Life with Buddy, a Continuing Saga- 03/02/07

  Buddy has just kissed the floor again. Somehow, that reads to me a lot like "Elvis has just left the building", for some reason. Random crossfire in the synapses, I suppose. Anyway, the little klutz just fell asleep (after I had just suggested to him that he slide back on the chair), with his head hanging way over the side, and he kissed the floor, just like I told him he would. He really doesn't listen to ol' dad, near enough.

   Oh great, the lights all just went off, then back on, which means I get to get out all the manuals, and yet again, reset.... every..... stooopid.... clock.... in.... the... house. Does anyone else have lame rural electric power that just drives you insane? If Buddy wasn't doing enough, he has to get outside help. I just hope it doesn't go out for good.

   Well, never mind, back to the Budster. This time, he didn't look at me like I pushed him, at least. He must have done a good job, too, because he has shaken his head about three times, and pawed at his nose. He may have nosed in, so to speak. lol. Anyway, it doesn't appear that there are any lasting effects, and he may be starting to connect the dots on the consequences of hanging over the edge like that to sleep. I do think he kind of resented my laughter, though. Yeah, like you wouldn't be laughing at me, Buddy, right.

   Remind me to watch for minefields the rest of the day. Buddy generally doesn't get mad, he gets even. You may think that that statement is part of the fantasy world I sometimes indulge in for comedic effect here, but I assure you, it is not. Buddy has displayed, on many occasions, the ability to embrace the concept of one upmanship. Oh, new development, Buddy is now asleep, with his head NOT hanging over the edge. Hallelujah! I suppose it only took this long for him to "get it" because he thought I pushed him all the other times. I can't really say I entirely blame him for thinking that, either, though. lol

   Buddy didn't develop his ornery streak without a truly iconic role model. He had one, but it has been encouraged, somewhat by, well, example? I have made him the butt of just one or two little jokes, in his formative first years, I will have to admit, lol. From the encouragement to "go ahead, just try it" of various food items like hot jalapeno and habanero laden items, super sour candy (I'd pay a mint to have made pics of that one), etc. to dressing him up in ridiculous outfits of boots, sweaters, a coat or two, various tee shirts with stupid sayings on them, etc.,  and the laughter they provoked has not gone unnoticed by this little mental sponge. No sir, nothing slips by the Budster, not at all. When we have been out gardening, I may have shoveled a little carelessly on occasion (Whoops!), and there may have been a time or two the garden hose was aimed a bit sloppily, as well, when he was doing something.... unproductive. In any case, he has learned the lessons well, and he knows how to get his licks in, in ways that are open to him, and most of these stories have chronicled just such events.

    Oh, oh, I just discovered why the power may have gone out momentarily. I just went to put Buddy out, and we have new snow, and it's that big flake, really heavy stuff, bending the tree branches down out there, from the looks of things. I just hope the power stays on. Buddy put the power brakes on, in mid step, on his way out, and tried to throw his little caboose into reverse, but mean ol' Dad had his foot in the path of retreat. lol. He's now, I would bargain, especially not happy with me. 

   Mom was telling me the other day that of all the dogs she's ever known, none of them had the ability to emote with facial expressions the way Buddy does. I told her she was preaching to the choir, of course. She says I should take a lot more pictures and try to capture some of the expressions he makes, but I already know he's camera shy, and doesn't like the flash at all. When you bring out the camera, even without the flash, he puts on one look, that of "leave me alone", usually. I do have some pictures up that capture a few of his moods, but not more than a couple. One especially good one from when he was a pup is in my picture archives. There is no doubt about it, though, when he's laughing, or tired, or mad, or disbelieving, or pooped, or feeling ornery, or a myriad of other things, he's got a face for them all.

   Don't get me wrong, when I go on about Buddy, I know there are probably dogs that are comparable in intelligence, but they aren't the norm, by any means, and they don't have the combination of traits he displays, I am sure, because no one but another ornery soul would probably even value the traits he has been taught, by osmosis, from early puppy hood, on. My mother says we are well matched, when ever I start bitching about him, and seems to chuckle a lot, when ever Buddy and I are around. I think she taught him a few things, too, and that's what she's chuckling about, mother's revenge. I'm pretty sure he has more surprises for me than I know, because he comes up with things I never taught him, all the time. Power just took a dive for good here, so I'm on the ups, and better save this and go. Will write more in AM.

   Good morning, the little fur ball and I made it through a day of intermittent power outages, and snow and wind, and by last night, the sun had come out and snow was melting off roads, etc. As I sit here, I have an update for you, on the floor kissage situation. I just looked over to my left, and there lays little fur pillow, with head again hanging off the chair. I thoroughly expect to hear a hollow thunk, sometime in the near future.

   It demonstrates, though, the very thing needed to survive diving off a chair head first, onto a very thinly carpeted floor, I would guess - an extremely hard head. This also demonstrates why dogs do not just take over the world. They have the hearts and minds of most of the people, so what stops them from total domination? A very lousy short term memory. Just my theory on it, anyway. If you can't remember why you shouldn't pose yourself draped over the edge of a chair, teetering on the brink of balance, for even one day, well, the way forward from there is a bit muddied, isn't it?

   Of course, attributing it to lousy memory may be premature. Buddy is stubborn, if he is anything, and it may be that this is more to the heart of the matter, than memory. We have to consider that it was ol' dad that told him not to do this, so his natural reaction would just naturally be.... Well, it wouldn't be "Why yes, big ugly guy, I see the infinite wisdom of your guidance, and will willingly incorporate it into my daily behaviour, and thank you, so much, for sharing that information with me." At least not if history has any relevance to present events. Woo hoo! I have to laugh at the very thought of that one.

   On yesterday's sagas, Kay S. made the comment that it was about a man and his dog, or maybe man vs dog, and I answered that it was actually a little of both. That is the truth of it, just like any family member, siblings, whatever, it is a little of both. The fact that that interplay could exist, is what originally just stupefied me about this little cretin. I have had many dogs, and generally, they have been devoted and loving, and lived to please me. Man's best friend, in a lopsidedly focused relationship. Buddy, on the other hand, isn't so myopically focused. I know I call him my son, but he's more like a brother. Sure you love the guy, but would you miss a chance to get in a dig here and there? Not in my family. Till tomorrow.

 

P.S.- Thunk!

 

To really understand the Sagas, it would be a good thing to go back to the beginning and start from there. If you enjoy a laugh, you won't be sorry, as some of the earlier ones were the funniest, I promise you.

Links to the complete sagas starting with 1/24th by date:

1/24/07

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1/27/07

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2/22/07

2/23/07

2/24/07 

2/25/07 

2/26/07

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2/28/07

3/01/07