August, 2010
Bears, no one told me about Bears
"It' Vacation
Time"
I can't believe my pointed little ears! I just overheard Mom tell Dad to "Get packin', we're headed to Yellowstone"!
Pete here, Joy's fur child...we met last month when I was debating on whether to make a break from the confines of my backyard. Well, I'm still here--we canines are no fools when it comes to realizing what a wonderful life we have. Roof over our heads, belly rubs, baths, 2 squares a day, all the water we can drink, and sometimes, a snack from the table when our humans have their heads turned.
But what I had just heard caught me by surprise. A trip? This late in the summer? Seems like Mom thinks we still have time to sneak in a short camping trip before we all have to snap out of our lazy mode and get down to the business at hand. Who am I to complain? As long as I get to go along and help, hey, count me in!
Thankfully, there are some big changes around here when it comes to packing our gear, unlike previous years before Mom had made her eureka-like discovery of J.R.LIGGETT'S 100% bio-degradable, 100% wonderful shampoo bars and body care products. 'Multi-tasking' is the name of the 
game when it comes to deciding what to take and what to leave behind. Now, we don't need to waste precious cargo space when it comes to choosing all-encompassing products to take care of our bathing needs. Mom checked off the list I had helped her make:
J.R.LIGGETT'S New eZ-Pouch containing his Ultra Balanced Shampoo Bar. (Mom jealously guards this... she won't let Lloyd, my Dad person, even think of laying his paws on it...)
The Traveler containing (once again) a bar of Ultra Balanced Shampoo for Lloyd (sometimes Lloyd has a difficult time making up his mind when it comes to J.R.LIGGETT'S varied shampoo bar choices--now, J.R. has made the issue a non-issue.)
My Dog Fergie's Shampoo (for me!)
Mom, that's it? What about the liquid shampoo? Conditioner? Shaving cream? Body soap? Body lotion? Mom took me in her arms (I love it when she does that), and gently broke the shocking news to me that we simply have no need whatsoever of those bothersome items anymore! She further explained that J.R.LIGGETT'S shampoo bars can also do double duty as dishwashing soap, or to use if we need to wash a pair of socks or our undergarments (of course, I don't wear any of those as I like to go au naturele...) J.R.LIGGETT'S shampoo bar will do a perfect job of taking care of all of our needs. Like Mom says, "No need to pack the kitchen sink"!
After securing the bikes to the car, throwing in the tent, some camping gear, clothes, my bowls and some food, we were off for the wild and wooly outdoors--hey! Mom and Dad were going to experience what a lot of my buddies deal with on a daily basis, spending the night outside! Wisely, Mom has been bathing me with Fergie's Shampoo, so combating the fleas, ticks and other creepy-crawling things that might be lurking in the trees and grass was not going to be a problem! See, Fergie's contains that miracle Neem oil and is detergent free and mild, so you won't find me experiencing that pitiful scratching and whining. My skin is feeling oh-so-good cause my natural skin oils have not been stripped away. Take it from me, if your humans have a special shelf in the pantry designated for Fergie's shampoo, you know without a doubt that you're loved.
A few hundred miles later, and me, with a serious case of 'bad fur' looks and bugs in my teeth from hanging my head out the window, we pulled into that land of majestic beauty known as 'Yellowstone'. We found our camp area and Lloyd quickly set up the tent while Mom secured the cooking gear and food. Dad soon headed off to take a quick shower using his Traveler and the handy little washcloth that came with it. Dad likes to travel light, and 'The Traveler' lives up to it's name... the shampoo bar takes care of his shampooing, cleaning, and shaving needs. Mom and I had our sights on a soft bed and were soon fast asleep dreaming of our much anticipated bike trip the next day.
Next morning at the crack of 10, Mom began stirring. C'mon, Mom!, Up and at 'em! She slammed back a cup of coffee and grabbed her eZ-Pouch and headed for the shower. Wow, I couldn't believe how insanely selfish Mom was acting... oh, sure, no problem when she's handing out J.R.LIGGETT'S mini shampoo bars to the fellow campers, hikers and bicyclists, all the while sharing how she discovered his products and how awesomely versatile they are, and she isn't shy about telling scary SLS stories around the campfire, but gee, you'd think this brand new eZ-Pouch was made of gold the way she had a grip on it. I heard her tell Lloyd that it's just the coolest, most convenient, most cleverly designed little number she's ever seen.
With J.R.'s new Ultra Balanced Shampoo Bar inside, poised and ready to meet and beat any cleaning need, and the wrap-around bar strip to keep things debris-free and sanitary, I doubt if this item is going to be shared at all. Oh sure, being a person who loves visuals, design, and color, she will undoubtedly flash it and brag about it, but you won't be able to wrestle it from her tight little fist. However, Mom sometimes catches me off guard... she's always trying to think of ways to promote J.R.'s products, so why did it catch me by surprise when she slipped my little collar through the loop on the back of an extra eZ-Pouch she had brought along? Can you picture this? Me, regal in my black fur coat (I wear it year-round), dashing red collar, and sporting a striking yellow eZ-Pouch, constructed of a popular water-resistant fabric, emblazoned with red type in a commanding yet friendly font for all the world to see! A stylish accessory that was the 'It' look for all seasons and all occasions! I was ready to walk the cat walk! As I proudly trotted around the campsite, occasionally stopping and striking a pose, I heard Mom cheer, "Work it, Pete! Work it"!
Within minutes I had regained my sense of reality, as Mom and Dad were strapping on their helmets and checking their bike's vital statistics. They were ready to roll when I began wondering if they actually expected me run behind them... I soon discovered there had been no need to fret, as Mom scooped me up and placed me in her bike basket, Toto-style. What a sight we were, Mom and Dad in their new J.R.LIGGETT'S T-shirts and me, forging ahead with the eZ-Pouch prominently attached to my collar--- a traveling billboard for J.R.LIGGETT'S! Everywhere we rode, every trail we blazed, Mom stopped and shared about J.R. and his 'green' products and business vision. And I was the star!
Our quick, quick, end-of-summer trip was over all too soon. We had enjoyed a visual and soul-satisfying experience, and now, we were headed back home, back to reality. Lloyd had to return to work, Mom knew mountains of laundry awaited her, and I was shocked to learn that I had been signed up for dog obedience classes... who, Me?
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