Happy Mother's Day

Topic: Moon & Art & Love

In this week's dialogue, James, Alexia, and Sundance will discuss how dogs and humans share the moon, love, and art. Sundance will ask a series of relevant questions, and James and Alexia will provide answers.

Sundance: So James, this week has been pretty luminous. I was surprised on Saturday to see the moon so bright. It made me feel so happy to see the power of the moon and the mystery pull it has on our emotion. Is there such a thing as lunar energy? 

James: Well, mushroomers tend to think so. But I have no idea. I've been told the power of the moon can create a heavy feeling  and kind of make things bounce off each other. Like two magnets trying to bond with an opposite polarity.  

Sundance: So if I try to put my nose on it, it will not stay?

James: Just like that. It has its own mind and wants to attract you to it, but it does not want you to have the power over it. It will change appearances to keep you wondering what her next move will be. The moon bounces around, and depending on how it feels, it will play a waiting game. 

Sundance: I tried to lick the moon to show her that I let her have my complete devotion and adoration. But even still, she would not let me. I don't think it's made of cheese.

James: Yes Sundance, I do not blame you for trying. You see, the moon is crafty like that. When the moon wants you follow her she will find you and bring you closer to the feminine. The feminine is what makes us fall in love. The moon is beautiful like that. 

Sundance: Is Opie part of this feminine mystery too? Because I think she really likes me. Just like the other day when we were playing in the ocean water. She could not keep her paws off me.

James: Opie is 100% feminine. She's been attracted to you since the first meeting. She plays and throws herself at you; she is smitten. This is called love. Frank Sinatra created songs for the two of you. 

Sundance: I don't have time for ladies right now. I'm focused on my athletic performance, you know, running and training, around town and on the beach. But I do have time for the women in my family, Mama, Moonie and Grandma. They help make me a better dog.  

James: And they love you too. They help all of us balance out, especially us guys, they remind us of the little delicate joys in life like seashells and smiles. 

Sundance: And we remind them to lighten up when they start to worry about the little things. It's fun to tease them and listen to them squeal! 

James: That's true. But in the end, we're all grateful for each other, and we're a big happy family. 

Sundance: Goodnight, Moon!

Bed time story

the day is numbered by the clouds in the sky

i do not wonder when it will subside

all i know is i am here to lie

as any dog would; by my masters side.

does the day ever show any signs of anxiety?

I ask: where do the clouds go when all the rain falls

are they running to the next trail?

will the raindrops fall on that oversized white ferry?

or, will I ever play fetch with the eagles?

Overhead i hear noise

the clumps are at it again

the constant barrage of footsteps

the pink robe emphysema cough

the chatterbox lingo outside our kitchen window

the lingering smoke

isn't smoke suppose to rise?

I look up and what do i see,

my master and rain drops falling on my head

dry my paws

rub my belly

I ask

on a blanket of lions I rub and rub

and then I know all is safe.

time to sleep grandma

Dominance comes in all forms

This week we waited and waited for fun-day Sunday. Monday we were blessed to have some snow fall in a flurry. Tuesday we had 80 mph winds. Wednesday was just wet. Thursday just a lit bit more of the same. Friday winds came late, and Saturday we had periods of downfall and flooding around the county. But Sunday, now thats when Mother Nature showed her first sign of force and the power of life.
We were told on Saturday that towards the north end of Bastendorf Beach, a group of large breed dogs meet at 9 a.m. every Sunday. I was game and marked it down in my mental dog planner. Honestly, why wouldn't Mamma and James find this to be a fortuitous opportunity? I could get my dog on, and they could get their social on. What better way to cap off a hard-working week than to share the company of my brothers and sisters from anotha' motha'.

As we closed in on our destination, we found no dogs, just more of the powerful aftermath, and right-now-math, of Mother Nature. Bastendorf's north jetty was about to be swallowed up by the sea, yet that did not stop onlookers from having coffee and breakfast in the their trucks. We looked for a bit, then drove farther south where we pulled over and parked. The ocean left us very little beach to play on, but that did not stop Mamma and me from jumping out and enjoying ourselves. We were running around until another dog and human showed up.

Now many of my friends know me as a friendly and non aggressive dog. But apparently raw dog handlers consider my sexiness to be a bit threatening; one could even naively call me dominant. HA! I LAUGH! James has raised me to be respectful of people and other canines, I follow all canine codes of courtesy since I have been socialized from a young age and learned well in the time I was with my birth momma. I always look to James for approval when onlookers come in and try to join our fun.

"Is your dog friendly?" "Has your dog been fixed?" "Is it okay if we say hi?"

"Yes. Please do."

I find it rather interesting when owners of dogs are so careful to ask first and than let themselves be dragged by their dogs in a rush to meet me. First sign of disrespect. Second sign, who is in charge. Answer: dog. Now don't take my kindness for weakness, but I am not just going to sit there and allow some dog to bump up against me while I am in a submissive position, especially when my personal space is encountered with a charge of negative energy.

Next thing I heard was, "You need to call your dog because he is showing signs of dominance." Now you think James was going to take that? Never. "It's that you need to ease up on your leash, Homey." I do not think the man knew that was coming, and he walked away in a hurried manner, being pulled by his dog on a long leash and barked at repeatedly by his dog. Ce la vie! Do you really think we were bothered? No, just thrown off our groove. But it needed to be told. I mean look at me, do I look like I was affected?

Momma kept having me chase her down the beach, then sending me far away to where Daddy stood whistling for me. Then he would send me back to Momma, and over and over again for 15 minutes until I was panting and drained. Literally. When Daddy told me to go peepee before we left, I lifted my leg and nothing was left to come out. But I'm obedient, so I stood with my leg lifted, then jumped in the truck and panted the whole way home. Then I got a cold bath in the wind from Momma, got a blow-dry from Daddy, and now I'm sitting calmly pursuing meaningful communication and blogging.