California Dreamin': Carrleigh Kilbride, salty sea dog extraordinaire

Wow, what a day! I don't even know where to begin.

It's been pretty quiet around here lately, and I admit I've been a little bored. Mom hasn't been feeling well, and even called in sick to work Thursday. She's spent a lot of time in bed, but I've been watching over her, being the best little nurse dog and protector I can be, lying at the foot of the bed, or on the floor between her and the door ready to pounce at a moment's notice. Even lying in the hallway outside the bathroom door while she showers, with my eyes on the front door, ready to ward off any intruders. She felt well enough to go spend time with friends and old crew mates at the tall ship festival last night, so I'm happy for that.

Today when she finally rolled out of bed, she got up and showered and did her thing, preparing to go back to the festival. She took me out for a walk, and I readied myself for yet another day of fulfilling my (admittedly boring) duty of guarding the house. She had her purse over her shoulder and keys in hand, but I raised an eyebrow when she reached for my pretty pink and green collapsible water bowl, and then.. I couldn't believe eyes.. she reached for my leash with one hand and crate with the other. I could hardly contain my excitement! You should have seen the way I danced all around the living room, excitedly pirouetting my way to the front door. Wait a minute... Could this be a trick? I wondered? Then I remembered that the vet's office is closed on Sundays, and I knew this could only mean one thing: we were going on an adventure!!

Mom is driving a rental car right now while her car is in the shop, and they said I'm not allowed to ride in it (hmph!). But mom figured that as long as I'm in my crate, no one would know that I'd been in there at all. Not that I mind either way. I jumped in the crate, and mom positioned it in the back seat so I could look out the front windshield, but I took the opportunity to nap and rest up for our impending adventure instead.

It was really windy when we finally got to Dana Point. I heard someone say something about a "microburst," so all the sails were canceled. Mom says I can't go sailing anyway until I get a life jacket (or PFD, as the sailors call it), so it was no big loss.

Oh my goodness.. so many new sights, sounds, smells.. so many people! I admit I was a little nervous at first, as it was a lot to take in and a bit overwhelming, but I behaved like a perfect little princess. I didn't bark or growl once, I let people pet me and gladly accepted their compliments, telling me how beautiful and sweet I am. I held my tail up high as I watched all the other dogs and their owners gaze in jealousy and I pranced down the gangway and onto the dock. Then mom picked me up and carried me on to one of the boats. Wow!! I sat at the helm for a quick photo shoot, and watched the sun start to descent from a deckhouse at the bow. I met a bunch of mom's sailor friends, got my first taste of life as a sea dog, and all the while was a perfect little angel.

Starboard bow watch

One of mom's captain friends has 2 dogs just a little bit bigger than me that live on his boat, and invited me to come hang out and play with them below decks. So now mom has no reason to leave me home from any tall ship festival. How exciting is that??