Lessons You Can Learn From Us Dogs

Our Way of Living Could be Yours

If only you humans had the heart of a dog, you would learn:

When you love someone, constantly tell them ... with licks (I mean kisses).

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

When it's in your best interest - practice obedience.

Let others know when they've invaded your space.

Take naps and stretch after rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout, rather run right back and make friends again.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.

Always be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

And wait for them to come home, with anticipation and love, by the door (or, wherever.)

Don't You Just Love UnderDOGS?

Well, I've finally come down to Earth.

I've been floating around feeling so excited ... why you ask?

THE NEW YORK GIANTS WON THE SUPER BOWL. That's why!

Herself and I watched. We shouted, screamed, held our breath, panted, I hid my eyes with my paws when the Patriots scored ... and then the last goal by the Giants ... it was just so perfect. Not since 1991, way before I was even walking on all four paws on this earth, have they won a Super Bowl.

I tried to imagine me running up and down the field, I'm good holding balls in my mouth while running and I have excellent evasive moves, but then I thought about one of those guys tackling me ... ooffff!!! Splat!!!!! That would definitely be the end of me. No, I'm perfectly happy to sit on the sidelines and bark hooray and shake my tail vigorously.

Tuesday, our great City gave them the biggest ticker tape parade up Broadway, the Canyon of Heroes, with a snowstorm of confetti and paper raining down from the skyscrapers and a million people standing 5 deep.

It was thrilling. I just love it when the underDOG wins. Don't you??? It's like I feel when I confront a dog that weighs 20X more than me. "Don't mess with me" I bark, and usually they just look at little me dismissively ... but they don't mess with me.

Believe you are mighty and you are. Think you are BIG and you are. Act fierce and you are. Dream of being a winner, and you will be.

I'll wait for you by the door, while I dream of winning, and if necessary, how to be a good loser ... unlike Coach Belichick.

This Dog's Vote for President

I hear Herself talking politics all the time. She says she's a political junkie, whatever that is.

So, I've been thinking about who I should go in the booth and vote for. I do go in, you know, in the arms of Herself, while she pulls this and flips that and I usually agree with her choices.

But, this time, we are both undecided. So, I thought one way to decide who should get my vote is to figure out who would be a good President for dogs. This could be determined by them proving their love of dogs. I've never seen one of them photographed with a dog. Never! A little groveling would be good. They don't seem to take us seriously enough to go after our votes. I am a citizen, born in PA, most of my life living in the Silk Stocking district of New York, so I should be courted by each one of the candidates. Maybe even photographed being held and kissed ... ugh! now that I think of that, forget the kissing part. If I like the cut of their jib ... a little petting with do just fine.

I would ask them their position on whether they believe in dogs being "fixed" or having very large families. Or, whether there should be a National Day for Dogs. Then I would want to know their position on the use of the phrase: "He's a dirty dog". I mean really, get rid of that expression immediately. It's insulting to all us dogs, it's downright "Petist". I have lots of questions and, as of now, they are not being answered.

So, Herself and I am undecided. And that's the way it is at the moment subject to change, especially if some candidate or another is smart enough to come and hand me a treat then I'll give my vote, it's that easy ... a little bribe works wonders with me.

Right now, my candidate tee shirt reads, "Serious Dogs for ______?______"

'Till Election Day, I'll wait for them by the door.

Hi guys

When I met these guys and girls walking up Third Avenue today, they made my lips form a smile around the gap in my front teeth.

They all had their topknots wrapped in different colored thingies. Can't wait till my hair grows in and I can have my topknot back. I miss it. That AWFUL groomer took mine away when she chopped all my hair and created a dog with issues...Me.

Now when I look in the mirror, I really don't recognize myself. Who am I? Why am I here? What am I meant to do with my life? Where are the pet therapists when you need one?

I'm going to go home and lie by the door and think about the meaning of my life. And, wait for my hair to grow back, long and sexy.

We Can All Get Along, We Can, We Can!

Just look at this. 'Nuff said!

