A Fool for the Pool

So just in case no one gets how eagerly Browdie clambered onto the float his very first time in the pool on SSI, here's a little video evidence.

Yes, we think he's going to like the water juuuuust fiiiiine.



The following video sums up pretty well Laika's mood on the island, in this case taken while car surfing on the way back from a morning romp on the beach:

Mayfield's Volunteer Browdie

I arrived at Immer Essen Farm at last to retrieve our boy. Out he came from the house and I couldn't believe how much he had grown up in four weeks! He scamped around in the grass a little bit before noticing me then was like HEY LADY I REMEMBER YOU!! and came over and greeted me excitedly. We played a little in the front yard while I talked to Cesmir and Greg, showing them Laika and Tilley's books to let them know that he would be off to grand adventures with us.

Cesmir gave me a very organized packet of all his records, papers, and then, much like a 4-pack of toilet paper at Target, she scanned him and rang him up. He had already been microchipped so she had to scan in the number to confirm that everything matched up with the papers we'll submit.

But it was kind of funny to have him scanned, and it beeped, then I wrote a check :).

I grabbed the kennel we had left back in May and he was like, hey, where is my house going? After a few goodbye hugs - just like that - we were off. We went the other way out from the farm to head south and we inadvertently came out behind Mayfield again, so I had to stop for a partial family portrait.

We drove onward to Atlanta and he mostly stayed in my lap or behind my shoulder (weirdo).

I finally had to stop at a Wendy's to get some form of food and go to the restroom...I knew I couldn't leave him alone in the car so I improvised and put a blanket down in a large canvas beach bag, and in he went with me. It's amazing how few people suspect that you are carrying a live corgi as a purse. It was nice in the restroom because I just hung the bag on the purse hook and he just snoozed. Just like a hammock, he remarked later.

Once back in Atlanta, I had to swing by work to pick up a few things before heading to SSI, so we had a few meet and greets, many of whom felt like they knew him already as they'd seen all the pics of him over the past few weeks.

Finally, it was time to go home for the big Meeting of the Girls. I kept him in the bag and Tilley clearly wondered where I had been, why I smelled like puppies, and why in particular the bag I was carrying smelled A LOT like a puppy. To her surprise, it WAS a puppy! She was very interested but a little tentative, or moreso that we thought she would be. Laika literally didn't see him for the first few minutes then was - as expected - relatively unaffected :).

By the end of the evening, though, Tilley and Browdie were already doing a little "let me follow you around", and by the next morning they were already playing tug with some woobies. Tilley remarked that having a little brother might end up being fun after all.

Friday morning it was time to push off for the island on Browdie's first big road trip. We got the truck all ready and we were off like a pack of corgis. Browdie mostly napped, as did Tilley (shocker). Seems like in addition to Corginess they also have autonarcolepsy in common. Laika of course paced until approximately Statesboro and finally sat down around Savannah. Once we hit Darien though, she caught wind of the marsh and was giddy and smiley. Going across the causeway Browdie was clueless but Tilley and Laika were as beside themselves as I was :).

We arrived at the house where Mom and Dad were a day ahead of us and unwound by the pool. John of course jumped in with his clothes on within the first ten minutes. Tilley proved her new aqua bravado with jumping onto her float without anyone asking her to or without anyone in the water. Pool deck, float pounce, swim to the stairs, repeat. John was hanging on the float and Browdie decided to check it out. And then jumped right on the float like he'd done it a thousand times. We're glad he's fearless about the water but hope that doesn't mean he will be too sassy to train :).

That night before bed, Tilley discovered that Browdie - despite his diminuitive size - is a "most worthy" adversary in the wrestling ring. He gave her a run for her money, and they took turns being the tough guy or the "help you've got me down" dog. Laika didn't mind as she was in the middle of her standard 2-day drive hangover recovery power nap.

A few videos to entertain:

My Magical Mayfield

For those of you who know me, you surely know of my near obsession (ok, outright obsession) with the Mayfield family of dairy products. In particular, some of you have witnessed my workplace dumpster scouring to reclaim an erroneously discarded tub of neapolitan ice cream lovingly driven from Tennessee to DC years ago. Others have seen a near death match occur when my brother and I are down to the last Brown Cow or Ice Cream Sandwich. Based in Athens, TN, the hallmark yellow jugs of milk and the friendly cow logo (one of my other hallmarks of a great brand: they haven't changed it) represent both a taste of home and a taste of the delicious.

