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??

With so much excitement, I'm ready for a nice relaxing day of guarding the house tomorrow. Hope you all have a great week!

NOPE!

Most people are afraid of normal things, like spiders, snakes, heights.. y'know, things like that. Not my mom though. In fact, she scoffs at all those things.

But you know what she is afraid of?

Moths.

I know, right? (Something about their erratic flutteriness, and probably some deep-seated memories of having to walk by the only illuminated porch light for miles late at night as a child)

When we went out for our evening walk last night, there was something fluttering around in the hall/stairwell. At first we thought it was a bat or small bird or something.

Nope! It just had to be a moth! A giant, horrible, terrifying, life-sucking moth! (mom's gentleman friend, let's call him J, took this picture. She would never get that close to such a thing).

We managed to sneak by it on our way out, and carefully looked for it when we got back but didn't see it. Phew, in the clear. 

Well this morning when mom was leaving for work, her skirt must have rustled against it or something, because it darted up right in front of her, down the stairwell, out and off into the sky. I was in the bedroom lounging around, but I was still able to hear her little shriek, and immediately launched up into "OMG! Mom's in trouble!!!" mode. The way J put it, I quickly jumped up and put my ears toward the door, nose straight out, focused, with one paw up and ready to bold at a moment's notice. No one hurts my mommy!

Turns out it was just her being silly over a perfectly harmless moth. Gosh, she's ridiculous sometimes. But that doesn't mean I won't do everything in my power to watch over and protect her. 

It's cool mom, I got your back ;)

happy birthday, mom!

What a hectic week! Especially today...

Friday was mom's birthday. Her coworkers brought her a pineapple upside down cake (which she did not share with me, I might add), and her gentleman friend even sent her roses! Sweetie, he is. He even took her to the Chart House for birthday dinner (which she didn't share either! hmph!). She's been so busy that I've had to spend a lot of time home alone the last few days, but she keeps saying that she "couldn't ask for a better dog," so I always stay on my best behavior when she's gone. Don't want her to change her mind and send me back to Lilly!

I did bring home an unexpected birthday gift though. She was really excited to sleep in today, but I know how many chores she needs to get done, and apparently the neighborhood fleas do too. Boy, did she get her butt in gear this morning when she found out! Washing laundry, changing the sheets, vacuuming the floors and couch, buying new combs and brushes for me, all kinds of stuff.  But most importantly: giving me a bath and making me pretty! (She didn't get in the tub with me this time)

Since I never got fleas in Virginia, my old mom rarely put any flea medication on me. We decided to try out the Kirkland brand stuff, which is supposed to be comparable to K9 Advantix. Have any of you used it before? Mom found some dead fleas in the bath, so we think it must have been working to some degree, but clearly not enough. I don't think the fleas would drown right away, would they? We shampooed with Isle of Dog for coarse coats. Also, there must be a major flea problem in Long Beach right now since both Target and Petco were sold out of flea combs.

This whole thing is a pretty new and exhausting experience for both of us. Mom doesn't think I could have had them for long, since we just had a bath last week, and there weren't a lot. She picked off maybe 20 total over the course of 14 hours, some of which were dead. I've been very patient, letting her roll me on my back while she checks my tummy, coming when she asks and all that stuff good girls do. Though I won't lie, I wasn't so happy to get wet.. I looked like a wet rat! At least she didn't take any pictures this time.

And here I thought my crate sleeping days were over. Hopefully they go away soon so I can sleep in the bed again. =[

We did learn a few valuable things... Frontline is far more affordable at Target than at Petco, and grooming tools are super significantly more affordable at Sally's Beauty Supply (but you probably already knew both of these things). We went to Sally's and picked up a human lice comb, detangling comb, massaging brush, and regular brush, all for what one plain brush would cost at the other stores. Woot!

Mom absolutely fawns over me after the bath. She says I look like I'm wearing go-go boots when my legs are all brushed and poofy. I'm her go-go woofer. =]

Side note... when we tried to edit some grammar mistakes in the last update about the bath on mom's phone, there was a problem and somehow lost all the content (derp). I'll try to repost it when I have time.

Here's hoping I wake up flea-free tomorrow. We'd greatly appreciate any advice you have to give on the matter.

beach time!! wait.... what?!?!

It's been really hot here lately, so when I saw mom get out her new green bathing suit, I thought surely we'd go check out this beach thing everyone keeps telling me about. Boy, was I wrong!!!!

Can you believe she snuck me in the tub for a bath! 

I made sure to get my vengeance and, as soon as she was done, I hopped right out of that bath tub and bolted for the bedroom. I could hear her, almost as if in slow motion, "Carrleigh, noooooo!" as I started to shake all the bath water off. But of course she threw a towel over me before I could get the room sufficiently soaked (foiled again).

Oh well.. in the end I guess it's not so bad. It was refreshing for both of us, and I'm willing to make sacrifices if it means being pretty.

Day 1

Wow! Look at all the new friends! Gosh, I'm lovable =]

Just got back from my first "sober" walk (turns out mom drugged me for the flight yesterday; slipped between some innocent looking beef strips. The nerve!). Lots of exciting new sights, sounds, and smells. I get compliments from nearly every passer-by! Had I known this would happen I would have moved here ages ago.

I had some fun with mom's gentleman friend this morning. Turns out he's a total softy and not too keen on the ways of the Scottie, so I gave him a good workout when he said to "kennel up" after mom left for work. Ha! What a noob! I felt sorry for him after a while though, and let him think he lured me in with a few bits of kibble. I could hear mom laughing over the phone when he called to tell her about how I'd run under the table, and to ask where my treats were. I'll get him broken in soon enough.

Mom's still pretty tired, and said something about a nap... can never have enough of those!

But first, here's a pic of me helping her make the bed. I'm the best at helping!

We made it! Mom and I are both tuckered out, so a proper update will have to wait. <3

6 more days...

What a long day... I've been bathed and groomed and even practiced in the sherpa crate... it's almost time!!!