Dear Santa Paws,

Dear Santa Paws,
I know I'm a bit late with my requests this year, but it's been tough trying to push The Mom aside to use the laptop. I know the school thing is important, but hey, it's important for me to keep track of all of my blogging friends too. And to let them know how I'm doing. So, the first thing on my Santa Paws list is
1. My very own laptop, complete with Internet access.
2. A bigger back yard.
3. Cheese.
4. More Cheese.

Wait, that's not right. I have some other things that I think I really want more. I love my The Mom, and it's really OK if she hogs the laptop, as long as she's here with me hogging the laptop. I'm fortunate to have a family and a warm place to sleep. Many dogs don't. Please help those dogs find their furever homes this Christmas.
While you are busy with that, make sure that you give all the Husky rescue groups, well, all the dog rescue groups, everything they need. They sort of act like elves for you in accomplishing the first thing, right?
For those pups who are spending the night locked up in the slammer, well, may they all have a full belly and a warm blanket. And then if you can find them furever homes too, that would be cool.
Some of my Husky friends have gone to the Bridge this year. Can you make sure they find the right part of the Bridge, and that they aren't scared or lonely waiting for their humans there?
And to all my blogging friends, my blogging family really, please make sure that they and their families have all their wishes come true.

Love,
Dakota

Very sad news.....

My friends at Five Happy Hounds lost one of their pack. Woo bye, Thrawn. You were a friend, a brother Husky, and you and the rest of the Brat Pack are one of my favorite blog friends. Special woos to your pack mates Dot, Samantha, Tucker and Bear. Kisses for your The Mom.
You will be missed.

Human Intervention

I just locked The Mom in her room and took over the computer. She's addicted, addicted to.......
SCHOOL.
Everypuppy, if your humans ever woo the words ' I think I'll go back to school', watch out!!! Warning, warning, warning!!!
What it means is that you will not see them for long periods of time while they hog the laptop and woo all those nasty, awful words that you are not supposed to woo. I don't really know what 'accounting' is, but if it's anywhere near as bad as The Mom is wooing right now, I don't understand why humans would subject themselves to it!
In addition to laptop hogging, you can also expect them to lay in bed at night with big, ugly books. Not the little paper ones you can chew on, but really big, really heavy unchewable books. Oh, I suppose they are chewable, but it's so big, I'm not sure it's worth the effort.
Forget about your daily walks. All that time that you and your human were spending together will now be a fond memory as your human spends more time with 'instructors and other students' instead of you. One nice trade off here is that there are lots of new smells. And she leaves half eaten food in her school bag. Yum..........

I have reason to believe that two naps from now will be the end of school for The Mom for a while. I sure hope so. I'll be glad to have her back!

Besides, I heard Santa Paws is coming soon, and we don't have any decorations out for him! How's he supposed to leave a new bone for me?

Starry, starry night

Wooing at the moon here. After many days of rain and mist and other such things that give you wet fur and muddy paws, the clouds have cleared. There's a quarter moon (my middle name is Moon because even as a young Husky girlpup, I would stare at the sky and search for the moon) and lots and lots of stars.
It's clear, windy and cold here.
It's Husky weather. Finally.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow - I woo to the Moon Goddess.

Or whomever is listening.

Fall cleaning or why I haven't been blogging

I haven't done much blogging lately, and I thought you would all like to know why........ and this time, it's not my fault!

About a month ago, The Mom decided that it was time for some fall cleaning. Now, I don't know if you all have this problem with your humans or not, but every now and then, The Mom decides that it's time to make everything smell 'clean' and picks up all of our fur and other hidden delights.

This time, she decided that she would clean the office and replace her desk.

Well, it's about time on that last one. The old desk? Just barely big enough to hold the laptop. And not even close to big enough for a Husky to curl up under. I had much difficulty with the last HULA assignment, because it's not like I could curl up under the desk and switch the wires so...... well, it was a covert assignment so I'd better stop woooing about it.

Where was I? Oh yes, it was piled, PILED, with stuff. All sorts of human stuff.