After 36 years, you think I would have taken advantage of the free tours, ice cream bar, and/or gift shop. But today was to be the first. I was on track to go pick up Browdie but needed to kill some time beforehand, so all the stars were aligned. As giddy as (ok, giddier than) one of the many schoolkids there with their groups, I approached to register to inquire about the tour. I had just missed it, and the next one wasn't for an hour; well after I was to pick up our new puppy. I instead spent the next half an hour shopping - so much so that when I took my (admittedly embarrassingly laden) shopping basket to the front I jokingly said...do you give volume discounts?

After a nice chat about how I was raised on Mayfield but was then without it in DC for 13 years, I finally signed my slip and was about to be on my way. As she handed me my receipt, she smiled and said, I gave you my employee 20% discount.

What a happy place! To celebrate, I wandered over to the ice cream bar for none other than the classic favorite, that perfect combination, the trifecta of ice creams...neapolitan. Turns out because they give it as the sample on the tour, THEY DON'T SELL IT BY THE SCOOP! Denied. I picked a backup new flavor of low(er) fat Banana Pudding and had that as my lunch. Perfection!

On the Road Again...Back to the Future

It was nice to be in DC again to connect with clients and friends. I'm looking forward to having JoMarie on the ground in DC - several clients were really excited about getting her in the team fold. I also managed to score a fantastic green leather handbag from a street vendor for $30. My client scored some cool shades.

I am not terribly pleased to report that there was really no working out on this trip at all - I really horribly missed not being able to hoof it through Rock Creek so avoided it altogether.

Despite having brought my bike along just in case, the trip was generally spent in a fairly low key way. Amelia met us for dinner at the delish Tandoori Nights and we enjoyed the chat papri and trusted our server to make most of the selections.

We then headed for a late nite Sex and the City viewing where there was much laughter and many tears. We also got to hear about Amelia's fabulous trip to the East - fascinating and wonderful.

One night we went to the local Los Tios - fabulous food and friendly folks and about a block away from JoMarie's....followed up with custard from the Del Ray Dreamery (I still refuse to call it the Dairy Godmother, its new name). Another nite we had a great girls' dinner at Amelia's house and some very needed girl time.

We also had some late nite wedding crafting that shall remain a secret for at least another week :). We also had fun one afternoon checking out the new (to me) creekfront dog park in Shirlington where Tilley, Erah, and Sorella had a blast (as did we).

What's great about these trips is they are part memory lane, part memories of fun times with friends, and part creating new memories with friends. Back to the Future, one might say.

And to top it off? A personal record of of 9:15 with only two stops :) on the trip. And, a sighting of Doc and Marty themselves...see photo at left. :)

Our Nation's Capital

Apparently I *AM* too old for this shite ;). While attempting to be cogent for my client meetings (which I think I did successfully) I felt pretty strung out and held it together on a steady drip of caffeine.

I headed back to JoMarie's to let the dogs out after my meetings at about 4 and had :25 spare minutes. I could either do wireframe revisions or take a catnap.

In a very wise move, I took the catnap. Because that night, it was time for more R.E.M. :)

We headed out to Merriweather Post Pavilion and I remarked to Jome that the last time I was there was to in fact see R.E.M. with one of my early days match.com dates - a really nice guy but one that just didn't take off.

We met a really nice lady originally from near London who was there alone so we walked in together and talked of some great bands.

At security, we saw signs saying no professional cameras with detachable lenses. I convinced the guys between batting eyelashes that while my lenses were removable I was no pro photographer, and in we went.

We headed among the 20,000 or so fans to our seats. As the couple at the end of our row stood to let us scoot in I noticed something.

The guy looked familiar, but like someone I hadn't seen in a long time. You guessed it. The guy I saw R.E.M. with here all those years ago.

As I was reeling from those odds, on down the row were the ex-boyfriend of one of our best friends. On a date with?

A woman who used to be on the board of an organization I used to work for. To anyone who hasn't lived there to understand just how small a city DC can be, I hope these examples help you get the concept.

