Urban Dweller

My whole life I've lived in the country.  I'm used to the smell of wildlife and dirt.

Here in the Desert, I'm getting my first experience as an Urban Dweller.  It's the concrete jungle here.  Our walks have been on sidewalks, on leash the whole time.  I needed a pedicure before arriving here, and the concrete has proven to be an excellent emory board.  The smells are all different here too, and there are very prickly bushes here called cacti.  I only sniffed that once.

Yesterday we walked to the grocery store for a few items.  The store is just a few blocks down the road, so we went as a family.  My dad stayed out in the parking lot with me while my mama ran inside.  So far, strangers here have not been very friendly.  Certainly not the Minnesota nice I'm used to.  People were walking right past me to get to their cars, and none of them even gave me a second glance.  That was until this nice lady walked out straight toward me.  She stopped and asked me what kind of shampoo I use to get such beautiful and shiny hair.  I told her that I eat healthy food and at work I usually get a lot of cheese, eggs and sausage.  She told me I was beautiful and then went to put her groceries in her car.  When she pulled away, I noticed her car had a fancy leaping cat on the back.  I thought that lady was pretty nice to me, especially for being a cat person.

I also didn't have the heart to tell the nice lady that my shiny coat is just good genetics.  No one wants to hear that.

Last night I got invited to dinner at our friends house.  Lester and Beth retired last year and moved from Seattle to the Desert.  They were so nice to include me on my first full day here.  I tried my hardest to be on my best behavior so that they didn't regret their invitation.  When the time rolled around for us to leave, no one had realized that I moved from my place on the floor to a nice cushy (white) rug in the living room.  Our hosts were so gracious they didn't flinch or make a big deal out of me laying on the rug.  (Little did they know I was eyeing up the couch next).

The weather out here is perfect for me.  We wake up and the temp is a cool 45 degrees.  Perfect for walking so my paws don't get hot.  The heat of the day is about 60-65 and it feels great.  The sky is Robin's egg blue and the purple hummingbirds are crazy in Nan's backyard.  It feels like spring back home.  

My parents are going to play golf today, so I'll be watching the homestead while they are gone.  The house is already comfortable to me, with smells of familiarity that make me feel right at home.

Love,

SummahGurl

(my urban name)