Bon Mots for the Day.

"Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: The present tense, and the past perfect."

Watson Has Struck Again!

I couldn't figure out why my monitor went blank a few moments ago. Upon closer inspection.....I'll admit that the little bugger is pretty stealth; I never noticed him under my desk.

It Followed Me Home.....

Several years ago, my son, Nelson, found this horrible creature in a Halloween store. He named it "Jim." I thought Jim had disappeared forever. It was wishful thinking. Jim has been resurrected. Thank you, Watson. I have no idea from where Watson found this treasure, but a few days ago Jim appeared on my back deck. Watson was already in the proverbial dog house for chewing the following: a credit card, my daughter's ipod, a computer cord, toilet paper, lots and lots of toilet paper, various shoes, and the handle of a hairbrush. Jim was the piece de resistance. Here is the BADDOG with his new BFF, Jim. Loook at those ears, though!

I'll get pictures of the rest of the destruction tomorrow. I'm making a pile o' goodies to take pictures of.

All I Want For Christmas...

Watson's first, and probably last visit to Santa. Santa was inconveniently located at the very end of a very large, very muddy tree farm. Watson was a mess. He was a happy mess, but a muddy puppy nonetheless. Santa wasn't too thrilled to have a wet, dirty puppy placed on his lap, although, a puppy's got to be better than most wet, dirty children who are placed there. I wish I could say that Watson asked for world peace, but all he wanted were more beef tracheas, and some air-chilled chicken drumettes.

Watson Had a Playdate.

This past Saturday, I took my children to see the "Sound of Music Sing-a-Long." I didn't want to leave Watson alone with Fig and Dunc (Dunky's not happy about his diet, and I'm afraid he might EAT Watson), or in a crate for over 8 hours (The movie was showing in San Francisco, an hour's drive from Napa, and we went in early to have lunch, etc.). Trenton and Denise, Captain's owners, graciously offered to "puppy sit" Watson. They live right on the way to the city, so it was a perfect arrangement.

These following pictures were taken by Denise and Trenton....


"Oh wow, we had a doggie door at G'ma Penni's, I wonder how this works?"


"Hey, Cappy, wanna bust me out of here?"

"Well, I guess I'll just eat my way out."

"I really like it here! Thanks for a great day Cousin Cappy, Malibu, Trenton, Denise, and Myka. You guys are THE best! I look just like the "Chuck-it" you gave us."

Watson Meets Dr. Callie and Gets Probed

Today, Watson got to meet one of his two vets, Dr. Calaveras Cunningham (awesome name). Dr. Callie did a "well puppy" check-up, and declared Watson, "Perfect." Of course he is! However, Watson was not too thrilled about having his temperature taken. Who is? ;-)



"OK, Watson, this is a thermometer. It won't hurt a bit.
" Excuse me! This may not hurt, but it is damn embarrassing. I'd like to see YOU in this position, lady. "

"OK, so that really wasn't that bad." Everybody left smiling.

Good boy, Watson!

Coming and Going...

I've been trying to post a blog for the past hour. The powers that be keep eating my posts. So, here are two pictures of Watson. One in my backyard, the other in my kitchen. I'll post ALL my adventures in Albuquerque tomorrow.


This is one AWESOME puppy!!

Surprise!

Yesterday, Penni met me at the Albuquerque airport. As she stepped out of her car, this is what she handed me.....Watson! I wasn't expecting to see him until I got to Penni's house. Naturally, because I'm a sentimental idiot, with the stress on "mental," I burst into tears. He's prefect. There have been moments this weekend when I've sworn I'm looking at Axel.

Penni and I are having too much fun. I went tracking with Chase, who, btw, just happens to be the COOLEST dog, ever. What a character. I'm so proud to say that I have one of his puppies. And, tracking is FUN. We used my bra as an "article" which we placed in a church parking lot, along with a cookie cutter, washcloth, and a glove. Chase found them all with very little difficulty. Good boy, Chase

We spent a few hours shopping in Old Town, and yes, Carolyn, I bought some really cool kaleidoscopes. Tonight we off to watch the sunset and drink margaritas. I know, it's been a rough weekend.

