Otis & Buka Blog

Buka's Gonna Be an Aunt?

Suzie — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:45:00 GMT

Or a big sister, either way, she isnt going to like it...

Alms for the Slow?

Suzie — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:29:00 GMT

For some reason, I have volunteered to run the NYC marathon...not being a runner, this may be another example of my historically bad decision making skills

Adopt a dog with no apartment
Eat clam strips from the Fireplace
Caribbean sun + Polerican skin - sunblock (this resulted in my flesh turning purple by the way)

Had it not been for Fred's Team and the opportunity to support Breast Cancer Research - i may have just sat this one out.

I don’t know what compels me to do such impulsive and irrational things - but I done gone and done it and now there is NO turning back...victory will be mine.

The Rub? I (Suzie "Speed Machine" Flores) need to raise $3,000 to do this - AND my running Partner in crime and slowness (Meag "The Bullet" Coomber) also needs to raise$3,000 for Ovarian Cancer Research!

We have $6,000 to come up with over the course of the summer...I wish I knew some decent people who would help us out - people who understand how important this type of research is - people who love Meag and I and have $25-$100 dollars to spare...But where does one find such people?

In the marathon planning - i have been weighing out the pros and cons...

Upside - I may lose some excess pounds
Downside - I may lose some toenails
Upside - Otis has been running with me in the mornings
Downside - Otis cant run more than 4 miles
Upside - Jay and Buka have been joining me too
Downside - They can't run more than 3
Upside - I can eat a lot of macaroni and cheese over the next few months
Downside - I have to run 26 miles in a row
Upside - I get to raise money for a good cause
Downside - i am actually going to have to do this.

If you or someone you know cares about Breast and Ovarian Cancer research - send them to our donation sites...Stay tuned for training updates and pictures of Otis being cute.

For your amusement, below is a pic of Meag and I after our 5 mile Haiti Benefit Run. Welles joined us at the finish line and immediately lost his mittens after this photo. Said mitten was recovered by Aunt Suzie moments later. It was a very exciting morning.
(Photo courtesy of James P Douglas - Jersey City's most Handsome photographer)

BobbleHead

Suzie — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:50:00 GMT

You would think I'd be thinner with those sweet sweet brown eyes looking up at me when i try and eat my macaroni and cheese.

But i am the picture of will-power. His eyes don't trump my love of cheese.

So Otis and Buka (and Jay) ran with me this morning for an attempted 4 miles. Buka put a stop to it once we were in Liberty State Park so i abandoned my running mates for the last mile. they didn't miss me at all. Not a one.
3 miles under my belt - 7 for the week - 5 more to go before Sunday...crap

Cystic Fibrosis Walk - Because Dogs Support Walking and Breathing

Suzie — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:55:00 GMT

My Mom is walking for a cure!
Otis has donated and encourages you to do the same. 5 dollars works - just showing support for the little girl who died would mean a lot to Nikki's family, as well as to all the families that have to endure the hardships from having a loved one with CF.
MOM

The soon to be sainted Mary ann Flores is also organizing a 10K in June as well for the same cause. Buka plan's on running for her Uncle Dan. I'll keep you posted.

DANNY FOR HIRE

Suzie — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:35:00 GMT

EXPERIENCED DANNY FOR HIRE
SUMMARY: Experienced Dog Nanny for hire. Rates Negotiable. References from Elston available upon request.

Work Experience:

Real Simple Magazine - Centerfold Model
- Being naturally leggy
- Being Stoic
- Being perfectly colored
- Sitting still
Coomber Family Cabin - Lifeguard / Host
- Responsibilities include swimming in pond as well as greeting new visitors as they drive up the driveway
- Making sure Otis doesnt drown (on my watch)
- Making sure Buka and Elston do not swim directly after eating
- Pooping in Luke's suitcase
Lyme Family Farm - Manager of Dog Related Events
- Responsibilities include making sure all 8 dogs follow dog event guidelines through methods of barking, running fast in a certain direction or growls
Coomber Day Care Co - Assistant Barrone / Feline Monitor
- Responsibilities include making sure Welles does not leave his crib
- Alerting Meag and Mike when Welles cries
- Showcasing Welles' new toys or any available shoe to visitor as they walk through the door
- Cleaning all doorknobs after all chili-finger exits
- Tracking ALL feline activities next door and reporting them to Welles

