Another DK Member Checked Off My List!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Last week I went to Indiana and Hayley went with me.  I honestly don’t think most people “get” my connection with my DK family.  I tell them all the time if I traveled around the USA, I would probably know somebody in every state, including Hawaii (thanks, Bonnie).  How many people get to say that statement?  Oh, and I can’t forget some of my friends outside the USA in Newfoundland and Ireland.  F said once I could be like “Where in the world is Matt Lauer?” as I traveled around the globe meeting new members while chronicling my journeys.  I can just see the reality show, Laurie, Fudge and Vern Unleashed, where unsuspecting DK members open their doors to find me standing there and then I have to convince them to let me inside. I have visions of me getting hauled off their property by a cop with them shouting, “I only know her from an Internet site.  What made her think I wanted to meet her in person?”  Believe me, you would hear me shouting back, “Ricki and Tara, I can see you peeking out through the curtains!  I know you are in there.  Now, let me in so we can meet.”  It could quickly turn into a Cops: The Dog Edition, Get that Bleep Off my Property! special episode.

 

Of course, when I mention to family and friends that I am meeting so and so from a dog website, they look at me like I am insane and not in their usual way, but more like I have finally gone over the edge and they might need to call in some professional help.  Funny the different reaction I got from John when I told him I keep getting emails from an over 50 dating site. He encouraged me to give that site a try and said he could provide references. To an outsider, I suppose it does sound strange that you can feel like you know someone from talking to them online and have bonded over the common love of your dogs. However, for many of us, the friendships have gone beyond our dogs to photography, or gardening, or traveling, or shared humor, or other common interests, and very real friendships have been formed.  There are so many members I want to meet in person and instead of a Bucket List, I should call it my Poop Bag List, since we all carry them more than buckets and we did meet on a dog website. 

Well, I just crossed off another member on my Poop Bag List when I met her in person at the Cuyahoga Falls in Ohio. 

I hope I got the name right or Sheila will be all over me like white on rice.  Drum roll please…..not only did I meet Joanne and Spud, I also met F.J or Fake Joanne or Roger or Joanne’s husband, whichever name you like best. 

Joanne was dumb kind enough to give me her cell phone number and I called her after leaving Indiana and said we had time if she would like to meet. Let that be a lesson to the rest of you, not to give me your number unless you are serious about seeing me one day. She also must have put a quick post out on FB in case any other DK members were interested, but there was no crowd waiting for us when we pulled up, just one woman jumping around on a major roadway.  Not only did Joanne give me the exact exit number to exit the Turnpike, but they were also parked along side the road, just to the right of where I had to pay my toll, to give us a personal escort to the park.  As I was pulling over, I could see Joanne waiting with a camera to take our picture and then she came around to my side of the car and stood ON THE HIGHWAY to snap another picture.  Remember, Joanne is one of our most safety conscious members and has everyone in her car, especially Spud, strapped in with special made harnesses that can only be unlocked with six keys and one combination lock. Who would have imagined she would be bouncing around along the side of a highway trying to get a picture? Well, I could just see the whole Laurie, Fudge and Vern Unleashed series being pulled immediately from the air when the first person I met along the way gets run over by a car and who would possibly want to meet me after that happened?  I would love to show you the pictures she took, but Joanne had forgotten to put a memory card in her camera.

 

Luckily, before she got hurt, she got back in the car and we followed them to a beautiful park and waterfalls.  Roger is a very cautious driver and when he stopped to look both ways at an intersection, I thought about honking and flipping him the bird to hurry him along, but I thought I had better wait until we were better acquainted.  Once at the park, we parked side by side and I was so happy to see the sweet face of our own dear Spud looking back at me.  What a cute, energetic, bouncy, talkative, well-behaved, happy, sweet potato of a dog!  Spud was smaller than I thought from all his I love my balls photographs I have seen of him and such a dear.  I swear if I had one inch of space left in my car, I would have tried to grab him and run for the hills. Joanne was just as I expected….slightly nuts, adorable, crazy, fun, and personable.  If I could sum it up, I would say Joanne is, in person, exactly like her written comments on DK and by that I mean her comments always make me think she just smoked a joint and bring a smile to my face. I love Joanne’s comments on DK, her sense of humor, her sometimes off the wall statements, and the way she says things in her own unique way.  Of course, she blamed it all on caffeine, but honestly, how much coffee does one have to drink to walk around in a cowgirl bikini cover up?

