Dear Santa (love Elu)

My feet are cold. I am a pretty tuff little husky dog, but still, 8 Below (one of my favorite movies by the way) is pretty hard my tootsies. I think I need some booties like the dogs in the movie have. I saw all the sled dogs wearing them last year and they seemed pretty beneficial. I mean, those dogs run for days in sub-zero temperatures! Anyway... I think I need some of these:

I also really like food. Treats of any sort will gladly be accepted. I will make sure to leave the reindeer plenty of yummy goodies.

(I can't wait to go on-line shopping for Mommy! I'll let you know what I get for her!!)

Also, Santa, I just wanted to wish you a Very Merry Christmas! Mommy and I are both a little sad to not be with our family again this year, but we are also pretty excited to be together and maybe take a nice, long hike in the backcountry (with my new booties!?) and take pictures of the white Christmas. Hope your Season is great!

Love,

Lady Elu Ireland

BIG DAY!!!

I have just fallen in love! With Jackson, that is.  I mean, I was always in love with this town, but now I'm totally enamored. 

Today, was Gaper Fool's Day.  A Gaper is essentially a tourist, it's a rather condescending term (actually I am kinda a gaper because I'm a beginner too... but in order to be a true gaper you have to be on vacation).  So, Gaper Day is a (non-sanctioned) event at the Village.  Everyone skiis and snowboards dressed up like a gaper in brightly colored goofy outfits, or jeans, or sumo wrestler costumes, etc.  I saw a lot of onesies and high pony tails with ear-bands.  In laymen's terms: it's make fun of the tourists day.  

I had to work until 2, so I just threw on my snow pants and grabbed my dog and headed out to the village to meet up with my friends who were just finishing up their last run.  There were a ton of people at the bottom of the hill, just drinking, hanging out, listening to live music, playing with their dogs, socializing, and wearing ridiculous costumes.  Now, if you will refer to one of my other posts, (Fat Tire's Tour De Fat), you will recall that I really like events where people get silly and have a good time.  This was no exception.  

The area in question is at the base of the mountain.  The Tram tower is the center of excitement with people gathered to toss snowballs at the tram car as it pulls out of the station.  People hoot and holler at the people riding to the top of the mountain, dressed a fool.  

Those that were done skiing for the day simply drank and acted a fool. 

I indulged in two of the finest PBR's while chatting with friends and smiling at cute boys and enjoying the sunshine.  

And Elu had a pretty good time chasing other dog's tennis balls, running wide open with 15 other dogs and sniffing dogs/people/beer cans.

And we wrapped it all up with a nice home cooked meal with a few friends...

Today is pretty much my favorite day. 

Perfect Cure for Cabin Fever. 

Happy Gaper Day/April Fools

Happy Spring and Sunshine to you ALL!!!! 

Dog Sled Races in Jackson!!

Friday night was the annual Pedigree Stage Stop dog sled expo in Town square.  They blocked of the Square from road traffic and had a festival like feeling to it.  Sarah and I walked from her house with Elu.  I was worried at first that Elu was going to be a pain, but she was actually VERY good.  She was in awe of the sled dogs.  And LOVED the attention. 

The dogs were a lot smaller than I thought they were going to be.  And they were mutts. There were no huge Husky or Malamute dogs on any teams.  They are not accidental mutts, they breed them for racing. To have long legs and lean bodies... something tells me Elu would be great at it. I forgot my camera, so I poached some pictures from Lola. 

It was REALLY cold! SO we couldn't stay for the entire expo.  6 degrees was fine for Elu, but Sarah and I couldn't feel our hands anymore after about an hour, so we left. 

If you're ever planning a trip to Jackson in the winter, this is a MUST SEE!!! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELU!!!!!!!

My baby girl turns TWO today.  Two! She has grown up right before my eyes...

Thank you Elu for being the best friend a girl could ever ask for.  You keep me warm when it's cold, you give me kisses when I feel that I'm all alone.  You HUG (i'm serious man this girl gives the best hugs on the planet) me when I come home from a long day at work and your pretty pretty face makes me smile!!!

I LOVE YOU LADY ELU!!!!

Sunday Drive

Lady Elu Photo Shoot

While Lola was fishing, Elu was running around playing and I was snapping photos. Here are some pictures of my beautiful daughter, enjoy:

What's up DOG?

I just received some things in the mail from my future roommate in Jackson Hole. She sent me news papers and brochures and a MAP of Jackson. In the Newspapers there's classifieds for job and all sort of cool stuff. But the coolest thing I've found is this.

There's a sled dog race that starts in Jackson in February, it's kicked off at the winter festival. COME ON!?!? Sled Dogs... Elu the Wonder Dog and sled dogs living and breathing and running and being beautiful majestic animals all in the same place! I'm so excited I can barely stand it.

Could THIS be Elu one day?
I know she's not a pure bred Husky or Malimute, BUT she is strong and determined. I think I'll have to get her a sled to play with.

Elu, might be the coolest dog in the world, I just have to say. For the sake of nostalgia, take a little trip down memory lane with me...

This is Lady Elu (aka Elu the Wonder-dog) on her first day with Mommy...



And here's a shot of her playing with her brothers. They are about five months old in this picture.

Then just before her first birthday I took her to the mountains of North Carolina/Tennessee to do some hiking in the Appalachian Trail
I MEAN!!! no do me a favor, scroll up to the first picture of the Snow Dog and tell me she's not perfect for that!



Then around March, Elu standing tall at 15 months, I take her back to her home in the Nantahala National Forest and we go to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest...
I'm really excited about taking my dog-child on the Great American Adventure with me. There's nothing cooler than having a best friend who loves you unconditionally and being able to share something so important and life-changing with her.

and maybe one day, she can pull me through the snow on the back of a sled