Why not write?

Here's the deal.  I've been begging for her to sit down and write.  As soon as she gets the laptop out, gets comfy with blankets and beverages, I jump right up next to her, curling myself into a behind-the-knees shaped ball and nuzzle in.  She thinks this is to keep warm and to have a nice long sleep, but really it's to encourage her to stay longer at that keyboard and write, write, write!

How I came up with this idea is that I began to notice that people in this house are reluctant to wake or move a sleeping dog.  You should see Glenn contort himself around me if I get into his bed before he does!  I think it means he loves me.  And Faith will lift the blanket I'm on to move me somewhere more conventient if that means I'll stay sweetly asleep.  What is it with these humans?  If some other dog was in my way, I'd just growl until they moved, and without an ounce of guilt (what is guilt anyway?). All this to say, I knew that if I really wedged myself next to her, she would be more apt to stay where she was...writing.

I don't mind that the writing hasn't been for my blog here.  I mean, over two years is a bit ridiculous, but I don't press the issue. (I think maybe guilt is what she feels when she knows she hasn't kept up with things like cleaning, my blog, or calling people she loves; this guilt seems to keep her further away from doing what it is she really wants to do, so I try not to pile it on.)  As long as she's writing, that's the key.  And that's where I come to the best news (besides my dog adventures like going on the NYC train system for the first time, chasing nature in Central Park, and digging sand at the beach last week) which is Faith has decided to pursue sharing her writing by starting her very own blog and by applying to Teachers College to pursue an advance degree in English Education/Writing.

She promises she won't neglect me for this pursuit and I trust her, especially since she lets her mind wander most during our walks together, and that's when she finds that thing she absolutely must write about.  If only distractions didn't distract her...SQUIRREL!

For now, I'm waiting for the next time I notice subtle lighting and incense burning in the apartment, and as long as there's not a yoga mat laid out or a bath running, I know it will be time to squeeze up next to her and help her stay put until her thoughts are out the page.

Have I mentioned how good our lives are right now?  I'll put that on the list for next time.

P.S. Did I mentioned my rowboat experience in the country, upstate NY??

My Pic

Faith hasn't made time to write for me in a while, so I asked her to at least post something of me.  My auntie Berta sent  this old pic of me yesterday, so I begged Faith to please put it out there, so people knew I was alive and well and they could see how awesome my tongue is!

Madge's New Jersey Adventure

There are tales of a land across the river called New Jersey that’s so foul and smelly that my friends in New York City groan and moan with displeasure. One day, Faith disappeared to a place in the mountains, and I was naturally upset that I could not join her. I am a Rocky Mountain pup and I love to chase the clouds, but Faith packed my bags and assured me that George would take me to the country for a weekend adventure.

George and Olga picked me up in the morning and we drove away in the box-on-wheels. We took a bridge & tunnel, and there were industrial facilities and swamps as far as the eye could see, crisscrossed by highways and railroads. There were ominous clouds spewing from tall chimneys but these were different than the ones I chased in Colorado. The boxes-on-wheels were growing boxier and boxier and there was a sense in my nostrils that these stinky wetlands were made of garbage.

All of sudden it occurred to me: this was the “shithole” they call New Jersey.

George explained to me that the Hackensack Meadowlands were once-upon-a-time a gigantic wetland and one of the richest ecosystems in the world, but in the last few hundred years, humans have literally created new land on piles of garbage to build giant stadiums and runways for jets, leaving toxic sewage and sludge where life once thrived. Paradoxically, New Jersey also has a tremendous amount of beautiful open space that its citizens have managed to protect. We passed a Great Swamp with hundreds of species of birds and amphibians that were saved, and dogs like me could enjoy nature.

We arrived in Mendham, NJ.

There was a huge field and a big old tree. We had a great time running around, wearing leaf hats. 

…and wallowing in the grass.

We went to a farm with pumpkins fields and all kinds of gourds of different shapes and colors.

We picked pumpkins...

 ...and I picked a baby one for Faith.