The New Year is Here

It is 2008. In just a few weeks, January 29th to be exact, I will be middle age. I'm not sure what that means, but I overheard Herself talking the other day when she was asked "how old is she", meaning me. "She's going to be 7", Herself said. "That means in human years, she will be 49 years old."

Whoa!

How did that happen so fast? I was just a slimmy little thing, squirming around with my sister and brother having just been born. And now, I'm going to be - 7???

Well, here's the thing. I am very healthy. I am very happy. I have lots of love from family and friends, (did I tell you my very best friend Graham is back from hanging out with Mickey M?) and I love my life. Couldn't ask for anything better than this. So, on this brand new year, I wish you everything I have in my life and then some.

Here we go into another year ... let's make it terrific and remember to be generous to others.

I'll still wait for you by the door and we can talk about our new year's resolutions. My #1 one is to find new ways to encourage Herself to give me more treats.

It's Christmas Eve Day. The most beautiful time of year. I can remember my first Christmas in New York with Herself and AuntJ. Oh...it was soooo beautiful.

I was thinking about whose Birthday it is. A very special Baby was born in a manger somewhere in the desert a very long time ago. Along with the Baby and his Mommy and Daddy and other visitors who came, I know there were animals, sheep, big funny looking things called camels, (what is going on with that back of theirs?) and other creatures ... but no dogs. Not even a little one like me. I would have come, if I knew. But I didn't get the message. It was, after all, a very long time ago and I wasn't born yet. I understand from Herself that the message came from angels and a very bright star that was shinning in the dark sky to lead the way to where the Baby was born.

I love little babies, we talk whenever I see one. I look in their eyes and tell them things (silently) and they tell me about their little lives, up to now. I usually tell them that they are going to have a wonderful time here learning all kinds of things and meeting lots of different people and other babies. I then tell him or her that I'm really glad to have met them. I love to talk to little 'creatures' like me. You'd be surprised what they tell me, even before they can speak words.

It's Christmas and I wish you a most blessed and peaceful day and a wonderful new year. Remember, to reach out and make someone happy. I'm a very happy dog. I tell Herself and AuntJ and all my other human friends that all the time, mostly by just letting them know that there is no other place in the whole world than I would rather be than with them and they tell me, mostly by feeding me, hugs, playtime and kisses, lots of kisses. What could be better than that? And I have so many friends, who I just love to see and play with. I'm a very lucky dog.

Joy and Peace to the world. Love to all the little children, in Mangers and carriages everywhere. And love to all my fellow dogs all over the world, too.

My Latest Hair Cut, or Who Ever Taught Her How to Groom????

I went (actually, I was taken) to one of those chic hair grooming places on Lexington Avenue. I knew instantly that I was in (as President Bush 41 would say) (and it's probably appropriate for me to say) deep doo doo, when I was carried into this place. My then long hairs stood straight up and I knew I was not in for a pleasant day ... I just knew it.

Very expensive thingies all around for us dogs; the finest outfits, the prettiest bags, the most decadent treats, everything to make us and our humans think this dog world is probably too good for us dogs ... but I'm diverted ... it's a place where you would think I would want to hang out, but I got this really strange feeling and tried to tell Herself in my various ways like trying to squiggle out of her arms to make a hasty retreat but no, she held on tight.

A very long explanation followed from Herself to the groomer, who came out from the back room to get instructions and get me. I heard Herself tell her what length my hair should be cut (not short just shortened a bit), how my face should look (clean around my eyes with other precise details), yes, it was alright to cut my topknot, watch out for my tummy (I get scratched there easily), and then Herself repeated it all again. "Ok" "Sure" "I got it", this not-for-primetime-grooming groomer said and off she carried me to the back room. I squiggled and wiggled and whimpered but to no avail. I was stuck and not happy and, worse of all, not sure I would ever see Herself again. Would she come back and rescue me? (She just stopped typing and translating this down for me and said "Oh Mystical, don't be so silly.")

You know, reliving that day is already so exhausting that I need to lie down and nap ... so I'll continue this story in another post.

