Liam
attempted to de-squeak Wolfie and pup months ago. However, the two-in-one toy is not a squeaker toy but a close representation of a mother wolf and baby. The tag says "Mommy Wolf and baby." They are sewn together.Usually Liam commits the sqeaker removal surgery immediately. Done concurrently is de-nosing. I have a drawer full of little button-like objects that were once noses on doggie toy animals. When the operation is
done, the next step is to begin shredding and tearing until toy fur tufts are all over the floor. This did not happen with the toy wolf pack of two.We do not name the squeaker toys as
they have a short existence. Better to keep an emotional distance. Not so with
wolf pack. Mom and baby have been with us for over a year. It might be time to commit to names for these two. Most times Liam
peacefully coexists with the pair as they nestle half hidden behind the loveseat pillow. Recently though if Paul and I are talking, Liam will then
race to the love seat, pluck the Wolfies from their pillow perch and embrace them
not desert them
need loving care lick sniff parents can be so cold
hug rest cuddle
I
guess he is showing he has a friend to talk to also.
ARE THEY DONE TALKING YET?
Curious this play
only occurs when Paul and I are sitting next to each other on the couch and I
am telling Paul a story. It really does not happen that often because usually Liam will insert himself between us and give me his back while
offering Paul his paw. Each of us then stops talking and watches TV or
reads. So we are trained.
He's got a friend.
Thinking of a song? As a tribute to Carole King and her Gershwin Award Liam asked that we include her
classic "friend" song...Bet you were all humming it already, right? Take a listen, you'll be singing along also...
This
week Carole King became the first woman to be honored with the Gershwin
Award for popular song by the Library of Congress. If you don't know much about it...here is the link http://www.loc.gov/about/awardshonors/gershwin/
The catalog of songs she wrote for
others comprises an astonishing array of hits. She is an
involved caring person...take a look at her website http://www.caroleking.com/
and she has a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CaroleKing?fref=ts
like, like
The season finale of All Star Celebrity Apprentice
this past Sunday had as its final task the creation of an ice cream
flavor for Walgreen's. Here is a link with all you need to know about
the ice cream task as well as the show... you can pick and choose what
you want to read...real easy, it is mostly visual
There are two celebs remaining Penn Jillette http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penn_Jillette
and Trace Adkins.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trace_Adkins
Penn
is the Vegas magic guy who works with the non-talking guy Teller.
Trace is a country singer with a big hat and pony tail- that does not
narrow it down too much. They are both 6'6'' with long hair. These men
are the two finalists who will hear the two words, "You're hired." after
a season of hearing "You're fired" as each of their cast mates was
voted off. Their final teams of helpers consist of previously voted
off celebs from this season who hopefully will throw their support to
their new leader. This is Donald Trump's show and it has had its ups and
downs. Currently The Donald seems to have hit upon a winning formula-
having celebrities battle for their charities.
Team Trace is fundraising for the American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/
Team Penn for Opportunity Village http://www.opportunityvillage.org/
Getting the Ice Cream
TRACE ADKINS AND PENN JILLETTE ON THEIR PINTS
It occurs to me on the afternoon of the
show that having the team products for the finale might be fun. Our pack
of three can be part of the show; Liam can have some licks. Off I go in
drizzly weather to Walgreen's. I am surprised to find the display ad
taped on the sliding glass door of the frozen food section. Their
products really made it from the TV to the store! I look and look. I do
not want it to appear as if I am planning a binge. Other customers
are filling prescriptions and loading their carts with drug store like
items, not peering into the ice cream shelves. I think of padding my
order with some Kleenex or Advil to obscure my pints. However, upon
checking the freezer, only one type of ice cream is on the shelf. Team
Trace's Maple Macadamia Mash-up. I grab a Mash-up pint and search the
freezer for Penn's. No, Only Trace's. Does this mean Penn's Vanilla
and Chocolate Magic Swirtle is sold out? Is it a clue as to who will
win ? By now my opening and closing of the freezer door has steamed up
the glass so I no longer can see in. My search is over. With only
Trace's pint, I head up to the checkout counter. My task incomplete.
You're fired, echoes in my head. Nearing the checkout, I see the
manager and blurt out "Tonight is the Celebrity Apprentice finale and I
need both featured ice creams, do you have Penn's?"
THE FLAVOR NAMES
"Of course," he replies, and turns back to the
freezers. I am not sure if I am expected to follow him into the storage room. I
don't. Then I think is he going to load them in from inside and should I
wait till they appear in the case? I wait. He emerges through the door with two
trays. Oh whoops! Maybe he thought it was a party! I only want one pint.
