Bend
11.22.08
So with all that has happened since my last entry, I have to mention this past Presidential election. As most of you know I’m not big into politics by any means, if I had to categorize myself I guess you can say I’m Liberal (what ever that definition is.) I will say that here at the kennel most everyone was rooting for Obama as well as myself. Election night comes and I have the privilege, nay the honor to actually witness the night’s historic nature with a man that was a true activist in the Civil Rights Movement. It seemed from my stand point things have gone full circle for Jerry. That’s pretty much all the politics I want delve into.
My life here in Bend has turned into a nice routine, Wednesdays and Saturdays have turned into town days for me, so as soon as we are done running dogs and doing chores I head into town for a shower and to do laundry occasionally. The routine is kind of nice, very reminiscent of my time on the Trail. My town days pretty much consist of loitering around coffee shops as well as the occasional trips to the Columbia outlet store where you can get killer deals on gear. I hear there is a REI, but I haven’t made it there yet. I will say I had a chance to taste great beer while out here, and maybe the trail name might change to full brew with these beers.
The kennel has grown some since my arrival. Tori had a litter of 6 puppies a few days before I got into Bend, and on Halloween, Maui had a litter of 6 puppies as well. Obama and Biden (the 5 month old puppies) have graduated to their own houses out in the kennel, and the first few nights they howled at there new experience. So does anyone want a puppy???
I think the hardest thing I had to do while out here was take Maui’s new born puppies and cut off their dewclaws. The way it was explained to me, is that when the dogs are adults and have a dewclaw, when booties are put on the dog, the dewclaw ends up rubbing and abrading the dogs skin causing problems and potential of infection also there is a chance that the dog can catch it on something and it could get ripped right off. Anyway to hear the little yelp of the puppy was heart breaking, but then again I guess you can compare it to a new born child’s circumcision. I don’t remember mine.
It was a blast having Beck come out and see the crazy life I lead now. I won’t lie I think I could do this for awhile. The only thing that can get under your skin is when the dogs turn into butt heads and make it impossible to harness them, but they’re dogs, they love you unconditionally. Perfect example would be a dog named Twister. It takes an act of congress to get him harnessed. Most dogs will allow you to suit them up, not Twister. He jumps and scrambles if it’s a game of keep away. I even have on occasion told him fine you aren’t going and then he just bounces around, as if saying, take me, take me, please take me, please oh please, which turns into another wrestling match to get him harnessed. By the time I have him harnessed I’m sweating and worn out, and still have 3 more teams to harness.
So one part of my day that I’ve grown fond of, is listening to Dave and Jerry talk about the days of some dogs that are long gone. The stories are hilarious. Dogs that plot against one another, or apparently there use to be a dog that would just mess with Dave on tours. The way the story is told to me is the leader was fine for every other musher all day long, running the 6 mile tour flawlessly. When Dave would take her out she would try and run up the ski runs, or even run through the ski lift line, and as he puts it she would run right past the tour truck (which is where the tour ends) and run for another mile up the road. He would command “haw” which is a left and she would go right. The story goes on and on. It usually ends with Dave saying, “that dog would just abuse me.” I guess I know that feeling. When Beck was out we took a team out for their run and they wanted to go the long way on the way back. We tried every thing, Beck even almost got trampled by the team, that did not stop them.