Then we went for a long walk in a giant corn maze. 

George and Olga were hopelessly lost, but with my nose we sniffed the path to freedom.

We went back to town where we had cappuccinos, pumpkin pie, apples, and bison hearts!

Dr. Pingeon, George’s 94-year old grandfather from Switzerland, was very friendly: “Hello Little Monkey!” he said, but he wasn’t sure if I was a cat or dog. After dinner, we fell asleep.

It was all very cozy! What an adventure!

And I learned that New Jersey isn’t such a terrible place after all…

-Madge's New Jersey Adventure as dictated to George Pingeon.

Uncle Glenn is home!

Uncle Glenn is home!  Uncle Glenn is home!  He went to visit our homeland in Denver, Colorado.  Right now, I'm just relaxing, glad I can cuddle up with him on this cool, rainy day in NYC.  When Faith gets back from work, I bet they'll share lots of stories.  Do you know what I'll be doing while they gab?  You guessed it:  cuddling up and taking another nice long snooze.

Country Fun!

Faith doesn't even know the fun I had in the country with George, Olga, and George's Grandfather.  It was my own time of walking in a corn maze with my dog-walking friends, sitting on grandfather's lap, and getting some great outdoor smells to savor before the icy New York City winter locks me and Faith indoors.

George dropped me off last night and told Faith he's sending some photos over.  She'll get a little flavor of my weekend away, and maybe she'll arrange for another one someday!!

A Weekend in The Country?

Faith keeps talking to me about something I don't really understand right now.  She says, "George" and "Olga" and "The Country" and "Weekend."  What's really making me perk up is that she's packing up one of those bags that can sometimes mean I'm coming with her and sometimes mean she's leaving me home.  I sure hope "The Country" is something wonderful I get to visit and that if Faith leave me home that "George" and "Olga" will be picking me up.  I like them a lot!  They let me sniff other dogs a lot easier than Faith, who is a bit nervous about my capacity to growl...George uses a gentle voice to tell me he doesn't want to hear it, and I obey. Oh my! Oh my!  What if George and Olga are taking me to The Country?!  What if it smells like this?

  

Danny Kang Zipped In

Faith and I shared a room with this boy, Danny, when she first moved us here to NYC.  Now, Danny comes over to our place sometimes to play.  Faith kept trying to get me to go into this new boxy thing she brought into our home, but I wasn't having it.  The first time Danny saw it?  Jumped right in and asked to be zipped up.  Fine by me, as long as I don't get zipped up in that thing!  Faith assures me that I'll enjoy it once I realize it's my own little safe den.  It will take some more convincing before I'm ready to try it out...

Saturday morning: Inn at the Ridge

Do you see it??  I see it.  Is it a man?  Where's his head?  Faith calls it a scarecrow.  Doesn't look like any kind of bird to me.  Also, Faith refused to let me pee on the tomatoes by the headless man.  Geesh!

Coming soon: Weekend Upstate & Newborn Poodles

Faith tells me I'm going with her this weekend somewhere upstate, but I don't really know what upstate means.  I also hear it's at a bed and breakfast but I don't know what that means either. She showed me this picture of newborn poodles who she says arrived at the b&b about a month ago...

And I DO KNOW what that means!!  Dogs to sniff!  Faith wonders if I will be growly or playful with these little ones (and any other dogs up there this weekend), but I'm not telling.  I don't plan these things out.  I just let my doggy senses guide me -- that's how I roll. Faith will try to be all calm-energy and relaxed, thinking she has some sort of control over me.  While I do try to please her and do what she asks, sometimes she just doesn't know the dog-world things that are going on inside of me and the dogs around me.  We have our own set of social ethics.  I'm good with that.  Faith is learning to be...

Hurricane Irene Tree in Sunnyside

I did what I needed to do with this hurricane Irene tree: peed on the end of it.  It was clearly my territory.  Then Faith has to go and ask someone to take a picture of us.  Can you tell I'm a bit uncomfortable?  I mean really, being held by my person while we SIT on the tree.  That is just not how it's done in dog-world.  I'm a good sport though, and Faith does love her photos, so I dealt with myself.  We went later for an hour long walk around the neighborhood and I got to do my dog-thing -- undisturbed.  

