The dream of a lifetime

If you've read my profile, you know that I'm, well, in to that tropical vibe. Seems like I'm not the only sled dog that feels that way........
I'm (well, The Mom) is a HUGE fan of Jimmy Buffett. Check this out - the Official Jamaican Sled Dog Team!!!


'Wasted away again in Dogaritaville'!!!!!

Don't forget to check out Dogs Aye View

Good morning. I love lazy mornings surfing the blogs, seeing what the rest of my virtual pack has been up to.



Check out this LINK from the good pups over at Dogs Aye View, Gomer and Opie. What a cool idea they gave their human mom. Check it out and click the links!!!!

All about me

Look what I found while surfing the blogs.......

1. Age? 7 years, 9 months.
2. My age when I came to live with my people? 6 weeks. The Mom says the place I came from was run by an 'idiot'. Not sure what that is, but I suspect it's not good.
3. What color collar am I wearing right now? Black, with paw prints that reflect light.
4. My favorite person other than my people I live with? My kids. Well, The Mom's kids. They don't live with us anymore.
5. How much do I weight? 49 pounds.
6. Most expensive thing I ever chewed up? Probably the carpet. I chewed up a sofa good too, but since it was going with that man that used to live with us, The Mom assures me it doesn't count. And I got a yummy for doing it!
7. Do I like other dogs? Yes, I am a pack animal.
8. Who is my best non-human friend? Bandit. And maybe Chip.
9. Squeaky toys or tennis balls? Squeeky toys. Absolutely. I own the squeeky toy of all squeeky toys. It has 12, count 'em 12 different squeekers in it.
10. Do I like to be brushed? NO! That's my fur.
11. Peanut Butter or Cheese? The sweetest words to my ears......... "Mom's got cheese!!"
12. Do my people cut my toenails? Yup, but The Mom has to engage in a full body press to do it, and it's no fun unless I 'claw' blood!!
13. Any formal education? No. Just the school of hard knocks.
14. Couch Potato or Energizer Bunny? Depends on the time and place.
15. Five nicknames people call me? Koda Bear, KB, Miss Husky, Sweets and Sh**head. The last one is usually the loudest.
16. What is my best trick? At night after last call, when it's time to go to sleep, 'Time to go ni-night'. I trot down the hall, make a right turn and get in bed. It seems to entertain The Mom.
17. Do I like kitties? Only for breakfast or lunch.......ha ha ha......... I live with a cat. I tolerate said cat.
18. What did I have for breakfast? Iams Lamb and Rice dry food. Oh, and Honey Nut Cheerios.
19. Can I hunt and have I ever killed anything? Yes, I am an accomplished hunter. My trophies include bunnies, birds (including a Mallard Duck and duckling) and a groundhog.
20. When was the last time I went to the vet? About a year ago, and I can see my name on the big food box........
21. Where do I sleep at night? With The Mom in our bedroom. No crate for me.
22. Do I like to swim? That's the big water bowl in the back yard. I'm not getting in it.
23. Can I make puppies? Nope. Thank doG. There's too many unparented pups in the world it is.
24. My favorite place to visit? Hmmm. That would be either the back yard, or PetSmart.
25. Do I give kisses? Yup, whether they need them or not.
26. Can I potty on command? What? Why would I pee when they want me too? I pee when I want to.
27. Do I cuz? Only if Bandit is cuzzing. Then I cuz. Otherwise, who cares?
28. Do I behave when we go for a walk? I'm pretty good about it now that I've matured some. When I was a wee pup, I was a master yanker.

Hurricane The Mom

The Mom spent much time last night tearing up my office - well, her office - looking for the little cord that connects the camera to the computer. Honestly, I had nothing, absolutely nothing to do with the disappearance. It's not my fault she hasn't mastered the basic skills of filing and putting things where they belong.

So, I still have no pictures to put on my blog.



We got a really cool package from SOS-SRF. The Mom is a sucker for anything with a Sibe on it, and I like helping other Sibes not as fortunate as me. Now, if I could just get her to adopt a disciple for me. I keep telling her that we could hook to the front of Big Red, and save on gas.

