No help here

The other day my wife and I were on the way back from meeting our friend to let the dogs run.  The boys were in the back drooling all over the rear window glass and the people were up front involved in some sort of intense discussion. We were zipping along the back roads not focused on much beyond getting home.  At that moment I see what everyone zipping along back roads not entirely focused on driving hates to see:  A police cruiser positioned perfectly to slow me down.  Now I'm not a advocate of speeding.  In fact I truly try to keep my speed within limits.  Truth be told I never speed... except when I do.  But here I am with my lovely wife beside me and two very cute dogs in back.. surely we will charm our way out of this one.  The officer pulls me over and  indicates I had managed to be going a 53 in a 40.   I check my mirror.. where are the dogs?  Where is the cute asset that is going draw idle banter and charm the coldest of hearts into a forgiving mood?  The boys evidently decided I was clearly in the wrong and driving far to fast for their liking.  They had ducked down behind the seat and were no where to be found.  No get out of jail free card here. Sigh.. So I got to go to traffic court.  Because this was my first ticket in forever and a day I was able to take a 4 hour interactive online traffic school course and keep the ticket off my record.  It wasn't a video as the judge suggested, rather a interactive flash experience with quizzes and a final exam.  It wasn't hard though and I could do it over multiple evenings AND in my underwear.  The content was similar to the drivers ed course I took way back in the day, replete with statistics aligned to scare you senseless.  All in all I think a little refresher never hurts.  Perhaps my boys just thought I needed one as well.

I'd also like everyone to meet a new foster dog in our grey play group.  Her name is Hope. She is beautiful and sweet. I'm sure she will quickly find a home.

  I hope everyone had a happy and safe weekend.

The Bitter Sweet and the Bitter

This past week three dogs that I know of, but have never met, moved on.  For a long while now I have enjoyed reading about Lilac and Drive in their blogs.  They had wonderful full lives, their people loved them dearly and posted some of the warm memories of the many years they shared together.  The other dog that moved on was Darnell.  He was also loved dearly by his person and had found his forever home of just four months.  Unfortunately Darnell escaped the pet sitters yard and after much searching we found he had met an unforgiving end at the near by highway.

I don't claim to know much about the after life, but if there is such a place, I'm sure dogs are there.  And so Darnell if you have gone to such a place,  seek out Lilac and Drive.  They went slightly before you and they will tell you how it was supposed to be.  They will tell you of the years of love and companionship that were planned for you and you can tell them how you were loved even if it was for a short while.  I'm sorry we couldn't find you in time.

Crows

Recently I watched the a PBS feature on the intelligence of crows called A murder of crows. You can watch it online if you are interested.  Crows are evidently very intelligent.  The most intelligent crows not only use tools, but can use tools to retrieve tools to retrieve food.  They are very social creatures and who observe rituals such as types of funerals.  I was excited to watch this special because it featured Chatham Ontario Canada, the city of my birth.  It is the Mecca for crows.  With all the crows flying over head and sitting row after row on the telephone lines, Chatham can feel a bit ominous despite the warmth of friends and family.
This TV special got me thinking a lot about the different intelligence of species.  If crows are rated to be some of the most intelligent species because they can use tools to get tools to get food, how intelligent are greyhounds by comparison.  Are they not in fact more evolved than us all?  After all, with a sideways look they can make their opposable thumb two leggers hop to get them food, treats, pick up their poop and take them to visit friends.

Ricky Bobby

Kassa

Tequila Lee

The gang

Ricky discovers Frisbee

Beth Anne

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Crazy Legs Ricky

In your face.. Dewey travelers

Ok.. I've been somewhat envious of those of my local friends and blogger friends who made the journey to Dewey beach so their hounds could frolic ocean side.  Alas we have been stuck in the middle of a kitchen remodel and because I am loath to give people good money for jobs I can do myself, I end up taking on too much with to little time available.  Non the less we were determined not to let those Dewey adventurers have all the fun. Our good friends Tony and Lisa came to the rescue by hosting a grey play evening adventure featuring Tony's smoked and bbq'd brisket.  The meat underwent a full day of cooking and it was well worth the wait.  The event also featured a fantastic potato recipe, wonderful salads, a bean dish to die for, an assortment of deserts and adult beverages of many form and flavor.
The boys were extremely excited to explore the back yard with their friends (eight dogs in total).  Ricky snuck into Tony's work shed and soon we heard squeaky chirps and beeps coming from within.  Tony was puzzled as no dog toys were stored in there.  I was worried he found a cat, but upon further investigation we discovered that Tony's little grand son's bike had a squeaky horn on it.   It must have took Ricky all of 5 seconds to find the one thing in the place that squeaked.  The rest of the night the dogs were trying to gain entry to the shed to try their hand at the bike.   Ricky and Kassa were so excited to see all their friends.  Beth Ann lead everyone in a game of chase so they all got a little exercise in too.

Ricky even and the fortune/(mis) to be dressed up in some of Beth anne and Tequila's attire.

In the end we are all pretty tired, curled up on the couches, and had a good sleep when we got home.

So .. my Dewey adventurous friends,  while we hope to feel the surf on our feet/paws with you next year, the boys and I were able to find some fantastic festivities with good friends right hear close to home.  Have a safe trip home everyone.

Wordless Wednesday

Fall is the happiest time of year!

Now that the dog days of summer are behind us and we are into fall the reprieve, the boys fun loving personalities are coming through again.  Our house is in an "in between" state as we finish up our many projects and as such we have some large empty rooms and others that are packed with displaced furniture.  The boys love it.  It gives them large circuits to race around in when they get rowdy and lots of things to investigate when they aren't.  Ricky is really enjoying himself now that he isn't under constant threat of the heat sidelining him.   Despite the fact that their dad has been extremely busy working on different projects we took them to the grey play field on Sunday morning.  The brisk weather made for some wonderful play.

Ricky also has discovered that since he is full blown "adopted" and no longer "foster with intent", he is allowed on the dog couch with me.  So several times this weekend I found myself squeezed between two bony butt greyhounds in the evenings.  I may need a larger couch.