the Ranger and me

Phyllis Nash sent my mom a photograph of me at the Fort Clatsop National Memorial where Lewis and Clark spent the winter with their dog Seaman in 1805-06. We visited in May when my mom spoke as part of a series called "In her footsteps." The ranger who is holding me is Sally Freeman. She's a chief ranger sort of person and I got to go on the tour of the Corp of Discovery digs because she took me! That's her mom off to the side. She sent the photograph. And that's my dad behind the car and my mom, bent over scratching my face. I love to have my face scratched, right between my eyes.

My parents are home now. Yesterday they took me to the vet. I didn't really want to go but I'd met up with this baby porcupine while they were gone and Matt spent long hours pulling those quills but he couldn't get them all. A whole bunch were stuck in the roof of my mouth. Wroof! Wroof! is not easy to do when your mouth is full of quills.

My mom bought me soft dog food in a can! Wow. I could get used to that stuff but I won't. It'll put on weight. I'm down to 74 pounds now that's she's hidden the milk bones. I had a good thing going for awhile. But now I can't even chew one. I couldn't go out to help with the irrigating this morning for fear I'd get into another porcupine. So I howled in the yard and my mom took pity on me and leashed me up and we went for a walk. I couldn't pull her into the river though; she didn't want to take a swim and wouldn't let me either.

Oh, well. Tonight I get a bath because we're going to Medford and Bend for book signings and I get to go along but only if I have a shower. So if you're in Medford, OR on Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 at Evangel books or you're at the High Desert Museum in Bend from 2:00 to 4:00, look for my mom and dad and me! Wroof! Wroof!

my traveling pants..I mean parents

My parents are in Minnesota. I'm here on the ranch chasing chipmunks and playing with Tobey, Rex and Chuck (whose mom calls him Charley, such a girlee name :) I know my mom's spending time at bookstores and signing people's books that aren't chewed by me personally. But she's also hanging out with Gertie, her brother's German Shepherd and Josa, a mix of Boston Terrior and blue heeler and Harry, a Drahther short hair mix. Josa has a bad foot because one of the horses stepped on her. Her parent has taught her how to play "dead or Viking" and she rolls right over dead because she's a Green Bay Packer fan. So am I and so are my parents!

Well my mom says she was on TV Showcase Minnesota and the interviewer tried to say her newest book was a steamy romance. She doesn't write steamy romance novels so she set him straight. She was also on national Public radio which is a big deal at our house. When we're driving to events, it's always on even though I'd prefer a little doggie jazz music now and then. Not likely!

So I hope they miss me. I miss them. I'm well taken care of but mom lets me up on the bed, the couch, and doesn't growl when I counter cruise. I'll probably lose weight while they're gone. They'll be home Monday! Hurrah and Wroof! Wroof! Bo

My First Post - Bodacious Bo Sets the Record Straight

First of all, that's me, Bodacious Bo named for a rodeo bull that was never ridden to the buzzer. I'm a wirehaired pointing Griffon or Griff for short. I have one great life, honest! the picture is a little fuzzy because my people took the shot through the window so don't worry about trying to clear it on your computer.

I included it because I need to set the record straight. Yes a photograph exists of me carrying my feline friend Diego around with his head in my mouth, his body and black and white tail hanging limp. That photo surfaced following a visit by some of my people's friends. Fortunately, it hasn't been added to Facebook. I carried Diego that way even in the veterinarian's office.

And here's the thing: Diego loved being transported that way! He'd sass right up to me, roll over and bare his neck so I could pick him up. The house of my people sits high against a ridge and it's a long way up there so I'd carry him. We were great pals.

I sure miss Diego.

My people don't know what happened to him but living where we do, eleven miles from a paved road and surrounded by thousands of acres with the nearest neighbor seven miles away, Diego might have gone traveling or met up with a coyote. I don't leave the compound at night but Diego often did.

Enter PB, short for Purr Ball. He's the tabby resting on my back. PB is Diego's full brother just from another litter. When he made his first trip to the vet, he purred the entire time through all his shots and he still purrs whenever our people pick him up or he's just wandering around seeking chipmunks or mice.

I wanted to let people know that PB and I get along great too. He doesn't ask me to carry him the way Diego did. Instead, he likes to climb on my back when I'm sleeping or gazing at the river and just rest. We're a great team. You have to get along out here so far from people and their pets.

My people have busy lives. The Mom is a writer. You can find her at www.jkbooks.com and my Dad is a rancher and a retired builder. They travel a lot and then additional people come into my life, my people brother, his wife and his daughter, sometimes. Best of all, they bring their three dogs: Rex (a golden lab); Toby (a mix of Jack Russell and Chihuaha, but my best pal. He's not very big but he's got a huge heart); and Chuck (a mix between a Chihuaha and rat terrior). Sometimes I get to do overnights at their house, too. I really don't like my people to travel so much without me but when they go on an airplane, I don't go. At least I have pals around when they do.

I'll be posting now and then hoping you'll stop by as I let you know about my people, my life and my friends here at the end of Starvation Lane. Hope you'll tell me about your people and friends too. Wroof! Wroof! Bo