P.S.  I heard the tall, pointy building in the far background is called The Empire State Building.  I've not been there myself, but it gets lit up every night, and we see it on our last walk each evening.

Roberta & Madge

I do enjoy giving out the adoring, loving looks these days...

Hurricane's on its way...

Have you heard?  I knew without even watching the weather channel (although Faith & Glenn have had it on much of the day) that a storm is coming.  I can feel it in my bones...and ears.  Faith took me out for a long, damp walk this morning and again this afternoon.  I can guarantee I'm not going to put with this wet-walking much longer.  I usually just sit down and look at Faith to let her know...No Way Is This Walk Happening.  This time, she really pushed me to get out there and pee.  I have a feeling even she won't be trying to take me out in the hurricane they're calling Irene.  Well, here's a pic from a few weeks ago, when it was nice & dry.

Good weather!

The weather has improved for my dog tastes!  Faith and Glenn are taking me on very long walks again.  I spent a good number of days panting, panting, panting this summer.  Faith would still try and go far, but I would slow down to a dog-crawl to let her know I was getting overheated.  She kept me well with plenty of water and even put ice cubes in it since our kitchen is so hot that the water would warm up through the day.

Now, I am getting to comfortably smell all the smells I want to every afternoon.  It's glorious!!!  

Better news!

I almost forgot to share the even better news.

My uncle Glenn has come to live with us, and I get to cuddle up to him whenever I want.  I play it sly and mostly just lay on his comfortable bed, pretending I couldn't care less if he was around, but the truth is I dig the company.  (I couldn't contain my excitement when he first walked in the door a few months ago -- I sniffed and then squeaked and squeaked because I recognized him and my grandmama, but don't tell him -- I'm really trying to play it cool.)

Bad News & Good News

So, I've been quite depressed of late. 

Recently my best-walking-friends have not been around.  Faith says they just aren't walking dogs in our area anymore but they'll come visit someday soon.  I'm not so sure.  You see, I'm a living-in-the-moment kind of girl, so it's hard to imagine much into the future.  I just want them to walk me!

That's the bad news.

The good news is that Faith promises, promises, promises me I get to see George in October.  She's going to somewhere called the Poconos, and I'll get to have a sleepover with George!  (I was going to see Lesley in September, but some schedule change stopped that from happening.) 

I'm going to keep taking it as it comes, but Faith assures me that I'll be sniffing George soon enough and jumping around in excitement when he comes to pick me up.

New Friends!

Remember last post, when I told you how I am becoming more sociable the more my dog walkers visit?  WELL!  Exciting news.  Faith came home the other day and got to meet my new friend, Pun.  He has brindle hair like mine but is a little more squat and wide. Also...we both have extraordinary faces...

See?   The best thing is, we get to sniff around the neighborhood together with George!  We are both super lucky dogs.  

My Walkers

Throughout this last year, after moving from Denver to New York City, Faith has looked at me and said, "I'm so sorry, Madge," many times.  The first time she said this was when she realized how much less green there was in this new place.  I was having a hard time finding places to potty and looking at her for direction.  The next flow of apologies came during this past harsh winter when I shivered through the icy Sunnyside streets, followed by more I'm sorry moments as the rain fell and I pleaded with her not to make me go out in it.

Faith tells me she wants me to have a good dog life. The thing is, I do.  I still refuse to go out in the rain (although yesterday when it began to rain while we were already out there, I managed), and I can't help but shiver through the northeastern winter winds; however, I have made garbage bags my new "trees" -- I love it when rows of them are lined up, and I just pee, pee, pee all the way down the street  (It's okay, garbage handlers wear really thick gloves...).

Also, there has been a new development here on the homefront.  Faith's brother, Glenn, has moved in.  I'm beginning to understand that I can be thrilled when he comes home from the gym or running errands, and that I get to cuddle up to him during the days when Faith is at work.

