Christmas Yodeler~

This is one of Otis' favorites. He asked me to share it...

Merry Christmas!

~~~

'Dog' spelled backward...

There is a profound reason that 'dog' is 'God' spelled backward.

This is just one of them...

~~~

Seven Degrees of Otis

Been a while, friends~ It's swim team season again. . .

And also, I spent a week working with writer & teacher, Pat Schneider; a wonderful teacher of creative writing. Terrific!

Two days ago, my Dad & Otis were on a play-date - fishing. No kidding ~ Dad texts me & says, "Can Otis go out to play?" This is not unusual. See, my Dad is a dog magnet, & Otis has this steel plate. . .

Here's a poem I wrote while working with Pat Schneider. It says it all:

Seven Degrees of Otis
after Wallace Stevens (& Kevin Bacon)

I
He is the small, bobbling tail,
short-legged-Russell-doggie
love of my life.

II
Most pointedly, the only one: bobbling tail,
that has ever really connected with the true me.

III
Sounds ridiculous, and makes me feel a bit neurotic,
but I truly, surely
love his little spirit.

IV

And he understands me.
I can see it in his
supple brown eyes, fringed with furnishings and knowing.

V
And then there’s Daddy!
Ah! They are just best friends, fishing buddies, snack hounds,
those two.

VI
What does it say about a man,
whose best friend, almost literally,
is his daughter’s dog? Ha!

VII
Funny! So joyful and happy and sweet a soul is my Otis!
God knows what He’s doing, indeed, (and Cesar Millan is right)
matching him with me.

~~
Seven degrees of Otis,

indeed.

~~~

Bailey Plays Dead...

Been away for almost a week & a half. Back with a giggle maker...

~ Enjoy ~

Classic Letterman.

~~~

Happy Christmas to all!

Having waited patiently for days on end...

and changed outfits more than once...

Otis greets Santa Claus (not pictured)!!

And we heard him exclaim 'ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all; and to all a good night!"

~~~

Waiting on Santa...

"I heard Santa's on his way, so I'm dressed & ready..."

("...ah...People. I'm waiting...")

"...why does it have to take him so long??"

~You better watch out, you better not cry;

You better not pout, I'm telling you why~

He's on his way!

~~~

Happy Thanksgiving -- Fun day!

If for no other myriad of reasons to be thankful today,

we can be thankful for dogs!!












(Otis is almost ready for Christmas...)






(He also likes to play dress-up...)










And if by chance you don't have a canine friend, you can enjoy this video
that a sweet friend sent me...
Laughter - we can ALL be thankful for that!!



Enjoy, & Have a Happy, Blessed Thanksgiving!!
~~~

An afternoon with Otis

Ok.

My kids are back in school. I'm working part time, but not today...

I'm on the Board of Directors for a group that needs a head/shoulders picture of all their Directors for a website. (Formal pose not necessary, you see...) So, I spend the large part of my morning on tasks related to the Board's needs, then I decide to have a little fun, & get them their picture at the same time -- maybe.

Otis is a funny animal. Squeezable, playful, funny, very happy; and, well, quirky. See, he licks things -- carpets, hardwoods, sofa cushions, piano bench legs; people's legs, toes, cabinets, cups, toothbrushes, suitcases. He's always licking at things too, if nothing but air. So, why I thought this (Otis, a camera timer, & a BoD picture) was going to work, I'm not really sure...

Eventually we got it, I think. It may not work for the BoD & their site, but it was a lot of fun!

Would that the whole world could have an afternoon with Otis every once in a while...

~~~

Very worried Terrier...

Ok, so Mr. Susannah is a deer hunter.

Back in December, he 'brought home' a buck, but not before taking it (well part of it...) to a taxidermist. So today, 6 1/2 months later, he brings 'the rest' home...and Otis has become very concerned...

I swear, at one point, Otis looked at us & said, "I knew reindeer could fly, but I didn't know they'd come through the wall!!"

~~~

Your Congress today?

Two of the greatest qualities in life are:

Patience And Wisdom...

...and knowing when to call your Congress...

(Hint: before the skunk sprays!)

~~~

Reindeer Watch!

Hi Friends!

I'm here to touch base. We've had so much going on at our house - as most people, I'm sure. But, maybe our situation is unique...We're reindeer watching!

Our children are into Santa Claus -- ok, mainly the youngest one...Thus, they've been watching for 'sightings,' across the night skies. I've also been extremely busy with these "Reindeer Watch" responsiblilities, & have needed to put blogging aside (please humor me, my family does). Unfortunate as that is, I am extremely gratified to report that our efforts have met with success!

As a bonus, I have gleaned photographic documentation, lest any skeptics cross this path.

scroll...

Please note:
As with a Messiah from On High born in a most unlikely place, what one expects (reindeer watch included) is not always what one gets...

Oh Santa! Please wait for me!!

~~~

Dogs are some of my favorite people!

Hi Friends~
The mood at our house is light & there's a crackle in the air! My Sweetheart & I are going on a vacation tomorrow. For a week. Without our 3 precious, adorable cherubs, whom we love so dearly! Oh my, how long it has been since we went away together just the 2 of us!

So in honor of the festive mood, I'll leave you - my blogging friends - with a funny little vignette my brother-in-law sent us today:



Enjoy the rest of your summer, friends. Love the ones you love. Be kind to strangers.

By all means, keep fighting the good fight, & hold down the fort for me!

I'll see you back in about week & 1/2.

~~~

It's dog time!

I've found myself a friend, folks. You all have probably known her for a while, but she & I are just getting to know one another. Almost as importantly, we're getting to know our canines. Yep, you read it - DOGs! Frasy had a post yesterday about her dog, 'Frasier.' Go on over & see it b/c he's a Jack, & they're the coolest breed known to man.

Maybe you've seen my sidebar, w/ pics. of our Otis (if not, scroll down for a peek). Frasy inspired me to post about Otis, bringing him out of the sidebar & into the mainstream. Here he is on a hunt for moles in the back yard:



Otis loves to go to the races, & he's done it a few times at this little community festival where the Jack Russell people (the ones who are far more into the breed than us) set up the course. It's great fun! I wish I had video of O. racing, but it's just so fast, we didn't get a chance. Here's a video that I found on youtube that shows a little of what racing is like. (Beware, these are dogs gone wild!!)



Okay, so maybe now I've gotten that out of my system...

~~~