Dear Lucy

My hooman owns one of those little “computermathingies” that tell him “that he’s got mail” but I never see a mailman to bite in the butt, strange. On some campgrounds he spends hours sitting in front of that shiny little picture window and looks very happy. But sometimes he bangs on the keyboard and shouts funny words with four letter in ‘em and although he is not married he damns his “wife eye”. Dear Lucy, please tell me, what does that mean?

Your four legged Terrier friend Scotch from Norfolk, VA 

Dear Scotch

Thank you for your letter. Let me fill you in on the basics. It sounds like your hooman is using a laptop or notebook computer to access a widely known service called the Internet or World Wide Web. To do this he’s using a WIFI or wireless Internet connection. In some places it works flawlessly and in others it can give your human a hard time to log-on. The main reason for this is the placement of the antenna, the strength of the signal and possible obstructions and interferences. Let me start with a few WiFi basics. A wireless network uses radio waves, just like cell phones, televisions and radios do. In fact, communication across a wireless network is a lot like two-way radio communication. Here's what happens:

1. A computer's wireless adapter translates data into a radio signal and transmits it using an antenna.
2. A wireless router receives the signal and decodes it. It sends the information to the Internet using a physical, wired Ethernet connection.

The process also works in reverse, with the router receiving information from the Internet, translating it into a radio signal and sending it to the computer's wireless adapter. If this transmission is blocked by walls (especially metal walls), trees, dense foliage or other physical obstructions, the signal can deteriorate and slow down or stop the data transfer. Interferences like microwaves, 2.4 GHz wireless phones, some brands of cell phones or simply electric appliances also have a tendency to influence the quality of the WIFI connection, the same goes for heavy rain, static electricity during thunderstorms and even solar flares. I recommend that your hooman tries to find a spot where there is little or no tree cover (WIFI and shade don’t go well together), adjusts his antenna so it faces the main hub, shuts down any interfering appliances and positions his computer away from metal walls, heavy closets, fridges and cell phones. That should help him to get a great signal and he’ll have more time to give you a belly rub. 

Dear Lucy

My hoomans have stayed at Four Paws several times and they have a site they really, really like. (me too by the way, ‘cause there’s a lot of pee-mail around). Anyruff, how can we make sure we get the site we want in advance?
Pete, a playful Golden from Ohio

Dear Pete

Thank you for your email. I’ve checked with my office hooman and here’s the deal. We generally reserve sites according to certain specs (back-in, pull-thru, length of rig, amp requirements, fire ring etc.) After that our computer determines which site fits your specific needs and wants. That being said, we try to accommodate site requests within certain limits. We recommend at least three site choices (priority 1 –3) and we need to know at least 4 – 6 weeks in advance. However, if another camper occupies your desired site and the person extends his stay, we do not relocate him to make room for you (we would extend the same courtesy to you).

Your friend Lucy

Dear Lucy

My hoomans have bought a new toy called GeePeeEss (a toy I’m not allowed to play with by the way) and they want to use it next week when we are driving to visit you. Don’t you think that’s a wonderful idea?

Bonnie, a Poodle from Kentucky

Dear Bonnie:

Sounds like your hoomans have gone all out to make sure you’ll come and see us here at the Kingdom. However, we do recommend to use our directions (provided on our website) to find us. Unfortunately many GPS systems as well as MapQuest and other mapping software do not distinguish the requirements for a big rig motorhome and you might end up on a small (very small) country road with a 40 footer and a tow car (not a pretty picture). Our directions are specially designed for RV’ers and will guide you through safe and manageable routes.

Happy Travels. I hope I can bark with you soon.

Dear Lucy

My hooman just visited http://www.rvparkreviews.com and I sneaked on his lap. I happened to see that Four Paws got great reviews there. However, the last one I read was not very nice, saying that: “There is little or nothing for kids to do at this campground. They even have a rule that 'kids under 16 years old cannot leave their campsite without an adult escort'. Do what?! My sons felt like prisoners!”

Are you disappointed when people write something like that?

Gracy Lou – a smart Westie from Tennessee

Dear Gracy Lou,

Thank you for looking out for us. Yes, I’ve seen this one too and as the old saying goes, everyone is entitled to his own opinion. That being said, the person who wrote the review is right. We are not catering to people with kids. We are very upfront about that and even write about it in our brochures and in our HELP section of our website. Four Paws Kingdom was designed as a safe and enjoyable place for all people who want to play, hike, train or relax with their dogs. We do not advertise or market ourselves as a “Family Campground”, we always were and still are the first and only dog dedicated campground in the US and that’s what 99.9% of our guests love about us.

Your friend Lucy

Dear Lucy:

I have no questions today; I just wanted to share a dog joke my hooman told at a party last night. 

Tom from Maine, Shepherd/Lab Mix

Dear Lucy

I always wanted to visit you and Schroeder at Four Paws Kingdom, but my hoomans have been too busy to schedule a visit. What’s will be going on in 2007 that I can look forward to and where can we find this information?

Macy Q. a spoiled rotten Cairn from NYNY.

Dear Macy Q.

All there is to know about our 2007 season (including events, dates, rates and availability) can be found online at:  http://www.4pawskingdom.com/events_2007.html  and http://www.4pawskingdom.com/reservation_07.html

Some event highlights include old favorites like our catered German Easter Dinner (this time with the much requested “Rouladen” on the menu), our Memorial Day Ribfest, the “party-people-having-fun” Margaritaville Fest (this time with even more Jimmy B. music and hilarious games) plus Labor Day BBQ, Oktoberfest and the July 4th Chili Cook-Off.

New on the events calendar is the “Old Fella Rally” event August 9,10,11,12, 2007

If you haven’t heard about Old Fella yet, and would like to read more about this heartwarming story of friendship and dog rescue, please visit these links for all the inside scoop and how this Rally came to life.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/17947247/gotomsg/17947247/p/1.cfm#17947247

http://moneycentral.groups.msn.com/OldFella/welcome.msnw

we’ll also feature two catered breakfasts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and our “Old World Fare” catered dinner at the July4th weekend.

Plus much, much more that’s too long to describe in this little feature. Tell you hoomans to visit the event page and read for themselves.

http://www.4pawskingdom.com/events_2007.html

I hope to see you sometime in 2007.

ASK LUCY ANTHING

Dear Lucy, my hoomans and I would like to know if you are feeling better? When we saw you last at Thanksgiving you were a bit under the weather. How are things going now little girl?

Buster, a Boxer Mix from Georgia

Dear Buster,

Thanks for your concern. I’m doing a lot better. My hoomans were so nice to run me through a whole series of tests and the specialty doctor in Charlotte found out that I had a scary form of auto – immune Meningitis. Thanks to a ton of pills and loving care by my family I’m now feeling pretty good and hopefully (over time) I can get off the pills. Don’t want to be known as the Corgi Junkie, do I?

Dear Lucy, my hoomans just found your website on the Internet and now they are eager to jump in the car and come and check the place out. When would be a good time to do that?

Benji, a MinPin from Tennessee

Dear Benji,

I’m sorry to disappoint you and your hoomans but Four Paws Kingdom will not open before April 5th, 2007. Until then we are upgrading, repairing, refurbishing, renewing, repainting, repaving and relaxing (not necessarily in this particular order). In short, the doors and gates are closed and there is not much to see that would truly represent the way Four Paws Kingdom looks when we are open. So please, tell your hoomans to “hold the horses” and wait a few more weeks. After April 5th, we’ll gladly show you around and personally answer all your questions if and when you decide to pay us a visit.

Dear Readers,

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