Buka Turns 4 in Human Years and Jay Turns 210 in Dog Years

Suzie — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:40:00 GMT

Happy Birthday Bukins.
It's been 4 years since you were born to what I imagine to be a very scrappy litter of pups.
How you wound up at North Shore Animal league will always be a mystery, but I like to imagine you simply wanted more out of life.
I picture you staring at your mom, brothers and sisters - with green goo from your infected eyes streaming down your dog cheeks like slimer tears - you look to them and look at the horizon of Long Island, and you knew that you were meant for more than this plabean lifestyle. You were meant to see the world - if not the entire tri-state area.
You decided to break free from the conventional bonds of Long Island puppydom. You took the steps towards the rest of your life. You ran at full speed (roughly 2 MPH) to a meadow, where you are immediately caught by either a Guido or a farmer (i'm not to clear on that part yet) and handed over to the local authorities. But all was not lost...

Enter Jay, newly released from the Marines. His unconditionally loving sister hoping to help him find the perfect new best friend. He and Meag drive the long drive to the shelter and there you are. Sitting, contemplating your choices, wondering if you will ever see the one place you have always dreamed of...New Jersey. Your eyes met through the bars of your crate, you played hard to get, he made Meag pay for you and with that, two star crossed aquarians found their perfect match. You and Jay became the "it" man/dog combo in all of downtown Jersey City, and possibly the world. You walked by his side and stared at him lovingly - forsaking all others, pooping in Adams bed so as not to disturb Jay's slumber when you needed to go out.

That journey began 4 years ago this February.

Now you find yourself spending weekends on acres of land, eating endless amounts of deer / pug poo, barking at absolutely nothing, chasing goats, and being generally gross / happy.

Happy Birthday Buka, You Did it.

Ginger & Goliath

Suzie — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:23:00 GMT

I dont know if I have ever seen anything cuter. Not only that but its a great photo.

Anyway, these are our friends, neighbors and drinking buddies......Ginger and Goliath. Although Otis and Buka didnt get too far past the sniffing stage due to the extreme size difference...and Bukas love of pinning small dogs to the ground while they squeel and cry.

Enjoy!

Big Head Otis

Suzie — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:51:00 GMT

Buka Loves Dog Mattingly!

Suzie — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:26:00 GMT

Before there was Otis, Buka was a bad influence on Dog Mattingly. He was (is) a great dog mainly on account of his responsiveness to commands and broken curly tail. He didn’t need a leash when being walked in the city, and would do whatever you asked of him on the first try (although this dog was a puker. The back seat of the impala holds proof of this).
A few summers ago Jay and I took Buka and Matty to Branch Brook Park to see the cherry blossoms and let the dogs run around and smell things.

We found a little spot where we could lay in the sun and the dogs could prance uninterrupted by pedestrians or cyclists. This oasis was located at the bottom of a tiny ravine which was flanked on the top by roads that ran through the park.

After some football tossing and stick throwing, Jay and I began to sit around and talk rather than play with the dogs. They got involved in a game of “chase” where Buka takes off and Matty tries to catch her. Buka is slow, so in games of chase, she depends on her agility. Matty was closing in on her, so Buka hung a left. She began running directly up the steep incline towards the road. She was tap dancing in the street before Jay made it all the way to a standing position. I called for Matty to come down, and he immediately did. Buka reluctantly followed him.

What happened next was amazing. Jay was so annoyed at Buka that he made her lay down on her side and he spanked her. He literally smacked her about 2 or 3 times on her butt. When he stopped and looked up, there was an old German couple starring at him and cracking up.

Clearly Buka learned nothing from this experience.

Buka Loves Lyme!

Suzie — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:49:00 GMT

It’s been too long.
My sincerest apologies.

