Friday, April 30, 2010

30.04.10

afternoon beach sprints:
Alice*
Maggie*
Truman*
Lucy**
Ginger**
Osita**
Rufus**
(7)

Went out in shifts after the humans swam for a while and ran up to the tortuga sign, swimming as we went. The stars indicate the shifts. Everyone was good, although the afternoon did start with a small jailbreak/sneak attack at the gate. Still, in the end it was all good and fun.
GRADE: B

Thursday, April 29, 2010

29.04.10

morning run:
Alice
Lucy
Ginger
George
Ernie
Reggie
Godzilla
(7)

Humid and uncomfortable in the monte, but it wasn't too bad on the beach. Didn't go very far, but we did a reasonable loop down to the beach at Au Soleil Couchant, and everyone kept up. George started out on the leash because he's a bit of an ass to begin with. Reggie nearly tore Roni's finger off at the gate with one of his insane, unexpected lunges. Everyone was good.
GRADE: A

afternoon beach romp/swim time:
Rufus*
Gowron*
Maggie**
April**
Otto***
Truman****
(6)

Everyone didn't come out at once, but rather they were sort of out in shifts, as indicated by the stars, except that Rufus stayed out the whole time. Various subgroups ran up and down the beach while Roni swam and was periodically attacked from land by the rest of us. Everyone had a grand time, and behaved themselves; the dogs that didn't come out also deserve mention for being especially good.
GRADE: A

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

28.04.10

morning run:
Gracie
Frankie
Eve
Frijolita
Rufus
Gowron
Ziggy
Lily
Jack
(9)

After a morning rain, just grabbed whoever didn't have Hot Lava Theory and took off up the beach to the palm tree and back. Strange collection of dogs, but everyone was good. Ziggy ran well and swam a lot.
GRADE: A

Monday, April 26, 2010

26.04.10

morning run:
Oscar
Otto
Archie
Ernie
Rufus
Shirley
(6)

Only six this time, and we went far even though it was pretty humid. Shirley needed most of the water but when we finally got down to the beach at Au Soleil Couchant she was fine and ran home on the beach with the rest of us. Everyone was good.
GRADE: A

evening walk:
Zasu
Miles
Henry
Tito
Maggie
April (leash)
Ziggy
Bosha
(8)

Damned cute little crew. April was off the leash briefly, and used her "wild and free" time to cover herself in salty water and filth; we put her back on when we heard a moto close by. An uneventful and fun outing.
GRADE: A

Saturday, April 24, 2010

24.04.10

morning run:
Alice
Lucy
Ginger
Reggie
Truman
Osita
Lily
Jack
(8)

A shorty up the beach, around the loop at Au Soleil Couchant and back down to the tortuga sign. Everyone was good and had a good time. Lily is seriously considering swimming on her own now, it's only a matter of time...
GRADE: A

Friday, April 23, 2010

23.04.10

morning run:
Gracie
George
Shirley
Ernie
Posey
Gowron
Tuesday
(7)

Left and came back on the beach, did a loop through the monte from Au Soleil Couchant back around to the tortuga sign. Tuesday was on the leash the whole way, but was good about it and had fun. Everyone was perfect until the end, when Ernie decided to launch a pork missile (himself) at some woman collecting sand in front of the HoJo. I had to put him on the other end of the leash and come home two-for-one. I don't understand why he did that.
GRADE: B

Thursday, April 22, 2010

22.04.10

mid-morning chicken sortie:
Zasu
Bosha
(2)

No rooster for us. You heard me. Bosha refrained from pooping on anyone, so we're calling it a tactical win.
GRADE: A

afternoon beach dash:
Oscar
Rufus
(2)

Had to clear my head after a particularly awful conference call. Nearly sprinted to Au Soleil Couchant and turned around, swimming all the while. There were tourists on the beach and both Oscar and Rufus were stellar.
GRADE: A+

evening chicken sortie:
Zasu
Henry
Bosha
(3)

We saw yon rooster, but he is wily and quick and eluded us into the brush to the south of Kikis' house. We left him tortilla pieces to eat. At least he's still alive. Will keep trying.
GRADE: A

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

21.04.10

morning run:
Gracie
Bette
Godzilla
Eve
Rita
Frijolita
Blue
(7)

Stellar. Went early and far. No-man's land is getting a little drier but still treacherous.
GRADE: A

morning chicken search/jaunt:
Zasu
Henry
Bosha
(3)

Still no chicken. Bosha poops when she walks. She poops when she runs. She poops when she wags her tail. It always seems to surprise her. Unfathomable. Everyone was good.
GRADE: A

slightly later morning chicken search, sortie#2:
Zasu
Bosha
(2)

The rooster lives! Sadly, it was discovered on this outing by its commanding officer (Roni) that a certain officer Zasu thinks chasing roosters is neat, which made capturing said rooster impossible this outing. Still, we press on. A haiku:
  Zasu chases him
  Bosha poops inscrutably
  Roni wonders: why?

