November 20, 2011

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Eat Play Love

I will admit that I have never read nor seen the movie, Eat Pray Love (nor has anyone at this house), but the other day, while racing across an open field barking at crows, I thought to myself, “Why is my life so wonderful?” I realize that the original story was more about someone finding the wonderfulness of life, but the premise — that what makes our lives so wonderful is all around us in the everyday details — is the same in both stories — Elizabeth Gilbert’s and mine.

So I spent this past week gathering those details (de-tails?) and spread them carefully out on the floor to study them yesterday. Yes, the floor was covered with things like car rides along the lake, a new (really really long) bully stick from my Auntie Sheila, all my friends (canine and human), a warm blanket, music, teriyaki chicken from Toshio’s, snuggling, walks, romps, cuddling with Auntie Jessica…I could go on and on and on.

But as I sorted through the many meaningful moments of my life, what I realized was that at the center of it all are three basics and they can, for me, be summarized as Eat Play Love…though technically it should go in this order: Play, Love, Eat.

PLAY: You can be certain that 99% of the time I have a moment where I stop and say to myself, “Hey self, your life is pretty wonderful!”  I am playing. Play includes running along the lake, racing through the woods, chasing after something (a ball, a bird, a squirrel, a cat, A RABBIT), swimming (at the pool or in some body of open water), hiking, kayaking, running an agility course (though I am no longer allowed to do it), or wrestling with my friends. (I know I’ve probably left something out, but you get the idea — if I’m moving and generally off-leash, I am beyond happy!)

Take this week, for instance: I got to play fetch at the park with my friends Paige and Monty (and Monty’s mom Colleen) and that made me hysterically happy…

…then I worked all week (and yes, for me work is a blast!) walking my friends Paige, Monty, Rosie, Tyson, and even Woobie…

…I got to make Woobie happy by helping her get some warm water exercise at Wellsprings K9 (as we all try to help heal her broken toe)…

…and I got to spend some quality time with my new best friend, Zoe, who visited me from Marquette, Michigan! (and I met a new friend, Chester!)

In between this full life of play is all sorts of stuff you don’t get to see — like I hung out at Auntie Jessica’s one day and we went on two wonderful walks together where I pranced and danced at the end of my leash, proud as a peacock to be walking with Jessica and her dog (and my buddy) Quillette; I saw Lulu and we spontaneously went on a walk together; I saw Liliana at Dog Mania for a Spaw Day; and I even got to go visit Dr. Geisler who gave me a much-needed adjustment on my back!

Which leads me to the LOVE part: Most of my play, if not all of it, is with friends (canine and human) that I love and who, in turn, love me.

Paige stayed with us last weekend and for a few days during the week and the more I get to know Paige (and share my life with her) the more I LOVE her (and yes, she loves me, too!).

Zoe, who I’d met years ago, came all the way from Michigan to cuddle with me on the guest bed. Now that’s what I call love!

There are places that I love and that love me back — like Seward Park — where we took Zoe for a walk…

…a ride on the zip line (well, she rode, I just barked at her)…

…and breathing in all the cool, chilly air on a cool, chilly day by the lake!

And again, there are so many places that I love that you don’t always get to see. For instance, I just got back from the Duwammish River Park where Paige and I flushed out rabbits from behind the bushes and chased them all the way across the park.

And I got to share the love, too  (which makes me feel loved as well) sharing one of my favorite places with my dear friend Woobie (Wellsprings K9) where she got to swim (something she loves to do) and get a massage from Auntie Sheila!

EAT: Okay, I’ll be honest. This isn’t one of my most favorite activities in the world but hanging out with Paige for a few days is the best way for any curly man to learn to eat! Man alive, I’ve never seen a dog ATTACK their food like she does. I watched in amazement as she waited patiently (and drooly) on her (actually MY) bed and then when given the signal, leapt across the floor and devoured her meal in 60 seconds or less! (The title of her book would be EAT, PREY, LOVE!)

That was inspirational. So inspirational in fact, I ate like a “real dog” (Gretchen’s words) the whole time she was here.

Of course, eating can be yummy at times especially when I turn my nose up at my bowl of delicious raw food and Gretchen decides to add some freshly cooked chicken or maybe some Havarti cheese to the mix and then, maybe then, I’ll eat it all up.

Though I know eating isn’t one of my favorite things, it’s certainly a necessity and I’m very lucky to have great food (and great moms) who will provide me with the best meals know to Dog!

And friends who give me bully sticks (dog chews) longer than my own body! (Thank you, Paige!)

So yes, the wonder of my life is multitude of things that add up to an equation I can only wish for every dog: EAT, PLAY, LOVE (in any order you prefer) and don’t let a moment of your life slip away into the doldrums! Yep, I’m grabbing life by the curls and never letting go! (And sometimes it’s good to sleep as well…but only if it’s under a big, warm blanket!)

See you soon,

Rubin

 

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November 13, 2011

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Quiet Before

I am aging. There’s no other way to say it, but straight out and honestly. I. Am. Aging.

It was inevitable, of course. Can’t stop what’s supposed to happen, but this week my aging opened the front door and I could no longer ignore her (yes, my age is somehow a “her” – no explanation). I think she walked in with the weather, but I can’t be sure. All I know is that she was quiet and then like a sudden hailstorm on a metal roof, she could not be denied.

This is not to say that my life is a storm. On the contrary. My life is more than just one thing. It is a sunny day, a standstill snowstorm, a sweet-smelling Spring shower, a gray stagnant afternoon, a pink cloudless morning…I could go on, but you get the idea. My life is full and unexpected, boring and predictable, sweet and sleepy all at the same time, all the time.

I suppose all of this wonder of my life (and my age) showed up at the front step because I took stock of all the amazing friends, family, and life experiences I have each and every week. Yes, part of this is due to the fact that I am a dog dog walker, but it’s also due to the fact that I’ve been born into this one, brief life and it is my nature to capture the splendor of of every second of every sun that rises, downpour that soaks me, and friend who crosses my path.

And all of this awareness coincided with the most interesting week of weather. Sure, we’ve had weather like this before and sure, we’ve had the wide variety of weather we’ve had this week many times in the past. But somehow the weather extremes highlighted all that is good and beautiful in my life and the storm of my realization crept up on me like the (rain, hail, wind) storm we experienced at the end of the week.

It started slowly. Monday was a cloudy day that ended in sunshine and the shimmering colors of Autumn’s last attempt to hang on. We walked with Rosie and Tyson. Nothing extraordinary unfolded — just a walk with my two friends, treats fed to us at all the right times, and six pairs of keen eyes focused on the possibility of cats and squirrels and a hole in the treat bag.

