Finnegan's Visit

Today was the big Commerce Bank Bike Race in Philly, right here, literally, in my back yard - in MY park. No-one checked with me whether it would be ok to take over MY park and fill it with people and thousands of bikes and blaring music! Anyway, I'm sorta glad it happened, 'cos if it wasn't for the race, I would never have met Finnegan Spielman - brother of the famous Mackie the Sock Eater who came all the way from Maryland with his Mom Melissa and Dad Steve! Finnegan is 9 months old, and he's quite a guy!

We met under a gazebo away from the noise - and we took an instant liking to each other after we both hopped up on the picnic table...



At one point, you could say we even exchanged kisses...


While the bike race was going on -


Mom and Dad chatted with Melissa...


And then Finn and I played about. Finn is not used to being off leash like I am - so we couldn't go totally bonkers running about - but we still got in some good play. Boy Finn plays rough - I enjoyed it thoroughly! My type of pal!



Soon the bike race ended, and we all walked back towards the Parkway. Guess what I spotted? A FOUNTAIN!! I had to go in of course and I was hoping Finn would join me. Once again, a guard blocked our way. But both Mom's did such a good job of begging to let us cool off, that she said OK!! I of course, ploughed right in - while Finn had to be gently pushed in. He didn't like it much...guess he's still young...stick around Finn, you'll end up loving it like I do.



On the way out the water, I noticed some scribbles on the bottom of the fountain. Luckily I think, I can't read!!


Then it was time to say goodbye to my new friend Finn...I love meeting other wiry pals - hope to meet Finn again soon - possibly at Montgomery!

AGC

Of Anniversaries and Noseless Pals

On Monday - June 4 - Mom and Dad celebrated their first wedding anniversary! Mazel tov! I had been looking forward to it because a layer of their wedding cake has been in our freezer for one whole year and Mom told Dad over and over that they were going to eat it on Monday. I expected my share too. But when it had been out a few hours defrosting, Mom opened up the tinfoil wrap and to her horror, saw whichever moron caterer had wrapped it after the wedding, had left the flowers on top. Real flowers with stemps pushed deep into the cake. Dad took one look and vowed he was not going to eat a morsel. Mom felt it would be bad luck, so she compromised and gave me a bite. It was just OK. Here you can see the monstrosity - which I might add, landed in the trashcan, one second after the pictorial evidence was taken...



In other exciting news...Mom came home with a big box today she'd collected from a mail depot. And out of the box, came a miniature ME with a name tag around his neck proclaiming him to be IKE. He is the famous wire from the Dear Mrs La Rue: Letters from an Obedience School book series - Mom bought the book too. I stole him out of Mom's hand and did a jig around the room. Mom let me enjoy Ike for a while until she noticed me trying to detach his nose.



Mom sat me down and explained that this was HER toy not MINE and I was not to destroy it. Yeah right Mom. Here I am pretending to be his friend, all the while devising a strategy for giving him a total rhinoplasty!!

Lastly, guess what I did yesterday morning? Besides giving Dad a heart attack, I dived into the Schukyll (who can spell that?) river because it's slimy and muddy, and you know I love to swim. Dad had to hoist me out by my lead which wasn't a pretty sight! He should know better than take me to tempting locations like river banks! I am not a paragon of self restraint!

AGC

The Fountain of Life

Sorry I haven't written for a while. It's the parents' fault - they buggered off over Memorial Day weekend to some place called Miami and dumped me at my grandparents house. I thought we were just visiting; they took grandpa out for dinner and next thing I know, he comes back without them and I see them 3 days later! I don't see why I couldn't go with to Miami - I mean I had an okay time at the grandparents but I missed my pals and my long walks.

But you could say Mom and Dad are making up for it this week. Yesterday, we had such a blast. Around 5pm, Mom, Dad, Pris the dogwalker/neighbor/friend and Austin the lab, one of Pris's charges and I, jumped into Mom's car and drove to Kelly Drive. I just knew this was going to be some sort of awesome adventure.

