Hats Off

LIAM AND MANHATTAN HAT

 I watch the fervent sale of the summer hats as we sip our Starbucks drinks. I am at my monthly meet up with my friend on Columbus and 67th, the celebrity Starbucks. The corner location is across from ABC studios and audience members of Kelly and Michael and The Chew come here before and after the shows. And the celeb guests walk by before and after the shows. They even have lockers here for storage. A good venue for a vendor. We have hats for sale on this June day. The hat guy is affectionately accosting pedestrians. If you look at a hat, it is on your head. From our enviable window seats we are part of the action as hat-deciding customers use our Starbucks glass front as a mirror. The stand is deep with racks of straw, hemp, rope and bendy cotton hats... trendy, artsy, beachy... a few Great Gatsby looks.


I watch for 2 and 1/2 hours. I have my hat picked out.  At the end of our session I announce I am stopping, looking and buying. My hat is still unsold. We leave and are absorbed into the tableau we have been observing.

He is a persuasive, passionate salesman; my friend and I are wearing hats before we can say a word.  Hat guy loves his products, bragging of their wonderful materials which are from a distant country, Zambia, I think he says. I point to my hat. It has ribbon, flowers, leaves and berries. I want it. Sixty nine dollars. What! No hat price on a street in NYC ends in a 9. That is a department store price. Street prices are clean with zeros. I stall. Try on others. I buy it. Wear it home feeling very Project Runway. Where are you Tim Gunn?

  

There is a smell. Liam knows.

Eucalyptus. 

Herbal. 

Medicinal.

Incense

Marijuana

It is my 69 dollar street hat. Is it the ribbon, flowers? Is it the hemp, rope, woven vine? Not a terrible smell but hardly mellifluous.If Liam will wear it even for a second it must be a worthy sniff. Liam tolerates it for a second or two. He is not a hat wearer. Not when a Kong stuffed bone is around.

 I put it in the freezer hoping the smell will be killed by the temperature. It thaws and becomes fragrant again. In July, I wear it to meet our friends for a city outing (the wifely half being my Starbucks friend)  I figure Manhattan and my malodorous hat will mix their smells. Sort of. I leave the hat in their car while we eat. It might permeate the restaurant. We part after dinner. I forget to retrieve it from their car. Hat goes home with them to Riverdale for a month. Friend and I meet at celeb Starbucks in August. No vendor. I had planned to confront him, hat in hand. A month in her car has not reduced the hat's odor. Still smells. That night I wear it to Crabtree's to ask opinions. All say it is the weave, the hemp. It is not so awful, they say. I ignore the hat for all of September. Maybe it takes time.
Today, I try again...No, as pungent as ever. Musty mixes in now also. Maybe it will lull Liam to stillness with its powerful scent. It does. Maybe I should sleep with it and ditch my klonopin. Its smell is sort of hypnotic. See Liam. No barking. Stillness.

Bad Hat

it is not such a great hat for protection.

its weave is loose and the sun comes through the holes

its brim is short and my nose is uncovered. Sunburn.

Good Hat

it repels insects like citronella

it calms Liam...works like a thundershirt

it provides a story

I will be looking for the vendor every month. He must know his hats are fragrant. He should add that to his sales pitch.
If anyone sees Hat guy, let me know...Meeting my friend tomorrow. Maybe I will store the hat in one of the Starbucks lockers.

There is a Friends episode that was on the other day at my health club. It is the one where Phoebe sings Smelly Cat...just substitute Smelly Hat and think of us

Woof Woof

He Is His Own Person

 

"He is his own person." My mother said this about Liam.  I asked what she meant, knowing what she meant but wanting to hear it spoken. "No one owns him; he is singular in the world." Was she being a bit anthropomorphic? She displayed his puppy photo on her desk to remind her to remain independent and be her own person. I found it there when cleaning out her apt. It was the only "person" pic on her desk. She felt he was people.

HIMSELF, PERSON AS A PUP

An article in the NY Times this past Sunday argues for this position. Dogs are trained to enter MRI machines fully conscious. While there their brains are scanned, and what results is supporting evidence that indeed dogs do feel and have emotions, read here for more nyti.ms/178Q3Bs
In the canine world those who care for a dog are termed his/her person. I am Liam's person. Paul and I together are his persons/people.
I did not do a study but I have some visual evidence of Liam being personable.
The following video shows Liam in Ruth's garden...contemplating, no barking, no chewing, no digging. Being in stillness. Zen.

and personally enjoying a long latte foam lick.