Otis and Buka are doing well. They are enjoying there new vacation home in Lyme Connecticut. They prance though the expansive backyard helping themselves to the all you can eat buffet of deer poop as they try to impress Jay and I with a collection of disease carrying ticks. Somehow, their tick loving willpower has rendered frontline useless.

These “off the leash” privileges were discussed on the first trip my immediate ( and good-looking) family made to the farm house. I’ll try and recall the dialogue as accurately as I can:
Jay: My mom said there are coyotes all over the place in Lyme.
Suzie: Ok, well let’s make sure we keep the dogs on a leash at night time
Jay: Sounds good
(fast forward to when Jay has parked the car and is opening the door to let Buka out, keep in mind it is a very dark and eerily foggy night)
Suzie: Jay, Buka chewed through her leash so you need to grab her collar before you let her out
Jay: hahahaha…bukis….

Please note that at this point, Buka has taken it upon herself to bolt from the car. Jay is still standing, smiling, laughing at the destroyed leash.

Understandably, Buka was anxious to stretch her little legs and stumpy tail, and who better to do it with then what we thought was a pack a coyotes up to no good. On account of the fog, it was difficult making anything out past 10 feet, but the light from the house up the road provided just enough reflection to see Buka’s shadow running off among other large creatures…away from the house she has only visited once before.

Eventually Jay’s smile faded to a panicked grimace. The (commonly heard) screams for Buka began. I ran inside and turned all the lights on, knowing how much Buka loves wasted electricity, hoping my irreverence for the energy crisis would bring her back to us.

I’m not really sure there is a way to accurately impress upon you how terrified Jay was. There was a look in his eye that made me feel that if we didn’t find Buka, Jay would NEVER be right again. He was more than desperate. It twisted your heart to see.

He turned and yelled for me to get in the car and go look for her. I (with a very nervous Otis at my heels) ran into the car and made the slowest K turn in history. Otis was sitting shot gun. We pulled out of the driveway and left Jay, standing in the unlit country road, screaming Buka’s name.

I followed the road along side the pasture (front lawn?) that I last saw Buka’s shadow. I was honking and screaming her name (not at the same time). I rolled Otis’ window down and he whimpered and barked for Buka.

It was very dark and foggy, so I drove around 2 miles per hour. I hung my head out the window so my voice would carry farther. I drove for around 15 minutes on this road, and finally decided to turn around. I couldn’t hear Jay at all. I was praying he had her.

I pulled into a dirt road to turn around, and I see glowing eyes and the outline of flat ears tailing behind the car slowly. Otis made a happy bark welcoming his sister. Buka tried to jump in the car through the open window…unsuccessfully. I stopped the slow moving car and let her in.

I flew back to the farm. I rolled the windows up for fear of Buka trying to get out, so Jay didn’t hear my screams of “I have her”…he was still in the road calling her name. I finally pulled my motor skills together and coordinated speaking with rolling the window down. I told him I had her. Jay’s reaction was priceless. I am NOT exaggerating. He placed his hands to his heart and buckled at the knees. I thought he was going to fall to the ground in thanksgiving.

Despite the previous nights scare, Jay let Buka go first thing in the morning, but ths time she stuck around. She realized their was ample poo in the backyard to snack on.

It must be nice to be a Buka, you get to do whatever you want and are unconditionally adored by all.

Buka Bites!

