed in heel, and minded her. I think it was a reward, but we came up to a store with lots of smelly cans of the colored stuff she keeps putting on the walls and she actually took me inside with her. All of a sudden I got so excited to be inside that I started smelling everything and jumped up with my front paws on the counter to say hi. Captain didn't seem very happy about it but the people behind the counter thought it was funny. When Captain was trying to give the man some paper green stuff, I jumped up again and sent a can of the stuff Captain uses sliding all the way across the counter. I was really good again on the walk home, just in case she thought I was bad in the store.

I slept on my fuzzy blanket and the top stair the rest of the day only waking when the Captain checked for snow. Captain was worried that I would fall down the stairs. I didn't, and when I did wake up, it was only to eat dinner and cuddle with Captain on the couch while she watched tv and then played some video games like Papa used to. I wonder if when he comes home they will play them together.

Day 65

Captain and I slept an extra hour today which was really nice since I was still so tired from Sunday (I think she was too). She took me on a short tour and then immediately got on the box. My belly kinda hurt and I threw up a little. I was hoping the Captain would take a break and spend the day with me to make me feel better, but she told me that the box allows her to put toys on my bed and food in my bowl. At least she was home with me I guess.

I could tell the sun was shining brightly for once and since moving to this Island from my birthplace of the sunny western state, I find myself insufficient in vitamin D. I cried and cried whimpering at the top of the stairs until she took me on a short tour before the ferry drivers came. Finally once the ferry driver came, my belly felt better. I was finally able to poop and immediately my stomach felt better. I remembered the experiment and decided to continue pooping since it made my belly feel better and these two legged people seem to like collecting samples from me. The ferry driver even left the Captain a note telling her about the great sample I left for their experiment. It said that I left four samples and that I must have eaten an instruction manual because the text on the paper in my poop was in Spanish and Japanese! Now, that my friends is a sample worthy of any experiment right?

Day 64

I was so tired today. Even though we went to bed when the moon was highest in the sky above the Island, my Captain set that darn thing with the people talking to come on at the same time. I heard Anne and Jason so I immediately went to check on Anne, I think she might have had on my Papa's leg covers which really confused me. Though, sometimes Captain does that with his arm covers, I have never seen another person in his leg covers. I was sad to hear them leave, but them Captain had me go back to bed for a little while and I did like snoozing some more. I just wish she would let me up into her nice warm bed with her instead of this small round one. She was nice and stayed home with me today. After our tour she had a lot of cups of that warm smelly stuff she drinks while I eat my breakfast. I don't know why but she kept saying something about wishing she hadn't moved away from the caffeine kind. I have no idea what she is talking about, I eat the same food everyday and I don't mind. I liked having her stay here with me, but I was so tired I just ignored her and slept all day. I heard my Papa's voice on the box at one point and licked the camera. I was trying to give him a big kiss.

During the middle of the day, the king ferry driver came and took me on a walk with my four legged friends Ely and Mia. Captain came down and talked with Mia and she was so good. She just sat and waited while the king put my harness on and then hooked me to a double walker thing with Mia. See, we are literally tied at the hip. I got home and was so tired. I heard the king ferry driver tell Captain that I was acting tired at the end of the walk. It was her and her friends' fault!

Day 63

Wow, it sure has been busy on the Island. We woke up before the sun as usual, though I swear it is a weekend day and maybe we should get to sleep in or something. We went on a nice tour, but it was very cold and really really windy. After our walk the Captain ran around the house running the hair sucking thing that makes noise and spraying the stuff that makes me sneeze on the counters and then wiping it off--please tell me the point in that. Maybe she was just trying to warm back up or something. After cleaning she left for a while and came back really smelly and seemed tired. Her cheeks were really rosy from the wind I think so I gave her kisses on them.