Still. And still. As in quiet still and an anticipatory still. It cannot be denied. I was content on Monday. Content with Boxers in a garden. Content with gray paint across the sky. Content with splashes of color that took my breath away. Content with the windless possibilities of the day.

And then in the afternoon, an unexpected trip with my friend Paige to the rabbit park only I became the rabbit and Paige remained and will forever be the Huntress of my Heart.

Yes, we played. And we laughed. And we smelled all that was good in the world. And we counted the quiet before, the calm of what was to come.

Tuesday was simply Rosie, but I do not say that with any less passion and contentment. There was sun…

and there was Rosie and there was rosy.

Don’t let her serious photographs fool you. She tells some of the best jokes and when I least expect it, she can cajole me into my clownish behavior with just one jowly punch to my side. It took a long time (relatively speaking) for me to meet Rosie (Gretchen walked her for almost a year before we were introduced), but not our tails (her stub and my plume) beat with the same rhythm of happiness when we greet each other.

Wednesday was Monty and Rosie. Now if that doesn’t make you smile, I’m not certain anything can. The city was outlined in fog but the promise of sunshine melted it all away slowly and surely.

By the afternoon when it was Monty and Paige, the sun on our backs was an invitation to play and play we did. First, we walked at Camp Long and told stories at the amphitheater.

Then we headed over to the baseball field and played an imaginary game of baseball.

I think it was at this point that my age knocked on the door. Or perhaps it was that night when my body twitched and ached from my adventures. I heard Gretchen say to Ann, “I think he’s worn out” but I was too happily exhausted to respond.

Thursday showed up with more sunshine and that eerie feeling that something big was coming. Yes, the calm before the storm itched at our skin. Still, Rosie and I smiled and squinted and did our best to enjoy the moment before us.

Overnight the rain came. Slowly and steadily. I dreamt about washing machines and waves and all things water and Friday stepped into the weather with my head up and my curls down.

Even the sharp-shinned hawk we spotted in the tree tucked its head against the rain (I’ve added a photo of what one really looks like with its head NOT tucked!)

The rain was soft and scattered when we started out in the morning and for that, Rosie and Tyson were grateful. By mid-day, the rain found its voice and roared down on Monty and me like a waterfall. Hard to photograph how soaked we were, but trust me, soaked can’t even begin to explain.

 

Ann had the day off from work on Friday and so while Gretchen headed off to the warm waters of Wellsprings K9 to work, I helped Ann wade through the torrential waters of her teaching requirements — REPORT CARD TIME!

And then the hailstorm hit. Water and rocks– that’s the only way I can explain it. They came down with a vengeance and that’s when I opened the front door to find my age standing on the front porch. It’s hard to explain, but the moment before I opened the door, I knew she’d be there. She wore a tattered coat of experience and wonder and a hat as wide as joy and as full as love.

There was no need to invite her in. She was home and I welcomed her with open paws. I couldn’t be the happy and loved dog I was without her. To not appreciate her presence in my life was to deny every curl on my head. And so we laughed and sang; we sat on the couch together and reminisced. We told stories about things we thought we’d forgotten and held paws remembering the losses and the loves.

She’s here now — my age — and I’m not letting her go. Instead I’m going to wear her like my favorite coat (which if you know my disdain of coats is saying quite a lot). When we picked Gretchen up from work on Saturday afternoon, I introduced my age to Paige who I learned was spending some days (and nights) with us. Saturday night was spent watching movies and curling up with each other under the blankets on the couch and I thought it profound that the names of my friends – Age and Paige – rhymed. And how funny it was that Paige collected all the tennis balls in the house and brought them to us.

The rain fell outside — silently and with purpose — and the three of us fell asleep dreaming of rabbits and baseball, visitors and sunshine, friends, flowers, and those quiet, calm moments before (and after).

Soon,

Rubin

 

 

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November 5, 2011

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Wonders of the Week

A lot happens during my week. Some of it you get to read about and some of it you don’t. While I try to describe a wide variety of my weekly experiences there are days and weeks that go by when I wrack my curly head trying to pick through the delectable morsels of my Doodle life. Yes, yes, yes…it’s not all pork belly and marrow bones. There are days when I feel that all I do is wait for action and other days when all I want to do is go to my bed and get some rest.

But I’m not complaining. Not many dogs are as lucky as I am to have such a blessed life. Every day I get to go on some kind of adventure — sometimes just with Gretchen, though most days with one or two or three of my canine friends who I am lucky enough to also call clients. They help put food in my bowl and I hope I help them find joy in strolling through the park, walking down the the lake, or barking at a squirrel or a cat or…

…a partridge.

It was that partridge — spotted on Friday morning, the end of my work week — that is the inspiration for this week’s blog.

We were walking Rosie and Tyson and had just left their house when I heard a sound — like no other sound I’ve ever heard — that made my head snap up and my ears shoot forward.

“What’s that sound?” I asked Rosie and Tyson, but they were so busy smelling the grass and the trees that they didn’t hear it.

“What sound?” asked Rosie.

And then it came again — a sort of warbling whistle, melodic and strange. “That sound!”

Gretchen saw it first, a funny lump on the sidewalk. Startled, it jumped once then flew awkwardly to the lowest branches of a tree. “It looks like a partridge!” Gretchen explained.

“Is that a pear tree?” Tyson asked.

“No,” giggled Gretchen, “But that was a funny joke, Ty!”

“Can we get a picture of it?” I asked Gretchen.

“I’ll try,” she said.

And here’s the part that you have to picture. She has on her backpack (where she keeps her camera, rain gear, extra dog treats, a first aide kit, and some toys in case we stop at a field somewhere to play) — she has three dog leashes in her hand and at the end of those leashes are me — staring up at the partridge not in a pear tree; Tyson — sniffing the base of the tree deciding if he wants to lift his leg; and Rosie, who is, in fact peeing for the fourth time since we left the house…about 200 feet from where we stand.

Without letting go of the leashes, Gretchen slipped her backpack off, removed her camera and pointed into the tree to see if she could get a photograph.

“We need to get closer,” she whispered to me.

“Okay,” but then I realized Rosie was at the end of her leash, her snout buried nostril deep in a pile of racked leaves and Tyson had moved across the sidewalk to lift his leg on the corner of the fence.

“Guys,” I said, “There’s a partridge in the tree. We have to move closer. Rein yourselves in!”

“Aren’t we going for a walk?” asked Rosie,

“I’m being a good boy,” said Tyson, “Isn’t it time for a snack?”

Uncooperative as they were, Gretchen moved us all a bit closer and after about 15 attempts got the photo of the partridge and that’s when it struck me — there are a lot of wonders around me and I better pay close attention.

