That's an old picture of me..there with the stick. But I put it on there because that's on my Christmas wish list!!! Not the stick. The being able to go camping and play with mom and my friends.  If you read my new front page..it explains how yesterday I retired!! No more mom dog!! No more puppies, no more bleeding and wearing that silly diaper, no more 3 weeks in a kennel every time that happens. Of course, Mom didn't make it REALLY clear that in order for all that to happen and for her to adopt me and make me REALLY hers I would have to have surgery on my belly. OUCH!! That happened yesterday. So I'm not quite up to playing yet. I'm barely walking. But when I DO get there..woo hoo!!!

Thanks to everyone who stuck with me when I was in training and then when I was doing the mom thing. Now I get to just be me!!!! Love, Drea

It's me again! Mom doesn't feel like blogging so she let me. I got to play the other day too, but I got so out of breath we had to stop. If I  just got to RUN more....mom????

Anyway, it's another one of those days where we don't do much. Or at least it sure doesn't seem like it to me.

Mom entered my picture into a contest for KOA campgrounds..but she can't prove where the picture was taken, so I might not win.  But it's nice people want to see pictures of pets. Who wants to look at mountains and lakes and stuff anyway?

I just wanted to say hi to everyone.might as well take the chance while mom is in the mood to let me!!! Love, Drea

Mom hasn't taken too many pictures of me lately. In fact, mom hasn't let me do very much. We used to go for walks, or over to the field to play ball, but not lately.

Tori and I spend a lot of time waiting. We wait while she sits at the computer, we wait while she  eats dinner, we wait in the car while she goes  in someplace called a hospital.  We're good at waiting. Really, we'd rather be there than left home. But  I would rather be playing.  Tori's pretty happy with sitting in mom's lap when she finally gets in the chair. She gets up in the morning and drinks her coffee by the computer. Then she finally gets around to getting in the shower and goes out. Sometimes she comes home with food in bags. Sometimes all she has is a bunch of papers in her hands and she's in a bad mood.  Then she sits down at the computer again, or she eats lunch. We usually get treats, but she hardly ever drops any actual food on the floor, so there isn't much fun there.

Eventually she sits in her big chair and we watch TV. After that she pretty much stays there and if I bring her a toy she will usually play with me. But there isn't really a lot of running space.

For a long time it rained, so there was no playing for anyone, and we were stuck in the trailer. Tori and I took over the bed during the day. It was cold enough at night that we got to sleep there all night too! Now it isn't raining any more, and I keep trying to tell mom that it isn't going to be long before I do that heat thing, and then I am going to have to be locked in a cage for three weeks. I ought to get SOME play time in before then, doesn't everyone think so??? Thanks!! Love, Drea

Mom and Tori and I are getting ready to go camping again. I can tell because mom is taking all sorts of stuff out to the trailer and putting it away in all the drawers and slots. And I know we're going because I already saw our food go out!! I have to gather up all my toys so mom can pick which ones I get to take!!

We don't usually camp this time of the year. We just got back from Morro Bay where I saw my friends Thumper and Shiloh. Usually after that we stay home til we go to Cambria, but mom has been making some changes this year. Last year we didn't even GO to Cambria. We went to someplace called Monterey. We had a really fun walk along the ocean there!!

This year I don't think we are even doing that, but mom won't say what we ARE doing.

 It's pretty sad right now. I lost my friends Stormy and Benji.  Mom tried to tell me they are somewhere with a rainbow, but I didn't really understand. Aunt Jay and aunt Dee are very sad too. I would give them licks if I could.

Ok..I better go. I have to go finish putting all my toys in front of the sofa so mom doesn't miss them. Those toys aren't going to gather themselves. Love, Drea

Well, I am. But you didn't get to hear where I was before I went to GDA! Mom NEVER lets me on here any more. This was MY idea to begin with..I had the first page. Then she took it over!! But anyway..mom had this thing called a reunion..something where a bunch of people who used to know each other when they were young get back together to see if they still recognize each other. Most didn't...but they figured it out.

