Different strokes

I have been a good boy and spent the weekend at Northstar/Tahoe with Ma and her friends.

I went to the Ritz Carlton in Northstar. Me at the Ritz --can you believe it? I thought those places were for Paris Hilton types and their chihuahuas. Me?? I ain't no chihuahua! But then, Ma took me inside and all the waitresses stopped to say hi. You know I'm a hit with the ladies.

Ma's friends hanging out.

I had to sit quietly and listen to a one man band.

I noticed he didn't get many tips and I feel kinda bad since I think I stole the show even though I don't play no instruments.

But then, Ma et al., decided to get on the gondola. That was SCAAAAAAREEEEE!! Ma jumped on before I could object, but boy, was I stressed.
I somehow survived and didn't barf or nothing, although, I felt like it. But things got worse - I had to go down stairs that were see-through, you know the kind made of metal grating that they use at ski resorts so the snow can melt and fall through. We doggies don't like to walk over grates or stairs with open risers - this had both.

Well, I survived that too and we got back to the house where I was a big hit since I don't beg for food, steal food or get on the furniture. To be honest, they all thought Ma's doggie would be something you can pick up and boss around, not a 70+ pound terrier like me. Well, as you know, I have to be convinced to do anything since I'm stronger than Ma (she doesn't really know this).

The next morning, Ma got up at the crack of dawn before anyone else and took me on a nice walk in the forest. I wonder if she knows about those coyotes and bears that live here. Well, I know Ma heard the coyotes last night but bears don't yip.

After the walk, I was going to settle in for a nap but we drove to Lake Tahoe and...I had to get on a BOAT!

I did get kinda used to it and I was allowed up on the furniture in the boat.

I didn't throw up or nothing which was a relief to Ma. She still remembers when Stan barfed and pooped in the wayback of the car on his early car trips. But I have to say, the weekend was getting kinda stressful.
Ma bought this dorky PFD for me to wear. The lake is hundreds of feet deep and she was worried I might fall, or jump, overboard and drown. She did mention that none of her OTHER doggies had to wear anything so lame like this...Hrrrrumph! And, does she remember when her uncle put her on a leash on a yacht when she was about my age???? She hated it! But, I guess that means I better learn to swim. Well, that opportunity came sooner than I thought.

Things were going swimmingly well until Ma decided it was time for me to learn to swim.

Now that you've had your ha has, in my defense, I would like to point out that doggies are fast learners when it comes to swimming - all doggies instinctively know how to swim and doggies learn to swim WELL in a matter of an afternoon, not like you humans. So, laugh on! Of course, Ma wants me to LIKE swimming - like Stan and Hoover, which is a different story than just knowing how to swim, so she is planning another excursion for me.

The final test was to jump from the boat onto a really narrow dock. I didn't like that either and required some assistance but at least I was used to walking on narrow ledges having done that at the Sutro ruins so I did OK. It felt good to be on solid ground, finally, but then, another challenge. It must have been 90+ degrees out and the pavement was hotter than a pizza stone. Ma and I had to run from shade to shade so that I don't get blisters on my paws. Lucky for me, the dock hands took a liking to me so they got me icewater to drink and let me hang out in their tiny shed hangout which was thankfully cool.

I'm home now and this morning we went back to familiar ground, or sand, at Ocean Beach. Whew. I missed the cool breeze and sure footing. Home sweet home. So, til the next misadventure, au revoir from le bon chien. (We've been watching a lot of Tour de France, thus the French.)