Since last week's blog "Quibble with Kibble" we have switched to dry food with turkey, salmon, duck and many veggies and fruits and herbs, no grain.

old food 2.5/5 rating
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/performatrin-ultra-grain-free/

new food 5/5 rating
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/hills-science-diet-dog-food-adult-dry/


Is there a change? Only with us.  We walk around imitating ducks quack, quack and turkey gobble gobble to get a reaction from Liam. We do not know if salmon emit sounds, so we make fish faces. Liam gives us looks, trying to attribute human characteristics to his persons who are quacking, strutting and sucking in their cheeks.

WHAT'S ALL THIS QUACKING FROM MY PEOPLE?

Woof, Woof

 

MAYBE IF I CLOSE MY EYES THEY WILL STOP

Quibble about Kibble

READING TED KERASOTE'S BOOKS

 Several dog related happenings in the 'hood in September. I read several books by Ted Kerasote. Amazon offered me Merle's Door for $2.99 on Kindle. I am on their "dog" list. Merle is the dog in Ted's first book, his first dog as an adult. I read a free excerpt. Then I thought, Come on...it is $2.99! I bought it, finished it and was hooked on Ted Kerasote. I borrowed his next two books, Pukka, the Pup After Merle and Pukka's Promise. Merle had an unleashed free life in Kelly Wy. with Ted. Merle is gone now and his successor Pukka (pronounced Puck-uh, meaning genuine/first class) lives there now with Ted. Ted writes, hunts and eats elk, passionately engages in outdoor activities, researches, travels. He wants Pukka to live long and well.  How? In his latest book Pukka's Promise he explores how to do this. Here is his Facebook page so you may learn more https://www.facebook.com/TedKerasote

LIAM OUTSIDE LIVING HIS DOG LIFE

And a review of Pukka's Promise by our Twitter and Blogger friend Garth's Mom
http://theworldaccordingtogarthriley.blogspot.com/2013/08/book-review-pukkas-promise-by-ted.html

Ted presents info about vaccines (too many?) diet... is kibble the best for our dogs? Spaying, neutering, shelter dogs vs purebreds, shelters, breeding. All of this has me thinking about Liam's life...Is he living his best life? What can I do to increase its quality and prolong it? Kibble is grain based. No meats. His is a kibble only diet. I thought this the best. Now I am annoyed-about its ingredients and processing and packaging. Is it being pushed by vets? If so, why? Because it is beneficial to dogs? Quibble, quibble

And while I am reading these books a new pet store, Pet valu opens adjacent to my Starbucks...http://us.petvalu.com/ three of the Starbucks baristas apply for and secure jobs there. They will work in both stores. So we have familiar faces in both places. Many know of Liam and some read LiamLicks. I bring Liam to Pet valu for a visit and then to their Open House on Saturday, September 28. See flyerAnother neighborhood event we must attend.  Liam gets a new harness with a breast plate...he requires a large due to his-massive neck and chest.  All his 35 pounds tilted toward the front. One of my baristas on her Pet valu shift helps measure Liam and shows me how to secure him in it. He feels like a gladiator ready for battle. We sniff and lick and when done go next door to get our Starbucks supplies. I go in and announce "Liam is here." Paul and Liam stand outside and are greeted by Starbucks staff and guests. "Liam from the blog! He is outside! Come see. He is so much smaller than we thought." I enjoy the attention as much as Liam. And I am thinking. The new store's values dovetail in many ways with those espoused by Ted. They bill themselves as the Whole Foods of Pet stores. Based in Canada, this New Hyde Park location is only one of three on Long Island. Its wood floors, homey ambiance and savory smells are attractive. Like a country store.
Will it be Liam's Whole Foods? I am a Petco online shopper, convenient, efficient, ebates credits, yet Pet valu is right there and I can go to Starbucks also. Both businesses know Liam. Hmmm.

Liam outside with our reading (he does not do Kindle, too paw sensitive)
 Wondering...






