The Great Escape

We had a good run at the park with the other dogs and we had come home in the car. Suddenly I smelled a foul cat. Those creatures that haunt my dreams and make me tremble. The Feeder opened the car door and I took a dash for it. Running madly across the street I disappeared behind a fence. I heard the Feeder calling, but I didn't care. The cat vanished and now I was stuck in the neighbor's yard. Oh no- I couldn't figure out how to get out. I was getting nervous -but then in the darkness I spied it. Glistening with the light from the moon was the irresistible water. Suddenly I was in and swimming. The cat forgotten I enjoyed my spa-moment. Then, in a flash, the Feeder came barging in. Freedom over, I clambered out, shook myself and headed for the warmth of the kitchen with her. C'est la vie.

This is it - the RIGI

Some of you have been wondering how I got my name - Rigi. (no it is not Dropit; no matter what the neighbors say). So--It turns out I am named after a Swiss mountain - the Rigi. It's high, beautiful and dusted with snow this time of year. Wouldn't it be great if I could go there?

What I do for humans

Sometimes I really don't know.....................

Music of the spheres

Laurie Anderson (by Cromacon via Flickr) OK, here is the deal. You all know I like music. So, this wonderful woman has composed some music JUST for dogs. It's called, oddly enough, "Music for Dogs" and has those lovely high-frequency tones that only the best among us (that would be dogs) can hear. So far it has been performed in Sydney, Australia ( where????) but not in my neighborhood. I'm watching the newspaper (OK, I am sitting on the newspaper) waiting to see when it will be performed near me.

Are we comfy yet?

At night, I like to listen to music, or watch the box with the Feeder. I sack out around 8 PM or so. (Maybe that's why I love to get up at 6 AM to chase the early commuters on the road.) Anyway here I am trying to decide if there really is a pea under these pillows.

Last rose of summer

This is a picture of the butterfly that I was chasing. Those crazy things are so fast! All you can see now is this pomegranate that the Feeder and Otherone are so proud of. more about this later............

Back from Summer Vacation

I adore having visitors. Their defenses are down and I can just love, love, love. This is my special pal who took me on walks.

Can you hear me now?

So, this is the story. The feeder was walking me on one our usual chained walks ( she chains herself to me for some reason). I had concluded one of my deposits, which she was scrutinizing with unusual interest. Some red and yellow things caught her eye. Were they some new exotic parasite I had picked up? Some crazy new undigested dog food? No, folks, those delicious earplugs I had eaten the night before went straight through me and ended up on the grass. Betrayed by my own digestive tract!!

Rough Weekend

Yeah, well, I'm still here and no, you can't have the blue tape. I NEED IT!!!!!!!!!!

Off hours

Many of you have asked for more pictures of my house. Here you can see what my bedroom looks like. It's pretty comfortable - can't complain. I sleep on the floor on a pillow that is out of range. That is the Feeder relaxing in bed. Where is the Otherone hiding?

Last years garden

This is actually a picture from last year, but it never made it online. I'm a bit bigger now. Anyway - I love hand written signs- don't you? This is from my neighbor's garden. These weird plants really had an interesting smell.

Really, I was just playing

I'm having fun with my fox here. We were playing so hard my eyes turned color. Like it?

Happy Father's Day

Just a shout out to my human caretaker - the Otherone - and to all those other human and non-human dads that take such good care of us little guys.

A walk in the park

I'm often asked: What do you do in the park all day? Isn't it boring? (note to self: work on those FAQs!) This question is a bit hard to answer because it seems so self-evident to me, and yet so incomprehensible to my two-legged friends. How to bridge the communication gap? Anyway, no it doesn't get boring, not if you have a decent sense of smell and enjoy making new friends. Here you can see us in action. Just nature and neurons at work.

Primarily Tuesday

Yup, it was election day yesterday. Here I am standing near the polling place. The Feeder was turning in her ballot. They wouldn't let me vote. I'm not old enough I guess (In doggie years I am just about 10). There weren't any dogs running (a little pun there) anyway- so how important could it be?

