So - it's been awhile eh? I haven't felt motivated to write since December but there is lots to catch up on. Doug actually took off two weeks during the holidays which was nice. We hung out at home and Shackleton got to go to the dog park almost every day. He was super happy when he turned four months old! (you have to be at least that old to be able to go to the dog park) What a blast we all had. We took turns going to different parks and have decided that our favorite is the one by George Washington's house. It's about an acre or so and has trees surrounding the area. The dogs are nice and their owners keep an eye on them.

 

In January, Doug went back to work in his new position as the Operations Officer at OCS. Shackleton graduated from his pre puppy classes (his trainer said he is a genius) and was set to start regular puppy classes. On MLK weekend, Doug and I headed up to NYC for the weekend to meet up with my friend Steph and her husband Dan. It was a nice relaxing weekend. We checked out the Statue of Liberty, Battery Park, Wall St, 9/11 site (incrediably moving), Chinatown, Greenwich, SOHO, NOBO, the Village, Rockefeller Center (where Steph and I went ice skating...that was pretty funny, I'll see if Doug can post the video of it), Central Park and The Metropolitan Musuem of Art.  Steph found a really nice hotel called DREAM that was in mid Manhatten. Great location - we could walk to Times Square or Central Park. There was also a bar at the top of the hotel where we hung out one night and took in the sites. After that we headed down town and listened to some great jazz and found an amazing bartender who made the most awesome drinks! Doug has video of that as well. Hopefully he will post soon.

 

While Doug and I were in NYC, we had Shackleton stay at Olde Towne Pet Resort. It was a first for all of us in kenneling a dog. Shackleton stayed in the "five star" suite accomadations with play group for four hours each day. He must of had fun because he lost two pounds! while he was there and he picked up some new habits. He learned to play tug of war with other dogs. Lilliputian had the house to herself but I don't think she liked it very much. She was very vocal when we walked in the door. ;)

 

Things were looking good toward the end of January but then Shackleton suddenly got sick. We thought it was just conjuctivitis but he became very lethargic so back to the vet we went. Our regular vet had us immediately take him over to SouthPaws (ER) to see the neurologist. He spent two nights in ICU and the nuerologist did a spinal tap on him. All the results came back negative so they do not know the root cause. The official diagnosis was Menegeoencephalitis.  It was pretty scary and touch and go for awhile but he seems to be doing much better now. The Saturday after he came home from the hospital, Doug had his friend Dave over and Dave plays the guitar. Shackleton and Lilliputian both were really digging the music! It was the most activity we had seen from Shackleton in a long time so we were pretty happy. Lilliputian wasn't too sure about the whole guitar thing at first but after a bit she was grooving to it. Shackleton is still on antibiotics and steroids but should finish up this Friday. We will have another neuro check just to be sure. He also has developed a weird cyst on his front right paw and has demodectic mange on his left lower lip. The vet says it is most likely because of all the stress and medications he has been on recently and it should all clear up shortly. In the meantime, because they didn't know the root cause, he has been quarentined from other dogs. Talk about going stir crazy! We can't wait til he gets the all clear and then its back to the dog park to burn up some energy. We also will take him back to Olde Towne School for Dogs to finish his puppy training. His original trainer, Jane, is starting her own company in Georgetown so we will have a different trainer which is a bummer but most of the trainers there have been doing this for 15 plus years so I know we will be in good hands.

 

This past weekend, Doug, Shackleton and I headed over to Skyline Dr in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We did a little retracing of our first date and had a great time. Shackleton approved of all the outdoor activities and the riding around. It was pretty funny because as I glanced back in the rear view mirror, I saw Shackleton and realized just how much he has grown. When we first got him and he would sit in the back seat, he barely took up any space. Now, his head reaches beyond the headrest!!! 

 

We were going to take Lilliputian to Fort Washington in Maryland on Sunday but instead we got snowed in! Okay, well in comparison to Wisconsin weather, not really. However, for Northern Virginia, we got a lot of snow (3 inches). Shackleton was totally digging the snow. It's like there was stuff in the snow that he had to constantly attack. So, hopefully this weekend we will have better weather and we can do a little road trip with Lilliputian.

 

There is some more news to catch up on but it is like 55 degrees out right now and time to take Shackleton and Lilliputian (in her cat-a-lac) for a walk to enjoy the sunshine.  So, I'm off for now.