IF anyone ever dares to tell you that dogs don't appreciate fine art....well....doggone it.....tell them to think again! Here is one dog that loves great artwork. But it is important to get up close to appreciate the fine workmanship.

Caught up with this art and artist, Luke Renberg at the Lighter Than Air Fair festival during...you guessed it...The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta! Uh, did the balloons in the picture give it away, maybe?

Anyway, I give this painting a 5-paws rating....and that's pretty doggone good...comin' from this persnickety bulldogge!

Hope you enjoy some art in your day!

From your good canine buddy, travelin' jack signing off for n ow....

doggie hugs and slurpy kisses!

Greetings again from Dog-ville! Continuing on about my great experience at 'Lighter Than Air Fair' I just HAFTA tell you about a super discovery I made at the Anderson Abruzzo Balloon Museum during Balloon Fiesta. I discovered some of my long-lost canine cousins! That's right! Amazing as that may sound, the city of Albuquerque sent over their traveling animal adoption unit to the festival on the lawn. Remember I told you last time how PET FRIENDLY the festival was? Well here's further proof! Lo and behold this great van arrived on the grounds, and the nice ladies working and driving the van set up these portable pens...and LO and BEHOLD!!!! out come some of the cutest of my long lost canine cousins you could imagine. Now when I say, long lost, that is not entirely true...I had never met these canine cousins before now...but they ARE my cousins none-the-less. And poor things....I could relate to this as my beginnings were at a shelter as well....they are looking for their forever families....someone wonderful and kind to adopt them.
What could I do but get up close and personal with them and share my happy ending story of adoption! Let me tell you...were they glad to hear that there are good people out there looking to adopt! And they are now more hopeful since I relayed my success story with them!!! As a matter of fact, Lucky Paws adopted over 20 animals during 'Lighter Than Air Fair'.....and I'd call that a barking success! Now we just need to find good homes for all my other canine cousins. They deserve a wonderful family too! And I also heard through the dog-vine that there are similar animal adoption organizations everywhere! So if you are not in Albuquerque reading this blog...just check out your town's animal shelter and you are sure to find some cute, cuddly little critter waiting just for you!

signing off for now and as always with.....

....doggie hugs and slurpy kisses!

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Happenings!

Travelin' Jack here....back from assignment that was full of hot air.......LITERALLY! Jill put me on a writing assignment at the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque Balloon Museum for 9 whole days during Balloon Fiesta! Whew. Tough assignment, those early hours...even for an adventurer like me! And since then I have been absorbing all the great things I did.....most especially at "Lighter Than Air Fair". Why there you ask? Great question. See...this is the latest new addition to Albuquerque's balloon world and the most happenin' new event connected to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta! And I am especially partial to it because it is "DOG FRIENDLY!" A great grassy meadow filled with Arts and Crafts Vendors, fabulous live entertainment and added attractions. And NOT just dog friendly I might add......we had some extremely beautiful colorful birds there daily from High Desert Bird Club, Hatch's Parrot Place, Wildlife West and even the Albuquerque Zoo....who came in their wonderful ZooMobile! See how intrigued I am by our fair feathered friends.....attached photo!

Aahh yes the festival was a grand success......and there are many more details to share...but I need to take a little dog-nap now.....we all know how important beauty rest is for bulldogs....so for now...here's to Lighter Than Air Fair and my bird buddies....and more to share later.

as always....Doggie hugs and slurpy kisses!

Travelin' Jack here to fill you in on my latest adventure at Buffalo Thunder Resort. One snazzy place for this top-dog! Jill and I checked in for a quick getaway, and wow did we have a good time! They had a goodie bag with some man-sized doggie milk-bones...just for me! And the handsome bellhop loaded up my crate, Jill's bags, my dog food and other doggie travel necessities and off we went up the elevator. Buffalo Thunder is pretty cool...they make it easy for dogs..when you come up to the entrance the door opens magically! and then we went up the elevator...where the door again opens and closes upon command....haven't quite figured this trick out yet, but it sure is top notch! Our room was great! They gave us a dog-friendly room with a door that opened right onto the patio with the big back yard......actually HUGE back yard that we could take walks and explorations in. Wow. Talk about nice!

Evening time Jill took off for a dinner and I relaxed in my cozy cage that we brought from home. Hint.....always good to have your own belongings and toys and favorite foods when you travel away from home. Makes it less intimidating for the canine travelers to snuggle down with their favorite blanket and toy! And speaking of great food! Seems Jill hit the jackpot at this posh dinner at Buffalo Thunder. They served up a sumptuous "buffalo filet" along with all the trimmings. How do I know, you ask? Well, just so happens that I got a specially created doggie bag of this gourmet entree....and yep, it was indeed sumptuous! Didn't last long though, I guarantee you that tidbit of info! So yes, I give Buffalo Thunder Resort dining a "5-PAWS" rating!

But just maybe the best part of Buffalo Thunder for this travelin' bulldogge was hanging out in the Lobby. Talk about attention! Seems everyone loves a Bulldog! I made dog-zillions of friends in that lobby! Coulda spent a couple days there alone with all the petting, swooning and camera action coming my way.....don't believe me? Well here is the proof in the pudding! See what one of my admirers has to say about me!

Dog Friendly Travel Abounds in Northern New Mexico

Thursday October 1, 2009

When I was on the road in northern New Mexico, I noticed how much people loved their dogs. It wasn't until I stayed at Buffalo Thunder Resort that I realized that dogs might just be competing with me in the travel writing biz. I ran into a huge one year old bulldog named Jack that is a travel writer! Yep, Jack has his own travel blog. He was at the Buffalo Thunder Resort checking out the dog-friendly staff and accommodations. More on traveling with your dog.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth R. Rose

Yep..... that Liz Rose journalist is something. She caught me here in the lobby waiting with Jill for my next admirer to happen by. aaaahhhhh....it's a dog's life for sure!