Oh! And if Penni isn't careful, she might notice Inca's missing. What a lovely, dear dog she is.

Off to take more puppy pictures!

My Mother and What's His Name.

This morning, my mother asked me, "So, when do you leave to pick up Wicker?" My mother has trouble with names. To date, she has called Watson: Wicker, Wicket, Winston, and Datsun. It took mom nearly a year to remember Fig's name; she called him "Sig."She may not remember names, but she remembered what it's like to have a new puppy. I'd forgotten that she remembered.

My doorbell rang late this afternoon. My mother's gardner/handyman stood at my door. He had been sent by my mother to "inspect" my backyard. Mom was worried that it might not be puppy-proof, and she sent help. Together, Jose and I found a small hole in the fence line (thank you, Fig) that a puppy could wedge his head, and under the deck, we found most of Fig's discarded, disgusting, de-stuffed puppy toys.

I now have the most puppy-friendly backyard in Napa.

Thank you, mom.

Ian and Fig

I woke up at 1:30 am because I noticed the lights were still on in Ian's room. I went in to turn them off, and there was no Ian. The quilt was off his bed, but there was no boy in the bed. This is what I found when I went into the living room. I'll admit, it brought a tear to my eye.

Food for Thought...?

Fig is home from the vet's, and as expected, is very groggy. He had baked chicken and rice for dinner, and this is as far as he got when he was done eating. Poor puppy dog.

For the Woman with Everything

Authentic, honest-to-God Neutical earrings. Why anyone would want to wear prosthetic dog balls from their ears is beyond me. Here is the description from http://www.neuticles.com/ :

Elegance and fashion are combined with our new handcrafted earrings available for a limited time only. Sterling silver caps hold an actual pair of Neuticles .63" in style. Ideal for any formal or informal occasion! Each Limited Edition pair are individually numbered up to 1000 - with certificate of authenticity. Price includes first class postage, handling and all related charges. $109/pair.

And, while on the subject of testicles, real or fake, Fig's vet phoned, he's fine, and can come home at 6 pm.

Good-bye, Testicles

After much thought, and with Carolyn and Mandy's permission, I have decided to neuter Fig. I don't foresee a show career for him, and my son Ian wants to learn to track with him while I learn to track with Watson. The family that tracks together....

During Fig's pre-op appointment, my vet asked me if I wanted to have "neuticals" implanted in Fig. WTF? Neuticals? Yup, there are silicone prosthetic testicles that can inserted after the real ones are removed. Dear lord! Really? Why? Because, "they help your dog retain his self-esteem."

I must have looked absolutely incredulous, but my vet told me that he's implanted hundreds of neuticals over the past few years. I think there are some dog owners with self-esteem issues, and way too much money. The cost of ensuring your dog retains his dignity, and self-worth is a mere $950.00. For better or worse, Fig will come home tomorrow sans testicles, and neuticals.

Only in California......

The Best Dog in the World.

This was sent to me by Penni Adrian. I think it is beautiful. And, as Fig is Ian's "Best Dog, " and Duncan is Teddy's, I think there's a little brindled mismark waiting to be my new "Best Dog in the World."

Best Dog in the World
By T'Mara Goodsell

One's first love is always perfect until one meets one's second love.
~Elizabeth Aston

Years ago, I owned the very best dog in the world.

I was a child when we got her. She was a graceful brown hound, a foundling who taught me that our pets are not purchased, but ordained.

She romped when I did and knew how to smile in that funny way that only some dogs have. She grew up with me, always there when I needed her. My grown hand still remembers the sleek bump on the top of her head and that gentle divot just past her nose that fit my index finger just perfectly.

She passed away during one of my college vacations. My heart broke then, and I knew that there would never be another dog like her, and there hasn't been. I was sure that I could never love another dog as much as I'd loved her.

Fortunately, I was wrong about that part.

My next dog came into my life when I was married. My husband traveled for a living, and I was often lonely. This dog grew into a lumbering Wolfhound and Sheepdog mix who taught me patience. He was a large, grizzled sentry, that dog. He rarely left my side until the children were born, and then he became their guardian, too. I can still feel that swirl of fur along his back and the weight of his chin when it rested in my lap.

