Wee Geordie

Happy Birthday, Geordie. Joan hasn't forgotten you.

This is Wee Geordie, but everyone called him Geordie. He was born on December 29, 1968 in a New York City loft. Papa was a Malamute and Mamma was a black Labrador.

When Joan first saw him, he was hiding in a corner, afraid to come out, afraid of the puppies, afraid of light, afraid to be touched. Joan picked him for all those reasons, but also because he had a softness about him that wouldn’t turn into a hard shell or a bite of fear.

He lived for twelve years and saw all sorts of changes in his world, including the arrival of Joan's four babies who never became rivals. He just accepted the babies and watched them grow. And when the babies got big enough to go beyond the yard, they adopted an abandoned puppy that had been dumped in a neighbor’s yard. Geordie didn't get jealous; instead, he got younger and let the puppy—named Scotty—jump all over his head and climb on his back. He tried to play, but he wasn’t sure how. So, he would stand up and bow, stand up and bow, over and over.

When he died, there was great sadness in a small part of the world because, well, it’s always that way when someone gentle is no more. Their leaving ruins the earth's balance between kindness and cruelty; and it’s a sadness indeed that cruelty so often gets the upper hand.

Best wishes, Juno
PS: Charles Scott made the portrait.

Time, Snow, Sleep

I realize that time is passing me by. I'm not so active anymore. Sleep is fun. So is getting Joan up in the middle of the night. So is eating. Gone are the days of traipsing around the park, hopping in the car (now, I tremble and struggle to get up on that seat), and chasing after that cat that used to taunt me.

It's somehow okay. This is what life is supposed to be like. First you tumble and frolic from morning until night; then you get more serious and make a concerted effort to observe and comment on the world; and then you realize that a good sleep and a deep stretch followed by a nice meal are the real stuff of happiness.

Saki and Chula do my running around for me now. I don't mind. And I still love a good snow storm. Ah, yes, the beautiful snow. I still have that. And dreams.

Best wishes, Juno

Bath Time for Juno and Saki

What's with the baths? Oh, just because I don't pass the human smell test? So today was bath day for me and Saki. While it feels good when it's over, I'm not so sure it's worth the humiliation. Okay, I admit it. I smell pretty. Saki smells pretty. However, world, we are dogs. We're not really supposed to smell pretty.

Here we are drying off after the baths. Oh, for the sweet scent of earth.

On Tuesday I have to go to see Dr. Liguori. Sigh. I have some old-dog problems, and everyone is hoping I'm still going to be around. Not to worry. I'll always be around—in reality, in memory, even in someone's imagination. That's what makes life so interesting.

Joan keeps telling me I'm magnificent. She likes that word. It's way better than cute or beautiful, although I'm not one to turn down a compliment involving those adjectives. Now that I'm all clean, it's time for my nap. Call me when supper is ready.

Hey, why didn't Chula get a bath?????? Look at her, all dry and superior. Hrumph!

Chula on her perch. La-de-da.

Best wishes, Juno

Shhhhhhhh (I'm sleeping)

Life is getting very slow and sleepy. Shhhhhhh.

Hot Sept. Finally Over

I don't care what you all say about nice warm weather. Eventually, you just get tired of it. Thanks all the same, but I prefer to sit inside. Let the mad dogs of summer, like Saki and Chula, go out in the noon time sun. Anyway, today it is, at last, cool.

Now I can venture forth. Well, not too fast.

Some people think Chula is cured of her problems, but she's not. Maybe this is as good as it gets. She's fine here in the house. She fine in the yard as long as no dogs pass the house. We'll keep her around and hope that someday she'll blossom into a relaxed and happy dog. My goodness, the terrible things humans  do to animals. Yikes. Oh well. At least Chula is safe with us.

She loves her stuffed turtle and the ceramic look-alike dog, but she also has Saki for a best friend.

Best wishes, Juno

Down at the Pool

Sorry, I'm not in this video. It was just too hot to go out, and stepping in the pool is a great challenge for a girl of my age. But, as you can clearly see, Saki and Chula are cool with it (ha, ha; I made a pun).

Best wishes, Juno

PS: Chula looks really happy, doesn't she?

Chula's Still Swinging on the Proverbial Learning Curve

Chula's going to a therapy session today; wish her well

She still has issues, but I'm doing the best I can
(and never mind Joan's foot, which you probably didn't notice until I pointed it out to you)

So, it's another beautiful day in uptown W. Babylon. That makes three beautiful days all summer. Chula is on her way to the park for Crazy Dogs Anonymous meeting. We hope it goes well and teaches her that she should never be afraid of dogs—only people are scary.