Of course, it was the end of my work week and I was sad to realize that I’d probably missed a few important wonders Monday through Thursday, but luckily Gretchen had a photographic chronicle of the week. So, when we got back home, I combed through the photos and realized that many of the wonders had been captured. The partridge was, in fact, the punctuation mark at the end of a very wondrous week.

The first thing that struck me was the color of the week. True, it’s Autumn and the leaves are still clinging their orange, yellow, red, and crinkly brown selves to the limbs, but many have also fallen creating these amazing kaleidoscopes of filtered colors.

Yellow…

Pink…

Orange…

Green and blue…

It’s amazing! I never realized how appropriate the name Emerald City is for Seattle!

And then I noticed the light. On Monday, for instance, Rosie and Tyson and I were out on a long walk through the wooded park when Gretchen stopped us on the stairs and snapped this photo. “Sweet,” she said. “The light is amazing!”

I paid no attention at the time, but when we got home and looked at the photo, I too was amazed.

Then later in the week, I walked with Paige and the sunshine of the early part of the week was being pushed out by a gray wind.

The effort it took to get a good photo of us — what with the gray skies rolling in and the gray waters of Puget Sound — was a mighty feat. Coupled with the fact that Paige rarely looks a the camera because she’s always watching for something else to scurry by, I was surprised to find photos of Paige staring right into the camera.

“I know how to behave,” Paige informed me, “I just make the choice not to.”

There are many reasons why I love Paige, but her spunk and boldness are only matched by her sweetness and ability to tell an amazingly funny joke.

Oh and we make a great team — she scents out the squirrels and I use my keen eyesight. Let me tell you, not a single squirrel goes unnoticed on our walks!

Going from beautiful light to gray skies (which later opened up into a full-fledged rainstorm that we luckily avoided!) as well as capturing the beauty of Paige in the camera was only matched by Roux (who we walked the next day) actually staying in place for photographs.

With Roux you get about 10 seconds to take a picture. I’ve learned, as I’ve explained before, that the quicker you behave, the quicker you get your treat and we can be on our way. Roux has yet to fully embrace this fact. But lo and behold, she sat on the picnic table with me for a good 30 seconds…

…and then she was off…sniffing the ground and misbehaving.

Oh Roux! Luckily she comes when called…well, eventually she comes.

We walked Monty twice this week (as usual) and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what was the wonder of our time together then Gretchen said, “You two have been friends now for almost five years Rubin! Imagine!”

And yep, that’s when I realized that sometimes wonder isn’t captured in a camera. Sometimes wonder is captured in time and there’s not a camera fancy enough to hold every moment of five years as well as what I hold in my heart for Monty…heck, for all my friends and family.

But sometimes…sometimes when you least expect it a partridge lands in your view and “snap” you realize all the wonders of the world are right in front of you.

Have a great weekend (enjoy that extra hour!)

Rubin

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October 28, 2011

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Look At This Dog

We got sent this sign via my Facebook account. I know it is difficult to read so I’m going to post the caption here:

Look At This Dog

*Responds to the name Gilligan

*Last seen chilling in my back yard, srsly not giving a sh*#

*Plays by his own rules and apologizes to no man. Or dog.

*Will flip out if offered cheese, especially Kraft slices.

*Borderline obese. Ya know, from Kraft slices.

*Loves rolling in his own filth. But who doesn’t?

*Has a gorgeous, flowing mane, akin to a majestic lion’s.

*Not Lost – just wanted to show you how awesome my dog is.

Yes, I laughed out loud. So did Gretchen. We see Lost Dogs signs all the time and we keep an alert eye open for the missing. We’ve never found anyone and while that makes me sad, when I read this posting, I chuckled so hard my curls bounced. What a great family this dog lives with– to be so loved that they post signs all over telling everyone how lucky they are to live with such a silly, sweet dog.

So it got me to thinking — if I were to post signs of my dog-friends, what would I say? What do I need you to know in eight bullet points or less?

Great idea for a blog, Rubin.

Thanks, Gretchen. I thought so too, but I think I’ll need your help.

Seriously? I think you know your friends better than I do.

Maybe, but do chime in if you feel like I’m way off base or you have something to add.

Okay, will do. Who shall we start with?

Rosie

*Responds to the name Rosie, Rosalicious, Rose-bud, Rosie-Posie, and Wiggle bum

*Last seen poking her brother, Tyson (see below), with her nose, egging him onto play. (I’m not going to use any swear words, okay? Sounds like a plan.)

*Lives to chase cats though she rarely gets an opportunity, though trust me, she’s tried.

*Is so treat driven that she’ll do anything to receive a morsel (except if a cat is involved…then all bets are off).

*She’s built like a tank, but is amazingly flexible. She can bend herself in half in either direction and has a break-dancing spin move that is the envy of the boys in our ‘hood

*Takes 15 minutes to walk 3 blocks partly because she likes to pee on everything, but mostly because her nose is working over time and she knows that every leaf, blade of grass, and tree requires that she catalog its existence.

*Is gold like honey with sprinkles of white around her jowls. And you can’t miss her because she walks like she’s doing a jig.

*Not Lost — In fact, I doubt she would know how to get lost since she’s not only attached to her brother, Tyson, but adores her family so much she’d never leave their sides (well, unless a cat races by then she might have a chance of getting lost).

How’s that?

Perfect! I couldn’t have said it better myself!

Tyson

*Responds to the name Tyson, Ty-Ty, or Chicken Nugget (you know, like Tyson’s chicken nuggets?)

*Last seen with his head in the toy box searching for the hedgehog that squeaks while his sister, Rosie, punches him with her nose.

*Lives to protect his older sister, Rosie. He has often defended her honor and has the scars to prove it.

*While he enjoys normal dog treats and snacks, often stops dead in his tracks to snag a blade of grass and munch on it for whole city blocks.

*The body of a gladiator, you’d never know he’s kind of a nervous fellow. Still, he’s the envy of all the boy dogs I know (including me!)

*A very well-behaved dog on a leash unless his sister sees a cat then he goes into Protection Gladiator and rises up on his hind legs like, well, like a Boxer (I mean, like a human boxer – dukes at the ready!)

*Short-coated, golden like a chicken nugget, with a black, black nose and muzzle and don’t forget about those worried wrinkles etched in his forehead.

*Lost, sometimes, in his own worry, but an amazingly fun-loving guy and goofy as all-get-out if you give him half a chance.

Anything to add?

You’re doing great, Rubin, keep going!