We stayed with Aunt Kathy at the Lake, and Uncle Jim came to visit from New Jersey!!! Aunt Kathy's son Brad had just lost his dog, and I look a little like her, so I got LOTS of pets from him.

But the best was..the LAKE! It was so hot during the day, but in the mornings mom took us for a walk and I got to swim in the lake while the sun was coming up! Mom brought my floatie toy.

It was wonderful until I got this "heat" thing again. Then suddenly  I was wearing diapers and locked in my room! I couldn't even go outside without a leash. THAT wasn't any fun!

Uncle Jim and mom had planned to leave there and go camping other places for a few days. Knowing Uncle Jim, that would involve other lakes and rivers, so I figured I had more swimming in my future. But NO. Now mom had to take me home. Plus she had a toothache, so we probably would still have left. Awww, man!! Just when I was really starting to have fun!!

Anyway, I had to go to the GDA kennel--but this time they put me on the side where I could see people and they talked to me!! And mom came to play with me in a yard with toys and shade! And a hose with water, so at least I was cooler.

I got an ear infection, so I had to have medicine for that. Mom's a little upset over something about that, but I'm not asking. I'm just happy to be here. Because NEXT Saturday we are going to another lake!!! Aunt Dee and Aunt Barbara are bringing Dana and Stormy. Stormy has been pretty sick, so I hope she will be OK to be there.

We will be there about a week. WooHoo!!! I'm SO excited!!! Love, Drea

It felt like swimming to me!!! Mom took me  and Tori over to Aunt Carol's to swim in the pool!! This is where I first learned to swim, but that was a long time ago. Since then I've been in lakes and rivers, but not back in a pool.  It smells funny!! I really wasn't sure I wanted to go in--but mom kept throwing my floatie Kong toy in...and I really did want that. Finally mom pushed me in..which wasn't very nice.  Once I figured out that I wasn't supposed to breathe when I put my head under water to grab the toy, I started really having fun!!!

Tori wouldn't go in. He doesn't like to swim. He doesn't like any kind of water. But once I was used to it..I wouldn't stay out!!!! When mom wouldn't throw it for me, I would toss the toy in and then jump in after it. I always started from the steps and came back to the  steps.

Finally mom wanted me to dry off before we got in the car--so she hosed me off with some really COLD water!!!! And then she made me lay in the sun. It was a really fun day!!

Well, first things first. I had a birthday!!! I'm four now! And I got presents!! I got Kong toys and tennis ball rings and a new water bowl that FOLDS UP! And mom got me this new bright red collar! And Aunt Kathy got me a backpack!! Now I can carry my own stuff!

Don't I look cool???

Tori says I can carry HIM now. I don't THINK so! But I can carry some water and food and treats and toys! Mom says it can't be too heavy, but there's plenty of room!

 I've really had a busy year. Mom kept you up on me while I was up at GDA for 7 weeks!! Being a mom is hard work! But then when she picked me up I got to go back up north where we spent 6 weeks last year. Only THIS time it was a lot of fun because first Aunt Judy came over and played with us every day, a couple of times a day. Then the next two weeks aunt Kathy and Aunt Penny and aunt Dee were there. I tried not to get in the way, but they said it was ok to sleep on the sofa, so---I did!!

And aunt Kathy played with me a LOT. She said she needed something to distract her. I don't know what that is, but if throwing the Kong for me is it, I was really happy to help!!!

Mom worked a LOT. Some days she left when it was barely light and came home when there wasn't much light left. But She knew Tori and I were fine!

So thanks to everyone who sent me good wishes while I was away. Wags and licks to everyone!!!!

Here I am!!!!

I REALLY had a lot of fun on this trip!!! Not only did I get to go for walks and sniff anything I wanted to, we had a really big campsite and  mom threw my Kong toy for me every day!!!! I got in trouble once when I knocked over the outside table with the snacks and stuff on it--not the big table but the little round one mom uses. I wouldn't have been in trouble except that three times (or so) mom  made me lay down on the other side of it and I kept sneaking up and getting under it. How did I know it was so easy to tip over??? I ended up with a little wine spilled on my head. Ooops.   But the rest of it was great!!!! We took one walk where it had rained the day before..and there was this big pool of water blocking the path. I jumped right in!!  Mom wasn't too happy about that..seems she didn't want to swim across. Neither did aunt Carol. So we turned around and went back. It wasn't THAT deep!! See the picture?? It was only up to my chest!