Here's a list of what she's found so far:

* The all important tag that identifies me as an up to date member in the anti-rabies club. It should have been part of my collar MONTHS ago.

* The Harnessed to Hope volunteer application. Complete with a human paper that's almost like money, except this one was too old to become money.

* A very nice piece of newspaper about a place near Deep Creek Lake called Husky Power Dogsledding. I read the article while she was still digging in to the mountain of stuff on her desk. It looks like a nice place to visit, particularly if you like SNOW! Sheesh.

* In the same newspaper, another nice article about winter in Ocean City. Hey - I am a Maryland dog, through and through!

* One of those plastic cards that is also like human money. Although this one was so old that it can't be used.

* Those really cool Star Wars stamp things from a few months ago.

* Old paper. LOTS of it. The thing that chews up the paper has been making noise non stop.

* Her address book, so we can send Christmas cards to all the people she knows.

* The payment booklet for the car.

* Lots of pictures of ME!

* A card she bought to give to someone, but couldn't find it, and then had to buy another one. Too bad it's not some place cool, like White Pine!

I could go on and on.........

At any rate, once this all came off the desk, we spent an entire afternoon putting together a new desk. The Mom used two things to put all that paper in, and put an old door on top of it. A better use for a door than locking me out of the room, as far as I'm concerned. Yes, the new desk is big enough for a Husky to fit under, but no, I don't have a picture.

Guess who lost the USB cord...............again!

I'll close with an old picture, one of Bandit and I snow playing, one to celebrate the SNOW from Friday! It ended up being just a few flurries, but it was cold and windy, so I was very, very happy!

Attention everyhusky!

OK, so it's been a while since I blogged. And, it's a really good story. But, I'll be posting it later.

For now, wooing out on the Woomergency Husky Broadcasting Network:

IT'S SNOWING IN THE CATOCTIN MOUNTAINS!!!!!!

SNOW, SNOW, SNOW!!!!

WOOOOOOO!!!!

It's that time of year again

It's Colorfest time.
Around here, that means that lots of people will be bringing lots of things for me and Bandit to eat and chew.
Nana brought us treats and toys. I got a stuffie bat, and Bandit got a stuffie ghost. Nana loves us. She wasn't mad at me about that, well, that incident with the other pup. I love my Nana. She makes us donuts!

The Mom is better, and we are spending lots of time together. She talked to me about my behavior, and we are going to spend some time visiting with some of our friends and trying to help out the nice people at Harnessed to Hope. Even if we couldn't adopt another Husky (and I'm still not sure why were doing that, I'm Husky enough for anyone!), we can help them find other homes.

I gotta run! The Mom is cleaning the kitchen and I heard something about leftover crabcakes!!!

The Mom is very sad

I probably did it this time.
The Mom is sitting around with the water coming out of her eyes. She took Xia in the car today, and didn't come back with her.
The Mom said she had to take her back to the cool foster family that Xia was staying with.
Because of me.
I guess Xia was ok, but I wasn't a very good big sister. In fact, I was pretty bad. See, Xia had some food, and I wanted it even though it wasn't mine. So we had a fight.
And she had a toy, and I wanted it even though it wasn't my toy. So I started another fight.
Worst of all, she was getting love and belly rubs from MY The Mom. So I had to fight again. Only this time one of us sort of bit The Mom. The Mom separated us, but I kept laying in front of Xia's crate.
I don't know why. The Mom says she just brought out the worst in me, making me all nasty and bad.
So, I'm going to go and see if I can lick The Mom's face and cheer her up. This may take some time, so I probably won't be back to blog for a while.
That is if The Mom ever lets me blog again.

Mystery solved! or............

Xia's gotcha day!!!!

So, this was the big surprise. Xia finally came to live with us. (Yup, that Xia)I now have a baby sister! She's sort of OK. Sort of wiggly and puppy like..............

The Mom didn't do a good job getting a picture of all three of us together. Apparently handling a pup and a camera are beyond her ability level.
But, that's ok.

