Two and a Half Days at Camp

Hi Pals,

We've been quiet on this blog because we've been barking our heads off at camp the past few days. Mom and Dogdad had to travel to Tampa for a seminar so they packed us off to our favorite boarding place. When they came to pick us up, we dilly-dallied about leaving and our friends there said we were probably the only dogs who weren't anxious to leave.

Mom replied that days at home were probably very boring, since she sat at her computer working most of the day. As we said once before, we'll never tell.

Everglades National Park Photo

But what about E.C. Bird? Gussie asked last Sunday whether he could come to camp with us. We didn't think so, because of all the C-A-T-S -- and also the problem of fitting his enormous wing span into a confined space. He was not at all offended, though as he decided this would be a great time to spend a few days in the Everglades, catch up with some of his friends, and have better meals than the fish he can find in the golf course lakes.

To get to Tampa, Mom and Dogdad drive across Alligator Alley, which traverses the Everglades. E.C. Bird accompanied them until he found what he was looking for, and then said "See ya'!!" We assume he'll be back in time to take us to Azrizona for the Super Bowl -- but just in case we still have our reservations on Aire Ruby.

For those of you who may not know much about the Everglades, we've added a few facts about this awesome place.

Everglades National Park is the:
Largest continuous stand of sawgrass prairie in North America.
Predominant water recharge area for all of South Florida through the Biscayne aquifer.
A World Heritage Site, a Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Significance

Home of fourteen endangered and nine threatened species.
Largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere.
Largest designated wilderness in the southeast.
Most significant breeding grounds for tropical wading birds in North America.
Only subtropical preserve on the North American continent.
Major "edge" area of the northern and southern limits for many species creating a unique mingling of diverse temperate and subtropical species.

Because of the way water flows through the Everglades, it is known as the river of grass, which is the title of an amazing book "Everglades: River of Grass" -- written by an equally amazing lady, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who lived to be 108 and spent the better part of her life defending this unique resource.

"There are no other Everglades in the world," she wrote. "They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth; remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them..."

And we live just a few miles from this mysterious and truly pawsome place. It's not for dawgs, though, because of all the alligators and snakes...

Yesterday was Edgar Allan Paw's Birthday

Since our recent recklessness with Edgar Allan Paw's famous pawm, we thought it appropriate to report that yesterday would have been his 199th birthday and note the way it has been celebrated in Baltimore since 1949, the 100th anniversary of his death.

Mystery Man's Annual Visit to Poe Grave
By BEN NUCKOLS – 1 day ago
BALTIMORE (AP) — Undeterred by controversy, a mysterious visitor paid his annual tribute at the grave of Edgar Allan Poe early Saturday, placing three red roses and a half-filled bottle of cognac before stealing away into the darkness.
Nearly 150 people had gathered outside the cemetery of Westminster Presbyterian Church, but the man known as the "Poe toaster" was, as usual, able to avoid being spotted by the crowd, said Jeff Jerome, curator of the Poe House and Museum.
The tribute takes place every Jan. 19 — the anniversary of Poe's birth.
The visitor did not leave a note, Jerome said, electing not to respond to questions raised in the past year about the history and authenticity of the tribute.
Sam Porpora, a former church historian who led the fight to preserve the cemetery, claimed last summer that he cooked up the idea of the Poe toaster in the 1970s as a publicity stunt.
"We did it, myself and my tour guides," Porpora, a former advertising executive, said in August. "It was a promotional idea."
Porpora said someone else has since "become" the Poe toaster.
Jerome disputes Porpora's claims and says the tribute began in 1949 at the latest, pointing to a 1950 article in The (Baltimore) Evening Sun that mentions "an anonymous citizen who creeps in annually to place an empty bottle (of excellent label)" against the gravestone.
Jerome invites a handful of Poe enthusiasts to join him inside the church every year but withholds details of the tribute in an effort to help the toaster maintain his anonymity. He said the visitor no longer wears the wide-brimmed hat and scarf he donned in the past.
In 1993, the visitor left a note reading, "The torch will be passed." A later note said the man, who apparently died in 1998, had handed the tradition on to his two sons.
This year's visitor was the same man who has come to the grave site many times in the past, Jerome said.
"We recognize him from his build, the way he walks," he said. "It would be very easy for us, visually, to see if this were a different person."
Poe, who wrote poems and horror stories including "The Raven" and "The Telltale Heart," died Oct. 7, 1849, in Baltimore at the age of 40 after collapsing in a tavern. Next year will be the 200th anniversary of his birth.

