The Ever Changing Morning Walk October 8, 2011

Me,Dad and my friend Louise, walking the beach.

I take dad on a beach walk almost everyday. We walk the same beach every morning, now you would think it would be the same old. same old. Not only do the people change but the beach changes. With each storm or tide the ocean takes some of the beach with her and other times she leaves new. Tides have been so high we have to jump rocks to pass some stretches where there is no sand. I usually get pretty wet but it feels nice on a sunny morning. At times the tide is so far out and the beach is so wide you would think it would be fun to run as fast as possible across it, but i can’t. The sand is so thick and soggy every step is like quick sand.
This past week the surf has been high and I take my time to watch the surfers catch waves. Wow does that look like fun! I hear there are a few dogs that surf but I haven’t met them. Along with the surfers, the high surf had brought a few Monk Seals in for a visit. Let me tell you they are huge and have a smell I have never experienced before, amazing. The humans have the seals roped off for their safety. They are coming on the beach because they are molting, kinda like some of my long furred friends that shed in the spring.    The same old, every day beach walk ….is never the same and never gets old.

 

A Yen for New Engalnd August 25, 2011

We have been on Maui for almost 6 months. Things are falling in to place very nicely. Mom has a great job at the hair salon at the islands only 5 star resort. The salon is nice and her co-workers are super. I miss her during the day but I get to hang with dad. We start with a walk on the beach. I get to meet so many people and have made many friends there, I even go into the water. Dad gets things done during the day like shopping, cooking and he has become a master cookie baker! We are waiting for word on a condo. Looks like a back yard for me, keep your paws crossed.
The humans wanted a little taste of New England summer so they ordered a lobster dinner from our favorite lobster pound in Boston, Hook. Mom borrowed a big pot and we waited for UPS. Next day shipping showed up a day late with few dead lobsters. Wow, where they bummed. I did get a good sniff of that Atlantic seaweed, that is some good stink to roll in, they didn’t let me near it. Bummer for me. I am sure we will try getting lobster again. To keep our connection our home town we will keep our eye on the Red Sox and look forward to the Patriots football with out the cold. The cool thing Sunday night football starts at 2 in the afternoon.

My 1st Boo Boo my 1st Visit to a New Vet June 15, 2011

Moving to a new home means having to find new places to eat, shop, and play but most important the need to find a new veterinarian.  What started out as a little boo boo turned in an infected paw pad.  It fills up and gets pretty big, it is not pretty but it never really bothers me.  This has happened to me before, it ment a trip to the vet to have it drained and some antibiotics.  Dad and I went to a vet  close to home, this is weird it begin with, cuz Mom is the one to do the vet trips. Dad doesn’t like to go to the human doctor and really does not like to take me to the vet…he hates seeing me nervous and scaried.  I know where we were as soon as I got out of the car, all veterinarians smell the same. All the pups before me leave pee mails with all the details and reviews.  The doctor took a look and gave dad some meds to take for the weekend, then back on Monday for another look and possible x-rays. We went back to the vet on Monday but not that vet. Dad took me to a different doctor that we both liked much better. No x-rays, but a week of meds then back on Friday. Now my paw is wrapped up. The humans are getting smart, they now make a bandage that tastes bad. This is much better that wearing the cone of shame.

The worst part of this whole thing is I am missing my daily walks on the beach. What are all the tourist going to do without me for the morning puppy love I deliver to those who miss their dogs?  Dad has to walk by himself and worst of all is I have to stay home!

foot wrap

New Aloha Collars, Now I am Dressed ! June 7, 2011

The great thing about living in a place that isn’t cold is that I do not have to wear jackets and hoodies, but I need collars with style! Aloha style!  Mom usually makes my collars and clothes but her sewing machine is in storage untill the pack settles in to a home to call our own. She has been dying to get me in to something more island appropriate.  Since the humans like to patronize animal welfare groups as much as possible,like the MSPCA and the Maui Humane Society, mom found Shaka Dog Hawaii. Lori not only runs IG Rescue Hawaii she makes the best Hawaii style collars. Shaka Dog Collars are all customizable with a choice of linings and sizes so everyone has thier perfect fit. Lori also crafts belly bands, snuggle sacks, leads, all styles of collars and wicked cute head bands for human girls! She is one talented and busy lady!  Mom has been looking for a collar that complements my striking good looks and coloring. The pink,grey and black Plumeria print, adjustable martingale was in order. Lori was so nice and sent along the cutest Hound collar as an Aloha gift.  Sky blue with a hula girl, an ukulele, and a rainbow with Aloha right on the front.

