Liam Writing Licks

YOGA CLASS FIRST,  THEN WE WRITE

Carol
Writers are urged to set aside time for writing. Makes sense. There has to be discipline and commitment. We work on LiamLicks all the time. A photo will present itself, a story forms around it. An event takes place and we share it. An encounter, a connection, a loss, a find. All possible threads for a blog story. The final push is always Thursday afternoon. A sacred time after Yoga class dedicated to our blog. The publication deadline is Thursday evening. At times, not often, other activities supersede our working afternoon. A one time class, lecture or seminar, a mandatory meeting, an immovable social event.
Today there is excitement at Yoga Class...we are photographed for our teacher's new website. Here is her page
http://www.myholistichaven.com/Home.html
Her daughter is a graphic designer and our photographer. She is positioned next to me for our session. I am honored and thrilled. A Leo never avoids a photo op. After class I head to the wine store with my environmentally

friendly bag, then to Starbucks. A bit of time online to catch up. Then time to go.

This week we have a library seminar. Offered one time this Thursday only. Announcement on the flyer Come and Meet  Mr. Frank Lazzaro, Former White House Holiday and State Dinner Decorator for Three Presidents  here is his link
http://www.franklazzaro.com/
Thanks Hillside Library for having this lecture and for the fireplace for our reading pleasure

Liam
Mom comes home from Yoga at Hillside Library. She has made her other stops, Wine store and Starbucks.  Her Thursday morning routine gives her pleasure. Today she participated in a photo for her teacher's website. Mom is already in the slideshow on the Hillside Library website. http://www.hillsidelibrary.info/
Her yoga class pic shows up after a few. Mom loves the camera, Such a Leo (me too) I hope to get a quick walk but Mom goes online. She starts our blog story. No walk now. She has our latte (I'll get licks) and wine (that's for later) It seems there is a break in the routine for this Thursday. She is off to a seminar. I am alone. We are supposed to do this together; I work best in a pack. My wolf heritage. There are distractions outside. Squirrels running, birds flying, dogs barking. I'll rest a bit on Mom's hounds-tooth shawl... ideas flow better in reposeNot sure what story we are telling this week. Maybe I will wait. Inspiration may come  I know I have to stay upstairs...that is where we work. I technically am not in violation of this rule by sitting on the bed. I know breaks must be taken to rejuvenate the brain and rev up the creative juices. Once on the bed though it is hard to stay upright. So comfy. I flop over

Maybe some latte licks will perk me up.

Carol
The lecture is fantastic, a view on history by a person who was there. Mr. Lazarro is a storyteller with many framed photos of White House events and a charming presentation. And he is from Queens, NY! Has written an ebook. He is an entertainer, motivational speaker and an informed historian. Very audience friendly. Not a circuit lecturer with a game face. He is the real thing. Mr. Lazarro has lived life and wants to share.
I have his autograph. Here is the brochure and there is my personal note on top. See upper left, Carol, Best Wishes, Frank Lazarro.

I did not solicit. He came over. Okay, I may have waved.
The seminar ends. I must get going. We have a blog to write and publish and Liam needs a walk.

Liam
I am at my perch on the couch. Better squirrel watching down here. They walk on the railing so near my nose. Ah, dreams of the chase. Uh oh...My collaborator is home. I have to get back upstairs. I'll hide. I have nothing done. My rest naps, bed sitting. latte licks have all expanded to fill the time.
Mom is full of joy. She learned so much at the seminar and met up with folks. She said the purple hat ladies showed up. Or is it the red hat/purple ladies? Well, anyway, one of them won the centerpiece that Mr. Lazarro made at today's seminar. Before we do LiamLicks we go for a walk. Guess what? Our garbage can is back!  Not the school can, but an even better bigger waste can and it is located only two blocks from our house. We're so thankful. Mom thinks she caused this because of her blog story "Pooped out"

Carol
I do think that our blog story did have an effect. That's our story. Maybe only karmic but somehow the garbage can is back. And the boulevard is once more clean. Hope it stays put.