Ao4, I need some camouflage tips!

I'm out from hiding while The Mom has gone to work. Let me tell you, I'm not that fond of this time of the year for the obvious reason - where the heck is the snow? - but there's something that the late spring, summer brings out that's even more hideous than the missing snow........

It's bath and grooming time!

The first bath of the season was about two weeks ago. The Mom lured me out of hiding with some tasty ham (Oh, Queen Meeshka, how does one perfect the mind over ham technique?), looped the bath collar on me and started lathering me up.

Then, it's nail clipping. Now, there's not a whole lot in this world that I absolutely hate, but getting my nails done - well, that's it. Once again, I was ambushed while napping! Next thing I knew, The Mom was on top of me, smothering me with her big ol' butt while she trimmed my nails. I got one or two really good claws in - including one that drew blood - but each and every nail was trimmed.

After that, it's the fur between my sensitive little toes. Now, I won't go in to too many unlady like details, but I have to have a bit of fur trimmed off my tootsies every now and then to keep from getting painful mats. But, as I said and as The Mom knows, those little toes are sensitive. That doesn't stop her from getting out the scissors and trimming away though.

Finally, when I have practically no dignity left, out comes the rake. No I don't want to be brushed. And it's not even a brush, it's a funky looking thing with teeth that digs in to my fur and takes it away. I'll be naked before long. One saving grace here - so far, it's only my left side that's been subjected to the torture. The right side is mine, and I'm protecting it at all costs!!!

Ao4, do you have any camouflage tips for your loyal trooper? How can I hide from the grooming, while coming out for the good stuff - food, water, belly rubs?

Oh! I hear the front door!

Dakota signing off.

Totally pathetic

I just think everydog should know how pathetic things are around here. The Mom got home from work - LATE AGAIN -and put us out. The next thing I knew, she was outside, with ice water - no friggin' snacks - with her nose in a book. A book! Now, after being in an office all day, you would think that she should want to come home, stretch out a bit and maybe play???? Nope, she was on her lazy butt all evening!

Didn't even make dinner.

Do you know what Kix are?

That's what Miss Lazy - formerly known as The Mom - had for dinner!

She's not on the computer!

Finally, after months of not even being able to get in to the office - darn those humans for making sure the doors are closed - The Mom is done school. The computer is free, The Mom is petting and loving me more and all is well with my world.
Well, it was until the kid came home.
I was told that the kid lived at school ( I'm thinking it was not the same school that The Mom was going to), but now she is home. Well, let me tell you, I don't know where the kid was, but she brought a LOT of stuff home with her. Food. Clothes. New tasty looking shoes. And many, many piles of J-U-N-K. I can barely move around in my room! But, it is nice to have the kid home because it means that The Mom will no longer leave me and go visit her. So, I'm happy.
It's terribly hot here - already I have seen the 90 on the thermometer. I am thankful that the air conditioner is up and working again. I'm confining my outside time to early morning and night time - besides, it's easier to guard the perimeter of the yard when it's dark.
As you can see, I am taking regular rest and water breaks.

I just heard The Mom mention that she's off for a few more days. That's good news. I was just thinking of a belly rub and a nap.

Mother's Day

While The Mom pours over text books and yanks out part of her fur while screaming something about final exams, I thought I'd sneak in and blog to catch everyone up.

The Mom has still not mastered how to hook the digital camera up to the computer. She should.

There's lots and lots of young tasty snacks in my yard. Birds. Bunnies. Nothing yet, although apparently there was a dearly departed baby bird on Bandit's side of the yard. Hmmmm.

Um, if you hear something that sounds like bzzzzzzz - do not, I repeat, do not confuse it as a young and tasty snack. Oh, it was tasty I guess, but then my snoot swelled up and I didn't feel all that well for a few hours. They bite back! I did get some ice in the water bowl from The Mom though.

