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.

Fresh air dog

My owner was going to visit her father at his home in New Hampshire, and I was not invited. Instead, I went to spend the week with Aunt Margie and my country cousins, Ella and Leo, in Ojai.

     As would anyone who falls into a roiling sea, I followed my first instinct and jumped onto something that seemed secure -- in this case, Aunt Margie's sofa -- from which I reviewed my new surroundings and companions.

    Being an only dog, and a citified one at that, I was a bit intimidated by Ella and Leo's wild ways.  Yet at the same time I found myself intrigued by their food.  In fact, I refused to eat my own food, while covetously eying Leo's. Meanwhile Leo was interested in my food. It was a classic greener-grass situation, as we both pined for each other's dish.

Aunt Margie couldn't stand the idea that I might starve on her watch.  She cosseted me, tempting me with little morsels of Leo's food and putting my dish next to her while she worked, so that I could eat at close range.

   

That helped.  After we had a Skype session with my beloved, I felt better still.

With the encouragement of my empathetic hostess, I began to venture around the property.

 By my owner's return I had loosened up quite a bit.

  

 

  

Still, any new environment is stressful.  Though I had enjoyed my fresh-air stay among the country folk, it was a relief the day my owner came to pick me up and bring me home to my own sofa and my very wonderful bluffs.

Celebrity pressures

    Sunday morning we did the Secret Stairs Walk #33 (Bronson Canyon Loop) with Teresa.  The walk took us through an attractive part of the Hollywood Hills, starting and ending at the Scientology Celebrity Centre. 

The Celebrity Centre's website explains that it is intended to "cater to those individuals.... upon whom society depends the most....the artists, politicians, leaders of industry, sports figures and anyone with the power and vision to create a better world."  

The website goes on, 

Now one might argue that these individuals already have benefits that many will never have. But, ask any one of them — ask yourself — it can become a lonely world. Subject to the unusual pressures that come with prominence and responsibility, being looked upon under a microscope for good or bad — these are burdens others can’t imagine. Not to mention the counter-attack such individuals are subjected to by those less-ambitious who would rather fight to maintain a “status quo” than allow another to attempt a change or improvement. 

You see, there’s no shame in helping the artist. In fact, in the larger scope of societal help, we had better help the artist if we wish to advance the society at all.

When we returned to the Ons' house, I wasn't sure that I wanted to leave.  I sat on their stoop for a while, thinking about how they understand how to treat an artistic Celebrity such as myself. They get the pressures that come with my prominence and responsibility.  When I stay with them I feel like I can let go of my burden for a little while; get out from under the microscope of scrutiny that is my regular companion.

Teresa spoke softly and supportively with me.  She acknowledged the hardships of living what others might see as my cosseted life at the bluffs. Promising that, just as the Celebrity Centre pampers other prominent leaders, she and Roger would be there to help and cater to me when I really needed them, she encouraged me to get in the car and cross the hill back to my lonely world on the other side. 

Which I did, because I had an inkling that there might be a really good sunset that night.

A whole new world....

via Instagram

I spied my doppelgänger in a window

Getaway weekend

  This past weekend we took a trip to San Francisco.  

 

 

 I had been missing Charlie, and wanted to see him in situ.

He took me around his neighborhood and his city, and welcomed me to his Campus house. 

  

We went on a picnic in Duboce Park with Laura.

We also fell back effortlessly into the comfortable habits created by years of joint sofa-sitting.
   

Seeing that Charlie has a good set of sofas to work with was a great comfort to me.  I find it reassuring to know that, though he may be four hundred miles from home, he can still drink from the same well of respite that has provided such succor for him (and me) in the past.  

Curb your dog, à la française

The French have such a knack for gracious living.

To wit, this Paris signage delineating a space for dogs to relieve themselves.  With a simple sidewalk graphic, order is fostered between car, human, and canine.

    Can this approach be exported to our own land?   Perhaps, although it might be necessary to adapt the icon.  A more furry, classically proportioned dog might have greater appeal here on this rugged continent.

 

Trip to picturesque Ojai

 

My cousins have moved to a magical paradise dotted with gas station ephemera.

On an overnight visit, I was taken with a petite bench that was easier to access than the ones at home. The comparison might be unfair though, since the bluff benches also serve a larger purpose as memorials and sunset-watching stations.

 

The cousins -- Ella and Leo -- did not act all that excited about their new digs.  But I think they are happy.

 

Reviews: "A 100% Angel Gentleman!" "Spry!"

I've been staying at Earnest's while my owner is gone.  Nancy sent a glowing report about me:

"He's been a joy and is eating well, snuggling a lot, walking energetically, guarding the house from his couch top a lot, and happily sleeping with E and me on the bed! A 100% Angel Gentleman!"

And here's one from Jackie, owner of Winnie and Oliver: 

"Wanted to let you know that Jeff and I bumped into Nancy this afternoon while walking the dogs and that Lambie looked very happy! He was spry and gave me a nice friendly greeting."

It's so nice to have friends who care.

With the cousins

We went back up to Ojai for a sleepover visit before the cousins' upcoming move.

We all sacked out in the playroom, but I couldn't fall asleep.  I was worrying about how I would acquit myself on the hike planned for the next day.  Ella, Leo, and Annie are all such accomplished hikers, and I'm more of a tenderfoot.

Annie was on edge as well. 

In the morning we set out on the hike.  At first I stuck close to Aunt Margie. 

     

Then I spread my wings and flew.