Happy Thanksgiving...we will not be working next Thursday so see you all in 2 weeks
We thank you for your loyal readership and participation.

Liam
I am not done. Something else Mom does. Laundry. She does it all day as we are writing LL. I am afraid of the basement and never have gone down there. She loves that part of Thursday. I hate the sound of the dryer buzzer. It terrifies me as much as thunder and the toaster popping. I hear we are off next Thursday. Mom says to say thanks to all of you. I say thank you every week. My two words are always the same. My thank you is at the end after my picture

IT IS 8:30 PM, ARE WE PUBLISHED YET, MOM?

  Woof, Woof

Rhinebeck Veterans

LIAM ON VACATION

Sandy wiped out our November Rhinebeck trip last year and the year before illness did. Our last fall visit was in November 2010...room 24. We stay at the Beekman Arms.
 http://www.beekmandelamaterinn.com/beekmanarms.htm
I document each trip with the room door photo. Since we have been coming for many years we know many of the rooms. This year we are on the 3rd floor, room 31. One we have never had. November is our month of choice because the foliage folks are gone, the rates are lower and the fireplace has a chance to roar. We go on Veterans day because it is a non-work day and its commemorative patriotic spirit is a match for our journey to an area hosting veterans and boasting historic places. George Washington was all over here as was FDR.
Liam goes on his overnight to Best in Show
https://www.facebook.com/bispr
Best in Show posts pix of play time and we check on the pix while relaxing in Rhinebeck. If I see him, I then post a comment "Hi Liam."
Here are some visual highlights of our trip...Food, Drink, Fireplace and Liam
Our favorite restaurant Terrapin outside
 farm to table food during Restaurant Week in the Hudson Valley.
 http://www.hudsonvalleyrestaurantweek.com/home.php
some duck bolognese with brussel sprouts at Terrapin

BEEKMAN ARMS KALE WITH ROASTED GRAPES AND PUMPKIN SEEDS

A fireplace and drinks.  I love fireplaces. Paul does not come close to liking. We nestle in for what I hope is a warm respite by the fire. Paul finishes his Irish coffee quickly. They go down easy...and announces he will be going to our room to watch DWTS. Really? I have a full glass of wine and a crackling, spitting fire.  Logs being loaded promptly. Mesmerizing. I have my Kindle. The only way to reach the third floor is by the stairs and every step echoes to the lobby. I know when Paul has reached room 31. I shoot my video, you will see the fire, then our drinks, wine on left is mine, empty glass is Paul's, the voices are other folks chatting in the tavern
After I am done with my Indie film I hear steps coming down, the amount of footfalls indicates the person is coming from the third floor. Oh Paul has decided to come back and join me. There is Paul peeking through the banister, I hear, "There is no heat in room 31, please send some up."  Hmm, so it is cold in room 31. We have a warm fire going right here. I stay and enjoy the fire. Paul trudges back up to the third floor. Elizabeth Berkley is voted off DWTS.
and what of Liam enjoying his vacation in playgroup?

LIAM ON LEFT, HI LIAM!

LIAM  IN THE MIDDLE

I see other posts from owners lamenting no pet sightings. Thank goodness Liam is in a number of photos.

LIAM HAS A BUDDY ON THE RIGHT

He is in the back of the group and then in the front. They post 127 photos and Liam has a good shot at being in some and is. The staff tells us he is friendly and playful. Always an honor to score a solo portrait, Though a Leo birth sign has that love of the spotlight and Liam loves the camera
                      

THE HOME COUCH IS THE BEST
WOOF, WOOF

Pooped Out

LIAM IN WALKING GEAR 

We have a dog walking street in New Hyde Park. It is Leonard Blvd. The designation of boulevard evokes a street with high level aspirations. It is the western quarter of the perimeter of North Hempstead Town Park.  There is no access by car for a good number of blocks. If you are on the east side of New Hyde Park Road and own a dog you most likely walk along Leonard Blvd.

