Literary Canine Blogging - Sawtelles and Enzo

As soon as I read the first synopsis of Oprah's book club pick The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, I was interested. The story of the development of a fictional breed of dog, and it's effect on complex family relationships and history, started having a strange and familiar pattern as I approached the last third of the novel. It is a familiar tale retold in a new setting.

It is not light reading, and demands attention even as detailed dog training sessions make you want to skip ahead to more interesting parts. The pace of the book changes from a slow drag to rapid sprint, with much mystery and suspicion. The interactions and bonds between humans and dogs are inspiring, and not too over dramatic to be unbelievable. I have heard many complain about the ending, but the ending is more like what happens in real life than most novels present. It is a dark tragic tale, with moments of light and hope, and a meaningful ending that can be interpreted many different ways. I don't like to give spoilers, so that's all I'm going to say. Those who've already read it will know what I mean. It was a long book and took me over month to complete, as I've been I little overwhelmed with life, work and play, since the beginning of the year, and couldn't devote much attention to finishing this novel, and the sometimes slow pace of the story at times had me pushing it away frequently.

How would I rate it? I don't know, yet. I think I need to read it again before I know if I like it. Many stories I read, like The Road, are much better the second time, I think because I'm able to pick up details which were overlooked the first time.

I did finally get to this book, and I highly recommend it, even after only one reading. The character of Enzo, and the voice in his head, will stay with you long after you've finished this book. Heart-wrenching and uplifting story of family, love and loyalty, it is a well-crafted story from the point of view of a human's best friend.

“The Art of Racing in The Rain has everything: love, tragedy, redemption, danger, and--best of all--the canine narrator Enzo. This old soul of a dog has much to teach to us about being human. I loved this book.”
-- Sara Gruen, Author of Water for Elephants


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Friday First Dog Blogging

What will be the first thing that our President-Elect will be taking care of? There is the matter of something he promised his two daughters.

Also, The VP-Elect was promised a "big dog" from his wife.

I'm liking these guys more everyday.




Meanwhile, back at the White House, the current first dog is a little grumpy.

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Friday Dogs in Bama Films Blogging

Home State Premiere, August 10, at the Capri Theatre in Montgomery. Tonya S. Holly and star of the film, Lily Matland Holly will be in attendance.

Inspired by a true story. With her faithful dog and pet rabbit in tow, young Lily Strickland (Lily Matland Holly) leaves her mother (Amy Redford) and grandparents (Diane Ladd and Lee Majors) behind to embark on a purposeful journey: to find where her father disappeared at sea years ago. But she also leaves behind her mother's new boyfriend, Dean (Richard Tyson), a man with a disturbingly dark side that only Lily has seen firsthand.

Filmed in Alabama, Award Winning Independent Film: When I Find the Ocean



For showtimes and ticket information, please visit: http://www.capritheatre.org/

The film is also already available on DVD and thru NetFlix.

Ok, so the customer reviews on NetFlix aren't so great, but most complain about it being a sappy family drama, and I like those kind of movies, so it won't stop me.

One reviewer states "The dog was the best actor and deserves an oscar". Well, yeah. duh! That is enough of an endorsement for me.

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Friday Canine Companion Blogging

No time for blogging. Going on a weekend trip to the RRCA Southern Regional 5K Championship. I don't stand a chance against these elite runners, but I get to socialize with them, which is all I want to do.

This is what I want to do when I retire. No, not become a Canine Companion, raise them.

Click it, it's a link!

The Trouble with Trouble

Trouble has money, and money is trouble.

Here's the story of another rich, pampered celebrity who think they are above the law, and entertain themselves by taking advantage of creatures outside of their own species.

Fresh off the Skewed Presses:

Trouble, the dog of Leona Helmsley, has been arrest for illegal football betting.

The now realized dead Helmsley left her beloved white ("companion") a $12 million trust fund, according to her will, which was made public Tuesday in surrogate court.

Associates of Trouble have come forward accusing the dog of squandering away the newly acquired riches betting on preseason football.