GRADE: B?


chicken sortie #3:
Henry
(1)

Tried to trap the rooster at dusk, but he was not there.
GRADE: A

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

20.04.10

evening walk/chicken search:
Zasu
Miles
Bosha
(3)

Saw the rooster in the morning but he was nowhere to be found at dusk when we went to Kikis again.
GRADE: A

Monday, April 19, 2010

19.04.10

morning run:
Alice
Lucy
Ginger
George
Ernie
Reggie
Rufus
(7)

That's roughly 400 pounds of dog on the hoof. We left late, so we went straight up the beach to the palm tree and back, just like the old days. Everyone swam a lot, including Reggie, who is actually quite a good swimmer.
GRADE: A

evening walk/chicken search:
Zasu
Henry
Tito
Tuesday
Bosha
(5)

We went for a shorty in the monte with the intention of swinging around to Kikis' place to look for her chicken. The home dogs were so loud, however, that we came back and dropped off Tuesday, Tito and Henry instead and just went down to Kikis with Zasu and Bosha, who were both good. No chicken found. Tuesday was on the leash throughout and was mostly good (pulled too much at first), and Tito also was pretty good.
GRADE: B

Sunday, April 18, 2010

18.04.10

morning run:
Oscar
Otto
Archie
Posey
Osita
Jack
Lily
Elewah
(8)

Yes, Elewah got thrown in. I thought she might not pester us so much during the day if I tired her out first. We went out to no-man's land, which was mostly underwater and extremely treacherous (slippery gray and red mud under 6-12 inches of water). Came home at the way-out "Y", but was still a pretty decent run, and everyone was good until the end. Posey and Osita should probably not go out together, they seem to increase each other's mischievousness; there were people parked at the south shack, and although I had Posey on the leash, Osita decided to go check it out when we got home. Irritating. Elewah also turns out to be a bit of a people barker. Otherwise good.
GRADE: B

evening s/k duty:
Zasu
Elewah*
(2)

Zasu talked me into going to the end of the coco trail; Elewah tagged along and then went to see her buds, who were at the alcove after their nibble of kibble.
GRADE: A

Saturday, April 17, 2010

17.04.10

morning walk:
Zasu
Maggie
Ziggie
Elewah*
(4)

An early, violent rainstorm scrubbed any plans there might've been for a run, but things cleared up so we went for a little jaunt before the rain wakes the bugs up in earnest. Elewah didn't come in with the rest of us, and is probably lurking around under a bush as I type this. Everyone was good.
GRADE: A

Friday, April 16, 2010

16.04.10

morning run:
Gracie
George
Chester
Bette
Blue
Gowron
Lily
Jack
(8)

PuppyG was thrown in at the end. Left by the beach because I heard some crazy barking in the monte to the east and didn't want to find out what it was. We did a short one, up to the tortuga sign, into the monte, a loop through the shire, and down the Au Soleil Couchant access road to the beach again, then home. Lily and Jack both tried swimming for the first time, and were good throughout. At the very end I brought us home up the north road and to the back gate, and Chester decided that he wanted to go see what the barking was about in the monte, I guess; I had to go chase him down after I put everyone else in. He was at the shrimpery intersection and refused to walk home with me, I had to CARRY him to doce. No idea why he did that. Elewah caught up with me while I was screwing with Chester, and didn't seem to care about the barking, which was further to the east and pretty frantic.
GRADE: B

Thursday, April 15, 2010

15.04.10

morning run:
Alice
Lucy
Ginger
Ernie
Rufus
Frankie
Truman
(7)

It was Blue's turn but Frankie also needed to go; Blue should go next. Truman, Ernie and Frankie were enthusiastically trying to engage the cows at the cow pasture to begin with, but they broke off and followed me and everyone was good thereafter. We ran into a couple vehicles on the way, including one dude on a moto who drove alongside us for about 50m and wanted to know about our little deal, and then drove off ahead of us; I had Ernie on the leash (because I heard him coming up behind us) but I don't think it was necessary. A year ago he'd have jumped Mr. Moto for sure.
GRADE: A-

evening walk/sk duty:
Zasu
Miles
Henry
Greta
Elewah
(5)

