Wassailing with Liam

Wassail
sounds like WAH-sul
verb/noun

Meaning
1-to indulge in riotous drinking, carousing and other activities associated with the Holiday season
2-to sing carols from house to house or go partying with someone named Carol during the Christmas season
3-to drink to the health or thriving of
4-hot drink of wine, beer, or cider with spices, sugar, and baked apples

There was a record snowstorm on Saturday, December 19, 2009- 26.3 inches at Upton, Long Island, the most ever recorded on L.I. New Hyde Park had much less, I measured 12 inches.
Liam had a tough time on his first foray out into the snow. Seems his head was not much above the snow and he decided to come right back The snow stayed for while since the weather was cold. Liam treated the backyard as a racetrack, only using the perimeter for his excursions. Although melting went on all week, on Christmas Day we still had 4 inches of snow. I had always thought the true definition of a White Christmas to be -snow falling softly on Christmas Eve and awakening Christmas morning to a fresh blanket of new snow.
Not so. If one inch of snow is on the ground, it is deemed a White Christmas. The snow could be left over from weeks or years prior.
See story from NY Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/25/nyregion/25white.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=white%20Christmas&st=cse

a different take from Lynne of the Lake House, NJ
"My idea of a white Christmas is not measured in inches. I see family and friends gathered together on Christmas Eve and someone looks out the window and says "look, it's beginning to snow". And as we all gaze up toward the street lights, we catch a glimpse of the clean white flakes coming down. And the young kids get all excited knowing Santa will be flying through the snow to reach them the next day."

I agree with Lynne.

Liam received some toys and treats this Christmas season. He enjoyed each and every one. Snowman, Gman (both severely injured) green boney and snowflake still intact Some toys are now severely wounded and in ICU. Others might live to see the new decade. Treats have been shared with our doggie neighbors. See Tango ready for her treat Liam has his own stocking and received some money from his Aunt Susan which we deposited in his stocking for Christmas morning


A Christmas dinner
Liam, Paul and I were invited to a Christmas get-together. Liam was very excited; he would be the only dog and knew this meant lots of attention. Being a Leo birth sign, Liam craves the spotlight. The party's location was in an apartment building. I grew up in an apartment, in city housing and love the abundance of people all living together stacked in little compartments. All went well. Liam rode in an elevator for the first time, had a Christmas meatball - a big departure from his routine of strictly dog food only and got to hang with family

This potpourri of activities was interrupted by Liam's annual physical on Monday, 12/28. Poor little guy. Didn't have a chance to work off the extra doggie treats, so he showed a bit of a weight gain since last year. And it was a complete physical- meaning pokes, prodding of the prostate and shots for prevention of all sorts of things. Liam even received a flu shot. This will protect him from me since I have not received one. Paul has received two. Liam had to rest after this ordeal; a hound under a hounds tooth shawl

Tomorrow, New Year's Day, will be the second anniversary of Liam's adoption from North Shore Animal League. We brought puppy Liam home on 01/01/08, Liam shown here in early 2008-He has brought us tremendous joy over the last two years. Liam has his own blog. He owns all the rooms in our house, even claims our clothesas well as the yard

Wishing you all Happy New Year, Happy New Decade

and thanks for reading LiamLicks all year. This is the LastLicks of 2009 as well as the decade. See you in 2010.

Woof, Woof

'Tis the season in NYC

Saturday, December 12, 2009 was all about being in New York in the Holiday season.
We started with Liam's Howliday Party at Best In Show bestinshowpetresort.com This Pet Resort has had parties for holidays, the most recent being Halloween. This time North Shore Animal League was there parading their adoptable doggies, all had coats proclaiming their adoptable status and many had injuries, a different spirit from the past coffee and candy parties yet fitting and noble for this season. Liam was placed in an already started doggie play session. The dogs were the big guys, Golden's, Labs, all lovers. Liam promptly pooped. After that session, we attempted to capture the traditional Christmas pose, but no Santa. Liam was upset and would not stay in the little photo room that had been set up for the pix.
Having exhausted Liam, we returned home, tucked Liam in and set out to NYC for our traditional NYC Holiday outing. NYC day in years past had been packed with so many activities that we could have been tour guides. We have pared it down to "The Tree" and walking to Sueños, our favorite Manhattan restaurant suenosnyc.com-huge walk downtown- about one hour from Rockefeller Center.

