Fridays With Ellie: One Month In West New York

This week has felt very, very long. Nothing remarkable came my way, just the usual work work work work work (TM Rihanna) and lots of writing with some conference calls and events thrown in.

I don’t know why I’m so tired lately. Brian says it’s allergies. I say it’s because I’ve been eating too much sugar. Either way, I’m having a hard time getting up every morning, and am ready to pass out hard by 3:30 PM most days. (If you’re looking for motivation or inspiration, I’m available for hourly pep texts. LMK.)

Springtime is the prettiest time! Also fall. And summer. And sometimes winter when it's snowy but not too cold.
Springtime is the prettiest time! Also fall. And summer. And sometimes winter when it’s snowy but not too cold.

This weekend will include a long run at some point (gunning for 12 miles since we’re three weeks out from the Brooklyn Half), the Red Hook Crit in Brooklyn Saturday night (date night!), and a full day of work on Sunday. So pretty low key, which is nice because I’ll be traveling the next two weekends in a row (going back to Washington, D.C., for my cousin’s wedding, then going to New Hampshire to see Tyler and Abby for the first time since Christmas!).

But despite being tired and kind of complain-y and a little out of it, I’m never too sleepy to blast the internet with pictures of Ellie. Welcome to another edition of Fridays With Ellie!

A lovely day at South Mountain Reservation! Two happy girls.
A lovely day at South Mountain Reservation! Two happy girls.

At almost eight months old (whaaat?!), Ellie is loving life more than ever. She continues to make herself feel at home here in West New York, and loves exploring the neighborhood and making as many human and animal friends as possible.

HER IDENTICAL HAND TWIN! These two were so cute together in the dog park, and so similar looking, right?!
HER IDENTICAL HAND TWIN! These two were so cute together in the dog park, and so similar looking, right?!

Her best friend is the man who vacuums the hallways and lobby of our building. Ellie will be sound asleep, but when she hears the hum of the vacuum in the hallway, she’ll wake up, run to the door, and start wagging her tail and shaking her butt like crazy. They’re the cutest pals ever, and he’ll always stop what he’s doing to play with her. It’s her favorite part of the day.

The second favorite part of Ellie’s day is our nightly walk to the ferry terminal. The ferry is just .2 miles from our apartment, so Brian will text me to let me know which ferry he’ll be on, and then I’ll walk Ellie to meet him at the end of the gangway (what a strange word!). People at the terminal recognize Ellie now, and everyone’s very nice and happy to see her during their homeward-bound commutes. (Picture the opposite of Penn Station or Port Authority. Here, people smile and are nice and it’s clean and the commute is kind of awesome and no one elbows you in the ribs for sort of being in their way.)

Making herself at home inside the ferry terminal...
Making herself at home inside the ferry terminal…

The Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Sunday security guard is Ellie’s second best friend. He likes to post videos of her on SnapChat, and I always bring Ellie to the terminal a few minutes before Brian’s boat arrives so she can visit Mr. Security before she spots Brian coming off the boat.

Then, when Brian arrives, she runs toward him and we’re all a happy, reunited family after the long day. We walk Ellie to the dog park on the way home (it’s between the ferry and the apartment), throw some tennis balls around for a while, and then come home for dinner.

Dinner and snuggles.
Dinner and snuggles.

Ellie has gone on a few exciting field trips lately. We’ve been to South Mountain Reservation, Brookdale Dog Park, and Tallman Mountain State Park.

She dipped her paws and face in the river at South Mountain Reservation. Very exciting!
She dipped her paws and face in the river at South Mountain Reservation. Very exciting!
Road trip! She loves the car.
Road trip! She loves the car.
Exploring Piermont and NOT liking this tiger.
Exploring Piermont and NOT liking this tiger.
I was 93% certain this apparatus was going to come crumbling down underneath me. It didn't, though.
I was 93% certain this apparatus was going to come crumbling down underneath me. It didn’t, though.
She doesn't quite realize that she can jump from the car to the ground...
She doesn’t quite realize that she can jump from the car to the ground…

She also went on her first ferry boat ride to visit Brian at work. She was thrilled by the ferry. Her life is very glamorous and exciting, and I swear every day is the best day of her life.

Discussing official business.
Discussing official business.
Bring your doggy to work day!
Bring your doggy to work day!
Office mascot!
Office mascot!

When she’s not taking a road trip or boat ride, Ellie enjoys the local dog parks and peeing and pooping on the grass and the mulch.

Nightly playtime!
Nightly playtime!
Stopping to smell the not-roses-but-IDK.
Stopping to smell the not-roses-but-IDK.
My little model.
My little model.
Probs going to make this into a postcard and mail it to friends and family.
Probs going to make this into a postcard and mail it to friends and family.

All this traveling makes her sleepy sometimes, though!

NO PICTURES, PLZ.
NO PICTURES, PLZ.
There is officially no longer room for three "people" in this bed.
There is officially no longer room for three “people” in this bed.
I ran a half-marathon. She took a nap.
I ran a half-marathon. She took a nap.
I woke up like this. Literally. Paw to the face.
I woke up like this. Literally. Paw to the face.
Same size paws.
Same size paws.

And lest you think the underbite has faded with age…it hasn’t.

Fang you very much!
Fang you very much!
Hang out with your fang out.
Hang out with your fang out.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Ali

Ali

17 Responses

  1. I just have to tell you how much you inspire me and motivate me to “be a better version of myself.” You’re so right in saying your 30s are the best! (I’m only 32, but I still agree so far!) Keep on smiling and I look forward to your next post!

  2. don’t we all wish we had the lives of our pups! anyhoo, I find getting out the door for a run the hardest part, no matter the time of the day. maybe, i’ll see you running around the waterfront this weekend. I have a 12 miler planned for tmw and also running brooklyn : )

  3. I love your Friday Ellie posts!! Also, I’m with you on the getting out of bed in the morning and wanting to go to bed at 3 pm struggles…I’m super exhausted too, with a super busy month of May coming up. Please let me know if you come up with a magical potion to fix it!

  4. Ellie is living the life and very adorably, too!

    I envy that you can have white bedding with a dog. My dogs are always so filthy no matter how hard I try to keep their paws clean. I’m sadly stuck with dark bedding, preferably black. Ick & blah.

  5. Your posts have made me obsessed with Ellie. I really hope I run into y’all in the city sometime so I can hug her!

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about ali

I’m the creator of the Ali on the Run blog and the host of the Ali on the Run Show podcast. I’m also a freelance writer and editor, a race announcer, a runner and marathoner, a mom, and a huge fan of Peanut M&Ms, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (way better than the first one!), and reliving my glory days as a competition dancer in the early 2000s. I’m really happy you’re here.
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