We parked and Austin and I jumped out the car. After a short walk, I thought I glimpsed heaven - a big fountain full of water! I almost pulled Mom right over in my haste to dive right in (did I mention it was 90F?) - so good woman that she is, she unclipped my leash and off I went. SPLASH, into the fountain. By now Austin, who is quite a laid back old dude, got excited too, and plowed in. Pris who is always a very well equipped dogwalker, produced a tennis ball, and the game was ON! Austin and I ran after it and had a wild time:

At first, Austin had it....

But then I dive-bombed him from the side, and stole it away...

Then we wrestled for it.



After a while, Mom got hot, and also jumped in with us...



Austin could not remember the last time he'd had this much fun! And nor could I. I just love to swim!



I forgot to mention that in the midst of all our glee, two big women dressed in black uniforms came up to our humans and told them we were not allowed to swim in the fountain. I was going to bite them, but I thought better of it. And anyway, it was towards the end of our swimming. Mom assured Austin and I that no bitches were going to prevent us dogs from having our fun! And Mom lived up to her promise 'cos today we went back, this time with Wiley the bearded collie and Brody the Cairn terrier, and we swam and swam and ran around off leash - and no-one stopped us. In fact, many people stopped to look at us approvingly and remarked how wonderful it was to see such happy and humourous dogs! You should have seen Wiley with his long coat all wet, he looked as skinny as a tree branch!

Anyway, back to yesterday. After the guards stopped our fun, I had a drink from the doggy fountain - having a doggy fountain suggests to me that the place welcomes dogs, so why should we be banned from the fountain which is a step away from the drinking fountain?


Then it was time to go back to the car. Austin got towel dried but I didn't need to as my coat hardly absorbs water and it dries off quickly. And don't worry, I don't sit on Mom's lap when she drives, I was safely in the back with Austin!


Here's to many more swims in the fountain and ponds...I love to swim!!!

AGC

Farewell Dear Friends

I am sad. I am verklempt. I have just said goodbye to my dearest friends Gracie the Anatolian (my best friend ever); Dozer, the Shephard mix alias Fenway; Kela, the Spaniel; Mojo, the black cat; and Dee, the homo sapien. Tomorrow they leave Philadelphia forever and head to Massachewsits - which I hope for Gracie's sake, is the land of many chews - perhaps that is where they grow Dingos and Pigs Ears?

Let's take a minute, to savor the moments of the special friendship I've shared with Gracie for the last year and a half. I was a few months old when she moved into the house across the street. Oh Gracie, how I will miss you sweetie.
Here is Gracie when she was a wee pup - those were the days when I towered over her!



And here are just some of the precious moments we shared together - playing, wrestling, partying and just hanging out in our street:


I knew the end was near, when I woke up to see this apparition on our street:


Later, Mom and I sat on the step with P our friend/dogwalker/neighbor and watched the men pack up the truck. And then Gracie, Dozer and Kela came by and Sasha, our pal the huge Akita visited to say a last goodbye too. I love J, Sasha's dad as he always carries pockets full of treats:



Later still, P ran home to get Elvis so he too could say his goodbyes to Gracie, Dozer and Kela. Here he is giving Gracie a kiss farewell...our pack will never be the same...



Finally, as the sun went down - it was time to part at last. We did one final check on the neighborhood alleyways and then Gracie took me by the leash and led me to my door - she whispered in my ear, "Farewell dear dear friend - until we meet again. I shall miss you. Thanks for being such a groovy pal. I will never forget you - I will always have a special place in my heart for your spunky wirey soul."



And so dear friends, one chapter ends as the big, loyal and beautiful Anatolian goes off on a new adventure with her brother, sister and Mom, and heartbroken but stoic, her Philadelphia pack stay behind, to bravely face another day...

AGC

My Very Special Birthday

Ah how swell it is to have a birthday! Hello everyone, I am now 2 years old, and I'd like to tell you about the special day I had!

When I woke up this morning, Mom and Dad gave me a new toy - a red Loofa dog dressed up in patiotic colors. Unfortunately the pic isn't great as I was distracted...but I sure dig this gift, it has a unique squeak that sounds more like a grumble. I also got two packages of Dingoes - little ones and donut shaped ones...but alas I couldn't have them all at once, I only got one to chew. Mom told me the big packet of Dingoes were a gift from Miss Amelia - wow, what a groovy chick she is. Thanks darling!