Should
I switch to a no grain diet? a sometime grain diet? Liam loves to eat wild berries, dandelions, twigs, weedsAnd excess parakeet husks and seeds I toss in the yard. Seeds, really? Yes, he fights the birds for his share... and these are not wild bird seeds. Would he accept being a little carnivorous? A dog who likes acorns, popcorn and grass? I remember him snaring my turkey sandwich in one leap and swiping a short rib with a wolf worthy lunge.

Vaccines? Does he receive too many? He has a schedule.

Thinking. Do I ignore it a little...  not adhere to every reminder. Are we about to open a new door...Liam's?
One thing for sure. He will still get his latte foam licks from my daily visit to Starbucks. and maybe I will drift in to say hi to my baristas in Pet valu. And maybe I'll pick up some meaty things. Elk anyone?

PROUD LIAM IN NEW VEST HARNESS

Woof, woof

My Love/Hate Affair with the Street Fair

ARE WE GOING TO THE FAIR?

I have to go to the New Hyde Park street fair. Date Saturday September 21. Must go. Now that I am a retiree I am part of the community. I am connected with these folks in ways I never was when working. As I drive down the block I now know the folks walking by. I know the staffs of my Starbucks, Twin Park Health Club, Hillside Library as well as their clients and customers. I know dogs and their owners. I even know some neighbors. Only took 19 years. I see many of my fellow residents on my daily routines as well as in my scheduled activities. I ask Paul to accompany me for fair browsing. He agrees to go. Very reluctantly. Liam is a "no"  either too friendly, too scared. Paul asks a few times "why?" I know that trick. Wear down the spouse. And that does not deter me. We are going. The weather forecast is for clouds and sun. Fine. Our agreement is that we will go to the street fair then to Starbucks. This is a clever plan from Paul. Of course I will make quick work of the fair then to Starbucks.

LIAM LATTE LICKING

However weather intervenes with a shower, then a break, then a deluge producing street flooding. All quick and unexpected and also I suspect temporary. That is it. Paul is done with the street fair. "It is a rainy day, the storms have come 10 hours early. The vendors will be going home and packing up." Hmmm. I don't think hundreds of vendors are going to run. They are in place. No matter. Paul is done. Onward to Starbucks. I will go to the street fair alone.

   

And I do. I will know people.  I plan to park in the Twin Park lot
see link
https://www.facebook.com/twinparkfitness
walk down and approach from the western end.







The fair occupies Jericho Turnpike from New Hyde Park Road to Covert Avenue (Dunkin Donuts landmark) I bring a tote in which to place my purchases. I do not really think I'll be buying. You see it is all too much for me. So much sensory input. But let's see how it goes.

I enter to a show of shawls, pocketbooks, beaded jewelry, hanging scarves interspersed with food and shouting politicians, realtors and community activists. I feel on overload already. There is a wicked whippy wind and my expertly layered hair is hitting me across the face at every place possible. Whenever I brush a strand away I am handed a brochure, announcement or schedule.

A COLLECTION OF HANDOUTS FROM THE NHP STREET FAIR

Many colors, smells and sounds. Too many carriages, some the size of mini coopers. Too many groups strolling side by side causing me to step aside often...Liam would not do well at this street fair. He jumps on people. He does not step aside.

NO EYE CONTACT HEAD DOWN, STREET FAIR MODE

I see two folks I know but each is engaged in a conversation. I stop and try to make eye contact. I am out of context. Eyes go through me. That's okay. Let it be. I really want to locate my health club table and say hi. I see the pickle vendors. I want a pickle on a stick but the lines are too long. Never had a pickle on a stick. That pleasure will have to wait. I see the petting zoo and the ancient tortoise makes its way towards me at a quick pace. Really? I thought they are slow. The wind captures store ads and food wrappers. The street is littered. I step on and begin to slide on an oily zeppole wrapper. Though adding oily is redundant. Only my practiced yoga balance poses keep me upright as I fall forward then back and helicopter my body upright again. The shock of almost falling shakes me up. Halfway through and I have not bought a thing.

It is an event. Huge. Got to get out. I reach the end... the horses are gone and have left some fragrant deposits. Maybe Liam should have come. He is home wondering and waiting. Anticipating some food fair smells. See following You Tube
I walk back to the gym. It is deserted. The staff is at the fair at their designated table. I knew it. Walked right by them. Never connected. Alone on the treadmill in an empty gym while thousands are a few blocks away.

