Tanka for Echo: March 20, 2001

four days old when we

met you and your eyes were closed:

it was puppy love

I found your puppy album

golden treasures from the past

joyful memories

your exuberance, Echo,

echoes in my heart

Ending A Blog Break

My life has been busy in many ways so I took a prolonged blog break. 

Some were traumatic and life-changing. (Don't want to go into details.) Some meant spending time doing things I'd rather not do, but needed to do. Taxes are included in this group, and I'm still working on it. Ugh.

Enough of that... 

"I'm baaaaack," as Arnie would say. 

Got a writing prompt from Debbie D., "Dance."

Three delightful memories come to mind.

My mother and father never went to the Palais Royale in the forties to dance to Duke Ellington's music, despite my mother's desire to do so. This was probably because my father was a very basic dancer and couldn't keep up with my mother's jitterbugging. 

(edited to add this old LJ link)      https://boreal-owl.livejournal.com/127526.html

When we attended our friends' son's wedding reception I finally saw the stunning art deco locale overlooking Lake Ontario. I felt as if I were at one of Gatsby's parties. (M and I did not dance, maybe keeping up the family tradition, and for similar reasons.)

https://www.palaisroyale.ca/

Despite his reluctance to dance, M did take disco dancing lessons with me in March 1978. During one of these lessons, it snowed unexpectedly. Unfortunately I was wearing sandals. To get back to the car, we had to climb over the snow piled on the roadside. 

Much to my surprise and delight, M lifted me over the snow bank! I called him Sir Walter Raleigh. Romantic gestures and humour: an irresistible combination. 

And the best example of dancing in our family is this.

https://owlsquill.blogspot.com/2012/05/echos-leash-dance-video.html

Winter: a tanka and a haiku

Winter Tanka

owls love winter:

long nights for hunting rodents

under pale moonlight

in the heart of darkness owls

begin their courtship dance

Winter Haiku

Echo liked winter 

pushed his nose into the snow

coldness brought delight

 

How to Succeed at...

 ...almost anything

Finding the perfect spouse

1. Go on a blind date in which the person introducing you knows you only superficially and mistakenly attributes your parents' interests to you. (M)

2. Reveal your family's darkest secret on that first date, thereby potentially scaring away your date. (me)

3. Give your date a humour challenge. (me)

4. Be funny. (M)

5. Be lucky, despite all of the above.

Winning at horse races

1. Decide you and your three accomplices will only bet to a certain limit and stop when you've lost that amount.

2. Whimsically choose a horse because you like his or her name.

3. Make a mistake when betting. Instead of choosing only one of those whimsically-named horses to win ($2 bet), choose two horses to win and place ($5 bet). Both horses happen to be long shots. When you win on this mistake, because it was a long shot, you'll make much more than you would have if you'd proofread better.

4. Stop betting when you've lost the amount in #1 and split your winnings, laughing hysterically.

Winning at greyhound races (aka, My Mother's Method)

1. Observe the dogs before the race. 

2. Bet on the one who has decided to relieve himself before the race. He won't have to worry about that and will run faster as a result.

3. Collect your winnings. (Thanks, Gentleman Jim!)

Finding potential dates or breaking ice with strangers

1. Acquire an adorable puppy and take it for walks. You will never lack for potential dates (even if you are married and uninterested in dating). Even your dog will make play dates for the dog park. You'll meet all your neighbours.

You're welcome.

Echo's Leash Dance

 In celebration of what would have been Echo's birthday, March 20,

Echo would like to remind you to

"Dance with your leash!"

Rules for Snow

You are a snowflake, thinking of visiting my city.

Here are The Rules for Snow.

1. No significant snow before December 24.

2. Light flaking that melts on contact is permissible.

3. Snow may fall from December 24 to December 26 only. This is your big opportunity. Have at it.

4. All snow must melt by December 27.

5. For the new year, see Rule #1.

Thoughts from Guinan on a Snowy Day

"We will prevail. As long as there's a small pocket of humanity who still believes, we will prevail."
-- Guinan, Star Trek: The Next Generation



Brrr! It's soooo cold out there. For the second day in a row, there's an extreme cold temperature warning. At least the sun makes it look pretty.

Warmest wishes for the holiday season
 and a Happy New Year!

 

Remembering Echo

Echo

 

March 20, 2001 - February 24, 2016 

 

 

Breed:                       Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog)

Occupation:             Model, Philosopher, Poet, Blue Jays Shortstop (retired)

Hobbies:                   Leash Dancing, Napping, Guarding the Bathroom

 

 As a puppy, his nose was partly pink.