LEONARD BOULEVARD LOOKING NORTH

Our street, Baxter Avenue, has Leonard at its end. Being the second house in, Liam and I have a short walk to reach it. Some folks drive to it and park and walk. Idyllic. Peaceful. There is a no car access street before New Hyde Park Memorial HS so it is possible to continue the walk.by turning left by the school. We place our doggie waste deposits in the can at the edge of the school.

LEONARD BOULEVARD LOOKING SOUTH

In the six years we have had Liam this street is our walk for the bathroom trip. Not everyone picks up their doggie deposits. I mentioned the High School. Not every student throws their trash in the can.  One has to dance a bit and zig zag to avoid stepping in poop and fast food remnants.The food containers and discarded drink cups and dog leavings are minefields for humans and conversely a "walk in the park" for our dogs.

This year we dog parents are invigorated by news of a dog run. Oh joy! Right across the street.  Like city folks enjoy. Just a walk, and sit and watch. A study is being done. Surely we will be approved. There are fields of unused land at this town park. A second garbage can appears on Leonard Blvd.  Two places for poop and student debris. A luxury. Our cans no longer overflow. All this must be prep for our dog run.

Bad News.
Dashed hopes.
No dog run.
Study shows not feasible. Smells fishy. Reasons cited nonsensical.  Informal talk around the boulevard is that there is fear we dog owners will come, leave our dogs in the dog run and go watch the sports activities in the Town Park or go to the Health Club. Really? Why would we all do that? Leave our dogs alone and go for a swim??? Do residents leave their children alone at the playground and go for a workout?
Undercurrents of disappointment and suspicion in this dog loving community.

After the news, our Boulevard changes.
Our second can vanishes

Back to the over flowing school garbage can.
Last week that one disappears.

Why? Seems can has been removed because those in charge of emptying it cannot stand the smell.

We now do not have any garbage cans along the popular dog walking section of the Boulevard.

No place to place waste.

Immediate result
Dog waste pile up where the can was.
Poop protest?
People are not picking up.
A rebellion.
There are no receptacles for dog waste disposal.
We have to take it home.

Students join in. They are now dropping their garbage on the sidewalk and street and grass as they walk home.  On our most recent walk I see a pizza box, Dunkin Donut detritus, chip bags, smashed pumpkins, candy wrappers and bones. Yes! Bones! Liam smells every item before I see each one. I am tugged back and forth as his nose goes. The littered street looks like Jericho Turnpike during our street fair.

Do we have a backlash here? People unwilling to carry waste and garbage home. 
Liam and I meet our friends Wrigley Wilbur and his Dad (SSA retiree) we lament the poop situation and the dog run situation. What to do? We chat, pick up... and continue on.

Liam gets ready for another walk. I get the poop bags out. We hope our walk is a worthwhile one. 
Run to the back, sneeze, run to the side, shake, go to the front, repeat as necessary. Liam has a sort of OCD tick about the walk. He has to do this every time. He knows the blue harness means a walk, not a backyard bathroom trip. So he will not do his business in the back.  We both want a productive walk.
See his routine

And away we go. Liam is ready at the gate.

Good news
The Holiday cups are out. November 1st. Liam has his inscribed by our New Hyde Park Starbucks manager, Anita. She adds a cat sticker to entice him. Liam will have his licks at home after the walk. Anticipation. Thanks Anita and Starbucks staff.

The Leonard walk is fraught with danger and fun for Liam. Same for me. Check paws and feet upon return. So much out there.

EMPTY LIAM, POST WALK

Woof, Woof

All Howls Eve

LIAM IN HIS COSTUME, A LEO AS THE LION

All Hallows Eve

Halloween
or

All Howls Eve

that's how we New Yawkers say it and dogs think it

 we tawk fast

Liam is not a costume dog. In that he takes after his Dad. Paul will avoid any venue or party that expects or suggests a costume.