Xia will be staying with us now, and I am planning on teaching her all sorts of things. She already learned how to get ham from The Mom, and she did go potty outside - The Mom and Bandit's Momma were happy about that.

For now, she has to stay in her crate a lot. She's doing something called rehab, which is just like being in your crate for a long, long time as near as I can tell. I guess her leg still hurts or something. Bandit didn't quite know either. She's napping now, so I thought I'd get in here and update everyone on my birthday gift - and our new little sister.

Hmm, we'll talk later...................

Post birthday fun.

I thought I'd have some post birthday fun!
I was reading Sitka and Tia's blog, and I saw this fun game! You answer the following questions using the first letter of your name (and you can't use your own name on the name questions). So..........

What is your name? Dakota
4 letter word: Door (oh, and this one d%$# that The Mom uses a lot)
Vehicle: Dodge Dakota
TV Show: Dick Van Dyke Show
City: Duluth
Boy Name: Dave
Girl Name: Della
Alcoholic Drink: Dry Martini (shaken, not stirred)
Occupation: Donut maker
Something you wear: Double breasted suit
Celebrity: Don Ho
Food: Desserts
Something found in a bathroom: Deodorant
Reason for being late: Deluge of rain
Cartoon Character: Deputy Dawg!

That was lots of fun!

Mystery on Dakota's Mountain

Just a few naps ago, I turned 8 years old. Yep, my birthday.
Now, I don't know about everypup, but around here, that's usually cause for lots and lots of gifts, belly rubs, and a little something known as cake and ice cream.
Usually.
But this year was different.
Oh, I got a few kisses. And belly rubs. And a few measely bites of something with pudding and cake.
But nothing else.
Nothing.
Nada, zippo, zilcho, bupkiss,absolutely NOTHING.
No gifts. No stuffies. No squeakies. No chew bones.
Now, that's bad enough. But I happen to know that The Mom and Bandit's Momma went to PetSmart before my birthday. And they brought stuff home. New bowls. A new place mat. A new Kong. Puppy biscuits. All I keep hearing is, "next week at this time.......". I don't care about next week, I just care that I didn't get anything for my birthday!
So here's the mystery. New stuff, not for me, and something is happening next week. What ever it is, The Mom even got my old crate out, and is making sure it's clean and ready (her words, not mine).
Ready for what?

Hike n Howl 2007 - Part two

I am sorry for the delay in posting. Every now and then The Mom gets on her high horse about 'needing the laptop for work' and leaves me internetless!!! I believe that I will ask Santa Clause for my own laptop this year.

So, after our last visit with Xia, we got back in the car. The Mom was very, very difficult to lead to the car, because she had some big old box she was carrying. We finally got there, I put on my seat belt and we began to move. I sort of suspected that this would be another LONG, LONG, LONG ride - and I was right. I was, however, treated to part of a very tasty Double R Bar Burger. I've blogged about my attachment to Roy Rogers before, and I must say - even though The Mom called it 'crappy turnpike food' (her words, not mine and I do apologize to my readers in the great state of Pennsylvania) - that I have not changed my opinion of that dining establishment. Four woos from me!

Bandit was very happy to see us when we got home. We went outside, he sniffed, I used the potty. When we came back in, The Mom had brought that big old box in the house and put it on the floor:

Some very kind and wonderful person put together a big box of goodies for me!!! (Oh, and I suppose there's enough for Bandit too..........sigh.) And I mean BIG. A very nicely crafted toy box. The biggest bag I've ever seen of YUMMY CHUMMIES!!! Duck jerky. Toys. Gourmet doggie water. Some delectable salmon oil for our food. A very warm wool blanket. And a brand new collar and leash.

Hike n Howl was a lot of fun!!!!! Here's how I spent the rest of the evening, once the excitement of all those YUMMY CHUMMIES wore off..........................

Hike n Howl 2007

I came, I saw, I hiked.

I always wanted to say that.