Elewah counts on this one, although she came home later. Greta has a terrible limp now, but I figured she needed some fun and we were already out, so we went slow and waited for her a lot. Elewah barked at the cows, but for some reason it seemed really funny: me with that rag-tag collection of little and/or fat dogs, and tiny little Elewah decides to harass the cows. They were not impressed. Amazingly, Miles kept up and had a good time. Greta insisted on coming home Ye Olde Way, even though the rest of us came back up the North Road trail, for reasons we will never know.
GRADE: C+

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

14.04.10

morning run:
Oscar
Otto
Archie
Godzilla
Eve
Lily
Jack
(7)

Rained all last night, so it was wet and slick out in no-man's land. Nobody cared, everyone had a great time and behaved. Lily and Jack did especially well.
GRADE: A

evening walk:
Zasu
Henry
April
(3)

It seemed the universe took a personal interest in keeping this from happening, but somehow Roni managed to get out the gate with these three and go for a walk. April is a psycho.

Monday, April 12, 2010

12.04.10

morning run:
Gracie
Bette
George
Ernie
Rufus
Frijolita
Rita
(7)

Pretty good. Left by the beach, came home in the monte. Was humid, George had a bit of a hard time but not too bad. Gracie insisted on chasing cows on the way home, so she went in the box for a bit. Otherwise good.
GRADE: B-

evening s/k duty:
Zasu
(1)

Short walk, she was good.
GRADE: A

Sunday, April 11, 2010

11.04.10

morning run:
Chester
Shirley
Reggie
Posey
Osita
Lily
Jack
(7)

It was really humid, so we perhaps went 8k, maybe a little more. Coming back the Terreno Federal road we ran into The Goats. I had seen their tracks and foolishly tried to convince myself that they were not fresh, so this is all my fault. Osita, Posey and Reggie took off and engaged them, splitting the herd in two. They drove one half of the herd back towards us and would not listen or slow down. The other half of the herd was still in front of us, and the remaining four dogs made no move to do anything and stayed with me, which at least was one reason for pride. I continued on slowly with The Good Dogs and allowed the goats to sort of go around us with no hostilities. Reggie, Osita and Posey made their way back to us in that order, so I put Posey on the leash (that's the rule: loser gets the leash). Although I was not thrilled with them, it could've been much worse, and Lily and Jack were extremely good throughout.
GRADE: B-

Friday, April 9, 2010

09.04.10

morning run:
Alice
Lucy
Ginger
Ernie
Gowron
Blue
Truman
(7)

Extremely humid. Did a medium loop down to the beach. Saw a small turtle on the Au Soleil Couchant beach access road, about 200m from the road to Xixim. Really cool. Did some screwing around on the beach to avoid running into Ze Hoodlers. There were people and vehicles aplenty and everyone behaved. The sisters all did a lot of swimming.
GRADE: A

puppy training run:
Zasu*
Lily
Jack
(3)

We saw the pathetic little creature that as yet has no name on doce and nobody bolted or acted up, but Zasu turned tail on me and ran home at the end of our trail (probably to see that dog and/or try to scam the food we left out for her). Lily and Jack and I then ran the shorty loop down to the beach at the HoJo and home. They were both stellar: listened, stayed with, had a good time.
GRADE: B

Thursday, April 8, 2010

08.04.10

evening short walk/chicken mercy sortie:
Zasu
Miles
Bosha*
(2+1)

The idea was to walk down to Kikis to water her chickens, since she still isn't around, taking Bosha just so she gets out and remembers that she lives there sometimes. Bosha is too strange for words. In summary: she needed assistance pooping right out of the gate, got scared by her own motility issues and subsequent violent poop expulsion, was startled/intimidated by the cat, and ran off pooping into the crepuscule. Baffling. Zasu, Miles and I walked down doce to Kikis, watered the chickens (who are there now), and walked back, no Bosha in sight. She ended up creeping around to the north property, where she just sort of lurked under a bush. Being the interventionist that I am, I went to get her, since I was concerned that she was having some kind of (how many times can you type this word in one missive) poop issue. She was, and she did, on my pants, by the truck, with Roni as bemused/amused witness. I wish I could explain how strange she is, but I can't. Nrf. Znk. Pzl. Goop!
GRADE: N/A

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

07.04.10

morning run:
Oscar
Otto
Archie
Frijolita
Eve
(5)