Love/ hate affair with the street fair is over for this year at least in NHP. 

LIAM AND MY SHADOW SHOOTING PIC

I feel like I supported the community. I was one of few who took all the handouts. And shook hands with the politicians I did not litter. I did not fall and crack my head open. I took pix.
I am publicizing them. Even though I did not eat a pickle, buy a scarf, take a chance on a raffle; I am participating in my own way by talking about it blah blah blog...Liam and Paul stayed home. Neither looked too sorry. Next year both guys are joining in. And I will find my gym's table and help a few vendors with a purchase or two.

LIAM IN CHAIR IN BACK

Woof, Woof

Looking Around and Up Harvest Moon Time

LIAM LOOKING AT SUN AND SHADOWS OF FALL

  We are out in the yard. The flowers are the tallest and bloomiest they have been since planted in early June. Always happens when we are heading to less outside time and cooler and shorter days. The grass is rough and coarse and spikey. Entire patches are dead, making a pleasing crunchy sound when walked upon. The biting bugs are around but not as nasty or bloody as they have been. This week the temperature lows are lower and the highs are slipping lower also. Is the sun lower? Yes it is. Shadows long and reaching. The clouds and sun peek in and out. Liam finds autumn sunspots in less used parts of the yard. Gives him a new vantage point for squirrel watching.

THIS IS A NEW SUN SIT SPOT

THE SQUIRRELS CANNOT SEE ME

THE CLOUDS AND SKY COMPETE FOR SPACE

 ROLLOVER IN SUN AND SHADOWS

Liam enjoys this time in the yard. Acorns falling from above, treats from the trees.  A rollover. The dead brown grass evaporates under his weight and he pops up coated with golden dust.
And the sky is showing off this week.
The Harvest Moon is out for a few days. We thank that crazy NYC weather guy who alerted us in his report. Check it out for a startling backdrop photo of the harvest moon at his intro on his September 16 post.http://nycweatherguy.blogspot.com/

Some sky events
Saturn and Venus should be visible all week

Full Harvest Moon- Thursday morning, September 19 and the rest of the week

Uranus  all night Thursday near the moon

Autumn Equinox  4:44 PM Sunday September 22

This link will help if you want to go out and look up

.http://earthsky.org/space/harvest-moon-2

Look up. the sky is performing for us.

JERICHO TURNPIKE FROM MEDIAN BEFORE ENTERING CRABTREE'S

Liam plans to hound howl at the moon. And look up. First though, a sniff, a roll, a sneeze and a stroll. See following You Tube video...less than a minute

LOOKING RIGHT

LOOKING LEFT

and a chair sit













look around and maybe up. Different points of view and angles

                                                            

     and leaving you with a song,   

Neil Young's Harvest Moon

more than a minute

Woof, Woof

Hot Yoga

LIAM ABOUT TO "YOGA IT OUT"

September is National Yoga month. I know this because I receive ads for yoga paraphernalia in my email. The subject line usually announces that we are in designated yoga recognition month.
Today we return to our much loved Thursday chair yoga class. The temperature and humidity are high. A hot day for Yoga. We have had a four week break. Our class is sponsored by the Hillside Public Library and it runs in 6 week sessions. We do one class for six weeks and then sign up again. Usually there is a one week break but summer has a longer one. A core group signs up for every session. We also have one session attendees. And regulars who miss a session and return for the next. The Fall start has the first day of school feel and though the outside temperature soars our classroom is quite cool. We are not the hot Bikram Yoga group. Hellos all around, welcome to newbies and hugs for oldies.

Our class has made the Hillside Library newsletter photo section. I am in the picture doing tree pose. I recall I had a slight wine headache (it was my birthday week) my hair was wet (I washed it right before) photo shoot optional. Who would choose to be in a photo with a wet achy head?  A Leo. I never turn down a photo op. See us under Events and Programs, download newsletter, photos last page, I am in the left rear
http://www.hillsidelibrary.info/

I have a new yoga bag. It is so complicated that instructions are included as to where to place one's items. This bag would be the ONLY one necessary to travel the world. I have shown it closed as the number of inserts, pockets and pouches might cause the readers anxiety. I am nuts for this bag. In it I have a pillow, blanket, water bottle (not plastic) all forms of identification, pens, pencils, retiree business cards, sweater, tissues, cough drops, lip balm and yoga mat and more to add.

