All I want for Christmas is you!

Oh, boy!  Oh boy oh boy oh BOY!!!!   I know this is a special time.  I see the funny lights outside and we have some of those inside, too!  And I got REAL excited last night 'cause my hooman sister was here...and she was still here today!  I was so excited I was dancing in the courtyard...haha.

But, guess what?  I got a present and it is something I have wanted for a VERY long time.

I...…………..got...……………..a...……………….KITTY!   I did!  I really did!  This is the best thing EVER!

Give the dog a bone....

I had my yumbers suppertime and then it was time to take a walk.  It's a little bit dark now when we walk around...but there's still lots of people and other pups.  I got to say hello to the spaniel down the block!  

When Dad and I were heading back home, I could see Mom outside with the neighbor lady.  The neighbors are nice.  They have a cat that I get to say hello to sometimes, if she is outside on her leash, but I guess it is too chilly right now.

The neighbor lady gave me some pats on my head and then she pulled something out of a bag.

????  What is this?  Why are you giving it to me?  Let me sniff.  Hmmmmm, smells good.  Maybe I will lick it a little.  What is this thing?  It's big and heavy.  But tasty!!

Mom looked a little bit scared.  What was that all about?

The lady put it back in the bag, but we took the bag inside our house.

Then this thing was put on the floor.  Hmmmmm.  I just don't know what to do with this thing.  Maybe I should try to pick it up?  Maybe I will sit down and give it a chew?  I really don't know.  Help me!  What is it?  What am I supposed to do with it?

While I was feeding the ferals, Marguerite came out with a "regalo" (gift) for Harry.  It was a rather large bone from what I gather was a large meal they had had.  Harry has never been one for toys or bones.  He just never learned how to play with toys and has no idea what to do with them.   However, one learns in Italy to never turn down a gift.

When Harry returned from his walk, Marguerite took the bone out for Harry to smell.  Which he did.  And he licked it.  He seemed somewhat interested but not overly enthusiastic.

We tried again inside, but it was pretty hopeless.  He was whimpering and flustered.

I have decided I will give it a good boil.  If he has no interest in the bone after that, at the very least he will have a broth to add to his meals.  (Hey, Harry, I'm not too enthusiastic about bones, either.)

I lost my poor meatball when somebody sneezed.

I love food!  I try to arrange my day around my food and snacks.  It is a good way for me to know what time it is.  

And I know I am a very lucky boy.  I get really, really good food.  I get vegetables and chicken and rice and spagetters.    I get kibble, too.  And sometimes cheese.  I get lots of delicious stuff!  

I guess if I have a favorite, though, it is spagetters.  I love spagetters.  I will eat it first because I love it and I can't wait.  Then, I might leave my  kibble for later, for a snack.  

Sometimes my pack laughs at me and say that I'm "spagetter face."  I don't know why that's so funny, but they like it.  And I still know that I am Harry Spotter.  Haha.

Harry does love spaghetti, plain, although I sometimes cook it with a bit of broth, or mix a tiny bit of tomato sauce in to give him variety.  Plain pasta is good for a dog with an upset stomach, too.

Harry's meals are a mixture of lean meat, vegetables and kibble and some pasta or rice.  It is clear that he adores spaghetti.  Sometimes while he is eating he will look up at us (he likes to have company when he eats) and spaghetti strands will be hanging from his mouth!  He looks hilarious!

Once he even decided to go outside on the balcony to "check his kingdom" with spaghetti hanging all over the place!  It's nice to know he enjoys his food.

Open the door...let him in!

I sort of remember that there was a kind of awful, pretty terrible, really, really bad day, but it's all fuzzy now.  I really don't even think about it anymore.  And my arm is all healed up and everything, too!  

So I felt happy and special because someone was at the door, and when I went into the courtyard to see who it was, guess what?  It was my dogtor!!  He came to my house to see me!!  I never had a dogtor do that before.  

He came right in, right into the kitchen and put his stuff down.  I'm not sure why he was here, but nothing bad happened and he sat at my Dad's computer for a little bit and then he went away.  

He did look at my little room that is out in the courtyard.  The kitties eat inside it now because it is getting chilly outside.  

I liked seeing my dogtor here, it was fun!!!

We do not have a car as yet and while the walk to the veterinarian's office is doable, it is not a short walk. The doctor volunteered to come to us, he said he likes to walk!!  Harry needed a vaccine to prevent disease from wild animals.  Harry didn't even know it happened.

While he was here, he used our computer to extend Harry's prescription for heartworm medicine. Because he had had heartworm as a pup and was treated, Harry needs to take the medicine all year round.

Then we talked a little about rounding up the kittens soon so they can be neutered.  THAT is going to be an adventure!

Our house is a very, very, very fine house.

Did you know I like cats?  Yep, I do!! I like kitties and they usually like me, too.  

I don't have a cat of my own, but there are lots of kitties outside here.  Mom feeds them.  

