My Birthday! Oh boy!

On Tuesday morning, Mama told me it was my birthday! She said that means I'm a year older and that it was my very own special day. I thought every day was a special day, but I guess a birthday is MORE special. I'm ok with that. I'm four years old now.

But it was still Tuesday, so Mama had to work and Papa had to go to classes. They gave me lots of extra belly rubs, but I wanted to play! Here's me in the morning. I was not happy.

Then Papa came home and he took me to the backyard! Oh boy! We threw my football around and it was so fun! I sat like a good boy and waited for Papa to throw me my ball, then I ran and chased and got so tired. I flew, too! No, really, I jumped and I flew!

It was the best time. I like birthdays. I wanted Mama to spend all day with me, but she had to leave for a few minutes because she auditioned for the North Carolina Master Chorale. Mama likes to sing, and she's supposed to be very good at it. When we lived in New York, she was in the New York Choral Society for a very long time (before she had me!), and she misses it a lot. Mama has sung all over the world, and Papa too-- that's how they met! Singing is very important to Mama. She was sad when she got home, though, because she said she was very nervous, and when humans are nervous, it means they have trouble singing. But Mama did ok, because she got in! She found out yesterday.

We had a lot to celebrate yesterday, and Mama and Papa said that as part of my birthday celebration, we were going to a baseball game. I had never been to a baseball game. I didn't know what it was! But Papa told me that the Durham Bulls, who aren't bulls but men who play baseball, are a very special team and we were going to see them and have fun. The Bulls had an event called Bark in the Park -- I didn't understand because I don't like to bark in parks, it's not nice to people, but we went anyway. Oh boy, it was so fun! There was a big baseball stadium and lights and seats and so many doggies!!! It had been so long since I had seen so many doggies. I was so excited! Bark in the Park is sponsored by Second Chance Pet Adoptions, which is like Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue but in North Carolina. There were so many nice people there too, with their doggies and without. I had a very good time saying hello to all of them! There were treats and water bowls and a nice lady took lots of pictures of me! At one point, Mama left and came back with something that smelled so delicious, and she said it was a hot dog with barbecue and cole slaw, but she wouldn't let me have any of it. That made me sad, because I think barbecue smells so yummy, but Mama and Papa said it's not good for doggies and I should eat the peanut butter treats instead. I did.

After an hour or so, I was so tired-- it was so exciting! I walked over to a blankie and sat down, but Mama and Papa were embarrassed! I didn't know why. They said the blankie didn't belong to us, that it belonged to another lady and her big Mastiff puppy. The other lady laughed and said I was welcome to stay, so I did. The big puppy's name is Mosey and she is very big but very nice. Here we are saying hi.

We hung out for a while, and I sat near the seats with Mama and Papa while they watched the game. We had tickets for other seats, but it was so nice to stay in the big courtyard with the other people and doggies, so we didn't sit in our seats. That's ok. All of the doggies were so nice and well-behaved! And all of the people in orange shirts who work at the park came and said hi to me and rubbed my ears and my butt and told me I was handsome. It was the best time.

Late at night, the people cheered a lot-- Papa said the Bulls won-- and we got in the car to go home. I fell fast asleep! I was so sleepy, I didn't even want to get out of the car when we got home. But I did, because there are blankies inside. It was a wonderful birthday, and I can't wait until my next one!

My Sofa is Here!

Since we got to Raleigh and moved into our house, we've been sitting on the floor and we haven't had any stuff. The floor is ok, but the carpet is kind of itchy. I had my crate and my bed, and Mama and Papa had a mattress, but it was very weird. I was getting used to it, though, and finding places to get comfortable. Here's me in a couple of sunny spots, first in the office with Mama while she worked, and then in the living room by the fireplace. No furniture means you have SO MANY sunny spots.

But then yesterday, the moving men showed up with a big truck and they started bringing in our stuff! I was so surprised! I wanted to help them by lying in the big sunny spot by the front door and wagging my tail a lot, but Mama said no and sent me to the backyard. That was no fun. I wanted to be inside. But I listened, and then Papa came outside with me.

