Lambiedog

Rerooting myself after Ojai

     I got my hair cut soon after I returned from  Ojai.  Certainly, I needed it.  And I wanted to look suave for our July Fourth party. 

On a deeper level, my haircut felt like a bridge from my unkempt Ojai persona back to my more measured Palisades self.  

As part of regaining my connection to that self, I undertook some ritual relaxation in favorite places of my home.

     

Just as I was completing my circuit, who should appear but Sam and Seema.  

I completely relaxed into the sick-dog pose that I favor when I am most deeply at ease.

Relaxing with the newspaper

     At the close of the day I like to sit in my recliner chair and catch up on all the news that's fit to print, even if it is sometimes over my head.

Displaced

    In preparation for having the ladies from the Intergenerational Group over my owner moved my pillows from their usual spot on the sofa, so that I could cede the seating to our guests. Which I did, with an open heart because I welcome visitors.

    But no one thought to put my pillows back after the guests had departed.

    With important neighborhood observation to catch up on, I had to make do with the resources at hand: one measly pillow on the other sofa.  It was uncomfortable and inadequate, but it was all I had.

        After an excruciating delay, my family noticed, and reinstated my pillows.

                            Moments like these make me realize how dependent I am. 

I am a campfire

    Today being my blog's three-year anniversary, the tributes have been pouring in.  This appreciation, "Poodle Saves Family", first appeared in the Midsight Crisis blog:

People often talk about how good it is for a family with school-age children to get a dog.  It's supposed to teach the children responsibility and give them a companion.

And, as the mother of older children, I am aware that our dog, whom I infantilize shamelessly, fills my need for a little cuddlekins like my children used to be.

But until recently I never noticed that having a dog has a direct benefit for older adolescent boys and young adults. A teenager who would not be caught dead being soft or cuddly with other members of his family is not ashamed to melt over his dog. And, in a way, the dog has become a campfire for all of us: We can sit around and coo over him together, even when it's not appropriate for us to coo at each other any more.

To my family, I am the most important guy. I am the campfire.

Evening ritual

 

    I look forward all day to my bedtime wrestling game with Thomas.  First he chases me, then he throws my rawhide and I run after it for awhile, and then we growl at each other for a bit.  As an evening ritual, it's second only to my nighttime pee in terms of importance.

 

    I'm going to be bereft when he leaves.

Comfort zone

        The level of activity at the bluffs this evening was just my style:  energetic, yet contained.

    Actually, when we first came outside there was no one there.

But, looking down to the other end of the bluff, I saw a contingent approaching.

    I took a moment to center myself.  Really, that's all I need.  As long as other dogs are respectful and not wild or scary, I can handle things. 

    And then I'm free to take on all the roles I enjoy: 

                  Sniffer,                                              Investigator,                                       Participant,        

         and general Dog About Town.

Under the table

    When my family plays chase with me, my favorite place to run to is under the table.  I have a competitive advantage there.  

     I love to hang out and wait for my loved ones to come and find me.

    Then we have a joyful reunion.

 

A friend to all

 

Out at the bluffs you can meet all sorts of individuals.  People who sit on the bluff benches tend to be very welcoming to me, which is a good thing since I tend to join them without waiting to be invited. 

    

 

Rawhide tales

 

My rawhide is very dear to me.

When I am not chewing it I usually hide it in one of two places for safekeeping:  either underneath the coffee table, or on the recliner chair.

Then I keep close tabs on it so it will be ready when I want it again.

  

After the rain

I went out to survey my domain after the rain.

      

 There was a lot of water around the Samulon bench, and down at the beach the waves were still big.

     

 

The bluffs looked very green, and there were interesting smells everywhere.