Some of them come around all the time, so I get to know them.  One little guy gets pets and stuff from Mom.  We rub noses.  They aren't afraid of me.  Well, some of them aren't afraid of me, anyway.

Mom calls the friendliest one "Scruff."  Sometimes he even comes into my courtyard.  I don't mind that.  But things are getting scary now.  Now my little room that I flew over the ocean in is in the courtyard.  I think that my pack wants the kitties to sleep in there.  It is pretty nice - nice and big and comfy inside.  I hope that is all they want because I like my beds and I don't want to share them.  I like kitties, but they can't have my beds.  Nope.  

Sadly in this hill town there is no program for stray cats or dogs.  It breaks my heart to see animals without a home.

One of the street cats had kittens last spring and I began handling the little ones early on.  Scruff, Ink (Incubo) and Pirate.  Pirate, as a baby kitten, got into a fight with a big cat and had a serious eye injury.  It proved fatal in the long run.

Ink and Scruff trusted  me more.  In fact, Scruff also had an eye problem, some sort of infection, and I was able to help him recover by getting antibiotic drops into his eyes. With that, he began trusting me more.  I can handle him and I get schmoozes and purrs.

Now the whole family comes, usually for dinner - Mamma, Sib (from a previous litter), Scruff and Ink.  There are others who show up but not on a regular basis.

The plan is to get as many of them as possible to the veterinarian and have them neutered.  We hope to make a tiny dent in the problem of homeless street cats.  Now I try to coax them into coming in for the night to sleep in Harry's kennel.  No success yet, but we will keep trying.

It's a most unusual day...

I had a very strange, sort of awful, kind of scary, really, really bad day.  It was a while ago and I'm just fine now.  

It started out sort of fun. It was really nice out, warm and sunny and my whole pack was going for a walk and I just love it when we all go out together!  And we went by my store where we get my kibble and the nice people inside came to say "hello" to me!  But that is when things started to go wrong.  

All of a sudden there was another dog, just a little dog, too, but she was awful!  She wanted to pick a fight!  I don't know why!!  She was yelling all over and she BIT me!  My lip was bleeding!  Everything was kind of crazy so I don't really remember what happened after that, but when my mouth was not bleeding anymore we kept walking.

We went down this road I have been on before...oh, yeah...the dogtor.  I remembered him.  Mostly dogtors don't hurt me, but he did.  It was real fast but it hurt!  I was not liking this day at all.  Not one little bit.

Then I started feeling very funny.  I could not even keep my eyes open.  

I woke up and Mom was there....I was on a table.  I don't remember getting up on that table.  And I still felt weird and all I wanted was to go HOME!!!  I didn't like this day!  I wanted to go home and sleep in my bed.  But I couldn't walk right.  I was all wobbly.  Then a man in a car came by and Dad put me in the back of the car and...yay!...we did go home.

I felt awful.  Mom wanted me to drink some water but I didn't want it.  I didn't want to eat, either, even though I didn't have my breakfast.  I didn't want to stay awake and I didn't want to sleep, either.  I felt terrible!  

I think I went to sleep for a while.  Whenever I opened my eyes, Mom was there with me.  That was good.  So I went to sleep some more.  

It was a totally terrible, pretty awful,  really bad day.  

The next morning I felt all ok again.  And I was thirsty and hungry, too!  My arm hurt and had a bandage on it....but it wasn't that bad.  

I'm really glad most days aren't like THAT one!

Harry had a mole on his arm that decided to grow so it had to be removed and biopsied.  He was out of sorts the entire day and we watched and worried, but gradually his breathing became more normal and he would accept a few licks of an ice cube.  

The pathology came back "benign."  I am relieved about that and about the many totally terrific days we have had together since then.  Carry on, Mr. Spotter.

The trace of something in the air....

When I was a young pup, I was afraid of anything that went beep or boop or made a loud noise.  I did not like flashing lights, either.  The world was full of monsters, big monsters and little monsters.  The worst thing was some monsters were right inside the house!

But I'm a pretty smart guy and I learned that some monsters, especially the little ones, did some good stuff!  The toaster monster made some yummy things.  And the stove monster made even more yumbers.

My pack has plenty of yummy stuff, but Mom wasn't making some of the really good things she used to.  But NOW she is!  Best of all, the new stove monster doesn't make any beeps or boops!  (Our toaster monster doesn't either!)

I got SOOOOOO excited because I was taking a nice nap and my nose woke up!  Oh, boy!  Something is cooking inside the stove monster!  The whole house smells good! I can't stand still! I can't wait!  Oh, boy!!  Hot, smelly yumbers!

The old oven in our place did not work when we got here.  Then we learned it was really old and the company that manufactured it doesn't even exist anymore.  There was so much to do at first, cooking lovely meals was not high on my agenda, so we let it go for a while.

Then Spring and Summer came along and it was too hot to consider even stove top food.

