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In Philadelphia Georgia really enjoyed hanging out on the couch and cuddling with Vinni, Claire and Elliott. She also enjoyed spending time with Tobie on a walk outside of Phili where there was some challenging bushwhacking, steep rocky areas and logs to climb over. We all had a good workout. Mom conked out in the car and missed seeing the circus school where Elliott will be working.

Georgia begins her trip to Floriday from 5 Pleasant Ave., South Burlington VT on Feb. 15, 2022. This is the longest road trip Georgia and her Mom have every taken. Georgia's Dad has been across the country numerous times. Once he drove 45 hours straight from Montana to Vermont.

We all really liked the St. Augustine Airbnb. There was a fenced in yard, comfy bed, workable kitchen and it was walking distance to the historic downtown. As we were driving there, Dad realized he had overlooked the "smoking allowed" amenity and he dislikes the smell of cigarette smoke even more than Mom. Mom frantically started looking for alternative lodging but everything was booked so we were meant to stay in the Airbnb tiny house that allows smoking. They walked in and were happy to discover that they couldn't smell anything with there human noses. Although my dog nose told a different story, I don't have a history of being stuck as a child in a smoky family station wagon in the 1960s. Speaking of history, after Dad and Mom got me tired with walking the residential streets, with good smelling lawns and admirable old houses, they walked around the campus of Flagler College. The buildings were originally designed as the Ponce de León Hotel, built in 1888 as a luxury hotel with fancy Spanish architecture. Mom wondered if she could become unstuck in time and apply to this small, student centered school. Walking through the rest of St. Augustine, they also discovered the most touristy street they had ever seen. Mom was then very focused on finding The Sprout Kitchen (tiny place) where Dad had a smoothy that tasked like a chocolate peanut butter cup and was healthy at the same time. Mom had a sprouted bagel, with cashew cream cheese seasoned with everything bagel spice, sprouts, house made sour kraut, and avocado. Mom said it was a perfect balance of flavor and texture. She told the server how grateful she was for this food oasis and the server responded that it's not easy to be vegan in St, Augustine. North of the city we found Anastasia State Park with a bit of beach.

St. Simons Island has the best and biggest off leash dog beach just a short walk from our cozy Airbnb. We have been out for two sunrise walks. Mornings are cool enough for Dad and I to play many games of fetch. In the afternoon on the beach, I enjoyed burying my ball in the sand and digging it out. After Dad and Mom fell asleep on the beach blanket, Mom was moved to practice the yoga pose Warrior I. Wednesday night we attended Yitzi's open mic, virtually, at the South Burlington Community Library. Dad sang three Georgia songs and Mom woke me up to situate me in front of the webcam for the Sweet Georgia Brown song. Yitzi's open mic theme was piano plus he mentioned Purim. Jim, a regular open mic performer, sang Irish songs in honor of St. Patrick's Day and introduced his 6-year-old.grandson. After the open mic, Dad, Mom and I took a walk in downtown St. Simons. In honor of Purim Mom was moved to take a photo of the full moon. Dad then had the idea of the full moon with the lighthouse. Mom loved her birthday, interspersed with walks with me and Dad, and electric bike rides exploring the island while I relaxed at the Airbnb. Other highlights of Mom's birthday include a photo of a sculpture sent from Aunt Sandy's vacation in Puerto Rico with Uncle Steven. The name of the sculpture is Sisters:) It was a beautiful day on Mom's birthday until the evening when it became cool and rainy. I enjoyed the cool of the car backseat while Mom and Dad celebrated at a seafood restaurant named Fiddlers. One of the items on the menu was healthy bowls made with freshly caught fish, coconut rice, and asian slaw. The server asked Dad what he wanted from the whole menu. She then turned to Mom and asked, "What kind of bowl do you want?" Dad and Mom had a good chuckle over the server's ability to know what Mom would want even though they just met. Mom loves the southern accents, friendliness and sense of humor in this state where all the license plates show my name -- Georgia. Mom and Dad loved the food at that restaurant because the fish was perfectly cooked and the sauce made them want to lick the plate. The citrusy Georgia crafted sour beer was also delish. The morning of March 19, before driving to Savannah, Dad and Mom took another photo of a lighthouse. They've been influenced by Daniel who more intentionally collects lighthouse photos from all over the country. Below is a video of Dad and me on our 14-year-old-dog, slow pee, slow walk.