On the way home we stopped and saw aunt Jenn!! She lives near there!! They had breakfast, and we had to stay in the car. THAT wasn't so much fun!

 But it was nice to be home in my own yard!!! Talk to you later! Love, Drea

Mom put that diaper thing on me again this morning!! And she says I can't go camping over New Year's because I have to go see aunt Meri at GDA. It's that heat thing again!!! How can I be in heat when it's so cold???

Mom has to call Aunt Meri and tell her she's bringing me in. On Saturday I guess because we're still up here. And I can't run and play either, I have to be on a leash!! Tori doesn't have to!!  *Sigh*!

Well, anyway, merry Christmas everyone!! Love, Drea

We've sure been doing a lot of different stuff lately!! Some of it is really fun, like playing in the snow. Being cold isn't fun, but mom lets me get in bed with her and Tori now. Especially in 10 degree nights. I don't know what that means but I think it means mom is cold.

She goes off somewhere every day. She says it's work but I don't ever remember her getting all those clothes and heavy coats on to go to work. While she's gone Ty plays with us and gives us cookies!! That's how I lost my Kong. Ty was playing with us and I --well, --uh--get distracted. See there's lots of really good smells around, like  squirrels and cats and other dogs who were there before me. So I do a  LOT of sniffing. And I put the Kong down while I sniff. Then I forget where it is. That's why it's red--so mom can find it when I go sniffing. Well anyway, I guess TY didn't notice, and  then it snowed, and then it was time to go home last week- so by now some other dog probably has my Kong.

Mom bought me another toy--but it isn't the same. She says she isn't going to keep buying $12 Kong toys for me to leave in the snow. Does that seem fair? Maybe Santa will bring me one. Oh, MAN! The Christmas  party at my school was yesterday. And Santa was there!!!! And I missed him! Boy I sure hope he reads my blog!!!!

Now we aren't in the  snow any more. We're in the rain. And the mud. That isn't so much fun..but it's warmer. Mom did laundry today  and we--Tori and I--had to watch the car while she was inside. I don't know what we're watching for. No one bothers us. But we do it. Now we've eaten and we're going to take a nap. Tomorrow mom is taking us to see aunt Kathy. Aunt Kathy is visiting uncle Charles- her son--and he has some dogs I can play with . I wonder if they have Kongs?? Maybe they'd trade for the stupid rubber stick.

Happy birthday to ShyLee and her sister Sammie and all the other S  puppies!!!

I tried to change my background picture but mom says multiply isn't letting us. I was going to  put the picture of me and Benji on there. Sorry Benj!!

Next week we're going back up to the snow place, and then finally home.  Santa?? Did you hear that?? We'll be home soon!! Love, Drea

The last time I really remember a day called "Thanksgiving" I was just a puppy. I remember mom drove us a really long way to a place called Maine. That's where I learned about snow. This time, people came to us and there wasn't any snow. But there were TOYS!!! And my friends and I got to play and play. Aunt D and aunt B and uncle Scott were there! Woody couldn't come, but Dana and Stormy were there! Mom spent the day cooking stuff and making the house smell really good. She made something called a turkey. Aunt D and aunt B and Stormy and Dana got there around 1:30, and by 2:00 mom and aunt B were drinking those Margarita things. Then aunt D came back from the store and SHE started drinking one. Then uncle Scott brought some more ice to add to the drinks and HE started. At some point they remembered to eat..and then they drank something else called wine.  They were all at the table really laughing and being loud and piling food on their plates. But the BEST part was after!!

After dinner they went into the toy room. Mom calls it a living room but it's where my toys always are. And every time one of us would bring them a toy--they THREW it for us!!! EVERY time!! Tori just went from lap to lap, but we chased toys and chased each other and got LOTS of attention.