For those that care here are more photos. For those that care, the setlist:

1. Finest Worksong
2. Living Well Is the Best Revenge
3. Bad Day
4. What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
5. Drive
6. Ignoreland
7. Man-Sized Wreath
8. Little America (WHUP I think we're lost-no longer the former J* I think we're lost)
9. Hollow Man
10. Walk Unafraid
11. Houston
12. Electrolite
13. (Don't Go Back To) Rockville
14. Pop Song 89
15. Horse to Water
16. The One I Love
17. Driver 8 (ahh yes, gem)
18. Until The Day Is Done
19. Let Me In (chillbumps-classic Stipe melodic bliss)
20. These Days (gem; many things in common, name 3)
21. Orange Crush (would have loved Inside Out here instead, but alas)
22. I'm Gonna DJ

23. Supernatural Superserious (made me think of my niece Claire)
24. Losing My Religion
25. Mr. Richards
26. Fall On Me (and the crowd goes wild, sigh)
27. Man On The Moon

Everybody Here...Comes From Somewhere

After months of waiting and my cat-like reflexes on the online fanclub ticket presale, it was R.E.M. week. I say R.E.M. "week" because there were multiple shows involved but also because for me, such an event carries several days of pre-and post- day excitement that stirs up 22 years of memories, about a dozen times seeing the boys live, and the various and sundry Athens shows/events/run-ins that still turn me rosy with nostalgic glee.

Knowing I wouldn't be able to use my pit - yes, that's front row - tickets to the Atlanta show due to a family event conflict, I opted to see both the Raleigh NC and Washington DC shows.

Tilley and I left Atlanta at 10ish on Tuesday and headed towards DC for some client meetings, stopping in Raleigh to meet up with some friends of a coworker. After a quick unload of a few items from the truck and then tucking Tilley into her travel crate in Laurie's apartment, we were off to the show.

The tickets - and my call to the venue - both said no cameras but I say when in doubt, try :). We were parked moderately close so I opted to do so and if needed head back to stash the camera in the car. Security was a snap though, they just verified that my camera wasn't video and in I went, with a Nikon sporting an 18-55 lens, a 70-300 lens....and a camera with only one bar of battery juice left.

S H I I I I I I I T !

As I was starting to think about how I could ration out about 20 pictures over 3 hours I had a eureka moment - I had stuck my battery charger in the front of my camelbak at the last second.

HalleleLUJAH.

I found an outlet, and charged her up again right there on the grounds. We made our way to our seats which were like 5th row but only one row behind an area for special needs guests, so we had a great view of the stage. There were two folks there with cerebral palsy, one of whom had a therapy dog (a golden) who slept through the entire show. Tilley was livid later saying how that dog clearly didn't appreciate having front row seats.

The National and Modest Mouse opened up, and were both quite good. I was probably a little antsy and didn't give them my full attention as I think I hadn't really done the math on the fact that a 6:30 start time is more like a 9:00 main act start time, and I had both an antsy corgi and another 4.5 hour drive in front of me.

At last the wait was over, and it was time.

The boys burst out on stage with Harborcoat, an old classic (and harbinger of others to come that nite) after which Stipe did his standard welcome....Good evening....and they continued to deliver with tons of old faves and amusing but brief commentary from Stipe, including almost after every song, "fuck, it's hot" - it was conservatively 105 in the ampitheatre and I was neither wearing a full suit nor dancing like a cat as he was. I made lots of friends in my row with some serious fans who gave me emails for my pics - always great to meet a fellow rabid fan.

Here's the set list in full:

RALEIGH, NC June 10 2008

1. Harborcoat (with the traditional Stipe "Good evening!" greeting)
2. Living Well
3. Bad Day (personal new fave that gives me flashbacks to seeing them the nite before the 2004 elections)
4. Kenneth (as in what's the frequency)
5. 1,000,000 ("Hey you people on the lawn, check this shit out") - I couldn't believe they played this fab gem
6. Man-Sized Wreath
7. Welcome To The Occupation
8. Accelerate
9. 7 Chinese Brothers
10. Hollow Man
11. Imitation of Life
12. Houston ("This is about the way the Bush administration F*d up the Katrina situation")
13. Electrolite ("This is a west-coast song")
14. Walk Unafraid (another personal new fave)
15. The One I Love
16. Final Straw
17. Find The River (this is my song. there were tears.)
18. Let Me In (Stipe's voice on this is beyond description)
19. Horse To Water
20. Auctioneer/Another Engine (again with the gems!!)
21. Orange Crush
22. I'm Gonna DJ

After the show and a moderate cluster*** of a wait to get out, I got back and traded my concertgoers for a corgi and we were on our way to DC. at 12:05. I debated my ability to pull it out and make it all the way but the truth was once I got to 95 I figured, why not.

