Way 3:
Charlie is a show-off. Sometimes Ruby does not understand when I tell her to get her toy. While she is pondering my words, Charlie comes running into the room with his toy chewing it aggressively and then rolling over to chew it while upside down.
(for more ways Charlie is different scroll down)
This is what it looks like at my dinner table. Second photo is looking downward at my lap. Do you think I can resist these faces?
(BTW yes, there is a chair on top of the table in the background. Doesn’t everyone keep one chair on the table while eating? Don’t you have to put them there when going out to keep the dogs off the table? Then aren’t you too lazy to take them all off just because you are eating?)
I retired from Novartis Pharmaceuticals many years ago. For many years, at about this time, I have received a nice little letter accompanied by a $25 cash Christmas present. This is really my only contact with Novartis, and it seemed like such a nice touch.
This year I get a letter from them. It starts out on a really positive note about how well the company has done in some endeavor. Another paragraph about something similar. Now I am getting suspicious. Immediately, I find myself skimming – looking for the paragraph that will tell me why there is no gift enclosed. Ah, there it is – about 3 paragraphs from the bottom. We want to give better health and other benefits, therefore, we are no longer giving the Christmas present. Just skimming the rest of the letter, it is amazing how positive sounding it is about all sorts of Novartis accomplishments.
NOW LISTEN TO ME: There was a time when you respected my intelligence enough to hire me and to work with me for over 20 years. Now you think I am an idiot? I don’t care if I have $25 less to spend this Christmas, you fools! Just send me a simple note stating that the program has been terminated for whatever reason, and be done with it! Sure I am older now, some neurons have died – but a letter like you sent is a real insult to me and all Novartis retirees. Again – it is not the amount of money, but rather the positive spin you put on it that disgusts me. Every day it seems I understand a little more about what Occupy Wallstreet is all about.
Way 2:
Charlie doesn’t know he is not a lap dog. Most dogs over a certain size seem to know that they are too big to sit on your lap. OK, some large puppies bound around all over the place and also into your lap. But Charlie is not a puppy anymore. He just likes to sit on my lap. He will say there as long as I let him. He is very athletic so it doesn’t matter if I am in a chair with very little room and perhaps even arms. He slowly climbs his way up and is there eventually. Part, or most of him may be hanging over the chair arms or over my knees. Other times, usually on the large sofa, I see a blur out of the corner of one eye. I did not see him coming. Like a flash he has taken a leaping bound and has landed in my lap. Its OK though – it’s Charlie the lap dog.
Way 1.
When your dog is deep in sleep and you call his name, he looks up at you through droopy eyelids saying: I love you, so I will come if you insist, but I am really too tired right now. Then he goes back to sleep if you don’t call again.
Not Charlie. No matter how deeply he is asleep, even if he is upside down with legs propped up against the wall – As soon as he hears his name, he bolts to you with lightening speed, throws himself bulkily on your lap and obviously is saying “Thank you so much for calling me over, I was waitng all day for this.”
Charlie and Ruby. Ruby is the one with antlers. Charlie won’t wear them. He thinks it makes him look undignified.
Chicken
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Clcking on the above should take you to a video. I keep watching it over and over.
Charlie is telling my father a joke. We all thought it was pretty funny.
Left to right: My daughter Susana, my grandson Hudson, me, my father, Charlie .
Foreground: My father’s 2 dogs – Angel and Oscar.
Ruby is not in the picture; she had some important scent to hunt down in my father’s house.
Recently, a friend who is in the merchandising business told me he was trying to get a very large firm to have mascot. When he came up with this idea, he thought of me and suggested to the firm that a Keeshond would make a good mascot. He asked if I could come up with just one paragraph that would convince the firm that a Keeshond is a special breed of dog, perhaps worthy of becoming their mascot. Here is what I wrote (based on Scruffy and Charlie):
You have just acquired your first Keeshond. At first you say that this dog is too high spirited, too superficial and probably not real intelligent. Besides, he barks too much and is way too hairy. Then you begin to notice little things: Like his desire to communicate with you. You begin to see, that not only does he learn to understand every word you say, but also starts to talk back to you. He may engage you in fairly long conversations. You begin to see that it’s not all barking, but a gentler sound with intonations and rolls of the eyes that let you know what he is talking about. Eventually he selects you as his ultimate human being. His whole life begins to have just one purpose- to please you. Oh, he will make mistakes all right. He may even do something that will cause you to call him a bad dog. But, once you call him that, and you see him beg for forgiveness, you will immediately run to him and explain gently to him how you didn’t mean to be so rude. Yes this will make training him difficult. But that’s a Keeshond.
Scruffy and the author enjoy a late morning coffee
My wife, Karen, is walking for the 4th year in the 2 day, 40 mile Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Help her reach her goal of $3,000 and support the fight against breast cancer. Make a secure online donation http://tinyurl.com/kar2009
