Sunrise, sunset.....sunrise, sunset....

I love waking up every morning!  I can't wait because I know I will get a yummy breakfast and a nice walk.  When I wake up I do  my happy wiggle  worm dance!   When I go out on my walk, I'm all up tail and my happy meter is working overtime!!  It's the best time.  Especially now, because it gets really hot later.  The morning is still nice and cool!!

I like my afternoon walk, too and my after suppertime walk.  The only thing I don't like too much is the nighttime.  I don't really walk around, I just go out really quick and come right back in.  I still don't like it.  

By nighttime I'm all comfy in my bed and my tummy is happy.  Mom has to wake me up.  She says "Andiamo!" I know what that means...I have to go out.  Besides being comfy and cozy, I just don't like the dark.  Nope.  I do not like it.   I don't like the bright lights of the cars that go by and I don't like it because there could be critters out there.  I put my happy meter away, between my legs.  I just want to get right back inside as fast as I can!   Then I can settle down and begin to look forward to my happy morning walk again.  Yay!!

It's all in the game...

No one ever taught me how to play with toys.  Oh, Mom tried.  I had a bunch of toys.   I just never did anything with them.  Now I have one toy.  I really like my toy, because when I bop it around it gives me treats!  I just don't see the point of running after a ball or a frisbee.  Or a stick.  A wood stick?  I figure if I can't eat it, why bother?

But we play little games sometimes.  I used to like pretending I had no legs so Mom had to struggle to get my halter on!   I don't do that anymore.   I like going out here, so I can't wait to get out the door!  

And Dad throws me popcorn, sometimes, but I'm not very good at catching it.  I don't know why.  They just always get away from me, like butterflies.

But everyone has a talent, and SO do I!  When Mom and Dad have these tasty little sesame sticks, they will throw one every now and then.  And guess what?  I am a CHAMPION sesame stick catcher!  Really!  I hardly ever miss.  I just open up the vapor lock and in it goes!   Maybe that is part of my magic, like opening doors with my brain!  

I might not know how to play with toys, but sesame sticks taste WAY better, anyway!!

People stop and stare, they don't bother me...

We were walking on the street where I live and there were some people across the street.  They had little people with them and they were all looking at me and pointing.  Well, I know I'm a handsome guy, everybody says so!   We went to say "hello" to them and then I got really busy with the little ones and they had cookies, too!  Peanut Butter!  Yumbers!  So, my Mom is going to tell this story...

 
Walking Harry at nearly 6 p.m., still 90 degrees...meandering along. There is a family across the street - Mom, Dad, who is holding a baby girl, and a young boy and girl, about 5 and 7. Maybe Latino, I don't know....whatever...I see they are very interested in Harry. I see the father point to show the baby the "doggie."...so, husband, Harry and I cross the street...they want to see.

As we approach, I say, "He is friendly!" and there are smiles all around. They are not Latino, they are Indian. The woman, the Mom, is freaking gorgeous. The older kids are each holding a cookie...anyway, knowing Harry is friendly, he gets lots of pets as we caution the kids to keep the cookies away...hahaha...Harry LOVES food!...The little boy wants to give him some cookie..and I tell him that chocolate is not good for dogs, although Harry likes peanut butter a lot. "OH, the cookie IS peanut butter! I can give him just a peanut butter bit!" Ok...and he does, to his delight. And another! The Dad asks, "What is his name?" We say, in unison, "Harry"....and then I add, "Well, his full name is Harry Spotter"....and then I heard a most wonderful sound...I heard his name as I have only heard it in my head....the way I always wanted to hear it...with a clipped British accent......"Harry SPOT - Tah!!! Ah..hahahahaha!" I was so tickled. Finally!

Me and my shadow...

I don't like having my picture taken.  Nope.  Not ever!  Mom will tell you because she tries sometimes but only gets pictures of empty places!! Hahaha.  Sometimes she is really sneaky and she DOES get a picture, but it's not easy!!

My Dad found a picture of another dog, but he kind of looks like me!  He does, but he doesn't! Mom said he has the same espresso.  I don't know what that means, but he does sort of have my face!   How'd that happen?  Here, look!