Now we have a new stove and oven.  Just the other day I made my first casserole.  It was very simple, just pasta, tomato sauce (home made) and mozzarella. As the aroma started wafting through the house, Harry started going nuts.  He kept pacing past the oven!!  And since the light stays on the whole time the oven is on, he kept checking inside, too!  What a food hound!  Well, someone is happy that Fall has arrived!

I've been up, down, over and out.....

When I was a pup I was afraid of everything.  Except food.  Almost everything.  But, now I am all grown up and I am Super Spotter!  Especially since I flew over the big ocean!

So, when we got here, I explored the town.  I've been almost everywhere there is to go, I think.  I've been to parks and cafes and the gelato store and up and down lots and lots of hills.  Now that it's been a while, I know my way around town pretty well.  And I usually get to decide where we go on our walks.  

There is an elevator here...and it takes you to the "passagiata."  That is the word for a big, long walk around the back of the town....it takes us to the gelato store!  Well, that's one way to get there, anyway.  And if we go backwards, the elevator takes us to the café where they give me ice!  

Before we came here, I learned all about elevators when we stayed in a hotel for two months.  I had to go up and down in one every single day!!  Lots and lots of times!  

Yep, so, I....Super Spotter, decided to walk to the elevator the other day.  My pack was surprised.  But I knew the way and that's what I wanted to do.  Down and down we went....and then we were at the bottom and in a parking lot.  That leads to the "passagiata"...and if we don't walk all the way to the gelato store, we can also just go home because halfway takes me home!  It's nice because there are no cars and lots of trees and bushes and good smelly things.  

This is a hill town. There is no way to avoid going up and down hills, but the town did create a walkway around the outer edge on the east side.  It is very verdant and pleasant.  It winds around and slowly rises up from the parking lot, through trees and lots of greenery, along with some fabulous views.

The parking lot leads to an elevator that brings people right up into the main piazza, right next to a café we frequent.  It is very convenient for people who live elsewhere but work in this town, or for visitors.

Harry loves walking around this town but he had never led us up to the elevator before.  It was a bit of a surprise.  The passagiata leads to the back of our building and we can see it below our balcony.

If you continue on, it eventually ends in the piazza which is the exit point for cars, but also an entrance for pedestrians.  There are more cafes, the gelato store, a pizza restaurant and the one and only flat walkway in town.

It's funny because he definitely was uncomfortable in the elevator at the hotel we stayed in.  But I know he has a couple of buddies who take this elevator all the time, so maybe he gets their scent and it comforts him.  Brave boy!  (And dog-about-town!)

Who can it be now?

I have my own outdoor room now.  It's called a balcony.  I love my balcony.  I have a comfy mat out there and I can go in and out whenever I want to. There's a screen on it, but I can walk right through it!  

The mornings are nice because there is usually a cool breeze and it's quiet, just the way I like it.

Sometimes I see friends of mine go by, like Re or Hugo, but they don't see me 'cause I'm way high up!  There's lots to see out there - birds and clouds and hoomans, trees and flowers and bugs and stuff.  

Evenings are nice, too - when my pack sits out there.

We were all out there the other day and I was all nice and comfy on my mat where I can stretch out and enjoy the breezes.  But you know what?  Something really strange happened!  I was so surprised!!  All of a sudden a shutter on a window next to my balcony opened up!  And then I saw a hooman hand!  It was a man!!   WHAAAAT????  Who goes there??  Who is invading my kingdom??  I got right up to take look.....and I grumbled a little just to let him know this is MY balcony.  Hmmmmmmm.  I am not too happy about this.  No one else seemed upset, though.....but I sure was.  I am going to be extra vigilant from now on.

Someone moved in next door.  A young man.  His two windows are to the right of our balcony.  After nearly a year of total privacy, suddenly the shutters opened.  Harry was perplexed, to say the least.  He surprised me by acting protective.  He jumped right up and while I would not call it growling, he was muttering!  "Now wait just a minute.....when did YOU get here?  Who are you anyway??"  

Izz ok, Harry, he can't get to YOUR balcony.  Go back to your nap, silly boy.  

Grazin' in the grass, it's a gas.....can you dig it?

I love my balcony...I get to check on my kingdom and see if any of my buddies are walking by....and I also get to take nice naps in the cool morning breeze...and also sometimes in the evening......yep...I like it a lot.

And I have also liked eating grass.  I've been eating grass my whole life.  I like to pick up a little salad when I am on a nice walk.  Mom used to get really mad at me when I did and I never understood why.  There isn't much grass around in this town...it's mostly stone.

Well, it seems that my pack decided to make me some salad.  My very own, private salad! Gosh...that was nice of them.  Really!  Yep!  I have my very own home grown, all natural, non anything bad....really fresh and good salad!  I LOVE it!  

So, I just go out there and take a bite or two...or three.....yumbers...such a nice summer treat!

Harry would try to  eat grass every chance he got.  I had to stop him in New Jersey because there were all sorts of chemicals on the grass and ground.  He would give me such a look....."But, why?" Because those chemicals are harmful, Harry....you should not touch that stuff!

