Bugged

LIAM LISTENING FOR THE BUG BUZZ

I thought we had more time this year before the biting bugs showed up. I was thinking that this colder and snowier winter might keep the blood sucking insects dormant. I was hoping that this winter with its great number of windy days might have blown my tormentors away. I was dreaming of outdoor reading serenaded by birds and airplanes. The only buzz I desired was a "feeling buzz" from my wine not a "hearing buzz" from mosquitoes whizzing around.


It is Saturday June 8th; Liam and I are sitting outside. I am on his right in the next photo. Liam is on insect and squirrel watch.  It is the early evening ending a serene dry day following the drenching showery tropical storm Andrea of Friday.  A safe sitting... no bites
Planes flying over clouds flying by
a thick lawn from the storms makes for a good rolling rug for Liam. I watch. Sipping wine. We are unbitten.

We reconvene Sunday evening June 9.  I carry out the papers, camera, Kindle, phone and books. Hoping for a good long sit with Liam. Sounds and smells of Sunday surround us... grill smoke wafting, children laughing, dogs barking to each other, all rolling in the deep
Then it happens .My leg is crazy itchy and that "must scratch" compulsion overtakes me. Within minutes I have helped rise up 5 huge welts, a circumference of an inch each. Biting bugs are here. Not only mosquitoes this year, others have joined the feast.

Only one day later and our yard is unsafe.
The attack of the insects.
War
No warning.

Why are they so hungry and numerous and large? Yes, these guys are big. I googled. Another present from Sandy. See link. Sandy left such incredible wetness that we never dried out.  Long Island is soggy and saturated and harboring insects. The warmer days have signaled to them that now is the time.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/05/29/mosquitoes-ticks-invading-post-sandy-long-island/

We do have weapons. See photos The citronella does not seem to work in our yard.  The insect repellents take off my nail polish, stain clothes, smudge print in books and papers, cause electronic devices to reboot and freeze. And then there is Liam. A lick might be poisonous. The bracelets work (thanks friend) but are limited to the immediate area of the wrist or the ankle.

WHERE ARE THE BUGS? LIAM WITH THIS WEAPON

Liam wields a mean Kong bone which he swings at the bugs. He hears them before I do; when his ears perk up something is near. His own toy doubles as an insect whacker.


What to do?  Not giving up...Ordering a zapper from Home depot. Probably sitting out will require hazmat gear or a fire pit which is not permitted (by a member of the household)

Liam found a spot on the side of the house for his latte licks...  the biting bugs stay in the back where the action is. I suppose we could all huddle on the side stoop, but we are not surrendering the backyard yet...
                  

Is staying in better? 





 

                                                              




          

or is a quick roll worth it?

                        











Not giving up...looking forward to blogging a story entitled  Debugged

NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER

 Woof, Woof

Signage

LIAM'S SIGNAGE

Signage.

I first heard the word on Celebrity Apprentice. I know. I am late to the party. It is a word that is used and known. I figured it has to be about signs. And it is. It is all about the collective usage of signs for a purpose...or in the vernacular... a bunch of signs or one really good sign.

 Here is the official definition.
.http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/signage

The definition says that its first known use is 1976.  A fairly new word then. On Celebrity Apprentice the word signage is used in tasks to advertise the product. Someone will say "who wants to do signage?"  I thought it sounded affected and that it was for TV only. However, it may be an efficient word because it reduces a phrase "making a bunch of signs" to one word.  In school we engaged in signage when we conducted campaigns for student council using materials such as oak tag and magic markers. That was school signage. Kids hawking lemonade on the street use seller signage. Realtors combine balloons with signs for open house signage. We have our own in-house signage  

LIAM'S CORNER

A FEW GOOD SIGNS

 
              We have some yard signage to identify my Mom's garden with her favorite Liam pic.

SIGN IDENTIFYING RUTH'S GARDEN

Liam has his own blog. Mainlining blog readers requires promotion. Signage. We do that digitally with Twitter, FB, email, Instagram and Pinterest... all that.
Digital signage
We have business cards.

Paper signage
Signage in all its forms aids in developing and mainlining interest. Several unexpected creative uses of signage for LiamLicks was given to us this week. Thanks supporters!
At our favorite Starbucks in New Hyde Park where we stop daily
http://www.starbucks.com/store-locator?gclid=CJyCtPqf0LcCFYme4AodrWsATA
its manager, Anita, prepared my latte with special signage for Liam's blog...and Liam enjoyed his latte licks advertising his blog.
The little sticker is a photo of two dogs and says "doggone great"-if you zoom by clicking it is more visible

Another reader gifted us with a whimsical craft sign from HomeGoods invoking  Liam's double "woof" blog sign off. 

 

Signing off
Woof, Woof

He's Got a Friend

LIAM HAS HIS OWN PACK OF THREE

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

LIAM'S GOT A FRIEND

Woof, Woof

You're Hired!

LIAM LICKING THE CELEBRITY ICE CREAM CREATION

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

http://www.nbc.com/the-apprentice/photos/may-the-spoon-be-with-you/13330/#item=288801

A little background

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.

Woof, Woof

Squirrel Switch, Bunnies Beware

ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME?

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.

LIAM WITH HIS "THIRD" EYE

Woof, Woof

The First Saturday in May

LIAM ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF MAY

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 words against and women'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.

http://do.eifoundation.org/site/TR?px=1053822&pg=personal&fr_id=1101&et=bkXucfthX4mrujMtXuaKSg

 

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

https://www.facebook.com/LoriWhitneyPhairRackCancerSharingHope

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 THERE AT 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

LAST YEAR'S LEIS

LEIS LIAM LEIS 2013

Woof, woof