PART 2 Balloon Fiesta Fun in Albuquerque!

A New Mexico Welcome is never far...no matter where you roam during Balloon Fiesta. 

This "Paw-ticular" Welcome came from none other than a classic Ford-part of the Tin Lizzie family of antique Fords that welcomed folks from far and near...including MOI-Travelin' Jack!  They were set up near our FURRY FRIENDS FIESTA DAY lawn party...er I mean "Pawtee"....so bein' the Snoop Dog Reporter that I am...I just had to go check them out!

Here I am checkin' this sweet machine out from down low........

and from CLOSE UP!  Think I'll just check out this horn....AAAUUUGGGAAAHHHH!  WoW! What was that?  Even surprised this dog-in-the-know on all things important!  Pretty doggone KOOL!  Thanks Tin Lizzies....for lettin' me try this dream machine out close and pawsonal.  I am truly honored!

But time's a-wastin'....balloons are flyin'...and I gotta get to work.  After all...I am very pup-portant at the Balloon Museum.......

As DoGfficial Spokes-Dog for the Balloon Museum....it's my role to welcome visitors from far and near....and in-between too!  Here I am just lettin' them glory in my presence!  I can draw a crowd.....but enough for laying down on the job....I better snap to it and get......

Presentable!  How's this.  Do I look more Dog-Governally now? 

I got my official OKAY from Miss Linda of the Balloon Museum.....along with

Miss Marilee Nason, Curator of the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum.....gotta make sure to suck up to the Lady in Charge!  MWAAAAHHH!  Here's your Jack-smack!

Okay...I'm ready now.  Here's a little sweetie that I really connected with...take a look at how we Match!  Pretty doggone sharp duo if ya ask this dawg!  Thanks Cutie-in-Pink.  Travelin' Jack LUVs ya! 

I gotta greet EVERYONE.....even little Pee-Wee here.  Ain't he just the cutest little sweet-patootie ever!  I really liked him.....because not only did he come tto visit me but he brought me a present too!  This snazzy yellow Balloon Bandanna that his Grandma (in the yellow sweater) made just for me!  Thanks everyone!  LUV my bandanna! 

Yessirree Dog....I was having some fun.  I was paw-digraphing my books, I was greetin' all the grand folks come to visit, I was givin' out kisses for a donation to my furry friends at the Shelter.....but most importantly of all..............................

   I was sharing my very own- 2013 OFFICIAL TRAVELIN' JACK TRADING CARD!  You see...for those of you not in the know about Balloon Fiesta...all the Hot Air Balloonists give out trading cards of their balloons.  You can collect them...you can trade them...you can put them in a travel journal...whatever you want!  So last year, I dog-cided it was time that New Mexico's very pup-portant Ambassa-Dog should have his own trading card.  So this is #2 in the series of my very own trading card.  I handed out 1500 cards during the week of Fiesta....hope you have yours cuz they're all gone now...but even more importantly...as I told everyone..."Don't trade this card because in a couple years it's gonna be worth a Billion!  Now we're not sure if it's a billion bucks or a billion BONES....but it is gonna be doggone valuable!"

 But it's time to get BARK...I mean back to work! 

 But not before I take a little walk about outside to see the happenings in the air again.  Look at all those balloons flyin' high!  I just LUV the Balloon Fiesta....BTW did you know.......(2 Travelin' Jack Trivia tips here)

1)  This is the LARGEST Hot Air Balloon Festival in the WORLD!
2) It is the MOST PHOTOGRAPHED event in the world!

Both TRUE!......I aughta know...cuz I make it my job to know all these very important things about New Mexico...I am after all New Mexico's pre-eminent Pet Travel Reporter!

Yup when Jack says it...you can bet your bones it's all correct.

 And of course one of the biggest benefits of my job...is meeting all sorts of Dolls.  Here I found another sweetie!  Ain't she a cutie?  I couldn't help myself...just had to ask to take my picture with her outside the museum!  Thanks for visitin'.....we LUV you! 

 And then back to work...BTW...in case you are wondering about this silly hat...look close and you'll see the Furry Friends Fiesta Day logo on it!  I was wearin' this because it was Silly Hat Day at Balloon Fiesta!  Leave it to this dog to be in the know on other important stuff like this!  I sorta like my hat...don't you too?

 But talk about hats....What is This guy wearin?  That's a zebra kinda hat...and shirt too!  Why it's none other than Zebra Peter....and just in case you don' t know what an Official Balloon Fiesta Zebra is....here's your next lesson.  They are the folks (all dressed like him) who help the balloonists get launched safe and sound...sorta like referees in a game ya know?  They do a doggone grand job helpin' out on the field...