Thinking Bloggers? Us? Must Ponder That!!

We are so honored!! Our whippet friends and their thoughful servant http://patience-please.blogspot.com/just gave us this "thinking blogger award" for our egret-inspired interpretation of Edgar Allan Paw's famous pawm about a different bird (aka The Raven).


We admit it, that pawm was a challenge; but now we face a greater challenge: what do two wire fox terriers and two hard-working humans who live in a two-story townhouse crammed to the rafters with STUFF do with a petulant, moody, often hungry, somewhat unreliable bird?

We shall see. For the moment, he's been fishing in the lakes on the adjacent golf course. And we're not sure if this is a coincidence or not, but last night Mom and Dogdad had steamed mussels for dinner and today they're having shrimp scampi for lunch and grilled salmon for dinner. Something smells fishy, don't you think?

And that brings us back to the subject of this blog: thinking.

Here are the rules attached to this award:
1. You must write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think. (No fish or bird blogs, they'll just make you hungry)
2. Acknowledge this post.
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote.
4. Go tell your humans to fork over the treats!

We have lots of very thoughtful friends, so it's kind of hard to decide who should share this award next, but here goes:

First, to our new friend, Blue http://ifonlyifonlyid.blogspot.com/, who has opened our eyes to the wonderful land of Dreamingspires and who always has something interesting to tell us!!

Second, to our old friends the Doodle's - Celestial Nigel, Ms. Gimlet Rose, Sammy, and yes, Joe the Cat http://www.mrdoodlesdog.com/- who always make us think about important and controversial things, such as Google ads that lead to puppy mills, the dark side of organizations that pretend to be pro-animal, but that really do pretty despicable things, and other subjects we may prefer not to think about.

Third, to another friend from across the Atlantic, Pippa http://pippadogblog.blogspot.com/, who has opened our eyes to what it means to live on the streets before coming in from the cold to a loving family.

Fourth to Zorra, Katie, and Sam http://katiezipperdoodle.blogspot.com/, who made us think that dogs with a mission can do anything -- even find a flighty egret.

And finally, fifth, to Ms. Sophie La Brador http://sophierulestheworld.blogspot.com/, who has made us think about lovely ladies in a very special way!!!

We're not too sure we've added the links correctly -- so we shall personally visit each of these thinking pals' blogs to tell them about this award.

And in the meantime, thank you again, whippets, and does anyone have a recipe for fish stew?

Jake and Just Harry

Whoops, after posting, we realized that both Blue and Pippa have already been given this award. Does that mean some [great?] thinkers think alike? Or that some [would-be?] thinkers weren't paying sufficient attention?? Hope the awardees don't mind!

With Sincere Apologies to Edgar Allan Paw

Last night, a midnight dreary, while we pondered sad and teary,
About that bird who forgot his chore
While we nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at our townhouse door.
`'Tis just the wind,' we muttered, `tapping at our townhouse door -
Only this, and nothing more.

'Ah, how sadly we remember, it was in last bleak December
When we entreated him to soar
O’er the country to St. Loulish, to watch our humans acting foolish
O Bird, we did implore
Find those folks we do adore
Send pictures home, and nothing more.

Awakened our woofs grew stronger; hesitating now no longer,
`Sir,' we barked `or Madam, truly your forgiveness we implore;
But the fact is we were napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at our townhouse door,
That we scarce were sure we heard you' - But then we opened wide the door; -
And saw our egret, home once more.

Now this snowy bird beguiling our sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and repentant countenance it wore,
`Though thy honor be yet in doubt,’ we said, `surely thou must be no lout.
Ghastly thin and hungry egret delivered from the Houston shore -
Thanks to Sam you looking for!
Will you promise, Nevermore?'