Suspense will build about what happened in that back room with that 'I-just-learned-how-to- groom, groomer'. I'll leave you hanging while I nap...

This Dog's Delight

It's here - the first snow arriving in the early days of December. I was watching out my window. Have you ever noticed that each snowflake makes it's way down without bumping into another snowflake. How do they do that? Dogs bump into things all the time.

I was running down the hallway of my building the other day, playing with Herself, and I turned around so fast to catch my toy that I bumped my head into the wall. What was that doing there, I wondered? Of course, it was always there and I should have remembered.

But snowflakes are these gentle things that float down in a kind of dance, almost a waltz, and never bump into anything until they come to a halt onto a tree limb or rooftop or sidewalk or nose of a little baby in her crib. Snowflakes are one of my favorite things. I think snow is actually angels fluffing their wings.

I'm staying in today and watch the snow fall, so I'll wait for you by the door. Wait a minute! How can I look out the window at the snow and sit by the door at the same time?

I know ~I'll run back and forth.

Favorite Names for Us Girl Dogs

Please note that my name is not here ... that's because I'm so unique. And besides it's a fitting name for me ... but I'll keep those stories for another time.

MOLLY	MAGGIE
DAISY	LUCY
SADIE	GINGER
CHLOE	BAILEY
SOPHIE	ZOE
PRINCESS	BELLA
ANGEL	LADY
SASHA	ABBY
ROXY	MISSY
BRANDY	COCO
ANNIE	KATIE
SAMANTHA	CASEY
GRACIE	ROSIE
MISTY	EMMA
SANDY	HEIDI

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE

Now, I wouldn't stand too long to be dressed like this ... I happen to like the birthday suit model, but I think these two are definitely sending a message - don't you?

You see, we all can get along. Remember it all takes place in the heart first then our minds can follow and find the way.

Herself, AuntJ, and all my other 2 and 4-legged friends wish you all and all your friends a most Happy Thanksgiving.

I have a list of reasons, as long as my long legs, to be happy and thankful and I intend to think of them all day today.

I look forward to having a piece of turkey, a delicious apple and lots of water to drink. I will sit around and watch and listen to all that is being said and smile. A romp in the fall leaves ... oh girl!

God Bless us all.

Beautiful Allison, Our Hearts are Broken.

I am really sad. I've been moping around the house or staring out into space for days now. I look up at Herself and she looks down at me and I know what she's thinking ... it's the same thing I'm thinking and feeling, we are both really sad.

Allison, someone we love very, very, very much has gone to heaven. I knew something was wrong because Herself was crying for days. Then she sat me down and told me that Allison got really sick and went to the hospital and although the Doctors tried, they couldn't make her better. So, she went to heaven. The nurse said that Allison said to her two days before, "I'm going to go to heaven".

Oh my!

She was beautiful and I loved being around her ... and she loved me too. Every time she spoke to Herself on the phone she'd ask, "How's that Dawg". Isn't that silly to call me - a Dawg? I didn't mind 'cause Allison could call me anything she wanted. We have pictures of me playing and laughing with Allison and her son, my absolute best friend, Graham. He's a big boy now, he's eight years old, just a bit older than me. I just know he is missing his Mommy very much. He used to say to her, "Mommy, you're prettier than Britney Spears". I certainly agreed with that. Actually, there was no comparison. Allison was beautiful ... inside and out. Her son adored her. He would walk into a store and point out something and say, "I'm going to tell Daddy to buy that for Mommy". He must have learned generosity from her. She was one of the most generous humans I know ... she would bring me things ... like one of my favorite toys, a penguin in a Santa outfit. I love that thing. I love Allison. You couldn't help loving her.

I don't know very much about heaven, but Herself tells me that it is the most beautiful place in all of the Universe and everyone in Heaven is very happy and healthy and feel at peace. There is lots of all-encompassing Love. I've been wondering, can dogs go to heaven?