Thanks Lori and Shaka Dog Hawaii. I feel like a true Shaka Dog!

A Day of Firsts April 6, 2011

I have experienced a lot of new things in the past few months. road trip cross-country and my first airplane ride are a few highlights.  This morning we all went to the beach for our family walk.    See  The Art of Walking the Beach. http://tinyurl.com/3tzdu5x       Met my beach pals and peed on a few abandoned sand castles the usual stuff. Some reason Dad went all the way into the water, not just walking in the water, but he dove in and disappeared! I ran and barked but he would not come out, he just stood there….I had to save him. I ran into the water after him and I swam to help him,  cuz mom wasn’t doing a thing to help. Good thing I did because, he came out safe and was so happy I came after him. It was fun! I came out of  the water and ran circles in the sand and played with mom and dad, they were so happy I went swimming.   Hey, they tricked me!    After all the excitement we headed back to the car.  I was doing my final sniffing around and there was this big bird in the parking lot, well I had to check it out. Mom called it a rooster, and he did not want to meet me. I just wanted a sniff, heck I have never seen one of these before, pigeons yes, this rooster thing was very interesting.  I ran after him and he freaked out, wings out, lots of yelling and screaming and I didn’t even get close. He ran in the bushes. I cant wait to see him again!   Boy, I had a great nap when I got home.

The Art of Walking the Beach March 25, 2011

At first I was not to sure about the beach. The only time I have been on the beach, back in New England, it was cold.  Here it is hot and the water is warm, but I don’t go in the water.  Chasing the ball is awesome, flying across the sand then, Boom! Quick stop to catch the ball and sand goes flying everywhere, up my nose , all over. Oh yea… this is fun.  Tourist with kids are the best, they all miss their pup at home and usually have food in their bag.  Lost of people come here and can not bring their dog, so I stop to give them their puppy fix, I like being the Vacation Dog Ambassador.   Like I said before I really don’t like going into the water, it comes in then goes out, I don’t get it. I have to dance along the edges of the tide, just getting my paws wet. I see other beach dogs that really dig the whole chase the ball in  the water and swim out to get it and swim back and do it again thing….nope not me.

On the morning walks, I really like peeing on the remnants of yesterdays sand castles.  Yea. Yea, I know but my dog park friends do it so I have to leave my mark beside you know the kids that built it peed there too. I know my humans worry that I would do to sand castles in the building process,but why ruin a good thing,besides the kids work so hard. Yesterday a little cutie and her parents were working on a big, beautiful castle and when I returned she had all her princess dolls posed all about the castle. It was beyond cute.

I look forward to my walks on the beach, mom has a beach bag for me. Packed with all the thing we need for an enjoyable stroll, water, bowl, ball, poop bags and cellphone to get photos of me, she isn’t too good at getting the photos, if she were I would have them posted here. I’ll get on her about that, promise!

The Dog Park the Hub of All Infomation March 23, 2011

Hit the dog park next to our new apartment. It really isn’t a “dog park’, but the humans keep it clean,it is all grass and it has a water hose with a donated water bowl.  It is amazing how fast you meet the neighbours and get the low down on whats up. Everyone is very friendly especially when you are a newbie, we have met so many people and pups all ready. I guess word gets around pretty quick here everyone knows we are from the east cost, that and our car still has Massachusetts  plates.  The humans get out of work and head to the park Hawaii style, with a beer or cocktail and a tennis ball. I have a new running pal Lily Koi, she is really cute, she looks like a cross between an Italian Greyhound and a Pug. An IG body and face with pug fur and a curly tail, and boy is she fast!   It is nice hanging out with the old dogs, Russia Red and Chaney they have been for a while and know this island life like the back of their paws.  The whole gang is great, it feels good to have a park to call my own. I miss the gang at the Pacific Street park in Cambridge, I think of them often.