‘Yes,’ the egret said, ‘I will, I will, just please please untie my bill!
And remove this bizarre cap that has made me sore
I hear you wish to take a flight to Tempe for a football fight
To see who’ll gain the winning score
And stay with pals you’ve sniffed before
I’m game, I’ll go to restore our rapport.’

So yes, the egret, previously flitting, now is sitting, now is sitting
Just inside our townhouse door!
He has promised us to take, if we feed him fishy steak
And forget what has gone before -
The snows, the sleet, the frigid shore -
And keep him with us, forevermore!

Brotherhood

Curiouser and curiouser.

As some of you may already know, I, Jake, am the spokesdog for our family. I am the one who comes to ask Mom for breakfast in the morning (or Dad on some occasions). Just Harry just hangs around until he sees Mom get up in response to my request. Then he runs to his own food bowl as I go to mine. He also depends on me to use my wiles to trick Mom into giving us seconds. (Still working on thirds...)

Ditto for dinner. Unless I ask, it doesn't happen.

Well, this evening, it was almost five and Mom was working at her computer. I wasn't really hungry, so I was just looking out the window and pondering the results of the New Hampshire election last night. (Mom and Dogdad stayed up until the very end and were pretty happy at the results!)

All of a sudden, Just Harry decided to take matters into his own paws. He ran over to Mom and when she asked him if he was hungry, he turned and ran to his bowl. (Talk about dogs learning from each other, as the whippets were discussing yesterday!)

Mom got up and gave me my portion; but being sleep-deprived and distracted, she actually forgot about Just Harry, whose bowl is around the corner in his crate, and went back to her computer. So after a minute or two, Just Harry came to see what was wrong. Mom got up again, saw me standing by my bowl, my food untouched, and discovered JH with an empty bowl

Mom realizing what she had done, quickly gave JH his food. And then she also realized that the reason I hadn't touched my food was because I didn't want to start until JH was fed too.

Imagine that!!!

Jake

Thinking about Beau

Just Harry and I have been thinking a lot about Beau and his family. We watched the You-Tube video with its poignant images and have visited Hammer's blog several times to read about Beau again and again. If thinking alone could make a difference in this world, then Beau would be safely at home with those who love him because we all feel such sadness at the idea of his being separated from them all this time.

Sitting here in South Florida, so far from his home in Australia, we're not sure that we'll be the ones to find him -- but since we care so much, we've added the Operation Bring Beau Home campaign logo to our blog and will be attentive to any signs that he might have been brought to this continent. You never know!!

We're with you in spirit, pals!!

Jake



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Something from the Canine Kids

We love this award. Thank you Emma and the Canine Kids. We see that many of our friends have already passed this award on -- so we're not sure who to share it with. Feel free, pals, to add it to your blogs!!

This Just In...

We stopped by to see how Sam COL. Sam ASTA-fari Joe H. Pinkerton Peabody, Esq was doing on his trip and to our shock and surprise learned that he has been successful in finding our missing E.C. Bird, and has shipped him home.

To hear it in Sam's own words.

"I finally caught up to that old bird in Houston, TX. I tricked him with more fish. I put a bow around his mouth and sent him back to Florida with strict instructions. I hope he doesn't get lost in shipping?After all that, I need to take a rest. Currently, I am hanging out with Cricket, Sparky and Ginger in the back of their dad's truck. Maybe they can help me find the Stain Mecca. I think I am getting closer?

Zowie!!

Our plan, since we learned about Gussie's Super Bowl Bash, is to let E.C. Bird work off his debt of fish -- not to mention the embarrassement and emotional distress -- by flying us to Tempe Azrizona next month. Not sure where we'll keep him until then -- although there are some pretty nice lakes on the golf course where we romp every evening. And they even have fish.

Thank you and bon voyage, Sam!!!

Jake and Just Harry

Who Was That Masked Woman?

Sadly, no pictures accompany this blog, but we hope our graphic description will convey the image.

Yesterday morning, I was dressed in my collar and harness, ready to take Mom for her morning walk. Just Harry was similarly dressed, waiting for his turn.

All of a sudden, instead of our Mom -- who typically wears a cotton t-shirt and skirt with sandals or light shoes -- a totally bizarre-looking creature appeared. This unrecognizable creature was wearing a heavy sweater, long pants, socks with heavy shoes, a jacket, a wool scarf, and bright red gloves.