Trouble has reached a plea agreement with authorities.

During his press conference in, Trouble sounded like a dog who was truly sorry for what he did. He used the words "ashamed," "immature" and "forgiveness." He says he's found Jesus.

"Jesus has a doggie heaven right?" he yelped. "I am not spinning my wheels here am I?"

No one knows yet if the sudden adoption of religion will make things easier on the pampered pooch.

"I mean, if you asked me. I would bet all dogs go…ah [expletive]." Trouble added. "I didn't mean bet. Bad dog!"

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Friday Authentic Friends Blogging

Nancy, I hope you have a ball on your birthday.

Everyone else, please go visit Nancy and wish her a great day.

Thanks for your friendship, Nancy

Happy Tail Ale

**********************************************************
Michael Vick - The universe needs to recycle the material that has formed his life.

Fred is one pissed-off cat.
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The blogging will be a little light for a while. Life has been getting busy. It's summertime people, get off the computer and go explore the world. Life doesn't exist on the internet.

....Knick-Knack Paddy Whack
Give the Dog a Beer ....

(...and the old man, too)

Click on Picture to go to Website.

Stephen Huneck - Dog Blessed

Stephen Huneck, a Vermont Artist, author, and Dog Lover has built a special place to honor Dog.

Not long after his near-death experience with Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a wild idea popped into his mind, one that kept nagging at him. The result was Dog Mountain.

"I wanted to build a chapel, one that celebrated the spiritual bond we have with our dogs, and that would be open to dogs and people. People of any faith or belief system."


Links:

Dog Mountain Chapel
Photo Gallery

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PB&J

Do something positive today to help save the planet, go make yourself a Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich.

From What Do I Know: "The Peanut Butter and Jelly Campaign asks "Who knew it was so easy to change the world?" One peanut butter and jelly sandwich at a time."

OR, you can make one of my favorite post-run meals:

Toasted Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich

- Toast two slices of WHOLE wheat Bread (if it just says wheat, it isn't WHOLE wheat)
- Spread a thick layer of Peanut Butter on the hot toast, so it melts and becomes runny.
- Place banana slices on the Peanut Butter. (There's no wrong way)
- Assemble sandwich.
- Eat.


The melted peanut butter will drip, so it's a good idea to have a Dog around to cleanup the PB drips from your shirt, pants, hands, floor, and furniture. You could eat it over a plate or a napkin, but that wouldn't be as much fun for Dog or you.

- Thanks, What do I know for the PB&J link.

Friday Fun with Dog

I have been a little overwhelmed lately with work and other mind-numbing distractions. Since my Friday posts have become popular with at least one reader, I will happily comply with their desires.

Next week, I will return to random thoughts and voices in my head.

For now, I redirect your attention to WikiFido:
What We Can Learn from Our Dogs

Some "puppies" never outgrow your lap.

A Boy and His Dog

What ever happened to the Brady Bunch's Dog, Tiger?

We have seen countless boring, empty, entertainless distractions about the other members of the Brady Bunch cast, but what ever happened to Tiger?

One year after the Bunch finally disbanded, "Tiger" had a starring role this movie with Don Johnson and Jason Robards: A Boy and His Dog.

I cannot confirm if this is the same dog, it is only a rumor. I've seen other rumors that Tiger was killed on the set of Brady Bunch. I'll keep my delusion that Tiger went on to bigger and better roles with the soon-to-be famous Miami Vice star.

Please don't believe the urban legend about the "Tiger and Alice" affair, I think it was a publicity stunt.



A Boy and His Dog is "A post-apocalyptic tale based on a novella by Harlan Ellison. A boy communicates telepathically with his dog as they scavenge for food and sex....". The dog is the wiser of the two companions.

This movie will never make the American Film Institute list of greatest 100 movies.

