Dogs, cats, and nihilism - an Arizona fairy tale

The new things that happen when I get up to use the bathroom.

This is a family show.

 

Zee bed you have requested eez not available. Try again later, sil vous plait. 

Jake enjoys long walks in the desert, kibble by lamplight, and cat food. Turn-offs include loud noises, noises of any kind, and sounds.

Where's your fancy accent now, Mac?

My life is only ennui.

Annie has left the country again, so my life is only ennui, too. Let me share cute things that other people do.

Sometimes I post extra things on Facebook. Little things that aren't enough for a blog post. I'm going to start letting people post pictures and videos there, because. Come join us, because life is too short to stare into the abyss all day long. By abyss, of course, I'm referring to Nietzsche's Facebook page, and you just know the gloomy bastard has one.

~~~~~

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A Big Dog in an RV, and Annie's Behind™

Outside a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read. ~ Groucho Marx



















Jake is starting to dog it up around here.

Yin and Yang

A stick at tooth level! Thanks, guys!

Jake behind "Life is good" 

 It's April, and that means the tops come off. Sometimes we raise car roofs, too.

Annie's Behind™ the Tracker

I'm outside taking the picture because I SAW the road ahead of time.

After our desert romp, Annie replaced the ripped soft top on the Tracker.

We've been enjoying friends lately. We're sorry Cheryl couldn't stay longer; we blew her off to go get Jake.

In later years, the pair could no longer remember when humans stopped visiting. I seem to remember liking people, Roxi mused, reaching into her pocket for a poop bag.

We enjoyed an afternoon and evening with Hughes and Judy Moir, who threw their very, very busy lives into neutral to spend some hours with us. They're great company - energetic and charismatic - and it's a pleasure to see them whenever we can.

Grace and Steve kindly met us at a park so our pups could meet. These two balls of energy (with a matching dog) are boondockers, too. Steve has retired, and Grace pretends not to mind. They'll be on the road in less than two years.

Strawberry hedgehog in "our" yard

  

My new cousin with serious star power. There's a strong family resemblance; I don't want to talk about it.

What the HECK am I looking at here??

 

Hold us, we're scared!

 

I'm calling this "The End"

What is spring like in the desert?

Annie and I are not our usual spring-duck selves, what with a Big Dog needing Big Walks during the day.

Jake was sweet right from the start, and a little fixated on our locations at all times. After a few days he started to wag. Today, Annie reports he acted downright doggie on their walk, grabbing a stick and getting twiggy with it.

What're you doing next, Prickly Pear?
I'm going to DisneyWorld!

Do any of you put boots on your dogs for hiking? How about your dog's dogs? What kind?

We've taken him a few places, and he has very good manners. The only problem we've seen is that noises scare him, and then he beats feet getting outta there. He's had some playdates, all of whom proclaim him a dud playmate. He just wants to sit on us.

Taxonomy, tax offa me - I need help with this plant's name.

(not) Palo verde

 

Everything looks like a snake this time of year.

I added all the blocks - how does it look in there?

We're starting to feel New Mexico's enchantment wafting across the border, and we'll succumb to her silky, sandy siren song soon.

~~~~~

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Dogs and cats and ducks in an RV

Before Franklin "Whitey" Jackson came along, there wasn't a thought in my head about a dog. Annie was thinking enough thoughts for everyone.

Obviously, being "good with cats" is primary. So, she started searching, every once in a while showing me an irresistible face. Then a dog picture.

We decided to meet Jake at The Animal League of Green Valley, a no-kill shelter. He was obviously a submissive dog, which would be good. Annie and I spend enough time fighting about which of us is in charge. We asked about a sleepover, and were refused - they don't do that. They required that we bring our motorhome to them to see how Jake responded to six cats and a rolling home.

He did not eat the other five, either.

He responded well. There was even a nice nose-to-nose with one of the cats.

Adopting a companion is a judge-y affair. I'm sure you're very nice people, but you live in WHAT? The staff and volunteers think very highly of Jake, and one of our staff escorts thought he was settling. Jake, you can do so much better! Hold out for a home with a dog! 


Staff: It's not bad, but it's not ideal. He should go with another dog.

Volunteer: That's the only issue. Sometimes there are two or three issues, and we go ahead with the adoption.

Staff: That's true.

Volunteer: It's bigger than his kennel!


On our third visit, we went ready to take him home.

TA-DA!

Jake claims to be a lab X heeler, and is four years old. He has lovely manners, and has had some training in his past. There are separation issues, so we'll see how he relaxes into this life where there aren't so many or such long separations. For now, he loves to lay near us, lean against us, or sit on us.



While we're on domestic matters, our neighbor Fernand saw Annie's ring and asked if she had a husband in New York. She explained that we're together, and he said "Why not take a man with no wife? Two wives are good!" We laughed at his joke, but as he continue to explain the advantages we realized he wasn't exactly kidding.

Or jokes in Congo are longer than ours. He got uncomfortably specific (there would be one bed). We would all work doing landscaping. As he left he held both our hands and prayed: Dear God, give me two good wives. Amen. 

It could have been our fault, accidentally. We took him a housewarming gift of solar lights, and that was close enough to a dowry.

~~~~~

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