Anyway, she's a little scared of me. ME! And I don't know why because I'm so damned nice. She's not scared of Saki at all, but sometimes she just prefers to sit on her daybed with her stuffed turtle. Alas. I do what I can.

Best wishes, Juno

Rebel

See that? Kids never forget. Happy birthday, Rebel.

Rebel 22 August 1956 - 10 March 1958

Jason and All That Alpha

Chula & Saki at the lake teaching Joan some alpha moves

So, yesterday, Jason Mickalauskas, the dog genius of Best Paw Forward, came to the house with three dogs—big Ranger the Pit Bull & two little bitty dogs who love to stand in the doggie pool on a hot day. Allegedly, Jason was going to teach Chula how to chill. But, the truth is he was really trying to show Joan how to be alpha.

You wouldn’t believe it. The yard was suddenly filled with dogs—the two little ones hanging out in the doggie pool, Ranger Macho Dog being the boss of the world; tired Saki panting in the shade; rambunctious Bailey trying to steal a ball from Ranger, which isn't the best idea ever; me going in and out of the house, occasionally barking just because I can, and constantly watching this crazy party; and, through it all—well, almost it all—there was Chula acting pretty much like a regular dog.

Jason did refer to me as “the old lady.” At first, Joan took umbrage to this, but I didn't mind at all. After all, there are certain privileges that come with being the old lady in the group. First, I have the right to be grumpy; second, I can bark and complain all I want and everybody leaves me alone about it, saying, "She can't help it; she's old"; third, I get to go inside and rest in the air-conditioning while all the humans have to stay outside with sweat pouring down their back trying to impart alpha-ness on Joan's psyche.

It’s good to be the old lady in the yard (or house).

Anyway, I’ve got to say that Jason is a miracle worker. I mean, to get Chula to chill with a pack of dogs—it's nothing short of wondrous.

Ahhhhhh, air-conditioning.

Best wishes, Juno

Learning to Play & Chill

This is the day Chula learned to play

I've never known how to play, and I admit it. It seems that Chula has the same problem, but it's way worse because she WANTS to play. Now, Saki. Saki knows instinctively how to play. So, after an hour or so of learning how to get the ball without getting mad and pulling on a pull toy without attacking the world, Chula stood in the pool to cool down and then condescended to have her picture taken with me and Saki.

See? She's getting there. She'll never be chill like me, but she's trying.

Best wishes, Juno

Too Hot for Words

SAKI: Hey Chula, you want to go out?

CHULA: You're kidding. I'm not going out there. Too hot. I'm staying in the air conditioning.

SAKI: You think Juno would like to go out?

CHULA: What are you, nuts? I just moved here, and I already figured out that Juno doesn't go out unless Joan forces her out.

SAKI: So, what are we going to do today?

CHULA: We're doing it already.

SAKI: Yeah, I guess this is good.

CHULA: Nice bed. What is this, some sort of memory foam?

SAKI: Yeah. It used to be thicker, but I ate the top layer.

CHULA: Was it good?

SAKI: Yeah. I was a lot younger then. I wouldn't eat it today.

CHULA: I'm getting sleepy.

SAKI: Me too.

CHULA: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

SAKI: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

JUNO: It's about time.

She's Home

When Joan came home, I wasn't sure if she had really been gone. I remember waking up and hearing her come in the house. So, first I thought that was normal. Then, I realized, it wasn't normal since she hadn't been around for a while.

I was so happy that I sniffed mightily for maybe five minutes and even wagged my tail. Hey, I'm an old girl and can't manage much more than that.

Now, all is well. Joan's back from wherever she was; Saki's happy (that's him perched on the back step looking at the world); Chula's learning to be a dog in a dogs' world. Now, to sleep; perchance to dream.

Best wishes, Juno

Where's Joan?

An entire month without writing! How could this happen?

Yo! Joan? Come home!

I'm on my way, Juno.

See you tonight.

Chula's Doggie Rehab Hope

SEE, CHULA, THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE! (Not to worry; you'll get there.)

So, on Monday, Chula--former garage dog who lived in the corner of a garage tied to a tool box, who slept on a filthy piece of cardboard, never got petted, never even knew a kind word (see below for more Chula news)--WELL, Chula is going to doggie rehab for at least two weeks.