After the movers left, we had boxes everywhere! But we also had our sofa. Sigh... I missed my sofa so much. Mama even got out a brand-new blankie and I curled up and took a nap. I was so tired! So much excitement.

After my nap, we went to lunch. We went to a nice place called the Flying Biscuit Cafe where I could sit outside with Mama and Papa. I might a nice dog named Bo who was there with his mama and his two human sisters. I didn't want to talk too much, but we sniffed and said hi and he was cool. But I wanted to lie down near Mama and Bo just wanted to steal food, so we didn't hang out much. The waitresses at the Flying Biscuit were all so nice-- they brought me a bowl of water with bones on it, just for doggies! And they pet me and told me I was handsome. I like restaurants in North Carolina.

When we got back home, Mama spent a lot of the day going back and forth between putting things away and working on her computer. Something was wrong with her work phone, so she couldn't use it while the nice IT man in California was trying to fix it, so she straightened things up in between working. It was very hard. The boxes are heavy! But Mama and Papa managed to unpack a lot, and Mama made sure to set up the TV. At the end of the day, Mama was so happy, so I was happy too! I went out in the front yard and rolled around.

The weather here has been very nice, so Papa took me to the backyard and threw the ball around a lot yesterday. I love the ball! And my toys came so I chased those too! I ran and ran until I got so tired, and I went to bed and just didn't want to get up for anything. I slept all night on my blankies on the sofa.

Early this morning I got up to check on Mama and Papa, but they were sleeping so I went back to the sofa, then Mama got up and asked me if I wanted a walk and I said no. She didn't like that, but she did other things until I was ready. We walked around the neighborhood and I saw a cat! I don't like cats. I wanted to chase after the cat but Mama wouldn't let me. I spent the rest of the walk looking for other doggies to tell them about the cat, but I only saw one or two and they were too far away. I miss other doggies. Mama said she'll sign me up for daycare soon and I can meet new friends to play with.

After our walk, I went back to sleep until Papa came home from his meeting. Then we went in the backyard again and we played and played until I got so tired. I took a nap with all my toys and it was so nice.

It has been an exhausting day, but we are all happy. Mama's back doesn't hurt as much, and Mama and Papa both have different clothes. We will be done very soon, and that will be nice so we can all relax on our sofa together again.

Bumpy Things in the Night

Before I lived in the big city, I lived in a place called West Virginia. It was quiet and there were lots of animals, but I don't remember it! I am used to being a city doggy. Raleigh is a lot like West Virginia, and it's very different from Harlem. Our house is in a neighborhood with lots of other houses and backyards, but it is verrrry quiet. There's a doggy across the street and she seems ok, but I haven't really met her yet. The other doggies on the block stay in their own yards and don't walk as much as I do. It's different because in Harlem, there were lots of doggies around to take care of all the people, but in Raleigh, it's just me! I have responsibilities!

But responsibilities can be really hard. There are new noises, and when I hear them, sometimes I growl. At night I can hear the buzzies and the crickets and sometimes the cars drive by and sound weird, and I have to keep running up to the window to check. Mama and Papa don't like that. We also have weird big bugs that frighten me-- the other night, I barked at a HUGE thing Papa called a palmetto bug. I didn't want it in my house! It had to get out! So I gave my hunting bark and Papa came and got it. Papa is not afraid of bugs, which is good, because there are so many of them. Then last night my ears were hurty and I kept shaking my head, so Papa took me out to the living room so I could lie on my bed, but then I heard something scary and I made my hunting noise and Mama had to get up in the middle of the night and close the blinds. Then she sat with me until I went to sleep. She says I will get used to the sounds here, but right now I am always on alert. Stay away from my house, scary things!

There are other scary things about North Carolina. In Harlem we had very big sidewalks, but here, the sidewalks only let one human and one doggy walk together and they are close to the street, so the cars and trucks go by so fast and make whoosh-ing sounds and it freaks me out! I don't like that. Mama said that's ok, we can stick to quiet streets now. I like that.

