Watching TV

Bailey's Slovakian Cousins

In 2004-2005, I hosted a great young man named Michal Cicala from Slovakia. He ewas a popular figure at Mountain Valley High School, and joined the soccer, ski, and baseball teams... he also knocked the academic ball out of the proverbial park.

Michal's mom Jane is a veterinarian and, quite obviously, a pet lover. These are photographs of Bailey's Slovakian cousins: Whiskey the Kitty and Wendy the Grand Dame Golden. Oh, and the humans include Michal and his mom, Tanya and her brother Martin...

Talking to my dog

I think I look fairly balanced, if not sane. Even so, I definitely have my What-in-the-world-are-you-thinking? moments.

Each morning Bailey shifts into wide-awake mode and decides that he has had just about enough of my sitting behind the silver machine that glows. He barks a talking kind of bark, then lets out these marvelous soft howls:

A-Woooo00000

A-Woooo00000

His howls sound a lot like the chorus lines from the song, "Werewolves of London" (click the title).

A-Wooooooooo, werewolves of London; A-Wooooooooo, werewolves of London.

This morning, I wrote quickly and efficiently on chapter three from my book while just down the street my friend, research assistant, and editor Gayle read and wrote feedback on the introduction and first two chapters. We were firing on all cylinders. Just so you know, quickly and efficiently equals being on a roll (in the flow), and no writer likes to stop mid paragraph or mid page when the words are flying onto the screen of our silver writing machines. But then there's the puppy and 10:30 am....

With Bailster's bear paws flopping onto my keyboard and up-side my face, his A-Wooooooo's broke the silence of the kitchen and I snapped,

"Bailey. I need to write this book. It could sell well... and if it does, you'll have a nice RV to travel in ... otherwise, you'll be cooped up in a -blanking- crate down by the river..." I laughed... and then thought, I'm talking to my dog.

And you know, I think that's a very healthy sign.

Can we go to Weld?

We day tripped to camp in Weld today with temperatures in the 60's. Amazing for mid-November. We walked along the beach and then headed up to the Center Hill turn off and farther up to Center Hill itself. We hiked (Bailey ran) to the top of the mountain and around the trail with views of the lake, Tumbledown, the Jacksons, and Mount Blue. Bailey turned teenager on me during out ascent of Center Hill and ran way ahead out of sight. That's the first time he's disappeared on me. Time to think more about this kind of freedom. Nonetheless, what a great day on the hills around Lake Webb and the town of Weld.

Street Dogs of Mexico

I've been in Mexico for a week... a great time with old friends and new. While riding or walking through the streets of Leon and Guanajuato, I encountered many street dogs. My guess is that I wouldn't be quite as affected by these aimless dogs if Bailey were not in my life. But with each dog I saw, I pictured Bailey walking alone in a big city with no one to care for him and nowhere to go. As I write this entry, Bailey is fast asleep in an enormous overstuffed chair in my living room. His belly is full and every so often he wanders into the kitchen where I am writing just to check in. He spent a glorious fall afternoon with six of his best dog buddies on the lakeshore of Worthley Pond. "We" had an intermediate class at The Proper Pooch. After that, he climbed Black Mountain with me wearing his blaze orange scarf. He's got a good life... but not these streets dogs.

A Dachshund who had recently given birth strayed along a busy city street looking this way and that. "Frantic" is the word that comes to mind. I think she may have belonged to someone at some point because she had a one-foot long tie around her neck. I have no picture of this dog, but her face, not unlike the one I've included above, is still with me.

Another pup seen at the top of this post wandered along the main street in Guanajuato. This tiny tike dodged in and out of door ways, peeing frequently. After I saw him return to a doorway for a second time, I had hoped perhaps he belonged to one of the store owners. Maybe he had hoped, too. But no such luck as he came back out, peed again, and scrambled down the street. This little vagabond reminded me of a miniature Benji dog. When I saw him, I immediately thought of my dog-loving neighbors Kate and Gayle. I could picture them scooping up this little guy in a heart beat and going from door to door in search of his owner. With no success, they would have brought him home to a place where all beings, especially our furry friends, are cherished and valued. Benji would have made a great little brother to Bapu and Minga.

The two pitch black little guys with flopping ears looked like twins. My friends and I drove through the back entrance of a country club along neglected fields when the two shadows scooted down the road and then disappeared into the deep grass. There were no houses or people within a mile.

There are times when I feel guilty for having the resources to care for Bailey the way I do. I joke about him having his own condo in my house, and his food, care, treats, and toys cost more per month than the take-home salary of a factory worker in many under-developed countries. Obviously, I'm not going to return Bailey to Estelle and Ralph, his grandparents, or to Maggie his mom... Truth is, I plan to appreciate him that much more.

As if on cue, Bailey just wandered into the kitchen and flopped onto the floor to the side of my office chair. Time for a belly rub.

I HATE my Gentle Leader!

"Yes, you can put that thing on me, but it doesn't mean I'm going anywhere with you."