Suzie — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:45:00 GMT

In order to maintain the life Otis and Buka have become accustomed to, I have switched jobs and find myself much much busier during the day. My apologies. In addition to this new job, I have picked up a new hobby. Otis and Buka were becoming fat (much like their chubby mother and father) so I have been taking the dogs running. We have been doing 2-3 mile runs about 3 times a week. Otis, being a seasoned city dog, seems fine with trekking along side at whatever pace I decide to set. He stops to pee but that’s understandable. He is, after all, a dog. Buka, on the other hand is not a runner. She is more interested in jumping and hiding behind things, chasing squirrels or leaves, biting her brother or cousins, but not jogging. ..also understandable. She takes after her dad. I run the dogs in a park around the corner. Its not quite dodgy, but I wouldn’t run there without the dogs at night. This park has a few places where I can let the dogs off the leash to run and chase things that move…or don’t move…or their tails. Much to the chagrin of the dogs, on our jogs, they do not get these opportunities. They have to run on the leash right next to me. So 2 weeks ago, buka was dragging behind like usual (she slows down or digs her paws into the ground in protest….Buka is not the “workout” type). I yanked on her collar to move her along, and we were back to our normal pace when I feel something on the back of my shoes, it felt like I was running through branches. I almost fell, caught my balance, then turned to see a smirking Buka aggressively biting the backs of my pants. I think I heard her laugh at me. Needless to say, the run ended there. I let Buka off her leash and she ran around happily. Buka 1, Suzie 0.

Double Poo Shoe

Suzie — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:12:00 GMT

The very first date I went on with Jay, we parted ways on the corner of 6th and Jersey Ave. He had a crush on me. In fact, he had tried to kiss me. My ninja like reflexes and untouchability proved too much for my handsom suitor, and he was left standing on the corner. I walked away confident and thrilled. I felt like I had the upper hand. As I turned to make some coy remark, I lost focus of where I was stepping. I landed in a 6 inch pile of dog poop.
I immediately texted Jay to inform him that I had stepped in dog crap. The facade was broken. I was no longer cool. From then on, Jay has lovingly referred to me as "Poo Shoe".

Last week, I wore an adorable outfit to work. I had on my fancy Banana boots and a sweater that Jay got for me. I returned from work to walk the dogs under the Turnpike. Its a great park (despite the looming fear of an off course car speeding towards me from above). As we rounded the far corner, i felt a slippery smoosh under my right foot...it was poop. In order to maintain my balance, I had to plant my left foot behind me. I thrust said foot down behind me to keep from falling over. I was stable. I looked down to see the damage on my boot, only to discover that both my feet were covered in poop... judging fro the size of the piles, it was from a big dog. I was a double poo shoe.

I had to do the poop-wipe walk the entire way home on both feet. I felt like i was trying to do a forwards moonwalk, and failing at it. I would also like to add, that Otis and Buka were not helping the cause.

Please pick up the Poops

En Buka Veritas

Suzie — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:31:00 GMT

What’s a Buka?

With her ape like eyes and hypocritical love of water, she is less a dog and more a mystery creature. She eats paint and does’t die! She can’t contain herself from jumping in circles when she is standing on sand. She grunts like a pig, as if misinformed about the sounds dogs are supposed to make. But these are only mildly strange idiosyncrasies on the general scale of why Buka is so incredibly bizarre. Found by Jay and Meag in the bowels of Long Island, she sat, alone and disinterested in her cage. She was riddled with perpetual eye boogers and kennel cough. She had a sinus infection that created an everflowing golden river of snot from her cold black nose. She was something to behold…yet when Jay and Meag pitied her at the shelter, she didn’t seem to notice. Had other puppies been present (yes, Buka was the last puppy left – the last kid picked on the dodge ball team) those other dogs would have been eagerly yapping, turning their cute pupy charm to maximum force, but that was not Buka’s strategy. She played Meag and Jay like two suckers. She could have cared less, and with that, she becamethe irreplaceable love of Jay’s life, and the dog who gets away with whatevershe wants.

Buka’s charms come out at the most convenient times,rendering her forgiven for all mishaps, and invited to all family functions.

She is welcome wherever she wants to go: a dog celebritywhose aloofness only drives her adoring public wild. SHe is the Salinger of dogs, but without the drama.

She Likes:

Jumping after smoke. She thinks she can catch it providing hours of entertainment for onlookers

Eating her kibble on piece at a time, and to Buka, it is always a buffet. I frequently vacuum the bedroom only to find pieces of dog kibble spread out to satisfy her late night cravings

Sneezes: Nothing is more pleasing to Buka’s ears than the sound of a sneeze. She walks directly to you after you sneeze, and will climb up to your face, pawing at you for more.