 

Roger chose meeting Hayley and me over well-deserved sleep and we were honored. In some past life, Roger must have been a model because he posed like a champ when we were talking pictures and did not take a bad picture. I just know if I had asked him to run towards me with a ball in his mouth, I would have gotten a great picture and the catch lights in his eyes. The thing about Roger is I already knew I was going to like him because I have never forgotten the story about how long it took Starlit to warm up to him and how he had to give her cookies for over a month.  He had me at hello and I just knew he was one of the good guys and that was obvious on our visit.  He also got a big kick out of Joanne and I like a man who likes crazy women. 

It was supposed to be a quick visit and 2-1/2 hours later we decided it wasn’t and said our goodbyes. I felt like we were leaving old friends and honestly, I could have spent a year, month, week with them, but when I mentioned it, they quickly said they had plans. Not really, but even I know Vern isn’t the only one in our family who starts to stink after a few days.

 

The only dicey moment happened when Joanne blurted out she had not been to Intercourse in twenty years.  Luckily, before I could offer Roger my condolences, she added Pennsylvania. What a great new world DoodleKisses has opened up to me.  I love putting an actual face and voice to people I have spent a lot of time with on my computer.  Joanne was definitely on my Poop Bag List and even though I have been able to cross her name off, I know we will spend time together again in the future, whether she wants to or not. :)

I love this picture!

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

She was cracking up as I was explaining to her who all all the players are and so on. Laurie, she stays at home and names all her dogs after food. Except she also travels around a lot. She writes this great blog and has a knack so making things sound dirty yet socially acceptable at the same time. She went to visit Joanne, so sad about Starlit but now she has Spud! Yes, sometimes people meet in person. Not too long ago Karen of Karen and Jackdoodle went to visit Jane Guiness and Murphy. I don't know Jane super well but she seems very nice and I hear she's a whiz with training. Karen doesn't like to travel but she lives close by so maybe we will go there soon. She's definitely a "heavy hitter", kind of like F is to photography Karen is to food. F who? I have no idea but she has more doodle points than anyone and carries a lot of clout. Then there's Lonnie and Libby Lu, they always have the nicest things to say. And Zoe ... doesn't she look just like Lola. And banjo, they are like me, love to ride motorcycles but now not so much because they have a doodle. Have you seem the videos??? And so on.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

LOL, that's hard, Jay. I totally understand. I got used to funny looks on people faces once I start telling them about DK. Even my husband now knows some of the doodle names from here.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Haha.  I never really meant to keep it a secret, more like I just don't know who would care to listen.  For example I was at a dinner meeting last night for a non-profit I'm involved with, and they asked why I brought my dog and camera with.  How do you explain to someone the importance of getting a picture of your dog next to a landmark and getting it uploaded before the DK slideshow cutoff?

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Of course you are all welcome in Ireland :)

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Oh how fun! I love to put names with faces even if I don't meet them personally. Also, I just read of FB that Joanne has a new addition... you are fabulous, Joanne!

Jay, I'm so happy you came out of the closet, LOL! ;-)

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

:)

And yes, I remember the story about Vern and the Belgian Malinois.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jay, I would love to come to Chicago and it will happen. Of course, I would want to meet the world famous Lola and you. Those 4000 points will double in no time. I am glad you do not have to keep your DK habit a secret anymore :) LOL

Sue, My niece lives in Charlotte and we are thinking of visiting. I remember your sister's Belgian Malinois...Ben, right? I can still hear your brother-in-law booming out his name....LOL!! Vern almost wet himself :) Gosh, I see a huge road trip in my future!

[Sue Z. + Finley]

Laurie, the next time you are near Charlotte, NC let me know.  We would love a visit and have plenty of spare bedrooms.  Oh no, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that fact!  Seriously, after reading your blogs I feel as if I know you and you also live in my home state of Pennsylvania.  My sister's Belgian Malinois and Fudge and Vern were in the same training group for a time.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

PS - I showed this to Monica and revealed my DK habit.  She had two responses:  (1) Your (my) measly 4000 points is embarrassing - I'd better hurry up and get after that doodle trophy, and (2) they should add a new abbreviation, OMLD ("Oh My Lola Doodle").  Funny.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Aw ... next time you are so close let us know ... maybe we will take a road trip.  Or just come to Chicago.  :)  We were voted most dog-friendly city in America, you know!