So I put in my workout mix and on we went, arriving safely at about 4:15 am, just in time for some light chit chat with JoMarie in time to get up at 7 for some meetings. Am I too old for this? Apparently not.

Full (well admittedly, an edited set from the original several hundred I took) set of photos here on Picasa: Check 'em out!

Atlanta's Finest Revenge

I was so excited for JoMarie to come visit us in Atlanta...she was planning on coming down for a Red Cross training and the weekend.

We would get to spend Tues nite, Weds nite, Thurs nite, and then from Friday afternoon on through Sunday together - wahhoooo! Seriously needed girl time.

But then. Just after she arrived. Macon. Tornadoes!

As a soldier for disaster fundraising for the Red Cross, JoMarie often responds to disaster needs from the DC office.

When the tornadoes hit central Georgia it just so happened that she was a mere 100 miles away...so she got assigned to go there to support on the ground fundraising instead of to the training.

SO, Wednesday morning she headed out and didn't come back till the wee hours of the morning on Friday.

BOOOOO!

The good news is she got to go with us to CANINE CAPERS Tuesday night to get to see Tilley in action (see video for a sneak peek!).

Then she was gone. Snif.

On Saturday, we headed into the gritty city to Piedmont Park for Atlanta's Finest 5k. Put on by our clients the Atlanta Police Foundation and sponsored by longtime clients Boardwalk Consulting, Northridge sent a contingent of racers and volunteers.

Among us were me and JoMarie, Tilley (up for anything, always), and my coworker Holly who was doing her first 5k with us. Tilley's race was first. She was actually registered as Tilley Hodgeski as a 2 year old (no where on the form did it say "check here to confirm you are a human", so what the hell).

We got her checked in and we all got race numbers in order :). JoMarie ran with me and Tilley, and Holly's son Connor did the 5k as well.

Tilley and Connor both went out fast, and Connor walked a little so JoMarie and I stuck with him either just ahead or in back to make sure he was cool.

As we rounded the final turn Tilley said "all bets are off!" and I dropped her leash and let her finish on her own. She was given a finisher's ribbon and an Atlanta Police badge by a very nice volunteer whom she showered with kisses "thanks for the ribbon, lady!".

Then it was our turn. We left Tilley and Connor with Amy and the rest of the Northridge crew and headed out, running, then walking, and alternating throughout the course. Holly kept a great pace and my knee was mostly ok until the last mile - and then it hurt like a mofo. Sigh. Not that I expected less but oh well. We finished in fine form and then hung out for a while in the sunshine and I did a little work with Tilley on obedience.

On the way out, we asked the po-lice if we could get a pic near their bike and, because of course he did, he offered for JoMarie and I to git on it :). When a cop asks if you want to sit on his bike? You say YES.

We headed back north with a very sleepy Connor and Tilley in the back seat. We rallied with John and headed out for lunch then the girls - all of the girls - including Laika, Tilley, and Erah, went shopping for canine couture and spent way too much time...and money, but had a great time. JoMarie was still wiped from work and having all of 3h of sleep...so I kept plying her with caffeine all day, which worked well through a fabulous dinner at Rice Thai in Roswell and into TV and girl time that night. We also had a few secret missions related to a certain upcoming wedding that will remain unpublished at this time ;).

On Sunday we headed out on an adventure for shoes which was unfruitful...but Tilley made LOTS of friends. We clinched the night with a little takeout from Mr. Taco and yes - more Sex and the City in preparation for the movie release next week. Monday after a quick stop at the office, JoMarie and Erah were on their way back to DC. WAHH!

We had a GREAT time even though our visit was shorter than originally expected. I was glad she was able to support the fine folks in Macon and to do her duty for the Red Cross. But it was a disappointment.

SO, to make sure it doesn't happen on a future visit, I hired her to work for us as our on the ground nonprofit gal in DC.

SNAP! Nobody puts Baby in a corner!!

:D

Video of Tilley moving from the tunnel to the a-frame then over the jump: