Holy cow, it's been almost a year!

Things have been busy on our end as well as a little rough, but I'm glad to say that Annie is still up and doing well!

So what's happened since the last post?

We've moved to the suburbs.  What?!  Yes.  The suburbs.  We traded neighbors who throw their trash on the sidewalk for neighbors who get drunk and puke off the side of the house.  Yep.  We really classed it up.  But the apartment is much bigger and there's a nice little backyard for us to play around in when Annie isn't trying to gnaw apart someone else's pet.

Annie has spent the past few months really sick, but she's finally OK and it apparently turned out to just be parasites (who knew you could get hookworm despite being on anti parasite meds?).  Too bad we couldn't find that out before the hundreds and hundreds of dollars we spent on the vet... can I get an amen in here?

Rather than bore you with words, I'm going to just give a few pictures for now... and hopefully update more later.

Annie taking a little nap after a long day-- and yes, she does curl up with her head on my pillow like that if I forget to baby gate the bedroom.

Oh, it's been too long....

What has the Annie Doo been doing?

Quite a bit, actually. Right now mom is on vacation in North Carolina visiting her brother in the USMC and I'm off at Ken's house being spoiled absolutely rotten. I'll update that once the weekend is up so you know exactly how much fun I've been having.

I've started to go hiking! I'm the master at flat paths that are just a few miles long. Especially if there is water to swim in and ice cream to eat at the end (which mom only gives once in a blue moon, but I keep hoping). Ken takes me hiking too, and it's lots of fun. I am really excited to do more as the summer and fall goes along!

Here are some more pictures, since those are easier than words most of the time.

Zoinks! Going off-path during one of the hikes

I love swimming! But what's better than swimming? Swimming where I can eat some grass, too! I just love grazing!

Sleeping on the funky rug at Grandma's house, 4th of July

Walking down the bike path with my Ken

Wouldn't it just change your whole worldview if this is the dog and the gun they were talking about in "Annie get your gun?"

Being a good girl and just taking in nature.

Annie's doggie ice cream treat for being such a good girl.

We'll do what we can to keep this updated a little better in the future! Sorry to all of you who have been suffering from Annie withdrawals via the web.

Memorial Day Weekend recap!

The long weekend came and went, and for this little girl it was quite an adventurous one! It was so exciting that last night she slept almost 12 hours!

Doesn't she just look like she's getting into some sort of mischief?

Friday afternoon was the most laid back of the days, hanging out, napping, and going for walks. We knew that Sarah was coming to town, and we couldn't wait! Annie was just so excited to meet her new two-legged friend from Albany!

Saturday and Sunday were pretty standard days on the weekend, with walks-a-plenty and the ability to meet new two-legged friends! First, it was Sarah, who just loved Annie's kisses and gave her tons of pets and hugs-- and thought the fact that Annie snores a little bit was hilarious! Sunday Annie met Chris, who came along for our nightly walk.

On Monday, we went out for an awesome BBQ over at Sara and John's house, where Annie's friends Bran and Morrigan were ready to play! But before that, we stopped to visit Memere and Gramps up in Tewksbury so they could meet their newest four-legged great-granddaughter. Annie had so much fun jumping in Memere's pool (ssh... don't tell her though, she'd flip out if she knew) and going for a quick swim before spending the rest of the day in the sun.

At Sara and John's house, we set up a little pen for Annie so she could be outside with everyone, and she wanted nothing to do with it! So we let her run free for a while... bad idea. She promptly ran off into the woods exploring EVERYTHING she could get her little four paws on. After two missed tackles by mom (that was never my skill in rugby anyhow), she was finally put back on a leash while trying to get into the neighbor's front door. So she was kept on a leash when she was outside, which didn't keep her happy.

Here's the girl in the pen, looking up at me on the porch.

John filled a kiddie pool for the pups to play in, which Annie LOVED. She just couldn't get enough of it. Every time we went for a walk around the people, Annie hopped in. She'd also sit and roll around, letting the water go everywhere!

