Here's a hint about the Other Dog. Guess who?

No, that's not him. He's a manly boxer man. But who knew that boxers could fly and hang out on top of trees? This tree is, of course, at our mystery man's home.

It's... Rupert! Our east coast boxer bud - our pen pal - DogDiary canine columnist in Annapolis, Maryland! 

I met him in person last night - now I'm wearing his hair! Man, am I'm gonna be in trouble when I get home....

Check this out - Rupert has tiger stripes!! Totally cool.

I was surprised how big Rupert was -- big and bulky. Strapping, like a body builder. And he wasn't the least bit shy. He mauled me - in a good way!

Here, I thought he was a poised and dignified east coast boxer. Preppy, from a naval officer family, marching in tight formation in parades. While we wind back and forth on a surfboard, crossing the street, to work crowds on both sides - west coast style.

Not! Rupert is all man, all boy, all bounce, all puppy. He is full of life and not the least bit east coast snobby. Not "boxers in tight formation." All over the place! He's "local" - he'd fit right in at the sandbar.

Rupert has a killer view - he can just chill out and watch squirrels, dear, beavers, and birds, right from his favorite chair.

That window is where he and his mom, M.J. Sweeney, write Rupert Report - for our readers. Rupert's fam lives on land settled by the fam of Francis Scott Key. It's a very historic area.  Of course where we live, there is Lewis and Clark.....

Here's Rupert's sister Sophie. She's the thinker.

This is her skeptical look - like she's saying "you came from WHERE? And you're getting back there HOW?"

Such a serious look! Don't be fooled - she is a total sweetheart. She's a leaner. Right up against you with her body - while Rupert is a body crasher.

You know how they always say east coasters think before they talk and we west coasters talk before we think? She's proof.

That's Rupert at the window, with Sophie flapping her ears.

Not serious. Dog breath, dog toys, dog beds and nose prints everywhere. In a dignified east coast kind of way.

Our boxer friends recently lost their pack leader, Liz. But her legend lives on. Just like Elvis does. Those that leave us are always in our hearts.

YOU TWO are always in my heart. It's no fun traveling without you. But sometimes work just gets in the way.

It was awesome to reconnect with MJ after all those years on different coasts, and meet her dog kids. The last time I saw her, she lived in Hawaii and I lived in San Diego, 20 years (and two dog generations) ago!

Now I'm waiting for my flight to board and should be home in the middle of the night.

I'll be dog tired. Let's do a wild reunion party anyway. There's no place like home!

Love,

Mom