 

 Flying Superpuppy. This is not PhotoShopped.

About age 2.

BELIEVE YOU'RE A PUPPY

And Other Advice From Echo

Accept compliments graciously. (They're all true anyway.)

Keep nudging for treats.

Rules for effective nudging:

1. Gently touch your human with your nose.

2. Observe every time your human puts food on her fork. Watch the trajectory carefully. If it falls on the floor, it's yours!

3. If your human eats too neatly, put your head on her thigh and gaze adoringly at her. Works every time.

Eat each meal as if someone were going to take it away from you.

Keep nudging for treats.

Life is an eat-all-you-can buffet table.

Flowerbed fences provide a high-jumping challenge.

Guard the door from invasions by mail, newspapers and advertising flyers.

Chinese Food Delivery requires your utmost vigilance. Stay near the front door, in High Alert mode. The food could come at any time. Bark at any sound that might be a delivery car in the driveway. (You don't want it to get cold, do you?)

Keep nudging for treats.

Greet new dogs with a polite sniff, circle, leash tangle, and play invitation.

A well-timed burp is an excellent way to participate in human conversation.

Human "garbage" is often the tastiest of treats.

"Birthday" is a ridiculous human concept. Accept the praise and the extra treats, but otherwise, ignore it. 

You're a puppy as long as you believe you're a puppy.

Always believe you're a puppy.

Dance with your leash.

Copyright 2014, Barbara Etlin.

ANTIQUE PIANO & OTHER SOUR NOTES

 http://decoowlpress.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Echo's Glass Ceiling

Echo's Glass Ceiling

You may think you know what the glass ceiling is: the barrier which limits your progress towards attaining the job or goal you want.

Echo knows the true meaning, especially when nudging for treats while we're having a meal.

I wouldn't need to nudge if the glass ceiling weren't there.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Echo's Query Process

Echo's Query Process

"Please, sir, may I have some?"

"Resistance is futile."

A Farewell to Tulips 2015

Tulip season only lasted about a week.

Soon after we planted them, summer heat made them wither.

But that week was magical.

They Say It's Your Birthday...

HAPPY

BIRTHDAY,

ECHO!

At the equivalent of 98 human years, Echo is starting to slow down. He walks a little more stiffly, taking time to pause and sniff at any interesting bush or lamp post.

He doesn't much like his new medication, and lets me know that I'm not fooling him when I try to hide the crushed pill in his canned-food meatballs. He dissects the meatball as if he were excavating an archaeological site. Then he either eats it reluctantly or walks away in disgust.

When he does take the pain pill, he can walk more smoothly and handle the steps to the terrace.

When he refuses it, I have to lift him over the steps. It's excellent exercise for me. Who needs barbells when you've got a 25-pound weight to lift?

Sometimes he looks at the steps, tentatively places one paw on the top one, and thinks about whether he wants to come in.

Other times--when he's taken the pill--he bounds down the steps as if it's no big deal.


But age is just a number when you're feeling good. And there are still many good days.

I cherish every day I get to spend with you, Echo, my furry, faithful friend! I love you.

Pre-Spring Begins

Today, December 21, is the Winter Solstice.

It is the shortest day of the year.

Sometimes, I feel that I just want to sleep until Spring comes.

But then I remember that tomorrow the days will begin to lengthen. Only by 2 minutes a day, but by early January it will be noticeable.

So I prefer to think of this new season as Pre-Spring.

In only three months, Spring will be here...

Have a very happy Holiday Season!

Echo's Bark Mitzvah

Happy 13th Barkday, Echo!

Today You Are a Dog! (because it's your Bark Mitzvah)

But you'll always be a puppy

because you believe you're a puppy.

Maybe even Superdog!

"I've looked at snow from both sides now..."

Oh boy! Snow! Let me out!

 

 

 

 

 



Mom! Let me in! It's collllld out here!

 

 

(Repeat and rinse.)



Barkful Wednesday

First day of Spring? Really? Someone should inform the weather!


Today is Echo's birthday.

Happy 12th birthday, Echo!

Yah! Extra treats! 

You're still younger than springtime!

Wordless Wednesday: Outside or Inside?

 

Just Hanging Around

Echo's Leash Dance Video

I took this video of Echo on April 7.

Leash Dance!

Today he turns 11, but he still believes he's a puppy!

Dance with your leash, Echo! Your birthday present will arrive next week.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ECHO!