"Ready to go outside, Jakey?" the creature asked.

"That voice, I know that voice! It sounds just like Mom!" I thought. But it couldn't be. Socks? Gloves? Wool scarf? Here in South Florida?

What to do? Being the clever six-year old terrier that I now am, I glanced at the headline in the morning paper - TEMPERATURE DROPS TO 39 DEGREES -- FARMERS FEAR FOR THEIR CROPS!! -- and immediately realized what was up.

The strange-looking creature was my Mom. Despite her years in the Northeast, she's now a cold-wimp and fortunately had all those clothes handy from her week in frigid St. Louis. So off we went on our walk.

With my unplucked wirey coat, I was fine; but Mom made a spectacle of herself, wrapping the scarf around her face and impatiently stamping her feet while I did my business.

I guess it's just as well that we have no photos.

Jake

The Answer to Being Six

Our whippet friends left this comment on my earlier musings which makes me very very happy because now I know what it means to be six. If it was good enough for Winnie the Pooh, it's good enough for me!!!

From the world's best writer, A. A. Milne:

When I was One, I had just begun.
When I was Two, I was nearly new.
When I was Three, I was hardly me.
When I was Four, I was not much more.
When I was Five, I was just alive.
But now I am Six, I'm as clever as clever,
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.
Happy for ever and ever!

Thank you whippets, thank you Ms. Patience!!!

For Our Dachsie Friends

Key West, always a special place, celebrates New Year's Eve with a parade of Dachshunds. We thought our Dachsie friends -- Lorenza, Andy, Sammy, Roxie, and others would enjoy knowing about this unique event!!!

In this Dec. 31, 2006 file photo released by the Florida Keys News Bureau, Lola, left, and Nosey, right, pause for a moment during the annual Key West Dachshund Walk in Key West. The third New Year's Eve procession of canines down sidewalks that border the island city's Duval Street is scheduled to begin at noon Monday, Dec. 31. Organizers anticipate the event will attract more than 100 dogs and their owners. (AP Photo/Florida Keys News Bureau, Andy Newman, file) (Andy Newman, AP / December 31, 2006)
The Associated Press
December 31, 2007

KEY WEST - A parade of about 100 dachshunds and their owners will kick off New Year's Eve festivities in this island city.Today, the dogs will parade down sidewalks that border Duval Street, the island's main thoroughfare.The route is kept short to cater to the canine contingent's short legs and many entrants are costumed. A supply wagon will accompany the dogs with water, plastic bags for accident cleanup and transportation for canines that get tired.

Post New Year's Eve/Barkday Musings

We've heard that what you do on New Year's Day is what you'll be doing the rest of the year. So, in an excess of caution, to avoid doing things we wouldn't want to repeat all year long, we decided to do one of the things we like best: take a long afternoon snooze. That was easy as we're still recovering from all the celebrations surrounding the holidays, our return from camp, a long New Year's Eve chat, and my sixth birthday.

Just to keep Mom happy, we also limited our barking (mostly because we're still hoarse from all the barking we did at camp) so that she can think maybe we'll control ourselves a bit better this year.

We do want to thank all our friends -- old and new -- for the many New Year and my barkday messages we received!! Mom tried to explain to a dogless friend what these friendships mean to all of us -- but the friend really didn't get it. Nevermind!! We understand.

My big dilemma now: what does it mean to be six? How should I behave? What kind of role model must I be for my goofy brother?

I've always been a pretty serious kind of guy, as I have what I've described previously as a philosophical nature (unlike the Goof). Now that I'm six, do I have to read more books -- or can I content myself with chewing paper and pencils? Now that I'm six, can I still bark my head off at anything I wish -- or must I constrain myself to only the most egregious violations of our space, i.e., neighbors who still insist on parking in their own driveways, dogs who insist on walking past our house, FEDEX, UPS, and trash trucks who insist on rumbling by and sometimes stop.

A puzzlement. I think I'll take another nap and ponder.

Jake the (older) dog

Pee ess: Our temps are dropping to 39 degrees tonight. This morning it was a chilly -- for us -- 50.