Bittersweet post

Ok so this post is both good and bad. The good part is, I'm home again! O my crate! My toys! My crate! All the apples I can eat in the backyard! And did I mention my crate where mom gives me a cookie every night? Dasher ma givin' me carots! The gates? Awe man! Guess I'm still stuck behind gates blockin' the kitchen and dinin' room. Shoot! It's so good to be here again. My April and Winston are here too. I been wresslin' and playin' with Winston, watchin' him destroy his new wubba toy, my word Winston! Good thing mom hid mine from him. Shoot! We been workin' some too in a few stores. Some of them bein' a bit creepy. It's somethin' about this time of year. Humans like to dress up in scary lookin' stuff. And they go to stores to find the scary stuff. Well dressin' up's fine, but there's usually an isle with movin' things and people and that's just weird. They ain't real but they movin'. Winston about wets himself goin' in to those stores and I must admit it's pretty funny. But sometimes even I get creeped out. I got creeped out by a movin' scary lookin' woman today. Think she was a witch. Anyway, she moved and I about jumped out of my harness. Course mom thought it was funny. O sure ma let's trap you in a room full of flies and then we'll see what's funny. My mom's afraid of flies. All bugs really. One lands on her and she about has a seizure I mean it.

So now on to tellin' y'all about my worst day ever. That'd be today. Actually, that witch incident happened today too. So this afternoon, Winston and I were outside havin' a ball eatin' apples. Mom goes to all her festivals, I got an apple festival right out in the yard all for me. Anyway mom ended that fun and called us inside. Shoot! I want those apples! Even if they do give me runny poops! I don't gotta clean it up! That's the humans job. So for the rest of the afternoon, I tried and tried to get back outside. First I just tried to sneak out when Dasher got let out. He always gets let in and out. Mom caught me though. Allright, I gotta think harder. Dasher came back in and just as he jumped up on the couch to take a nap, I had an idea. I'll get Dasher all riled up again so the humans will let him out. I got up and flew to the door yellin' dad's home! Well the first part worked. Got Dasher all riled up, he started barkinn', so mom lets him out. Shoot! I wasn't close enough to the door! I missed it again! Fine! I'll just sit here and sulk. I will get out to those apples. Well, Dasher came in again, and I sort of gave up for the time bein'. A few minutes later, my April says, dad's home! Well All three of us popped up and ran to the front door. Dasher starts barkin' again. Again he gets let out, and once again, not only is it another false alarm, dad wasn't really home, but also I was again too far from the back door. You gotta be kiddin' me! My April was just messin' with me too cuz she then takes Dasher in to the dinin' room, where there's another back door that I can't get too cuz there's those dumb gates up. So I now have to watch Dasher go out and in playin' with my April. Back door's wide open. I needed a nap after all that. When I woke up, I thought things would have improved. I went out to check out what my April was doin' in the kitchen. She was puttin' sausage and cheese in bowls. Well she comes at me, and dropps a bowl. Sausage and cheese come flyin' at me! Hallaluia I've died and gone to heaven! Reba leave it! Excuse me? You did not just throw a ton of food at me and then tell me to leave it. Tell me that did not just happen. O yeh, it did. My April picks up the cheese, blows it off and eats it right in front of my face. I have never been so upset in my whole life. Not even the time in trainin' when they offered us sausages and we weren't supposed to take them. Well what's any self respecting lab to do. Yeh I took it. Got punished but I didn't care. Got the food. No this was far worse! I wouldn't even go in my April's room tonight. And when I did, I snored as loud as I could, and tried as hard as I could to stink them out. I'm in my crate now, and calmed down. O I also got a bath this week and that was a good thing. I really needed one. And mom's been puttin' medicine in my ear twice a day. Stuff from the vet. I think the infection is finally gone. Mom's not gettin' as much black stuff out of my ear so it must be gettin' better. Mom's puttin' yogurt in my food again too. I love that stuff. Now give me more of it! I deserve it after my day today. Well, you all be good. I'll be back soon.

Reba the dog.

 

Packing

Well I'm writin' from the car this time. Kind of hard too cuz mom's got stuff packed tight in this car. I mean literally y'all, I'm almost barried under stuff. Humans have so much stuff! I don't know where we goin' now. I wish mom would settle somewhere for a long time again. She don't know what she's doin' I mean it!

