Jun 2014 – Aug 2014

Except we’re not.  Nick tells me we’re going on an epic trip.  Then I woke up on the plane to hear about some sort of mechanical failure of the engine.

I decided that sort of inconvenience was something I wanted no part of.  So I got back in the bag and passed out.

Next thing I know we’re sitting at an airport in Iceland watching bags go around and around and around on the conveyer belt.  I thought we were going to London.

It’s been an hour.  I’ve given names to the luggage –I’ve seen them go around so much.  There’s one!  Hello luggage buddy.  That’s purple tag.  Next comes green checkers.

And there’s my bear bud.

He looks about as thrilled as I feel.

Every day should be like this.

Gaming day with my bud and I.

Sadly there’s been a dearth of gaming.  My bud tricked me in this picture.  He told me there would be gaming.   I sat down.  We took this picture.  Then he took apart our gaming desk!

What is happening, cruel world?  Why is everything in boxes?!?!?!

Pokin threatens to give me baths all the time.  Usually I take them at face value = I see them as empty threats.

Then this one time, she sounded like she meant it.

Just in case, I thought I’d better hide.

She found me.

She meant it.  #%*(&@#!!

A shower it was.  Doh.

I thought maybe if I pretended to like it she would give up.

No such luck.

I’m going under!  Be calm, self.  Be calm.

Survived that.  Ok brace yourself.  Here comes the wipe down.

Ok lady, enough already.

Let me just do it myself.

OK!!! I am clean enough!!!

At least on the bright side, now that I’m clean and very wet I can do one of my favourite things.

Lie in ambush to give Nicholas very wet hugs in the face.

Oh yeah.

Finally it was time for fireworks!  I waited a long time for this!  Explosions!  Lights!

These aren’t lasers, but it’s the closest thing I’ve got on paw right now.

We need chairs to enjoy this right.

Jane and Bob thought maybe I’d share a chair with Nicholas but I wasn’t having any of that so I just took his chair.  Besides, he’s got no time to sit if he’s lighting fireworks for me.

One guy even threw fireworks at Nicholas by accident.  Good thing my bear bud hones his reflexes all day long gaming with yours truly.

This is awesome.  Fireworks should be legal every day.

To pass time until night time fireworks, we went to a rodeo.  I had never been to a rodeo before.  Turns out rodeos are some sort of cowboy bonanza.  With lots of cowboys, cowboy hats, cows, bulls, and horses.  I could like it.  Maybe.

Everybody rode horses, so I wanted to ride a horse.

So I did.

Now I want my own horse!  Till then I’ll just train CuddlePup.

I also wanted carnival snacks so Jane bought me a giant elephant ear.  It was sugary and messy and Nick ate it instead.  Something about threatening me with baths if I tried to eat it.  I grudgingly left the elephant ear alone.  There WILL be payback.

Then it was showtime. Which didn’t start with cowboys.  Instead it kicked off with the Metal Mulisha, a moto stunt team.  I dug it.  They get almost as much air as I do.

But given that these guys don’t have wings like I do  I’d say they are kind of INSANE.  Death wish?

Then the cowboys came out.

This guy is even more insane.  He was riding a bucking horse when the horse fell over and sat on him.  So what does he do?  He volunteers do it again.

And then another wipeout!  I can’t believe these cowboys PAY for the privilege.

Well better them than me.  I wouldn’t appreciate being bucked or sat on.

Fun times overall.  I’m glad I went to a rodeo.  And even though it looks a little like the France flag I made sure I had a splash of red, white and blue.

But enough of that.  Let’s get on with the fireworks!!!!

It’s the fourth of July and I’m ready to celebrate, American style.  It’s time to blow things up!

I learned that fireworks were legal in Oregon and I immediately informed Nicholas that I wanted some firework action on my fourth of July.

He found these in the garage.  I guess they’ll do.

I can’t wait till nightfall!

Remember that time this sugar bear treated his best bear bud to the movies?

I do.  I’ve got proof right here.

I will be making sure my best bear bud doesn’t forget that.

Julia bought 3 6 baby chicks.  I get to play with baby chicks!

Here I am watching over them.  I’m a natural.

I’ll have them eating out of my paws in no time.

Now if only chicks laid chocolate eggs.

Julia got a nasty case of poison ivy in the back countries of Hayfork so we decided that right thing to do in that sort of situation would be to head right back into that back country and trek through more terrain thick with suspicious green matter.

Humans are such sensible creatures sometimes.

Say you’re in the middle of nowhere known as Hayfork California and your neighbours are a bunch of potheads.

What do you do?

You just chill, man.  Chill.

On a deck.

I’m feeling chill.  Man.