Another dog park

Las t Saturday my uncle Lance drove Cathy and me to the Woodland Dog Park in Seattle. That’s my mom’s favorite dog park. She says it reminds her of the forest primeval. It’s very Northwest — all those tall trees.

I like Woodland because so many nice dogs go there. There’s always someone for me to play with. Here I am playing with another dog who understands how dog parks work. You can tell we’re speaking the same language. I’m saying, “Let’s play.” He is saying, “Sounds good! What kind of game do you have in mind?”

My mom was disappointed because my Uncle Lance refused to be photographed. “I’m very camera shy,” he said.

More likely he’s ashamed to be seen in our company. I can’t say I blame him. I mean, everybody wants to be seen with me, but my Mom isn’t exactly a fashion model. You’ll see more in future posts.

We were all very cold so we didn’t stay long. Thank goodness! I went home and slept for 12 hours straight.

Cat seeks refuge from housemates

See this terrific piece of feline furniture? My mom grabbed it when someone was moving out and left it behind. opheliahiding She washed the cushions in our washing machine (thank goodness – who needs fleas?).

Creampuff likes to sit on the top. But our newest housemate, Ophelia, has claimed the lower opening for her very own. She spends hours there, watching the rest of us.

“Better than under the bed,” my mom says. “And better than the laundry room, too.”

You have to look closely but do you see that black and white blur? Yes…that’s Ophelia, fully recovered from liver disease and her traumatic time in the Animal Shelter.

And (in my opinion) winner of the Most Useless Household Animal award.

Dog tired …

Yesterday I went to the Dog Lounge while Mom worked out at the gym. Summer was so happy to see me! She went back to the pen area and we played…and played.

When Mom came to pick me up, Summer said, “So soon? Does she have to go now?”

“Summer,” said Mom, “I will leave Gracie to you in my will.”

I like that idea, although Mom’s not ready to croak yet.

That night I was totally wiped. Thursday my Uncle Bob filled in for Aunt Sara. He believes in long runs in the park. Then Sunday…so I curled up in a tight ball and fell asleep on my Mom’s bed.

Mom woke up and noticed I hadn’t moved. She reached over to pat me. “Hmm… Gracie, you feel cold. Are you still alive?”

I didn’t budge. Here’s an opportunity to shake up my mom. She’ll get all worried. She’ll be so relieved to realize I’m alive, she’ll grab a handful of treats for me. Yum. I can just taste that peanut butter.

Alas, Mom has become tough.

“Gracie, I can’t do anything tonight. Hope you’re around tomorrow morning.”

Then she went back to sleep and I did too. Sure enough, this morning I bounced off the bed, all ready to begin our morning walk and eat my breakfast. Then it was time for another nap. Another busy day in the life of a CUPPIE.

Canine Personality Tests? Gimme a Break

My mom just read me an article in the Wall Street Journal – a newspaper filled with articles about business and finance. Nothing to do with me.

“Retail stores are screening new hires with personality tests,” she said. “Hoghwash!”

I agree. Suppose I had to answer those question before getting adopted.

“You would like a job that is quiet and predictable.”

Yes! I love my routine. Every morning Cathy takes me for a walk as soon as we wake up. Then I snooze till noon. We have another walk. In the afternoon we go for a longer walk. And just before bed we walk again.

Twice a week I go to the park with my Aunt Sara – yaay! And Sundays I usually go to the Dog Lounge while mom works out.

Who would want more excitement? Not me, for sure.

“Other people’s feelings are their own business.”

No way! When my mom is tired or feeling under the weather, I snuggle up next to her and look adorable. I stop chewing socks for at least ten minutes.

When we meet strangers who need a dog fix, I’m right there.

You didn’t ask me about the cats’ feelings. Sorry, not my job.

“You feel nervous when there are demands you can’t meet.”

Hah. So I can’t do a perfect “down.” Or I can’t take my mom to see the fireworks. Big deal.

True, my mom said, “Gracie, if you chew my new wool winter hat, I will send you right back to the pound.” No way. I’m here forever.

“In school you were one of the best students.”

Yeah, right. Two trainers told my mom, “Gracie will always keep testing you. You’ll have to keep working with her.”

So I was a “C” student in obedience school. A lot of presidents were C students. So were some Kings of England. For a CUPPIE – a Canine Urban Princess – I’m perfectly educated.

“In your free time, you go out more than stay home.”

In my free time, I sleep.

Enough questions. Speaking of free time, mom, we need to go for our noon walk.