Fake Jumping: If you say the word “Walk” Buka slams her paws down as if she is about to jump on you, then sort of slightly hops, leaving you both feeling let down.

Dirty Water: Not to be confused with clean water – Buka has swam in what is essentially the toilet bowl of the Hudson River, but will dodge any sprinkler or shower water at all costs, resulting in messy and smelly wresteling matches to clean off whatever gross thing she rolled in

Toes: do not wear open toed shoes around Buka unless you are comfortable getting them thoroughly licked with creepy enthusiasm. Toes are a delicacy to this dog and she cannot contain herself. She has no shame and has never met a toe that she would refrain from licking. If she is jonesing for some toes and there are no barefeet to be found, she resorts to licking Jay’s flip-flops. She also satisfies her cravings with the inside of Otis’s ears and occasionally his jowls.

Sleeping on you: Buka does not cuddle, nor does she acknowledge your existence if you are sleeping. She will lie directly on your face / knees / chest. It is all the same. I have watched her sleep directly on Otis’s head.

Biting Ankles: That’s her go to move. Despite the fact thatit’s a total cheap shot, its hilarious when it works. She goes for the legs while you are walking down the stairs. It usually doesn’t end well.

Her Dad: Buka loves Jay almost as much as Jay loves Buka. I was walking the dogs down the block today and we happened upon Jay as he was returning from work. He was a few blocks away, I barely could tell that it was him walking towards us, but Buka sensed her human soul mate was near and began pulling so desperately it broke my heart to hold such passion back. When Jay was about 30 feet away, I let her go and she ran (in that weird sideways way) right into Jay’s arms. She actually smiled and did a few spins…then rolled in something gross and tried to eat poop.

She is either the smartest dog I have ever met, or severely disabled,but I suppose genius is never straight forward.

Such is the chow/lab/schnauzer i suppose.

The Butler Did It: Pit of the Week

Suzie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:23:00 GMT

In a more perfect world, I would live someplace with a massive yard, unlimited funds and I would have an athletic build.
Unfortunately, this world is not perfect, I am chubby, and my backyard is inadequate for housing another dog.
This leaves me in a dilly of a pickle, in that I have fallen in love with Butler. He is smart, funny and already house broken! What else can you want from a dog? Well in case you did require other things, Butler is up to date on his shots and he has already been "altered" (I hate euphemisms, they are creepier than the words they attempt to soften).
Additionally, he gets on well with other dogs.

What truly drew me to this dog was the amazing photo that was posted on petfinder. He has such charisma! (Watch out Sampson!) And the bright blue wall in the background was fantastic. The lighting was a little off, but I can't expect every photo to look like it was taken by Jay (who really is outstanding, and might I had, incredibly hot)
He just looks like a good time. But you can't judge a book / dog by its cover / coat, so perhaps a meet and greet is in order. Someone, anyone, please…adopt Butler so I can hook him up with Buka…or Otis!

PS - George is still looking for a place to live, so spread the word

Cabin Fever: 100 Beers in the woods

Suzie — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:15:00 GMT

We piled into the caravan and onto the road, reaching the Catskill's at the ripe hour of 9 pm. The hounds were released, the cars unpacked, and the refrigerator stocked to capacity, with its surplus being stored on the porch outside.

It was Labor day, and we were right where we belonged: the Cabin House.

The Cabin House Labor Day tradition began last year, when Jay and I were barely dating. Otis was still a new addition to the family. It was a weekend of firsts: I went fly fishing with Jay for the first time, I shot a gun for he first time, I rode an ATV for the first time and Buka sprained her tail for the first time.

With such lofty shoes to fill, I anticipated a good time, but nothing could have prepared me for what occurred over the course of those three days.

It was the perfect storm. The friends, the dogs, and the Italians...

The antics of the weekend are all innervated in the "femur of fun" (this all ties into my "skeleton of good times" theory). There is no telling one story without stumbling into another one...

I will leave you simply with this:
A "4 Haiku Reflection Set" inspired by the happenings that took place over Labor Day Weekend, 2008 and a Shakespearian sonnet in Iambic Pentameter about the Italians and their wily ways.

