Monday, August 30, 2010

LITTLE PUG, BIG CITY (part one)

So, last week my human got a call from a nice lady named Ellen. She's been reading about my adventures since, like, day one and just so happened to be visiting San Francisco with some friends. And wanted to meet me.

Anyone who knows me at all knows I love people,
so of course I was superexcited to meet Ellen and her friends. My human says I'm a love sponge and I've heard her tell people there's not enough love in the world for me. Which I guess is kinda true, but I don't think that's a bad thing. Right?

Anyway. Things got even more exciting when my human said we'd be meeting Ellen + her friends in downtown San Francisco. According to Google, we live exactly 3 miles from downtown - but somehow, I've never been there. Dutch has (a whole bunch of times, apparently) but not me. Not once. Ever.

I like adventures almost as much as I love love, so going new places is also superexciting. Especially when the going involves getting to ride a train. Uh huh. A train. And not just any train -- an underground train (technical term: subway).

Riding the L train.

San Francisco loves dogs so much, we're allowed to ride on public transportation. There's a catch though: non-service dogs (like me) have to wear a muzzle to ride the train. Uhhhh... pugs (like me) have no snout. How can you muzzle a dog with no muzzle?

My human was kinda worried about having to argue with the train police over the snout/muzzle technicality. But after trying to stuff me into a messenger bag and two totes (and failing), she decided to take a chance. I was instructed to look as cute and snoutless as possible at all times, then we headed to the train station.

Train-riding non-service dogs (like me) are supposed have to buy a train ticket just like everyone else, so we stopped and got change from a nice man in a giant glass box who said I was the cutest dog he's ever seen. He did not comment on my lack of muzzle.

I guess the trains were running late or something because a million people were just standing around. They were kinda grumpy about waiting, but still superfriendly and happy to see me. I got loads of love and attention and a bunch of people took my picture as I supermodelled by the train map.

There was a ridiculous amount of Awwwwing. And we hadn't even left the station...

37 comments:

Cooper_Pug said...

Cool adventure! Didn't know that dogs can ride buses and trains in SF. Will have to get mom and dad take me for a ride in the big city. Maybe I'll see you on a bus!

Anonymous said...

Puglet! We live in Chicago an we aren't allowed on the train! No fair!!
Are we talking about Ellen like the lady on tv??? If so will you be on her show??
Mocha and Latte

Lola said...

Uh, Pug? Is this THE Ellen? The famous TV Ellen?
Was that MUNI or BART you got to ride? I live right across the street from a BART station, and ther's lots of goodies that people throw on the street there, but I've never been inside.
Lafayette Lola

THE PUGLET said...

Uhm, this Ellen is from Pennsylvania, not Television. She might be famous for something else though? Not sure - we mostly talked about me :)

THE PUGLET said...

Yeah, dogs are totally allowed as long as it's not "rush hour". Whatever that is.

I was on a MUNI train, but I know my friend Frank used to go to work with his dad and they rode BART. I think he had to hide in a bag though.

THE PUGLET said...

Mocha and Latte ~

Chicago has hotdogs though. Enough said.

Erin @ Slipcover Your Life said...

Puglet,

Sounds like you had fun on the subway! I ride the subway all of the time with my Mom in NYC. I love to snuggle down and nap, and then right before our stop pop up and stick my head out (scares the people around us, and then they ooh and aah over the hotdog in a bag!) I think the train movement is super relaxing, and I love that there is usually some new butts to sniff on the other end of the trip!

Your non-Pug friend,
Bailey, the mini doxie

Anonymous said...

Hi Puglet,

I wish my human would travel from Pennsylvania to San Francisco and bring me to meet you. You're like a super cool celebripug!

Can't wait to hear what 'Part Two' is of your Ellen adventures!

Licks,
Molly in PA

DMBY said...

Riding on the train looks super fun!

Oh Puglet, this morning I saw a car with a secret message license plate: PUGS RG8. I think that car might have some friends for you inside!

Anonymous said...

Puglet,
Our mom doesn't let us eat hot dogs! She's crazy, she says there's nasty things in them but they sure don't smell nasty! Kind of like your popeyes chicken thing! Maybe we could convince her for a special occasion!
Mocha and Latte

Suki said...

Hi Pug! How super exciting. Like Lola, I too thought is was the TV Ellen. I've never been on a train, but I have been in an elevator. It sure made my tummy feel funny.

Suki

Noodles said...

That sounds fun. I am happy to hear SF allows dogs on public transport. My human saw a dog and his human get booted off a VTA/San Jose light rail train because dogs are not allowed to ride. What are they supposed to do if they do not have a car? And cars are sooooooo polluting and stuff?
Way to Stay Green, Man.
Love Noodles

Pearl and Tessa said...

Hey DMBY, we saw one the other day that was kind of scary...it said PUGFRY1...to us, thats even scarier then the thought of shooting dogs.