But Hey Zebra Peter....what's that thing on your hand?  A zebra Puppet?  What's he supposed to do? 

 NOOOOOOOO way....he's not gonna eat my Trading Card!  No Way...I'll  just pout if you don't watch out!  I gave that to YOU Mr. Zebra Peter...not to that goofy zebra puppet!  On that note.. think I'll take another little walk-about...outside in the fresh air...you know water the plants and all..

 And what do I see when I am back outside?

   But another little Zebra.  Only this one is a CUTIE PIE ZEBRA.  Why she is so doggone cute they made her an HONORARY ZEBRA!  She came all the way to Albuquerque from Colorado just to wear that outfit and visit us here in New Mexico!  We LUV your style!  

But you know what....all this work (and play) is makin' this dog hungry!  I'm callin' it a day....or a LUNCH anyway...and I'm headin' on over to a nearby fab restaurant that I hear through the bark-vine is dog-friendly.

 Il Vicino Pizzeria and Brewing Company......got somethin' good and wet for a dog to drink? 

Hmmmm...water for a thirsty pup...That will do just fine, thank you very much!  And then Jill and Christena ordered their fine fare

 An artfully arranged salad, some DEElicious Cannolis for dessert..and a wood oven baked pizza. Now you tell me what is NOT to love on that table...but hey...did ya maybe forget about me??????? 

 Thank you Mr. Richard......for bringing me my very own tasty dog biscuit!  Now THAT is what I call doggone good...and pet-friendly service!  You are the Top Dog....I'm comin' back to Il Vicino (on Alameda and Coors) doggone soon....I promise!

 Yep....Balloon Fiesta is grand....no dog-doubt about it!  If you missed it this year....well start planning now.  And I can tell you this for sure....Travelin' Jack will be Back for more high flyin' fun....very soon!  By for now Balloons!  Happy Floating! 

DOGGY HUGS AND SLURPY KISSES! 

 

High Flying Fun during Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta season!

We ALL love it when Balloon Fiesta time rolls around...and 2013 Fiesta was one HIGH FLYIN' ADVENTURE!  Why I saw SO many balloons flyin' through our blue skies of New Mexico that I was doggone Starry-Eyed!  It's just a dog-nifient sight to see!  And if you have never come to Albuquerque for Balloon Fiesta....well.....doggone it.....start plannin' for 2014 right now!

This year's event was 9 days of non-stop action for this pup!  I made sure my paws were everywhere a dog could go for fun times.  It all started out at my fav museum.....ANDERSON ABRUZZO ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON MUSEUM! After all I am the dog-ficial Spokes-Dog for the Museum...so I just MUST be there for all the good things happenin--both inside and out!

Where do we start?  Well with a planning meeting of course!  As Canine Host to the 3rd ANNUAL FURRY FIESTA DAY, it's important to gather a Pup-tastic Team.

 I'm workin' HARD gettin' my gals in line....Thanks Linda, Karen and Deb...YOU are UnDoGgedly the Bestest team a Canine Event Host could have!  MWWWWAAAAHHHH!   LUV ya all! Now let's get on with the show! BUT not before I get another award to add to my wall of trophies/awards!  (tee-hee!)

I was honored with an EIPPY award (that stands for Excellence In Publishing) and Miss Viki Winterton....talking in the background was announcing to a dog-normous group of internation authors that I-Travelin' Jack am the 1st EVER dog to win an EIPPY award.  As you can see...I'm pretty doggone proud.  Thanks Miss Viki!  LUV ya!

Day 1 of Balloon Fiesta dawns....WoW!  Take a look at this view wouldja? Nowhere else to be for Balloon Fiesta than right at the ANDERSON ABRUZZO ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON MUSEUM....in my dog-estimate!

But it's time for FURRY FRIENDS FIESTA DAY...and here we go!

 We were all in place on the Lawn at the Balloon Museum.......

The balloons are lifting off in grand style.....

and over at the FURRY FRIENDS FIESTA DAY We had Live DJ music on the Smokey Bear Stage.....it was a rockin'...let me bark at you!

We had Animal Welfare Groups and Adopt-a-thons like Chama Valley Humane Society, Save Lucky Paws, Sunflower Sanctuary, Felines and Friends....why we even had.........................

Tiny Toes Rat Rescue.......who knew?  But they were there in all their tiny cuteness!

Course I had to get the whole day rollin'....so Jill, along with my fav photographer, Christena from Texas and I all rolled on down to Fiesta Field...where we did 2 live interviews on KRQE TV.

Talk about in the Right Spot with the Right TV Team....Matt Mauro and Kristen Van Dyke...two of my PAWsonal favorites of all time!  Why I was just so bedazzled by all the balloons floating up around me that I made Jill do all the talking (HA-works every time...I get the fun job!)

