Laura, Cooper's expression seems to indicate a certain wry understanding of the irony of being in a life jacket which is larger than he is.

Great pics Laura! Cooper is adorable! I am still looking for the plug for my camera so that I can upload my pictures.

There are a couple of goat/sheep pens in WVA where you can take a dog to run for 45 minutes, for a fee.

Ooh, I would love that for Arthur. He tries to herd the cats and they are Not Excited about that.

We didn't really do anything for the 4th. It rained, and I went to bed early. Yay. I just got up, and M is setting up Spy Central in the living room, which I am highly in favor of.

Our small dog, Layla was totally chill during the bangs and booms outside last night. Truman, our big standard poodle, was shaking and pacing, poor guy. We ourseleves were chill, until the dogs started barking madly and I realized police were in our front yard! We were not made calm when J opened the door and the policewoman said, "Everything is fine. Just stay inside your house." They eventually left and we don't know WHAT was going on, but we suspect they were chasing someone shooting off illegal fireworks.

One of my friends has a farm with pigs and chickens and uses Great Pyrenees to guard them.

Lovely pictures, Laura.

P-C, I'm just now getting going, and think I'm going to pack up my stuff, hit up Starbucks, and go shopping...maybe see a movie?...down near where my new hotel for the night is, in Pleasanton. Since they have stores and stuff. And a massage place in the mall. I think I might get a massage today AND tomorrow. Try to keep some mellow. Or something. Since I'm already down this way.

That sounds relaxing. And you're working the next couple days before you leave, right?

I finally got to the beach yesterday. That was nice, even though we couldn't actually get in until 4 in the afternoon -- we got there around 8:15, then waited with a zillion other cars on the highway for two hours, just to be told, when we finally got to the gate, that the beach was full and they weren't allowing anyone else in. (We later found out that the beach had been closed around 8, and the past two hours of traffic had just been from the police telling each car individually that they had to go elsewhere. They seriously need some better organization there.) So we went to a park for a little while, ate lunch overlooking the river, and then sat out in the sun there for a little while. Then back to the hotel, napped for a few hours, and tried the beach again, and it was actually open, so we stayed for about three or four hours, until sunset.

She says the best toy you can buy a border collie is a farm. With sheep.

Huh. Just read a short article [link] on the Great Pyrenese Dog, and it said that they get along well with other animals, usually loving cats. I wonder if that's because cats are such a challenge to herd.

Both of these cracked me up. Totally true!

I feel so bad for the border collies around here. Everyone thinks they want a smart dog. No! No you don't! Not unless you have a lot of time and energy to devote to their education and entertainment. With no job, there is no peace.

One of my client dogs came by for a visit this morning and Bartleby actually played with him in the 90 degree heat. That feat has left him a big loaf on the floor, sweet boy.

eta: Mmm. After hitting 'post', I realized that last bit could be interpreted with a far more scatological interpretation than I would ever intend. I mean to say, he is very tired and loafing around.

Everyone thinks they want a smart dog. No! No you don't!

After adopting a Brittany Spaniel from the pound at the tender age of 21, I have to agree. Awesome, loving dog, but wayyyyy too intelligent to belong to a couple that had to work 50+ hours/week to survive in the city. Poor Spencer. (My ex got him in the break-up, specifically because he was moving out to the suburbs and would have a yard.)

I want a pet goat. This will have to wait until I retire and live on a ranch, though.