The movie is so bad, it is good - in a MST3K sort of way. The ending is very satisfying, but I will not spoil the plot. Lets just say they meet a girl, girl deceives boy, and they end up a having dinner date. Definitely not a film for children

The movie and short story are widely attacked for being misogynistic. It's bad entertainment, but has much to say about how "civilized" society treats those it considers "uncivilized". Keep an open mind, and enjoy the tasteless, brutally cynical humor, which will challenge our distinctions between good and bad, right and wrong, hero and villain, winning and losing.

This ending of this movie is a tasty treat.

-- This post was inspired by kelly the little black dog

Dog Days

Today's Dog Blogging picture is available as a link at the end of this post. It is mind-numbingly cute, and I wanted to post a warning before showing it.

The hot "Dog Days" of summer are here. It has been hot here in the Heart of Alabama since the middle of April, now it is just intolerable, three days so far over 100, and extremely humid, and it's not even summer yet for another week (almost).

This time of the year is not referred to as the Dog days because of the heat, it is because of this Spirit in the Sky, the bright star Sirius, located in the constellation Canis Major.

Dog Days is also the title of a new book (full title is Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm) by one my favorite authors, Jon Katz, who has several books about his adventures with his dogs and farm animals on his Bedlam Farm.

Here is a picture of one of his border collie's, which can be seen on his website, and the cover of the new book:

Izzy (Warning: Cuteness Overload. Don't say I didn't warn you.)



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Year Of The Dog

Year Of The Dog is a dark comedy from Mike White who has written and co-starred in other movie gems like The Good Girl, Orange County, and School of Rock. This movie is his directorial debut. It is refreshing look at the psychology of our relationships with humans and pets. I love this movie because I can relate to the feelings of the main character, Peggy, and how she interacts with the human world she doesn't quite understand.

From Fandango: Peggy (Molly Shannon) is a happy-go-lucky secretary - a great friend, employee, and sister who lives alone with her beloved dog. When Pencil unexpectedly dies, Peggy must embark on a journey of personal transformation that is hilarious, poignant and heartbreaking.

Read more here.

This independent movie is hard to find, but it is one of the few movies I've seen this year that I'd recommend. I expect it to be released on video soon.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Don't confuse this movie with A Dog Year, based on the life and writings of Jon Katz due out later this year. I've written about this non-fiction work on a previous Friday post.

I'm a big Jon Katz fan. He has written columns for HotWired and Slate.com, and has also worked as an executive producer of the CBS Morning News. I've eagerly been awaiting the release of this movie in which Jon, portrayed by Jeff Bridges, is going through a mid-life crisis, seeking solitude, while adopting a hyper-active border collie, and dealing with the death of another of his constant canine companions, a yellow Labrador he considered a soul mate.

IMDB Page: A Dog Year

One Nation, Under Dog

I was planning on using this slogan "One Nation, Under Dog" as a title to a blog post. (I just did). Before I could jump on it, it comes out as the tagline for a new movie based on the comic book and cartoon superhero Underdog. The fascist metastasizing corporate entertainment rodents at Disney are releasing the movie in August, forever changing the image of Underdog for the next generation of loyal brainwashed thought deficient humans.

Wait, I have a great idea, just in time for release of this movie. Why hadn't I thought about this before; replacing the token insulting deity reference "under god" in our socialist style Pledge of Allegiance, with "Under Dog".

The reference "God" in the pledge is undefined and basically useless, there are many definitions, and everyone has their own opinion. The God reference was added in 1954 as an afterthought years after the pledge's creation (1892).

Dog is not an ambiguous term, there is no confusion when someone talks about their Dog. Let's end the cultural tyranny which has no place in a society based on religious liberty. Changing the reference to "Under Dog" would have a direct commercial application, a movie tie-in, and the Disneyesque type pledge is certain to be approved by our culturally-ignorant media based parental units.

Hell, lets make Disney a religion! It is more commercially spiritual than the old style church type religions. Instead of just passing the plate, we pay admission, then we get entertaining images, a little music and dancing, and get taken for a ride. (Oh wait, churches do take us for a ride, don't they?)

The Church of Disney, with Mickey nailed to a dollar sign. We are saved!

"There's no need to fear, Underdog is here."