My eyes get all teary and I rub my eyes with my paw. It just doesn't seem the same knowing that I won't see her again ... unless I'm a very good dog and I, too, go to heaven one day (when I'm very old). I know I will run up to meet her. I'll give her a lot of licks and she'll give me lots of pats and hugs. She would laugh. She had a wonderful laugh and a big, fabulous smile. I'll smile at her too, but it won't look at pretty as hers 'cause my front tooth is missing.

Herself, AuntJ and I miss you very much, Allison ... we will never, ever forget you. I know you knew that we loved you very much and will think of you always. You shone and you are shinning in Heaven and when the Moon is very bright, I look up and feel your bright, fabulous smile shinning down on me.

I'll still wait by the door ... in case you come.

I Looove Compliments

Now I really don't have a big head, actually it's rather small, about the size of peach, so it doesn't swell very much when I get a compliment.

I was walking down the street with Herself today, and a youngish human male pointed at me and said "Now that's a million dollar dog". I heard Herself answer, "Yes, I think she is too" and then she added, pointing down at me, "and Mystical does as well".

Now I don't need compliments. I know I'm loved by Herself and AuntJ, Allison and Graham and many others. I know because they tell me ... a lot. But hearing it from a stranger, out of the blue, is a tail-wagger.

So, remember, everyone loves a compliment. All of us, four-legged and two-legged. It puts a smile on your face. It's a treat. You know what I mean?

By the way, you look mahvelous.

Sticking my Paw into Politics

You know I don't really care all that much about politics, although I hear Herself talking about this one and that one all the time. So, I do try to keep up with it. I agree with Herself most of the time ... I'm not a foolish dog, I don't bite the hand of the one who feeds me. You know what I mean?

But, this I came up with all by myself. I read about this scruffy looking man from Iran, Mr. Abanajaddy or whatever his name is. I just know I would growl if I came near him. Anyway, this is what I heard.

They take dogs to Jail in Iran. They also come up to young Iranians on the street and take their dogs away and put them in crates out in the open and leave them there for days. They arrested a young boy because he was posting an ad for his lost dog. They say they are getting "rid of Western Culture". I'm not a culture. I'm a dog. And I'm going to stand up on my back legs and fight for all dogs, in this case, Persian ones.

Here's the story. You read about it.

I've been growling under my breath for hours. I say, put him in a room filled with some tough-guy-dogs, you know which ones I mean, the ones who have a reputation for intimidation and let them at him.

What will they want to get rid of after us?

Birds?

Flowers?

Kittens?

Stars?

GRRRRRR. I don't growl very often, but this stuff puts my tail down, real low.

A Dog At A Film Festival

Glad to be back...I've been really busy, playing, running around, taking care of Herself, eating and sleeping...you know, just plain busy. (Also, I couldn't remember my password to get into my blog...it was so 'secret', that it was a secret from me.)

But I now have time to tell you about the Jo Eisinger Retrospective Film Festival held in a positively, fabulously beautiful Barn in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (I did tell you in one of my earlier posts that I came into this world in Pennsylvania, didn't I?)

First of all, this was the first time I was ever invited to a Film Festival. Eat your heart out Robert Redford, you weren't invited or you neither, Robert deNiro. Jo Eisinger was a brilliant screenwriter. He wrote the words to Gilda...WOW! Rita Hayworth was sooooo beautiful. I loved the way she tossed her hair in that sexy dance she did ... as she sung "Put the Blame on Mame, Boys".

You know, I can move my hair like Rita, too. Her hair was red and mine, white. You should see me as I run down the hallway...it flies all around The jury is still out as to whether I am considered a sexy Maltese ... or just plain adorable. Anyway, in the film Gilda loved Glenn really bad, and he pretended he hated her. Sparks flew. That was so great. I sat on Herself's lap surrounded by all the other invited guests (more later about them) and loved every moment of it. "Put the blame on Mystical, Boys".

Anyway, Jo also did a lot of what they call, Film Noir films, those are films that are in Black and White...no color and sort of gritty. (That's my new word of the day...gritty. Isn't that a terrific word?)

