* * *COUNTDOWN: 15 DAYS TO LA/XC-6 * * * Beagle Man came home from Montauk at the end of September with all sorts of complaints about his back and his right shoulder.  He tried to blame it all on me — as usual:  You know, “all that tennis ball throwing, all that stick throwing.”  But the real reaso…

One of the first things you always hear about Duck Tollers is how intelligent they are.  After what I saw this past weekend, though, I’m really not so sure.  Ah, Kemba, Kemba, Kemba.  Okay, here’s the picture:  Beagle Man brings Kemba to stay with Elise, the dog-sitter, on Friday.  Elise’s friend…

Okay, yes, yes — the real Aesop’s fable is” The Ant and the Grasshopper.”  I know that.  And my fable, I have to confess, turns on a rather major misconception:   I actually thought it was illegal to kill a praying mantis. Just a little background for my story.  Many of you know how my wife feels…

I guess I can’t really complain too much, since I spend most of the summer out in Amagansett, where I have a big sandy beach and a whole ocean to play in.  But now that we’re back in WePo, I have to stick to this narrow strip of sand on the far side of the Soundview jetty.  Town rules, Beagle Man…

* * *COUNTDOWN: 58 DAYS TO LA/XC-6 * * * Hey, I know everyone’s all revved up about Beagle Man’s so-called “Epilogue Trip,” less than two months away.  But Kemba, my young Duck Dog friend, I haven’t heard much out of you . . . other than surprise.  Now I know this ain’t your first rodeo.  In fact…

* * *COUNTDOWN: 77 DAYS TO LA/XC-6 * * * You thought my days of cross-country-road-tripping-with-dog were finished, right? Me too. The fifth and final journey — or so I assumed at the time — was LA/XC-5, back in the fall of 2016.  I figured it was a wrap after that one, for a bunch of reasons.  1…

I heard Matt ask Beagle Man last weekend if he was throwing a beach birthday party for me next month — and Beagle Man said probably not.  That would be two years straight with no party!  All because Mom made fun of him for spending days and days planning and preparing and inviting everyone he saw…

I have to tell you about the new girl who moved in next door.  Her name is Grace, and she’s really, really good looking.  She’s a Vizsla.  I’ve always liked Vizslas.  She has a short, super-smooth coat, and a great tan.  And we’re the same age — we’re both turning five next month.  All right, I’m…

Big dogs and little dogs. Black and white dogs. Don’t get too wet, black-and-white dog! Four dogs down in the water. One dog up on a paddle board. Dogs at work. Work, dogs, work! Dogs at play.   Play, dogs, play! There they go. Look at those dogs go! What are they going to do? Where are those do…