Monty

*Responds to the name Monty, Sir Monce-o-lot, Montague, Montego, and Stinky

*Last seen leaping up and barking at the cars splashing through the mud puddles

*Lives to smell other dog’s heads (yeah, I know, I should be writing “butts” but trust me, this guy has a thing for other dogs and their heads)

*Has a special fondness for anything he finds in my bowl and is not the least bit particular though some foods disagree with him (remember his nickname is Stinky!)

*When recently coiffed, he looks like a show poodle, but that doesn’t last long since he has a fondness for mud puddles. Cutest when he looks like a Muppet and is wearing his pooka shells!

*Has never learned to walk a straight line on a leash. He’d make a great swing dancer since he’s always circling around and spinning in great arcs.

*His black and white spots throw people off. “What kind of dog is that?” they ask and we respond – “He’s not a dog, he’s a curly-coated Holstein Cow!”

*Never lost — he just sometimes looks like he is.

You nailed that one, Rubin. That’s Monty down to the last curl!

Thanks. This is kind of fun!

Paige

*Responds to the name Paige, Pager, Pager-wager, Pokey-nose, and Ms. Betty Page.

*Last seen tearing through the woods on a cold, dark night sniffing out the scent of something very interesting and low to the ground!

*Lives to get her way — even when she can’t, she still tries…and tries…and tries again. And then a few more tries after that.

*Has a special fondness for Chicken Jerky, a Honey Crisp apple, and Gretchen’s socks (ew!)

*Sleek, svelte, and without an ounce of fat on her. A beauty!

*Loves kissing everyone she likes with her wet nose on their noses…or glasses…or ears…(remember, Pokey-nose is her nickname!)

*Has ears that are more expressive than Marcel Marceau’s face…heck, more than his whole body!

*Never lost – she knows exactly where she is and what she’s doing — it’s everyone else who’s confused.

Keep going…you’re on a roll now, buddy!

Woobie

(Who we miss very much — she’s still working on healing that broken toe!)

*Responds to Woobie, Woobster, Woobs, and Woobie Woobie Woobie (said very excitedly!)

*Last seen weeks ago wearing a red cast and still smiling!

*Lives to make everyone happy!

*Is very particular about her treats though will do anything to be rubbed on her belly!

*Distant relative of Cousin It only not creepy in the least!

*Loves diving into the lake and letting her long locks float like seaweed all around her.

*Long, beautiful black and gray hair that flows like a cape and catches the breeze

*Lost? Not in her vocabulary. When you’re with Woobie, you’re found.

Are you a bit smitten with Woobie, Rubin?

Blush.

Roux

*Responds to Roux, Roux-Roux, Roux-ster, Roux-o-licious

*Last seen (and mostly heard) with her tongue out and a wild look in her eye hoping we come by for a walk and a visit.

*Plays without rules, with free abandon like there’s no tomorrow!

*Has been known to dream of licking peanut butter out of the jar instead of just her Kong toy.

*Thunder thighs! Seriously. If she were any taller, you’d swear she was a horse!

*Loves racing around like crazy and then refusing to walk home because she’s too tired.

*Wolfhound is in there for sure, but the other mix (or mixes) are a mystery. She’s a Wolfdle!

*Not lost, just momentarily uncertain of where she is and where she should go next.

Wow Rubin, that was amazing.

Ya think? I mean, I know we haven’t seen Woobie or Roux this week, but I threw them in there because I kind of miss them.

I think they would be honored to be included. But remember, you saw Gemma too!

Oh yeah! She came by for a visit! I know we don’t walk her anymore, but can I make a poster for her?

Of course you can — it’s your blog after all!

Oh and you have photos still…I saw them when you were trying to clean out the photo album. Can I use one!

You bet!

Gemma

*Responds to the name Gemma, Gemster, GEMMA!!!!, and Gem

*Last seen turning her butt into any dog who looks like s/he would want to play (which was me the other night!)

*Believes every rule ever written was to be broken…by her!

*Flips out over ears. Yep, you heard me right. She loves to chomp on ears — mine in particular!

*I’m not saying she’s chunky, but she sure knows how to throw her weight around.

*Loves barking at dogs behind fences — it’s safer than barking at them face to face.

*Is Irish red and like anyone who knows redheads, she’s got a feisty, fiery dog-a-nality to match (but I love her!)

*Lost? You couldn’t lose her even if you tried (though I’d never!) – she’s everywhere at once!

Whew, that made me tired. I think my paws may never recover.

Good job, Rubes! Why don’t you call it a week.

Sounds like a plan! Have a great weekend everyone!

Wait! You need to write one for yourself.

I can’t write my own…you have to write it!

Alrighty…let’s see…

Rubin

*Answers to Rubin, Rubinator, Ruby, Rubes, Rubinations, Rubric, Rubicon, and Mr. Curly Butt

*Last seen chasing a squirrel up a tree

*Has a play drive as strong as his prey drive.

*Has recently acquired an appetite and has learned that all good things come from human pockets.

*Looks big and burly but is fine-boned and delicate (but don’t let anyone know!)

*Loves being off-leash especially if near water or his friends

*Since he has hair he can either look like a curly Muppet (see Monty) or a Meerkat if he’s been to the groomer. He prefers the Muppet look, except when it’s time to get combed out.

*Lost is a state of mind and that’s not a state he wants to visit (yes, he’s a Momma’s Boy)…

HEY! Wait just one minute…

You said I could write it.

Give me back that keyboard.

Have a great weekend everybo…

Woof!

Rubin

 

 

 

 

 

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October 23, 2011

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Facing Facts

I need to face the fact that I am getting older. I will be 5 years old in February and as I approach that milestone, I am becoming more and more aware of what this means.

For one, I am often asked to be more patient. As a pup, I could let my youth be my excuse for being overly frisky and giving into crazed moments of frolic. My humans would often laugh or chase me around trying control my prepubescent exuberance. And even during puberty, they’d often let my Dennis the Menace behavior be moments of amusement and not cause for parental worry.

But now that I am moving away from my fourth year and into my fifth, I am asked to control my impulses more. For those of you who know me, you are most likely grinning that knowing grin – the one that says, “Uh yeah…Rubin control himself?” I hear ya. Sure, I know how to pose for a photo, but what you don’t see are all the times when I throw myself on the ground, roll around like a crazed maniac, and then bark at the sky just because it’s gray and I want it to be blue, or it’s blue and I want it to be gray. (I know you see some of those photos, but mostly you see me behaving…often more than my compatriots!)

So this past week, I tried to bust loose a bit, to resow my oats and let the frisk out of my bones a little bit more because frankly, I will soon not be as youthful and playful as I am now. So the photo above, is of me and Rosie practicing our youthfulness. We’d been posing for about 2 minutes while Gretchen waited for the exact moment and the exact photo that captured us on this particular day. That’s when I whispered to Rosie, “Make a funny face on the count of three!”