It wasn't deliberate.  I have had parsley growing on the balcony but didn't really use it as I expected to, so we just sort of let it grow.  It eventually got flowers that resemble a smaller and greener version of Queen Anne's Lace.  Mr. Spotter has found the parsley and finds it very tasty!  It's so cute to see him saunter out to the balcony, look around....take a bite or two....then take a nap.   And he's happy no one yells at him anymore for chomping down a little salad!  (No worries, he doesn't have that much) 

I am so into you...

So, hey!   I have a balcony.  I like it.  I go out there whenever I feel like it...to check on my kingdom...see what's going on...smell the air....listen to the sheep...yep...there are sheep nearby....and other pups...one sounds like a squeaky toy but the others sound like me...like REAL dogs.  

Well, I especially like my balcony in the morning.  I don't even care if the rest of my pack stays inside because this is the best time of day...it's cool, there is a breeze...and the birds are singing and it's really, really nice.  Except...….except......

Mom and Dad had one of my old beds out there. It was ok...but....not so comfy.  Not so comfy because I had to curl up and stuff to be in it.  It's an INSIDE bed....you know?   But the balcony is OUTSIDE!......Well, YAY, YAY, YIPPEE YAY...they finally "got" it!!!!   I guess they forgot how to speak Spotter for a little while, but they remembered.  You know what they did????  They put a flat, comfy mat out there for me!   It was under my inside bed to keep me warmer in the winter.  Well....it's not winter anymore!!!

So now I can s-t-r-e-t-c-h out....ALL the way...all nice and comfy...Ahhhhhhh, and have the nice breeze in my face and listen to the birdies.....and smell the farms....and stuff and it's all good now.  I had a big, big nap out there today....for a long time.  I love my balcony.  And my pack...for finally speaking "Spotter" and knowing just what I needed!

I can dream, can't I?

Everybody knows how I love to sleep!  After all, I have four beds.  Five, if you count the big one my hoomans sleep on!  It's my favorite thing, to lean back and stretch out, maybe rest my head on the side and just....mmmmmm.  

I have some pretty wild dreams, too!  I talk about that in my book.  In my dreams, I become Super Spotter!  And all sorts of other things, too.   Sometimes I'm running, sometimes I'm flying, and lots of times I have happy dreams and my happy meter goes crazy.

Mom even got a picture of me dreaming.  Want to see?  I open my eyes sometimes!!!  Mom says to tell you..."wait for it."

Yes, Harry is quite the dreamer.  He has had lively dreams since day one.  And so many interesting things to dream about!   He dreams this intensely every single day.  Sometimes he "boofs" out loud, too. It is adorable.  Dream on, Super Spotter!

King of the road...

Hey!  I've been here a while now.  The first friend I ever had here was Hugo, and I still see him a lot.  He sometimes runs across the whole piazza to come say "hello" to me!  He's younger, so he runs around a lot, but we waggle our happy meters and rub noses.  He runs around and I watch, haha!

Well, I have other friends, too.  And one of them is my neighbor, right here on my street.   His name is Re.  That means "king."  That's pretty funny, because the man who sells my kibble calls me the "prince of dogs!"  because there is a prince somewhere named Harry, too.

Anyway, Re is older than I am and he's kind of big, too.  My Mom got a little scared the first time she saw him because he wasn't on a leash.  But, it turns out that he is just a big mooosh.  

Re isn't feeling that great right now.  He has some aches and pains, but he is taking medicine.  I hope he feels better soon because I like him a lot.

Re (Pronounced Ray but with a rolled "R") does indeed mean "king" in Italian.  He is a mixed breed with possibly boxer, maybe some Great Dane. Re is a big boy and he is over 10 years old.  He is a big old sweetheart, the gentlest dog you could ever imagine.  

Right now he is having some trouble with arthritis in his front leg.  But his Mom loves him and takes good care of him.  He is getting medication and hydrotherapy.  Slowly he is improving.  His happy meter still goes like mad and he likes to eat, both good signs for his recovery.  

Feel better soon, Re, Harry is worried about you!

Whenever I am afraid, I hold my head erect...

Hey!  Look at me!  Look at me looking at YOU!!  Haha.  'Cause I'm not afraid of having  my picture taken anymore.   Nope.  I am SUPER SPOTTER, master of all my fears.  I am Signore Spotter, dog about town.  I am a happy pup, yes I am.  Especially when I get my favorite gelato. (yogurt)

On a clear day you can see forever...

I have a new favorite place and guess what?  It's right here at home.  It's a balcony.  And, oh boy, do I like it!  Now that it's warm out, the door is open and I can go in and out whenever I want.  I just walk right through the screen.  It is one of my magic powers, I guess.  It just opens up and closes again.  Sometimes I stand halfway in and halfway out.  I don't know why, but it makes Mom laugh.

Sometimes I go out and look around, just to check my kingdom and make sure everything is alright.  

