Under the Weather or The Trials of a Middle Aged Corgi

I've had a rough time the last week. I was doing something heroic and I hurt my neck. I hurt it so bad that Mom had to take me back to Eagle River. It was miserable. I'm still not well but I'm much better.

It all started last week on Wednesday. I was really sore and just not feeling like myself. Mom gave me some aspirin and that helped a little. By Friday I was starting to get worse so Mom loaded up our stuff and drove me to town. Lee stayed home to deliver mail and take care of the chickens. My doctor, Dr. Hawn, told Mom not to give me any more aspirin because they would want me to take some different medicine.

I started having muscle spasms in my neck and it hurt just to walk. I had a splitting headache on top of everything. Thank God it didn't affect my appetite! Saturday morning Dr. Frost took a look at me. She felt really sorry for me. She said I needed a neck x-ray but she'd have to put me under to do it. I wasn't sure what that meant but since Mom had given me my breakfast the x-ray had to wait until Monday. Dr. Frost gave me a shot in the butt which really hurt bad and a bunch of pills. I don't remember a whole lot more until the next day. We stayed with our friends Dean and Mike. Mike is a Springer Spaniel I've told you about. Mike says I staggered and drooled. It would be embarrassing but he's done worse.

On Monday morning I was not in good shape. Poor Mom was sure upset. Back to the vet's office. By the way, I go to Ravenwood Vet Clinic in Eagle River, Alaska. Not that I recommend going to the vet but my doctors are the best. Mom had to leave me there. I found out what getting put under means! I had to have another shot but then I don't remember much again. I guess I have an inflamed cervical disc that is putting pressure on my spinal column. Whatever, I just know my neck hurts.

When I woke up back at Dean's house, I felt better. But I discovered that while I was incapacitated, Dr. Hawn trimmed my nails! Plus I have more pills to take. Now I'm on prednisone for 7 days. Taking pills isn't so bad. Mom puts cream cheese on the pills.

Finally on Wednesday, Dr. Hawn said I was doing well enough to come home. Whew. It was great getting out of the city. I did score a new halter gizmo out of the deal. It's a really pretty purple color. I miss my LiveStrong collar though.

I have to rest for two weeks. The squirrels are completely out of control and they are laughing at me. This is so humiliating! Oh well, what goes around comes around you rodents.

I hope that you are all very healthy. Once you get to be middle aged you have to start doing more to take care of yourself. Me and Mom are taking glucosamine and vitamins. Lee takes vitamins, too. I take salmon oil, too. Mom says no thanks. Fine, more for me. Oh yeah, and I have to keep my weight down so Mom and I are on diets, too.

Woof for now!
Pearl

My Work Is Never Done

I know that I don't have to tell you how hard I work for these people because I know all of you work hard. Just being happy and wagging your tail all the time is tiring. 'Course I can't say much about the tail thing since I don't have one. I can wiggle my stump if I want to. Honestly, I don't know how people would get by without us.

One of my chores is to help with filling the water tank in the house. We have a well but it's not hooked into the house 'cause things freeze so easy. So every once in a while we have to fill the storage tank in the house. When we do that, we have to let the hose run for a while to clear out any sediment. For some reason, Mom and Lee don't seem to appreciate how dangerous it is to just leave a hose running like that! Lucky for them I know what to do. I start by barking at the hose. If that doesn't work, I grab the end where the water comes out with my mouth and give it a good shake. Then I bark some more. I can keep this up for a long time. But the hose is never out of control. I want you all to know that I perform this service even when it's -40!

My mom says we have to go to Anchorage again. Guess I'll get to see my friend Mike, the Springer Spaniel, and his dad Dean. They are bachelors and they LOVE Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. Well, who doesn't. Bark at ya next week.

Woof,
Pearl

Homestead Happenings

Well, it's been really frustrating here the past week. The sun has been shining and the days are long but the wind has been blowing. This doesn't bother me that much. Let's face it, one of the advantages of being short is staying out of the wind! I hate it when humans try to make it sound like I'm not short by saying stuff like, "Oh, Pearl is vertically challenged." How dumb do they think I am. I know I'm short. I'm supposed to be short. Anyway, my people don't like to go outside when it's windy. Mom says that when it's zero degrees and the wind is blowing 15 miles per hour, she's not going out.

Yesterday she had to go out because she and Lee needed to cut some firewood. It's still winter here in Alaska and we were running short. That was really fun because I got to pee on top of all the places the coyotes and foxes have peed. I don't really like the chain saw but otherwise it was a good outing. Plus when we got home I had to help Mom with the wheel barrow she uses to haul the wood. I have to guide her or she'd never get it to the right place. I bite the wheel which works great except a couple of times when my tongue got hurt.

Today Lee is packing and I'm not happy. I'm trying to help but he doesn't follow direction any better than Mom does. Lee is going to a gun show tomorrow. Mom and I are staying home. Last time we went to a gun show in Palmer, I got to go in. It was great because a lot of people wanted to scratch my ears and tell me how great I am. I was exhausted by the time we headed home. The people next to us have a dog that's half corgi and half lab! I did get in a little trouble because a Golden Retriever who was training to be a guide dog walked by. I had to let her know not to come to close to our space. She got the message but Lee got upset with me. Sheesh - I'm just doing my job!

I'd rather stay home but I worry when Mom and Lee are in different places. Mom says if it's nice tomorrow we can go for a walk. Hope you all get to go for a walk tomorrow. As the Governor of Caleefornea says, "I'll be back!"