Uncle Scott said I could be a lap dog and let me up on his lap!!! Mom never does that!

And aunt D scratched my belly and almost let me on her lap, but she had on slippery pj's so I never got up there.

It was really sad when they had to leave this morning! Especially since I did something to hurt my dew claw--I thought maybe if I limped enough they would stay. But they didn't. Anyhow, I had a really great Thanksgiving and mom seemed to have LOTS of fun talking and laughing. I wonder if we can have another one next week???

Love, Drea

This is Daisy. Daisy lives next door to me. My uncle Jim is here, and ever since he got here there has been noise, and people, and confusion. Uncle Jim had lots of people over in Daisy's yard going in and out..something about the roof. Anyway, Mom brought Daisy over here to stay with me and Tori. I guess I'm not really babysitting..Daisy is way older than me--but we were supposed to keep her company while she was here so she wouldn't worry about the people at her house. She worried anyway.

It's all over now..she's back home. The roof is all ok--ours too. Now Uncle Jim is fixing other things, so there is still noise here. Mom says it's good noise.

I really like Uncle Jim. He throws the toy for me..I sit by the door when he leaves and wait for him to come home. He goes fishing a lot. He took me once when we were in Minnesota. He made me walk ALL the way around this one lake!

I have new food now. GDA has changed our food--again. Mom has to give it to me a little at a time.  Tori is going to change too, so mom isn't making two different dinners for us. Anyway, mom just told me I'm the BEST dog she's ever had when it comes to being able to leave stuff out. She opened the bag and left it right where I could get it if I wanted. But she told me no--so I haven't bothered it. I never take food off the counter or table either. Tori does. Now--if it was a TOY--that would be a different story!!

We're going camping next week! We're going back up to Morro Bay. That's where Trevor got sick and never came back from a year ago. Wow. A whole year. I really miss him. So does Mom. Anyway, we're going back.  It's always fun there. Everyone plays with me!

Love, Drea

Mom says it is breast cancer awareness month- and she says that is important. So here is what Aunt Moonie made:

I had a wonderful vacation!!!! The best part was a hike way up a mountain with mom and my aunt D. Aunt D has a dog too- my friend Stormy- but Stormy is too old to want to do this hike. It was a mile up a steep mountain to a lake. A LAKE!! That means swimming and stick  chasing!

Mom and aunt D packed up everything we'd need- even for staying the night in case something happened. That means extra food! (I'm not sure that looked like enough food for ME!  Mom says next time I have to carry my own. And my own water. But this time she carried it. )

We went slowly up the mountain. Aunt D said we were at 12 thousand feet. It was so much fun- but I stayed close. I had to keep coming back to check on them. They sure weren't moving very fast. It was really perfect..not too hot, some sun, and a nice cool breeze. And then--there was the lake! And no one else was there! I jumped right in.

Mom and Aunt D sat down and talked and got the food out.

Aunt B stayed back at camp and took care of Tori and Stormy and my other friend Dana. Dana does this hike sometimes, but her feet were sore from us playing in the stream yesterday.

All of a sudden the sky wasn't so bright and we heard loud noises. Mom said it was thunder. By this time she was making me lay up on shore with her and get dry. Boy THAT didn't last long! It started to RAIN! Then there was something called "sleet". Mom and Aunt D got on their shoes and grabbed our stuff and went into some trees behind us.

Aunt D always has emergency stuff with her. She had this waterproof thing and she and mom had something called caribiners.  Before we even had a chance to get wet they had a little fort built in the trees! But I got cold--I was still wet from the river. Aunt D had an extra vest in her pack that she put on me. Then we sat there til it stopped. The sleet part didn't last long, but what came next was called "hail".  It was like teeny ice balls. We weren't getting wet at all!

Don't I look cool in the vest? When the hail stopped they packed everything up and we started to leave. That's when we saw other people with a big Rottweiler and a baby. They were in hiking clothes, but not warm ones. They came over to talk to us as we walked when all of a sudden there was this  BRIGHT flash of light and right after a noise louder than I EVER heard.!  Mom and Aunt D and the other people suddenly threw the sticks they were walking with away from us. They were metal. I guess that's bad when that bright flash happens.