Dewey The Library Cat: Good idea

My mom just read me parts of this book, Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Changed the World.

book about dewey the library cat

It’s a pretty good book. Dewey was tossed into the book return chute one cold snowy evening. The library staff adopted him, with permission of the Board. He became a star attraction of the library and the town. Library attendance rose dramatically and people all over the world learned more than they ever wanted about Spencer, Iowa.

Of course the Board got nasty as Dewey got older. At once point they considered appointing a committee to oversee Dewey’s last days. The current Board won’t let the library adopt a cat, although several candidates have come forward.

What’s wrong with people? Can’t they see how much a cat or dog can add to their lives?

When Cathy first adopted me, she could bring me to the Uptown Espresso coffee shop in Belltown. I would snooze by her side as she drank coffee, ate something that was tasty (but not good for her), and worked. Then the Seattle Health Department decided dogs were hazards. We were all banished. Cathy doesn’t go there anymore unless she’s meeting somebody for coffee, usually on a Friday while I’m out with my Aunt Sara.

People loved me in the coffee shop. One man in a wheelchair used to look for me. One woman brought me a muffin. Cathy wouldn’t let me eat it. Apart from my delicate digestive system, she said she deserved the muffin more than I did. “I’m responsible for having such a great dog,” she told me as we walked home.

Life goes on. My mom says a movie about Dewey will appear sometime, with rumors of Meryl Streep playing the librarian.

What if they made a movie about me? My mom’s favorite actresses are all British: Judy Dench, Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury and Helen Mirren. She likes actresses who look like they’ve experienced life.

Okay, I bet we won’t be in a movie in this lifetime. Anyway, if we were, our newest housemate Ophelia would steal all the good scenes.

Exhausted Dog Welcomes New Year With Festive Sleep

My mom Cathy finally caught on. I hate fireworks and loud noises. Last year I was shaking so hard she had to pick me up.

Well, I’m not quite the slender Princess I was a year ago. At midlife, my figure has become more Queenly, even though my mom watches my diet and I get tons of exercise. My mom isn’t getting any younger either (but don’t tell her – it’s a sensitive topic). So she said, “If I pick you up, Gracie, I might pull my back. So we are staying home.”

Mom goes out Saturday to hear Beethoven’s First and Ninth Symphonies at Benaroya Hall. So she played them for me, loud enough to drown out the firecrackers. I slept. And slept. After all, I went out with Aunt Sara on Tuesday and spent a few hours in the Dog Lounge on Wednesday. I’m wiped.

Mom is too but she was so excited about her updated blog she was up till 3 AM. Who cares what time she goes to bed? When I’m sleepy, I sleep. My bed is anywhere in this apartment.

Canine Urban Princess Gets The Ultimate Day in the City

Mom says today was the ultimate in urban living for a canine — and for her, too. She was behind schedule so we flagged down a Yellow Cab to take me to the Dog Lounge.

We CUPPIEs know how to ride in a cab. I sat straight on my mom’s lap, looking out the window, and didn’t budge. The driver likes dogs (otherwise he wouldn’t have stopped for us). I started to help him by licking the window, but my mom was horrified. “Gracie,” she said, “you don’t need to wash the windows.”

I spent a delightful morning being pampered with a workout in the Big Dog area, followed by a bath, pedicure and ear trim. Summer gave me a beautiful red and white bandanna to wear home. Everybody on the bus made a fuss over me. “Such a well-behaved dog,” they said. “So beautiful.” It was a community of urban bus riders. And all created by me.

“What’s her name?”

“Gracie. Amazing Gracie. Or Princess Gracie.”

“What’s her breed?”

“All American Mutt,” my mom says proudly.

Come on, Mom. You’re a copywriter. Can’t you come up with something more…regal?

Yeah, right.

Ophelia eating: still a news item

My mom Cathy is still celebrating Ophelia’s recovery from liver disease. If you are just joining us on this blog, Ophelia’s the cat on the right – the fuzzball approximately the size and shape of an aircraft carrier, seen from above.2 cats eating

“After force feeding that wretched cat for 5 long weeks,” Cathy says, “at least Ophelia turned out to be really special. She’s loyal and loving.”

The cats are getting along with each other. Every so often we hear screams and cries, but Cathy says that’s a good sign. “At least they’re showing some interest in each other,” she says. “Nothing worse than a bored cat.”

Except a dog who’s getting bored with all the cat talk. Time for a walk, Mom.