The Mom and I got up early, so early it was dark outside, to go bye-bye in the car. Now, this usually means that we're either going to that place that is totally obsessed with putting something up my butt, or to the store place where all the stuff is sold. This time though, we didn't go to either of these places. We were in the car for a LONG, LONG, LONG time. So long the sun came up and it got light out. We stopped at a place that was very noisy, and didn't have much grass to potty on. The Mom shared a small piece of her egg biscuit, then we got back in to the car. And were in the car for another LONG, LONG, LONG time. When we finally stopped, guess who I saw? Indy and his mom were there. And a husky I'd never met before, Max. Then I looked up, and there were HUSKIES EVERYWHERE!! We'd made it to Hike n Howl.

Our first stop was a small side trip to see Xia. Here we are at our first sniff n meet!

I must say that we were both on our best behavior, and that this meeting went quite well. Xia could not join us for the hike, her leg is still healing according to The Mom, so we went on without her to do the hike part:

This was our view on much of the hike. We were a little slower than most, but we did complete the hike! I'm happy to say that we raised $160 for the rescue groups. After the hike, there were lots of fun things to do - The Mom got a husky painted on her:

I met a very strange husky:
Then we spent more time with Xia.

Right before we got in the car again, something very, very nice happened. I'll blog about that tomorrow!

Again......

So, it's move the kid in and out time again. What that means is that everything - with the possible exception of routine feeding and putting outside to potty - gets put on hold while The Mom and the kid pack things in boxes (the same things they packed before!) and then move the boxes to the car and then go.

I heard they went to a different place this year. I haven't been there. I might get to go soon though, as I've been getting many more car rides as we prepare for Hike n Howl . Personally, I think The Mom should be hiking more and driving less.

There's been lots of questions about our application to adopt Xia. I know that The Mom has had lots of conversations with Xia's foster mom - I hear she's being a little stinker (which I think translates as HULA member in training). And I know that The Mom did the home visit and stuff. What I don't know is when she's moving in. I've never been an older sister before - I'm currently the youngest dog in the house - and I would like some time to prepare. I plan on discussing this with The Mom soon, perhaps while we're on one of those car rides?

I almost forgot!! My Blogathon prizes from Meeshka arrived the other day!

Here we are checking it out - everyone else was packing!

Here's what we won! A cool howling wolf and a t-shirt.

And here's what I did after The Mom realized that we had gotten in to the box. Yes, that's me, strategically positioned between two cool air vents, my place of choice. (Yes, Tubey, that was a stuffie on the cool air vent in my last post. We have many, many, many stuffies here - three wash loads full according to The Mom).

Indy's Visit

As part of the application to adopt Xia, The Mom and I had a home visit from the people at Harnessed to Hope.

Guess who did the home visit?

Indy! (oh, and his mom).

We had a good time showing them our house and the cat and the bird and our back yard!

Then, guess what we did?

Yup. It was a good day and we had a lot of fun!

Protest!!!! Strike!!!

That's it, I'm protesting. I'm on strike. No more kisses, no more tail wags.
The Mom has some explaining to do, and until she does, I'm on STRIKE!
She got up at the crack of dawn yesterday, insisted on putting us out, feeding us and we all knew she wasn't going to that work place.
She left with out us.
She was gone a LONG, LONG, LONG time.
Do you know where she was?
She met Meeshka's human woman - but didn't meet Meeshka. And she met Sasha's human too - but didn't meet Sasha. Now, what good is it to meet the humans, but not the Huskies?
She apparently also got to hear this lady talk about ALASKA and the Iditarod. (Just typing it makes it cooler in here, sigh.............)
Honestly, that's like my total dream trip, and I DIDN'T GO!!!!!
Now apparently some Huskies were invited. Like Thunder (quite handsome, I guess you needed to be a handsome guy to get an invite?)
AND SHE MET XIA!!!!!!!!!
Now, this little girl has been all over the Internet and email and apparently has her own publicity firm hired or something, because everyone is talking about her. So she was important enough to get an invite too.
But I wasn't. And I'm on strike until someone tells me why.

It's too darn hot!

