Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
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!
Comment
Rebuttal: I really gave Laurie a fake phone number, 1-800-555-ubag, and somehow she still found me anyway. I was broke down on the highway. About that shirt. I showed up with this lovely get up thinking it would take the focus off my messy Sunday morning hair and Laurie would really love all the phsco colors. I’ve had it in my closet since the 70s. Saving it for good, I wear it on special meetings like this one. Nice shirt, huh? Duh! She panics , runs to her car, then forces a cowboy beach - bop shirt on me. What is wrong, man?
I really am hyper. More hyper now that I am an adult. I used to blame it on my children but they moved out long ago. People often look at me with a head tilt just like a dog. Sometimes I hear them whisper, " WTD is she saying?" No wonder I get along with dogs and their people. They get me right? But I often worry people think I am drunk when I type. In all honesty, I drink about 4 times, maybe, a year. Now, they will think I’m a stoner. More coffee, Pa Leeeze!
Roger had a great time but without sleep, he was so confused when he met Laurie. He admits to me, that when I am at work, he comes to DK to find her orange bikini photos! He expected her to look different. He whispers to me that Laurie really does not glue her head on to a bikini body after all. Then he says, after reading this blog, he would have run with a ball in his mouth straight towards her, with catch lights, if she would have shown up with that awesome, Head Glued On, Orange Bikini Look.
I adored Hayley. She was so polite when I tried to stick her iPad under my marijuana shirt. I really did.
Love this! I'm so glad that you, Joanne, and FJ got to meet! The pictures are terrific, whoever took them!
You do know that Illinois is the next state west of Indiana, right?
Ha, I love this! One of my favorite things EVER is observing DK people meeting each other. I totally know what you mean about people being confused when you try to explain your online friends and meeting them. Looks like a blast!
Bonnie, Can I drive to Hawaii? LOL You are on my Poop Bag List :) Maybe we can get a Doodle Cruise coming your way or I can drive our Pontoon boat over. LOL
Joanna, It was exciting and Spud is a Spud :) Thank you! Joanne rocked that shirt. LOL
Jennifer, Thank you!! Get yourself healthy and then ROAD TRIP :)
Lonnie, Thank you! I forgot our common love of shopping....how could I, because that is one of my favorite things to do :) Ok, I am making a phone list. I just need a better car to get there. LOL Thank you for the very kind words.
F, How dare you....I took all of the pictures except the one I am in...OMD! The abuse I take :) You might have the right idea. I was so tired from that drive. I am still recuperating. It is exciting to meet those sweet Doodles, too.
Joanne posted on FB that she was meeting Laurie in Ohio and I was ready to jump on a plane! I'm so tickled that you met and had the chance to share some Spud-love! Your blog was awesome and I'm going straight to message you my phone number. I want you to visit me!!!
© 2025 Created by Adina P. Powered by
You need to be a member of DoodleKisses.com to add comments!
Join DoodleKisses.com