Enjoy.

Elston Barreling...
Porcupine of destiny...
Dr. Evans Rules!

One hundred cold beers
plus ten ambitious people
wont last through the night

On the grassy bank,
Balanced bottles on white pipes
felt our Frisbee's wrath

No one flips a cup
while dancing to loud techno
better than the girls

Ode de Italians

On flashy Vespas from New York they rode
in fancy scarves and jeans with fancy names
only to find they were without abode,
they thought they must return from whence they came.
But fortune came to them in Coomber form
and Mike noticed a quite familiar face
with beds to spare within his woodland dorm
Mike offered that they come stay at his place
They parked their scooters right beside the cars
and greeted dogs and humans with a smile
Roberto and Francisco were the stars
despite their very odd slow eating style
They tried in vain to train the gay Sampson
And made mike laugh talking like E. Cartman

It also should be pointed out that this trip did include several more "firsts" to add to the list. They are rambled off below in no particular order
beersbie, flip cup, being the first one to go to bed, sleeping on the floor while Otis sleeps comfortably in bed with Jay

What's Not to Love!?

Suzie — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:12:00 GMT

Thanks to PetsBlog for recognizing Otis&Buka on their blog! I know I might be a tad cheesy, but I feel like a proud mom seeing my dog's photos up on the big screen (computer screen of course). I am so excited that Otis and Buka have been recognized and their hijinx are bringing smiles to many readers.

The kind words are wildly appreciated, and Otis & Buka are going to have celebratory hot dogs for dinner.

Also, check out their post about dog training tips; I wish I had read this one earlier.

Best part about the PetsBlog review: what's a Buka!?

Check back soon and I will be sure to shed some more light on Buka and her mysterious origins.

Rescue Me, Dog Nab It! : Pit Bull of the Week

Suzie — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:02:00 GMT

Sometimes, when I look at big head Otis, I wonder how I got so lucky to find such a sweet rescue pit-bull. I can only imagine Otis thinks the same thing when smiling back at me. He is a dog made entirely out of sunshine and smiles, and sulfur (accounting for the odor that time to time follows him).We were collectively lucky. Otis and I won the proverbial dog rescue lottery. And just as if I won the real lottery, I would want to share my winnings with the world…somewhat. With this generous mindset, I bring to you the mugs of dogs needing to be rescued, and a little bit of information that will hopefully elicit rescuing and a life of happiness that only dog owners understand.

So begins Pit of the Week.
The first of many deserving dogs that we (Otis and I) would like to highlight is George, who is a german pointer / pit-bull terrier mix.
George came to my attention when scrolling through PetFinder and being drawn in by his coy come hither eyes. Additionally, he is grayish, which as far as I am concerned is the new black. Otis disagrees with me on this one, but he can’t type, so I win. This dog is a triple threat by having a great name. George Flores is one of my favorite Georges and can be heard on the radio on weekends at Star 99.1 fm. (there’s a plug for you, daddy!)
It turns out that this pooch is not only handsome, but a sweetie. He is described as “gentle as gentle can be” leaving literally no room for improvement in that category. He's still a puppy (around 18 months) but is good on a leash, which seems like a paradox to me. Because of his mix (pit-bull / german pointer) he needs a lot of exercise, which is good for dog and owner alike.

Another of George's amazing qualities is that he is good with other dogs. It is such a relief to be able to take your dog to a dog run. This, of course, should be tried out and monitored in appropriate places. PetFinder has labeled George as good with kids and other pets, however his foster mom says he hasn't had any experiences with cats yet.
His other stats follow:

he's neutered
he has had all his shots
he is house broken

George is being fostered locally in Hoboken after three different brief stays in shelters. He eventually wound up at the Liberty Humane Society in JC (where Otis is from) then to another kennel, then to his foster mom's couch. . A benefit to adopting a fostered dog is that they have one on one experience in a non-abusive home making the transition a little easier, in addition to having more house training. They are less stressed and you get to see there personality faster.
So, with that in mind, meet George. Send his smiling mug to your friends and family, and feel satisfaction in the fact that you have rescued a dog in need.