Just about the time when the sun was going down and I was getting ready to relax with my Captain the way we used to on Sunday nights with Papa, people starting knocking on the door. First our old friend Eileen showed up. She had on a big puffy coat and boots so she went on a tour with us. It seems she lives on a really cold Island too, though she used to live here on this Island, and she is used to the cold. In total, my Captain's friends Anne, Jason, Eileen, and Kelly all came over and Captain put on her football jersey. Thank goodness she didn't make me wear mine again. They made food that smelled good and drank that red stuff in the tall glasses that makes them laugh a lot. Anne, who seems to think my name is Ewe and not Otis, even almost touched me--something she has never really done. They cheered and the Captain yelled some bad words at the tv. I only hear her yell those when I try to catch vermin. She seemed pretty angry about the football game. Which I don't get, aren't Saint's good? Isn't it bad luck to curse saints? Anyway, I was so tired because they all stayed way past our bed time. I even shoved Kelly out of the way so I could lay in my Captain's lap. Kelly didn't seem to mind, but I heard her call me a dog. I don't know what that is, I wonder if she has me confused with some other four legged creature. After Kelly and Eileen left, Jason and Anne stayed and slept in the guest room. I walked back and forth checking on Anne just to be sure she didn't want to pet me. I think she had a belly ache and whenever the Captain has one she feels better when she pets me. Instead, the Captain made me stay in our room. I was so tired I went and layed on my bed and fell asleep even though I could hear Anne making noise.

Day 62

What a crazy weekend. I swear sometimes the Captain just runs around like my headless gal Henrietta (you know, a chicken with its head cut off. . . ). We woke up at 5:30 like during the week to tour the Island. Man, what happened to the days when my papa was here and I could at least sleep in one day a week? We had a nice breakfast and she tried to talk to Papa, but couldn't because of rain in Iraq. Must be like snow in the Island of DC where they panic when it snows and don't know what to do like we do on this Island. Anyway, she left in clothes that smelled bad, I don't think she washed her running jacket or something, but I really hope she didn't run too close to anyone. She came back after only an hour or so (she said something about a race tomorrow) and took one of those really cold baths that make her squeal. I came and sat with her while she soaked. Then, she got ready here and did her hair and stuff--something I haven't seen in a while, I think she must shower somewhere else most of the time. She was humming and happy so it must have been nice to get ready here. Sadly, she left again, this time with Ely's mama (I think she has a baby in her belly cuz it is big now). When she got back we played games in the parking area and I could tell a little bit of white stuff fell, but it was only in a couple of areas and hardly anything. Too bad.

Then, the woman left again! She came home this time with more of those jars of stuff she keeps putting on the walls in different colors and some good smelling food. She also had some tug of war toys that I saw and that she put on the counter while she talked to papa on the box. I got up with my paw on the counter to investigate and swore I heard them both yell at me. GEEZ. It was for me for crying out loud. After talking to my papa and ignoring me, we did finally play tug of war. Then, the crazy woman left again with a big pot of food saying she was going to a ban quit. What the heck is a ban and why did it quit? She came home with a metal that said second place (she said it was for some race series she did).

When she came home we went for a walk and a ferry I recognized went by and the lady was talking to us. I tried to get in the ferry through the window, but it was a big ferry and I couldn't make it. The ferry turned around and just as I was getting mad that the tour was ending too early, the ferry parked and our friend Kathey joined us for a nice tour of the Island. She came back for a little while and we all had those nice white things Captain calls marshmallows. They had theirs in a drink, but threw me mine to catch.

Once Kathey left, Captain painted more colors on the wall while I played with my new toys. After, I was so tired I didn't even want dinner and I went downstairs to my thick bed to go to sleep.

Day 61

The Captain must have read my blog yesterday or something. I am exhausted today! She walked me this am for our usual morning tour down the street to the end and back. Then, the ferry drivers came with Mia my four legged box like friend and we played hard. Then, she had my main ferry-man Dan come back and he took me to run some errands with him so I was out for a while, certainly not the 30 minutes I heard Captain talking about. When he was writing in my new notebook, man these two legged types don't learn, my Captain came home. While they were talking I went nuts and was jumping on them both and did crazy boy twice. Captain fed me and then left for a while. I was sooo tired I just laid down on my bed and went to sleep. When she came back I just kept squinting my eyes. I watched her make dinner just in case she dropped something. She ate more yummy food like my papa likes, she called it a chop of pork or something, and she put some of it in my bowl at the end. It was soo yummy and made me happy inside so I immediately went back to sleep.