Then it started to HAIl again, only this time bigger.  We went into some more tall trees. The sky was looking really dark--then light again--then dark again. So as soon as the hail stopped the other people took off. They walked faster than we did- we wanted them to get ahead of us.

There was more of the thunder and lightning, but not as bad as that first one. So we started back down the path. This time it was wet and slippery, but everyone was careful. Boy the day sure changed fast!! Mom says that's why you travel with everything you need. She had waterproof matches and a flashlight- and lots of first aid stuff.

We had only gone a little way down the mountain when mom looked up and whatever she saw made her start looking for a place to hide. There wasn't any place. But she saw a tree with dry ground under it, so she went there. Aunt D was up the mountain a little. And THEN the hail started again ! This time it was even bigger..mom said like "Kix" cereal. Whatever. Mom grabbed me and leaned against the tree and squatted down and made me put my head under her legs and butt. The hail was hitting really hard she leaned way over so it would hit her backpack. A couple of them hit her hand and made bruises. I felt some of them on my nose and head before she made me get under her. Aunt D was out in the open, so she got down to us and stood next to mom- and leaned over my back so I wouldn't get hit so hard. Her backpack got hit hard, but she was OK. Mom had hail in her pockets and shoes!!

When it was all over it looked like it had snowed. Now it was REALLY slippery. Aunt D took a picture of mom and me.

We got the rest of the way down before it hailed again, but it kept doing it even after we got to camp.

Mom says we had every kind of weather that day. And that sometimes the only shelter you have handy is your back--you use what you have available. I was sure glad they did!

So that was my big adventure! Love, Drea

This is NOT a fun outfit!!!

Mom says I would have eventually learned how to walk with this thing. I'm really glad I don't have to!!! It's off now!!! So is the dressing, and my ear isn't all wet and icky any more. And it stopped itching. YAY!!! Mom was talking about maybe I couldn't go swimming when I went camping!  

She's running around now getting stuff ready for the post office and making a better shopping list. Can you believe she forgot dog food??? She says she didn't, but I haven't seen any yet!

So thanks everyone for sending me love!! It helped!! See you when we get back!! Love, Drea

Mom finally got all that stuff together that she was washing and folding. She had stacks of stuff all OVER the place- and out in the driveway too. I couldn't even walk. I couldn't even sneak up onto the sofa!! But then I got a BIG surprise!! I thought we were all settled in on Friday night- even though mom wasn't really sitting down. She was writing numbers on things and sticking them to  the stuff in the living room. All of a sudden the door made that funny noise that says someone is standing outside in front...and it was WOODY!!!! Well, it was Uncle Scott and Woody. They came in and mom and Uncle Scott started drinking those Margarita things and mom gave him a plate of food--and Woody and Tori and I played!! By that I mean we ran around the house as fast as we could trying to take the same toy out of each others' mouth. And Tori chased us and barked!!

When we finally got tired and took a rest--yep--the camera came out. Parents!!!

That's my kong toy between us. But there are toys all over the place.

I sort of expected Uncle Scott and Woody to get up and go out to the car like they always do, but when mom and Uncle Scott started yawning they got up and Woody and he went into our other bedroom--the one mom had cleared all the stuff off of the bed from and put it on the sofa. And they spent the NIGHT!!!! I don't know why they couldn't have let us just sleep in the living room..but the next day we got stuck in the back yard. We have two back yards sort of. One is the driveway, the other is way out back. They made us go out there. It was ok..it was cool and we had toys. We were REALLY good. Mom and Uncle Scott, and later aunt Kathy, were out front handing all our stuff to strangers. There were LOTS of people here. But mom and Uncle Scott didn't give THEM any Margarita drinks. Just bags for the stuff they took away. And Uncle Scott kept opening up this black purse and putting money in and taking it out and then counting it. They all seemed really happy.

Then Tori got to go out on a leash and sit with THEM!  But we were still playing--except for the couple of times I tried to sneak back into the house. But I got caught! I thought they were busy giving away stuff.

