Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Happy: My New Logo!

Hi!… I'm Happy!… I'm always happy!... Today I'm really happy because I've got a new logo!

The other day when I was happy dancing in the sun, I gave Macgellan one of my best smiles ever and he caught it on film. He and another human friend used that picture to make a new logo for me. Here are the picture and logo, before and after:



This is a pretty big deal for me because I'm getting ready to go on tour and need my logo to decorate all my outfits and all kinds of other cool stuff. Before long, you may be seeing my logo everywhere. You might even get to wear my logo on your hat or t-shirt... Stay tuned!

Monday, February 11, 2013

SP Kennel Wins 1,000 Mile Yukon Quest!

My good friends at SP Kennel have added another big victory to their impressive string of sled dog racing successes. Under the care and guidance of Allen Moore the dogs complete the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest in a record time of 8 days, 18 hours, over an hour ahead of the second place team.

Posing at the finish line with Allen, superstar Quito was a little camera shy but her co-leader Olivia's look is testimony to their grit and determination. These dogs are truly amazing!



This victory is profound in its own right, but especially so in context of the season. Last month, Allen skippered the team to victory in the Copper Basin 300, a shorter race that's considered the toughest of the season. Next month, Aliy Zirkle will mush the SP Kennel team in the Iditarod, the most famous 1,000 mile race which she and her team finished in second place last year.

In other words, SP Kennel is on a roll! Happy joins me in congratulating all our friends -- two- and four-legged -- on their Yukon Quest victory, and we wish them good luck next month in the Iditarod!

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Happy: Any Bed Will Do!

Hi!… I'm Happy!… I'm always happy!... Today I'm really sleepy!

I was very tired after my ballet dancing, and could hardly keep my eyes open when we went to visit some friends. In their living room, I saw a bed that belongs to their cat. It was a little small, but it was right in front of the fireplace and right at the feet of Macgellan. So, I checked it out and found it to be quite serviceable. Before long, my eyes got very heavy and I drifted off to sleep!



One of the best things about being a dog is that you get to sleep a lot. Sometimes, any bed will do!

Saturday, February 09, 2013

Happy: Dancing At The Ballet!

Hi!… I'm Happy!… But today you can call me Juliet!

My friend Maria Chapman saw my recent "dancing in the sun" photo and said I have beautiful form! She knows about these things, because she is a principal at the Pacific Northwest Ballet where she is currently dancing the role of Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet!

Maria thinks I could be a ballerina too, and invited me to dance with her in the ballet studio. I wasn't quite sure of myself at first, when she dressed me up as Juliet using fabric from the real Juliet's costume. Then she gave me a really nice pep talk, telling me how beautiful and talented I am!



Hearing that made me very happy, so I put on my best smiling face and we started dancing.

We pranced around the studio for a while, which I was very good at, of course! Then we held some poses from the ballet as Lady Capulet and her daughter Juliet. I need more practice standing up by myself, so Maria helped me hold steady in the poses. That helped a lot!

My favorite moment was when I looked deep into her eyes and she looked back into mine. Maria is so beautiful and graceful that it's a little overwhelming to a simple girl like me!

I had such a wonderful time dancing with her!



After dancing, we visited with the ladies in the costume department. They were very nice to me, and they said I could keep my costume! As we were leaving, I met Carla Körbes, the PNB principal who is dancing as Juliet. She is very beautiful, too, and you can see I was a little awe-struck!



Thanks very much to Maria and to everyone at the Pacific Northwest Ballet for being so nice to me! I had a wonderful time and hope maybe we can do it again some day!

That brings you up to date on the grand adventures I'm having in my retirement... Stay tuned!

Saturday, February 02, 2013

Happy: Dancing In The Sun!

Hi!... I'm Happy... I'm always Happy... That's why they call me Happy!… I'm especially happy today because -- after non-stop rain for the entire month since I got here -- the sun finally came out!

Macgellan and I went to a big park here in Anacortes and had a really nice, long hike out around the peninsula. The views were spectacular, and it felt great to do some "Happy Dancing" in the sun!



Somebody said that the sun being out today is actually bad news, because -- according to some stupid ground hog -- it means we're going to have six more weeks of winter. I don't understand any of that, especially the part about getting a weather forecast from a rodent!

All I know is that today was great and I've done some of my best "Happy Dancing" ever!