For whatever masochistic reason, I find myself from time to time thinking morbid thoughts about how I’ll feel when Kemba, you know . . . reaches his time.  That is, if I’m still around.  (At my age, not a slam-dunk.)  I further torture myself by going back to when our beloved Ricky the Beagle died suddenly of a blood clot, leaving our entire family distraught.  The idea of going through this with Kemba is just too painful, and I quickly move on to happier thoughts,...

Packing light?  Nah.  I scrapped that as a goal long ago. Checked bag #1. Shown unpacked, but weighed in at Baggage Drop at 43 lbs. When I’m getting ready for a get-away, I want everything with me that I could conceivably need, or want.  Might have time to go for a run?  Running shoes.  Maybe a nice, long, scenic bike ride?  Dri-fit shorts and T-shirts.  Body-surfing?  A swimsuit, obviously.  Have tickets for a country concert?  My cowboy boots, duh.  And I’m just...

I have a bone to pick with a piece I saw a while back in the sports section of The New York Times — which I do read, by the way, even if it’s “failing.”  It was called “Two New The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen. A mere seven syllables. Breeds With Really Long Names” (Jan. 24, by The Associated Press) and it started this way:  “Two new breeds.  Sixteen new syllables.”  The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen and the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje, the...

Austria avalanche kills 3; Ski patrollers killed in France  (Washington Post, January 13, 2019) At 24, NFL player retires after his 6th concussion: ‘My well-being is more important’  (Today, August 2, 2018) Teen Surf Star Loses Arm in Shark Attack  (ABC News, November 3, 2003) Yes, skiing the Alps can be dangerous, I think we’d all agree.  Ditto pro football.  Make that double for big-wave surfing in Hawaii. But why isn’t dog-walking on this list??? Ana the...

I’m gonna be perfectly honest with you:  I usually don’t give small dogs the time of day.  I’m not a huge fan of their yappy tough-guy act, and it’s easier to just ignore them.  Which is exactly what I’m thinking when Robby’s friends Rob and Charlotte show up at the Vermont house a week ago Hiking around Equinox Pond . . . with Scout — this skinny, little, black-and-white, 10-month-old pup — who right off the bat goes skittering around the...

“Unfortunately, it looks like your drooling, howling, underwear-sniffing, sock-eating angel of perfection is not, you know, especially smart.” — AJ Willingham, CNN Really?  This is the author’s take-away from a study published in the so-called “scholarly” journal Learning & Behavior?  I’d like to take issue with her statement for all sorts of Just look at my eyes.  You can see the intelligence. reasons:  1.) It’s beyond patronizing;  2.)...

Beagle Man is an Instagram addict.  We all know this.  When he makes me pose for Recent Halloween Insta: 4th place all-time photos, at first I’m flattered.  Then it dawns on me:  He’s thinking post.  True fact:  After going to a football game a couple of weeks ago, during which he posted —of course — he and Matt were looking forward to a cocktail before dinner.  Beagle Man leaned back and said, “Ahh, three of my favorite things — food, Bourbon, and counting...

When you run off down the block, and I have to do The Walk of Shame after you — trying to look like it’s no big Kemba eschewed dressing up for Halloween last night . . . deal, while I’ve got a leash in my hand and no dog attached to it.  (That would be you, Ruckus.) When you’re playing fetch at the beach with some stranger you’ve accosted, and it’s time to leave, and I call you, and you won’t come, and I approach you with your leash, and you see...

Kemba, what the heck!!?? Me? Did I do something wrong? Last night around 10 I sent him out to the backyard for his goodnight pee.  Fairly normal stuff.  Sometimes he’ll prowl the property a bit, though there’s not a helluva lot to explore, since the downsize.  Or he might grab a tennis ball to gnaw some holes into.  I’ll usually see him at the back door, in his patient, resting-on-his-haunches, aren’t-I-cute pose (see photo, right) within three or four...

As of Monday (Oct. 1), dogs allowed on the beach again in WePo! YAY!