I'll finish my "review" about the JE Film Festival in another posting.

Meanwhile, I'll wait for you by the door. Hurry the show is about to begin.

Happy Mother's Day to Herself

I had my dear friend Kim write a Mother's Day card to Herself for me. I told her what I wanted to say and she wrote it out, put the stamp on the envelope (she licked it, not me) and put it in the mail box for me.

I was home when it arrived the next day and Herself opened it. She laughed and laughed and picked me up and gave me a really big kiss, actually, lots of kisses.

It felt so good. I may pretend that I'm not crazy about kisses ... but actually, I do love them, from her. I think my Mommy is the most wonderful in the whole world. I get really blue when I don't see her. My tail hangs down and I mope around the house.

Mommies are the very best. I can't imagine living without her. I can't imagine living without my other very special human, AuntJ.

To all two and four-legged Mothers out there, Happy Mother's Day.

~I'll wait for you by the door.~

Doing yoga is fabulous

Doesn't this look just wonderful?

You know, when I stretch, I call it ''my yoga moves". But can you imagine doing yoga with your human. I would love it.

Go on, stretch those legs. Wiggle those paws. Take deep breaths.

~I'll be doing my sun salutation pose, while I wait for you by the door~

Dog food and love.

You know, I have a very sensitive tummy so, early on, Herself decided that she would cook for me. Everyday she slaves away cooking me chicken and rice and other goodies and my tummy has been just fine, thank you very much.

I've heard her say that she cooks more for me than for herself. Isn't that silly of her?

Anyway, I know a lot of dogs who have all of the good dog food that is packaged in those really LARGE bags (some of them weigh more than all of me) are now reading the news. Everyone, the dogs and their owners are so very worried about what may have happened to that food to make so many dogs really sick and some of them not coming back home from the vet. Oh my!!!!!

What's the answer? Should all owners, like Herself, start cooking for their dogs? Or, will they trust the dog food companies to find the reason for this terrible thing and to have it fixed? I don't know what they'll do, but I sure am thrilled that Herself cooks for me. So neither one of us have to worry about what I am eating. I think we should talk about organic chicken. When I'm about to go to sleep, I like to have peace of mind ... and I do. I take a deep long breath and go immediately to sleep. Nothing to worry about.

I do hope all you 4-legged friends out there are well and strong. And back to running around with your ears flapping in the wind.

~I'll wait for you by the door~

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Too cold for a dog.

I'm about to go out into the freezing cold. I've been hanging around the hearth for days now, but I'm ready to brave the elements. Global warming? ... I donno about that.

I have my basic black winter coat on and I'm wrapped in a red wool scarf-thing. Just my adorable face to wink at you as we pass each other on the sidewalks of Manhattan. Herself is going to carry me because I don't have snow boots. And New York snow after a few days is not anything I would want to prance around in. Get the picture???

I need to buy some booties. It doesn't seem like that global warming thing is coming anytime soon. We will go online and shop when we come home.

Stay warm.

Love ya!!

A trial with a Judge over 2 dogs

Oh my! This is too sad. These two dogs were sent from Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina, to Florida and now the two original owners have to go into a courtroom and fight for them from the adopted families. They were even renamed. Read about it.

Will the Judge do a King Solomon thing and say I will split the dogs in two ... and the person who says "No, don't. I love them too much - you take them" is truly the parent that loves them the most? The really sad thing is that there are now two families for each of these dogs who feel they are the parents and don't want to let go.

Thank goodness, storms like Katrina don't happen often. Better make plans for your dog when a storm is brewing. We need to be planned for too. Don't forget.

I sure hope Herself has a plan for me? I can't imagine being separated from her and AuntJ. I get goosebumps thinking about it. I would certainly try to find my way home. But many States away, I don't know if I could make it back . And the new owners even changed the dogs names. You keep your hands off my name; I love it and I will never answer to anything else in my entire life. Don't mess with me. I might be small but I'm mighty.

~I'll wait for you by the door~

This dog has special friends.