Stay tuned for more action. We're heading to Albuquerque for Balloon Fiesta and fun at the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum and the all-new "LIGHTER THAN AIR FAIR!" Think I'll check this high-flying action next....but for now....

.....doggie hugs and slurpy kisses!

Greetings from the Land of Enchantment and from this crazy travelin' canine! I've been on the road and fast track with Jill this past week. Adventures abounding everywhere! First stop, Chama and the Elkhorn Lodge. This was no regular foray at the Lodge. The Lodge played host to about 25 journalists exploring Northern New Mexico. And of course it was MY role to ensure that these spiffy writers knew all about our "Dog-friendly" attitude here at the Lodge! Which of course included my personal welcome! I wore my favorite cowboy bandanna to ensure that they got a taste of cowboy! And Jill and Jim added to the cowboy flavor by cookin' up a special "cowboy breakfast" over an open fire. Including some of my favorites, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs and of course cowboy coffee (NOT one of my favorites, but the humans seemed to find it quite tasty!). Jill cooked up a whole tassle of scrambled eggs...about 70 in all...over the fire pit in this HUGE skillet....made just for cowboy breakfasts I'm a-thinkin! And the journalists were all over the place with their cameras, shooting the action...and of course ME as well! (I'm hopin' to make the big-time after this little happenin'....time will tell)! Anyway, as soon as I get a photo or two I will post....and then I will add some scoop on my follow-up stay at the snazzy Buffalo Thunder Resort! Stay tuned.......

Doggie hugs and slurpy kisses!

Welcome back from dog-ville. Been busy as a beaver....er not really, more like busy as a bulldog, but they haven't coined that phrase yet......I'm workin' on it, though. This past week my favorite person, Jill, jetted off to Washington DC...and left me at home. She said something about meetings on Capitol Hill, visits to the White House etc, are not on a bulldog's list. That of course is questionable in my books, but alas...she left me at home.

I got my own kicks though! Matt and Vince dog-sat for me. At my home. (That way I don't have to stay at a doggie-daycare or canine club...or whatever). At home in my own bed, with my favorite toys and some guys to play with...at that. Since they are in the 'over 21' set, their excursions are a bit on the adventuresome side. One evening they put on my leash, loaded me in the car and off we went downtown Albuquerque. We went to a BAR....yes, you heard that right...even at my youthful age....where they allow dogs. Seems the owner is a big dog fan, so off I went with them.

Now here's the story that I'm telling Jill......there may be some blanks that you will have to fill in.....yes, mum's the word on the WHOLE story. and you won't get me to squeal...that's for sure. Well Matt, Vince and I went to this club...there's music there, and pool tables and a nice long bar. Matt and Vince decided to play pool...and lo and behold, I discover the owner of the bar has brought his canine pal to the joint as well......we sniffed, met and became friends...that is the other dog of course. Before I knew it, the owner told Matt and Vince I could drop the leash. Yes, that is right....talk about PET FRIENDLY. So off came the leash...and my new dog pal and I raced around the bar, chasing each other and having a grande ol' time. Who woulda thought.... Right here in downtown Albuquerque...nightlife to die for...for this ol' bulldogge. I've definitely decided it is cool to hang out with the guys......hmmm...wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Life from a Bulldogge's perspective

Hello again from a doggone good day in the life of this crazy ol' bulldogge!

Today's adventures included a trip to Chama to visit my step-dog-sister, Roxie at the Elkhorn Lodge. She's one good lookin' brindle boxer-BUT don't under estimate her! She doesn't mess around with ornery one-year old bulldogges. Yes, it's true, we've had our little run-ins, and even though she is not stout like me, SHE DOMINATES! You know..that female attitude and all! I haven't quite figured out why she doesn't want to tussle, roll around on the floor and chew on each other non-stop. After awhile she just gets bossy with me! Jill tells me it's because she is 8 years old (that's human years...not dog age!). Hrmph! Don't know what age has to do with havin' a little fun! Anyway, she jumps me after awhile and since she is taller than I am, she gets the best of me! I've ended up with a couple cuts and bruises, but mostly bruises to my manly bulldogge pride! Ah women....the mysteries of life,eh? We eat in separate rooms. She gets very possessive of her food bowl, so I have been relegated to eat in the living room by myself! Another insult! But then the good times get going. Jill takes both of us up to the mountains for an afternoon hike. We load up the car with lots of water and head for the hills. What fun it is to race through the pine forests, leaping over dips and rises, among the mountain flowers and grasses of the high mountain meadows. We take off after imaginary (and real) mountain wildlife, chasing them even as they disappear long from our sight. A dip in a mountain stream cools us off after a hearty run, and then a little siesta in the shade of a giant pine tree. Now this is the Life! No leashes, no cars, no people (except Jill), just pure bliss in a heavenly spot high in the Rocky Mountains! Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon! Of course, as we are romping through the forests and the mountain meadows, we are always circling around Jill as she hikes with us. It is our utmost role to watch and protect her against any and all visible or invisible enemies lurking in the shadows. And let me tell you...we take this job very seriously! She doesn't know how good she has it...protected by two magnificent canines...taking care of their special person! Yep, it's one important job for sure! But now it's time to get back in the Explorer and head back down the mountains to the lodge....but the back seats are filled with two very tired and doggone happy pooches! A great day for a bulldogge for sure! It's time for a siesta now....so signing off for now but not without sending you doggy hugs and slurpy kisses..........travelin' jack