June 4, 2009

three restingSo much heat, so little water…

90 degrees. That’s the record we broke today.

Let me say it again.

90 degrees.

Now, while you might live in Phoenix or Mexico City or Addis Ababa and think we are wimps, please remember that it’s all relative. For me, it’s hot. For my friends, it’s really hot. Even for the humans in my life, it’s hot and we are all waiting for the heatwave to break, which is supposedly going to happen later today with the arrival of thunderclouds, a strong wind, and yes, rain. Oh goodie.

Ah, rain. I kind of miss it (not so much the thunderstorms). But since we lack rain today, we had to find water in other ways. My first favorite way is at the lake. Not only do I get to go swimming, not only do I get to go with my friends, but I get to play fetch and that, my friends, is the recipe for a grand day.

Let me back up…we started our day by picking up Marley. He was very happy to see us and I’ll admit, I was a lot more friendly today. He’s really kind of fun. We walked up the road to pick up Ollie who was also happy to see us as well as ultra-happy to meet Marley (they are about the same age). Then we walked down through the cool park toward the lake where Gretchen leashed us up (Ollie on a short leash, Marley on a longer one, and me on my stretchy leash). She leashes us up to keep track of us — Ollie stays close by so he gets the shorter leash; Marley, because we are just getting to know him, wears a 30 foot leash, which allows Gretchen to really keep him under control; and well I can get a bit carried away after a refreshing swim and have been known to run around barking and not coming when called. Oops. Therefore a longer leash.Ollie swims!

The outstanding news of today is that Ollie — who has generally been a toe-dipper when it comes to water — showed no hesitancy at all when he dove right in after me! You go Ollie! He’s quite a good swimmer. Must be the breed. Tee hee.

Marley, on the other hand, is getting braver, but lacks the water dog confidence of labs andlook him go poodles (our breed).  He tries though. I have to give him credit for that. He really, really tries AND he really, really wants to try. That’s the important point, isn’t it?

I, of course, lack no confidence when it comes to swimming. Okay, I’ll admit…I lack a little confidence right in the beginning. You know that feeling when your belly hits the cold water. Come on, you know you’re hesitant, too. But once I’m in, I’m totally in and I could swim for days and days and days.

Marley tried playing fetch with my toys, but if they toy went too far out, well, his lack of confidence raised it’s ugly head.

I can get it, I can get it, I can get it...
I can get it, I can get it, I can get it...
Okay, maybe not...
Okay, maybe not...
I'll just stand here and you can throw it at me, okay?
I'll just stand here and you can throw it at me, okay?
Wow, Rubin! You really are a confident swimmer!
Wow, Rubin! You really are a confident swimmer!
You can do it, Marley. Look at me!
You can do it, Marley. Look at me!
Maybe tomorrow. Today, this is just fine!
Maybe tomorrow. Today, this is just fine!

We played for quite awhile at the beach. I kept swimming, Marley kept wading, and Ollie hung out by the toys trying to choose one to play with.

This one is fun, but...
This one is fun, but...
...that one over there looks pretty interesting too.
...that one over there looks pretty interesting too.
This toy is my absolute favorite!
This toy is my absolute favorite!

By the time we walked back to our house, we were all pretty much dry so when we got to my backyard, well, it seemed like a perfect time to play!

playingplaying2

playing3playing 4

playing5playing6

Then we had to rest. Ollie and Marley rested by watching me rest in the swimming pool. I tried to entice them in. I showed them how they could lie down in the pool, stretch out, and my favorite, dig at the water spraying it up on their bellies. They weren’t having any of it!

come on in~the water is fine

diggingstretched out

Then we played chase. This is a fun game that involves me running around the yard, up on the deck and back down again while everyone tries find me!

chasechase2

where is he?I still can't find him

And then we all got tired…

"That was fun, but I'm tired."
"That was fun, but I'm tired."
"I like the shade!"
"I like the shade!"
"Rolling around feels really good!"
"Rolling around feels really good!"

Then Gretchen took Marley home and then Ollie all the while I rested up for our next outing.

And who, pray tell, was that?

TEABISCUIT!  I love going out with Teabiscuit. She loves to do all the things I love to do. She loves to play fetch and she really, really loves to swim, just like me. And darn it, if she’s not a good swimmer than I’m a cat!

"Oh my goodness. Water AND a tennis ball?"
"Oh my goodness. Water AND a tennis ball?"
I'm in heaven!
I'm in heaven!

Gretchen left the leash on Biscuit just for a few throws. She wasn’t quite sure if Teabiscuit would stick around, but I reassured her that nothing could pull either of us away from water and a toy.

So…off went Teabiscuit, the mighty little swimmer!

get itsplash

and back againsmall dog, big ball

Throw it again, throw it again!
Throw it again, throw it again!

got it!impressive

Isn’t she impressive?  I really like her and I think she really likes me, though I don’t think she’s ready to admit it yet!

I got to swim so more too and then Gretchen got in with us and we all swam around in the cool lake. She couldn’t take photographs of that…kind of difficult to swim and hold the camera at the same time!

looking good

To dry us all off a bit, Gretchen played fetch with Teabiscuit in the grass. She’s not only a good swimmer, she’s a mighty fast little fetcher!

dry off time!fetch

fetch2fetch 3

Once again, by the time we walked back up the big hill to Teabiscuit’s house, we were all dry. Well, Gretchen wasn’t, but we were.

I got to rest when we got home a bit before we got into the car and headed to Agility Class. Though it was really hot, I had lots and lots of fun learning to perform on the A-frame (my toughest apparatus), the weave poles, and my personal favorite, the tunnel! I’m going to finish up here, eat some dinner and then fall fast asleep.

Doesn’t the heat make you sleepy? It does me.

Until tomorrow!

Rubin

PS – It’s supposed to be 20 degrees cooler tomorrow. Oh please let it be so!

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