Rosie is always willing to let her frisk out so on the count of three, we made the faces you see above. Let me show you the shot right before, next to those funny faces one more time…

This is why I love Rosie…she is always willing to get silly with me.

Another fact I’ve had to face is that while I’m getting older, so are my friends. In fact, most of my friends are older than I am and while I enjoy their elderly viewpoints and wisdom it means that often, at the end of the day, I’m the only one still standing and ready to keep playing.

Monty is one of my oldest friends though not necessarily just in years. He was one of the first dogs to meet me when I was just a pup and he’s taught me a lot in these four plus years. But one of my oldest (as in age, not time I’ve known her) is my buddy Ginger. Now Ginger gives me a whole new perspective on what it means to grow older. Ginger is 12 and if you ever met her on the street YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW IT!

Ginger is the very definition of youthful exuberance. She is a dog in constant motion. Constant! And when she sees us coming, she goes into overdrive.

Notice the photo to the right — where Monty, Ginger and I are all posing calmly and patiently. Well, if I could show you the whole sequence of photos, you’d see that there is only ONE shot where we all look at the camera (well, I look at the camera all the time) because Monty and Ginger, while still sitting, are looking all over the place.

Especially Ginger who likes to throw her head back and tell us, “Take the darn photo! It’s time to run and play and be obnoxious!”

(Sidenote: In that first photo, they both kind of look like they have headdresses on with those trees in the background, yes?)

Duke is older than I am too, but Duke is the polar opposite of Ginger. He is calm, mild-mannered, and rarely ever gets excited about anything. Duke had to move back to Port Townsend after making an attempt to live in the city, but he came back to visit this week and I took him up to his favorite place in all the world — THE BAKERY!

If you wanna see Mr. Calm get excited, take him to the bakery. This guy LOVES bread (I think it’s the French in him) and he does anything he can to walk past the bakery. In fact, he’s been known to actually stop in the middle of the street, refusing to move, if he thinks we’re going to go in a direction away from the bakery.

At first, I couldn’t figure out his love of baked goods, but then I realized it’s his mom’s fault as Ellen always gives him a taste of what she’s eating. I bet if Gretchen did the same, I’d get a hankering for a croissant or a brioche!

But that’s another thing about getting older — I’m having to watch my waistline.

Yes, I know I’m a svelte boy with fine bones, but now that I have an appetite (thanks to my good food from the Pet Pantry) everyone who feeds me is giving me a bit less because they want to make certain I stay in proper doodle shape.

Luckily, I get lots of exercise. In fact, this week I got some “alone” time with Gretchen and we did what I love to do — went to the lake and walked, romped, fetched, and practiced. Yeah, I know that practicing stuff doesn’t sound like much fun, but in a way, it’s kind of like a game.

Gretchen said it was too cold to go swimming, so we found a stick and played some fetch on the shoreline. Mostly though, I like to just curl up with my stick and gnaw on it! Canine Bliss!

And then we practiced my sit/stay, down/stay from a distance followed by “Come!” I really like the part when I don’t have to stay anymore!

Of course, while exercise is a good thing, sometimes I overdo it. This tends to happen when I hang out with friends younger than me. In a word — Paige. But wow is it ever fun! This week Monty and I both got to hang and romp with Paige and both Monty and I paid for it the next day, but it was worth every sore muscle and achy joint, believe you me!

But don’t let Monty fool ya. He can run and run and run and then, when you think he’s spent, walk him by the lake when it’s wavy. Oh my! He goes crazy wild! Luckily, Gretchen caught him being calm and relaxed right before the waves kicked up on our walk down by the lake!

The passage of time is sort of a double-edged sword. Yes, I can feel the years in my bones, but I can also appreciate the changing seasons. This week the Autumn season glowed and I was very happy to share in the light of the season with all my friends. Time makes you appreciate it more the more time you spend with it. Does that make any sense?

Of course, the changing of this season is bringing about one of the oddest human celebrations I’ve ever experienced — Halloween.

I was reminded again of how odd this holiday is on a walk through the Volunteer Park neighborhood with Monty. Monty wasn’t the least bit worried when we walked by this…but I had to take a second look just to make certain I was safe! Some fears never go away no matter how old you get. There’s a fact I need to face!

Until next time!

Rubin

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October 16, 2011

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Sideways

This week has thrown me for a bit of a loop. I think it has to do with the weather, but it’s really hard to pinpoint. Maybe it’s because I’m so used to walking certain dogs at certain times and this week’s schedule has been odd, to say the least. Maybe it’s because our bathroom remodel is stuck and moving a bit slower of late, which means people keep going in and out of our house — always a bit disturbing. Maybe it’s because Ann stayed home sick from school  one day — a bug she can’t shake — and Gretchen has been taking all sorts of homeopathic remedies to ward off getting the bug so I’ve been spending more time as a nurse than as a dog dog walker. Or maybe it’s because I ended up in the ER — something I didn’t expect in any way, shape, or form.

Whatever it is, I’ve been thrown a bit sideways and all around me I keep noticing the sideways-ness of the week.

I’ll start with the schedule. Usually we walk Rosie and Tyson every day of the week — well, Rosie every day and with Tyson on Mondays and Fridays. Last week we walked them two times a day from Saturday to Saturday and that, I think, was the beginning of feeling a bit off kilter. Now this week rolls around and no Rosie or Tyson walks.

Zilch.

Nada.

None.

Every time we walked out the door, I thought we were going to head to their house, but then we veered off and headed in another direction. I have to admit, I kind of miss them.

So on Monday instead of walking to their house, we headed out on a nice, long walk by the lake. Now, I’m not complaining — I LOVE walking down by the lake — but the weather was moody, to say the least, and we got really wet (and not just from the lake either…yes, I went swimming because while it was rainy it was also freakishly warm). And when we got home, guess who was fast asleep back on the couch? Yep, Ann.

So I played nurse and snuggled as close to her as her sniffling nose would allow, though I made her move to the human bed because frankly, it’s a heck of a lot more comfortable for everyone!

If I thought Monday’s weather was out of sorts, Tuesday’s was seriously askew. First, the wind gusted through the day like a bulldozer in combat boots. The trees bent sideways, the rain (when it came) fell sideways, the leaves from the changing trees flew sideways, my curls bent sideways, and the clouds raced sideways across the erratically blue skies. Yep, blue skies. Then eerie black gray skies followed the rain followed by yet another round of blue skies. I watched Gretchen put her raincoat on and take her raincoat off multiple times and crossed my paws repeatedly that I wouldn’t have to put my raincoat on. That would have really bent me sideways.