This past week I been so confused. There's been sort of a flurry of activity. My Kitty was bringin' more and more stuff in to the house. Again, so much stuff humans have! Bad thing was though, they kept shuttin' me away in rooms while they brought in all the stuff. Move Reba, get out of the way Reba, go lay down Reba! Come here Reba, bang goes the door. Stay Reba. Shoot! Excuse me for bein' curious! I gotta move around so they know I'm still there. Don't forget me in all the movin' of stuff. Don't barry my food under all that stuff either!

This week also mom and Grandma got sick at the same time. So a few days I spent sleepin' down in the basement. Speakin' of that, I'm really gunna niss tigger. Her and I had a lot of deep long talks down there while the humans did whatever humans do. Tigger likes me if I keep my distance. So I did and we got along great. Spent most of the time complainin' and makin' fun of Dose. Well, She was complainin' I was makin' fun. Poor Tigger. Tries so hard to be accepted. Shoot I don't care. I know where I stand around here. I don't need Doses acceptance.

I had lots of fun with That Dekota dog. I finally broke down and taught her somewhat how to play. Why is it Winston's the only dog who knows how to play right? I got her to do it right and we were just havin' fun when the humans stopped us. Man! They can be loud and obnoctious, why can't we?

So this tops all. Yesterday the humans went to this farm where they had pumpkins, corn, apples, that's where I lost all focus was with the apples! Grandma! Give me that apple. Shut up ma I won't leave it! I want that apple! Grandma! Ma quit fussin' at me I can have apples I mean it! I will get the core you just wait. Leave it in the car and I'll get it just like I got the muffin, and the coffee. So the humans walked around on this farm, takin' pictures and stuff, tryin' to get me in the shots. I have no desire to be in a picture. I want to sniff and eat grass. Then the humans go in this corn field. Well would you believe it, they get lost! But it's almost like they did it on purpose. There were humans all over this corn field. Twistin' and turnin', walkin' on rough uneven ground, and they all the sudden have the nerve to tell me to get them out. I don't know what humans would do without dogs. So, being the amazin' leader dog I am, I led them out and got lots of praise. Cool. Now give me that apple. Next the humans got on a ride full of hay and drove out in to a big field. Mom took my harness off and I was flooded with kids. That was cool. I like kids if they respect me. And they did. Mom, my Kitty, and grandma got big pumpkins. I laughed my butt off at mom stumblin' around in the field tryin' to get her pumpkin back on the wagon. She tripped and bout fell on her face too. Shouldn't have left me with Grandma mom. See? She can't do anythin' without me. So that was the day other than a long long drive, and then watchin' mom pack makin' sure she remembered my food. And I did finally get that apple core. Thanks Grandma. Well, my paws are really cramped. I hope we ain't goin' far. I had fun up here. I hope I get to come back real soon. Hopefully mom can post this soon. You all behave out there.

Reba the dog.

 

They are gunna ware me out!

I'm back again' with more adventures. Now I'm writing from yet another place here in northern Michigan. Mom and my Kitty and I got on a boat today and this time, we actually went somewhere. We over on this island. And there ain't no cars over here. Just horses and bikes. I been here before too. It's cool, but again, a lot of walkin'. The horses used to fascinate me, but not this time. I was bored with them. I was more interested in my own kind! I mean it Michigan actually has dogs! I saw so many of them! So that's what we're subject to? Cats get the state, and us dogs are put on some island? Good grief! Where we be stayin', there's a chocolate lab named Dekota. She obnoctious too! She like a super giant Roxie. She bigger than Winston, but she plays just like Roxie tries to play with me. Shoot girl I'm old! Ok I'll play with your toys, but stop barkin' at me shoot! I was a good dog for mom, leadin' her around people and obstacles, till I saw the biggest hill I ever seen in my life and mom and my Kitty headin' straight for it. O no. You gotta be kiddin' me. I heard my Kitty say, ok Christy, go right up here. No way! Come on ma! We goin' left. Awe man! Shoot she figured it out! She made me climb that dumb hill, and tons of stairs. Are you tryin' to give me hip problems ma? I tried my hardest to get her to walk in horse poo, but my Kitty was always watchin' and getting' my ma out of it. Man! When we got back, Dekota wanted to play again. Again, no! Shoot I just walked all over the world! I want my dinner, I want a ton of water, and I wanna sleep in peace! Mom should be proud of me though. I have been so good with the dogs I have seen over here. No sceens, yes I was curious and wanted to say hi, but I listened when mom said leave it. She was furious at me a few weeks ago when we went to one of those festival things. Think it was called a potato festival. Yep, you guessed it, another excuse for humans to get together and eat. I didn't wanna work that day. Sorry ma, but if you're on vacation, so am I. But this time I decided I better behave. Least it got mom to take off my gentle leader. She put it on before we even got off the boat. I hate that thing. But after I met Dekota and some of her friends, and showed mom I could behave myself, she took it off. Then we went on the big long walk. I'm tryin' to fend off Dekota now. She is all over wantin' to play. What is it with dogs I meet just wantin' to play! I only play with Winston. He the acception. Any other dog, shoot I don't wanna play at all.