Woof,
Pearl

PS. I have gotten messages from several cats. It was great to hear from Delta and Adagio who's foolish humans left Alaska. I like to hear from many different breeds and species. After all better understanding might lead to world peace.

Vote for Baker Simpson

Hi everyone,

Sorry I've been out of touch for a while. I'll fill you in on my next post. For now I want to introduce you to my cousin Baker, the Bernese Mountain Dog. His mom put him in a photo contest and of course we want him to win. I already gave him my two free votes. Sorry Baker, I haven't got any money or I would buy some more votes for you. Hey, maybe this is the problem with human elections - some of them still think you can buy extra votes! Mom made me promise not to bring politics into my blog. Anyway, as you can see Baker is a fine looking chap. Debra, his mom, says to please vote for the photo with Baker in his hat. Baker has a very cool boy. My boy is all grown up and lives in Kansas. The site says that the winner will receive valuable prizes from the sponsors. Here's a tip: Get the candy first!

Remember go to www.bendbulletin.com/petpals and Vote for Baker!

Woof,
Pearl

The Joys of Rolling in the Snow and a Letter from Viggo

Hello everyone,

I know that some of you had problems posting comments and Mom thinks she fixed it so I hope you will come back and try again.

We have lots of snow this year. You might think that would be a problem for a dog with short legs. Well, you'd be wrong. There's nothing I love more than going out after a fresh snow fall and plowing my way through the drifts. I high center once in a while which is embarrassing, but I just power through it. I have trails all over the place. Plus Mom is pretty good about keeping some of the paths shoveled. I do have to herd the snow shovel because, well just because it's what I do. This process involves lots of barking because, well just because.

Another great thing is that the voles and shrews have tunnels in the snow. It's fun to crash into the tunnels. The best tunnels are the ones the squirrels dig to hide food. Usually it's just icky old spruce cones but once in a while I hit pay dirt. Sometimes they get stuff out of the trash like perfectly good bones or something Mom calls garbage. I call it delish!

Last week I had to have a bath for some reason and then my nails trimmed. I don't know about you but I don't like being bathed. I'm very concerned about hygiene and I spend time every morning getting myself cleaned up. And this time of year, I have a lot of fur so getting wet takes a long time but getting dry takes even longer. What a bother and to no purpose that I can figure out. After my bath, I love to go outside and run around and then roll in the snow. That's what I was doing when Lee took this photo. It helps get the smell of the shampoo and cream rinse off.

Keep reading - next is a nice letter from Viggo. He's a Dachshund who divides his time between Nabesna and Anchorage. I know what it's like to have to be in the city when you are used to bush living so I'm glad he's found some things to have fun with.

See you all later!
Pearl


Hi Pearl,

Lucky you. Getting to chase rabbits and squirrels. People who think dogs with short legs can't run fast are just silly.

I'm stuck here in Anchorage with only a small yard and a few little tiny birds to go bark at in the three trees I have. When it snows, there's only a narrow path to go and poop in. There's a horrid rottweiler next door, who thinks he's all tough because he has a big booming voice. He doesn't scare me though, I bark from the back porch (a couple feet from the door) and I don't know why the older woman laughs when I come back in. The fur on my back is all puffed up a whole quarter inch and everything.

The only other excitement I have is when an occasional UPS or mail carrier drops off a package. I used to run out the door and my people were trained to holler and come after me. It was great! For some reason, that's all changed. Now they just shut the door. I wait at the door to be let in. It's degrading to have to whine.

Chase some critters for me, and roll in something stinky if you get a chance. That's what I really miss about living in Nabesna.

I'd like to sniff your butt too.

Bored in Anchorage, Viggo

Welcome to my blog.

For those of you who don't know me, I'm Pearl. I'm a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. And yes my legs are that short. My ancestors came from Wales where they herded cattle so don't let my height decieve you. I'm tough and I'm fast. Anyway, I live with my Mom and Lee on a 5 acre homestead near the north side of the Wrangell Mountains in Alaska. I've done a little traveling and I can tell you that I am living in paradise.

I used to get e-mails from my cousins Sophie in Denver and Angel from wherever her 5th Wheel is parked. But everybody got so busy we sort of let that drop. Me and Mom figure that with the blog it'll be easier for them to write to me plus I might hear from other doggie friends like Sadie in Montrose or Lupita in Kenny Lake, or Mashu and Cheno in Scottsdale. Now Mashu and Cheno have full time jobs like I do. They are also Corgis so you know they do good work. They are in charge of gallery security at Rima Fine Art. That's a lot of responsibility. I know because I'm in charge of homestead security here at Jack Creek. You would not believe the dangers that are lurking behind every spruce tree. Some of the squirrels here are not to be trusted. And as if I didn't have enough to do, Mom got chickens last summer. We also have bunnies. Sometimes I get to go in their pen. They are cool but don't respond well to herding. They are kind of like automatic poop dispensers - Yum. Plus the wild rabbits, OK they're hares, are everywhere and they have no respect for boundaries. I do like them because I occaisionally catch them. They are good to eat. I catch voles, too, but they aren't tasty so after I get done shaking them, I leave their carcasses for the birds. Hey, don't go getting all grossed out about it. That's the real world out here in the wilderness.

It's almost time for my dinner so I'll close this for now. I'll be back to share my adventures and hopefully read your posts. I'd rather sniff your butt . . . Oh well. Ruff, Ruff for now.

Your friend,
Pearl

PS - I guess it's all right if other species want to contribute.