This is Megabyte’s favorite toy ever. It’s called Hide-A-Squirrel and it has three little stuffed squirrels (each with a squeaker inside) that you place in the holes in the tree trunk, and the dog has to figure out how to get them out. I got it for her last Christmas and she plays with it all the time — my parents stick the squirrels back in several times a day, and next time they come into the room the squirrels are all on the floor again. Hours of enjoyment for the whole family!

The squirrels stopped squeaking pretty fast (Megabyte is hard on her toys) but the beautiful thing is that you can buy replacement squirrels! So last time I visited I brought several packages. (They also have a bird house, bee hive, gingerbread house, and several other options if your dog isn’t into squirrels.)

Megabyte is 13 today. It’s hard to believe she was once this tiny furball:

Of course she’ll be celebrating with her grandparents and her cousins in Calgary, but I’m enjoying this video that I took when I was up there a few months ago. She’s pretty spry for 13 — her cousins Solo and Chewie keep her on her toes!

This is how Megabyte looks at you if you ask her, “Do you want opposable thumbs?”

I think it’s because she’s wondering why I’m asking her if she wants what she already (secretly) has. Or she’s trying to figure out if I’ve already guessed that she (secretly) has them.

My sister is tormenting my poor dog. I would never make her wear a funny hat. (The dog, that is. I would totally make my sister wear a funny hat if I thought I could get away with it.)

(Though I have to say, Megabyte got off easier than Chewy.)

Thanks, Mags!

… and because there haven’t been enough pictures of Megabyte on this site since she moved back to the Great White North, I offer you what happens after a dip in the pool (my sister didn’t post this one publicly, so I nicked it from her Facebook page):

Meg_Pool_1, originally uploaded by magsontheroad.

My mom bought the dogs a swimming pool to help pass the time in the 30+ degree (Celsius) weather they’ve been having in Calgary.

My sister kindly took some photos of Meg enjoying the pool for me.

I miss my dog. But it looks like she’s having a really good life up in Calgary.

Visiting with my family in Calgary for a few days—and, of course, my Megabyte!

Megabyte is always excited to see me when I get up to Calgary, even though she’s happy at my parents’. She’s developing cataracts and her vision is starting to fail, so I think she didn’t recognize me when she first saw me this last trip, and she barked at me from the porch. But as soon as she heard my voice she began her patented Footy Dance and was all over me.

We still feel her absence, even after more than a year. so I was pretty excited to see her too.