So let's see. Since my last update, I been eatin' and sleepin', watchin' the battle of the cats. Shoot they fight all the time now. I think it's kind of funny myself. The humans think it's serious. I think Tigger's goin' bye bye. She super stressed out and she keeps messin' on the carpet. Thank goodness I sleep behind a closed door at night. The humans would be blamin' me for sure. It ain't meI mean it! I only had one accident on the floor and that was seriously an accident. It's been another quiet week though since those meetings we went to. We went for a long long walk in the dark one night. My mom and me, and doses's mom. I didn't have to work that night. I was free to be a dog and sniff to my hearts content. If only I could have gotten that leash off. I smelled all kinds of wild life I wanted to go find. I think my Kitty is movin' back in or somethin'. Activity is pickin' up. The humans are bringin' more stuff in, movin' stuff around, a huge flurry of activity. Humans have so much stuff! Mom fit all the stuff I need in to one little bag to come up here. Humans have houses full of stuff! O! and mom got me a new toy. It looks like a kong, only it's got a covering on it, and the covering hangs off the end in strips to tug with. It squeaks too. That's the coolest part. Finally somethin' to play with up here besides my bone.

Well all, I'm off to sleep in Dekota's bed cuz I can. I'm old I get her bed. She can sleep on the floor. I'll sign off for now, and update later. Hope you all are bein' good.

Reba the dog.

 

Things humans do, and things I do for humans

It's me again y'all. Back to tell you more tales from the great up north. This message is sort of dated though cuz mom's just now at a place where she can finally post this. Ok so the things I do for humans. No consideration for the dog at all. Humans just do stuff and me bein' a service dog, I just am dragged along. Ok any of y'all who really know me, you know I'm just sayin' that cuz no matter what the humans make me do, it beets stayin' home alone like a lot of dogs have too. So one mornin', mom wakes up when it's still dark outside and gets me up and fed. Then they leave. Her and my Kitty. I call her my Kitty now cuz she fed me ice cream one night. Boy was that yummy. Doses mom gave me ice cream too another night. A different kind. Shoot I'm spoiled up here. Anyway, we drive for a little bit, switch cars and ride for another little bit over this bridge. We get out, and then what? We walk back! I'm for real we walked back over the bridge we had just driven over! And I thought the boat ride was pointless. I mean y'all, this bridge was long! I looked out and saw water for miles! And mom has the nerve to have me walk on this grate thingy in the middle of the bridge. Uh, no ma! I ain't walkin' on that. I pulled her back over to the railing so fast, shoot! That walk took a really really long time. Mom and my Kitty were worn out from it. Not me. I think it was a plot to try and tire me out. Shoot you gotta do a lot more than that to tire me out. I was a crazy wild dog the rest of the day too. Shoot I'll teach you to drive me out in the middle of no where and then make me walk back.

So here's an update on the cats. Dose, shoot she is just evil! Tigger is finally startin' to get along with me sort of. She runs from me mostly, but she doesn't hiss at me anymore, and if I leave her alone, she fine. Dose though, She still tryin' to establish her place or somethin'. Shoot cat, I don't care! Get out of my face! She came up to me the other day, nice and quiet, got right up in my face, I lifted my head to look at her, and she swots me! Literally hits me in the face with no wornin' at all. I put my head back down like whatever! Uncalled for.

