Friday, February 15, 2008

Paris - Sans Our Furry Friend

Part of my Valentine's Day present to Tobi was a night (or maybe two) in Paris. It's somewhere between a 3 and 4 hour drive from our place here in Holland, and we'll be staying in a hotel that we stayed in on our visit over September 11th, 2001. Although it was a frightening time, we really enjoyed our stay, there.

The hotel (which is part of the Mercure chain) is a short walk from the Eiffel Tower, and the rooms are both comfortable and pretty. I can't wait! (I guess it's just as much a present for myself as it is for Tobi). :-) Lukas is excited too... he knows "we're going to see the Eiffel Tower today!".

The only drawback? I had to board Felix, our chocolate labrador... and I always hate doing that. I often think the worst - since after I had moved away from home, my family boarded our Golden Retriever - and she died in the kennel while they were away. No matter how nice the facility, and no matter how many times a day they walk the dogs, being boarded is stressful for animals. Thankfully, we don't have to do it often.

In Felix's case, the kennels are heated, they get walked three times a day and played with, and get fed twice a day. He probably won't want to leave. :-)

But coming home without him is tough. When I open the door and there's no overly-energetic four-legged freak there to jump on me, dirtying my pants in the process, it's just not the same. Felix is such an integral part of our lives, as annoying and disobedient as he can be on occasion.

But now it's time to stop thinking about the dog and start packing. Paris, here we come!

P.S. We've updated the journal entry on Lukas' website. Check it out when you have a chance!

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