I have a bed out there, too. I have lots of beds! Sometimes I sit and smell the good smelly air.  If my pack is out there, I make sure I keep them company so they don't get lonely.

Sometimes I go out there all by myself to take a nap.   The birds get all chirpy and it is very peaceful.    

There is a path below us.  I have been on it a lot.  It's fun!  It goes to my favorite gelato store one way and my favorite café the other way.  It is all curvy and a little hilly in spots.  So,  other times when I'm out on the balcony I can see hoomans and other pups walking by.  Sometimes they talk to us!  If I'm really lucky I see a friend of mine go by!  Hey, Hugo, look at me!  I'm WAAAAY up here!

Yep, I'm pretty happy with my balcony.  I never had a room that was outside before.  

                                                               *****************

Actually, Harry did once have a deck he could go out on but at that time he was afraid of going outside and he didn't much like it at all.  But Mr. Dog About Town doesn't seem to fear much of anything anymore and really delights in his balcony.  Birds singing, cool breezes, friends passing by. He's a lucky dog.

I can't get no satisfaction

I feel lots better now and I am ready to resume my duties as Harry Spotter, sophisticated dog about town!  The only problem is my pack.  They are not cooperating and I am getting very annoyed. 

When we were strolling down the promenade I could see that Tibo was open.  I made it clear that I wanted to go in, but no one else did.  I was not happy about that.

The gelato store was open too.  I tried to pull them over there but it didn't work.   Grrrmmmm.

Then just the other day we were in the big piazza.  That's where the café is where they give me my own cup of ice.   I knew the way.  I got halfway up the stairs but they said "No" again.  Well, that was just unacceptable.  Enough is enough.  I let them know I was mad.  I let everybody know I was mad!!  I started yelling.  People were looking but no one came to my rescue.

I wonder if there are dog police here?  Can I call them?  I think my pack needs to be arrested.  

Yesterday we were on the promenade again.  THIS time we went to the gelato store.  Well, that's better.  A little.  That's just a little better.  But I'm watching these guys, I am watching them very carefully.

I need a new drug, one that won't make me sick....

Errrrrg.  Blerrrrrg.  I got sick.  I got pretty sick.  I was puking all over.  I didn't want anything to eat.  Ick. I didn't feel well AT ALL.  Could have been that thing I picked up in the street.  Not telling you what it was. Not telling anybody.  Nope. Nope.  Not telling.

Ugh.  I had to take a big walk.  I really didn't want to.  It was to a dogtor's office.  Never saw this guy before.  There were good sniffies in his parking lot.  He was ok, I guess.  No beeping door, I liked that.  Just walked right in, like a regular door.

What I didn't like was he pushed something up my behind.  I did not like that.  He poked me and stuff. I did not like that.  I didn't get any treats.  I probably would not take one anyway.  I didn't feel good.  This guy poked me TOO much!!

When we finally got out of there, I had to poop.  I was sooooooo tired and we still had to walk home.  We stopped at the store I get to go into....I didn't go in though, but the nice man who has my kibble came out to see me.  That was nice of him, but I just wanted to go home and sleep.

We finally got home and I could smell something good.....chicken.  Yep.  Mom gave me some chicken and rice.  I did eat it, too, because, I don't know why, but I started to feel a little better.

Today I felt pretty good.  I've been eating.  I'm HUNGRY!!!  But Mom only gives me pasta and rice and chicken....not bad, but I'm HUNGRY!!  

I almost feel back to normal now.  Still not going to tell anyone what I picked up.   That's between me, myself and I.

Harry must have picked something up in the street.  He started vomiting.  Then he would not eat.  I frantically ran to the store where we buy his kibble because I know the owner there has two dogs himself.  He called his vet on the spot and got an appointment.  

It is a half hours walk...really not bad when you are used to walking here, but Harry didn't feel well and I was lamenting that we do not yet have a car.  

But, we got there, nevertheless, and he spoke rapid Italian (I speak SLOW Italian...very, very SLOW Italian) I asked him to slow down three times...to no avail.  He also said he knows a little English but after that he didn't care to show any of that off to me!

Struggling, and with an older guy who came in after us looking on in amusement at the bewildered American.....I pretty much got the gist...Harry had "un po' di febbre"...a bit of fever....probably picked up something in the street that didn't agree with him...so, he got a shot of cortisone, an antibiotic and an antiemetic.  We were sent on our way.

Harry had a bout of diarrhea after we left. Not a surprise.

We had to pass the kibble store and Donato came out to see Harry and give him some pets and find out how he was doing.

Since then, Harry has been eating what the doctor ordered - plain pasta, plain rice, plain potatoes...and a bit of plain chicken (thin cutlets cooked in a ceramic pan without oil).  He has kept everything down and his demeanor has improved dramatically.  He WANTS to eat!    He is also getting the waggle back in his happy meter and getting happy when it's time to go outside.

I was beside myself with worry because Harry has never been sick a day in his life so far.  I hated to see him suffer.  And I worried, of course, about what it could be.  Happily, he is fine again and maybe tomorrow he can have some REAL food!