Here's another thing the humans did. This was again mom and my Kitty. I'm gunna stop hangin' out with them I mean it! They went out to this wooded park. And walked around for a while. Mom put the dreaded gentle leader on me! Shoot ma! How embarrassing! Well all was fine, till I saw the hill. And at the top of the hill, the humans were winded, and I was eyin' the stairs. O yeh y'all, they made me climb these grated stairs, all the way up to a lookout tower. Ok mom's blind I don't know why she climbs these things. But we did. And the whole time the humans are ooin' and ahin' takin' pictures, I'm thinkin', shoot I gotta go back down those horid stairs. So after gettin' my paws back on solid ground, we went down the hill where mom left me with my Kitty. I mean this lady strapped mom in a harness thing, and mom hands my leash to my Kitty with her usual be good line, and walks off. Excuse me! Where you goin' with my ma! You can't lead her! So I sat and waited in the hot sun with my Kitty for a very long time. I look up, and there's my ma up high on a bridge held up by ropes and cables. Hello! What was she thinkin'? A short while later, I see mom again, this time zoomin' down a cable. She was literally hangin' from it zoomin' over a lake. Good grief! The stuff humans do! She came back to me unharmed, but I just shook my head like I've just learned to do over the years.

We went to that weird lighted place again where the humans role balls down to nock over pins. I was better this time. I knew what was up this time.

Right now I'm writin' from a hotel room. The humans went to a meetin' or something today. And they're stayin' at a hotel. Did anyone think to bring me a blanket? Course not! I'm on the hard floor now. O wait, score mom just called me up on the bed. I think we're goin' back to the meetin' tomorrow.

My ear is still really dirty. Mom's cleanin' it out every day still. It don't hurt anymore, but it smells bad and mom complains that it's full of gunk. I'm sorry ma! I don't know why it's so grose all the time.

Ok y'all, funny story. So Dose and Tigger are fightin' all the time. I mean screamin' at each other. Mostly over who's boss and stuff. But a lot of times they fight over the food bowl. Dose will start screamin' at Tigger for eatin' the food, and Tigger will do the same, meanwhile I'm laughin' cuz I'm the one who ate the food! Well, before the humans got smart and they pick it up when I'm around. Shoot! I was havin' fun with those cats too! Other than those stories, I just been hangin' out a lot. Ridin' around with the humans, I like ridin' in my Kitty's car cuz she don't care if I get on the seat. There's a blanket down for me. But in Doses's grandma's car, I gotta be on the floor. I hate ridin' on the floor. I feel like such a dog!

One night the humans drove around lookin' at houses. That was really random. I had to stay in the car while they'd get out, walk all around a house, talkin' about it, pointin' things out, I saw in the windows, these houses were empty. Good thing. How embarrassin' for my humans to walk around strangers houses. Maybe one of them is lookin' for a place to live. I know mom just packed up all our stuff and moved away.

I think I covered everything I wanted too in this entry. I'm sure I'll be back with more. This is the longest we've ever been up here. Man it's fun. I just wish mom would give me more freedom. Let me loose in the back yard so I could go check it out. Find somethin' to get in to. I am a dog you know. She up here on a vacation, why can't I be on one. Ok y'all, I'm getting' sleepy here curled up next to mom. Guess I'll give her back the computer. She can't sleep cuz the other two in here are snorin' really really loud. Poor ma. Y'all be good now.

Reba the dog.

 

hi

Hey everyone.

It's been a while since I wrote in here. Mom says it's somethin' like we don't have internet where we are so I don't get to post as often. Mom and I are up in Northern Michigan at some good friends of my moms. We been up here before. I like it here for one reason. There's cats I can torment here. Used to be just one, but my mom's friend has a cat, and the people she lives with have two kittens. Plus Dose who is always good for a laugh. She's the cat that's always been around. Well anyways, I been spendin' most of my time tryin' to annoy each cat. They hiss at me, and swot at me, I think it's hilarious! Accept sometimes they trap me either upstairs or downstairs. They sit in the middle of the stairs and won't let me pass. Mom will call me, but the cats won't let me by. I know I should just plow over them, but that look in their eyes stops me every time. I also got an ear infection not long after comin' up here. Mom says it's from me eatin' the cat food. Shoot ma you ain't supposed to know that! I been real sneaky about that. Guess I'm payin' for it now cuz my ear is all messed up and mom has to clean it out a lot and it hurts like no one's business! I've gotten to do some work while up here too. I haven't been so good in the dog distraction department. Mom's had to get stern with me because I just couldn't resist givin' some dogs a piece of my mind. Well they mouthy up here I mean it!