Our human is so excited about seeing your pictures today, very much "new urbanism" (whatever that is) and walkable communities, blah, blah. Mom says we can go on a trip to SF...she is researching dog friendly hotels and restaurants, hopefully coincide around a pug Sunday. Oh boy, oh boy.

Pearl and Tessa

Edward the Pug said...

WOAH! A trip into the city. I live about 20 minutes from Minneapolis and I haven't even been there in a car....although riding in a car is sometimes not as exciting as it seems since you have to sit and behave and just watch everything go by.

I am sure your human took more photos of the trip. I can't WAIT to see them pop up on the blog and hear how meeting Ellen went. Gosh, you are such an adventurous pug.

Cheers to that!
Edward the pug

THE PUGLET said...

PUGFRY1?

eeew/scary!

THE PUGLET said...

That sucks they boot dogs in San Jose. My human was worried we might get booted, but figured downtown is only 3 miles from home, so we could always walk back.

THE PUGLET said...

Pearl and Tessa ~

Ooooh - I love when people visit! It would be bonus if you could go to a Pug Sunday because that's, like, classic San Francisco. Remember: 1st Sunday of the month.

See you soon!?

Pearl and Tessa said...

We are hoping to come soon...hopefully in the fall. We got to go to WOOFstock yesterday, was fun...we are still pooped out.

Pearl and Tessa

Minnie Moo said...

That is soooo cool you got to ride on a subway. I love to be out in public so people can tell me how cute I am.

Noodle said...

Wow, Puglet! You look like a natural. You look like you commute all the time! My human says I'd get all freaked out by the people and the noises on a train. We'll never know if we don't try, right? Looking forward to hearing about your visit downtown!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Puglet, You look so cool on the subway. Our mom loves San Francisco, we were wondering if your mom ever takes you to China Town, a chinese pug in China Town...get it!!! You are one lucky pug. Oh our mom has 'vanity plate' on her suv, it says *PUGGS*, our friends call her a pug addict. Ellie, Emmitt and Eli

THE PUGLET said...

The train wasn't scary at all. Except maybe when there were no seats and my human kept falling over (she was holding me at the time).

Sometimes I feel kinda naked (?) if Dutch isn't around, but all the train people were really nice. A few of them took my picture with their phones and a lot of them pet me :)

Stubby said...

Hi Puglet! I can't believe you got to ride on a train. You are the luckiest pug ever!

For the record, I've never been to downtown Chicago. And I've never ridden on a train. For all the traveling I've been doing you'd think I could have squeezed those things in but no. I guess I just need to get out more.

Stubby xoxo

The Michigan Puggy said...

Hi Puglet,

HOW EXCITING it looks to be doing what you are able to do. My human and I really like it that you share these things....it helps to "make our day" as my human likes to say...and she smiles too!

I love the water of the Great Lakes and everything and all the natural beauty of the forests here....and especially and autumn...when many of the BIG plants leaves turn many colors....and I do not get so very hot...

guess every place is exciting to someone else...well i just wanted to say HELLO...

The Michigan Puggy (heh maybe I could write a paper with that title (SMILE))!! :)

Simply Pug said...

Was riding the train scary? And what about those people looking at you? Were they nice or mean? All these pug meetings. Baby and I need to do more of a friendship thingie right here.
~Lulu the Pug

Linda said...

This in wonderful. Pugs are the BEST

Anonymous said...

Puglet, you are about the biggest celebrity dog I know--people want to meet the famous Puglet! How awesome. And you totally looked like a natural riding the subway. So Euro

Granite State Pet Sitting said...

How Awesome is that to have such a special visitor.

Anonymous said...

No doubt your cuteness made it smooth sailing all the way. Who could resist that face? Such pug mugness

I'm glad you weren't scared to ride your first subway train. What pug gets to do that?

Crabbie Chris said...

You should be like the spokes pug for MUNI! If they put you on posters, I bet the drivers would be happy, they would be on time and the people would keep it clean. I'd love to see a huge Pug poster on all the buses. You should campaign to the new mayor.

SpencerBartholomew said...

What a super cool adventure Pug. I think it's awesome you got to ride the train. Pugs should be allowed to go everywhere...we are so stinking cute.

THE PUGLET said...

Heya Stubbs!

You've toured the world, but never been to downtown Chicago? Wow. I think your mom should fix that before winter comes (psssst: I hear they have hotdogs there, dude).

THE PUGLET said...

Hiya Michigan Puggy~

I might have trains, but our big plants don't change colors (technical term: autumn). My human had autumn where she grew up and says she really misses it... but not enough to have winter. Winter doesn't really happen here.

THE PUGLET said...

Minnie Moo -

I just saw your bikini suit over on Bellatrix's blog. If you wore that out downtown, the whole entire world would stop to Awwwwww at you.

THE PUGLET said...

Oooh, do you think MUNI needs a spokespug? I'd love to see me on the side of a bus or a train!!

Minnie and Mack said...

You are so right. You'd be the bestest spokespug!! Come to the DC area and convince the peeps here that Pugs can ride Metro!

czachowski pug said...

universal traveller :)))