1/22/2010 – I had to go to London on a business trip. Niall, the friend watching my dog took him to someone’s birthday party on Friday Night. This was the result. And I wondered WHY he was exhausted….
Special thanks to Niall who sent me this hilarious photo.
One of the things about Germany is that it’s rather difficult to find an actual swear to God bone that isn’t made from parts of a Pig or a chicken. It’s also difficult to find good sized treats for my big dog. Hopefully that’s now begun to change – because in my neighborhood – in the last year, there is a new rottweiler puppy (she’s 8 months old), two golden retrievers, and 3 new huskies. (This doesn’t include the couple of labs or german shepards I’ve seen out in our communal “empty lot” walking area who have been here since I have. ) So, where am I going with this? Well, for about 3 years, I’ve been completely unable to find a bone that was worthy of giving my dog. However, on the 30th of January (call it a late christmas gift), I went to the local pet store to get dog food and low and behold, they had cow “shin” bones in a basket for 4 Euro each.
I promptly bought one and wrapped it up in two bags. When I got home and unpacked the dog’s goodies – he promptly “recognized” the bone and I hadn’t even Un-wrapped it yet. It was quite amusing – I could barely get it unwrapped and he was already sitting on the floor, crying and holding his paws (alternatively) for shakes (here, take it – I don’t care – I know thats for me – Please please please let me have the bone….) and was so happy. After “torturing” him for a Christmas photo of him in antlers:
Obviously, he promptly wrapped both paws around it and could not be torn away from it for ~4 hours. We’re talking NOTHING would take him away. Not an offer of going outside for a walk, dinner, scratches … Nope, it was all “BONE!!!”
I guess it’s true. Happiness is a dog with a bone.
Maybe it’s because I grew up in Georgia -and snow was a rare thing. Maybe it’s because I’m weird. Maybe it’s because I refuse to grow up… I don’t know.
It is, however, snowing.
Not much, not hard – just a dusting outside- enough to make the streets slick, to begin to cover the world in white, to soften the harsh branches against the sky, to make even the trash sitting at the edge of the road look “nicer”…. and yet.. it’s enough to make me feel giddy and gleeful inside.
It’s Snowing!!
Between the dog (who woke me up at 6 AM with a cold nose, a happy bark, a wagging tail, his “outside” whine, and a jump over me to lift up the curtains at the window) and the fact that it is nearing Christmas, I started singing Carols as I got ready for work and haven’t stopped yet.
Taking him out in the snow was a fun thing – because I was happy and smiling, revelling in the beauty of it – the softness of the flakes, the stillness and clarity of the air, and the crisp crunch of the leaves…. Add to it the fact that my beloved husky was making me crack up laughing…. He literally burst forth out of the door, kicked up the snow on his nose, exhaled and practically danced on the leash before dashing down the street – nearly taking my arm with him. Poor thing had to be restrained on a short leash until we could get across the busy street and down by the canal where he can run. Once the dog was down there though, he raced back and forth as fast as he could, as if to say….
LOOK LOOK! IT”S SNOWING!!! OH MY GOD!! I have MISSED YOU SNOW!! LOOK! LOOK! IT’S SNOWING!!! WOO HOO!! YAY!! SNOW! SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW!!!
He then proceeded to roll in the white powder, to become covered in the stuff, before running back and forth several times. It was pure and utter JOY. Yes, I admit that I had to tell him to calm down and “do his business”, and that I really felt bad to have to take him inside where he’ll wait all day for me to return (before going out again). But, for the time we were outside, I got to revel in his actions – reflecting my mood.
Oh sure, there’s bad things about it – but for the moment, I’ve left the curtains open at home so the dog can see outside and watch it accumulate (if it accumulates), I’m sitting at work facing the windows enjoying nature’s cold white mystery coming down, and revelling in the fact that when I go home – the dog will be there at the door, with but a single look of joy on is face – that of “Hi Mom – OUTSIDE” and…
“SNOW!”