Living it up at the hotel......

This place is noisy!  I can see through the walls....I can see all the other dogs.  My own bed is here and my chewy bone.  But Mom and Dad aren't here.  I don't like this.  I'm a little scared, too.  

"Hey!  Hey, you!  Black and white!  Yeah, you!"

"Hello.  I'm Harry."

"I'm Spike.  You must be new here, huh?  First time? Ah, don't worry, kid.  Your pack will be back.  This a just a hotel.  It's a hotel just for us dogs!  If you give it a chance, you might even like it!  I've been here a couple of times already.  It's ok!  Makes going home even more fun!"

"If you say so.  I'm not too happy right now."

"Well, you'll get your regular food, you've got your bed from home and a toy.  These guys take you outside a lot, too.  You might even get a bath!"

"Really?  What's a bath?"

"Haha, you'll find out.  It's nice.  Makes you all fluffy and silky.  Don't worry, kid, you'll be fine!"

I did get a bath.  I got all wet and scrubbed up.  It WAS fun.  I didn't sleep, much.  I really, really wanted to be home.  But I did get to go out lots of times and I did have my own food from home.  I was a good boy the whole time!   

And then, the lady was taking me out of the noisy part into the big front and there was Mom!!  And Dad!  Oh, yay!  Yippee!  I'm going home with my pack!!!   I'm so happy I'm crying.  Aroooo!  

When we all got home, Dad was bringing my bed inside.  Hey, Dad!   Watch me, follow me!  I'll show you where it goes, just in case you forgot!!!  That's it, down this hall, and right in here.  Yep!  That's the spot!  

Mom gave me suppertime.  I guess she didn't know I already had it.  So, I nibbled a little.  Then we went on a big walk in my neighborhood!   Dora was in the car with her pack, but she called to me from the window!  "Roo, rooooooo!"  I missed you, too, Dora!  

Then the best thing, Mom gave me ice cream, my favorite, very best thing.   It's so good to be home!

 We had to drive out of town, just for three days.  Harry stayed at a dog "hotel and spa."  He had never been separated from us before.  I was nervous and concerned.  But this place came highly recommended and we had had a tour, which was especially nice because Harry was along for that and he remembered the place.

The staff told me he had been a very good boy - ate his meals and did his business.  They gave him a bath so even though his fur is short, it is now very soft and silky.

Harry was so excited to come home he was making sounds I've never heard before.  And it was clear that he was exhausted.  After leaping down the hall to show us where his bed belonged, he couldn't keep his eyes open anymore.

Good to be home, good to be together.  Home, sweet home.

I wanna go home, where I belong....

Oh, hey!  I remember this place!  Yeah, we came here before....but...what?  Mom?  Dad?  Where are you taking me?  Mom?  Dad?  No, no, no.  I do not like it. No!

Please don't wake me,

No, don't shake me
Leave me where I am
I'm only sleeping.
("I'm Only Sleeping" Lennon/McCartney, 1966)

There were loud thunder monsters the other night!  I was really, really scared.  I was up all night long!  I tried to curl up really smaltl next to Mom, but it sounded louder over there.  So then I would go back to my bed, but my insides would start shaking, so I would go back to the corner.  And the rain was hard!  It sounded like it was going to come inside!  

By morning, when it was time for my walk, it was all over.  The ground was still wet - I was licking wet grass and puddles!  After my breakfast, Mom and I went back to bed for a nap.  I was sooooo tired!  

I guess I was too tired, 'cause everytime Mom moved just a little bit, I got startled.  And I wanted to sleep!  Why can't she stay still?! Grrrrrrrrr.  Ooops.   That annoyed Mom and she ordered me to get down!  I'm sorry, Mom, I'm just tired, really, really tired.

Harry wasn't the only one who was tired.  The storm had everyone up most of the night.  The creek was running higher than I had ever seen it.  The raindrops sounded like they were as big as baseballs!  Splat! 

When all was said and done, and Harry and I were ready to nap, I moved.  I moved my foot.  Just a little.  What's that I hear?  Was that a growl?  Oh, no, no, no.  That is unacceptable.  Down you go!  He must have gotten the message, because later, when we were refreshed and awake, Harry tried to snuggle in my lap.  At almost 60 pounds, he is NOT a lap dog!  I think it was his way of telling me he was sorry for being grouchy.