xiao_nu

Last night we got to go to Baja Fresh on south Lake. It was a lovely summer night and we had the patio almost completely to ourselves. My human said they have a new combo plate that was very tasty–a salad and mini burrito. I agreed that the salsa was delicious (I love tomatoes!) It seems they’ve made some changes on the menu and pricing (in a good way) and my human said we might be going there more. This is fine with me. While they don’t cater to me, it was a great place to spend and evening.

I give Baja Fresh 3 paws up!

After dinner we went for a walk to Coldstone Creamery. While I wasn’t allowed in (always a serious flaw), we did see people my human knew–Tom and Aaron Oliver. The small human was telling me about his dog, but I was too busy trying to get sniffs of all the new smells on Lake. Sorry I was so preoccupied, Aaron.

I love taking my humans out to eat and we always go places I like. The restaurants always have great outdoor seating, because I hate being shut inside when there is great California weather to enjoy. In the future, I’ll start telling you the great places we go, but today I want to tell you where I COULDN’T go!!

I have a favorite place at Plaza las Fuentes in Pasadena (which I’m sure I’ll write about on the next Friday we go there…), but that is an evening place. Today was a Saturday lunch and we went to California Pizza Kitchen. I was excited because I had a good portion of my pack with me. I was driven in the manner to which I’ve become accustomed–a great lap and plenty of airconditioning. We got to ride up in the shiny, moving box (how do they do that?) and then I waited patiently with my primary human outside CPK. There were all sorts of empty tables, lots of shade, and my mouth was drooling.

Amazing–we were kicked out!! NO DOGS! Not even on the patio! Thea didn’t even get to ask, the seater/greeter guy just looked up, saw me and said, “No dogs.” I was so humiliated. I try to be a good dog. This guy didn’t even know me.

Well, we shook the dust off our paws from that place and took off to a favorite–California Skewers!! South Lake Avenue between Green and Cordova. Sabatian (the main man) not only LOVES it when we come, but he give me my very own bowl and feed my humans delicious food (though I could only talk one of them into giving me a tomato).

California Skewers is the best. I give it my highest rating–4 paws up!!
(CPK simply gets a hydrant–better known as the leg lift salute!)

Well, it’s been a week. My human has spent more time at home with me than other weeks this summer, except one of those really hot “human days of summer” where we all felt like we were going to melt. When it was THAT hot, she kept cooling off by dropping me in the bathtub, getting me all wet, and then letting me shake the water onto her. It seemed like there must be a better way, but it really worked for ME to get that cool, so I was glad to help her out a bit.

This week we went for a walk around the Rose Bowl. My human said it was 3 miles but I know it was more like 21 for me. Those humans are so understated in the time and distance categories. It was a little hot, but I love the puddles we found and the slightly muddy grass. It felt great on my legs and tummy. The water tasted good, but my human only let me drink a little bit. She used the word “gross.” That must mean “refreshing or tasty” because it’s always used when I’m eating something!!

Tonight my pack is bringing in others to love and adore me. It’s a celebration of day of birth of the folks who come up and play with the rope with me and let me practice my guard-dog abilities on them as they enter the back door. We are having the firepit, which usually shares my attention in the middle of the human circle. However, the great thing about it is that the humans are so focused on it that they put their food and drink on the ground for me to really enjoy. I’m partial to wine and beer, but sometimes a refreshing drink of water is just the thing. I don’t know for sure if there will be the small humans, but they’re the best. They know I’m the center of the universe AND they love to share their food prizes with me!! They don’t even have to beg for the prizes from the big ones–WOW!

This community living is the way for a dog to live!! It’s nice to know all these folks love me and that I’m the center of the world. I love it when the pack gathers for meetings around me. As I go from one to another, sometimes blessing them with a sneeze, I get to check in with a sniff to see how everyone’s doing.

My summer is a little different.

Sometimes my main human is gone, but that’s actually OK because then everyone stops by to feed me, see me, feed me, take me for walks, feed me, and take me to their houses (where sometimes they feed me!). When my human returns, I usually need lots of long naps because all the great attention makes me tired.

The other great thing about summer is lots of time on the porch to watch everyone go by. I am truly a “sun dog.” Sleeping in a warm patch of sun is just about a perfect moment. Of course, if I can’t get outside in the sun, sleeping anywhere is acceptable.

The last great thing about summers are having lots of humans with food (who forget I’m around) and small humans who spill A LOT! Sometimes we also have the juicy metal thing that the humans put tasty meat on to burn. It leaks great juices that I can just lick up at my leisure (until they notice). I love the things humans call a BBQ!