Some dogs get their pleasure in chasing balls; others like to play with toys. I just love being around people who like to scratch my ears and rub my belly. People are the best toys out there!
We've finally completed our four late winter/early spring trips to Florida and don't expect to go back until November - maybe. I don't mind Florida all that much and the wonderful vehicles we got to drive - a GMC Terrain and Cadillac SRX were just right for the hikes to an from Steve's house in Satellite Beach when we went to Daytona International Speedway. Again and again and again, it seemed.
We also went to the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville and came back to Al and Sandee's house in St Petersburg for the Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg season-opener for the IZOD IndyCar Series.
No matter where we went, it rained. And of course Mom didn't bring my rain jacket - shame on her! But she did bundle me up in plastics thises and thats so I didn't get too wet, particularly at Daytona for the Daytona 500. That was a real mess!
Everywhere we go, whenever I'm wearing my Mutt Muffs we get asked to stop so people can take pictures of me. Well, instead of taking your own, folks, just check out www.people.com, In Touch and Star magazines (April 23rd issues) and you'll see photos of me with Eddie Cibrian, the actor who's married to Lee Ann Rimes. I wonder if she's got the jealousy thing going over those pics?
Mom left me home the second week of April when she went to photograph the Formula DRIFT competition just down the hill on the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (TGPLB) race track - they use three turns and burn rubber like crazy. It's a bit too noisy for me, so I just stayed home and acted like I was pissed off when she came home - which she did in the middle of the day to take me for a walk.
Walking was kind of tough for her because this little pug upended Mom on one of our morning strolls. Her foot got really swollen and she had to go to the podiatrist. He's a really nice guy and doesn't charge her a lot of money so that was okay - but she's never happy when she can't walk.. those very fancy Vince Camuto heels she got will just have to wait their turn until her foot's swelling goes down - which isn't happening because she has to be so active.
Oh, and speaking of rain, boy did it rain at Friday's TGPLB race the following weekend after Formula DRIFT. The Indy car drivers were probably pleased it washed off all the incompatible rubber from the weekend before, but it must have been very boring for all the people that had planned to go to the race. We spent the entire afternoon inside - only two drivers went out and one, Scott Dixon crashed! We went to the lifestyle expo and talked to people as we walked around. That was okay.
I don't mind being at the racetrack but I sure don't get a lot of exercise sitting in the media center all day. I do have people that come around and say hello to me, which is nice. That way I get my daily quota of ear scratches so thanks, all you journalists with a heart.
During the Long Beach race week, Al and Sandee came to our house, for a change, and we went to lots of good parties. We did the media luncheon on Thursday and then went to the Jim Hall tribute that night. Mom even put on her high heels for the occasion. I didn't get to go to the Racer party Saturday night but that was probably all for the best - lots of people and very, very noisy; I still let Mom know I wasn't pleased about being left alone - again - when she came back and then we walked around the neighborhood and did some local party stuff (which was a lot quieter).
We're off to Houston next week for another drag race, then to Las Vegas for a Scion new-car intro and finally, to Indianapolis on May 12th, so we'll miss wishing Helio Castroneves a happy birthday on the 10th. I'm sure he'll be fine with that. I'll just give him a lick when we're in the Penske garage.