We will keep everyone posted as to her progress. Jason Mickalauskas at Best Paw Forward seems to be Mr. Alpha Cool Miracle Man, and we're all full of hope that Chula will learn how to live in the world as a happy dog.

I'm not saying she could ever be as chill as I am or as cocky as Saki, but she might just learn to wake up with a smile on her face every morning and sigh a contented sigh at night. Yeah, Jason. We all have some serious hope for that!

Best wishes, Juno

A Little Chula Update

Chula: A Garage Dog No More

Chula. Yes, here are two pictures of Chula--sad Chula and happy Chula. Just imagine, they were taken about one week apart.

Chula spent around two years chained up inside a garage in New York City. No one cared anything about her--no one even washed her or petted her or spoke to her. That's why she looks so haunted, so tormented, so hopeless.

Then, along came people who wanted to help, and Kyla brought her home. We want her to come and live with us, but she's got some major dog issues before she can do that. (Yikes, when I say major I mean crazy major!)

I guess the people who read my blog already love dogs, so I'm barking to the choir when I make this quiet observation that humans who don't like dogs shouldn't be adopting them to begin with. I just don't get it.

You can read more about Chula here, and maybe you can even help.

Best wishes, Juno

The Perks of Summer

Pool or Sleep

Need I say more?

Sleepy Spring

Wow. I've been remiss. How profound my need for sleep these days, so I hardly manage to haul myself to the blog. It's been a sleep month, indeed.

For a while, everyone thought I was a goner, but I surprised them and came back with a rambunctious waddle across Charles's lawn. However, that spurt of energy was short-lived, and I retired to my favorite perch in the sunroom to sleep it off and half listen to Saki and Bailey romping around outside, tugging and pulling on their toys, and racing around just for the sake of racing around. They always end up back in the same spot at the back of the house, so I don't really get it.

I'm a happy dog. I hope you're happy, too.

Best wishes, Juno

Who Am I?

There's a discussion on Facebook about my origins. It's stirred up quite an interest, so if anyone would like to leave a comment here, I'll be happy to relay it to my Facebook friends. Majority guesses are Newfoundland + Great Pyrenees.

I don't think I look like Beethoven at all.

Anyway, it's not absolutely essential that I know who I am or what my tendencies might be given my origin. As they say in Italian, "Ormai?" That means, at this point, does it really matter?

Best wishes, Juno (And, yes, my Italian's not so bad.)

Trouble Getting Around Today

Here we are, just yesterday, for our annual picture in front of the azalea. This is the first year without Shane, but we remember. We're here. We're not here. It's life.

I’m not having an easy time getting up. Ouch. That’s what I say to old age. Ouch again. However, the good part is that everyone’s testing my state of health by offering me biscuits. Of course, what am I going to do—refuse them?

So I take the biscuit, and everyone says, “Well, she still likes her food.”

Then they appear to be all relieved for an hour or so. Then they get worried because I haven’t moved from my spot, and they bring me another biscuit. Of course I take the biscuit. I’m not one to turn down something like that.

“Well, she still likes her food,” they say. And the seem happy about that.

Well, of course I like my food. Don't you?

I was able to walk in the park yesterday where I met three nice dogs and a nice man who said I was beautiful. What more could a dog want? Biscuits and compliments a happy dog make.

Best wishes to you all, Juno

Summer's Back

It must be summer, because the pool is out and Bailey came over to play. What a run-around day for Saki. It’s just as well since he’s packed on a few pounds over the winter. Not that that’s a bad thing, but he gets all tuckered out a little too soon. Not like me, but a little exercise doesn’t hurt.

No, really, Saki, you look great, and everyone loves you just the way you are. (Whew!)

Best wishes, Juno.

The Cat & Cool

The orange cat on the other side of the fence drives me and Saki crazy. She’s so la-de-da about rubbing up against the chain links, knowing perfectly well that we can’t do anything but bark and look dumb. And that’s just what we do—we bark and look dumb.

Sometimes, especially when Saki’s inside and I’m alone by the fence, the cat comes over and we stare at each other. I’m calmer about the whole thing when Saki’s not there to tempt me into barking. She’s very cautious about me, but I can tell she’s curious and maybe even wonders what it would be like to befriend me. After all, what can I do at my age? And I’ve never been given to violence or rowdiness.

She’s a pretty cat. Maybe she thinks I’m a pretty dog. I don’t know. But, she does love to tease us strutting the way she does, pretending she doesn’t notice us, looking like she’s the queen of cool.