Later on when all the strangers left everyone went in the house--and Woody and I ran through the house with the toys again. This time there was a lot more room to walk. Woody says he can't walk in HIS house either because his dad is doing what mom did- only he's packing it in boxes and not giving it away. So it's all over the place. But Woody says he's getting a BIGGER house, so there will probably be more room for all those boxes in the rooms. He's going to have his own back yard. Right now if he wants to play he has to go somewhere on a leash.

Anyhow- they didn't sleep over again..but we sure had FUN!!! Love, DREA

Just LAST week mom ran  around picking stuff up and washing it and dusting tables and putting things away. She seemed really happy when she got it all done. It looked really nice, too!

Then aunt Joanne came and spent the night and left the next day. And RIGHT AFTER that, mom started going through closets and cabinets and started throwing everything OUT again!! It's all over the floors and the beds..she even went into the garage this morning and started moving stuff out of THERE into the driveway. It's a MESS. And now she's sitting down and not putting it back again! And she grumbles when I get all my toys out in the living room. THEN she took my collar off me and put it into this big jiggly tub full of water with some other stuff. I'm really worried. I keep going in there to see if it's still there. That's MY collar!! MY name is on it!

She keeps talking about yards and sales..and meanwhile she's getting clothes and dishes and old stuff I've never SEEN before and  cleaning it up.

I have to tell you. Tori and I are a little worried!

  Aunt Meri called mom today and told her it was safe to take me HOME!!!

I wasn't supposed to get to leave til Monday, but mom drove out and got me today. Thanks mom!!!!!!! Oh, it's so GOOD to be home!! I was so excited mom took me to the play yard before we left and I chased whatever toy I could get mom to throw. Then I got in the car and usually I sit in the back--but I was so excited I got halfway into mom's lap. She was screaming at me and pushing on me- and the car was going all over the road. How was I supposed to know she couldn't see through my head?? I guess it was good that there weren't any other cars right then. I don't think I've ever heard mom yell that loud.


Tori wasn't really happy to see me. He did that last time. At least he didn't growl at me. But I guess mom's been teaching him to do new things..like tricks and stuff- and he woulldn't do any of them today. Hey, how is that MY fault??

Anyway--I'm back!!! I get to sleep in my OWN bed tonight!!!! Woo hoo! I missed you all!!!

Love, Drea

Hi Everybody!! I'm still here. I'll be here until probably another week is gone.  It isn't like regular camp used to be, where I would get a roommate in the main kennel and get to play. I can't even go into the main yard. I guess when you are "in heat" it means something different than when you are "in the heat". I DO have company here- there're about 3 other labs up here with me. All we know is, it gets pretty hot here!!

Mom came up to play with me again. We have to go out into the fenced parking area in the back of the nursery. It has some shade, but no grass. I was SO happy to be out and playing!!

No matter how many times mom threw the toy for me, I just kept grabbing it and bringing it back. Sometimes I took a little shade break, but I was afraid if I stopped to rest mom would think I was too tired and she would leave!

Finally she made me at least sit long enough to  get a picture, but I was breathing so hard my tongue wouldn't stay in. I have a cool tongue, huh??

Mom says we'll try to take a short trip after I get out. She hasn't said where yet. I don't care! Anywhere! But I hope it has a lake. Or just water. And sticks. Sticks are SO much fun!!

I miss everyone!!! Are you guys taking care of mom?? Thanks!!!!

Love, Drea

I was minding my own business, chewing on a nyla bone, when Mom got up and came over and put this DIAPER thing on me!! And she  says tomorrow I have to go in to my school and stay with Aunt Meri and the two Jans for three whole weeks!

Well, all I have to say is, I am SURE glad she didn't get all weird like this in the middle of our camping trip! The only thing I really don't like is it's going to be HOT up there!! And I'm going to miss mom and Tori. But at least there will be other friends there. I really don't understand why, if I'm in HEAT why she is taking me to a place that's HOT? Why not someplace cool? Like another  lake?? Could someone talk to her? Please???