One of my dearest friends is Kim, Herself's cousin. I can get her scent blocks away, why I even know the lobby of her apartment building ... I know exactly where we are going. I loved her from the very first time I met her. She and I got along right off the bat. She's fun and kind. She always has an apple for me, and I leap around her until she peels it and hands it to me. Oh Boy!!! Excuse me. Oh Girl!!! Ain't life grand? You might say, she's bribing me, or even buying my friendship. Nope. Not so. I just plain love her, with or without the apple bit.

Friendship. So much of our life is made around our friends. What is life without them??? I try to be the very best friend in return, lots of affection and lots of licks and tail excitement.

~See you soon, I'll wait for you by the door~

History was made in the early days of 2007.

As a girl dog, I am excited to see history being made today in our Congress with the first woman Speaker of the House. Does that make me a Democrat? Not necessarily, just a good American ...even though I'm Maltese. You know the new Speaker, Mrs Pelosi, is Italian American. So am I. My dog ancestors are Italian and English. But I was born here, in incredibly wonderful, America. And boy, am I proud of that. Do I keep up with politics...you better believe it. Both Herself and me are constantly watching the doings of Washington and, yes, Albany, my State's Capitol. Most of the time we are not amused.

You know, these people in the high reaches of Government, can affect my life too. For example, here in New York City, they have a program that encourages, ahem! "fixing" us dogs so that there are too many homeless dogs and unwanted ones living on the street.

I believe each and every dog should be loved and kept safe, just like me. I am so very blessed.

~I'll wait for you by the front door~

Sashaying around town

When Herself and I go for a walk, I like to do it in style, first and foremost, and then in comfort.

I, with a little delicate neck, always found collars to be uncomfortable. However, I do have one collar that is black with rhinestones, that's my dress up outfit. That's a keeper. A girl's best friend is her rhinestones.

But we are thinking of getting one of these collars. I find them colorful and deliciously comfortable. Check it out.

I like the sky blue one, but I hope nobody takes me for a guydog.

That's not me in the picture - she's a model. I'm building up your an-tic-i-pa-tion, before I show you my adorableness.

Going out, it's a beautiful day in Gotham.

~When I come back, I'll wait for you by the door~

T'was the day after Christmas

T'was the day after Christmas and all through the dog house, not a creature was stirring (better not) not even a mouse (are you kidding?).

Well, beautiful Christmas day is over. I love Christmas. I've been asking myself why I love it so much and decided it's because humans (and dogs, have you noticed) are just plain nicer to each other. Almost sweeter. That's got to be better for us all.

I made my list of "I would love to haves" and handed it off to Herself. She was very generous. I still have some she 'forgot' to get me, so I'm leaving the list around for my birthday in about a month. Hey, one of my very best traits is my persistence.

I'm wishing each of you and all those two and four-legged creatures in your lives, fun, treats, great clothes, a warm bed and love ... lots and lots of love.

Merry Christmas, y'all. (I've been watching Paula's cooking show).

Give a puppy for Christmas

I heard a friend of Herself ask "What should I give myself for Christmas"? Herself responded, without hesitation, "A puppy. Go buy one at a good home breeder or adopt one." The woman explained that she was going through a divorce and she needs something special. "Well then, quickly go get yourself a puppy", Herself repeated.

I agree wholeheartedly. Listen if this woman would ask me directly, I would definitely advise her to get a MALTESE puppy. I may be a bit prejudiced, but we are the perfect answer. Of course, there are a few things you should know about Malteses.

First of all, we don't need massive exercise everyday. Just a short walk about the "hood" or, in my case, a run down my hallway where I live. So if Herself's friend is not an outdoors adventurer, like Clara, one of my very best 2-legged friends, or a triathlonist or something extreme like that, then she would love our meditative ways.

We do love lots of company with our special human. Lots of affection taken and given. Lots of praise works wonders (it can get me to do anything). We listen intently, so if she needed to vent about "the ex." we'd listen and empathize. We'd even growl at some of what we were hearing. And if a few tears would fall, we'd be there jumping up and wanting to lick them away. We would crawl up unto her lap and curl around and stay there, letting her know that she is loved and adored. A Maltese puppy would be perfect for what she's going through now.