I had my usual walk this morning and my walk with P, my favorite dogwalker and then Mom came home and took me to the park after giving me lots of liver treats and burnt hotdogs (I love them - mom slices turkey or chicken dogs and frazzles them in the microwave for 12 minutes. Yummy).

At the park, I saw many friends:


And greeted old friends including Harry the big Spaniel looking thing (here we are drinking rain water from a tree) and Brody, the Cairn, one of my best buds:



I also chased Maggie and Mom had a hard time getting a photo of us in the same frame becos Maggie runs so darn fast! Can you see me? And yes I know it looks a bit scary - that we seem near cars and traffic, but really we know not to go off the grass. Ever.



I met a new friend today, a Boston Terrier/Pitbull pup, but I didn't catch his name:



Mostly I sat on the green green grass and just enjoyed being outside on my special day:



And I also ran about of course - an older dog needs his exercise!



On the way home, we ran into Dozer-Fenway (his mom gave him a new name, but I still think of him as Dozer, Gracie's little bro). He is the same size as me now and we love to wrestle. They leave Philly on Wednesday...boy that will be a sad day:


And the fun didn't end there. For dinner tonite I got TWO juicy beef ribs and I got to eat it on the couch! Wow. Usually I have to eat them on the floor, on a towel... Mom must have lost touch with her senses...



At the end of the day, I was pretty worn out from playing and chewing (2 ribs, 2 Dingoes, one hoof)- so I hit my fave spot a-top the sofa, and chilled.



I sure do like birthdays. And I sure am a lucky guy.

AGC

My Birthday Cometh!

Hear ye! Hear ye! On Thursday, May 17 is my birthday!!! I will be 2! That means that in human years I have already surpassed my bar mitzvah. What a relief that Mom and Dad didn't make me read the torah in synagogue - I don't think I could have pulled that off!

Mom came home late tonite and she was clutching a Petsmart bag when she walked in the door. I just know she went shopping for my birthday!! I tried to help her with her package but she told me it was not something for me. Yeah right Mom - I have a powerful sniffer and I smelled DINGOs and liver treats and toys!!! I might be almost 2 only but I wasn't born yesterday!

Today is the democratic election for Mayor of Philadelphia. Dad went off after our walk this morning to vote - poor Mom is not a citizen yet, so she gets no vote. She is pissed as she thinks a permanent resident implies you ain't leaving...so give me the vote!! Anyway...everyone else has endorsed candidates, so because my blog is so well read, and because I am a citizen albeit with out the right to vote, I am going to formally announce my endorsement. I, Axel G Chocholoza hereby endorse Tom Knox, for the very salient reason that his name rhymes with FOX and that is good enough for ME!

AGC

Hey, it's Henry!

What a beautiful day...and you won't believe what happened to me!

Dad and I were out on a walk in our familiar park surroundings when Dad sees a couple and a dog in the distance relaxing by a bench. As we got closer, Dad realized the dog was another Wire Fox!! We went and introduced ourselves and met Henry, a year old wire from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They were here on a weekend visit. It's always nice to see a fellow wire, but I was in one of my aloof moods...so the humans chatted for a while and then we continued on our way.

At the time, Mom was at the supermarket doing her weekly chore, when Dad had the brilliant idea of taking a photo of Henry and Me and sending it to Mom's cellphone. So there was Mom, perusing toilet paper in isle 9 when her phone rang. She thought it was Dad to remind her to buy something - but instead up came a photograph entitled, "me and my wire friend Henry". Mom was most confused, and when she realized what was up, she was most disappointed to have missed meeting Henry.

I'm the wire with the black saddle. Henry was mostly white.

When she got home, she interrogated Dad - who were they? how old was Henry? did we play? Was he stripped? where were they staying...poor Dad. Mom can be relentless when it comes to meeting other Wire foxes!

Tomorrow it's just me and Dad all day as Mom has to work at some big event - I don't see why I can't go with...but Mom says her work colleagues would not be impressed to have me along. Humpff!

AGC