We are in I-o-way

Lucy and I arrived safely at the Travelodge in Iowa City yesterday afternoon. The car ride was very hot, as even the air conditioning could not keep out the sun's strong rays, leaving my left arm a little sunburned and Lucy panting warily throughout the 3+ hour trip. Lucy seems to enjoy the hotel room. She sniffed every inch of the room when we first got there and found a spot for her mat right next to the air conditioning unit. She also figured out that she fits under the bed in the room, which is where she takes her naps (or under the overstuffed chair next to the bed). I'm putting the baby gate on the bed while I'm gone, hoping that will keep my bed doggie free. So far, it seems to be working. She hasn't been too bad about barking. We went for a four-mile walk this morning when we got up, which I'm hoping will wipe her out while I'm on campus this afternoon f0r my workshop. Tomorrow will be more of a broken day, having to leave early for a meeting with my workshop teacher and then again later for workshop itself. It would be nice, I suppose, to stay on campus as I'd planned, but since I'm gone for a full week, it's nice to have something from home to keep me company, too. Besides, how often does a beagle get to stay in hotel room?