Pepe Le Pew Le Ward 11/20/1998 - 10/12/2010

I had the delight of knowing a lot of you in my short life, but there were also those who have or have not heard about me.....a Gold Shih Tzu whose sire was Marumscos Buzz Light Year and Dam was Marumscos Miss Gizmo.  I was delivered to my adopted home at the ripe age of just over 8 weeks.  Washington, DC was a scary place for a little guy...but fortunately my Dad and I lived just across from a park and I relished in only having to cross 1 street to get there.  Fire trucks, police cars and all the loud sounds of the city became second nature to me really fast and soon I upgraded to long walks....awesome...touring the neighborhood....seeing other dogs...other people...and a great area to strut my stuff!!  One memory of those early days was being rolled by a large black lab....maybe he wanted to play...but I learned the trick of "duck and roll" and was out from under him in no time.  And believe me the trick was used several other times during my life.

I was very fortunate to be able to travel with my Dad...and I know he will remember my first experience with the Ocean....as will his friend Johnny!! We were at Rehoboth Beach and walking along the beach and as we got a little closer to the water I looked up and saw a wave of water coming directly at me....I turned to head away from the wave of water....but it caught me on my butt.  From that day forth I did not have a love for water of any form....the ocean....swimming pools.....rain...or getting a "BATH"!!  The word bath was one I understood very well in my life....knowing that getting soaked was eminent...and being blow dried was not far behind.....all for the sake of being clean!!!

Travel also took my Dad and I to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.  Quite the little traveler....by car, truck and airplane.  I did have one bad experience when flying to Arizona....the airplane was very warm...no wait...make that HOT!  And I was in a carrier under the seat in front of my Dad.  I was taught at an early age by my Dad that I should not bark....difficult for a little guy like me but I understood that living in an apartment it helped if you did not have a 'yelping' dog!  However, being under that hot seat in the airplane was way too much....so I decided to take things in my own paws....I "BARKED"...and yeah it got attention...and the air conditioning came on...I always wanted to think that I was responsible for that....oh, and my Dad...yeah he was mortified!

My Uncle Skip would often keep me at his Condo in DuPont Circle....he was the best...we had such great walks....and you would be amazed at all the guys/dogs I met over the years.  One memory of being at Uncle Skip's was when he thought I had expired.  I had a habit of sleeping on my back with all 4 legs in the air...quite comfortable....but yes a bit unusual for a dog.  Well, Uncle Skip remembered seeing a movie where the dog had expired and was found laying on his back with all 4 legs in the air.  Sure enough he woke up one morning and there I was...on my back....he called my name....I did not respond....he called again - nothing...then he yelled my name and it scared the be-Jesus out of me....and I leaped up...Uncle Skip was relieved to say the least....I was wondering...what the hell just happened!!

Oh the life of a dog....I once was with Johnny in the Pet's Mart....dogs are allowed in there....to cruise other dogs and check out all the toys...treats and dog type stuff.  Johnny thought is was oh so cool having me roam up and down the aisles....it was too...until I decided to leave my mark...I hiked my leg and peeped....oops - not a good thing.  Johnny hustled me out of there at record speed.

Over the years I was fortunate to have such wonderful caregivers when my Dad traveled for business and pleasure.  I loved all the attention I was given...and always tried to be on my best behavior.  Nan & Jeanette were a couple of my favorites....they always had some really cool dogs either at the house or in the neighborhood were we would walk.  That Lucy Lou comes to mind...she was a stunner!!  Nan, Jeanette and I would also play the food game....tossing out a dog food morsel one at a time in a pitch and catch fashion...I loved that....and even got my Dad to do it at my house.  But Nan & Jeanette also thought at one time that I might love to go in the pool....NOT....remember I do not like water!!  I was very fortunate to be a minute part of their life over the years and know they will receive an extra blessing for being so loving. 

Dennis was one of my caregivers.  He knew what a dog loved....'TREATS'....I tried my best to get as many of them from him as possible.  We had some great times...and that man knows everyone...we would be out with him walking and talking to everyone the whole way on my dog walk.  He also knew I loved the 'PARK' and I would always respond when he steerred me in that direction.  Of course in the last few months of my life I had a bit of difficulty navigating the streets with my bad eye sight and would often have to be guided to prevent my running into a tree or a fence.  Dennis was always there for me and showered me with his love of animals....how great was that for a little guy like me?

