Cool Cool Cool... Places

We've havin' a heatwave... an atypical tropical heatwave... And mama has been worried about my ability to keep cool in the face of extreme temperatures (well, extreme for Portland that is). So a few days ago, she spent almost an hour in the REI store picking out a new cooling vest for me. First she went online, did lots of research, and even emailed a few companies to ask about their products. As I am the King of Terriers, not just any vest would do. Going to REI was a pretty involved thing, as after deciding that she'd invest in one picking out the correct size was a challenge and took her the better part of an hour. It turns out that since I'm right on the cusp between Medium and Large, she wasn't sure which was going to provide the right amount of protection against the evil sun and heat without being uncomfy.

We went with the Large and mama is very pleased with the way it fits! I don't have any issues putting things on over my head, and then it just clips on both sides of my shoulders. A snap to put on. The thing that mama liked about it the most was that this vest works with just water - there is no freezing of inserts and no possibility of anything hurting me - and after the initial soaking you can reactivate the cooling powers by just pouring more water over it. Perfect.

And yes, it seems to work! This covered my entire back - which, being black fuzz, gets very hot in the sun - and the coolness of the vest keeps my skin cool. Most importantly to me, this vest doesn't limit my ability to do some of my favorite things, like trampling plants...

Going for long walkies...

Finding interesting things to add to the "Keep Portland Weird" file...

And of course, peeing.

The vest is from Ruff Wear - it's their Swamp Cooler vest. It works well with my deep, manly, muscle-y chest, is easy to use, and most importantly, IT WORKS. I was definitely more comfortable in the 90+ degree heat with this on, and during our hour-long walk mama poured a cup of water over me two times for added refreshment (it's SO GREAT to not have her pour water directly on me).

And see? It's actually quite dashing on me. And I can wear my favorite harness over it.

Of course we still take it easy on our walkies - mama still has that broken toe and it is going to be 90+ for the next few days - but now I don't feel the need to plop down in the middle of the walkie because I'm too hot. I can go back to plopping down for more important things...

Like eating sticks, of course.

Love,

Bogart

Pearl-s of Wisdom

Mama broke her toe the other day... the little pinkie one, the one that should really be the least important one yet when it's large and purple it's really the most important one. I too have stubbed my fuzzy toes before and remember that yes it does hurt but that's no reason why we shouldn't go for a walkie. I always forget about the pain after a few blocks, so reason goes that she should too.

Something we've never noticed before near the South Park Blocks...

Come in a little closer...

Yes, it is a salmon - on the corner of Salmon Street (these humans think they're SO FUNNY sometimes)...

Back in the Pearl, this is another little cove that I visit on occasion but don't think I've ever been photographed in. It used to be the entrance to an art gallery, now there is some art store there. But it's really a lovely little oasis...

The water isn't really drinkable though, and since it's not moving it's not that interesting either.

Ha! There's mama in the reflection. I'd know that red hair anywhere!

These are pieces of the original freeway that ran through the Pearl District before it was the Pearl District. Apparently most of what we walk in and where we live used to be industrial areas. But these are cool and help keep some of the original character of the neighborhood.

Notice the wild animals in the column and the wild animal comin' at ya... Woo! Hoo!

Love,

Bogart

Bus-ting a Move

Well, here is something you don't see everyday in Portland:

A big, red double-decker bus. And people were getting on. So I decided that I would as well. However the crabby gal with the clipboard wouldn't let me on. I turned on the charm, and mama did her best (which usually gets us into places) but this time, no dice. I'd really hoped to ride up top with the wind beneath my floppers.

No matter. I'm sure I can find something to do that will annoy them just to show my displeasure.

Hey, it worked! I got their attention! And they wanted me to step away from their bus!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Now I shall just stare at you for an uncomfortable period of time. Don't worry, I've got at least an hour of walkie before I get hungry, so I've got the time...

People are so funny. They weren't mean or anything, just not willing to go along with the spirit of the game - having a local superstar in their midst, you would have thought they'd at least have a sense of humor about it.

I bet THIS guy would have let me ride AND would have had a sense of humor...

Love,

Bogart

Spreading the Love

I love you mama...

