Posts by Hank

To honor Kemba on this, his 7th birthday, here’s a poem celebrating his life on the beach. The verses that follow should be recited to the rhythm and meter of Ernest Lawrence Thayer’s “Casey at the Bat.” It’s my favorite poem. It’s also the only poem I know. Happy Birthday, Kemba! …

Cole eating a stick . . . A video my oldest son Matt sent me of his 16-month-old son, Cole, eating a stick, reminded me — for maybe the thousandth time — how similar little kids are to dogs.  And I’m not the only one who’s mad…

Before “Kemba’s Interiors” begins: Note that everything is in its proper place We can hear him going at it, even though we’re in the kitchen.  Scratch-scratch-scratch-scratch!  That’s Kemba, scuffing at the large, flat cushio…

Kemba couldn’t come along, so I had to make some new friends: Finn and Gigi In my next life, I want to be a dog living near the beach in Santa Monica.  Quite the sweet deal they have going there. Their ubiquity, their visibil…

Kemba’s making me throw this stuffed Hello Kitty.  He won’t chase a ball — ONLY hello Kitty . . . Hello Kitty:  Kemba’s obsession (of the day) Thus begins a text from Elise, my dog sitter — and it doesn’t surprise me.  My boy…

I’m not gonna lie.  I think my dog is gorgeous.  The thing is, I’m not the only one — not by a long shot.  Every day I get stopped about Kemba’s appearance.  Just yesterday, while we were walking around Equinox Pond in Vermont, two different dog-owners expressed variations on this same theme:  “T…

Jumped out of the shower just in time to see The Man in Orange make yet one more preposterous, self- Miracles can happen! congratulatory speech — Straight Outta Fantasyland — before jetting out of Dodge.  A good start to the …

New Year’s in VT: Kemba slides easily into Christine’s pack (yellow Lab is Summit; then Hercules, Lanie, and Flicka (L-R) From time to time, circumstances force my hand and I have to leave Kemba with dog sitters.  This pains …

The one-and-only classic Chuckit Ball Ultra Last night, on the first night of Chanukah, Kemba got an orange-and-blue Chuckit Ultra Ball.  This is by far his favorite kind of toy.  He used to be content with regular tennis bal…

Heading out to dinner last Friday night.  I began scooping up my things — car keys, phone, reading glasses, Time for a new wallet, looks like mask — but I didn’t see my wallet in the drawer by the front door where I usually l…