Angel Jake at the RBC (Rainbow Broadcasting Corporation)

Angel Jake at the RBC (Rainbow Broadcasting Corporation)

Monday, January 5, 2009

Jake and Just Harry's Most Excellent Christmas Road Trip: Days Five through Eleven

On Day Five, sad as we were to leave Mayemphis and our terrier and human pals (see the photo on Gussie's blog), we packed up all our stuff, I consulted the map, and off we went, destination Grandma's home in St. Louis.

It was immediately clear that we were no longer in the south. "What are those funny looking trees?" I asked Dogdad. "Black junipers," he answered. Hmmm. They're so fat and furry, not like our lean palm trees. Kind of like the difference between a hairy dog and a whippet, I thought to myself, picturing the waggle we were going to meet in a few days.And what are those interesting looking houses? And, gasp!!! Are those hills????? We have nothing like that where we live!!!And what's with those temperatures, I wondered, as we watched the numbers on the console drop from the 30s to the 20s to 18???But after a few hours, we arrived at Grandma's, Dogdad's Mom, and forgot all about the temperatures in the warmth of her greeting.That is, we forgot all about the temperature until we had to go outside. By morning, when we it was hovering around 7 degrees, Mom insisted that we dress for the weather. Dogdad put on his once-a-year coat and muffler, kind of like Ralphie in the Christmas Story (which runs as a marathon when we get to St. Louis).And, you remember the sweater boyz, don't you? "Mom, you can't be serious!!!" She also tried to put some rubber booties on us -- but when we just looked at her as though she was nuts, she abandoned that idea. And, for some reason, we didn't seem to mind the cold on our paws. Or, for that matter, the cold on our bodies. We do have fur coats after all.We just chilled and made ourselves comfy.On Day Six, we went to visit an old college friend of Dogdad's and we saw our very first Christmas tree. Remember, this year was the first time we didn't spend Christmas at our animal camp, so it was very exciting, so exciting that JH, after jumping on laps and licking faces, decided to take a nap.That evening, Mom and Dogdad went to visit one of Dogdad's brothers, our uncle Mike, and we went along. Zowie, even more Christmas trees. But there was a surprise for Mom -- Chanukah presents -- including a beautiful Lenox menorah.


When we got home, it was really really cold -- and JH curled up in his bed with Dogdad's muffler while I just toughed it out!!.
By Day Seven, it warmed up -- but began to rain. And Mom had a new surprise for us: raincoats.Don't even ask!!!On Christmas Eve (Day Eight), after a 4:00 pm Mass at Graham Chapel at Washington University, the folks went over to our uncle's for the traditional Christmas Eve celebration with all the young'uns -- Dogdad's eleven young great nieces and nephews under the age of 16 (with one more on the way)!!! (We know this only because the Heron-cam -- who decided to fly with us after all, despite the cold -- reported it. The folks thought that, because there would be so many people, including very young ones, it might be better if we stayed home. I guess we agreed -- but we didn't really have a choice.)


But then, it was Christmas day (Day Nine), and we were invited to join the folks at our uncle's. We were very good -- and discovered that we had Christmas stockings of our own with lots of treats -- squeakies and chewies. Mom and Dogdad made sure that we were comfortable, and we had a wonderful time.
But the culmination of it all for Mom -- besides having us with her -- was opening a special Christmas/anniversary present that Dogdad had bought her -- a beautiful silver articulated camel made by an Israeli artist which Mom had been admiring for at least four years in the window of a local shop. What, you might ask, a camel and not a wire fox terrier? Chanukah and Christmas presents?????? And antlers???? We can't answer; she's our mom!! And it's a eucumenical thing.

One of these days, she'll show you her collection of two hundred camels - but for now, whippet waggle time is next!!


Jake

20 comments:

Gus said...

Oh wow! We love the camel. But we are totally (TOTALLY) ENVIOUS OF THE RAINCOATS!(oops, forgot the cap lock)

Gussie

Snowball said...

Your road trip look like lots of fun! Its nice to be able to stop by to meet up with your blogging pals. I wish I could have a road trip like you.

Luv
Snowball

Faya said...

Your Mom is just fabulous. Could she explain my Véronique that 2 small kids is ok but more it is a nighmare for us....
Your raincoats are so.....yellow ! Hahahaha.....but I love your sweaters. I have to put my coat because we have -10°C....
I am happy that you discovered the Christmas Tree.
Kisses, Faya

Asta said...

Jake and Just Harry
Now you might be mad at me, but I think bof of you look divine in those sweatews and waincoats, and then those nice fwilly scawves on chwissmuss..This looks just gweat..loved seeing youw Mom so vewy happy..hew menowah is gowgeous, and Hew camel looks vewy vewy special.youw Gwama would wawm up any woom.
I'm so glad you had such a pawtastic holiday
love you bof
smoochie kisses
ASTA
pee essMommi has glasses just like that next to hew bed..they awe hew TV glasses..I think ouw Moms look smawt

Moco said...

