Dear Humom Connie and all my Chat Friends,

Well, it’s been awhile since I reported in. I know all those crazy women are telling you about Nationals from a human point of view.  Thought you all might like some reporting from a different perspective.

It all started out like any regular trip to a dog show.  I figured I had lucked out, since Mom Maggi didn’t give me a bath before we left home.  I had gone to a show the previous Saturday  and was still looking pretty good, if I say so myself.  It was a long ride; but no farther than I have gone before.

I think I realized there might be something different going on when we drove up to this beautiful building and a man walked out this funny round door and started unloading our car.  Now, my dear chat friends, in my experience going to shows, having someone other than my traveling hufriends unload the car is a new experience.  Seems that just doesn’t happen at Super 8′s, Comfort Inns, or Red Roofs.  There, mom Mag does the toting.  I personally think it’s good for her-she needs to build some muscle.  But that’s another story.

Then a funny piece of cloth was wrapped around my private part and into the pretty building we went.  IT WAS HUGE!!!!!  And the lady that took mom Maggi’s information was at a desk with no bars or bulletproof glass around it!!!  While Mom was checking in, I looked around and there were only Havanese.  No tall dogs, no hairless dogs, no devil pug dogs-just Havanese!!!!  And people were hugging and saying things like “I’m so glad to see you” and “I’m so glad you’re here.”  Heck, the first person mom Maggi saw was my Aunt Nancy Simpson.  Though they had never met except in chat-they seem to know each other right away.

Now for you non show people-at regular shows, all this sweet, huggy kissy thing just doesn’t happen.  People say hi and get down to showing.  By then, I knew this was something special.

Then we get into an elevator bigger than most of the bathrooms in our usual hotel and ride up very far.  And guess what???  The elevator talked.  It told us when we were where we wanted to be.  A talking elevator!!!

Our room had big windows and a little kitchen.  Mom Mag said it was about the same size as her first apartment.  It was wonderful. Auntie Natasha’s puppy, Esme and I had lots of room to run and play the whole time we were there.  By the way, you will note I did not call her devil Havanese dog, Esme.  Because she is soooo sweet and nice.  We really had lots of fun together. (In truth, I kinda missed devil pug dog Daisy-it’s so much fun to get her riled up heehee hee).

Wednesday, Mom took me to a breeding seminar-BIG MISTAKE ON HER PART.  I listened very carefully to what that man said and from then on out, I was looking for some nice little lady Havanese to practice what he preached.  I found I could get a girl’s attention by staring at her with a little whine in my throat and a constantly twitching tail.  Alas, mom Mag was not impressed with my new found knowledge and was constantly trying to distract me-especially when I was eyeing YOKO-something about incest.  But, my oh my, what pretty girls there were there.

People kept stopping to pet me and asking who my mom and dad were.  Mom Mag would say Guu and Cloud.  Now I remember mommy Guu, and humom Connie-but not Cloud.  I’m surprised mom Mag just didn’t tell people that my folks are Sam and Maggi.  Because, that’s how I see it.  Maybe mom Mag didn’t want anyone checking on her pedigree lol!!!

When mom took me out of the room, she put that band on my privates.  When we got outside she said-”now hold still and we’ll free Willie.”  By the third time we went out, I knew “free Willie” meant my belly band would come off.  I’d stop and stand and wait for Mom to undo it.

There was lots of room around a little lake and we walked and walked.  Not as good as home; but, pretty darn nice.  Had ducks and a fountain.

Mom Maggi kept me with her pretty much the whole time except the day she went to Chicago to see my hubrother Luke.  Said I couldn’t go to the art museum and the restaurant.  Auntie Natasha watched me that day and showed me in sweeps. (I couldn’t avoid a bath for that-daggone it).

Then there was the night of my big escapade.  Mom mag and Sherrie had gone to some awards dinner with humom Connie.  Natasha and her Jr. Handler friends were visiting in our room and decided to get a pizza.  They went to the lobby to get the food.  Now, friends, this was my fourth day of being good and my second time without mom Maggi.  I had had it.  I wanted my mom.  They opened the door and out I went with 3 Jr. handlers on my tail.  From my previous letters to you all, you know I have had an excellent running instructor in my big brother DC.  So I put into action all my Hav tag techniques.  I turned a corner and lost them.  They went flying by me.  But, alas, they came back and found me sitting and  patiently waiting for the talking elevator.  I had planned to ask it where I could find Mom Mag.  But I was busted.  Mom Maggi was happy the girls had caught me when she learned about my escape. She said I must never run away again-I had been very naughty-something bad could have happened. She said that Janet (Mom Mag’s groomer) was going to have more gray hairs to dye next month. But I think I saw a hint of a smile about me sitting and waiting for the elevator.

Sunday, the man came to the room and took all our stuff to the car again.  When we started home, Mom Mag sighed and said-next stop-Econolodge-which I guess is her way of saying, we’ll be getting back to normal.

But it was a new and exciting adventure.  And I’m so proud Mom Mag showed me, even though I know she was scared.  And she also got up the courage to take a train into Chicago and back to the hotel-which for a country gal is big stuff!!  Having a guy with a name like Harbor’s Won’t Back Down seems to give her courage.  I’m so glad.  I love to help the old gal as much as I can to show her I love her as much as she loves me-which is a ton of love.

‘Til next time.

Your friend,

Eli