But back to the Fun Happenings at FURRY FRIENDS FIESTA DAY!
  Gotta meet up with some of the good folks visitin there....and THEN.......who do I spy off to the right of center stage but the ONE...the ONLY....................

 
World Renowned PAW READER.....MADAME PAW-PAW! 

'Course I just HAD to get my paw read! Whew...I was worried at first...but......lucky for me.....

 It was all good....here's what she told me after she read my paw........

 "You will soon be invited to a Karaoke Party at the Dawg Saloon. Let the howling begin!
                                       (Lucky Song: I Ain’t Nuttin’ But a Hound Dog!)

Suits me just fine!  Thanks Madame Paw-Paw for flying into FURRY FRIENDS FIESTA DAY from lands far-far away!  You are PAWSOME!

But what else is there to see and do at the Dog Fiesta you ask?  Well there were dog-tastic Vendors of all types....like my pawsonal favorite groomer....GROOMINGDALE'S

They were givin' out free treats to all the Visitor pups and discounts for a dog-tastic grooming treatment...I KNOW....I'm her 'furr-ever favorite' customer!

There were also Dog Tricks and 4-Footed Entertainment from our special friends at DISC DOGS OF NEW MEXICO.....

And talk about some high flyin' dogs in action!

Why they even brought their little princess friend from Disc Dogs of Colorado ....and she's workin' on breaking the Guinness Book of Records for the Dog who can hold the most frisbees in her mouth...take a look at this trick!  It's pretty dog-pressive if you ask me!

12 and counting!  Wow-ee Gazow-ee!  I'm jealous!  I-Travelin' Jack can't even do that with my BIG mouth. How DOES she do that?   Hmmmmmm.

But the day is half over now...and I have some awards  to give out........to some well deserving Animal Welfare groups.  Together with our friends at New Mexico Tourism Department....Jill and I were lucky enough to WIN a  prize for our New Mexico True Story entry in their contest.  So we...without a dog's moment of hesitation knew the prize money had to go to some of our favorite groups..... SAVE LUCKY PAWS and CHAMA VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY.

Thanks to our special friend....Mr. Jordan Guenther...for helping our 4-footed friends with the prize money!  In total we donated $1200 to animals this FURRY FRIENDS FIESTA DAY!  Not to doggone bad from  my pup-spective!

                                                    But there is  MORE fun to be had....

and I cannot hide from the action....I gotta quit PAW digraphing my books at the Rio Grande and LPD Press book booth...and be THE JUDGE for the 1ST ever FURRY FRIENDS FIESTA DAY Pet Costume Contest and Parade...and here they come!

 In all their pup glory...dressed every way you can imagine.....

.....from Super Pup 

....to the Sunflower Pup Brigade

...to book reading dog-team from Title Wave Bookstore!

 How's a Pup to Judge all these magnificent Canine Contestants?  Lucky thing...we had the One and Only QUEEN OF THE AIR WAVES, our very favorite 770 KKOB Radio Host (ess with the mostest!) Miss Terrie Q....she not only Emceed the Pup Parade...but she helped Judge too (whew...thanks Miss Terrie for helpin' this dog out in a tough spot...so doggone hard to choose the best...cuz theyr'e ALL WINNERS!)...and she even helped hand out all the great prizes we had for our winners! 

We're thinking the local dog-paper....our Friends at Bosque Beast news....who just happened to be there too....

might just be writin' this Top Dog Event up as well!  They are the newspaper-in-the-know when it comes to local pup-happenings (and other animals too!)

And we had some GRRRRReat photographers there too!  My new camera buddy who took this pic....and a dog-zillion more...I might add....is none-other than the dog-ficial photographer of Sunflower Sanctuary...Mr. Allen Winston at winstonfoto.com.   He sure knows how to capture a pup's expression eh?  Thanks Mr. Allen. I LUV my personal photo memento from the 3RD ANNUAL FURRY FRIENDS FIESTA DAY!   

Yep...no dog-doubt about it.... a FUN TIME was had by ALL...pups and people!  I must say....this was a doggone success.....but it couldn't be such a succsess without ALL my pawsonal friends and voluteers and the Balloon Museum....and just everyone...both pups and people...that came to the FURRY FRIENDS FIESTA DAY! You are just too dog-tastic for words!

And speakin' about words...there's a LOT more to bark about for our 2013 Balloon Fiesta...but I'm just dog-tired......before I start on PART 2 of my Balloon adventures....I think I'm gonna quit for now and take a little cat....er make that a dog-nap!

DOGGY HUGS AND SLURPY KISSES!