I Broke His Hearticus!

I'm one mean rotten Auntie, I am! I've hurt my Bart!

 

Love that Barticus Farticus!

It all started last Thursday. We were out for our usual hike. We ran into Atilla and Chloe. Chloe's dad doesn't really care to hike so we kept lingering by the creek. There was a deep "jacuzzi" with a golf ball in it that I kept trying to retrieve. It kept getting darker and the rest of the pack headed home. But Mabel and Bart hadn't really exercised yet...

Finally, using a long stick, I got the ball! I gave it to Mabel and we took off down the creek. After a bit of a romp, Mabel found a sandy spot to bread her ball and Bart was off ...doing Bart stuff.  He came up out of the water and started stalking Mabel. She got up and stalked Bart and the tussle was ON! I grabbed the golf ball and suddenly, both dogs stopped playing and stared at me.

"I want the ball."

"NO! That was MY ball."

I tossed it in Bart's direction - cause Mabel had already played with it for a while. Poor Bart! He made the mistake of picking up that ball! Mabel turned into a total WITCH! She went for him! And Bart, the street savvy dog that spent a large part of his life avoiding scrappy dogs and the last year putting up with Mabel's antics, had had enough!

He nailed her! He chest bumped her so hard, she landed in an upright "beg" position. She looked stunned! And just as fast, he hit her again and she flipped backwards and came up crying! I got mad, picked up MY golf ball and took off for the car. It was OVER. They were both looking at me like "What? We were just playin!" BRATS!

 

I was angry, I drove to 'tilla's house and gave him all the golf balls I found!

The next day, Mabel was limping something fierce. She had cried all night long in pain. And even though I was mad at HER for starting the fight, I live with her! I don't live with Bart. When the Rottrover called and asked us for a hot midday hike - just a short one with her Disable Listed Gizmo, we went. Without Barticus.

 

Look at Mabel eyes... Rimadyl

I knew I would be lugging a leash (we hike off leash, so I'm the one that "wears" it - wrapped around my shoulder to opposite waist), water, a heavy camera, and supervising a 100# whiny baby. And one more pup felt like too much.

My plan was to go back that night with just Barticus the Farticus. But it had been a stressful couple of days. My college cancelled my weekend classes - taking $300 out of my pocket - because they couldn't reach me by email for 3 whole hours. (Heaven forbid they try a phone... I was home!). I got home and cleaned the pool while swimming. I got so relaxed, I just couldn't go back!

My BFF tells me Bart spent HOURS staring at the front door, waiting for us. He could not be consoled! He didn't want to be petted. His heart was broken!

I can't ever do that to him again. He's my hiking dog.

I have to add a footnote to this story. Prior to Friday, the only form of ID Bart has been able to keep on his collar was one of my glass beads. (He is micro-chipped.) But we figured most anyone who found him at the creek would associate that with me. On Saturday, I noticed it was missing. Rottrover says that's the official sign that Bart has broken up with me! LOL!

Play & Rest

We found our friend Atilla and his poppa down a small ravine last week. He was doing a little late evening sun baking. To my surprise, Bart and Mabel joined him - for a bit.

And then they played

And you wonder why Mabel "thinks" she's a bad a$$??

And then - it was time for more sun baking...

Uh, Mabel??? You're blocking our rays girl!

That's better!

Time to tussle!!!!!

'tilla gets Mabel...

Mabel gets 'tilla.

And rest

'tilla boy gets her good!  (Bart gets scritches!)

No puppehs were harmed in the filming of this blog.

My Creek Is a Magical Blessing

I love hiking at dusk because nature often rewards me with an amazing sunset. This photo was taken with my crappy phone on 10/01/10

On nights like this, I take the long way back to the car because the path runs North / South.  I can linger with the sunset and hopefully make it back before too many coyotes come out. I get a magical feeling from the dichotomy in my peripheral vision. The left side is already dark - a black and white contrast of night sky, stars and lights from houses on the hill. The right  is full of exploding color. It makes me feel as though I'm toeing some line in the Universe - one of darkness and one of light.

The darkness wins this battle but I am left with a grateful feeling - having shared such a moment of  beauty.


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Food Scraps

I finally downloaded all the pictures I've been taking on my phone for MONTHS!

This photo was taken on 2/23/11. Because I could never predict traffic, some days I found myself in Santa Monica with an hour or so to spare before work. On this particular morning, it was my co-worker and long time friend's birthday and since I know he HATES having a big to do on his birthday, I wanted to get him a treat well before the rest of the office came in for work.

The only thing open at that hour was a bagel shop. Parking is always a premium in Santa Monica but there was a small parking lot behind the store. It's normal to see trash bins behind shops but this one had an extra bin. They placed expired edibles in plastic bags inside the bin and clearly labeled it.

As a person who has friends that are considered homeless, it's nice to know that some businesses think about what they waste and who in the neighborhood might put it to good use!

Happy Dance | Wordless Wednesday

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The books featured below were all written by a former co-worker of mine from our HGTV days (back when it had good programming!)! Clare is an amazing writer and her latest book, Missing Persons, was just released yesterday!