My trick is to wander nonchalantly into the sunroom, climb up on the couch, and pass out. It perplexes Saki, but he doesn’t know cool the way I know cool. Not yet.

Best wishes, Juno

Absences

Life goes on, and so does the fun.

We’re having a beautiful spring. Shane would have liked it, but then this is the time of year when we think how much everyone would have liked it if they were still alive. (That's him and Saki and me in front of the azalea last May.)

A picture of Joan’s Rebel is now in the living room, and that makes his absence less of an absence. I can’t tell her how dogs feel about dying, because we don’t think about it. We just accept it. Just think about the flowers. They blossom and they’re so beautiful that people stop and stare and breathe deeply. Puppies and kittens and human babies have the same power. Then, the flowers wilt, the puppies, kittens, and babies grow up, puff up, and then wrinkle up and drop off the face of the earth. But that doesn’t mean they’re gone. They’re just not where you think they are.

Seems easy enough to me.

Best wishes, Juno

Love Spilling Into the Years

So, 52 years have passed since the first two pictures were taken. That's Joan and Rebel and Henry in the first picture, and Joan and Rebel in the second. Fifty-two years! Wow. And here we are all these years later. Instead of Henry and Rebel, Joan is loving me and Saki. So the love never goes away, does it? It just grows and grows and spills into the years.

Is that what they call good Karma? Yes, I believe it is. So, Rebel and Henry wherever you are, you are also here. I like that notion.

Best wishes for love splashing across the centuries,

Juno

Ish's Escape

So today I got a bath. Alas, another bath. One of these days, I'm just not going to get into the tub by myself and then what's Joan going to do with her freaky cleanness? (Rhetorical question.)

Saki did a lot of moping by the front door (see picture). No one to play with. Rain still coming down. Then, when he was about to despair entirely, Ish jumped over his jail fence and came running across the street. Naturally, Joan let him come in the yard and he ran with Saki for about an hour (see picture). Wow. Where do they get that energy?

I'm still miffed over the bath thing, but I've got to admit that clean feels better than stinky. Saki got a bath, too. Now we're all very clean and extremely tired. Joan finally brought Ish back to his yard and left him with a giant biscuit. No one was home over there, so I guess he got to eat it in peace. I'll bet he's one tired dog tonight.

Best wishes, Juno

Rainy Days

Yes, everyone's been going a little "stir-crazy," as Shana put it. So she brought Bailey over for a run, or many runs, around the house with Saki.

I stayed firmly inside, thanks all the same. Running around just isn't my cup of tea. However, the running was interrupted several times when Saki and Bailey came in to get rub downs. As you see, we had a picture-taking session during the drying out periods. Bailey did jump over my head at one point, but as you can see from the picture, we had a little chat about it and all is well.

Too bad humans can't manage that last trick.

Best wishes for better weather,

Juno

Needing to Get Out More

So, it's back in the house again with Joan sick for over a week. And what are we to do? Thank goodness--I can't believe I'm saying this--Bailey came over to play and relieve the boredom. Really, sitting around is great stuff, but you need relief from it.

Poor Bailey jumped on Joan's bed and landed like a seal--that is, on his chin. We tried not to laugh, but it was funny. Then he tried to steal a treat right from my mouth! It's good that he was here, but, sorry, no pictures for this visit. Next time.

So, it's time to think about getting out of the house for a bit. Too much of a good thing is so bad for me.

Best wishes, Juno

Bailey's Growth Spurt

Yesterday--the first day of spring, so Bailey came over for a visit. Would you just look at what's happened in ten months! Bailey keeps growing and growing, and Saki just hangs around smiling like he doesn't notice the change.

Everyone else notices. Mark is so proud that Bailey has grown so much. You know, like he's responsible for the growth spurt. The next time they come over, I think we're do for a Juno-Bailey picture. Then we'll talk about big!

Best wishes for a healthy growing season,

Juno

Too Much

I couldn't make it through the park today. The noise, the warm weather. My apologies to Saki who wanted to run and play.

It's just too difficult. Oh, and then getting back into the car. Let me sit in the yard and watch the people pass and the neighbor's cat roll on her back. She likes that. I like that. Or let me sit on my nice big bed and relax. I'm at least 11 years old at this point. A girl that age needs her rest.

Yesterday, Joan got stuck on the roof when she kicked over the ladder by mistake. The man across the street came over and put the ladder back up for her. That was fun to watch. Actually, it was pretty funny to watch. Silly. See? I still love life and find it amusing. But I don't want any more long walks to find it. In short, let life come to me.

