OMG I can't believe I've been without a computer since April!!!! I don't really miss much about it, except for e-mails from basenji lists, the convenience of finding show &/or lure coursing premiums at 2 am on a Saturday, and, of course, YOU!!!! I miss the basenji forums & all the friends we've never met face to face (and 3 of you I did get to meet in real life at the specialty).
I won't be back for long (I have to return this borrowed computer next week), but I have a lot to share.
Without getting into gory details, "Andrew" is no longer Carrie & Andrew, but rather, just Carrie. Its a good thing I promise. The only downside…. Booger now belongs to Andrew, Lola now belongs to Carrie, and as Carrie & Andrew no longer talk, I can no longer update you on Booger (the vet, however, says he was recently in for annual shots & is doing well).
So now I must tell you of mine & Lola's lives over the last couple of months & introduce you to Callie. I apologize in advance. This will be a bit lengthy, but a lot has happened basenji-wise in 5 months!
Lola & I are getting along quite well (& my cat Spooky), but after about a month without Booger, I could tell Lola was suffering. We were taking agility classes, and she couldn't focus because she was so distracted by other dogs. I decided it was time to put out feelers... I wasn't looking to get a dog for at least 6 months. I was on BRAT & looking out for local dogs, but I had a very specific set of requirements: I needed an adult, housetrained & crate trained, but young enough to keep up with Lola. I preferred a female, despite most advice that male/female pairs work better. I preferred another petite female, I wanted a show dog to learn to show with, and I have become partial to brindles. It had to be cat friendly.... etc etc etc.
In May, Robyn of Sherwood basenjis had info on her website about another breeder's two yearling females. I contacted the breeder (Chris Cooper of Lothlorien basenjis), and she quickly realized she and I already knew each other from agility class. (She's in the same class with Lola & I, but the dog she has in class is a flat coated retriever & I never realized she was a breeder). With NO INTENTION of getting a basenji, I decided to take Lola & meet Chris's yearling females later that afternoon at Chris's home.
At first sight, I preferred Callie, but it didn't matter. I wasn't getting a dog, and if I even considered a dog, my vanity wouldn't be the deciding factor. Lola had to get along with it first and foremost. Callie was the show prospect, she was the brindle, and she got along one on one better with Lola. But I wasn't getting a dog. She was crate trained, house trained, and had a great temperment. But I still wasn't getting a dog. And then a cat walked into the room & Callie didn't even react. Here was a ready made perfect dog, but I still wasn't getting a dog. But I looked at Callie and said "Callie, I didn't come here to get a dog. But how would you feel about coming home to live with me & Lola?" The silly dog put her paws in my lap & licked my face. Chris just laughed & said I didn't have much of a choice.
So I took Callie home that day. Lola resource guarded EVERYTHING for the first 48 hours. Callie couldn't play with toys, sniff the cat, or sleep within 15 feet of Lola without Lola causing a scene. And anytime I pet Callie, WWIII erupted in my tiny apartment. And then Lola realized this was the coolest toy ever! They get along PERFECTLY (as long as Callie keeps refusing to engage in Lola's drama). They are ridiculously perfectly & vomitously cute together. Strangers are in love with them & we get stopped everywhere we go.
Callie, as it turns out, is also a great lure courser. Her first weekend out in ASFA, she took BOB both days, and at the specialty she took 2nd in open. We just got home from her first AKC trial. Yesterday she took BOB for a 5 point major. Today she was tired & took 3rd, but I can't complain with being 1/3 of the way to her AKC FC & over halfway to her ASFA FCh in just a couple of trials.
We're also trying our hand at showing, and since I am a brand new handler, I don't expect us to get very far very quickly, but we are learning.
So without further ado, a picture of Lola & Callie (Lothlorien's Kahlua N Cream).
Callie on the left, Lola on the right. More pictures to come tomorrow hopefully.
Hey Carrie. It was cool to meet you in person! Did you see the pics of you in Terry Fielder's photo albums from National? She was taking pics over the shoulder of the show photographer. There are some good ones of you and Callie.
They are beautiful.
Rita Jean
I MISS YOU TOOO!!!!!
…..tee hee
Welcome back! Can't wait to see more pics of the girls!
They are very pretty!
Wow what a story…
Glad to hear you are okay and congrats on the new pup 
Great photo!
Hope we see you soon... (just get a new computer! :))
Great story, happy ending, cute picture. They look happy together..(as-long-as-you-don't-touch-me, look-at-me, or-my-mommy-well your mommy too, but mine more, smell-me, or sleep-where-I-want-to-sleep)..Happy together..
I love the story Carrie, especialy the bits about trying to resist getting another Dog
Glad things have worked out for you all.
Welcome back! I loved your story about Callie and Lola. Glad everything's working out so well. Funny how things happen when you're "not getting a dog". I had the same thoughts when Duke came home with me. 
They look happy together..(as-long-as-you-don't-touch-me, look-at-me, or-my-mommy-well your mommy too, but mine more, smell-me, or sleep-where-I-want-to-sleep)..Happy together..
Exactly! Very happy
Hey Carrie. It was cool to meet you in person! Did you see the pics of you in Terry Fielder's photo albums from National? She was taking pics over the shoulder of the show photographer. There are some good ones of you and Callie.
Nice to meet you too!!! Love your girl! Yes, saw the pictures. Callie looks good, but I could use a little work haha.
Thanks for all the welcomes & well wishes! And yes, it is very funny what happens when you aren't getting a dog. Since we chose Booger & Lola without their input, its fun to have a basenji that has chosen me instead!
Here are a few more cute pictures of the girls.
Lola being lazy, the two of them posing (I swear they do this a lot without me asking or planning or using treats… they just seem to be so different but of such a similar mindset much of the time), getting ready to run at Nationals, and Callie at our first show!!
There is also a really really cute picture of them here. We went to a local shelter charity event & a professional photographer who specializes in animals took a bunch of pictures. She got a great one of the girls about 1/3 of the way down the page, in the Dog Days of Summer post. http://www.leesiateh.com/blog/?paged=2
I MISS YOU TOOO!!!!!
…..tee hee
Well if you miss me that badly, you know where I go for free Wi-fi, I'll be here until 9:30 & you're invited over for a margarita
I love the picture from the photographer adn tyhe one of the two of them on the couch. My Otis looks a lot like Lola, very dark brindle.
Pictures are great they look so nice in there collars.
Rita Jean
Thanks for sharing your story Carrie, it was great meeting you! Looking forward to seeing you guys again sometime. Lola and Callie look like a perfect fit. 
Hey Carrie!! It's great to have you back. Loved the story.
It's that time of year again. You should bring your "new coats" thread BTTT.
Dawn, Katie, and Tyler:)
Welcome back and congrats on your new pup! There are lots of good things out there just waiting to happen!
It's that time of year again. You should bring your "new coats" thread BTTT.
I Agree..
I wasn't here for the first one, but saw it on some old threads..awesome duds..Otis would love one..;)
Well, I'm totally confused!
Andrew and Carrie? A couple, I presume, that broke up? One has one dog and the other has the other, but Carrie posts under Andrew?
I've been wondering what happened to the Andrew in Atlanta who use to post.
I know you are in Atlanta and would love to know more about agility training and lure crossing in the Atlanta area. If you recall, I'm in Blairsville, GA.
Great pictures and beautiful Basenjis.
Welcome back, Carrie! And Welcome home, Callie!
(hey, it rhymes!!! :D:D:D)