I needed a win after the last outing(s). Frijolita and Eve got gyped on their last time out, so they were first in line, and the brothers are always good. We left relatively early, went far, had fun and everyone behaved. On a sad note, the red female dog that ran with the pack of Rufus' sibs was dead in the road when we came back, up at Gary's intersection. No idea why.
GRADE: A

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

06.04.10

afternoon walk/complete screw-up:
Zasu
Maggie
Tito
Ziggy
Osita*
Godzilla*
Otto*
Tuesday*
Frankie*
Gowron*
(4+6)

The dogs with stars after their names were put into the office while the first four dogs were to be taken on a shorty, with the intention of heading around to the beach to wash Ziggy off for reasons we will leave unspecified. Apparently I am a bit distracted; I left the gate open when I left with the first four. Incredibly stupid. Roni opened the office after I had gone, to let the few that were in there out into the yard. They all bolted at full speed for the gate, which Roni naturally did not know was open; since she was injured during yesterday's goat-related festivities (ankle), she did the sensible thing and closed the gate, knowing exactly where those fools were going. She was right: they caught up to us at the shrimpery, which certainly threw me for a loop. Once they all calmed down they were pretty good about getting rounded up, and I took us all home to see what other damage I had wrought (none, thankfully). I then took just Zasu and Ziggy out onto the beach, up a short way and back home. Heart-pounding good fun. Not.
GRADE: C (dogs) / F (me)

Monday, April 5, 2010

05.04.10

morning run (aborted):
Gracie
Bette
George
Rufus
Frankie
Eve
Frijolita
Elewah
(7+1)

The goats were waiting for us at the shrimpery (it was too early for that but I guess they didn't get the memo on the time change). George was absolutely terrible, going back for seconds after I thought I had separated them all and tried to continue on (he was also terrible the last time we ran into goats). Roni came running down in her PJ's because she heard the chaos and pitched in valiantly; it was a long, hard battle for both of us to get everyone separated once the donnybrook began in earnest. I ended up tackling George in a salt pond where he had trapped a goat, and scraped the hell out of my right leg on the bottom, which automatically salted the wounds as they were delivered. Nice. Gracie was also extremely bad, as was Rufus, and Bette definitely did not help. Roni ended up heading home the direct way while I led the damned dogs around to the beach so that we didn't run into the goats again. I don't think any goats were injured, but George, for one, was certainly considering it. George, Gracie, Frankie, Rufus and Bette are locked up in the bodega until Roni and I can stand to look at them again. Frijolita, Eve and Elewah were the only ones who were good. Worst morning in a long time.
GRADE: F

evening s/k duty:
Zasu
(1)

Good girl.
GRADE: A

Sunday, April 4, 2010

04.04.10

morning run:
Alice
Lucy
Ginger
Oscar
Otto
Archie
Ernie
(7)

Short one, getting hot early (time changed today here). Lucy took a little too long coming back from an unsupervised and unapproved marmot-chasing expedition at the intersection with the Au Soleil Couchant access road. She paid for it by tiring herself out in the bush, and was dragging her ass the whole way home. Otherwise all good.
GRADE: B

evening s/k duty:
Zasu
(1)

Saturday, April 3, 2010

03.04.10

morning run:
Chester
Shirley
Ernie
Rufus
Gowron
Osita
Godzilla
(7)

Rufus is still too worked up at the start, but even when he's wigging out he still listens. It was humid, but we left early so we went a reasonable distance (out to no man's land and straight home at the "Y"). Shirley and Ernie had a hard time at the end, but we drank all the water and took the short-cut home. Everyone was good.
GRADE: A

evening s/k duty:
Zasu
(1)

Friday, April 2, 2010

02.04.10

mid-day crazy-person beach stroll:
Zasu
Henry
Bosha
(2+1)

Went to Kikis to see if she's back and water the chickens if she isn't (she isn't, saw no chickens, left water). Bosha was happy to get out again, and stayed out when we came home. Blindingly hot and lots of xmul around Kikis. Only crazy people and their crazy dogs walk around when it's like that, which made it inherently fun.
GRADE: A

Thursday, April 1, 2010

01.04.10

morning run:
Gracie
Bette
George
Frankie
Tuesday
Truman
Blue
(7)

Frankie is slowly working her way over to the Good Girls list; she was off the leash the whole way and behaved herself around people and vehicles. We left late and it was hot so we did not go far, but it was perfect for George, who kept up the whole way. Tuesday was on the leash the whole way, but was pleasant about it and had fun. Truman said "hi" to the cows on the way out, but it was just high spirits and there was no barking. Everyone was good on the way home.
GRADE: A