One night the humans went to this place where they take big balls and role them down a long path thing to nock over pins at the other end. It's loud and I was nervous at first. Shoot those balls looked dangerous. If they can nock over those pins? Mom tied me to a chair and just left me to play this game. Every time it was her turn I just about came unscrewed thinkin' she was gunna get hurt! Another thing that made the game weird was the lights. They made certain things kind of glow. That was weird! Y'all know how I get about weird lookin' things. So I finally settled down for that because the humans really were havin' such a good time. Other things we've done so far are going to church, everyone wanted to pet me and a few did. Just reached down and petted me. Excuse me! I do have a sign on this harness. We went to an outdoor concert, mom took me on a boat, that was interesting. They got on this boat, went out on the lake singin' songs and stuff, then we came back. They didn't even go anywhere. Humans are so weird! This last week mom has been stayin' at the house. Guess the others been workin' or somethin'. So it's been me and mom in the basement. She listenin' to stuff on the computer, me layin' on the floor watchin' for cats to annoy. And tryin' to keep mom from gettin' too wressless. These last few days, we went on a road trip to a camp ground. Shoot Dasher mom and dad were there! Sweet! And Dasher too! I was surprised at the end of the night when mom put me back in the car to come back up here. I thought we were goin' back home. But not yet. Mom's havin' too much fun. I am too really. Today we wen to a beech though, and mom tied me to a picnic table while she and her friend went out in to the water. It wasn't long till my chain was tangled and I was practically chokin' myself tryin' to fix it. O well! There go Reba dyin'! Bye ma! I thought she'd never come back. But she finally did. Uh hi mom, yes I'm chokin'! No I can't move! Ma! Please unhook me! They got me free finally and took me to this house with cats everywhere. What is with cats up here. It's like catville or somethin'! These cats were jumpin' on the car to see me. Mom left me in the car so I wouldn't go after the cats. O

 Yeh, one night, this was really weird. The humans went out to dinner, that's normal, them stuffin' their faces. Then they walked around, went to a light and music show, think it's called a lazer show. Well after that  thought we were goin' home. Nope, instead we drive out to the lake, it's pitch black and we get out just to walk on the beech. I'm lookin' around for wild animals, the humans are talkin' like they got good sense. And as if that wasn't enough, they got in the car and drove some more and parked somewhere to talk even more. Wow! How much can humans talk. Talk and eat I mean it! My ear is still hurtin' a lot. I'm sorry ma I had to grab the blue berry muffin! You thought it was hidden, but I smelled it and well, serves you right for leavin' me in the car to watch the cats climb on the car to stare at me. Shoot I ain't a freek show in the zoo I mean it! I better wrap this up soon. I'm bein' tormented by kittens right now. They know I'm tied up and can't chase them so they are takin' full advantage of it. Stupid cats! No respect! Mom's havin' a lot of fun up here and I must admit I am too. It's good to see mom havin' fun. I don't know when I'll be able to post this. But I know I need to soon. All my readers probably thought I died. Mom can't even check her email up here. I'll update again soon when we've done more things up here. I hope you all are behavin'.

Reba the dog

 

crazy times

Hey everyone. Me again. Man these humans of mine never stop I mean it! They just got back from one trip, and they all packin' for another one! Washin' their clothes, only to repack them again. We dogs got baths, and the humans been runnin' around to different stores. Today we went to the store that freeks Winston out. I think it's called cabellas. Anyway they have animals in there that look and smell real, but they ain't. Winston don't like them that much. He did ok this time though. There was another dog in there though. A golden like Winston. Excuse me! What he doin' in the store! He wasn't even wearin' any harness or vest or nothin'! Shoot why he in here! I was tryin' to get close enough to tell him to leave, but mom made me sit. "No Reba! Leave it Reba! Sit Reba!" Shut up ma let me at that dog! Well, we left that store, and since bein' back home, I just been watchin' the humans run around packin', cookin', and cleanin'. I think mom and me are goin' somewhere for a longer time than the rest cuz I saw mom pack more stuff than everyone else. I'll have to post about that when I figure out what my crazy mom's gettin' us in to now. Everyone and their mother kept askin' to pet Winston and me today. Shoot people! Go away! I'm workin' here! And doin' a good job too mom said. I'll be back at y'all later.

