Our BIG day! By Gimli

Pippin and I had a really BIG day today with all kinds of new things in it! First, Papa left to go move a trailer, and after a little while, Grammy and Robert put our collars on US and put us into the car. We always have to wear a collar when we go in the car for some reason.

Anyway, we took a looonnnggg old trip ( I got sick, cause I’d just eaten) and finally got to a big place… turns out, it is where Papa’s job office is! We got out to check out the flowers and grass… we haven’t seen much of that around here, and Grammy kept telling us to “go potty,” but we really didn’t feel like it.

Suddenly, Papa came out and Pippin was very happy and wiggled all over him (not widdled, wiggled… he has been known in the past to do the other, so I just want it clear.) They put us on leashes (we STILL don’t like those very much) and went into what they called a big shop, where people work on trucks that are HUGE! Papa’s head only comes a little above the BOTTOM of the door!

Papa, we found out, is going to DRIVE that HUGE truck, and WE are going with him and Grammy. They had borrowed a painting ladder that was about 5 ft. tall (they said) and has large steps. Grammy can step on the bottom one, then on a truck step, then a ladder step, and then another truck step and another ladder step and she can get up into the seats of the truck!

Apparently, we are going to get into that HUGE truck and drive a long time, (Grammy says about 10 DAYS!) and go from California to Florida… wherever THAT is… and back! Mango, didn’t you just go to Florida and go swimming there? I wonder if WE will get to go swimming? Do you see how little Papa looks by that BIG thing?

Anyway, we got to check out the cab (that’s what they call the room where you sleep and eat and drive!) Bet you didn’t know you could DRIVE a huge ROOM! It’s got TWO BUNK BEDS in it! and even Papa and Robert can walk around in there! I guess Papa used to drive those big trucks for a long time (Grammy: 32 years), but he says he’s never gotten to drive anything THIS nice before.

We finished checking out that “cab,” and then we got to meet a lot of new people and they were pretty nice and Pippin wiggled all over, but I was a bit more careful until I saw Pip getting all the sugar, and Grammy said it was ok, and THEN I let them pet me too. Grammy says I’ve got to get used to people and that she will be sure that I don’t get hurt, and that they won’t hurt her… I was just trying to protect her.

After THAT, Pippin stayed with Papa, who had to drive the trailer around to get it weighed and hooked up to the oil testing trailer he is hauling. He got home pretty late, and Mercy and BG really loved up on him!

I went to several stores with Robert and Grammy to do some shopping (for dog & horse food, and a little people food.) Since I wore Unca BG’s vest and Grammy told them how I was training to be a service dog, I got to go in a cart. I was real good and Grammy was proud of me.

We even went into a DOG STORE… actually, there were cats, and fish and stuff too, but MOSTLY it was for dogs and had all kinds of toys and chewies in it… I really wanted to grab one, but Grammy said “Sniff, but don’t touch…!” I was good, and she bought me some chewies for the trip… oh… OK… they are for BG, Pippin, AND me.

We finally came home and I peed and peed… I just didn’t feel right about going in a strange place. Grammy says I better get used to the idea cause she doesn’t think I can hold it for 10 DAYS!

Grammy’s been working really hard getting ready since we got home, since this is all a last minute thing. She only got 3 and a half hours of sleep last night, so she is pretty tired. I think she is waiting for the dryer to go off now… oh, THERE it went! … so we can go to bed because we have to get up early to leave. This should be interesting! Grammy, Papa, Pippin, BG & me are going! We should be back by the 26th or 27th, and Robert will be helping Dott to take care of things and with the blog. (Actually, one of the pictures - of me in PetsCo- is on his phone, so HE will probably have to finish putting it on here and then post and since he is busy ALL Sunday, you might not see this until Monday :(


A note from Dott: As you can see my dad got it done on Sunday. With Gimli, Pippin, and BG are on their way to Florida, and mama OC at Mango's place thing could be quiet around here. I will have to keep my guard up. with diminished forces I might have to work twice as hard to keep the squirrels and coyotes under control.