After leaving St. Augustine Dad and Mom took the slow road From St. Augustine, FL to St. Simon's Island, GA. After a ride in the backseat and relaxing in the back seat while Mom and Dad had lunch in a place with healthy bowls, we all went for a walk in Fort Clinch State Park on Amelia Island. After reading the FOR YOUR SAFETY sign, Mom and Dad held onto to me especially near the water so I would not become alligator lunch. The park had many plants, birds and other animals putting me in a paradise of smells but no chasing my ball in the water of course.

Dad finally made it to the city where his grandfather, Jacob Gittelsohn (Grandpa Jay), grew up as one of six children before moving to California. Jacob's father was Yitzchak Mordechai Gittelsohn. Jacob's mother was Lena Shabashevitz. They lived in a house near their Shul built in 1909. Dad's Grandfather taught Hebrew School at this Shul at age 15: Before going to the Shul Mom found the local Health Food Store (not Whole Foods) with sidewalk tables for me. We then took a scenic walk through Forsynth Park where there was a fountain and many artsy looking people. Many of the buildings, including Grandpa Jay's synagogue, are owned by Savannah College of Art and Design. Interesting conversation snippets Mom heard while walking: "His birthday is on March 18." (same day as Mom's birthday) "Stay in love with God." Dad and Mom really liked looking at the buildings in the Savannah historic district including one of the oldest synagogues in the U.S. This is a Sephardic Synagogue. The congregation started in 1735 and the synagogue was built in 1878. We also walked on the Riverfront. There were many good smells and things to look at including a Riverboat with one of the many variations on my name Georgia Queen. Penny, one of two dogs who live at our Savannah Airbnb, welcomed me home after our long walk in beautiful and historic Savannah. Today is an inside rainy day while Dad engages in genealogy research at the Georgia Historical Society. Yesterday we spent time outside. Mom is a pisces so liked the photo of me, at one of the historic landmarks. Mostly I like to be outside with the smells of nature. This poem by Yitzi Gittelsohn expresses how people like to experience both nature made and people made. This stillness is too sweet to leave The fresh air quenches the thirst of my breath So much After breathing in the thick cotton of a mask all day All the masks we wear Mingled with the scent of my lunch And the staleness of recycled oxygen The fresh air Is so crisp and clean It feels as if it is coming from the icy water underneath Evaporating straight up Into my naked nostrils And I suck it in desperately As if I were a man Who found a well After wandering the desert Too long And my heart drinks the sweetness of the stillness Which tastes so clean and warm After the dirty anxiety and the daily noise Filled up its mouth It is instantly refreshed And holds the energy of the stillness in close In its storage rooms, in its attic and basement For later use When the heart lies panting on the floor Exhausted In some claustrophobic office space Or cacophonous party Yes, this stillness is too sweet to leave But I will leave it now, again For I must eat, real food, Not just the food of the soul And I must eat it with my people Who do overwhelm me But who also love me And I must listen to music, real music Not just the silent music of the soul And I must listen with my people Who do chatter on But who, in their chatter, say I love you I love you Georgia said goodbye to her Airbnb friends Penny (big) and Charlie (little).

We made one overnight stop in Raleigh, NC on the way from Savannah, GA to Ellicott City, MD. We stayed in a dog friendly Candlewood Suites near some lovely walking trails behind a residential neighborhood. Mom and Dad forgot to take photos. Highlights of Raleigh include trails, a little hotel kitchen where Mom made us all breakfast in the morning and a restaurant that was well suited to Dad and Mom's taste. One side of the menu was meat and one side vegetarian/vegan. It was great to see our friends in Ellicott City, MD where we took some fun walks with Dan, Jill and Buddy the dog. Dad and Mom had to get used to being in cold weather again. Even though it was the end of March, temperatures in Maryland dropped into the thirties. I like cold weather. We also got to see Dan and Jill's daughter Jamie and their exchange student from Germany named Paula. Their other daughter Jessie was off at college. Our last stop before driving home to Vermont was to have a quick lunch with Lynne, Daniel and Lilly the cat at Lynne's apartment in Somerset, NJ. Lilly is a very friendly cat who even likes big dogs like me. It was great to See Lynne and Daniel. We are hoping for a longer visit sometime soon that will include a photo of Daniel. Yitzi called on the way home and let us know he had a nonCovid cold so we stopped at Healthy Living in Saratoga for some chicken soup. Now we are home

I've decided to continue this blog with a new category for life's adventure at home: Sometimes on the weekends I get to take a special walk like this one in January at Rock Point in Burlington with Lynne, Daniel, Dad and Mom. Even though my regular walk in Red Rocks Park next to our house is fun everyday. It's even more fun to experience a new world of smells and hear my human companions ooh and ah over the views. We all had a great time together in January, Mom is planing to post more recent photos so I can comment.