Also, I have a good dog life because I have great dog walkers.  For the past five months or so, they've come to visit me regularly, and we have had some wonderful times together.  They have helped me meet other dogs in my neighborhood, who I now recognize when Faith takes me out for our long evening walks.  I used to growl about 50% of the time I met new dogs; now I might give a growl if there's an impolite puppy who greets me rudely or if the other dog's energy is just too high for me, and I feel threatened, but mostly I know the right way to greet and sniff and socialize -- as best I can being tethered to the leash!

The other day, it was very hot here, and George let me cool down in the rainbow fountain in the park --
I couldn't figure out how Faith knew about it, since it's my own private time with my walker, and then I remembered that the walkers write little notes for Faith every day before they leave me...

From George:  Wow.  So hot!  Still had a great walk.  Rinsed off in the rainbow fountain.  Madge was happy.  Sat on a bench together under a tree. Sniffed in the dirt.  And watched TV in the cool house.

I hear that later today, I get a dog walker visit.  I will be so happy to walk with them and get their loving pats on my head after...maybe even a tummy rub!

Sunnyside Saturday

I don't know if you heard, but we just had a heat wave here in New York City.  Actually, I hear it was all over the Eastern Seaboard.  I wouldn't know.  I just know that whether I was in our apartment or outside, I was pant, pant, panting.  Faith says she's trying to get some of those boxes people put in their windows to cool things down, but they won't arrive for a couple more weeks. Thankfully, the heat ended on Thursday, and now we go out walking and there's a nice cool breeze!

This morning, we're just waiting for Danny Kang to wake up (he's four years old and spent the night last night, so his Mama could get a little rest -- she's got a bad spring cold -- and his Apa could go dancing) and then we're heading out to the opening day of Sunnyside Greenmarket.  Last year we did this every Saturday morning.  I really enjoyed it, because there are lots of other dogs to sniff, some to growl at, and Faith seems to just love picking out giant bouquets of leafy greens.

Happy Saturday to you!  I hope you can spend it like I do -- living in the moment.

I have no response to this...

She promised she'd NEVER make me wear clothes.  We were walking down the street just yesterday and saw another dog, much smaller than me, dressed in a frilly skirt -- Faith called it a tutu -- and she promised once again, "Madge I won't ever dress you up."  Aside from forcing me into coats for the bitter cold weather these past two winters (I just look so embarrassed when she walks me that eventually she takes it off of me), she has never made me wear clothes.  And today, she puts one of her crochet creations on me?!

I have no response to this situation.

Mother's Day at the Park

It has been way too long since I put down some thoughts on my recent experiences.  I'm sure you understand I'm reliant upon Faith for my computer use, and this past month she seems distracted with other things...but more from Faith another time.  As for ME, yesterday was a spectacular day!  We went to Socrates Sculpture Park where I got to sniff around the East river, meet other dogs, and relax in the grass.

Here's something new!  Are you aware that people keep these

as PETS?!  I am shocked.  When Faith and I walked around the park for the second time, I got a whiff of...something...it was musky...I wanted at it, and fast.    I'm pretty good with smells, and I could tell this was some animal I needed to warn others about.

Then, I got a good look at it when it came out of its little cage and ran across the grass.   There was a man and woman who seemed be caring for this animal - they kept picking it up and bringing it back to their spot when it would wander too far. Faith led me back to our picnic blanket, but it didn't stop me.  I just had to get everyone's attention and warn them that this menace was only yards away.  So, I barked.  I'm not much of a barker at the park, but I had to do something.  When the barking didn't seem to make enough of an impact, I decided to try a little howl.

I at least got Faith's attention.  She has never heard me howl.  That is how big of a deal this was to me.  Although Faith tried repeatedly to quiet me, I had to keep doing my job -- warning the crowd of the danger of...the FERRET!  No one really seemed to care.  Eventually, I settled back down in the grass, only occasionally putting my nose in the air and giving a tiny bark.  All in all, it was a good day.