The Mom tells me that 'It's too darn hot' is the name of a song. She would know. She's been listening to what the kids call the 'old fart' station here in town. I think the heat is getting to her.


Today we had to hear all about how nice it is to pick up poop because it practically dries up the moment it hits the ground. I wooed to her that we really didn't care, just pick it up!





Here's another picture (we have hundreds that were recently liberated). This one shows me doing something I truly love:

Sigh. Song or not, it's too darn hot for anypup!

Additional update

Notice anything new about my blog?

Guess what The Mom finally broke down and bought?????

Chip.

Bandit

And me wooing to the neighbors, guess what the idiot I live with finally did! She bought a USB cable to hook the digital camera to the computer.

And no, I had absolutely nothing to do with the first missing USB cord.

The dog days of July

Hello everypup, husky, girl-girl and loyal readers.

So much has gone on the past several days, I'm not sure where to begin.



I guess I'll start with Bandit. Many days ago, he wasn't feeling well. He was napping, I was leaving him alone, then I heard him in trouble - he was having a seizure. It was Bandit's first seizure, and I felt that as a sort of expert (I've had seizures my self), I needed to be with him. Bandit's momma didn't think that was a good idea, so I got locked in The Mom's bedroom and had to listen to everything. Bandit was OK - he bonked himself in the eye with an end table and had a swollen eye for a few days - but there were no other lingering affects with the seizure. Now they have to 'watch him'. He has not had any further seizures, and he has told me that he's feeling better. His eye is better too. Not that a black Lab can have a black eye.



Oh, and Chip has gone back to his people. We had a good time while he was here, although The Mom did not get as much time to work on his manners as she had hoped. We have pictures, but after a brief bit of hope where The Mom thought she had found the cord from the camera to the computer, they are still locked in the digital camera. Hey, as I have mentioned before, I had absolutely nothing to do with the disappearance of the cord.



Then, The Mom took out the box she uses when she goes away. I was not happy about this, but she mentioned taking one of the Kids and Jacki. Jacki is this nice lady that comes once a year or so and brings us LOTS of treats, so I decided that a visit would be a good time. I was not allowed to go - some place called a hotel did not allow pets. Why they would go to this place I have no idea. So, there's pictures of that too, but you won't see them either. Now, she did bring home some shells and rocks to sniff, and this really cool redhead Sibe stuffy that is not for me. Bandit and I stayed with his momma.



Then yesterday, The Mom left again! She wasn't gone long this time, but she went to spend time with one of the Kids on their birthday! Now, I know that birthday usually means we get cake and ice cream - but none, absolutely none of that was mentioned or seen. I was not happy. They apparently went to a movie and then had ice cream at some place.



The Mom is home now, curled up with a bit of a tummy issue. Serves her right for not saving me some of the cake and ice cream.



I know that I've been tagged to do some lists and stuff. I'll give those some thought and get them posted later this weekend. I plan on hogging the computer to follow Meeshka's Blogathon. Not only do I want to support our Husky Queen, but I have an additional interest in the outcome of this one..........



As many of you heard, in addition to all the whirlwind excitement I've detailed here, The Mom found time to contact some people at Harnessed to Hope to see if she could ADOPT little Xia. I hear that our adoption application has been approved, and that if Xia's foster family doesn't adopt this sweet little girl, she may be coming to live here. While I think I'll be an excellent older sister and a spectacular Husky role model, there will be another Husky in the house. I must admit some concern about her horning in on my belly rub time. But, as an added bonus, as part of the adoption process, I'll get to meet Indy!!!! I'm very excited about meeting this handsome traveling guy. Meeshka is blogging to raise money for Harnessed to Hope, and the money will be used to pay for Xia's (and other needy northern breeds) medical expenses. Thank you, Meeshka, for your philanthropy and efforts. The Mom thanks you too!

Wait until she finds out what I did!

OK, now, I didn't tell you all this, but I just signed myself and The Mom up for Hike n Howl! I expect there to be some real howling when she finds out!!! Here she comes, more later!!!!