Sometimes my family goes away and leaves me with Mia the dog's family or Mia's family goes away and she stays at our house. Doug Goodman (Mia's Dad) took the above photo of me and Mia sharing a sunbeam. Even though I miss my family when they go away, I feel unconditional love when I see my friend.

Mom really likes this new book The Promise of Shabbat: Yoga Poses for Happy Kids.written by her cousin Lisa Schreiber and Illustrated by Jacqui Gerber. It teaches kids and their parents how to use the practice of yoga to enhance the joy of Shabbat. Practice downward dog. Maybe you will learn unconditional love! Even though I sometimes practice the senior downward dog, I know that I will be rejuvenated like when kids in the book feel a little down but know that they can choose to be happy by practicing this pose or other poses. This warm family centered book shows kids and their parents how to initiate happiness through the practice of yoga, so by the time Shabbat arrives, joy, rest and rejuvenation will feel natural.

Dad tested Covid positive last week after having cold symptoms. Yitzi and Mom offered to take me for a walk on this snowy spring morning, but Dad insisted that walking and playing fetch with me always makes him feel better and it did. This is our routine.

I don't know what your politics are. I don't even know what politics are. Sniffing out your kindness is what's important. What do dog noses have that humans don't? They possess up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about six million in us. And the part of a dog's brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is about 40 times greater than ours. -from The Phoenix Veterinary Center. I can smell kindness even when it's buried deep inside of you. When my family takes me for an exotic walk (a new trail discovered on Google Maps or, Dad's favorite, paper maps) I have a lot of energy for a fourteen year old dog because I'm discovering an avalanche of new smells and the stories they tell. We all had a good time on last Saturday's exotic walk in Richmond, VT. However, ticks were discovered on the way home. After my family spent time checking, washing and worrying we all settled in for a cozy evening at home. I can still smell compassion even through dark periods of disease threats. Here's a poem written by Yitzi Gittelsohn relevant to the theme of compassion: Each curse is a blessing waiting to be transformed Take the peach tree Cursed by blight Producing but a few wrinkled hard fruit Year after year But somehow, in spite of its curse It persists Year after year Managing a few beautiful blossoms A few fruits all the more sweet For the fact they came from darkness, from dis-ease Take the words Cursed by ill-will That came from my mouth last night Like the fruit of my inner photosynthesis Yet the light must have sat too long inside me Fermenting into something foul and musty So when they came forth into the world as the fruit of speech They tasted stale on my tongue, made my mouth dry, parched for some water to cleanse it Spit those cursed words out, man Find a clean spring, though all you see is mud Let the harsh cold liquid burn your poisoned throat And drip down into your blackened heart Feel the agent of pure sight, of clarity Painfully transform your stewing soul into a vessel for love Bit by bit Season by season Year after year Persist like the cursed peach tree And wrestle out a few beautiful blossoms A few wrinkled fruits For the whole admiring world to see Yes, indeed each curse is a blessing waiting to be transformed Like a fallen angel who flaps its wings and sings, “I was holy, I was high!” And in doing so causes earthquakes, causes tidal waves Like a fallen angel who is tired, scared, and in a strange land Who has nothing left to do but to curl up like a baby and ask the great earth it has fallen on to hold it, comfort it, love it Like a fallen angel who, in its sweet repose after a long hard night, dreams not that it is lifted back to its lofty heights But that God Herself bends down To kiss that sleeping fallen angel goodnight And now, upon waking, remembering that all is one, the angel sees the most brilliant sunrise And though it has not moved, not budged one inch Like the cursed peach tree Like me and you in our stewing It now sees the blessing of this strange land it has fallen to It now sees it’s still an angel and it’s in a new sort of heaven: A peculiar heaven where every curse, like a fallen angel, Is a blessing waiting to be transformed