We're also great date-bait. We are so adorable that men fall at your feet as you walk around town. Honestly, it's happened. She needs that now, too. So, go buy a Maltese puppy for Christmas; it sounds like this woman needs major loving.

Incidentally, I've been very busy composing my letter to Santa Daugs cause I am trying to keep my requests below one hundred. Just kidding. More like 50. There are so many wonderful things out there - fabulous clothes and SHOES (a girl can never have too many shoes) it's hard to narrow it down. Don't you just love this time of year?

See you soon. I'll wait for you by the door.

It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas

Some of us can hit the high notes, some of us can't. I did sing along while I watched this from BadTV.com. Herself was laughing. I have a very strong voice but I hit the wrong notes most of the time, so I'll let my friend here sing, while I woof along to myself.

Woof woof woof,
woof woof woof,
woof woof woof woof woof.

A dog's taxi

I've seen these around town.

First I said, "What? That's the funniest thing I've seen since I saw my 3-month old sister, Harmony, get caught on top of the table and couldn't get down."

But ... I'm beginning to have second thoughts. I guess as one gets older and wiser, one has second thoughts about all kinds of things. Why, it's like having your own convertible to tool around town in.

I happen to Adore, with a capital "A", New York City taxis. I ache to get inside one. I think they are the cat's meow. (Hey, I believe in expanding my vocabulary to include all of God's creatures). But, this buggy will do in a pinch. Instead of a taxi, riding around in one of these would do the trick. Now if I could get one in New York Taxi yellow, it would be perfect. BTW, that's not me in there.

Prettyyoko.com has a remarkable assortment of really interesting and unusual items. I love looking through them. I sit on Herself's lap and check out the online stores and say to myself ... "that one", and "Oh, I really like that one", "no, not that one", "yes, that one, too." I'm not spoiled, really! Herself doesn't buy me tons of things, but I notice when she says something like, "that's adorable",or "you could use that", I usually wind up with it.

~I'll be at the door, waiting for you~

Dogs should be trained to have manners.

Hey fellow Dog New Yorkers, where are your manners???? Maybe I need to write The Mystical of Avalon Book of Manners for Dogs. Oh yes, many dogs are trained and have good manners, but there are slew of Dog New Yorkers who are really terrible. They're fresh, a bit crude and down right boorish some of them. Some of them don't even know the basics, like sit,stay,down for even, fetch. I mean not to run after a ball or your favorite toy and bring it back so you can run after it again ... Duh!!! How dense can a dog be. Get with the program. Shape up!

I seem to be very well-bred. Oh that's not to say that I didn't do things that I would be embarrassed to talk about in mixed company ... I don't think I have to spell it out to you, do I?? But Herself very gently with firmness "talked" me out of my childish ways. I learned to be paper trained, for example in record time. Now I will hold it in for hours till I get back home to my own bathroom and then 'look out' here it comes. I did make a few mis-placements when I was younger, but now, I'm just about perfect.

If you need immediate help, Daniel Stevens has written a terrific book to take your rough ways and make them smoooooth and downright charming. Any objection to being handsome or beautiful WITH manners? Check out Daniel's book and see if it fits beside your favorite bed near the fireplace. One of the best parts is about Dog Whispering. Sometimes, Herself just thinks my name, and I turn around to see what she wants. That's Dog Whispering ... it's an intuitive-thing between you and your human. You know, we are coming up to the New Year 2007 and it's time to learn to be well-trained and mannerly. Learn to sit and stay and fetch, and becoming fetching in the process. Check it out!

Tell you what! Maybe when we meet in Central Park on the hill one day, I'll be so impressed with how well you've shaped up after your training, that I'll be willing to share some of my other secrets with you. You know the saying, dogs of a feather flock together. Hummm. Somethings wrong with that saying. I don't have feathers, I don't even have fur,I have hair, long silky white hair. Well, I'll ask Herself and see what she says about dogs and feathers.

