Whippet Snippets

Gone Golfing

Ribsy noticed that the white car is gone. Where did it go? he wondered. Did it really sell?

Yes, Girl replied. The Golf is gone. Sold to a happy house with two dogs.

Oh good, thought Ribsy. Those seats were comfy. I'm glad that a couple of lucky dogs will continue to enjoy them. Maybe they'll catch a whiff of me. In the meantime, I've got the camper van and I've already begun sprinkling my stubborn white dog hairs all over it the light blue upholstery. Not quite as satisfying as the black seats of the Golf, but it'll do.

Out of this world

Ribsy went on the longest road trip ever in his short life so far. Hopping into the camper with the eager anticipation of his usual romp at the UVic dog park, he was met with surprise by the speed and length of the car ride. On his next head poke out the window, he was perplexed to see nothing but whizzing cars, large green signs and lots of trees.

Up the Malahat...past Duncan...past Nanaimo...past Port Alberni, and eons later they were at Sproat Lake Provincial Park, home of the Martin Mars Water Bombers.

 

Boy drooled from a distance. The largest in the world, the Bombers scoop up 27 tons of lake water and can be fighting fires within minutes of being called.

 

 

Ribsy and crew secured an upper campsite located across the highway. They accessed the lake through a nifty tunnel. Ribsy wasn't the least bit spooked. This is good training for his upcoming agility class where he'll be navigating through chutes on a regular basis.

 

 

The lake was pristine, the waters warm. Boy could only gaze wistfully from the shore, as he forgot to bring swim trunks (and Ribsy's too).

 

But back at the campsite, good times were had, despite the pesky mosquitoes. Kabobs...soup...tasty beverages...and comfy camp seats (including a new family-sized chair that seats two & and a dog) - what more could you ask for?

Scram scam!

Yep, the Golf's still available. Ribsy doesn't mind that Girl's selling it since she doesn't let him sit in it anymore. But he notices that the For Sale sign is displayed. How could no one want that car? Are people just not looking for Volkswagen Golfs these days? He thought there was a taker, as he looked over Girl's shoulder one day and saw this e-mail message arrive in her Inbox:

Thanks, for your mail and how is your family and business today? I have a strong feeling all is well.I got back to my client about payment of this car he says he will be out cashiers cheque payment to you, our have an agent , whom will take care of all shipping processes .He will carry out the physical inspection of this car and sign all documents on my behalf.I have informed him about this transaction and he is ever willing to assist.

I would not want to pay him immediately , because from previous experiences he never realises the urgency of getting goods home as soon as he is paid in full.

I would rather prefer  you assist in making payments to him, my client hereby wish to make out a cashiers cheque in the amount of $14,000.You are hereby expected to assist  in making a payment of $6,300  to my agent  so that he can make all neccessary arrangements as regards pick- up and shipping .

I request you furnish me with your names in full , home addsress  where you wish to receive cheque immediately.

Regards,

Andrew.

That's great news, thought Ribsy. We call these scams, Ribsy - they're actually not a good thing. He's trying to trick me into giving him thousands of dollars, instead of paying me thousands of dollars.

Oh human nature is so complicated! When dogs don't like each other, a simple growl will do. When dogs like each other, they wag their tails. When dogs want to find out more about each other, they sniff each other's parts. There's no trickery involved. People are so strange. It's like they don't want to get along with each other. We live on the same planet. We might as well share it. 

Ribsy the Canuck, Part II

Actually this post relates more to Girl the Canuck since the topic is chocolate and Ribsy can't eat chocolate. Smarties, the classic pop in your mouth candy-coated chocolate treat, are now available in a very special Canadian edition, for a limited time only. Now she can chomp on these delectables while Ribsy sports his festive bandana and they'll be a perfect match. How's that for Canadian, eh?

Ribsy the Canuck

Ribsy sporting his new maple leaf bandana. He's sure to be a hit come Canada Day.

Nick the Quick

Girl's nephew Nicholas celebrated his one-year birthday with three of his closest toddler friends at his backyard barbecue. Nicholas wasn't too far off from Ribsy in terms of behavior at times. He latched on to anyone holding food in their hands, glancing up at them with big round eyes hoping for a morsel. Nicholas also craved his freedom like Ribsy, and his superb crawling abilities allowed him to get to his various favourite Point B's in the house at whippet-like speeds. And what can Girl say, they're both attracted to Pooh!

Sometimes too, like Ribsy, Nicholas is a wee bit too camera-shy to say hi to the lens. Here, he shields himself with one of his birthday balloons.

 

Not shy, Boy goes right to work trying to figure out the in's and out's of Nicholas' Lion King ride.

Sunday at 10

Whippet Whoop Up - get your whippets in order for the usual 10am Sunday gathering at Mystic Vale/Uvic.

Going...Going...Golf

Now that Ribsy's got the mighty mighty camper, he's helping Girl put the Golf up on the sale block.

It's a 1997 VW Golf, Limited edition K2 model. Now dog hair free, totally pristine inside, out and under -- she's a dream to drive.

Email Girl if you would like more info.

What did I do anyway?

Being punished isn't fun, thought Ribsy. Especially when you are just trying to please those that you're forever looking up to. How is he supposed to know that something that he is doing is wrong if no one has ever shown him otherwise? Sure he learned from his littermates and his mom and grandpop when he was a pup, but everything else since then...he's had to find out for himself. Either by studying other dogs, relying on instincts or applying what's he learned before. And that's a tough job. You can only give it your best guess. And then hunker and tuck your bum, preparing for the worst.

Life's a beach

Weekend warrior camping was on the agenda as Ribsy, Boy and Girl packed up in their VW camper and went on a getaway mission to Sooke and beyond.

Now, being the first time away from home in the great outdoors, to be sleeping in this van with all the feelings of new dripping all over it, it was understandable that Ribsy was a wee nervous. Note his stance for much of the ride up, tucked safely underneath the comfort of a cushion.

 

Pondering their thoughts enroute, over oyster burgers and onion rings at Shakie's, a surfside grub joint. Was it to be French Beach, Jordan River or China Beach?

 

The private, lush campsites and the dog-friendly atmosphere of French Beach won out. Boy and Girl quickly set up camp and walked the short path down to the beach.

 

Windswept and rocky, the rugged atmosphere was compounded further by the powerful waves pounding the shore. Ribsy contemplated exploring the waters - for about a nanosecond.

 

But explore he did!

 

 

Ribsy left only the gentlest of marks behind.

 

 

Even as the rain pelted the campsite in torrents late that evening, the trio were safe and warm in the back of their vdub. It was impossible to dampen their spirits! Ribsy could get used to this whole camping idea very quickly!