The rest of the time, everything is ok. I have a big backyard now! Papa takes me out there and throws toys and I run and get them and it is so fun! Sometimes I ask over and over again to go outside so I can lie in the giant sunny spots. Sometimes Mama says ok and we go outside, but when she wants to go back in I tell her not to worry about me but she won't let me stay outside alone. I think it's because I growl at the animals and the buzzies. So Mama gets frustrated and eventually I say ok and go in.

Today it was raining lots and lots-- I held it for a loooong time. Then Mama and Papa got up and took my new toy (it looks like Bunny but it's blue so Mama calls it Blue Bunny) and we went to the little park near our house and I peed and pooped, but I hated it because it was WET. I still don't like the rain, but it smells nicer here than it did in Harlem. The little park behind our house is nice because it has trees to pee on, but when it rains it also has mud, and I hate mud. It gets in my paws and feels icky. But I also know that if we go over there, I just have to do my business quickly before I can get back to my toys and my house. It's nice to have a park so close.

We still don't have furniture-- Mama says it comes on Wednesday and I can't wait to see our sofa!-- so we have been sitting on the floor a lot. The floor has a carpet and it is very nice, but it's a bit itchy. I like being right next to Mama and Papa all the time. Mama says it's kind of fun but her back hurts, so Papa bought her a chair for her new desk and it's a little better.

Tonight, Mama and Papa are going to the North Carolina Museum of Art to see a concert! I wanted to go too, but Mama said there are no doggies allowed. That's ok, I guess. I'll hang out here with Bunny and Woobie and Blue Bunny and sleep. Mama and Papa like Raleigh so far, and I do too, even with the scary stuff!

Getting Adjusted

We are settling in to our new home! We still don't have furniture, but that's ok. Mama said this happens when you move long distance, that your movers take a while. I have my bed and my crate, and Mama and Papa have a new mattress, so we are managing! Mama also got a washer and a dryer so the clothes they brought can be clean. Mama is very excited about the washer and dryer, but I don't know why. Mama is silly. I like the new washer and dryer, though-- they play a song when they're finished washing and drying, and I can run and get Mama and tell her to empty them. I like helping Mama.

We have had a nice few days here so far. Mama and Papa have gone shopping and bought a lot of things! Mama says that's what happens when you move. I also got a bath because I was stinky from the farm and all the traveling. I got my bath at a rescue fundraiser! Here's me being washed by the nice lady. I hated it at first because I knew she was gonna get me wet and I don't like water very much, but she was very nice and gave me kisses and rubbed my butt a lot. I am clean now, but I like to roll on the grass in my new backyard, so Mama says I won't be clean for very long.

Mama is now working from home. She says that means I get to spend all day with her! I love that! Because we don't have chairs, Mama did some work on the porch (our new landlords left rocking chairs and a porch swing, and Mama likes those) and I sat and guarded her.

I also helped her organize her notes, and I'm making sure Papa doesn't steal her pens.

Working from home can be very tiring, so I take naps in between projects.

This afternoon, Mama had a phone call with her boss and then decided to go outside. I went too! This is me in my new front yard. I like to lie in the huuuuuuge sunny spot and watch the world go by. It is very nice.

The world here is different from Harlem. Mama takes me out in the mornings, but we don't see other doggies or humans. Sometimes we do, but not as many as we used to in Morningside Park. Today we walked into the park near our house and I got sniffed by three off-leash doggies who were very nice. There are also rules about where I can pee and poop-- I wanted to pee on a nice mowed lawn and Mama said I couldn't. That's weird, but I listen to Mama.

In the afternoons, Mama and Papa take me walking together! I love family walk. It was very hot today, so we didn't go very far, but we walk around the neighborhood and look at all the nice houses and say hi to the nice people who walk by. Everybody here is very nice. I have met Mr. Tom the cable guy and Mr. Rodney from Sears and I helped the mattress men deliver Mama and Papa's new bed. They all liked me and give me butt rubs. Everybody in North Carolina has a doggy, but mostly their doggies stay in their backyards. But I'll start daycare soon and meet some doggies to hang out with! In the meantime, I enjoy my new yards-- I have a front yard AND a backyard, and I like to just roll and roll and roll. It is so fun. Now I'm going back out to the yard again so I can lie in the sun some more.

