A Day in the Life of Gatsby Holden

[Rachel & Gatsby]

Today was beautiful. Sunny but nice and cool, which is really nice since my fur is black. Mom says I'm not going to like Florida when we move there. So why are we?

Mom took me for a ride in the car. I'm starting to get brave and stick my nose out the window. But it makes me sneeze, so I don't do it for very long. Car rides make me sleepy, though, so I curled up on the backseat and it was lights out. Hope Mom doesn't mind the fur on the seat...

When I woke up, I met this guy named Zach. Mom said to call him Uncle Zach, but I'm not sure about that. He smelled like coffee and cats, but he was a nice guy. We drove around for awhile - me, Mom, and (Uncle) Zach - and they kept mumbling something about not finding the dog park. All they had to do is stop for directions. Humans.

Anyway, I guess they found it. But they didn't realize they could drive closer, so they ended up having to walk the rest of the way. That's okay! I like walks. I must have pulled too hard on the leash while Uncle Zach was walking me, because he fell. Mom laughed, but told me I wasn't nice. What was I supposed to do? I saw something scurrying across the road! Of course I needed to investigate.

I still don't know what it was.

We finally got to the dog park. It was pretty cool! And there were other dogs there, too. The little yippy ones scare me and I kept running back to hide behind Mom's legs. I guess Gramma is right; I am a chicken (whatever that means). But I'm only a baby, and those little ones are scary!

I did meet a nice dog with a curly tail like me. I don't know what his name was, but we sniffed each other's butts and played for a little bit. But then he had to go home.

I dug some holes and chewed on some sticks. I even ate a leaf when Mom wasn't looking. I like the crunchy noise they make. Mom kept laughing at me because the leaves stuck all over me. Probably because I was rolling in them. Like, I said: they crunch.

We stayed there for a while. It was fun. I hope we go back again soon, but Mom said probably not because she'll never be able to find it by herself. All she has to do is follow her nose! Humans.

We got home and played some fetch; we didn't get to do it at the park because Mom and Uncle Zach talked a lot. I guess they haven't seen each other in a while, especially considering I've never met him before. Mom used that orange stick thing that really sends that ball far. I got pooped real fast, so we went in and I took a power nap. When I woke up, Mom gave me a bath.

It was OK. I just hope she doesn't try to get me to go near that thing she calls a pool. Just cause I have webbed paws doesn't mean I'm a fan of swimming, OK?

Anyway, I think I'll finish drying off.

I found my one-legged dragon! I've missed that guy!!

-Gatsby

[Rachel & Gatsby]

Thank you. When your humans can be boring, you gotta get a sense of humor, right?

[Tessa, Ellie and Wheezy]

OMG.....your blog rocks!!! I abosutley loved it!!! You made me laugh out loud!!! Great post!!

[Rachel & Gatsby]

The bath part isn't so bad! I just stand there and she sprays me with that water thing. As long as she doesn't put weird stuff on me that makes me grown bubbles then we're good. But she did it this time, too. And they smell so good I want to eat them but she keeps saying NO SICKO. I don't get it. You're not supposed to eat things that don't smell good? Or smell weird? Or just smell funny? Humans.

Webbed feet or not, I don't even like standing on the steps. But Mom says if I'm a real Doodle then I need to learn to swim. Aunt Sarah says I need to grow a backbone in place of the balls I lost. I don't know what she's talking about. My balls are on top of the crate! I just used them yesterday to play fetch!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Sounds like a fun day Gatsby! And my mom took me swimming last week and I am just not sure if I like it. I know I can do it - these webbed feet help, but I prefer standing in it over swimming. You had a fun day dood.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Digging holes, chewing sticks, "sneaking a leaf", playing fetch.....this was all sounding SO AWESOME, Gatsby. Then you got to the BATH part....Moms really know how to ruin a perfect Doodle day. Glad you found that dragon! Guinness & Murph

[Rachel & Gatsby]

OOh, man! I love mud! I ate some today at the dog park. I don't think Mom noticed; she hates it when I eat mud. She names me Sicko when I eat it. That mud was almost dried but stilll mooshy. Mmmm, my favorite!

I tried to get Mom to take me to the pool in the car, but she said that's silly since we could walk, which is nice just not as fun. She said it was a waste of gas or something. I guess that's a treat that makes the car want to go? Why doesn't she just attach a leash to the car and get going that way? I'll sit in her seat and chew on that big wheel thing.

I'll have to ask these questions the next time I go to the dog park.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't like to swim, either, Gatsby. But I stand in the shallow part and catch tennis balls, and then I make a big mess in mom's car with my muddy feet...that's lots of fun!

[Rachel & Gatsby]

Thank you, thank you everyone. I think the only good thing about the pool is all the water you can drink. But Mom says I'm not allowed because it'll make me sick. So, if I frollick around in it, it won't make me sick either? I don't get it. I'm not going back in there -- not for toys, not for treats, not if anyone was drowning. No way.

[Leslie and Halas]

Sounds like you had a great day, Gatsby!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Oh Gatsby, I loved your blog! Darwin was a little suspicious of swimming too, but he quickly learned to love it!