Nipper's Serenade!

Our dog Nipper has an "official" song. It's one of many, really, but nearly every day of his 14 3/4 years with us (except for the six weeks he was with his birth mother and littermates), I have sung this to him:

(To the tune of "Rubber Duckie".)

Nipper Newbold, you're the one -

You make our house lots of fun.

Nipper Newbold, we're awfully fond of you -

Boop, boop, be-do!

Nipper Newbold, joy of joys!

So pretty it's hard to believe you are a boy!

Nipper Newbold, you're our very best friend it's true!

Chorus:

Everyday you roll over and we rub your tummy.

Why? 'Cause it's so furry and chubby!

Rub-a-rub-rubby!

Nipper Newbold, you're so fine -.

We let you outside when you whine.

Nipper Newbold, we're awfully fond of -

Nipper Newbold, we'd like a whole kennel -

of youuuuu!

I have a theory. Life is a huge musical and there is a song for virtually everything! Do you sing to your pets? Bet you do! What songs are on your personal menagerie's "Hit Parade" list?

Cleanliness is Not Next to Hamster-i-ness!

Hamsterdam.
Peace offering.
Release.
Materials of cleanliness.
Inside the ball.

My hamsters are mad at me. Squeaking mad. Why? Because I had the audacity to clean their cage. (Well,actually it's an aquarium with a screened lid, but let's not quibble about the details because there is enough discord in the house right now as it is.)

It had to be done. They were getting downright stinky and since they share my office and I'm the responsible-pet-owner-in-residence, I'm the one who has to do it, even though it makes me the "bad guy." I know that they spend lots of time getting their little lair "just right," but it's not like they're not used to it. We have a routine.

Once or twice a week, I put up the baby gate to keep Nipper out of the kitchen, place Sheldon and Leonard in their little hamster balls so they can run across the kitchen floor while I work, spread the newspaper out over the kitchen table, gather the materials and give "Hamsterdam" a good, old-fashioned, soap and hot water scrubbing. Then they get fresh litter, clean water, a new bowl of food and to assuage their pique (gosh, I love dropping pretentious French phrases when it comes to talking about housepets), bribe them with a vanilla Oreo cookie to make it all better.

But they are still spitting mad...so angry they can barely run their wheel. You should see them stomping around that cage messing the place up again. Ah, well...what else do they have to do? As my Great-Grandmother was fond of saying, "Everybody has to have a hobby!"

I'm a Dog Watcher!

*Singing*
(In my prettiest, warbilest voice to the tune of “Girl Watcher” by the O’Kaysions):

“I’m a dog watcher.
I’m a dog watcher.
Watchin’ dogs go by.
My, my, my…”.

Now I may not have been awarded the Presidential Physical Fitness Award in grade school (I didn’t want to do those stupid 100 sit ups anyway), but as an adult I have excelled at the sport of dog watching.

You see, my inner child never progressed beyond the stage of pointing to every canine she sees and practically shrieking, “Doggie! Doggie, doggie, doggie!”

Dog watching never gets old and my absolute most favorite place in the world to indulge is Hyde Park Square. It is a dog-watcher’s heaven on earth. There is absolutely nothing better than sitting at one of those little tables out in front of Awakenings with a sugar-free, fat-free, vanilla latte and watching the pooches on parade.

They range from pure-breds to mutts, and the owners are all equally proud. Most are willing, if not eager to stop and let you pet their pals and share their stories. It is people at their friendliest and most open in ways they might never be if they didn‘t have their dogs with them. Admiring someone’s dog is a sure-fire conversation starter and a great equalizer. The truth is, from my own experience with my own dogs, is you are not just walking your dog…it is your heart at the end of that leash and you are taking it out for all the world to see.

Do you have a favorite dog watching spot? I'd love to know! C'mon, after all, turn-about is fair play!

Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You!

I'm besotted with the calico cat who lives down the street. We've never met, but I look for him (or her) whenever I drive by. He (or she) is almost always lying in the window, enjoying the sun and keeping a watchful eye on the birdies. On the days he (or she) is there, it makes me smile and on the days he (or she) is not, I feel a bit blue (for just a moment or two) and wonder what he (or she) is up to.

Is he (or she) partaking in a little snack? Napping on the bed? Chasing a mouse? I'll never know, but I'm always charmed by the thought...

Funny how that works. That kitty whom I have never formally met has become a happy touchstone in my life. It's just another example of how animals, sometimes just by their sheer existence can bring us joy.

I'm going to take Nipper for a walk and leave this little catnip bouquet on his (or her) doorstep right now. Perhaps I'll see the owners and introduce myself. Maybe not...sometimes it is best to remain a "secret admirer."

Do you have any animals you admire from afar?