Anything goes in NY especially at Holiday time-funny conversations, fearless and fierce costumes, all in a celebratory, silly glorious mood.
So I am sharing some conversations, some scenes, some people,, and our favorite city restaurant, Sueños.
We arrive at the NHP LIRR station for our 2:37 train. Saturday was a cold day. Some folks knew it and dressed like they were embarking on a visit to Wassila to go moose hunting with Sarah Palin; others were in denial, dressed in skinny leather short jackets, bare legs, heels and earmuffs, looking entirely too fashionable for traversing Manhattan We all huddled in the waiting room, all seats taken, only standing room, sort of like non-moving subway car, cell phones going off, snatches of one-sided conversations.
One two sided in person exchange which tickled us came when the station waiting area had emptied as the clock promised that the train was due any minute. Paul and I remained inside with one other couple believing that we could dart out and up the stairs quickly to make the train.

The couple exchange:
"Woman-" The train is coming." Man- "where is it? "It is due 2:37, it is 2:37 so it is here." Man-"I am looking outside and there is no train here. When will it arrive?" Woman "Now. I am going outside." Man" Why? there is no train." She leaves, he shouts after her as the station door closes "I'll call you in the city."
The train did arrive a few minutes later. We saw them in our car. Someone gave in.

A vendor and buyer exchange:
We are waiting on the corner of 47th and 7th. The crowd is so dense and huge that at each light we have to wait two light changes til we can cross. To my right is a $10 cashmere scarf vendor -how can that be bad? I have bought all my scarves and sunglasses on the streets of Manhattan, as well as many watches. The vendor has us, a captured redlight stalled audience and he is working us, looking very frozen, rubbing his hands together for warmth, hands he has to keep free for the next sale. A young man, underdressed ( must be a warm weather tourist) no scarf, no gloves only a windbreaker, approaches and throws out a price "give you 8 bucks for the scarf." "Come on man," answers vendor scarf-man, "Business has not been brisk, people too cold to stop. What will you do with the 2 bucks you make on me?" "Buy myself a hot dog," the young man replies. "Nah, suck it up, it stands at $10, no bargaining in the recession." " Okay you got it." Young man forks over the ten dollar bill with my beloved Alexander Hamilton intact, not broken by change. Sale completed at S10. The green street light switches on and our group glides across 47th as one unit.

Sights along the way:
a couple dressed as Christmas trees, fully decorated with flashing lights, garland and topped with Stars, arms akimbo to show spreading branches.

Group of young women singing "Jingle Bells", loud, in unison and arms linked, boldly challenging anyone to comment; we do not.

Three folks outside a bar for a smoke-one man in a Zorro like black velvet cape , the other two as Mr. and Mrs Claus-just chatting as if being in costume is totally routine. And Elmo, Cookie Monster, Wookies from star trek. So many people are dressed in costume that it can be Halloween.

We arrive at The Tree. I have NEVER seen NYC so crowded. Nearing the tree has to be done in stages and carefully. No hope of looking at the skaters this year

Then onward to Sueños. An arduous walk for me- I am wearing my Uggs, boots my podiatrist has informed me are the worse footwear for walking.

We arrive and the Sueños' owner and Chef, Sue Torres is there. Fresh from her stint on Iron Chef with Bobby Flay. A merry crowd, eclectic -we are in Chelsea and the ambiance is flaming red, orange, purple, alive! We talk to our waiter about the cooking shows, Top Chef, Iron Chef and the Food Network. We are unknowingly building in his mind a belief that we are gourmands, possibly pals of Tom Collichio, Bobby Flay and of course Sue Our waiter informs us that Sue will be on Chopped in January, we nod as if we are her "sue" chefs. Chef Sue, outside in the adjacent garden, is lighting candles and perching precariously on rocks to place them in view of us diners All of this to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadeloupe.
At our meal's end, we request our idea of dessert, Mexican coffee. "Oh no, we do not have that here." We are confused, we always have it here. Our waiter says he will check with the bar and staff. He returns with two cappuccino mugs with some delicious frothy concoction. He says " We do not have the staff to shave the chocolate, to pick the Mexican beans, to...... I said "Oh, are you thinking "Top Chef" and all the spices, herbs and ingredients that are used for their dishes?" All we wanted was some liqueur, with coffee and cream on top. Like an Irish coffee. Our waiter explained that he mistook our simple order for something much more grand, complicated, high-level. We all got a kick out of our challenging request. and his suspicion that we might be food critics. Professional paid ones.
The coffees were good, if a tad small.

Penn Station had a great band playing Real talent.

Some Santas on the LIRR trip home

Oh and Liam now knows there is no Santa Some of the NSAL dogs told him. So he posed without Santa, who should be on my right. Liam is okay with it. He is not a puppy anymore.

Woof, Woof
Liam has a Christmas gift of a gingerbread man from his Akita pal, Stormy the GM 's time seems short as Liam gets a good mouthful but maybe they'll be friends for a bit

BFF
AROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Liam's Life

It's a dog's life a phrase that folks seem to be using now to connote a comfortable, undemanding, pampered. even lazy life. However, its origins are the opposite, deriving from hard times when dogs were not allowed in the house, had to scavenge for food even from their owners, worked hard, no toys, no vacations, a life of misery. Going to the dogs was not a way to go. Dog-tired was not a pleasant physical state.

