The Fair, the Pariad and the Bath

Hi guys,
Yesterday, Mom, Auntie Julia and Adam took me to the Minnesota State Fair. I was so happy to come with and get a really good workout in because I hadn't been able to do that in a while. We had to wait a long time for the free bus service to come pick us up, but it wasn't too hot outside and Mom kept giving me water to drink. At one point, she took what was left in the cup and dumped it over my head... sigh. I know she says it's supposed to keep me cool, but really Mom, you know how I hate water.
The bus finally came and I was a good boy, as always. There were lots of people who wanted to pet me, but I just ignored them, even when they did pet me. We got to the Fair and when we got off the bus, there was this big parade coming through the street. We had to get up on the sidewalk and it was really crowded up there. I was scared because there were so many people and I couldn't guide Mom anywhere.
Mom just kept telling me I was a good boy and she kept petting me to keep me calm. I could tell she was a little worried though, because there were lots of people yelling about how they wanted to get out and get moving. The parade ended though and we were abl to move. Both Mom and I were relieved.
After that, I guided Mom through the Fair and we met some of Mom's friends. We walked around and Mom and everybody got lots of good things to eat. Of course I couldn't have any, but Momdid slip me the last bite of her hotdog... yummy! She said it was because I had been such a good boy during the parade. After that, we went and sat own for a rest. Mom kept making sure I had fresh water when I wanted it, and kept making sure I had times to have a bathroom break. When we sat down though, there was all sorts of yummy bits of food on the floor. I kept going after them, and Mom kept correcting me. Sometimes I would stop, but most times I couldn't resist and I ate those little bits. Mom didn't seem too mad though, she said I was practically lying in a taco salad.
We did some more walking and finally made it back to where the bus would pick us up. By that point... I was sooo tired. I just laid down in the parking lot and went to sleep. Mom let me do that, but each time we thought a bus was coming, she made me stand up. She said. I was very dirty from lying in the dusty parking lot and so she said I needed a bath when we got home. I pretended I didn't hear that...
When we got home Mom fed me and then she took me upstairs for a bath. I tried to fight her on getting into the tub by becoming an absolute dead-weight. She couldn't lift me on her own, so she got Auntie Julia to help... damn. Well... she bathed me and so I no longer smelled like the Fair and dirt. I smelled like shampoo and cream-rince conditioner.
I was really sleepy after that and Mom let me nap the rest of the evening. She only woke me up once, to take me to my crate. I fell asleep right away and Mom says she could hear me snoring.
Mom has to go out again today, but she can't bring me with her because the friend's house she's going to has people living there who are alergic to dogs. I wish people didn't have dog alergies. I love people and the friend Mom is seeing today loves me, but can't be around me a lot because of the alergies. Mom has alergies, but not to me... YAY! She's alergic to hay though. She found that out when she went to the Fair on Friday and saw all the animals in the barns. She says her head got stuffed up and her eyes felt like they were burning.
Well, I think I'll end this for now. Mom just got through brushing me... ah I love that and I think I'll go find a nice place to rest.
bye for now,
Torpy

When Humans Are Sad.

Sometimes... you just have to be a cuddle-bug.
Mom and i were out working today when the people who had interviewed Mom the day before called her back. She said they didn't give her the job. Mom's been sad all evening. She's kind of angry too because she says she thinks it might have been an issue of accommidation. Mom says that means that they didn't want to do the extra work they needed to do so she could do the job cause she's blind. Haven't they ever heard of extra work before? I do extra work for Mom all the time... sheesh.
Anyway, Mom has been down all afternoon and I've just been next to her, letting her pet and snuggle me. She says I have magic lab fur. She says it's softer than any other lab fur she's ever petted. I don't know where I got it, but all of my sisters had it too. One of my sisters, Trisha, who was at guide dog school with me had the same color fur and everything, but she was smaller than me. Anyway, Mom's been petting me a lot and of course I love that. Maybe we'll find another place that wants to do extra work for Mom without it being a problem. Of course Mom can't prove that was the true reason she didn't get picked for the job, but she think's it's very likely because of places only wanting people that can do the work right away without any help.
She says we'll keep looking and in the meantime, we're moving back into the house we lived in before very soon. Mom and I are both so excited about the move. We've missed it so much... YAY!
Well, I'm sleepy, so i think I'll go for one last bathroom break and then find my crate and blanky and curl up in it.
night all, and keep good thoughts coming for Mom, I don't like to see her sad.
T-force