Nice and easy does it....

Hey!  So, you guys know I flew over an entire ocean, right?  I did!  I am Super Spotter!!  I did it.  I did it.  And I got to Italy after a long, long, long time...like forever....and I knew my Mom was nearby...I could just feel it.  And, there she was!   

After that, we went to our new house.  And guess what?  My old bed was there!!!   Oh, boy!  My old bed!  I missed it!  It smelled like me and was still comfy.  And the next day Mom was doing something weird with the big machine that keeps food in it.....and she had music and was singing and a big storm went by.  You know what?  I didn't care.  I didn't care about the storm.  I ran away for a little, little bit......but I came right back, because it was more fun to see Mom singing and throwing ice into the sink...it was fun!  

So, you know what?  I figured after that...why should I be afraid of silly storms?  I, Super Spotter, flew across an ocean!  I travelled the world!  And I am always safe with my pack.  I know that now.  So, what do I have to be afraid of?

Last night another big storm went by.  It had thunder monsters.  I could hear them loud and clear.  But...I just decided I would sit in my big comfy couch and look handsome.  Because I am not afraid.  My family loves me.  They keep me safe and I'm a happy pup.  

The picture above was taken while a noisy thunderstorm was raging outside.

The flight here has changed him.  He is so much more calm and relaxed and self assured.  As if..."If I could that, I can do ANYTHING!"  

This new boy is a joy...a little willful....a little...."I see the gelato store....I WANT gelato!".....Not today, Harry.  Sheesh.  

But I would much rather have this relaxed version of Harry than the scared and timid one we used to know.  Never did I dream that the flight would have this effect on him, and yet, that is the way it seems.  Or else, as my niece said, "He was meant to be an Italian dog".....I don't know.  He's happy.  I'm happy.

We meet everyday at the same cafe

I told you I get to go inside the store where my kibble comes from.  And, I get to go to the gelato store, too!  Well, guess what?  There's another place I get to go to now and it's called a café.  I don't get gelato, but I did get a whole cup of ice cubes!  I love ice cubes!  And, when my pack was finished with their stuff I got to lick out a tiny bit of their tasty foamy stuff...it was good!  I really love it here and I am getting to be a very relaxed kind of guy.  But, having four beds all to myself in my house helps me feel very relaxed, too...haha.  

Now that spring has sprung, all the cafes are putting tables and chairs outside once again and Harry gets to visit more places.  Actually, some have no objections to people bringing their dogs inside, but as Americans we are very hesitant to do so, especially since Harry is not accustomed to being inside cafes!

We took him to the Café Belvedere (the "nice to see" café).  I ordered two cappuccinos and a cup of ice - per il cane (for the dog).  The young lady behind the counter looked perplexed.  Water?  No, please, ice.  He likes ice.  Yes, I know it seems weird.  Oh, dear.

Everything worked out very well, we had coffee, Harry had ice and was a happy pup.  Mr. Spotter is becoming quite the sophisticated man about town.  I bet he can't wait for gelato (yogurt) day!

What's your name?

Hi!  Hey, in my book I talk about how many names I have.  I have lots!  And now I have another one!  Gosh, I have so many names.

People here always want to know my name but they have trouble saying it. I don't know why, but it just doesn't sound the same as when my pack says my name.  So now I have a new name. Want to know what it is?  It's Arrigo!  Yep, my new name is Arrigo.  

I'm not used to it yet, but I keep hearing it.  I'm a smart pup so pretty soon I'll be used to Arrigo just as much as Harry or Pootie or Mr. Spotter!

There is no "H" in the Italian alphabet. It is difficult to explain the name "Harry" -  there is no "Y" either!  A neighbor, just as an aside one day said, "By the way, his Italian name is Arrigo."  Perfect!  
So now, when people ask "Come si chiama?" the answer is "Arrigo!"  Che bello!

Can you tell me what's ailing me?

Uh-oh!  There was a big noise outside our door, in the place where we all walk through to get to our doors.  It's a little chilly out there and like everyplace else, the floors are cold and hard too.

So we opened the door to see what happened and the lady upstairs fell down!  She was on the floor!  While Dad helped her up, Mom ran for tissues.  Good thing we have a seat out there, so she could sit down.

I tried to help, too.  I gave her some licks and put my head on her knee.  She liked that.  Mom said I was "Doctor Dog." Gee, I like that!  I'm Doctor Dog!  

Mom also got a bag of ice because the lady's hand was red and it was swelling up.  Then we all went outside in the cold and rain to find someone to help because we don't have a car anymore.  Mom was ringing doorbells all over but nobody was home.  Then a car drove up - YAY! - and my neighbor friend was in it.  He is kind of old but he is very, very nice.  He is a Great Dane mutt and we know each other.   His person came inside and talked to the lady upstairs and she took her to get help in her car.  