Finally...my Dad.  We were buddies...he was always there for me...and I for him.  He gave me a great life and an opportunity to give love to him and  others...like his Aunt Velma in the nursing home in Arizona.  They loved me at the nursing home and I tried to give them some love in return...Love to his daughter Michelle and her husband Todd...along with his grandchildren Schuyler & Keaton ....who had the greatest dog...Becket.  I know my Dad will remember when we were driving  to Todd & Michelle's for Christmas and came upon the toll booth on the tollway.  I always thought that when the car door opened I could get out...most of the time that was true....well not when you come to a toll booth and the door opened because Dad missed the chute and dropped the change on the pavement.  The door opened and I hopped out....YIKES...where am I now...concrete and cars whizzing by....quickly I was scooped up and put back in the car....learned a lesson too....wait for Dad when the door opens!!!

I really had a great life...and I know for some it may have seemed short...but hey...12 years of a dogs life makes me 84 in human years....I know I may not have remembered your favorite experience when you met or cared for me...Dad would love to hear those I know....and I hope that I was able to give a little love to each and everyone that I touched....if so....pass it on....pass it on....

Packing for RTW - in a Carry-on????

Well this month I decided to tackle the task of seeing - if at all possible - I could put all my clothing into a carry-on bag under 40 pounds for my RTW trip. WHAT.....you ask!! Impossible....well, maybe not! I realize that I would have to wear some of the same things twice...well maybe three times...four? Okay, so what is wrong with mix and match? I mean come on...black is a basic color...2 black t-shirts and 1 pair of jeans can go a week - well they can - but they won't!

It was suggested to me by a retired colleague that I should take t-shirts I did not really like or ones that after I had worn a number of times I could just discard and use the room for things I bought along the way. Hey, now that is my kind of idea. But, I am a pack rat (sort of) - while I detest left-overs in food - I can see myself wearing something a number of times and keeping it...well I can!

Okay, lets get to the experiment.....the articles of clothing in the picture above include among other things 7 shorts, 8 socks, 9 t-shirts, 3 slacks, 2 jackets, 1 sweater, 1 pair of jeans, 1 swim suit, 6 casual shirts,1 sandals,1 sneakers, 2 walking shorts, pair of gloves & hat (I get cold in temperatures below 50) + 90 day supply of all my medications and my toiletries kit including a first aid packet.

Let's see what that looks like rolled and put into cubes....

Wow...you say....all into a Carry-on....NOOOOOOOO!  It would not fit -  even Dolly Pardon could not get that into that smaller bag.  So, I opted for this duffle type bag, but the good news is that it did all fit, and has a total weight of 34 pounds.  Hip Hip Hooray....I have achieved that benchmark. 

Next up - the real carry-on.  My backpack with electronic media.  That will be my feature next month....I will leave you with a picture of my bags....and the thought that 19 weeks from this Wednesday, September 29th,  I will be leaving IAD for SYD.........

"Moving right along......"

August has found me getting back to "Next to Normal".....well I have never even been close to "Normal"....no wait that is Broadway talk....but one hell of a play!! My normal in August has been putting my home life back in order after the rain. What a difference a month makes as you can tell from the pictures....it was not pleasant, but then those things do happen. Okay enough on that, and I hope you like the pictures....I was going to post my Glenn Beck collection of photos...but none of them came out - don't you just hate that!!

Travel is what we live for...well me at least! And so in August I began working with a firm in Austin, Texas (Amazon Adventures) who specializes in South American adventure. I am working on my trip to Machu Picchu in Peru as well as my journey to Easter Island from Santiago. Then I have decided that going to South America may not be complete without a couple days in Rio!!

Oh, the really awesome thing is that the One World Alliance of Airlines (my main carrier being American Airlines) offers a South American package allowing you to purchase visits to selected cities with reduced fares based on the mileage between the cities. I did a price comparison and found the One World prices to be a good value. Check it out.