Just then he sees a friend and is distracted. I take one Penn pint,
thank him and hurry down the aisle out of sight. I pay and go.
Back home Paul and Liam are delighted with my surprise treats.
When
we get to the final hour of Celebrity Apprentice I take the two pints
out. Team Penn's Swirtle (vanilla ice cream with chocolate covered caramel turtles and swirls) turtle plus swirl =swirtle. Liam waits for a lick but no chocolate allowed even a
trace might hurt him. So he tries Team Trace's Maple Macadamia Mash-up.
We
decide Penn's wins. It has chocolate, swirls and a salty aftertaste.
Trace's is a little too sweet. Liam's ardent sniffs indicate his approval for
the turtles. Photo to the right shows Liam with Penn's pint.
The following pic has Liam going for the last licks of the Trace concoction.
Liam is ready for more licks, tongue poised. But we are done with this task.
LIAM READY FOR ANOTHER TASTING
Oh and Trace Adkins won the title of All Star Celebrity Apprentice. It's not only about the ice cream.
On
Wednesday May 1, 2013 Liam encountered a squirrel. Only he and the
squirrel know what happened and the squirrel is no longer with us. We
blogged you the story and included photos of the dead (squirrel) and
injured (Liam) http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2013_04_28_archive.html
The
vet did not think Liam's wound was from a bite or a scratch- no teeth
marks or claw punctures. I speculate that during the race through the yard,
Liam smacked his hard boney head into the fence, the foliage or
furniture. The squirrel witnessed his Cujo-like attack manner and
collapsed in heart failure.
The
cut has healed and now there is only skin. No fur there yet. It is
freaky because it appears that Liam has a third eye. See in photo to the
right, brown eye, white "eye" and other brown eye. Liam sleeps and I think
he is looking at me and then I realize it is the white crescent over
his right eye, not the white of his right eye. I wonder how long if ever
he will go back to two eyes. I searched the web with a carefully
phrased comprehensive question "how long does it take for fur to grow
back on a dog's wound?" You might be surprised at how many others have
asked this questions and variations of it.
I
am even more amazed with the number of folks who took time to craft a
caring informed reply. The sum of my reading is that probably or maybe or maybe not the fur will grow and the time frame is... soon... later...or never.
Another
genre of replies consists of suggestions on how to stimulate fur growth.
These recommendations veer away from "wait and see" and go proactive.
Rubbing of creams, ointments. We know Liam is a Licker so special dressings, ointments and shampoos are not for him.
I AM PART DALMATIAN SO A WHITE SPOT IS EXPECTED
Paul's
idea is to color the white spot with a magic marker. I know people dye
their dog's fur so I suppose the skin can be done also though anything on
the skin might seep in and be poisonous... Maybe a spray tan, like the
tanning salon lady.
There is more. Since that
unfortunate morning two weeks ago no squirrel has been seen in our back
yard. In the trees, yes. But not one has been munching, lounging and
running on the ground. Is it the third eye the squirrels fear? Has the
word gone out there was a casualty and that Liam's new evil eye has made
him a fast and focused predator?
Liam has moved on.
Liam is now into bunnies.
He has always been interested but up to now only a squirrel has made
him leap three feet in the air. Now the bunnies of the block have caught
his interest. They don't dawdle or tease like the squirrels. They do
not hang out in our yard. Pre-Liam we always had seasonal spring
bunnies. Now only on his walks.
Will Liam's third eye improve? Will the squirrels return? Bunnies beware
Liam
gazes out at the front yard. Squirrels still play there. Will instinct return? Maybe the third
eye must heal before the balance is restored to the back yard.
The first Saturday in May is traditionally the Run
for the Roses, the Kentucky Derby. This year there is a woman jockey,
Rosie Napravnik, a Jersey girl. I am betting on her.
This first Saturday in May is also a Run and it is to benefit women's cancers. The Revlon Run/Walk- its acronym EIFRRW written out is- Entertainment Industry Foundation Revlon Run Walk. This link explains it. http://do.eifoundation.org/site/TR/RevlonRunWalk/NYRRW?pg=informational&fr_id=1101&type=fr_informational&sid=1149
Liam checks out this year's tee shirt-the wordsagainstandwomen's cancers are clearly visible.
We are doing it in a united team of hope captained by breast cancer survivor, Lori Phair. She is a woman to bet on for sure.
I am on the 7:35 LIRR train to Penn Station with a group of other participants-many wrapped in
pink and some already bibbed with their numbers. Somehow I have managed to go out to Crabtree's last
night, party and now am ready for this event. Sort of my pre-race version of pasta loading, except with wine and dinner.