We may need to get Annie a kiddie pool for the back porch.

Annie just waiting to get a taste of that Bacon Explosion.

We made the Daily Poppy!

http://poppymckee.blogspot.com/2009/05/puppies-are-coming-out-of-woodwork.html

For those of you who aren't familiar with Poppy's blog, I highly recommend it!

Annie and other dogs... together?!?

Yes, you read that right! And now you can see it! That's Annie in a room with other dogs!

Tonight Annie had a playdate with two of the cutest black labs Bran and Morrigan, and aside from a bit of anxiety during the meet and greet, did smashingly! I am so proud of her!

Granted she did mostly stay in the corner completely devastating their squeaky toys and pulling apart their Wubbas (this makes three that she's demolished in record time), but when they were together, they were fine. In and out of the house, as long as Annie wasn't climbing on Morrigan's chair, or Bran wasn't getting a little too close to the squeaky toys. It was a great first step!

The best part of the evening was when I had treats for all of the dogs, and I got all three to sit right next to each other and not fight over the treats!

I think the biggest part of the whole thing being a success was myself, Sara and John (Bran and Morrigan's parents), and Dave not getting too excited when things didn't seem like they were going to work. All it took was a bit of butt sniffing, a couple quick snaps, and calm parents to keep Annie at ease. And I think the fact that Bran and Morrigan were so laid back didn't hurt, either!

YAY ANNIE! GOOD GIRL!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy mother's day (or feliz dia mama, in my hood) to all the fur mommies out there!

We went for a little walk this morning that took TWO HOURS!  It's amazing how small my neighborhood is, and how you don't really see how small it is until you're walking through it.  

Rather than go through the Greenway today, we headed deep into Eastie, up a few streets and over by the harbor.  We really only got one shot that actually made it to the save file area... one day I'll walk with my camera instead of the Blackberry, and actually get good shots.

Here's Annie in the park by the Harbor, behind some middle school (which had a no dogs allowed sign on the fence.. oops!)

Week 1, done!

After getting to spend two wonderful days at home with me, Annie had to watch me go to work.  First was a half day, then a whole day, and then an awful Friday where I was gone for hours. Not to fear, the Annie Doo had the company of her new friend Tiffany, dog walker extraordinaire!

While Annie was off enjoying her day, going to the park and meeting new people, I was sitting at my desk trying to figure out how to get a copy of Annie's spaying certificate (well, when not working, that is).   Her rabies paperwork was included in the stack of papers I received, but there was nothing specific saying "hey, I was spayed!"   The man on the line with City of Boston Animal Control wasn't altogether helpful, either.    He kept insisting that the vet should have a certificate proving she was spayed, especially if it were done in MA, and I kept trying to tell him "she came from Tennessee, not MA"... but it didn't sink in.  I even called her vet in TN, who told me that they didn't see her until 2003 (she was born in 1998), and don't have anything on record, but a vet should be able to see that she was spayed.   But they were ridiculously helpful with trying to get everything straight, and offered to be on call for me if needed.  So tomorrow I will swing by the office in Roslindale and see what I can muster up.    Her rabies certificate says she is a spayed female.  Maybe that's good enough?  If anyone has any ideas, let me know!

During Annie's walk today, she went to the Greenway over by the airport, watched a soccer match, met people all over, and even stopped in a salon!  On our walk at 11:30, Annie met some men on the street who didn't believe she was actually 11!  But I did have them fooled when I told them she was part tank.  They "didn't realize tank was a dog breed".  Doh!

And I must say, nothing makes me happier than coming home to a happy Annie!  Or waking up to a happy Annie, too.   She's so loving and (as weird as this sounds) attentive, and I was amazed that she and I connected so quickly!  

Here's a few pictures of the little pooper in action!

She LOVES sleeping on the bed!

Why do you insist on taking photos of me?

Annie Doo at the park, taken by Tiffany

Look at that tongue go!