One of the kids came home last weekend! I was in bed, asleep with The Mom, and I heard someone come in the house!! I picked my head up to listen to see if they were headed toward the cheese drawer, and all of the sudden the bedroom door opened and it was the kid! I was pretty happy to see her - I leaped from the bed to the door and in to her arms. Sure enough, she had brought some tasty leftovers home and we shared a midnight snack.

I've been trying to decide what to get The Mom for Mother's Day. Seems that chewing up a text book could be a possible gift, but I think I'll just let her pet my belly after I get brushed. Maybe I'll behave during my brushing too. That would be a real treat for her.

Bacon Heaven

The Mom is frying bacon, so I thought I'd sneak in and see how everyone was.

So, how are you? I haven't been able to blog much lately - if your human, owner, Mom, Dad, biped or whatever mentions the words 'on-line course', you can expect to only find the computer free when they are in that small room where they potty (They spend hours sniffing in there, have you noticed that?). Which means you will not be able to read blogs, or blog yourself. How else am I supposed to keep up with my friends? Really.

And - to add insult to injury - The Mom packed up that bag thing and LEFT for three moons. Three. Oh, she let the kid come here and make sure that Bandit and I had food and we went outside and we had someone to cater to our whims, but she LEFT me. I am not happy. I have also discovered her packing up that bag thing again today. I don't know where she's going this time. My question - why can't I go? I have a crate, and I don't need one of those bags. I can just go. I travel light. My blankie, a crate and some water.

We've been having bacon on everything and in everything. I wonder if the folks at Dogs With Blogs would mind if we had a Wine, Cheese and Bacon Pawty here?

Easter Snow-day

No sun today! It's been overcast and snowing here in the Catoctin Mountains. Well, no snow on the ground snow, but lots of snow in the sky snow. I think the Easter Bunnies under the building in the backyard are huddled up - it's might chilly here for them. Even The Mom is a bit cold these days.
I'm loving it!
Let's see. Bandit's birthday was last week, and we got cake and ice cream (well, doggie ice cream, but........). Then it was Bandit's Momma's birthday, and we got MORE cake and doggie ice cream. Quite the coupe, having those days in a row like that. I wish I had pictures but a) The Mom has the camera 'hidden' somewhere (she lost it!) and b) she really needs to buy the cable so we can actually upload the pictures from the camera to the blog. I think this is just a conspiracy to keep me off the computer.
Good thing I have no intention to buy in to the conspiracy!
Oh, and she didn't win one thing on the eBay auctions for Harnessed To Hope . I'm sure that she needed something....... maybe her wallet would have been a little fuller if she'd stop going to all those ham and turkey nights. Not that I'm complaining about 10 pounds of bacon.

Sunday Musings

Good afternoon to everyone.
Things continue to be quite hectic here, as The Mom recovers from her fall and spring has arrived. I've spent much of my time helping The Mom, and making sure she is safe. I am happy to report that meals and yummies are back on the pre-injury schedule. I did get somewhat of a break yesterday, as The Mom got up very, very early in the morning and did not get home until very, very late. I'm not quite sure what a one armed bandit is, but it apparently got some of The Mom's money stuff.
The Mom found a cool place called Jake's Dog House (www.jakesdoghouse.com if you happen to have that plastic thing the humans use). They had homemade dog treats, and The Mom brought us some! We also each got a new squeaky toy - mine is a squeaky mat with 16, count 'em, 16 squeakers in it. Bandit got a squeaky duck. It was nice to be rewarded for all of my hard work of late.
The Mom is now doing more school stuff. Stress Management. Stupid humans, if you have a Husky, there is NO stress. You just have to live on dog time and understand that the Husky way is the only way.

And finally, I'm sad to report that my namesake and friend Dakota over at The Brat Pack has gone to the Rainbow Bridge. If you haven't had the opportunity to visit Thrawn, Samantha, Tucker and Dot, head over and read their blog. Dakota my friend, I will miss you and I am sending soft Husky woos to the rest of your pack.

Stupid human tricks, or how the biped landed on her ..........