We Moved!!!

Last night was our first night in our new home in North Carolina! It is very different but I like it. There is lots of grass and dirt and fun stuff. There are birdies and buzzies and I saw a cat across the street. I don't like cats, and I don't want it coming near us, so I have to protect the house again. I miss having a house to protect! North Carolina is nice.

While Mama and Papa were packing, I went to camp! I went to Miss Eva's farm. Mama said she told you about it. There was lots and lots of grass and fun friends to play with, and I even did something called swimming, which I didn't like very much. I ran and ran and ran and explored and jumped over the fence and it was so fun. I love Miss Eva's camp. On Wednesday evening, Miss Eva got my leash and took me and Oliver out, just by ourselves, and when we got to the fence, my mama and papa were there! It was nice to see them! I missed them, but I was so tired. Papa opened the car door and there was our stuff! So weird. Woobie and Bunny were there, and I was happy to see them, but the car smelled like our house and I didn't understand. But that was ok. I jumped in and Papa hooked up my harness and we were off. Here is a photo of me after a few minutes on the road.

We spent the night in a hotel in Pennsylvania. Mama was really tired after all that driving, and so was I! The nice lady at the front desk gave me treats, then Bunny and I went to bed. Papa brought my bed with us, and I was so happy! I curled up and went to sleep and it was nice to smell my mama and papa.

The next morning we were all up very early, even Papa! We hit the road again. After a few hours we stopped for some lunch, and I had a nice time curling up against my mama. I had water and napped and it was so nice.

Then we had to get back in the car. I don't mind the car, but I was tired of it! I like to walk around and be close to my mama, but she's driving so I have to stay in the backseat and be a good boy. Woobie and Bunny kept me company, but STILL. Then we stopped to pee in a place called Southern Virginia, and Papa told me we were almost there, and I got excited!

A few hours later, we were in North Carolina! We were in Raleigh. That is the name of my new city. It is very different from Harlem. There is more green stuff and people drive, and there aren't any big buildings around us. It's also much quieter, but that means there are no nice kids on the street to say hi to me. Mama and Papa left me in the hotel for a few minutes when we first got there-- that was nice because I needed some alone time with Woobie-- then they picked me up and said they had a surprise.

The surprise was a house! We have a house! They had showed me the pictures before, but I didn't know we had an INSIDE, too!!! I explored and explored. I sniffed a lot. We met our new landlords who are very nice. The lady is a doggy doctor! They were very nice to me. Here's me walking around with Papa:

Papa took me outside to my new backyard! It's all for meeee! We found a tennis ball and I ran after it and had so much fun! I sniffed every corner and explored all over.

After we explored, we went to dinner near our house. The nice lady brought me water, and lots of people stopped by to say hi. Another nice lady came over with her Great Dane puppy who was scared of me-- Mama said she was a recent rescue, and the lady said her old owners were very mean, so I didn't get mad at the puppy. That's very sad. I hope the puppy learns soon that now she has a nice mama.

We spent the night in the hotel, then in the morning we went for coffee. After coffee, Mama and Papa took me to a store called Phydeaux, and it was AMAZING! So much stuff to see! Doggies are allowed inside! I met a nice doggy named Bo. Then Mama and Papa got me treats and food and a new toy! Yay!

Then we went to our new house. We don't have a lot of stuff, but we have my bed! And Papa set up my crate in the bedroom, so at least I have my space.

We also have a porch! I like porches. I like to sit and watch the world go by. Mama and Papa and I had lunch out there yesterday, then it started to rain.

It is still raining. Because I am so tired from all the excitement, I haven't gone out much, just quick trips to pee. Mama and Papa have been buying things for the house, and last night they even cooked dinner, which was very nice. This morning, Mama and I got up early and went out to pee, then a few hours later she took me to the park near our house. It was very wet, though! We went on a few trails and saw some doggies and their owners, and I pooped, then we found a pretty garden to walk through.