See?  It's me, but it's not!!  Like my shadow!

 

                                                                       ***********

 

That is Seth Abramson's dog, the journalist.  It is rather amazing that the facial expression is so much like our boy, Harry.  His coloring is different, but that face!!!!  Here is Harry in a VERY rare, decent photo. 

 

 
 

Ding, ding, ding went the bell....

A while ago we took a ride to the big dog store, that place where I can open the doors with my magical powers!  I had my nails clipped. Then Mom surprised me with a spiffy new collar! Yay!  I like it because it isn't as tight as my old collar. 

There is one problem, though.  When it is breakfast or suppertime, my tags hit the side of my bowl and it makes a terrible racket. CLANG!!  CLANG!! Ouch!  It hurts my ears!

But my Mom caught on pretty quick for a hooman and now she takes my collar off when it is time for me to eat.  I still like my new collar.  It makes me feel even more handsome than I already did! 

 

I was strolling through the park one day....

There are lots of nice parks around here.  Some are really big.  One has a big stream and bridges and big trees and flowers. Some are smaller. 

There is a small one near us, it only takes a minute to get there!  Maybe more than a minute, but it is really close!  This one has trees around, but there is a path that we all walk, me and my pack. It goes round and round and there's lots of good smelly places and flowers.

Other packs like to walk round and round there, too.  Sometimes I get to meet someone.  The last time we went, I met a little guy who was kind of like my old buddy, Beau.  But his name was Charlie and he didn't growl at me or anything. We had a nice chat.  So, I decided to introduce myself to his Mom and she was nice, too and she had a nice chat with my pack.

Boy, the was fun!  I hope we keep going there and round and round and round! 

We found a small park that used to be the site of some sort of training school in the late 1800s.  The center still contains a small portion of a wall.  There is now a playground and a picnic pavilion there as well.  Circling the perimeter is a walking path - paved.  It is a pleasant place to take a stroll and it seems many come there to walk, jog, push a baby carriage and take their dogs.

A lady was approaching us with her dog - usually little dogs have a problem with Harry just because he is not small.  He isn't exactly "large" either - he is the high end of medium and the low end of large. (Sigh!)

Nevertheless, this little guy had no problem with Harry. They rubbed noses, happy meters wagging off the charts.  Then they proceeded to crack us all up by having a conversation,  I mean, really.  Harry would say something....woof, arf.  Then little Charlie piped up ...ruff, ruff.  Then Harry had something else to say.  Then Charlie. Each took their turn and was very polite.  Then Harry approached the lady walking Charlie and got some nice pets.

Harry won't tell me what they were talking about.  Probably just the nice weather and the walk, don't you think?  The usual pleasantries.  My boy, Harry Spotter, such a gentleman.

I'll be watching you....

I watch my pack.  It's my job but I like to do it anyway.  And I listen all the time, too.  That way I know if someone is sad or mad or happy.  Or if they are sick.  Because it's my job to help them feel better!  I don't mind at all.  It just comes naturally.

I like to watch them eat, too.  It's fun because of all the good smelly things!  Like broccoli!  Good smelly broccoli gets saved for my breakfast and my suppertime and it's my favorite.  My other favorite is peas.  I love peas.  Oh, and spagetters, they are my favorite, too.  And when my pack eats, I always get the schnibs.  ALWAYS. That's my second breakfast and second dinner!   It isn't very much, but it is always yumbers!

So, I was thinking that it's only fair that my pack watch me eat, too!  Yep.  Why not?   Mom usually watches me have my breakfast and suppertime, but in between I have snacks that are good for my teeth.  And they forget to watch me.  So I have to remind them.  That's when I yell at them.  Not a lot, just a little.  They understand Spotter pretty well now, so it doesn't take long.  Sometimes I don't even have to yell, just whimper a bit and they "get" it! "Come in here and watch me eat my bone!"  Haha, I've trained them well.  I watch you so YOU watch ME!  The only difference is, I don't share my schnibs.  They don't seem to mind.