Ali and Boyka

One of my favorite adventures from that 2nd trip to Guatemala was babysitting these two fun characters while their owner was away on vacation.

I didn’t grow up with pets and had never been a fan of animals. In fact, the closest I’d ever come to being attached to any animal would have been Chase, the half lab/half golden retriever we adopted for Jackson when he was in 3rd grade. I liked Chase okay, but I’d say any question of bonding was clearly answered the day he took his food bowl and moved to the neighbor’s house. I guess she was better company than we were.

Needless to say, I may not have been the wisest choice for dog sitter, but I was available and up for the challenge (or so I thought…haha!) Life with Ali and Boyka was constant entertainment, unparalleled enthusiasm, and more affection than I knew what to do with. By the end of the week, I was not only attached but also converted.

An amused and very naive dog sitter, I summed up that fun week this way:

                         Hi, I'm Boyka! At 9 months old, I'm already the biggest, strongest,                                                                    (and ... by FAR) loudest one in the house.

I do not realize this, so my older, smaller sister (meet Ali) is in charge....

                          ...except when it comes to food. See the bowl on the left? That's mine.                The one on the right...that's mine too!

                            Ali can have what is spilled on the floor or whatever is left                                   (if there is anything) when I'm through.

To further introduce myself, here are a few of this week's highlights from my journal:
 

                                 My Little Journal of Mischief by Boyka Daggett

Friday, May 8:                                                                                                                             By searching through trash, I find all kinds of treasures. This one was taken from me because, while Q-tips are no great departure from my standard diet, someone had a silly notion that razor blades would be unhealthy.

Saturday, May 9:                                                                                                                            That same “Someone” decided to take a nap...ALONE. How rude!  Ali and I (probably mostly "I") let ourselves into a room where we aren't supposed to be and found plenty of entertainment on our own!

Sunday, May 10:                                                                                                                         Some people never learn. Knowing I do not appreciate being left out of nap time (or anything else), that hard headed someone again decided to rest ALONE, naively assuming I would be gracious about granting some peace and quiet. I was not. There wasn’t much I could do to prevent her being alone; however, with the aid of a glass jar I managed to find, I did quite a lot to foil the "peace and quiet."

Ali normally makes pretty responsible choices. She might have been a little misguided today, however, when she deemed it appropriate...10 minutes after the floor had been cleaned....to splash her feet in the water bowl, run through the courtyard, and...well.... 

Monday, May 11:                                                                                                                               I worked my way in behind the washing machine and caused a little flood. 

I've been a busy guy these last few days, and you might think I would be tired, but I'm just getting started!!