I am
wearing my jeans jacket and its 6 pockets are crammed. No bags,
backpacks are permitted at the event so my jacket has a lot of work to do. I have a gift latte waiting with a friend at Penn. I have Lori's
book and will have a boa and
a baseball cap once we meet up with the team at 45th and Broadway. The train arrives on time and with lattes in hand we start walking uptown.
A chilly windy dark walk to Times Square. Daylight blocked by the
tall glassy buildings. I am layered so no problem at all. Bracing. Fun. Alive.
Liam is cozy at home with pillow, papers (his paws are
too big for the touch pads of reading devices) and he waits for this year's boa. He will not have latte licks today though. My drink cup is in NYC.
We are there! Let the picture snapping begin. Striking a pose in photo at right. That's me on the left publicizing Lori's book, Rack Cancer and hiding my latte behind it so there is no competition for your visual attention. I have blog-featured her book previously. This is its first time attending the race. Here is Lori's donor page and her words about why she walks.
The
opening speeches begin, nice to see Emma Stone and Olivia Wilde back
again, and then the Star Spangled Banner focuses the crowd. Then
"We're off!" As each team shows up on the big screen we cheer.
TEAM SIGN- THE START, TIMES SQUARE
The
team is singing "Livin' on a Prayer"...yes Bon Jovi, the Jersey boy, is with us, at least
his song is. Our theme song and team name is a line from
this song....the line is...We're Half Way There. And here is a treat, the video of Bon Jovi singing "Livin' on a Prayer" from the 12/12/12 Sandy Relief concert. We sounded just like him
Why this song? Lori is a Bon Jovi fan. The story is further explained in her book.See more on Lori's author page
As
we round the first turn and head into the park the sun hits us, startling and brilliant. It feels 20 degrees warmer. No garbage cans anywhere. No hidden horrors. Event people hold clear plastic
bags in which we can place our garbage. A personal connection as we dispatch our drink cups.
Around the stretch we come! We have spread out and bunched up during the walk but now we are all nearing the finish together with our boa rimmed team sign always showing the way.
As each team approaches the finish line they are announced. And so are we.
We're Half Way There is a winner!
WE ARE ALL THEREAT THE FINISH
A
rousing unifying day. I sort of feel high.
Words on our tee shirts
EIF LOVE
walk cancer women's
survivors NEW YORK Revlon CELEBRATING times square fun
treatment
FIGHT AGAINST
beat
We again end up on the east side even
after asking a policeman how to get back to the west side. I am sure he pointed the way we chose. Central
Park. A tricky place. Where is The Dakota when you need a landmark? A reward of margaritas (it is almost Cinco de Mayo) at Tracks and then home.
Next
up, the Kentucky Derby. The race goes off a little after 6:30. Rosie on
her horse Mylute finishes 5th. The highest finish ever by a woman. Progress. And
she was right with the top pack, only 3 and 1/2 lengths back. A woman will win someday soon.
There is always hope.
Liam
was home. There were dogs at the walk. They were sniffing out danger
for us. Liam would have been sniffing for squirrels. Liam supports the
walk by submitting to neck leis
This is a recent behavior in Liam. The licking of his lips. Not to be confused with the yawn which also might display the teeth and tongue. Though he does not have lips so what would be the dog term? Maybe dogs do have lips. Just as with all their reactions dogs show their feelings without any social filter. I do not often see any human licking his/her lips in anticipation of a meal or during or after. Except maybe with ribs, hand held food, Maryland crab fests then you can get away with it under the guise of neatening up the mouth area. Or because it is part of the dining experience. Expected as a show of appreciation. Probably Liam knows that the latte Starbucks cup means licks later and the Edys ice cream might.
ANTICIPATION then PARTICIPATION
this could be the start of either a yawn or some lick lipping.
Is there a bird or squirrel? or an outdoor latte?
FAKING SUN SLEEPING WHILE,EYEING A LATTE
AND GETTING ONE
Enjoy Carly singing it
This Wednesday Liam's anticipation appears to have collided with reality in the form of a squirrel. I let him out propping the side door open with that handy slide thing. Liam is gone too long. I look out from the upstairs window and see him circling what appears to be a plastic bag. Suspicious though as it is not billowing or fluttering and Liam is sniffing. I grab my eyeglasses. Oh no! A stretched out face-up non-moving squirrel. Dead. I have seen it before. No lip licking, tongue rolling. Sniffing. Curiosity. Suddenly Liam's jaws open, scoop up the body and he walks out of view. Good, he is hiding the squirrel, I can deal with it later. I come downstairs and am met at the side door with Liam, squirrel in mouth, ready to enter. No! Liam, No. He deposits the squirrel and runs off. Did he do this? Cause this squirrel to die? What happened? Did he finally succeed in catching his squirrel? Or did he come upon a death scene in progress. Then I see the injury to his eyebrow? Do dogs have eyebrows? No marks on the squirrel. My theory is that he runs after the squirrel, through the bushes cuts his head and the squirrel dies of a heart attack. That's our story. No witnesses and Liam is not barking about it.