So, that was our first day. We are still waiting for our stuff. Mama said it may take a while for it to come, but that's ok because we have each other and I have a new toy. I am looking forward to sitting on the porch a lot!

Quick Update from Mama

Avon sent me a message and said that since people are now reading his blog and he can't post, I have to do it for him. We are ALMOST on our way! There has been some serious stress around our horrible movers, so we hired new movers and hope to be on the road today or tomorrow. This put a major dent in our plans; we were supposed to have all of our things out yesterday and be on the road by 9am today, but that's obviously not happening. 

We are, however, managing. The moving process is never easy, and this is particularly stressful, but we have wonderful friends who have offered their assistance and their ears in so many ways and we are eternally grateful. Even the ones who send quick "thinking of you" texts are so appreciated. 

Avon, for his part, has absolutely no idea what's going on because he is at CAMP. He's staying in Pennsylvania at a farm where they board dogs, and judging from the photos, he's having the time of his doggy life. We are so glad we could send him there where he is out of the way of all the packing and not affected by this madness. If you haven't realized by now, Avon is a very sensitive doggy, and he hates it when we're upset, especially when Mama cries! The staff at Eva's Play Pups has been wonderful, taking great care of our buddy and being flexible with this craziness-- lucky Avon might get to spend an extra night on the farm. But we miss our buddy immensely and hope to see him and schnoogle him tonight. Fingers and paws crossed.

So, that's the update. More after we're on the road (or from Raleigh)! Please wish us luck-- WE NEED IT.

I'm Doggedly Devoted to Yoooooooouuuuuu

Yesterday was my last day at Doggedly Devoted, my daycare in Harlem. I love going there! I don't like it when Mama leaves, but I love hanging out with my doggy friends. Mama and Papa love it too. They like to take me to Wag and Wines, which are social hours for humans and doggies. For Thanksgiving, Ms. Megan and her staff-peoples made paw prints for our families, and for Christmas, Ms. Megan made an ornament that looks like me! And I get baths there sometimes. They are very special. I go on Mondays. For the past few weeks, Myla and I have spent hours and hours rolling around and chewing on each other's faces. It is so fun! But I had to say goodbye yesterday, and that was kinda sad.

The day started off so fun. Mama and I ran into Ms. Megan and Ms. Blossom on our way in, and I was so happy to see them! I love them. Especially Ms. Blossom-- I jump up on her a lot and she doesn't like that. I started trying to tell them how much I love them, and when they went in the opposite direction-- Mama said they were going home-- I yelled at them to please come baaaaack! They laughed and said they would see me soon. OK! We kept going until we got to daycare and I was so so so excited. Mr. Jacob took my leash and collar, but then I realized Mama was leaving and I tried to go after her. That wasn't fun. I hate it when Mama goes home without me. But after a few minutes I calmed down and went to PLAY.

Myla and Cole were there, and we ran and chased all around the playroom until we got so tired! There was a new doggy there named Jay-Z (Papa thought that was funny when I told him later) and he was cool too. Yay! So much fun! We got our pictures taken and I was having the best time. Myla and Cole had their picture taken with a sign that means they'll miss me.

Here's me playing with Jay-Z:

And here's me and Myla. Ms. Megan told her I was leaving for North Carolina and she told me it would all be OK.

Mama and Papa came to get me at the end of the day. Mama was sad-- she said she'll miss Doggedly Devoted too. I was so happy to see them, though! I went to the side of the building and I peed a TON. Papa says that was my last goodbye to DD. Then when we started walking towards home, we saw Mr. Christian! He works at Doggedly Devoted and he takes nice pictures and I like him. I jumped on him to hug him goodbye. Then we saw Ms. Blossom again! I jumped up some more, but Papa made me stop. But I love her! I wanted to kiss her more! She said she wants to move to North Carolina too, so I can't wait to show her my new house and my backyard and all my new friends. Thank you very much, DD!