This month I also received a confirmation on my hotel stay while in Dublin. I was very pleased about that since the property from all I have read is a great place to stay and has quite a history behind it. It is called Cassidys....so will let you know when I get there what "Bob's Trip Advice" would be...

Well September has me traveling during a couple weeks for work.....which BTW has only 49 working days till December 29, 2010. It will be here before I know it....Once I get to October 1st it will be a blur....things really pick up in October and I will have little time other than to pack my bag for another trip out of town.....Las Vegas....Atlanta.....Dallas.....New York...and one of my favorites Chicago for Christmas!!

Happy Labor Day to everyone.....Hugs (pass it on....)
Bob...

July.....what a month!!

Okay....planning for travel around the world is one thing. And, to be honest I think i have been very successful thus far in managing to stay sane and not get too excited. Well, in July that all changed....first there was the 4th of July...with a great group of friends and hearing the National Anthem sung to perfection by a graduate voice student from Tennessee (just happened to be Matt Johnson's nephew)....well the fireworks were a given right? Then there was a trip to hot-Lanta...for work of course...my next to last UCE trip...looking right in the face of October when the last trip will be made. Okay so where is this leading?....be patient...be patient...next was Christmas in July....yes Virginia...Christmas in July. A party to celebrate the festive time of year...but in July when it was 105 degrees and we were at my favorite restaurant in Washington (and probably nationwide)..CAVA...remember it...and if you have not been there...oh you must try it...you will get hooked really fast....did I say it was a Greek mezze? Small portions so you have have 4 or 5 different things...ummm....so so good. Okay...so we are sweltering on the roof bar of Cava and everyone I think did sweat...really...some more than others.

Now...the crowning achievement of July....on Sunday following Christmas (in July...remember) Washington DC has an afternoon down pour...a true "gully washer"!! So after the storm I am walking from the dining room into the kitchen when i feel and hear this sound of water under my feet!! I look down and it is water....WHAT...immediately I begin pulling up the area rug from under my dining room table...a few spots of water...but look in the corner and see water standing...yes my friends...water standing...oh my goodness....well I will not go on and on about this...but the outcome you will be able to see in the photo...removal of all the flooring and also the wallboard up to the chair rail.

How could this happen? I have never had water before...never! A couple of days later it was determined that it came from the adjacent house as the result of a drain that was clogged or inoperable causing the water to back up and the pressure forced the water to the adjoining property...me!!

Good does come from everything...right? It does...because had this happened while I was in Atlanta or Spain or Australia....I would have come home to water soaked carpet and furniture...and eventually mold.

August...you dog day of summer months...I cannot wait for you to arrive....booking for the 2nd half of RTW in 2011 will begin in earnest....

As my friend Linda Elerbee would have said....."....and so it goes...."

Around the World Part 1 is booked

Whew.......I have just completed work on the first of 2 parts to my Around the World journey. After many months, days and hours of reading, researching and doing background on a whole host of places I have finalized my Part 1 itinerary. Part 1 will take me to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, China, India, United Arab Emeritas, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales over an 85 day period.

Airports of call on this first leg are IAD , LAX, SYD, CHC. AUK, MEL, HBT, BKK, DEL, BKK, HKT, DBX, LHR. My journey begins on Februay 9th from IAD (Washington Dulles International Airport) to SYD (Sydney, Australia)....and ends with my flight from London (LHR) back to Washington (DCA...opps....that is Ronald Regan Washington National Airport).

But my journey will not all be by air....it will also include bus, ferry boat, train, automobile....and who knows maybe a horse or elephant thrown in for good measure. Accomodations will go from the Hyatt and Inter-Continental to a number of quaint botique bed and breakfast locations. If you are interested in meeting me at any of the exotic and interesting places...let me know

Okay....back to work on Part 2...which will commence in September 2011 and conclude with my return to Washington in January 2012!!

Getting up to speed with a Blog.....

Okay....if I can do this anybody can do it! I decided that it was time to get this blog down before I venture into my new job - retirement. It will also give me the opportunity to let you in on my advance planning for my "Round-the-World" trip in 2011. So I hope you will check back and see how things are going...or not going.