Our teacher Mary Lou encourages us to try moves that we never thought possible. Her fun positive approach to life has us all enthused. My bones are crackling like never before. Groans and giggles. We say "Thursday is our favorite day"
Here is her link...take a look at the testimonials.
myholistichaven.com
I incorporate yoga moves into my daily life. Everywhere. I have a mat by my PC. I use it to take a break from writing and social media-ing.

I will strike a pose anywhere. 

Places I have practiced

In every room of the house

Penn Station waiting room

LIRR train

US Open (tennis)

Crabtree's

Backyard (watch out Google Earth)

Car wash

Met Game, Citi Field

Touch of Class 11 Salon

Lavender Nails

Waiting for anything, anyone, anywhere. 

Recently I am complaining about something, most likely the TV show "Big Brother." I am on the couch, Liam beside me. Chef Paul is in his room, the kitchen. "Paul, did you hear me? How in the world is this person still in the Big Brother house?" No answer. "This must be rigged" I continue, not believing it but wanting some  support. Paul enters the living room, arms in eagle pose, and announces "yoga it out'  then returns to chopping and sautéing in the kitchen..."Yoga it out." Using a noun as a verb; my favorite misuse of the language and latest trend in writing... And here I thought he did not notice my posings or misusings.
What is an eagle pose?
Here is a link for chair yoga poses. http://thehealthylivinglounge.com/2010/01/20/8-of-the-best-office-chair-yoga-exerises/

LIAM CHECKS OUT THE MAT AT RIGHT

SHOULD I DO AN UPWARD DOG?

Liam starts his day with upward dog
and then downward dog.
He only uses the mat if we are upstairs.

LIAM IN STILLNESS

Outside Liam settles in for a read...biting bugs not feasting today. Any stress?  Complaints?

Yoga it out.

AHH, FEELING GOOD AFTER OUR CLASS

Namaste
Woof Woof 

US Open(s) in Summer, Closes in Fall

LIAM RESTING AFTER A LONG DAY OF MATCHES

The US Open seems like a bridge connecting summer to fall. Often the first week has heat, humidity, showers, lightning and slidey courts wet from storms. The second week is clear, cool, sometimes an unexpected chilly rain. Wind whips the flags and slows servesLabor Day play at the Open links the two seasons. This year we attend during the second week, Wednesday September 4, a brilliantly clear "hurt the eyes sky" reminiscent of  9/11. A stark clarity seldom experienced in summer. The Manhattan skyline is visible from the upper levels and is pierced by the Freedom Tower on the left and Empire State Building to the right.

SKYLINE, FREEDOM TOWER AND EMPIRE STATE

For me, summer has three beginnings and one ending.

Beginnings
Memorial Day Weekend...barbecues, beach, vacation trips

Summer Solstice... calendar summer lots of Namaste and sun salutations all over.
July 4th...An all clear for teachers, some of whom might still be working the last few days of June. 

LIAM CHECKING BARBECUE IN NEIGHBOR'S YARD

Ending

Labor Day Weekend

The Labor Day weekend gives us three days to transition, even includes an August day softening the blow of September's Sunday arrival. A few distant fireworks have Liam thundershirted on Labor Day evening.



 Liam doing some "last" of summer rituals.
 Stoop Sitting At summer's end the sun slants strong and hot in the late afternoon and Liam soaks it up while watching the wildlife parade. 

 
Exploring for rabbit and squirrel scents
Saying goodbye to his summer season doggie friend
Checking for birdseed
This all happens in this corner of the back yard.

Other Signs and Happenings of transition to Fall


Health Club posts "Fall and Winter hours"
Citronella candles disappear from yard
I store my citronella candles in the recyclable bucket. Paul does not notice and puts them out on the curb with the wine bottles, tomato jars and yogurt cups. They are gone.
The bug zapper has ceased its zapping.
Body count zero.

We are headed in a new direction. Liam knows.
We incrementally change focus from outside to in.

less happens outside

shorter days, different fun, bring it on

LIAM'S READY FOR FALL, THOSE ACORNS, YES!

Woof, Woof