I mean, not all the time, there are occasionally some things you do that make me a little crazy or a little annoyed, there have been times when I wanted to go one way and you wanted to go another, and those times when I wanted to sniff a cute doggie's butt and you pulled me away, and the times when I wanted to fight with some other doggies and you put a stop to that, and the times that you've embarrassed me in public by kissing me a little too much, and of course there is the ongoing issue of you hugging me just a little too much, and sometimes my dinner is late because you forget to turn on the crockpot, and occasionally my tiger blanket isn't in exactly the place that I want it to sleep on...

Just kidding - I LOVE YOU MAMA

No, seriously. I LOVE YOU MAMA. No matter what. We're a team. The Gruesome Twosome (plus 5, but nothing is really as catchy when trying to go along with Seven-some). Thanks for all the adventures...

Love,

Bogart

Beating the Heat

It seems to strange to complain about the heat (when I've most recently complained that it has been raining non-stop for months) but this sudden jump to the 80 degree mark is putting a cramp in my walkie-style.

Mama and I both are feeling it - even though I got a major hair strip in the last few days, I'm still getting tuckered out just doing our regular walkies. I did get a spiffy new thermos of my very own for our walks (much better than a water bottle because a thermos has it's own cup, you see) and now mama's thinking I might need to get a cooling vest to keep me cool enough for when we move to the east coast.

I love ya mama for thinking of ways to keep me comfy... and for understanding that less walkies are NOT a valid option...

Love,

Bogart

Lake Tai Rock

Woo-hoo! It's STILL summer! For more than a day! It's CRAZY...

Time to head down to the waterfront with all of the other hot and steamy folks here in Portland who aren't yet used to the heat.

I thought I might like to jump in until I remembered that the Willamette is deep and dirty. Fun to run the paws through, but that's about all. So I busied myself watching some overly-tan people whizzing by in a bright orange speedboat. Again and again and again.

You would think that if someone was going to keep going by - because obviously they knew they were being watched (that boat was LOUD) - they would do something either different or interesting at least once. And you would be wrong.

We don't normally walk through SW Portland past the main downtown area, but today we were feeling like explorers...

And we found this: Lake Tai Rock. Just in front of City Hall in a lovely, shady park. A gift from Portland's sister city in China. It is a large, irregularly-shaped rock with a lovely pool of water.

Which I found FASCINATING. These plants must be kind of special because they don't just get to sit in still water, they have their own gurgler. Yes, I understand that gurgler is not a word. But really, that's what it was.

Did I mention that it was FASCINATING? Not only did that water water feel good on my toasty paws, but that gurgler was driving me insane.

Behold - the large, irregularly shaped rock.

As well as this smaller cousin-rock.

Did I mention that I found this FASCINATING???

Who knew that mama was filming? So yes, you can see my little freak-out, and realize that you too would do the same.

Love,

Bogart

Fuzzmeister

SUMMER IS HERE - FINALLY!

I've almost forgotten what a day without rain is like. Almost. Not quite, tho. I am SO HAPPY that it's not cold and rainy today!

Mama and I are reconsidering my h-aire-do at the moment. Now that it looks like the worst of our cold and rainy days may be behind us for awhile, I think a little more deforestation is in order. A little manscaping. Nothing too drastic, just enough so that I won't feel like I'm always carrying around an extra fur coat with me everywhere I go.

Love,

Bogart

What a Week it Was

Time flies when I'm not blogging...

I've spent the past week still doing normal, everyday dog things, like watching this little bird's excellent worm-catching technique (lots of worms out here in rainy Portland)...

Checking out new and exciting flowers in full bloom from all of our recent rain...

Mind the bumblebees!

And avoiding enraged crows intent on preventing me from walking past their special spots. This one was SERIOUS, not only was he squawking his feathery head off, he dive-bombed me and mama several times. His aim is flawed, thankfully.

Here he is working out the coordinates for yet another unsuccessful diving mission. Ha ha my winged friend, VICTORY IS MINE every time you miss me and one of those times you may fly a little too close to my waiting mouth and then who's your daddy, eh?

This just made me and mama laugh. It was a mini trailer.

Still love me?

Hehehe - you silly humans are POWERLESS TO RESIST! I will not deprive the world of my fuzzy mug for such a long time again, I know your delicate hearts cannot stand it.

Love,

Bogart