Again, no Rosie and Tyson, but we did get to see (and play with) Roux — and luckily for us, no rain. Wind? Definitely, which I suppose is what pushed the rain sideways to the east giving us just enough break in the weather to play and romp at the little field. Then Gretchen and I headed to the pool and I hung out in the office listening to the downpours rattle the metal roof in weird fits and starts.

Sideways is hard to photograph. Sure, sometimes Gretchen can capture our ears moving sideways, but it’s hard to get photos of the trees wiggling in the wind. We could have taken photographs of the whitecaps on the lake, but the rain was so wicked Gretchen didn’t want to pull her camera out of her backpack.

Monty, who we saw on Wednesday and Friday, loves the wet and windy weather. He goes nutty with the sound of car tires on a wet pavement. Gretchen goes nutty trying to make him stop as it pulls her shoulder out of its socket…or this is how she says it feels. And walking Roux and Monty together is always a struggle as they both like to be out front watching sideways for squirrels, stray cats, and the possibility of meeting another dog.

Speaking of Roux, she’s always moving sideways. When we stop to take photographs we have two options: Let her off-leash and photograph her running around (as we did on Tuesday)…

…or putting her leash under Monty’s bottom so she can’t go anywhere. She protests the tie down, but at least we get some interesting photos.

And speaking of Monty — we played a bit in the backyard, something we don’t do too much anymore, but Gretchen let us have a 5 minute romp that became all the more interesting when I found a newly planted tree in our backyard! I used it to my advantage though my paws got kind of muddy from all the fresh dirt piled up around it. It’s a Katsura tree and while I gave the name a sideways look (“CAT” sura…why not “DOG” sura?), it will be good to have a pretty tree in our backyard again! And she did capture Monty’s ears going sideways as he chased me!

Thursday was a great day and threw me sideways because there was no weirdness in the pattern of a weird week. Nope, we got to spend some quality time together and that made me smile (though because of the odd structure of my mouth, I smile kind of sideways!). No one needed to be walked and no outside demands (except another afternoon/evening at the pool). And what a great hike we had in the morning — with the early light sideways through the trees — it made me glow!

But just as everything was all hunky dory, we got home, we ate dinner, and then I felt really, really sick. Dare I admit it, I threw up about 3 times and my tummy got really big. Gretchen tried to massage me, but it hurt and I moaned and groaned and my moms called the ER. We are well aware that Gastric Torsion is the second leading cause of death among dogs and we’ve lost a number of friends to it (Monty amazingly survived it!) so they put me in the car and we raced to the night-time vet office. Gretchen massaged me the whole way there and I must admit, when the first belch came, I felt a lot better.

Once at the ER, I belched again and the vet was pleased. No x-rays needed just a Pepcid AC to keep the acid from damaging my tummy and lots of rest. I threw up 2 more times when we got home, but no bloat this time around and I slept like a baby — tired from all the sideways weirdness of Thursday and the whole entire week!

Friday was fairly simple, too. Just Monty. Then time at the pool again, but the night ended with a surprise sleepover at my friend Ben’s house! That bathroom remodel got unstuck and with the last finish of the floor scheduled that afternoon, we were sent packing to avoid being fumigated by the toxic varnish. I sure didn’t mind. I love hanging out at Ben’s house!!!

Gretchen says that next week looks a bit more normal, but I don’t think I’m going to believe it until I see it. You never know what might come at you sideways around here so it’s best to keep a look out!

Soon,

Rubin

PS — In remembrance of my pal Zoe, her family sent us this movie they made to honor her short, but loving life. I cried when I watched it. What a sweet and amazing dog. We miss her every day and send huge gentle wiggly hugs to her family. Even though I cried a lot, the best moment of the film is seeing Zoe in a tutu. I giggled through my tears. Bless you, Zoe. The world needs more of your kind in it! I shall miss our time together and treasure every moment we spent being friends.

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October 9, 2011

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“In the Clearing Stands a Boxer…”

This week has all been about my two favorite boxers – Rosie and Tyson. Sure, we saw Monty and Roux this week, too, but most of our walks and outings were with the siblings. Their folks are on vacation and though they have a house/pet sitter staying with them, we got called upon to walk them two times a day.

Yep, two times a day. This includes weekends! Not that I don’t love Rosie and Tyson, but about Thursday morning when we were walking over to their house yet again, I turned to Gretchen and said, “We’re going to the Boxer’s again?”

Gretchen just smiled and said, “Buck up, buddy. We could be spending our time doing something we totally hate!”

She’s right of course, and I was glad for the reminder, so Saturday through Saturday we wore raincoats and leashes, waterproof boots and shorts, and bumped our bodies against the oncoming coolness of fall and the fawn short-hair of boxers.

And yes, hummed that infamous Simon and Garfunkel song – The Boxer (which is where I got the title for this week’s blog!).

But spending time with Rosie and Tyson made me reflect on my life in a way I haven’t in a long time. I’m getting older and those around me are, in turn, getting older too. Gretchen’s hair is getting grayer and in another few months, I will be 5 years old.

Wow. In one way I think, “Where did the time go?” but then I look back over the 20,000 photographs on our computer and I realize I’ve had a very full life and in the scheme of things, I’m still young and have a huge life ahead of me.

Rosie and Tyson are both older than I am and so, while we spent a lot of time together this week, I asked if they could share some of their elder wisdom with me!

After long conversations, I learned a great deal, but 5 insights stuck with me:

  1. Never underestimate the beauty of jowls. People always compliment me on my smirk. “So endearing,” they say, “Such a commentary on how you’re feeling.” I have to laugh because I’d give away all my curls to have jowls the shape, texture, and with the same kind of stretch that Rosie and Tyson’s jowls have. They can provide the right punctuation mark to their personalities. Tyson’s are noble and dark while Rosie’s are goofy and gray. Tyson uses his to convey his worry and Rosie uses hers to clown around. They puff air through their lips, shake their heads and spray slobber everywhere, and my personal favorite, get their canines stuck on their lips and make the best faces ever. I may have an adorable smirk, but it’s just a smirk and I so wish I could blow bubbles like my two boxer friends.
  2. Never pass up the opportunity to look for cats. I do feel sorry for Gretchen at times. When she’s walking us and a cat races by, every muscle in her body goes into overdrive. Tyson stands erect – a sculpture of a boxer – and he woofs we authority. Rosie reacts to Tyson – or I should say overreacts – and lunges out for anything and anyone that she can get her teeth into. Right there we’re talking about 130 pounds of dog (the two combined) pulling at the leashes. While I know I’m a mere 35 pounds what I lack in weight, I make up for in enthusiasm. I bark, I dance, I get all excited and do my best to stay out of Rosie’s way. I know it’s hard on Gretchen and her shoulders, but it sure is fun when the three of us see a cat!
  3. When in doubt, ask for a treat. No explanation needed here, but let me just say that Rosie and Tyson are masters of getting treats out of Gretchen. I am merely a student!
  4. Even the shortest tails can make a statement. I have a feathery plume of a tail and while I hate getting it brushed out every week, I do love showing it off when I wiggle, using it to flag my feelings to the world, and alerting my friends about how happy I am to be alive. Boxers, as you know, have docked tails, but don’t let that fool you. With their short wiggles, they can express 1000 emotions and often do. From them I’ve learned to use my tail more subtly and remember that even though I have one flair of a tail, I don’t always have to flaunt it to get my point across.
  5. No matter how many times you see each other, be as thrilled as you were the first time you met! Actually, all my friends have taught me this, but there’s nothing like two Boxers racing down the stairs to greet you (even though you’ve seen them only a few hours before) to make you realize that life is a gift and friends make every day feel like a birthday!

