I'm back from the annual trip to Calgary to see my in-laws. It is
taking an unusually long time this year to settle back into the routine
of being home. I'm slowly making my way through my email. I've deleted
tons of messages from this group so if you said anything important, say
it again. I couldn't possibly get to it all. (Specifically, if I
haven't gotten back to you about a question on the Group Project, be
patient with me and write again. I'm not purposely ignoring anyone,
just getting momentarily disorganized. I'm afraid I may have deleted
something important while attacking spam.)


The first dog on the trip was at the airport before we left. One
airport security guard had been friendly about giving directions so when
another airport security guard with a beautiful German Shepherd came up
to him to talk, I asked if I could pet the dog. I know better, but I
couldn't resist. The answer was a polite but clipped explanation that
the dog was working, which I knew, but I was still disappointed that
there couldn't have been an exemption. THEY were scritching the dog,
why not me?


I was waiting with the luggage while Jim was at the newsstand before
going through security. Then I saw the oddest thing. The dog's handler
told the dog to give him some lovin', and the dog got up on the
handler's leg in the position for humping. He wasn't actually moving
his hind legs as in a full fledged hump, but his forelegs were hugging
the handler's thigh. From there, the handler petted his head and said
the ususal cooing noises that people say to their dogs. Granted I know
that humping doesn't necessarily mean sex or dominance or anything nasty
so there wasn't anything necessarily wrong with allowing a well trained
dog to get in that position, but I'll still admit that it struck me as
all wrong to allow or encourage that sort of thing.


The best part of the trip involving dogs was seeing Friday and Rocky,
once briefly at an agility trial and again later in the week at a dog
park. Lunch with Matt was nice too. I'm grateful for Cubbe and all her
good qualities, but this business of turning into a bundle of nerves
whenever she's near other dogs is keeping me away from some awfully
enjoyable times. That dog park above Sandy Beach was amazing. Some of
you are used to dog parks and go all the time so you won't think much of
this, but I couldn't get over it. There was all this space and the most
incredible variety of dogs. I could have stayed all day watching the
interactions. And if one wants some loving, all one needs do is kneel
down to dog level to get innundated with fur and kisses.


Fur and kisses were in abundence at, of all places, a tourist shop in
Radium. This is the sort of place I never go because the stink of
incense is too strong when I go in the door. I'm not allergic to
incense, and it doesn't make me sick, but I do hate it. Still, I was
shopping for a bathing suit and sweatshirt, and Radium isn't exactly
known for its shopping. (You have to have been there to know what an
understatement that is. We're talking a convenience store, a few
diners, a gas station, and feeling lucky to have that.) In the back, by
the sweatshirts, was a beagle. She wagged and kissed, and when the
owner of the store could see what a fuss I was making over her, he went
into the back and brought out her puppies. It is very hard to be
unhappy with a wriggling 3 month old beagle puppy in your lap. (No
matter how hard the taciturn sister-in-law tries to dampen the mood.
She TURNED DOWN an offer to hold the puppy. Can you imagine?)


Friday was a joy to watch at his agility trial. We only stayed a few
minutes (lucky timing), but he was magnificent. I'm sure Matt has
supplied the details.


Cubbe has adapted so well to the boarding kennel that it's embarrassing.
I drop her off, and she goes off waggingly with the kennel staff. I
pick her up, and she's ecstatic to see me, then back to the normal
routine within seconds of getting home. She got in the door,
impatiently waited for her leash to come off so she could go and greet
Jim seated at the computer, then checked that her water and food dish
were in the right places and flopped in her usual spot at the top of the
basement stairs.


I kept up with the hurricane reports and thought of everyone in the line
of wind and rain. I'm glad to get back and see that y'all are O.K. My
parents were without power for 4 days and needed expensive refrigerator
repair but are essentially fine.


--Lia