banjo

a sample

The First Snow of the Season 10/29/2011

ugh.

My Guardian Shiba

Bristow is not allowed upstairs, yet tufts of hair and glimpses of him scurrying away when I unexpectedly exit my bedroom let me know that he sneaks upstairs every night after I go to bed. I’ve been meaning to get a pet gate but have not had the time to do so. Now it’s become a little pastime of mine to catch him in the act. After getting busted once and then being summarily placed in his crate for the remainder of the night, Bristow now sneaks downstairs before I get up, using my alarm as his cue to return downstairs. I know this because he was caught unawares on an alarm-free Saturday morning.

I’ve starting sleeping with the door open to catch him in the act, but he doesn’t come up on those nights. Yesterday, with my door open his jingling tags alerted me to his sneaking up the stairs, seeing into my room through the open door and then very quietly, very slowly turning around and creeping back down the stairs. Clever dog. He knows he’s not supposed to be up there.

Later that night, I woke up around 3 Am and saw him sleeping at the top of the stairs. Busted! I snapped two pictures with my camera phone. When I went into the hall, not even to shoo him away, he sat there, gave me a, “well you caught me,” look and then slowly got up and went downstairs. At that point, he may as well have stayed. Clearly, there’s no stopping him.

I’m not sure if it’s a protect-your-master-thing or if he’s scared to be downstairs alone at night that drives him to come sleep near me. I haven’t decided if I’ll get that gate or just tacitly allow him to continue sleeping upstairs. Until then, I’ll just keep vacuuming up those tufts of hair.

Bristow Returns!

Bristow survived his trip to the kennel and was very happy to be home. He's been on his best behavior too since I got back.  He was treated with a trip to Valley Forge National Park which resulted in my new favorite picture of him.

Love this shot of him eating the grass!

He's ready for his close up in this shot.

And here is the rare looking-into-the-lens shot.

The Trip Winds Down

Cruising through the Midwest we tried (unsuccessfully) to capture each Welcome sign.  Illinois might want to invest in one. West VA was a blur and we missed PA completely. Oh well, We'll always have Missouri.

 St. Louis

 and then over the Mississippi River into Illinois.

Indiana was in there before Ohio which went  all out with it's welcome.

And then a blip through West Virgina.

4 States, 1 Day

We started the day  in New Mexico, ended it in Missouri and in between crossed through North Texas and Oklahoma. Had no idea Oklahoma was so pretty.We kind of fell in love with the state which ie very green and peaceful and the people are so nice.  Tomorrow, St. Louis and beyond.

We made the assumption that this giant cross in Texas was indicating that a church was in the area!

Windmills in Texas just past Amarillo.

Apparently, my dog, Bristow, will always have a place in Oklahoma.

This is Oklahoma and the whole state was just grreen like this and no evidence of weeds.  Didn't see one dandelion anywhere!

Me and DMC at the Missouri Welcome center, which is the cleanest rest stop either of us have ever seen--Eat off the bathroom floor clean.  We were quite pleased by this.

A Journey of A Thousand Miles...

We left L.A. at midnight drove all night and in the morning stopped by the Grand Canyon before continuing on into New Mexico. Words are inadequate so here's a few pictures:

My first view of the Grand Canyon.

Me, DMC and the Grand Canyon

DMC posing at the edge of the rim.

Trying to pretend like I'm not scared to be standing at the edge of the rim.

Arizona is really beautiful and when you cross the border

 into New Mexico you feel as if you've walked right into an old western.

 

The scenery is just like what you see on screen.

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Meanwhile, my dog, who would have loved running around up here, is stuck in a kennel....:-(