When he passed away, my heart broke. As much as I had loved that childhood dog, I had been wrong. This was the very best dog in the world. There would never be another dog like him, and there hasn't been. I was sure I would never love another dog as much as I'd loved him.

I was wrong again.

We got the next one, a loping black Lab-and-Terrier mix, when the children were little. He taught me the importance of adapting. He was everyone's dog from the beginning, and that was just as it should be. When he played tug of war with the children, he dragged them across the kitchen floor as they shrieked with laughter. He always seemed to sleep in the room of the child who needed his company the most.

These days his face is expressively gray, and he spends more time with me since the almost-grown children aren't around so much. The other day my oldest, home from college, played tug of war. We all laughed--just a little--as the dog was gently pulled across the kitchen floor.
He is, of course, the very best dog in the world. I will never forget that exquisitely soft tuft of fur behind his ears or the tickly feel when he nuzzles. There won't be another dog like him.

And that's okay, because we will never be at this point in our lives again.

Sometimes I've wondered why two species that get along so well should have such different life spans. It just doesn't seem right. And then I wonder if that's part of the lesson: To teach us that love itself has a spirit that returns again and again and never really dies.

It's amazing, in a way, how they bring to our ever-changing lives exactly what it is that we need at the moment. They make room for one another, this family of dogs who has never even met. And they fit--into our families, into our lives, into our memories, and into our hearts--because they always have been and always will be the best dogs in the world.

Maddie's Malaise.

My 15-year-old daughter, Maddie, has the Swine Flu. She's miserable. This picture was taken last weekend, she looks a hell of alot worse today. I PROMISED I wouldn't take a picture of her while she was sick. I hope my sons don't come down with it, although, the flu is more than welcome at my ex-husband's house. ;-)

There have been two school closures in nearby towns. It's a nasty bug.

<<>>, Mads.

Oh! Fig has learned that soda crackers left on a bedside tray are pretty tasty snacks.

Fig's Face...

Taken today on his BD.

Happy Birthday, Fig!

Happy Birthday, Fig, and to the rest of the "Tree" litter. We can't wait to party with Captain, and Sage this Sunday!

My Mother on her 80th BD.

HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY, MOM. I COULD HAVE NEVER ASKED FOR A BETTER FRIEND. I LOVE YOU!

Watson Says.

Watson says, "See this cute nose, it's destined for great things."

The Dogs of Work

I am very fortunate that we are allowed to bring our dogs to work. Here's a short video starring Fig, Cane (long-haired chihuahua puppy), and Mr. Foo (toy poodle). Duncan was asleep under my desk. He thinks that playing with puppies is a waste of time.

One of my favorite New Yorker Cartoons

Can You Tell the Difference?

Axel and Watson at approximately the same age. A bit surreal, no?

Blog Photo

I'm still learning how this whole blog thing works. I hope you like my "crazy dog lady" picture. It was taken years ago by my best friend Elizabeth "Weezie" Williams. We had just driven from Napa, to Weezie's house in Middleburg, VA. I felt compelled to mail things in my nightgown. All that's missing is, well, the dogs.

More later. This is fun! Thank you all for suggesting I start a blog.

Duncan

Here are some recent pictures of Duncan. I snagged them off of Trenton's blog. Thank you, Trenton. Dunc's getting a bit gray around the muzzle, as am I. He hates having his picture taken, really, he hides when he sees a camera. I'll try to get some better shots over the next few days. He is one of the dearest dogs I've ever know, and is my daughter, Teddy's, heart dog. He misses her so when she's at school.

It was VERY hot the day these were taken.

Happy Birthday, Watson!

Happy three-week birthday! I can't wait until you come "home." So many wonderful things await you, we will have some excellent adventures together. Fig, and Duncan can't wait to meet you as well.

First Blog

Hi,

OK, here goes, my first blog post. I have no pictures (yet), but I just thought I'd give this try.

I hope this works!