Phew. It's been an eventful few weeks for me, not the least of which was playing nursemaid to The Mom, while she recovers from a sprained wrist.
She fell, and I almost had to jump the fence to come to her rescue!
It was many nights ago, that day where we had a nice fluffy snow here in the Catoctin Mountains. The Mom came home from that work place, put me and the Bandit outside, had a cup of that hot stuff she drinks and put her outside boots on. Well, I stayed outside to enjoy the snow, and Bandit came inside (he's, well, snow challenged), and The Mom went out front to move all the snow from one place to another. (Humans - what's up with that? Why do you move the snow? It's all over everything, and who cares if one spot is bigger than another? There's usually enough to share.) I was watching her do that, and all of the sudden, wham, she's laying on the ground! I started to whine, to make sure she was OK, then I figured that I needed to get over the fence and offer a quick diagnosis (where's Dr. Meepenstein when you need him?). Well, about that time, The Mom started to talk to me and let me know she was OK (embarrassed and wet) and that I should stay where I was.
Those humans.
She finally came in the house and let me in the back door. I rushed to her side, and made sure she was safe, then I pushed her down on to the bed and laid beside her to keep her warm. It must have worked, because outside of some bruises, all that happened is she had to wear a goofy looking thing on her hand and arm. Mind you, it's the hand and arm that do all the cooking and feeding, so this was cause for great concern.
She's better now, still wearing the goofy thing though.
I think the school thing has stopped. At least part of it did. I don't know what accounting is, but it sure causes the people in this house to use those word we're not supposed to use.
She's heading in to the kitchen now, I'd better go. Who knows what will happen if I don't keep an eye on her?

Winter Wonderland

Another 4 inches of snow (that's about a quarter of a Husky leg) fell in the Catoctin Mountains today. Snow. Not the ice stuff we had a couple of weeks ago. Snow. Where you could make yourself a little bed and lay in. Snow. Where you could dig and find the ground and track the rabbit under the shed or the squirrel that has taken up residence in the Leland Cyprus trees in the back yard. Snow. Where, once you came in because SOMEONE promised you cheese, you could lay at the door of your room (I don't think I ever blogged about my room. I'll have to do that.) and watch lots and lots of birds at the feeder. Red birds. Really red birds. Big gray birds that coo instead of woo. Little brown birds that seem happy. Snow.
Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow.
I don't know how else to say it.

Now, lets talk about that squirrel. According to The Mom, who has lived here for 13 and a half years (however long that is), this is the first time she's seen a squirrel in the neighborhood. All I know is that it smells different, and it can jump from tree to tree! It doesn't fly - it jumps! I can't climb trees, something that I learned the hard way over the past couple of days, but if I could that squirrel would be history (um, well, probably breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack).

It's been a good day and I am sort of sleepy. I believe that I'll nap, then get The Mom up so we can check out the snow sometime tonight.

This one's for Opy

For all of my blog friends who are snowless:

Check this out!

Welcome from the Yukoctin Mountains

We hit the weather jackpot here! About six inches of snow. At the moment, it's quite solid though, almost icy. Well, lets be honest, it's about six inches of ice at the moment. It's very odd, you can walk on top of it and not sink your paws in. Bandit is having some difficult time with his footing. As a spry and delicate Husky, I'm doing just fine. I had a nice snooze out in the sun today, and keep making sure that The Mom lets me out for my weather reporting duties.
The only real problem at this point is that we can't go down the steps from the kitchen - everyone has to go downstairs to go outside.
Apparently, The Mom is not that thrilled with having to get up at 4:30 and walk down the steps. She should be a bit more careful and perhaps turn on the light next time. Oh, she's OK, but I suspect that if I have to go out tonight I'll probably be discouraged............... good thing I don't listen to her.

Snow, beautiful snow

While The Mom walks around the house quoting from 'The Owl and the Pussycat' - I don't know, some stuff about a pea green boat - I'm doing my best to stare out the window at the spectacular snow. There's about three inches - that's up past the paws for those of you who need a visual reference - of snow in my corner of the Catoctin Mountain range.
Supposedly more to come.
I think it's time to trip the old girl up, get her attention and see if I can go outside and play!

