Sweet boy

Okay, we always call him sweetheart, sweet boy, sugar lump and the like but it's finally come true. Last week Mama was dishing up the last ice cream from the container and left it in the sink. When she went to throw it away the melted remains spilled out. The good news: so much of it go splashed on Tug it didn't really mess up the kitchen floor! The bad news: Tug had had a bath earlier that evening. We wiped him off with wet paper towels and continued on to bed. In the morning, Mama was letting him out of his crate to give him his "good morning" petting- and his ears were stiff from ice cream residue!! (If you've seen his photos you know he has floppy ears.) Guess who got a "good morning" bath, instead?

Too Clever For Our Own Good

I needed to make a Goodwill run and drop off some clothes and just past there is a fast food place with exceptional root beer and I haven't had a good root beer in quite a while...

I gave Mama a quick "heads up" and she gets dressed and "dresses" the boy (collar/tags & harness/leash). We all head out in my truck for what's a short errand but still counts as an outing for Tug (also probably why he's more excited when my sister drives...). The drive thru line was long so I parked and went in for our two root beers and a cup of ice. They give these short, fat cups for ice so as Mama and I start sucking down root beer I put the ice in a cup holder Tug can reach. The clever boy just starts licking away and suddenly I realize "uh, oh, I've just given him permission to stick his nose into any drinking cup." I'm almost as clever, though, so I don't point this out to Mama. He did enjoy it.

Cut to later that evening. Tug is in my lap in my "barker lounger" as my boss refers to our recliners- she knows Tug thinks they belong to him. He's been a bit fiesty so I pinned him against my side and rocked while rubbing his tummy. He calms down but gets overheated and is panting a little. Mama decides to get him some ice and, has we only have the big cube kind instead of the nice chipped or shaved ice, she brings it to him in his food bowl and plops it down on my lap. Mama's pretty clever so I'm thinking she's realized the whole "drinking cup=mine" theory he's likely developed from the incident in the truck earlier. Anyway, Tug enjoys licking the ice while seated in my lap, I enjoy not having melting ice all over me as usually happens and Mama enjoys sitting all alone in her barker lounger. Three happy souls!

Tug's Mug

This was Tug standing with his front paws on the console between the front seats- while my sister drove...not while I drove. Nooooo, he was just bored to sleep when I drove...not that I'm bitter or anything...

Big Day Out

My sister and I left this morning to take an hour and a half drive to check out a campground for next spring (mixed reaction- I liked it & she didn't). Naturally, this was a prime candidate outing for Tug: two of his favorite girls, car (truck) ride, and snacks...there's always snacks...

My sister is getting accustomed to driving my pick up at my request. We're taking a long road trip in 4 short days this fall so we'll be tag-teaming the driving duties. (Tug was not invited as we'll be power sight-seeing.) So, we took the interstate as well as back roads and there was some rain involved, too. Interestingly, Tug was up and standing for much of the trip over when my sister drove. He was watching out the windshield and nuzzling us occasionally. Normally, he settles down after a little while as the side and back windows are too high to see out of without standing. This time he stood the whole time...

So, I drove us home after eating subs for lunch in the car which meant someone cute and furry had bits of bread and cheese. Guess who spent most of the time sacked out in back- what was up with that?? He's fully attentive for her driving and "whatever" for mine? I did figure out a possible answer: when she drives him places he usually has an adventure; I frequently take him on 15 minute errands which are a little boring but at least he still got a ride! Maybe I'm giving too much credence to his need for routine but he knows who pilots which vehicles and maybe it was her being in the driver's seat that had him so curious...

The one disappointment today was the rain kept us from getting him out and walking. It was just a drive there and back- with snacks!