I hope she gets to a Doctor Person.  I'm really good at warm licks, but I don't know how to fix up a hurt hooman.  

Something made an odd sound in the courtyard.  The elderly woman upstairs had slipped on the bottom - thank goodness, the bottom - of the stairs. About four months ago she had fallen outside and broke her right wrist.  This time she had hurt the left and it was swelling up badly.  She also scraped her nose and was getting a large lump on her forehead.

We did what we could to settle her down - a glass of water, a box of tissues, a bag of ice that I gently wrapped on her wrist with an Ace bandage.  Then I went to look for help, since we have no car to take her to the Emergency Room.

It was raining and quite cold.  I went across the street, but I noticed that there were no lights on.  As I thought, no one was home.  I tried next door to them and it was the same story.  There is a married couple, both lawyers, down the block.  They live above their office and there were lights on.  After I rang the bell, the woman appeared in a third floor window.  At first she didn't understand me, but finally she got the message.

In the meantime, another neighbor pulled up - with her old Dane mix in the back of her car.  She understood my not so great Italian and came right in to help.  Then we had two people helping!  At any rate, our neighbor was taken to the hospital and she had, indeed, broken her wrist.

Sweet Harry behaved very well.  He was quiet and he gave the injured lady gentle licks on her good hand and hung out by her knee, just to make sure everything was alright.  Doctor Dog, to the rescue!

I turned and you were gone...

Oh, boy!  I really like it when the whole pack goes for walks together.  We all went out the other day because it was really nice outside again.   Doot, doot….this way.....over to the good smelly butcher and the good smelly food store.   C'mon guys, up the hill!  Up to my favorite spot where it gets flat again, and there are some big trees.  Behind a fence is a funny dog who always comes to see me, but then she acts scared and runs away.   She's silly.  

Hey, wait!  Where did Mom go?  Where is she?  Nope.  No, no, I do not like this.  Gotta go find Mom.  I don't want someone coming along and putting me in a car and taking me to a giant flying monster again!  Nope.  Follow me, Dad, we have to go back and find her!!  

Back to the good smelly stores....nope.  Not here.  This way, follow me, hurry....can't you walk any faster?  I'm going to call her.  "Mom!"  "Mom!!"  Maybe she's waiting at the door.  Mmmmm, nope.  "MOM!"  "Mo...uh...oh, there you are!  What are you doing back home?  You scared me!  Didn't you hear me calling you?"

Did I hear you calling?  You bet I did and so did everyone else!!!  The whole town could hear you! Holy cow!

We happened to pass a small store that sells, among other things, small over the shoulder bags.  The last time I saw one I liked, someone else snatched it up before I had a chance.  So, I wasted no time and marched right into the store to purchase the bag.  Harry and his Dad had already continued up the hill, so I decided to go back home.

When Harry turned to look for me and didn't see me he did an abrupt about face and headed back home, too.  I'm told he was very adamant about coming back and continued to pick up speed as he walked along, dragging my husband. (haha) When he got to our street, he started yelling.  I could hear him loud and clear, it was the same bark he gave the day he arrived here, unmistakable!  

Izz okay, Harry....I won't leave you.

Places to go, people to see

Whenever I hear "Andiamo!" I get excited because I know that means I get to go outside!  It's so much fun to go outside here.  I get to smell and see things I never got to smell or see before.  And I make friends everywhere!  I still see Hugo a lot, but I met a little girl puppy the other day, she was fun.  And I met an old guy, a spaniel.  He was nice, too.  

Sometimes we go on big walks all the way up the hill, or sometimes around the walkway that takes us back to our house.  Sometimes I don't feel like a big walk, so I just go up to the good smelly places and come right back home.  

And here's the exciting part - I get to go into stores now!  Yep!  I even know where the ice cream store is.  My pack was laughing because I know exactly where it is and I go right in!  It's not the same as frozen doggie ice cream like I had before, it's WAY better!  And my friend Hugo likes it, too!

There is another store I get to go to.  It's where my kibble comes from!  I get to go inside and smell the food bags and I get lots of pets from the man in the store, and anyone else who is there, too!  Oh, boy!  I never had so much fun!

Harry is becoming quite the cosmopolitan pup.  He loves walking these streets and meeting people.  The people here clearly love dogs, too.  While waiting outside to buy kibble, the owner, Donato, opened the door and said, "Come in!"  Harry had never been inside a store before other than a Petco.  Donato has two dogs of his own, Labrador mixes.  When he asked for Harry's name (which is rarely heard in Italy)  I said, "Like the Prince in England."  Donato replied, "Ah, he is the Prince of dogs!"  Well, he lives like one!!

The gelato store is on the promenade.  By the third time we went there, Harry knew the way and the store.  In fact, he marched right in this past weekend!!!  "C'mon guys, time for ice cream!"  

There's a party goin' on right here...

Wow!!!  There is some kind of big party here.  The whole town is a party!!  Everybody is outside.  Everybody!  And lots of people are dressed up in funny clothes and there is lots and lots of noise.  There's funny stuff on the ground, too.  It's not snow.  It's kind of like snow, but it isn't cold.  I don't know, people are funny.  