It’s a much calmer week coming up – Rosie and Tyson are off to Mystic Mountain Pet Retreat – and the only other friend on the docket this week (so far) is Monty. Who knows, Roux may need me or my dear friend Paige might want a play date. Or we may just have to stop by and see Woobie and her still broken, casted foot. Someone is going to have to fill the void of not seeing my Boxer friends this week! Will it be you?

Until then,

Rubin

PS – More photos from our week…not all of it involved Boxers!

I did my best to look like a Boxer here. Not sure it worked!

 

Roux was unimpressed by my Boxer stories.

 

Monty is always impressed with the Boxers, especially Rosie!

 

"Do Boxers like to play as much as I do?"

It was really raining when we took this photo, but Boxers don't seem to mind. Their fur doesn't curl like my hair does!

This was a great photo until we got home and saw the boogers on Tyson's nose. Bummer.

It was raining here, too. It was kind of like that this week, at least when we were out walking.

We went to the garden store to find a tree and I was curious about the pumpkins, but then I met this guy and got a wee bit scared!

We met this guy, too. He didn't scare me at all. In fact, I wanted to take him home!

What I must endure with my crazy family.

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October 2, 2011

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Too Busy for Straight Lines

Wow, what a week it’s been. I look through the photos from the work week and I can’t believe we only have a few. What happened?

Rain.

Thanks, Gretchen, that explains a lot, but why do I feel as if I’ve worked double shifts in one week’s time.

Well, we’ve done a lot in the past week and since our bathroom is still being remodeled, you’ve had to come to work with me in addition to the dog walking during the week.

Is that all of it, do you think? I guess a schedule as wacky as this week’s make everything feel like it’s all over the place.

That’s true, Mr. Curls. We haven’t moved in a straight line at all this week.

Mr. Curls?

That rain again…it’s made your hair all curly. I love it when it’s like that.

It only rained on Monday and Tuesday, didn’t it?

It was enough to take your beautifully groomed hair and turn it to curls.

The weather is changing, but I kind of like it.

You like that we put flannel sheets on the bed.

Oh yes! I do appreciate that.

If we put flannel on your dog bed would you sleep there?

Uh, is there a problem or something? Why can’t I sleep with you.

I don’t mind so much, except when you kick me.

I do not.

I hate to be the one to inform you, but yes, you kick when you’re dreaming and when your week has been so busy, you dream a lot and therefore kick a lot.

Sorry about that, but those flannel sheets are an invitation to dreamland for m.

Me too…except when I’m being kicked.

Give me that keyboard! I am going to change the subject.

It’s true, Monday and Tuesday were rainy and the camera stayed in the backpack. Rosie didn’t seem to mind since she was the only dog who we walked on those two days, but when we pulled the camera out on that beautiful Wednesday (sunny, sort of warm, and the smell of Autumn) and headed to Bradner Gardens Rosie was particularly excited. Not because of the sun. Not because she got to walk with her boyfriend, Monty. Nope. She was excited about the lemon thyme growing in at the park.

She LOVED the thyme! Monty and I just watched and giggled.

Thursday was just Rosie again and she posed with the blue sky behind her (the skies are always really blue after lots of rain…it’s the greatest thing about Seattle!).

Friday Monty and I got to go to Capital Hill and play fetch at the secret park. Of course, Gretchen only brought one ball so we had to share. I’m not great at sharing, but luckily Monty is really patient…

…until he’s not!

I walked with Rosie and Tyson too and we posed by this HUGE mansion that’s for lease. Anybody got $5000 a month? Wow!

On our walk, Ro and Ty told me they’d be seeing me more. “Really?” I asked, “Why is that?”

“Our parents are out of town and so someone needs to keep us entertained,” explained Tyson and so I got to walk both of them Saturday morning…

…and if that wasn’t enough, I got to walk them TWO TIMES on Sunday only on the second time, after our walk, I asked if they could come over to our house and play. I love it when Gretchen says YES!

And now it’s Sunday afternoon and I’m trying to figure out how I got here.

Not in a straight line.

Ain’t that the truth! And it all begins again tomorrow! What a life I lead…

Rubin

 

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September 23, 2011

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Autumnal Equinox

Fickle. It’s the only word to explain how odd our weather has been of late. Here it is, the Autumnal Equinox — when summer fades and the chilly winds (and rains) of Autumn bless us with cooler temperatures and clean, fresh air — and despite the calendar recognition of the spinning planet’s relationship to the sun, we are drowning in fickle weather.

Case in point: Last week Gretchen pulled out a sweater. The day was cold. The chill in the air tickled my nose and made me curl up even tighter in my bed. Everyone we talked to said, “Wow, it’s cold!” and people talked about turning on their furnaces for the first time in months. Then, not 24 hours later, it’s 78 degrees and 95% humidity (okay, maybe not that humid, but we’re sensitive here in the PNW and so it felt like 95% humidity).

And it’s stayed like this for the whole week. We go out for a walk and my tongue instantly sags and sweat pours off Gretchen’s forehead and back. It’s hard to breathe, especially at night, and every time we get close to water (the lake, a drinking fountain, a muddy puddle) I pull Gretchen toward it.

What the heck is going on? This is not Autumn? This is not crisp mornings followed by clear, blue skies. This is not cool nights and misty breezes. This is uncomfortable. Muggy. Exhausting. Weird. No one knows how to handle it. Even the flowers and trees are mixed up. Some leaves are turning and while flowers are blooming. The tomatoes are finally ripening, but the basil looks like it’s suffocating.

We all kind of look a bit like we’re suffocating.