If I smell it, it will come

Dakota here, and I'm all about snow!

I've had my head in the wind and my ears to the Weather Channel. Snow is on the way! Tomorrow, I think, not Tuesday like they keep saying. I'm hoping for at least six good inches, enough to dig in, romp in and pretty much just do what I want in.

Of course, it's been such an odd winter that we're liable to not get any snow at all.

I must admit that there's just nothing going on here. I did see The Mom smuggle in a bag of something for the Valentine thing. I'm hoping that there's more in there than stuff for those kids she has.

Like chicken yummies. Now those would be an acceptable Valentine's present.

I've added my card for The Mom, what do you think?

Back to School

Dakota here. I'm happy to announce that there's absolutely nothing going on in my little corner of the world. The Mom is working, and she's back in school. Which means that I'm left to my own devices for far, far too long while she's got her nose stuck in a book.
We had a dear little bit of snow a few days ago......but no pictures, she was too busy.
I did the best dogball I've ever done...... but no pictures, she still can't figure out how to hook the camera to the laptop.
I had a good time chasing the cat.... but no pictures, because I'm smart enough to know that I shouldn't chase the cat and tell her!

There's also been a ton of complaining about the 'cold' weather. Cold weather?? This isn't cold. It's barely cool. Just a bit of snow and wind, and you should hear them go on and on about it. This is the time of the year that The Mom starts looking at warm places to live. I'm going to have to get those websites blocked or something. Well, maybe not blocked. I must admit to a yearning to walk a warm moonlit beach every now and then.

I was reading blogs, and I see where Mary Margaret is moving to Pennsylvania. I live just a few minutes away from Pennsylvania, and I'm hoping she will be close to me. Maybe we can visit and play? It's so boring having no girldogfriends near by.

I've decided to be more politically active this season, what with Hillary Clinton running and all. But, I think I'm voting for a man I have come to admire. A true patriot. A bachelor who won't back down from his opinions. Yep.................. I'm voting for TURBO!

The Weekend

Dakota here.
After a long stretch of time where it seems everyone was sick, things seem to be calmer tonight. I'm blogging, and everyone else is watching that stupid box with the pictures on it.
The Mom did make it to that work place last week, and she worked too much, even after I took that thing on her wrist. I'm going to have to continue to help her learn doggie time. Humans can be quite difficult to train.
They can also be quite fun to watch.
The Mom got this tiny little thing that blasts music in her ears a few months ago. Since then, I've been subjected to some of the strangest things...... she walks down the halls and wiggles her rear end, she claps her hands and she smiles and sings. (She does not have to worry about joining the local Husky choir, let me tell you.) I laughed so hard at her wiggling up and down the hall today that I peed myself. Really. If she only knew.

It's practically summer here in the Catoctin Mountains. The only thing making is bearable is the lovely mud in my back yard........

Moon, sun and tears

Dakota here. Catching up on the blogs with The Mom. We've read about Tara and Peanut and The Mom has been doing that thing with her eyes. It usually means she's sad. I told her that the pups are at the Rainbow Bridge, having a good time with all the other pups while waiting for their moms and dads to come.
I guess it could also be she's crying because of all the Kleenex she's been using. The Mom is just laying around, doing much of nothing, including playing with us. I think she's just looking to get away from that place for the day.
I can't blame her.
Meeshka's blog talks about dog time today. And I think that it's time The Mom began using dog time. I'm hiding the thing she wears on her wrist. All she does is look at it and say those naughty words anyway. If it makes her that unhappy, then I'm going to do something about it.
I'm going to put that music she likes on. That Buffett guy. And then I'm going to make the ultimate Husky sacrifice and lay with her while she sniffles and uses up every Kleenex in the house.

Dakota (respectfully writing to Mr. Buffett to change 'It's Five o'clock Somewhere' to 'It's Doggietime Somewhere)