Email Pal

So- most of you know that I was in summer (or was it spring training?) camp recently. It was fun, but tiring and I am still recovering. Before I submit my full report on that experience, I thought its time for another picture of one of my pals. This is Henry. He tells me he is a Shih Tzu which I guess is not a poodle - but then we can't all be poodles, can we? Anyway, Henry is facing dental surgery this week and I am asking everyone to concentrate very hard to send their best wishes his way. Henry is not the youngest pup in the pet store, but he is (despite the impression from this photo) a fine and noble dog.

Park Place

Wow! It's been a long time between posts! Blame the feeder. She gets involved in too many projects and forgets keeping my blog updated. How could anything be more important than moi? Anyway, here is a picture of me enjoying life at one of my favorite places - the doggie park. Wish you were here!

Another Special Friend

Thinking about friends of my youth.... Here is another one. I couldn't find a picture of the two of us together, but you get the idea. How I long to feel the wind in my hair on this baby!

When I was little

Now that I am over 15 months old, it is time to reminisce about my distant puppyhood. Yup, I have left those foolish days of uncoiling toilet paper, consuming large amounts of plastic and not listening to the feeder way behind. Still I remember the days with my litter. Here is one of my pictures of two of us with one of my favorite friends.

Top O' the Morning to ya

Finally! It has been a long time coming, but Priscilla is recovered enough to say a Happy St. P's day to one and all. It was touch and go in the ICU, but my dearest Priscilla pulled through and as you can see looks great with her newly attached and healed ear. If only this technology had been around for Vincent!!!!

Bad Bone

OK, enough about politics. It's not really my area. The only reason I am really interested is that dog the Obama's have. Wouldn't they have been happier with a poodle? Let's be honest. Anyway, this is another bad actor that got caught on my jaw. I love chewing, but chewing doesn't love me. Not to worry, this one the feeder worked out and I didn't have to go back to the vet. But even looking at this picture makes me want to chew. must resist......

Should dogs vote

Let's leave Priscilla alone a bit, while she recuperates. Thanks everybody for all cards and letters. She is doing fine, but doesn't want any photos yet. Instead we have this photo of some prayer flags from my friend Jane Noel's project that started last year with the inaguration of our new president. She distributed these flags all over the country and then the people decorated them. I was just a teeny pup then and the flags read CHANGE. They still read CHANGE, a year later.

Happy New Ear!

Unbelievable! Right after Priscilla's (successful) surgery we found her ear. What to do? Should we leave her in her new streamlined configuration or should we re-attach the appendage? Any thoughts?

I'm so sorry

Priscilla - my darling, my companion, my lover, my pillow - what have I done? You had to be rushed to emergency surgery. They were not able to save the ear. Heartless souls, they called you Vincentia von Arf. After you return, I will make it all up to you, I promise.

Flip Side

Roll-over Beethoven. Sure, I look like a frog this way. Who care's? I think of it more like a downward dog variation.

At least I know how to relax

What I do best

Hoernli

The feeder and the otherone sometimes talk about what life was like before I arrived. (They say that, but I don't really believe anything really came before me. It's all in their imaginations.) Anyway, sometimes they mention this dog, Hoernli. Apparently he was perfect and did everything right. I don't know about that, but he does look like someone I wouldn't mind hanging out with at the dogpark.

Zippers, part deux

So, certain people have doubted my zipper opening abilities, so I have included this picture as further proof! Yes, I can really do it. I know there is a need out there in the wide world for zipper openers. I am your doggie for that. Yes, I do still have my studio dog job, but folks - just between you and me, it is a bit boring.

Zipper Opener

I found a new job! I can open zippers! True it is not a "paid" job but it is my passion! Follow the love!!!! (too many !!!!!!????????? ya think?)

More Stuff I Chewed

No, I haven't broken my no chewing resolution yet. This is just a little collage/montage I made of a previous chewing session. Is it art or is it just a Dew Chomp?

Meditation Doggie Style

Sometimes it's good just to step back and smell the roses, or in this case the old walking shoes of the feeder. They have the essence of the many places I have been to accompanying these shoes. I smell it - the sun, the breezes, the water, the grass, that cute Great Dane.......

New Year's Resolution

This is my first post for the New Year and I wanted to share one of my most important resolutions. No more pulling, biting, chewing, swallowing of toilet paper! I am serious about this. Everyone gets mad at me when I do this and I have to look guilty and sad to get them to turn around and be nice again. I am considering a 12-step group if this resolution fails. Or...am I too dependent on the praise of the feeder and the otherone? hmmm......