Summer of 08' Camping Trip pt2

Suzie — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:25:00 GMT

It happens every year. As July melts into August a sad look forward reveals calendars overstuffed with desperate summer activity: cramming trips to the beach, the mountains, out on the town into the precious few weekends fall before Labor Day. A year has not passed that I have not felt this itch.

So in this frame of mind the semi-annual Otis and Buka Star Gazing camping trip came to fruition.

Last minute, bags were packed, food and water purchased, and players arranged. We assembled at the bottom of the trail, some more prepared than others in camp gear, some with a multitude of small bags tied haphazardly together, and some with large military issued duffel bags strapped uncomfortably to their backs.

Otis and Buka, of course, carried nothing. We clamored up the mountain with spunk…for about fifteen minutes. Then true colors came pouring out of Jay's forehead in the form of sweat. He was, for some reason, wearing jeans. I was looking straight ahead, trying not to focus on the burning rubber feeling I had in my legs. Buka and Sammy ran circles around us as we climbed.

It turned out to be near a 45 minute hike up a mountain and around the lake where we ended up finding a lovely spot. Unfortunately, some eastern European dog haters also found the same spot and vehemently scoffed at the adorable swimming tricks that our dogs were performing.

But finally, the moment was ours, to share with our dogs in summery whimsical outdoorsy fun. With a smile and a splash, Buka exploded out onto the lake with phelpsian determination. Sammy, although determined, is not there yet. He tried to drown Meag, but purely out of his desire for a water hug.

And even Otis stepped out onto the lake up to his ankles. He ventured one whole foot out into the shallow waters.

It clearly exhausted him, and he had his fill of nature that night, preferring laps to the hard dirty ground.

So it was a success. Stars were spotted and one flashlight was donated and delightfully semi-annual good times were had.

Summer of 08' Camping Trip pt1

Suzie — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:22:00 GMT

Thanks to Anne for the awesome photos!

My Alt Country Dog

Suzie — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:49:00 GMT

Music to His Ears

As an abused shelter dog, Otis's musical knowledge was, at best, limited. Despite his upbringing in Jersey City (which I consider to be a Mecca of musical talent and history), he has never expressed the passion that I know is possible for a well laid beat. I have played record after record for dear sweet Otis, hoping to see a tail wag for the salsa infused jazz of Ray Barreto, or a head bob to Toots. He denied funk, punk and walked out of the room when I played Dizzy Rascal. I worried he would never open up. Was it the confines of my basement that deterred him from really listening to the music? Is he partially deaf? Does his large head have some auditory effects i dont know about?

I determined he needed a change of scenery.

But where do you get the chance to mingle music and mutts? Maxwell's sells food, and despite health code violations, I don't see them taking kindly to dogs, Uncle Joes is no more, and the jukeboxes of other dog friendly bars in Jersey City don't deliver the way I know they can. WFMU (located in downtown Jersey City) is a dog friendly establishment, but this courtesy does not reach the mail room volunteer (as I so humbly have been in the past).

Then it happened. I stepped off the Grove Street path train and was greeted with a 5 piece country band standing on the corner, preparing to play directly into my soul. Any Day Parade was setting up, and since this was a street show, sponsored by Grooves on Grove, Otis was, of course, welcome. The Kentucky twang of singer / guitar player Tree Jackson's voice sprawled out in the atmosphere like fog. The sun hung low on the horizon of Newark Avenue, and for a few moments, Jersey City thrilled me. While enveloped by the harmonies of their savagely spirited country music, I saw a large smile walking towards me. It was Otis, and finally, he liked what he heard. He found music he could vibe with. Escorted by Buka and Jay (whose smile and love of Any Day Parade was equal to Otis's) we sat as a pack and let them tell us stories wrapped in bass lines. We are still working on Otis's toe tapping rhythm and harmonica howling, but it was nice to have a chance to share the music I love with the dog I love.