Day 60

Um, I think the Captain needs to get off the Island. I think I do too. A third of our adventure in and she feels suffocated and overwhelmed and I feel ignored and underwhelmed. Even though the Captain left a little later for work today (she left in real work clothes and mentioned something about it being an important day at work) and I was really good on my tour with the ferry driver today, I was bored when I got home. I have been noticing that while I keep this blog, that the ferry drivers always write in a notebook after my tours and play dates. Don't they know that I am the only one that writes about my adventures? I refuse to have someone write something I can't read. So, I hopped up and grabbed the book off the stand and played with it. I tore some pages out, tossed it around, and may have even eaten a couple. Then, I grabbed the Captain's loved snow boots and pulled one onto my bed with me so I could smell my Captain and snuggle with her. I laid down with it for a while and might have tasted a button. I didn't hurt it though, but when the Queen ferry driver Yana showed up, I could tell she was gonna tell my Captain somehow, even without the book. Sure enough, when my Captain finally came home, she must have still had word about the boots and the book because she knew that the book had been put in a baggie for "evidence" and that I had messed with her boots. Once she took me out, she was on the phone for a minute with my Papa, I tried to talk to him too by nuzzling her ear when she was talking to him. Before she could tell him, she suddenly got another call and had to rush to the computer where someone was helping her fix something about her phone using the computer (I heard her say her iphone was possessed and that she couldn't use it). I just couldn't take that she was not paying attention to me so I started tossing my bed around and chewing on it making a nice hole. The Captain got upset with me but then finally sat on the couch with me while I wrote this. That was all I wanted--just more time with my Captain.

Day 59

The white stuff was back this morning on the Island. It was not a lot of it, but it was coming down in big fluffy beautiful flakes. I immediately licked some off the ground and smiled at how yummy it tasted and how nice it makes the Island look. The Captain and I enjoyed a nice walk in it together before she caught the ferry that goes on the tracks. If I had known how long it would be before I saw her again, I'd have given her a double noser before she left.

I went on one of my best walks ever today with my four legged friends Mia and Ely and my two legged friend Melissa. She had another ferry driver with her that I don't know and I was showing off a little so he would know how good I am. I walked in heel and sat and didn't even lunge when people walked by. One two legged being went jogging by and Melissa didn't even see him at first, but I was good and didn't lunge or chase. The Captain would be proud because she is super sensitive to people running by and me not bothering them. While I waited on her to get home, I moved my bed around the first floor testing out where I feel most comfortable. I found my half chewed yellow disk thing Captain calls a frisbee and ate it breaking it into a lot of pieces on the floor. Captain came home late and just laughed and picked up the pieces and tossed them in the trash saying she was too tired to vacuum tonight. After taking me on a quick tour, she gave me my dinner and then snuck out while I was eating. I heard the garage door and rushed down the stairs, but it was too late. She did bring me in a treat with all the bags off good smelling stuff. I chewed on it while she emptied the bags and ate her dinner. I love it when she does that, plus using my strong jaws makes me tired. I am actually snoring right now as I write this--amazing isn't it!

Day 58

It was really hard to wake up this morning. I slept by the front door all night despite the Captain calling me to come upstairs. Then, even when she was up and getting dressed, I just stayed in bed hoping she would go back to sleep. She finally got my attention by putting my food in the dish--that always gets my attention. I went back to sleep until my tours with the ferry drivers. They worked on heel with me and I was really good because I know they report back to the Captain and I don't want to disappoint her. When the big ferry man Dan came in the afternoon he brought a fun little four legged friend with him that is a terror (or did he say terrier?) from Boston and was name Lulu. We looked really cute together!

Captain and I had a nice dinner together and then she watched a show while I got to eat a yummy pig ear. Then she took one of those really cold baths and I sat next to her with my head in her hand the entire time. I hope it makes her legs feel better. I know running is important to her and even my Papa. Captain told me he ran really fast today and that she'll probably never be able to run that fast but that she is sure going to keep running no matter how fast she is. I like that attitude, just wish I could keep up with either of them.

Day 57

It was really windy on the Island today. At least the sun was shining, but it was pretty cold out there with the wind. It seemed the Captain's head was hurting this morning so I was careful to be very good on our morning tour. I personally think she drank too much of that stuff in the fancy glasses last night, but I didn't tell her. See that is why I am a perfect man, I just give her kisses and keep my mouth shut.

When ferry-driver Dan came this afternoon he brought my friends Mia and Ely. I was good and walked in heel the whole time and didn't lunge at any vermin, even though I had a good opportunity on three different occasions. Since I was good and on alert for most of the walk, he let me just have play time in the diamond shaped place with my friends. I played keep away with Ely for a while, but then Dan took the toy away because Ely was getting mad and frustrated with me. I was tired when I got home and cleared all the toys off my bed so I could lay down more comfortably and sleep until the Captain came home. I didn't get to see much of her today because after dinner she left for an hour, but when she got home she played catch the marshmallow with me. I love those white fluffy bits of goodness and jump high in the air to catch them every time!