I always look forward to the Autumnal Equinox, partly because I like saying it – I like the way it uses all parts of my mouth when I say it out loud – but what I really love is how it means fall is coming — a time when we snuggle closer together and eat warm foods and sleep in because the sun is not calling us out to play. But with this unseasonal mugginess no one is interested in snuggling, warm foods feel claustrophobic, and sleep eludes us all because we’re all unable to really breathe.

While I don’t mean to sound like a complainer, it makes my job as a dog dog walker exhausting. My tongue hasn’t gotten such a workout in a long time — panting these days has become almost aerobic — and for the first time in my life, I’m wishing I could sweat out of my skin. Something has to change.

My friends agree:

Rosie and Tyson, because of their short snouts, really struggle with the breathing in this humidity.

“It’s like breathing through a down pillow,” Tyson complained the other day.

“But look at the Autumn leaves,” observed Rosie, “What’s with that?”

Even dogs I met on the street were disturbed by the fickleness of the weather.

“I’m an old fellow,” said Joey who I met in Fremont. “This muggy weather feels good on my old bones, but it sure tires me out!”

Even when these two strange people tried to run away with me, I was just too hot to go anywhere! Of course, it didn’t help that they tried to move in two separate directions. What clowns!

My week wasn’t normal in terms of my work, either. I got to see Rosie and Tyson like a normally do, but Monty was on vacation with his Mom and Woobie’s foot is still broken. I got to see Roux, which was nice, though her tongue as low as mine in the muggy air. Of course, when I’m hot I like to roll in the grass. Roux worried that I wasn’t doing what I should have been doing and then she tried to kiss me. Ewwww! It’s way too hot for that!!!

But do you see all those downed leaves?

Yes, there are hints that Autumn may push away Summer’s over-stay.

Either that or Roux’s going to chase summer away!

Getting Roux to sit and stay for a photo is quite a challenge. Right when the shutter fires, she leaps up and races toward Gretchen thinking that the treat is a-comin! You gotta love her spirit!

I got to go on a really fun romp with my friend Paige who agrees with me completely:

(Thanks Auntie Sheila for the photos!)

“It’s time,” she said. “Don’t let these flowers fool you. Think pumpkins,” she suggested and so I closed my eyes and did my best to think about all those things I love about Autumn. Gretchen says the forecast calls for cooler temperatures and rain, but I won’t believe until I feel the rain on my curls, the cool air blowing through my ears, and my tongue shrinking back into my mouth a bit more.

Yes, we try to find the beauty in it all, of course — the flowers bursting forth in their last hoo-rah, the anomaly of fall leaves piled up at the park, and eating dinner on the back porch — but I guess I’m kind of a calendar driven dog. Today is the Autumnal Equinox — let’s get Autumnal!

 

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September 16, 2011

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In Every Corner

The weather is changing. It was predictable, but there was a part of me that kind of hoped our late summer would hold on a little bit longer. It’s not like it’s completely gone. There is sun. There are blue skies. The rain is minimal — spits and fits every once in awhile. But there’s a distinct difference between the “summer” days and the nights that punctuate them. The days are comfortable and warmish. The nights — not so much. In fact, on some days, the temperature has dropped 30 degrees and that my friends, is a huge difference.

And the air itself is different. When we wake in the morning and the night is creeping off into the distance, it leaves behind a chill that now requires me to crawl onto the bed and curl up as close to a human body as I can. It requires the humans to wear long sleeves and to dig out their fleece from the back of the closet. We have yet to turn on the heat, but this morning, Gretchen made an appointment for the annual cleaning of the furnace.

In every corner, there are hints of summer passing. The cooler temperatures and crisp morning air are just the beginning.

Still, I’m doing my best to wrap my paws around the summer that is left and mostly, I’ve found the best way to maintain my grasp is with my friends. And this week, along with our regular clients, I’ve gotten a chance to spend time with some friends I haven’t seen in awhile.

The week started, in fact, with a walk with Lulu. Her mom was out of town for a few days and that meant that Lulu joined us for morning outings. She was very happy about it. We went on long walks on the ridge and then played in the brown grass of September. Lulu’s smile is my summer.

 

I also got to walk with Paige and on the day we took her out, we hiked up a huge hill so Gretchen could attempt a photograph of the city (one of the famous spots people go to take pictures of Seattle), but the hike up and the warmish afternoon meant Paige and I were panting and not as cooperative as Gretchen would have liked.

When Paige and I hiked back down the big hill, we walked side by side — our bodies bumping together in a friendship full of sunshine!

Then one night this week we had an extra special shot of summer — we spent the night at our friends’ house with their big, big dog Ben. Ben can appear scary, but he’s just a giant goof in a hairy suit and sharp teeth. When we arrived at their house, I got so excited to know we were spending the night (the remodel of our bathroom required us to be out of the house so we didn’t breathe in toxic fumes) that I raced around the big back yard and looked for tennis balls.

Ben LOVES tennis balls and has perhaps half a million buried in the bushes, resting on the deck, and under tables. Sometimes I don’t know what to do with all of them, but Ben told me the best thing to do was just hold them in my mouth and get them good and slobbery. Then, when the humans weren’t looking place them in their laps or onto the table. That was the best way to get everyone’s attention.

Since Ben has a huge pool in his backyard, going to their house reminds me of summer. This year we didn’t get to swim in the pool (it never got warm enough), but just being at their house and around their pool, made me feel all summery again.

And the flowers, of course…still hanging onto blooming…

And I love me some Steven and Doris…

And love always feels like a perfect summer!

 

I didn’t really get to see Woobie — well not close up. Gretchen gave her a massage this week as Woobie is still restricted with a cast on her broken foot. While Woobie got her massage, I waited patiently in the car trying to catch a glimpse of my sunshiny friend, Woobster! She did hobble out to say hello, but we didn’t take any photos. Get well soon, Woobie. I miss you!

I also got to see the “regulars” — Rosie, Tyson, and Monty — and had a special visit with Duke and Roux. Of course, with the latter, we didn’t get very good photographs because both Roux and Duke are more interested in the treats Gretchen has in her pockets than in posing for the photograph.

Still, the comedy of photographing always reminds me of summer!

 

 

And we even got a visit from Jessica and Quillette. Just like old times, when they lived on our block, we went for a big long walk together — three pals together again and that is certainly worth a lot of summer smiles!

Rosie, Tyson, and Monty all agreed that summertime is wonderful and the transition to Autumn requires patience and appreciation, so all through the week we did our best at both — patience and appreciation.

I imagine the transitions will continue for the coming weeks and I’ll do my best to look in every corner for a little warmth and the last of the sunshine both in the beauty around me and in the wags of my friends’ tails.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Rubin

 

 

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