So today I use this slogan (see title). Soon catatonic kiddies will start repeating it as their replacement for "WWJD".

(Blasphemy! I must stop now, someone come over and slap me. I'm destined to spend eternity inside Space Mountain, where the bad people go. The good people go to Cinderella's Castle. With lots of little Tinkerbell faerie angels floating around. I do, I do, I do believe in faeries.) STOP IT! STOP IT! - Damn voices! Please make them stop.

/*********** S w i t c h i n g * V o i c e s *************/

The Black Dog has kept me company this week, and I kind of liked his company, I'm getting kind of use to it. In fact, I went out and got some of this special brew to share with my friend. His slogan is "No Whiners".

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Luscious

My friend Nancy had to part with a dear friend today. I cannot imagine the grief she is feeling now. The stronger the love, the more painful the parting.

Some time ago I posted a poem from unknown author called The Spirit of a Dog. Nancy commented that it reminded her of Luscious.





Nancy, always keep her in your memories.
Thanks for being a great friend, I'm sorry to hear about Luscious.

I"ll post the poem again today for Lush:

The Spirit Of A Dog

I was standing on a hillside
In a field of blowing wheat,
And the spirit of a dog
Was lying at my feet.

He looked at me with kind dark eyes,
Ancient wisdom shining through.
In the essence of his being,
I saw the love there too.

His mind did lock upon my heart
As I stood there on that day,
And he told me of this story
About a place so far away.

As I stood upon that hillside
In a field of blowing wheat,
In a twinkling of a second
His spirit left my feet.

His tale did put my heart at ease,
All my fears did fade away
About what lay ahead of me
On another distant day.

"I live among the spirits now
In the heavens of your mind,
So do not grieve for me, my friend
As I am with my kind.

My collar is a rainbow's hue,
My leash is a shooting star.
My boundaries are the Milky Way
Where I sparkle from afar.

There are no pens or kennels here
For I am not confined,
But I'm free to roam the heavens
Among the Doggie kind.

I nap the day on a snowy cloud
Gentle breezes rocking me,
And dream the dreams of earthlings,
And how it used to be.

The trees are full of liver treats,
And tennis balls abound,
And dog treats line the walkways
Just waiting to be found.

There even is a ring set up,
The grass all lush and green;
And everyone who gaits around
Becomes the Best of Breed.

For we're all winners in this place;
We have no faults, you see.
And the judge passes out those ribbons
To each one, even me.

I drink from waters laced with gold,
My world a beauty to behold;
And wise old dogs do form my pride
To amble at my very side.

At night I sleep in comfort's arms,
The stars protecting me,
And moonbeams dance about us
As stardust falls on thee.

So when your life on earth is spent
And you stand at Heaven's gate,
Have no fear of loneliness
--For here, you know, I wait".

- author unknown

Running Away

I have an addiction. Some people praise me the more satisfy my cravings. Other's ask why. The addiction controls me. I cannot function properly until my craving is fulfilled. It consumes my life. I don't feel right until get what I need. If I'm depressed, a fix instantly improves my mood. If I'm mad, it quells the rage. When anxious, it calms me, when I can't think clearly, it clears my mind. If I can't satisfy my hunger, my addiction suppresses the appetite. I use it to handle all my problems.

My addiction is running. I started running to stay in shape. I was in the military and was tested once year, and the test was running. But now, I don't need to run. I run because I want to. I've tried to quit, but I just end up wanting to run even more. Most people think running is a healthy activity, but is it healthy when it becomes an obsession? My whole social life revolves around the next weekend running event that I'll attend. I'm not fast enough to win any awards, but I get an occasional door prize. But there are many other running addcits that I can talk to about this addiction. Running has become more important than work. If I couldn't run because of work, I'd have to find another job, or another way to make a living.

Is there a runner's anonymous? I have not been resting like I should be, I have been sneaking out and running, and I don't feel bad about it. Should I just sit still and feel depressed about not being able to do the things I enjoy, or should I just do them and enjoy life the only way I know how?