Hey guys,
We are just catching up with your GREAT Christmas trip. Boy, did you have a good time. We are so happy that you did well. I bet there are many more trips on the horizon for the two of you.

Stanley said...

Hey, Boys!!!

I've just read your last 3 posts, and I'm feeling the need for a little rest. I'm pooped!

You guys had the best time road-tripping with your parents. It looks like your mama was prepared for every eventuality, and that you guys took just about everything in stride.

I can't believe you all got to meet Gussie, Teka, Muzzer & Gussie's dad in Mayemphis! Wish we could have been there in the middle of all the mayhem!

I'm dying to see what happened in Kentucky with the whippet waggle, but, I'm getting some shut-eye first!

Goober love & smooches,
Stanley

Pee Ess
That camel is exquisite, and you guys looked totally natural in your sweaters. The raincoats were pretty funny, if you ask me (which you didn't).

Dexter said...

I think it was worth the trip to see you two in your sweaters. Very dapper.

Momma LOVES your mom's plaid skirt.

Watching your road trip is so fun.

Slobbers,
Mango

Simba and Jazzi said...

You did so many things. I like your jumpers, they look nice and warm and cosy.

Simba x

Princess Patches said...

What a great Christmas and Chanukah you all had! The camel is very cool! We can't wait to hear about your visit with the Whippets!

Aire-hugs,
Poppy, Penny & Patches

Daniella said...

Your mom must have been a girlscout, right? Boy, she was prepared for EVERYTHING - sweaters, rain coats, stockings...impressive. Dig the camel. Mom once rode one in Israel and nearly fell off - if you ever get to go on one she says remember they get up in FOUR stages, not THREE. Mom let go after three, and nearly hit the ground. Haha

Axel

Quinvale AstaLaVista Baby said...

G'day Barkalots!

Looks like you had a pawtastic road twip!

You will have to keep checking back for clues on my furpise.

xxx Asta

Lady Kaos said...

Wow! Your trip just keeps getting more and more fun! So since you've been so good does this mean you'll get to go every yera for Christmas?
Kaos

Noah the Airedale said...

This is fantastic...a silver camel, you in your cute outfits, Christmas trees....what a trip. We look forward to the next update.

tailwags
Noah Willow Tess Lucy x

Eric said...

Boy oh Boy, Boyz!! What an adventure. And you were soooo well behaved. I bet your were leggededs over excited though seeing all the relatives again and your lovely Granny? Sure you managed to keep them in line. Did you manage to leave any pee mail on all those pretty trees? And whats with Mom colecting camels??? Hope you got the hump with that boyz.Haaaa!!!

Can't wait to see those spindly palm tree whippets next.

Wiry wags, Eric xx

Lenny said...

Hey Jake and Just Harry! Thanks for your nice note about my Gotcha Day. I feel badly that I, ahem, missed someone's birthday, ahem...!!!

Your mom's Bernstein book sounds nice! Maybe I'll get some extra publicity this year too. :)

Hey, we wanted to know if your people brother and his band got to go to a bowl game!

Your friend, Lenny

Lenny said...

I love the account of your pawesome trip. You have some great pictures.

I hope no one shot their eye out! My [weird] nana got a BB gun this summer just like the one in the movie. She has yet to shoot her eye out, but I suspect she will eventually.

Your friend, Lenny

Molly the Airedale said...

Your mom sure was prepared with the sweaters and raincoats she packed for you guys!
Did you take any ornies off the Christmas tree?
What a beautiful camel and what a nice surprise for your mom!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Joe Stains said...

Your Mom is adorable! We are so glad she got something she has wanted for so long, it always makes it so much more special. I can't even imagine temperatures that cold, its unreal! We have raincoats too, we understand.

Anonymous said...

Heya Jake and JH,
Sweaters? RAINCOATS? Remember Ralpie's brother Randy in The Christmas Story marathon getting ready to go to school? Well that's what's in store for you if you keep this up. Tell your mom that you've got at least a little canine dignity. It's obvious to us here that y'all have a very loving, and big, family. Don't fret about your mom's collection. Our mom has hundreds and hundred, maybe even a million zillion, Tinker Bell pins and a lot of Tinker Bell junk, err we mean stuff. When dad's save things they're pack rats and hoarders but when mom's save things they're collectors and appreciaters? Who makes up these rules?
-TBH
OBTW - Wouldn't it be better if the rest of the people in the world could be as ecumenical as your mom? We bet things would be a whole lot better.

Jackson's J1 and J2 said...

Love the raincoats!
Does your mum REALLY have 200 camels?? J x