Tsunami Baci Makes a Big Splash in Maui. March 11, 2011

It was just like watching the weather reports for Nor’easters or blizzards on TV back in Boston. This had sirens blasting every hour just to let you know they mean business. We were lucky to have friends who live here hanging out with us, I would have been scary if we were alone. Cell phone service was patchy at best but thanks to Verizon and moms Android phone we got local information. Through the wonders of the Internets, Mom was able to get real-time information from tweeter. We were able to find out we were not in a flood zone, that put us a little at ease. Mom and Dad woke to lots of text messages, voice mail, tweets and face book messages from our friends and family back in Boston and from across the county, checking in and hoping to wake us up. Got up and out in the morning to see the damage and find coffee. The officials had done a great job evacuating people in the low areas, lots of people had camped out in parks and in their cars. The streets were blocked off and no accesses to the beaches. You could see the water mark across the side streets, and mud and debris all across the park area between the beach and the main street. By noon time the beaches were still closed but the clean up was well underway. Shops open, people out jogging, life as usual. Compared to other areas, our little slice of paradise made out with only a few bumps and scrapes.

 Mahalo to all the people who were concerned about us.                  Our thoughts go out to the people in Japan.

Aloha Maui Day One. March 9, 2011

Today was a busy one. Breakfast at the Kihei Caffe, I met Boo Bear who is my buddy on Facebook and lots of human friends. Some I will see all the time and some who are just visiting Maui like mom and dad did for years. We found and rented a really cute furnished apartment this morning. That was luck because mom has been looking on-line, emailing people and making lot of calls, getting turned down for weeks . Although there seems to a lot of pups on the island, it is very hard to find an apartment that is dog friendly. My new home is a steps away from the dog park, just like in Boston, and the beach is 2 blocks away….sweet. We move in this weekend.

I am discovering things I have never seen or sniffed before.  

Little lizards are crazy, they are fast and sneaky. First you see them and then poof they are gone!  All kinds of birds that walk on the ground. Now, I know my pigeons, but these guys are not pigeons, I figure them out. We all went to the beach this afternoon, now I like this beach because it is warm and I made lots of dogs pals who go there all the time. They didn’t understand when I told them the beach I had always gone to was cold. I am going to like a warm beach, it is so much more fun.   Oh yea, “The Stink” to roll in here is unbelievable, seriously I don’t know it could be this good. Mom and dad gave me a bath as soon as we came home, I even left a ring around the tub.  I am so worn out from my first day, I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Now I Know What the Crate is for… March 7, 2011

The humans woke me up very early, I am the one that does the waking!  Did the usual routine; got dressed, packed the suit cases, loaded the car, waited for me to do my thing and drive off . This was way different. Dad dropped me and mom at the airport (to return the car). Lots of people and suit cases, everyone waiting in lines. A nice lady, she had a dog I could smell him on her, took all of our luggage except for the crate. She as putting stickers all over it hanging tags on it all while mom was filling out forms.  Then  mom and I walked down some stairs to a room where mom started giving me Greenies to get me in the crate, she knows I will do anything for a Greenie never mind a few. Before I knew it mom as gone and I went to a busy, loud place before they put me on the plane. I was all set with a little food  & water and my favorite blanket & Bobo.

It seemed like hours or was it a few minuets….. I really don’t know, when the plane landed. The door opened and someone took me off the plane and for a short ride. That’s when I met Claire from the Maui Humane Society, she was expecting me! After looking at all the papers mom taped to my crate, Claire took me out, took off my silly hoodie and boy did I have to pee.  Mom and dad drove up! Oh boy it was so good to see them again, I am so glad they were on the plane too!

We are all in this place called Maui, Hawaii. All these new smells, it is amazing so much to see, sniff and do. One thing I do know is that I will not have to wear a hoodie again!