~I'll be waiting by the door for you~

What this Dog is thankful for?

I've been thinking how much I have to be grateful for.

There's Herself. My human Mommy. She loves me, takes care of me, frets over me when my sensitive tummy acts up, plays with me ... my favorite time of the day!! We have a special bond that I can't really put into words. You would have to see how I look at her sometimes. "The look of love, is in my eyes". Isn't that a Bachrach song. She makes me feel safe and content and happy ... there's nothing better than that.

There's my AuntJ, Herself's sister. She feels exactly the same as Herself about me and I have a wonderful, loving time with her, when I stay with her. She's really my second Mommy. I love her to bits and when I go down the street I look for her really hard till I see her and then I go running towards her really, really fast. It's sort of a scene out of the movie "10". Lots more to tell you about her as we talk.

There's terrific Graham. He's seven now, and I remember when I first met him. I knew we would be friends forever. I make him giggle. I love to hear him giggle. He's so smart. I can hear his brain spinning around, figuring things out. I have hyper-hearing so I hear really special things like spinning brains and stifled tears.

Graham has a sweet heart. I know when a human has a good heart. Sometimes humans hide who they really are for all kinds of silly reasons, but they shouldn't. We should always be who we are. Graham expresses himself is all kinds of ways. He throws his head back and laughs without holding back. He looks up at the architecture of buildings and notices the difference in them, he plays chess, really well. I'd love to play chess with him. Maybe if they made the chess pieces out of treats I would pay attention and know what piece goes where...or maybe I would just bite the head off the King and the game would be over. He's also wise. You know, that old wise that comes from many previous lives. His truly beautiful Mommy, Allison, Herself's daughter and Dad, Graham,Sr are the soul of Graham's life.

Then there are my other 2-legged friends. Many live on the same floor as I do. They come out and play with me. (Don't tell anyone ... this is a secret but I run in the long hallway with my toy in my mouth with Herself twice a day in a snooty co-op building - all with the silent agreement of my neighbors) . Although I'm very quiet, sometimes one of my human friends comes out of their apartments and we are happy to see each other and we play for a while. There's Elaine and Bud, I love them both a whole lot. They have a beautiful granddaughter, Samantha. She's about 11, I think. We have play-dates when she comes to town. More about her later. There's Jamie(she gets down on the floor and I plop down on her lap and she gives me the best back rubs). There's Rachel, we grew up together. She did a show and tell at her school once about me, she brought my baby pictures when I could fit in the palm of a hand. (Hey! she made me a star in front of an audience). There's Cindy and Steve, two of the nicest neighbors I could have. I go barging into their apartment whenever they open the door, looking for Rachel or Aaron. There's Erika ... she's terrific, she's definitely one of my favs. There's Freida, we talk about intellectual things mostly, at least they sound that way to me. They all get my tail going, wildly. I loooove them all!!

I'm grateful for living here in New York ... there is so much excitement, and sounds, and lots of feet coming towards me as I walk around town.

I'm thankful for all my favorite places to lie down, and nap. The most important is Herself's lap. Perfect. While she works, I nap. Thank you, thank you, to Father Dog in Heaven who placed me here, on this speck of Mother Earth, with those I live with and those I play with and those yet to meet.

And ... I'm thankful thinking about all of you who will read my 'dlogg' and be my friends. Tell me about your doglife ... I want to hear. Herself will read what you write to me. I've given up on learning to read myself ... so she's agreed to read them to me. Need some advice? I've got plenty. And it's good stuff too. Because Malteses are a very old breed from Malta, lots of knowledge has been handed down from my ancestors, through the centuries ... so try me. Ask me anything.

Happy, happy, happy Thanksgiving to you all. Today I will have a little turkey and a quarter of an crisp apple, some bottled water and a good nap. When I feel this happy, the sides of my mouth curl up and I smile my contented smile. ;-)

I'll wait for you by the door~