Best wishes, Juno

REBEL

Rebel: 22 August 1956 - 11 March 1958

Rebel was a lover of a dog who ate Joan’s shoes, slept in her bed, played catch and king of the mountain with her, ate the hated vegetables she slipped to him under the table, and sat by her side when she needed a friend. He had a white cross on his chest and four white paws.

One summer, Joan went away for three weeks, and Rebel roamed all over the neighborhood looking for her. When she finally came home, Rebel shook from happiness and relief. And, when Rebel died the following spring, Joan roamed all over her lifetime looking for him.

She found him again and again in other dogs who lived in other times and other places. Rebel was kind to Joan when she was a child; now Joan is all grown up and believes that people should be kind to dogs and to all the animals of the earth.

We animals have a lot to give to humans. Our devotion to you lasts way beyond our own brief lifetimes; and, long after we're gone, we continue to send flowers into your lives—always when you least expect it.

We hope you remember that the next time you find a flower.

Best wishes, Juno & Saki

Spring Came Back

It's not easy to write when all you do is sit on a patch of snow and don't go anywhere. But today things are looking up.

The sun came out, it stopped raining and snowing, we took a walk in the park, we went to the health-food store. Saki played with his squeaky car and ran around the house many times.

All this gives me hope that better days are here to stay. Yes, I know nothing lasts. But that just makes me savor the good moments even more.

Best wishes and happy spring,

Juno

Mystery Solved

The mystery is solved. We know why Saki was afraid to go out the front door. It wasn't the shovel Joan left there; it wasn't the fallen branch peeking through the snow drift. No. Someone had thrown snowballs at him, poor baby.

We know this because yesterday some kids came to the door and asked to play with Saki. Joan said sure and held the door to let him out. One of the kids made a snowball and asked Saki if he wanted to play.

Well, Saki turned made a 180 and ran back into the house. "Ah ha. So it was the snowball."

He had never before been afraid of snowballs, so we figured someone must have thrown them at him the day before. They must have made him feel bad. He's always so trusting.

Charles brought him a present this morning (see picture). Now he's a happy dog again. And that's the way it should be.

Best wishes, Juno

The Mystery

Something mysterious happened to Saki yesterday. Joan was inside on the phone when she heard him scratching at the front door to come in. She opened the door, and Saki ran into the bathroom and hopped in the tub. He refused ti come out until Joan washed his feet and brushed his teeth. But he kept running back and sat there looking at himself in the mirror.

Something was up. This was not Saki behavior.

About two hours later, I decided to go out. Joan opened the front door for me and out I went into the wonderful snow and ice. But not Saki. He was afraid to go out. He stood by the door, and poked his head very tentatively out the door, and and would not move.

"What's up?" I thought to myself.

"What's up, Saki" asked Joan.

Well, he turned around and ran back into the house. Obviously, something had scared him. Now, Saki will only go out the back door. It's really a mystery. Any ideas? We don't get it.

Best wishes, Juno

Saki the Snow Eater

I've been known to eat some strange things--like the time I ate the TV changer and back in the olden days when I used to eat apples and, sometimes, poop. But I was never was much of a snow eater. I like to lie in snow and walk in snow, but Saki--who doesn't like to like or walk in snow--likes to eat snow.

But, here's the novel aspect of his snow eating: he feels guilty about it. So when Joan brings him inside, he runs directly to the bathtub and gets in. He knows he has to do that when he eats something disgusting (like poop) or when he gets dirty from digging or when snow sticks to his paws. But, for snow eating? I don't know. He's such a dog. Me, I'm more like a regal canine. Me, I have a certain dignity. Some even call me Diva, and I like that. But, Saki--he's all dog.

Best wishes, Juno

Snow Bunny/Dog

I love snow. Give me a soft bed of snow or even a hard bed of snow-ice, and I'm one happy snow bunny/dog.

Now Saki's a different breed. Saki gets snow stuck in his paws, which he doesn't like one bit. So, as soon as he comes back into the house, he heads straight for the bathtub to get a warm-water foot bath. Ahhhhh! Then he runs around with his frisbee between his teeth, and I wonder where he gets all that energy. I never had energy like that.

Joan doesn't let me spend too much time in snowy comfort. Arthritis? Stiff joints? She thinks I'm better off inside. She really has trouble accepting the fact that I'm a dog.

Best wishes, Juno