Reba the dog.

 

Camping Vacation

Actually I don't know why that says vacation. Sure didn't feel like one for me. I been on campin' trips before with my mom, but I never see my harness usually at the camp ground. I can just be a dog. But this time, mom needed me. She worked me in harness a lot. I guess if it gets down to it I did enjoy it. Mom took me out every mornin' for a walk down to the pond. And yes, I was a good lab and found it for her. And I found the truck and camper on the way back too. Mom gave me lots of praise and my tail went non stop the whole time. The trip was great though. Lots of it was spent tied up while the humans sat around the fire or ate, but hey! That's cool too cuz I get to check out other dogs around. The humans say it's cool to people watch, I say it's cool to dog watch. Though humans are quite amusin' to watch too. I did my share of barkin' to alert the humans if somethin' was too weird for my likin'. Got in trouble for that though. Excuse me! Shoot one dog one mornin', yeh he looked innocent enough. Mom and I encountered him on our walk. He was tryin' to sneak up on my mom though. Him and his owner bein' all quiet. No way! I saw him. He was a big black dog and as we got close I tried to let him know I had my eye on him and not to try anythin' funny. Mom got after me though. Good grief ma I was just sayin' hi!

Ok so humans are so weird! They went away one morning, then came back with more stuff. Course they did! Humans always buyin's stuff. But they got shirts for us dogs. Mom always doin' this. She buys shirts and puts them on me. Shoot girl can't you see I already got fur on? Tons of it? I mean it I'm bout roastin' in this thing. But I wear it happily cuz it makes mom happy. Here ma, let me put a fur coat on top of your clothes and we'll see how you feel. That night the humans took us out and we got on this weird contraption that ended up bein' some sort of restaurant. Least that's what I thought till the thing started movin'. Excuse me! What on earth did mom get me on. I later figured out it was a train. It was cool though. Didn't go that fast, and for the rest of the evenin', I had to listen' to high pitched voices, guitars, they were tryin' to solve some mystery. I slept through most of it, but boy the humans sure were enjoyin' themselves. The next day we just sort of hung out, my mom, April, Winston, Dasher and I. Good we got to stay in the cool camper not tied up. Other than that, it's been more dog watchin', pretty relaxin' really. I'm mad at my April cuz the whole trip almost she wouldn't let me sleep with her. Excuse me! That has always been my spot when we camp. With my April on her bed. Winston gets too hot and he too big. O no though, every night it's Winston with my April. Fine. I'll go sleep on the hard floor. No it don't matter that I'm getting' old and my old bones hurt in the mornin' from sleepin' on the hard floor. Mom won't even let me sleep with her. But that ain't no surprise. She hardly lets me sleep with her when she's in a big bed. I'm used to it from her. But my April? Shoot! Mom did let me sleep with her one night. I was shocked.

One day it rained pretty much the whole day. We spent a lot of time inside that day too, but in the afternoon we got to go for a walk. Course I had to work, and Winston didn't, but that was ok I guess. Mom needs me. We saw a dead snake in the middle of the road. Shoot Winston almost stepped on it. What a blond. . We went down this trail and then all the sudden, my April lets Winston loose. Dasher got let loose too. And here's me, still in harness. Mom wouldn't let me go. Shoot ma! I wanna run too! So what if I don't come back when you call! I'm just sniffin' here lookin' for left hamburgers and hot dogs! Winston the goody goody stayed right with the humans and even went and swam in the pond. I have to say I did a good job leadin' mom through the woods though. She praised me up a lot all week. I was such a good dog. Winston even grabbed a hamburger on the walk. I laughed at him too cuz he got in big trouble. But I was jealous too. Least till I saw my April get it out of his mouth. He didn't even get the reward. We're back home now and it's good to be back in my crate. I got my cookie, and I'm signin' out for now. Y'all behave.

Reba the dog.