This party took days and days.  Someone was banging a drum right in my sensitive ears.  It was sort of fun, even for me, but I'm glad it's over, because even though I am a big boy now and not so scared of everything, I like things better when they are nice and quiet.  

I saw a parade!  It was a very strange thing.  This is a very interesting place!

It was Carnevale in our little hill town in Abruzzo.  The "parade" went right by us, and I was amazed that Harry was more curious than anything else.  He even got some pats from the participants!  After awhile the noise got to be too much for him and he starting pulling me towards home.

Sunshine, lollipops and...

Ice cream!  Ice cream!  Ice cream!!  There's ice cream here!!!  Oh, boy, I'm SO happy!  

On No-Monsters-Day we take a big walk now because it is getting nicer and nicer outside.  Where I lived before, No-Monsters-Day was the one day when those big, scary, noisy trucks didn't come by.  I hardly ever see them here, anyway, but No-Monsters-Day is still the quietest day of the week and that is just the way I like it! 

On my walk I met a "king."  He was smaller than I am, so I don't know why he is a king.  But he was nice and we rubbed noses and wagged our happy meters.  I met a soldier dog, once, his name was Shadow, but I never met a king before! 

Then when we were heading home we stopped at a store.  They had lots of places outside for hoomans and dogs.  Then I got the best surprise ever!  A cup of vanilla ice cream just for me!!!   It's the first time I had ice cream here.  It was wonderful!!  It was so tasty.  I had water, too.  I think I really, really like this place!

ConAmore is now open on Sundays.  Harry was delighted to have what is really vanilla yogurt (ice cream isn't good for dogs).  He was so delighted I thought his eyes were going to bust out of his head!!  And, we didn't realize it until we got home, but the nice people at ConAmore didn't charge us for his yogurt.

Since we will be "frequent flyers" I will have to insist that we cover his expense the next time we go.

Harry also had a pleasant encounter with a King Charles spaniel and a large shepherd, too!

I see your face before me...

So, hey!  The weather is getting nicer and nicer!!  Sometimes I get to out the back door to the balcony and look all around.  It smells good out there and we have flowers now!  I like the fresh air!

And our walks are getting longer just because it is nice out.  We have lots of different places to go but today we went down to where the town begins.  Out there is a big park with a sidewalk and benches and trees.  So many good smelly things!

But guess what?  I was walking along and we were just past the good smelly butcher and I saw myself!  I did!  It sure looks like me!  I'm on baby clothes!  Why am I on baby clothes?  I know babies like me.  Everybody likes me...hahaha.  I just wonder how that happened??

It DOES look like me, right?

Nobody does it better

Hey!  Did you know I have a job?  I do! It took me a little while to learn, but I am a pretty smart pup.  My job is to defend my pack and our home.  When I was young I used to be a little afraid of things, lots of things.  If someone came to the door, I would run away and hide!  It's true!  Hahaha!  

But I don't do that anymore.   I inspect everyone who comes in here.  I make a bunch of noise if I think someone should not be here.  And I make sure anyone who is here is safe.  I sniff them very carefully and I watch them, too. Just to make sure there is no funny business.  Nope, not on my watch.  And my first rule is that whoever IS here has to pet me.  It's just a little test of mine.  I do not trust people who don't pet me.  

My pack doesn't know this, but I stay on the job ALL the time.  If they go out and I am here by myself I am extra vigilant.  But even when we are all together and comfy, cozy...I, Harry Spotter, am still on the job!  

I like to think of myself as Super Spy Spotter!  There I am, doing a routine surveillance of my surroundings.

Notice how I surrep….syrup....carefully move my head so I can see my pack and more of the room.

Finally, I do a full sweep of the whole room, and no one even knows that Super Spy Spotter is there, keeping them safe.  But that's okay, I love my job!

It's up to your knees out there...

It snows here!  It isn't as awful and some other places we've been, but it still gets cold and it snows!!  Good thing I have my nice warm coat!  I don't mind the snow here because it isn't really very, very deep.  And it goes away really fast, too.  So it's kind of fun.  

And Mom warms up my breakfast and suppertime a  little bit, so I get good, warm food in my tummy.  All my good beds are here, too, so I have lots of places to snuggle up and get warm after a chilly walk!  

Here's some pictures of how cold it gets sometimes.   And me, with my coat on.  Hey!  How did they get that picture?

The height of winter.  At night the temperature can drop to the 20s, by day they rise to the upper 30s, 40s, even 50s.  The snow comes and the snow goes, usually within days.  We are happy to have the seasons and Harry doesn't mind this snow too much.  Not like New Jersey, with sheets of treacherous ice to contend with!  

If he has rice or pasta in his food, I heat it up very gently in the microwave so he isn't eating cold food after having been out in the snow.  

I'm told that Spring is not far off.  I do hope that's true.