WARNING:
THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME SO VIEW WITH CAUTION
LIAM RIGHT EYEBROW WOUND
quick trip to the vet, a shot and the anticipation begins again
Birds, squirrels, licks of lattes, ice cream, Greek yogurt
Are
the dreams better? Yes, a little bit. I win sometimes and other times I
forget the dreams. l fight better and longer and
don't give up. This one has me back in senior year in high school. I
think maybe because of our upcoming 45th reunion on June 22. In this
dream yearbook pictures are being taken and I am told I am not
dressed properly. I do not have the requisite pearls and draping. Yes,
you read correctly. Hmmm. I am arguing about the unfairness of my
exclusion in front of a panel. They are listening. My usual nightmare
elements of isolation, being left out, being treated unfairly and not
having the proper tools all present. I hear a voice "the dog is dead"
what? Who said that? The yearbook photographer? My thoughts spin away
from pearls and drapes. Jumbled thoughts of dogs and drapes Again,
I hear "the dog is dead." I struggle out of the unfinished dream into a
confused consciousness. Two realizations meet in a crazy coalescence-I
am not in the yearbook and I am being told "the dog is dead. "The" dog.
IS THIS "THE" DOG?
This
sounds personal. Our dog? Paul is standing in the doorway of the woman cave.
What! Liam!!! Dead? Why, how? I feel a cold dread and a visual of Liam's
stiff body somewhere in the house.
No. 'That's not what I said. Not dead....fed," Paul repeats "the dog
is dead" which I now know to be "the dog is fed." I am not
wearing my hearing aids; I take them out for my klonopin nightmare world.
Hard
to process. We usually leave a sign for each other so we will not feed
Liam twice. We leave out the bag of greenies to show one of us has fed
him. If we don't Liam will just go to the other parent for more.
WHICH ONE? UPSTAIRS OR DOWNSTAIRS?
I do not understand why I have been wakened for this news. For
some
reason Paul thought it important that I be told personally. I tell Paul
that I thought he said the dog is dead and that is why I jumped and
screamed about Liam. The dog is not dead, he is fed.
I have recently finished reading a book about hearing loss. Shouting Won't Help
written by former New York Times reporter Katherine Bouton part
memoir, scientific reporting and little bios and interviews with
famous people with hearing loss... see link for more http://nyti.ms/YEr9UF
The
book's last two lines strike home.
A conversation between Katherine and her husband
"When are we eating?" My husband
says.
"Chicken," I answer.
Part of my yearly ENT visit
includes a hearing test. I was there yesterday. On my way in, the technician
looks down and says " I like your purple." or was it "I like your
pocketbook." I am wearing purple UGGS and my bag is hanging right near
where she is looking. I usually receive compliments on my handbag, but am ready to
glow in UGG praise also. I thank her. Maybe soon the answer will be
revealed. It is. As we walk she continues. "I have 8 pairs." Okay has to
be UGGS as pocketbooks/handbags do not come in pairs.
My test
shows no further hearing loss. Holding pattern. Mine is described as an
interesting loss. I like that. I do not want to have an uninteresting
hearing loss. My ENT doctor meets up with me for the closeout and
says "You are perfect in discriminatory hearing. You did not miss a
word, only sounds." Really? Those were easy words they asked me to
repeat..cow, sit, bell, sing.... My doctor says a word. could be Variation, No irrigation. wants me to irrigate my nose. My nose has its own issues. Too dry.
Usually Liam commits the sqeaker removal surgery immediately. Done concurrently is de-nosing. I have a drawer full of little button-like objects that were once noses on doggie toy animals. When the operation is
done, the next step is to begin shredding and tearing until toy fur tufts are all over the floor. This did not happen with the toy wolf pack of two.
We do not name the squeaker toys as
they have a short existence. Better to keep an emotional distance. Not so with
wolf pack. Mom and baby have been with us for over a year. It might be time to commit to names for these two. Most times Liam
peacefully coexists with the pair as they nestle half hidden behind the loveseat pillow. Recently though if Paul and I are talking, Liam will then
race to the love seat, pluck the Wolfies from their pillow perch and embrace them
hug rest cuddle 
