Day two in Bouckville, and already I love the sticks. Right now, I’m kicking back in a lounge chair, soaking in the last rays of sun. The dogs are chewing on balls (plastic, non-anatomical ones) in the shade.
Today, Linda and I attempted to canoe with Libby and Keely, two of the three dogs on our trip. Yes, I know you’re thinking: Typical city-girl move. You deserve whatever accident befell you. Well, sure, we knew it was risky, too, but it’s part of our How to Parent Like Britney Workshop. In that, we passed with flying colors. Libby rode inside the sturdy sea vessel while Keely paddled (doggie-style–she hasn’t quite mastered the breast stroke yet) alongside us.
To be truthful, we weren’t entirely sure she wouldn’t drown from exhaustion, but we are, after all, talking about someone who thinks nothing of hiking in forest fires. Keely darted after the oars, thinking they were sticks for the munching, sometimes taking bites out of the canoe as well. After awhile, she went from looking excitedly frenzied to just frenzied, so we decided to take a sharp turn for the shore. At the dock, sufficiently tired out, she finally realized why getting in the canoe was a fine idea, and jumped on in.
So much for a peaceful morning jaunt across the pond. Keely screamed the entire way. What does a screaming dog sound like? One that is being kicked repeatedly in the ribcage. She wasn’t scared, though. This is what she does when she’s over-stimulated and isn’t getting her way, like when she’s chasing after a dog that’s faster than she is, or is in view of water that she’s not swimming in. Meanwhile, Libby decided it was time to play ball in the canoe. “Libby, down! Keely, quiet! Libby, no! Keely, leave the ball.” We spent so much time discipling the dogs, I never once checked out the scenery. Once again we took another detour for shore.
It’s amazing that we never capsized. But it was all still worth it. Kind of like losing my tooth the other night. Yeah, it was pretty freaky to be walking around with a big gap where a tooth should be, but on the upside, the tooth fairy never would have visited me while I was sleeping. Instead of finding a quarter under my pillow, I woke up to find a photo of Bachelorette contender Graham Bunn beside me. That silly tooth fairy. Who knew she watched reality TV?
Keely and Graham Bunn
You think there’s nothing better than waking up to the smell of coffee and fresh country air, and then you flip over your pillow to spot a headshot of the worst-named bachelor in history, it’s better than finding a Colecovision under the tree on Christmas morning. If only every day could smell so sweet.
[Photo Left: While Keely is zonked out from too much swimming, running, panting and canoeing, Graham Bunn settles in for a rest on her back.]
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: canoe, dogs, graham bunn, tooth fairy, trailer trash
This is perfect evidence as to why dogs are good practice for kids. Though, at least kids can retrieve beers from the cooler…even when they’re tired after swimming next to the canoe.