Wow, How Far We've Come

If this were a year ago, this phone would have been dog chow. Now it just looks like Ray has put it aside after a particularly exhausting telephone call.

Ray and Roxie

Roxie

Oh, jeez

Last week, Ray and I were walking with Sandra and Maddie  when we came upon Roxie and her owner. We stood to chat as Ray flopped over; it was hot and he was tired. He lifted his leg to expose his belly for a belly rub.

Get away from me, kid.

Roxie, excited that her blind boyfriend was at her eye level tried to snuggle up to him. Embarrassed, Ray stood. Roxie, not being able to snuggle an ankle, came to get petted. Ray flopped again. Roxie headed back for a quick snuggle. Ray stood and tried to move away. Roxie whined. Ray looked even more embarrassed.

 Teeny-boppers are SO embarrassing.

It is the first time ever that I've had a camera when Roxie is around so I snapped a couple photos of Ray's teeniest girlfriend.

Would somebody please get this kid away from me?

Take a Ride on the Ray Train

On the weekend when I take Ray for a walk, we first go past Sasha's house, then Halle's house. Usually, I get partway past Sasha's house when I hear Todd call out for us to stop. Sometimes, if Ray wants to see his girlfriend, he will pull me in that direction. Either way, if we are walking up the street or standing at Todd's door, Sasha wroo wroos until she gets Todd's attention (http://www.raytheblinddog.com/2010/07/sasha-and-ray-revisited.html) and he will bring her out to walk with us. Last weekend, Todd and I were around the block and starting up the key hole when we were caught up by Halle and her grandma (as seen in the youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8rP1vIvP5c and in the blog archive http://www.raytheblinddog.com/2009_08_01_archive.html). "I was sitting at the table," said Deborah, "when Halle got up to look out the window. Then she came over to me and barked in my face. She never barks. I looked at her and said "What was that all about?" Then she picked up her pig and did a little dance. Then Steven [Deborah's husband] came in and said "I just got a Ray greeting," and I knew that Halle wanted to take a walk with Ray so we came out." (We had met Steven while he was getting out of his car, before he went into the house).

The three of us finished up walking around the cul-de-sac. Then Todd and Deborah and Sasha and Halle continued on while Ray and I peeled off to go home. I thought of how my Ray of sunshine brings people together wherever he goes (or collects girls for his harem, however you want to look at it.)

Ray Meets a Bedlington

Today Ray and Murphy met a Bedlington Terrier. It was a first for all of us (at least, I don't think Murphy has met one before). I've seen pictures of Bedlington's in books and I have to say, Strider looked just like the pictures. Murphy (Australian Shepherd) was a bit interested in something that looked so much like a sheep, but she caught on pretty quickly that it was a dog and just as quickly lost interest.Ray, however, was fascinated. Strider

became the dog du jour as Ray blasted a few foghorn notes in the poor pups face to try to get him to run. Strider decided that

hanging by his mom was the safest course of action and nervously skittered around her feet until he got used to Ray's dulcet tones. Strider's mom threw a frisbee for Strider to chase, and of course, Ray loves to chase dogs chasing things so he got in on the action for awhile until his friend Izzy, the Bulldog, arrived to keep him occupied chasing her chasing a ball. Izzy acts like Ray doesn't exist, so it works out well for everyone.

Murphy Circling the "Sheep"

After the park, we dropped Murphy at daycare and headed to the vet to get Ray's nose checked out again. The strange little bump had gone away upon treatment then another one popped up next to the spot where the other had been. Ray got to visit his favorite Vet tech and all the nice people at the Village Vet. He really loves going to the vet, quite possibly because everybody is so nice to him, he gets treats, and he gets his belly scrubbed.

Ray's Favorite Vet Tech

A Couple of Pix from Murphy's Mom

Murphy's mom, Rachel, picked the dogs up from daycare the other day and took these photos of Ray and Murphy. I think Ray enjoyed being chauffeured until he was just too tired to sit up anymore. I think he liked curling up with his best friend even more.

Ray in the back seat of the car coming home from daycare.

Is that a Full Moon?

Today I picked up Ray and his friend Murphy at school. We walked to the car, both the dogs and I happy to be going home early after a long week at school and work (respectively). I opened the back door of the car and Murph jumped right in, hogging the back seat. Ray stood nervously on the pavement undecided about what to do. I lifted his front feet onto the seat then hoisted his butt into the car and shut the door.

I hoisted my own butt into the drivers seat, started the car, and rolled down the windows as far as they would go (which is only half way in back. Child protective measure? I've never been sure...). Ray still stood in same position that I had hoisted him, his tail curled out the widow, his butt pressed against the pane of glass that was exposed above the edge of the door. We drove home with Ray attracting attention, his tail blowing in the breeze, his butt mooning passing motorists.

The Wheels on the School Bus Go Round and Round

This morning, Rachel, Murphy's mom, and I decided to take a stab at carpooling. Rachel would take Murphy and Ray to "school" and I would pick them up. It would shave off a half hour (at least) from both of our commutes. At 7:15, I peeked out the door and saw Rachel leaving her house. I quickly slipped Ray's collar on over his ears, grabbed his "lunch" and walked him to the end of the driveway to wait for Rachel.

Rachel pulled up, the huge grin on her face mirroring the one on on mine. I opened the back door of the car and Ray eagerly climbed into the back seat, happy to be going where ever his friend was going.

I handed Rachel, Ray's bag of treats. "Here's his lunch," I said grinning. "What a spoiled dog," she replied. "Make sure you tell them that I'll be picking up Murphy," I said. "Maybe I should write a letter." We were both laughing and joking around, the situation of our "kids" going to the same school and carpooling just struck us as hilarious. Maybe it was just the hour.

Ray and Murphy On their Way to School

Ray and Murphy on their way Home