Liam is authoring this week's blog story. Is his life "a miserable subservient existence" as "living a dog's life" once meant? Let's hear about Liam's day.

I sleep in the den with Mommy Carol. Why? Just habit. Daddy Paul sleeps upstairs in the bedroom I am not revealing anything shocking. My parents are very open about this sleeping arrangement which came about a few years ago when Mommy Carol developed restless leg, apnea, insomnia and sleep eating.
Since the sleep issue is such a struggle she decided to stay downstairs and wrestle with her own demons.
Daddy Paul is no slouch in the sleep challenged area either. He snores and gets muscle spams.
I guess what really attracts me to sleeping on the den couch with Mommy Carol is that she occasionally gets up for a snack. She firmly believes these snacks calm her down and induce sleep. Whatever. I follow her in these early dark morning fridge forays and have a 52% rate of snack capture. Lately though she has only grabbed some Cheerios and these are quite a comedown from the turkey on pumpernickel.
Daddy Paul works and gets up around 7AM. He brings me a few pellets of doggie food as an appetizer ( no human food is ever given to me) as he scuffs in to make the coffee. I am still on the den couch, but now sitting up, the day has begun. I wait a few minutes as he fills my bowl and then I leap off the couch sliding across the wooden floor to my destination. After I finish, I am rewarded with my snack of a greenie, shaped like a toothbrush which supposedly acts as a teeth cleaner. My white teeth support this-see those gleaming teeth-no laminates needed! Daddy also lets me out to do my business. Then he is gone. Mommy Carol is a stay-at-home mom. She says she worked for many years. There are plaques, testament, flags, and photos on the walls to prove it. I am so lucky to have company during the day, although I have my own fun and she does her own things. I like to chase rabbits and squirrels, especially in those our neighbor's tree and birds and bugs in the backyard
Inside, I perch crouched on the couch back like a cat and watch for dogs. I am very patient, until one walks by and then I bark bark bark.
I also hear the heat as it hisses from the vent, my cue to toast my body. I sit as close as I can my own fireplace
When Mommy leaves for her activities, she closes off two rooms: one where the parakeets live and the other where the computer is. I have tried to play with these colorful little creatures and my parents fear I will chew on them. There is also a belief that I destroyed the former PC when I got tangled in the back wires as a puppy. These humans never forget. I am no longer a puppy, and have evolved out of puppy tricks.
I am given a treat whenever Mommy leaves and she says "good dog" because I sit still and do not chase after her. While she is out, I watch TV I like all the channel seven shows starting with Regis and Kelly. I also like CNN, and I like Mike Fancesca especially this week with all the Tiger controversy. Some callers call Tiger a "dog" and I think they do not mean it as a compliment Guess going from a tiger to dog is a fall from grace.
I bark a lot. I am a Leo and like to announce myself to all passersby. I have a high-end set of toys that can be stuffed with treats.
When Daddy comes home I go nuts. I jump all over him. We sit for a bit and catch up on the day's eventsWe might do a chore together
He takes me for a walk every night. He lets me pull on the leash, poop on lawns and dilly dally along the way. That is my idea of a walk. I control where we go and what happens. Fun.
Then we are in for the night. I have my chair But I like to explore. I usually end up in the den with Mommy Carol but go back and forth. Wherever the action is, I am. I bark and make my parents play, Daddy always says "quiet your dog" to Mommy.
Weekends are different. Daddy sleeps later. I go upstairs around 8 AM and bark once. He gets up and feeds me. He goes back up to bed. Then I go back up and bark once more. he comes back down and gives me my greenie. I then ring my poochie bells hanging from the side door. They are a set of jingle bells. Mommy has been trained to come immediately to let me out. If she dawdles, I rip down the bells. It took me a while to train the parents but they work well as a team .
I go on vacation to a wonderful pet resort Best in Show. They have parties. This week is the Howliday party. It will be wooferful.
Sometimes we have visitors who are called handymen. If they encourage me, I lick and jump on them. Our housekeeper and I have the best time every two weeks. I love helping with the cleaning and have even adjusted to the noise of the vacuum cleaner. Late afternoon more excitement as FedEx, UPS, and our mail carrier all come by. A never ending carousel of events to keep the day spinning and twirling on the joy ride that is this dog's life.
At the end on my day, I am dog tired, warming in front of my fireplace tired from playing with my toys, full of treats. it is a very pleasant physical state for this dog.
Maybe a need for a second meaning to the phrase It's a dog's life My life is restful celebratory interesting view on the world fireplace cozy fun dinners to overseeand many more superlatives.

woof woof oh and Go Dawgs, UGA
Liam