Dogs love to run, I'm just middle-aged dog.

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Thank Dog Its Friday

I'm sure we've all heard that phrase, I know a couple of my unreal sicko blog friends shout that phrase at me knowing I find Dogs more spiritual than the human inspired gods.

Dogs know what love is, they seem to give it unconditonally, and they keep showing us how to love, no matter how badly we behave to them or to each other. They treat us as if we are are their gods - we don't deserve it.

In keeping with my theme this week and shouting out about my favorite bloggers, I saved the best for last. WhAt'S oN mY mInD? is the random "babblings" of Nancy, the slave of Luscious and Honey. These three beautiful creatures remind us, even when we think that life seems too difficult to continue, there are many people fighting to live. It's worth the fight, and she only has too look at her two canine companions for all the reasons in the world to live. She will say what is on her mind, rant about the challenges the universe has created for her, and babble about the wonderful people and canines in her life, letting us know "Life is Good".

Anyhow, I surf my way over to her blog to scrape up some material for today's post, and there she is blogging about some guy who hears voices. That's great, all we need is another sicko blogger hearing voices in his head, how many mentally abnormal bloggers can the blogosphere hold. However, the other links to the blogs she babbled about today in her Interesting Concepts post are great, she does have good taste in blogs, but don't pay too much attention to the guys with voices in their heads, they'll be trouble.

Nancy, I want to imbed a song here for you. I don't have time at the moment, but I'll come back later and try to do that. It'll be something new for me to learn.

The song is Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall. (Click title to play song)

Friday Dog Wisdom

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
-Anonymous

Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.
-Ann Landers

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.
-Will Rogers

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.
-Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
-Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.
-Andy Rooney

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made.
-M. Acklam

Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people,
who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate.
-Sigmund Freud

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.
-Rita Rudner

A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down.
-Robert Benchley

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.
-Franklin P. Jones

If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.
-James Thurber

If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise
-Unknown

My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money.
-Joe Weinstein

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come from a grocery with the most amazing haul, chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth!
-Anne Tyler

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
-Robert A. Heinlein

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
-Mark Twain

You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'
- Dave Barry

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger Caras

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.
-Phil Pastoret

My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog thinks I am.

Twelve Plus One

Human:
How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

Golden Retriever:
The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?

I hope none of you are suffering from paraskavedekatriaphobia.

I know, I know, not much substance today. Some days are like that. I'm not feeling very literate today, and I haven't had any coffee yet. I might be back to update this after the brain is fueled up.

Coming Attractions - Next Friday is 4/20. :-) Support Hemp Products!

Smell the Love - Making Scents

A few weeks ago I tried to be clever and write about natural discrimination, from a dog's point a view. The post was titled It's Friday - Smell The Love. I thought those who read my posts would realize the point of the post was not about the odors that dogs love, but about how and why we discriminate. I assumed displaying a picture of a flat-coat retriever instead of the goldens I usually use for Friday's posts would send a clear signal. But judging by the comments, that post did not have the effect I intended.

Dogs interact with the world through their nose, humans with their eyes. It is natural for both animals to select mates, discriminate, and judge others by first impression, scent or sight. It is not "wrong" to react negatively to something that is unfamiliar or different from what one already knows. But dogs and humans should be evolved enough to know that first impressions aren't always correct, even positive ones. For humans, the best looking, most sexually appealing, aren't always the best choice for long-term relationships. When we choose by sight only, we will, most likely be dissappointed. There are always exceptions. Humans judge others by the country where their born, their beliefs, the color of their skin, sex appeal, etc, etc, etc, without getting to know the person.

Even with the millions of evolutions of human species, some natural instinct remains, and humans must recognize why they discriminate, and use their evolved intelligence to eliminate the source of so much human suffering.

Friday Fun Dog Link: Sloppy Dog Kisses (E-Cards)

Here is Brinkley getting a sloppy kiss from a supporter.

Brinkley ran for Governor of Alaska in the last election.

Happy Birthday, Vincent: Starry Starry Night