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.  

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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!