NOT GOING TO ANY PARTY

I do like Liam to participate in some way as he does bark and come to the door for each trick or treater. Liam does enjoy wearing a boa.  The feathers and the warmth seem to calm him. Perhaps he dreams of dining on or capturing birds. And since Halloween has landed on LiamLicks publication day we have my attire ready early and Liam practicing his scary dog eyes.

HAT, BROOMS, BONE, LIAM

Special thanks to Cousin Brian and wife Debbie McNiff for the McNiff pumpkin for which we did a virtual borrow via Facebook. And speaking virtually, check out my friend Joanie's Pinterest board for Halloween
http://www.pinterest.com/thecompletegrad/happy-halloween/

THE MCNIFF PUMPKIN

 Views of our regular haunts

 Best In Show Pet Resort 

Liam's Pet Resort and Vet. They have a costume party and prizes. Liam does not like seeing other dogs in costumes, does not like the dog parties and tries to steal the donuts and coffee from the human snack table.  It is no longer a Halloween destination for us. Their Facebook posts show a fun day today.
  Crabtree's Restaurant 

patio is so fall, an autumn tableau, yes, it is real!
Halloween inside
See photos

Liam's doggie friends share their costume photos.

SOPHIA BRYANT

They live in Kingman Az.

MANDY BRYANT

And Liam in my boa for his lion's mane. I have a small collection of boas. This orange one is composed of real feathers and I think he envisions birds near him, a favorite chasing passion of his. Feathers are warm and by encircling his head trick him into thinking he really did catch a bird. Must have, why are these feathers all over.

We have candies to distribute. None for Liam though he will try to snag some. I have Skittles...horrible candies but young folks seem to like them. and a few lower level chocolates like Kit Kat...no dog titles. . No Snickers, no Three Musketeers, no Reese's here. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs. Really though if I had just one of the fun size snickers, or the others, I would eat one after another. An addictive personality. Yep.
 Liam playing with his pumpkin.

Liam went "trick or treating" today. Our only stop- Pet Valu. Liam picked out a new collar with a bone motif and green background. Thanks to the Pert Valu staff Samantha, Chris and Dylan for helping fit him, for providing treats and for accepting his licks. And for following the blog. Here is a new collar Liam on You Tube

And here is Liam in full costume. The wild eyes are his own idea. He turns them on and off at will. I told him lion's roar, but he says it is All Howl's Eve. Okay...howl away

LIAM READY FOR THE DOOR

Woof, Woof

TimesTalks in LiamLicks

LIAM'S WINE AND FOOD FEST, HE THOUGHT HIS WINE SAID WOOF, WOOF

I am on the LIRR to Penn. I am reading the tweets between Mario Batali and Michael Symon.  I will see them soon. I am meeting my friend for our traditional TimesTalks chef interviews and the pair from TV's The Chew is first up at 11AM. Their tweets show a fun relationship and a comfortable savvy with social media. This weekend is NYCWFF (New York City Wine and Food Festival) and many events are going on all over the city...food demos, contests, lectures, interviews, seminars, tastings, book signings and more 

I AM HERE... TIMES TALKS

The following link has pix of our two chefs and also across the top are sections you may click on to get an idea of what goes on during this festival.
http://www.nycwff.org/timestalksymonbatali
The M and M Virgo chefs are born on same day, September 19. I am with my Virgo pal so it seems like kismet. Mario and Michael really do not need an interviewer as they are their own show. Mario wore his signature orange shorts and crocs and Michael had jeans, a vest and a plaid shirt. This casual dress code is representative of their disavowal of the fancy cult of the celebrity chef and an embrace of authenticity.
When Mario and Michael arrived for The Chew job interview, they thought they were applying for the same job, the only cooking job. The show quickly evolved into a group of cooks and chefs.  Here is a clip
The discussion was about cooking fast and with basic ingredients... Mario sprinkling educated words and Michael reacting with his unique laugh. A questioner asked each what was the most necessary item in his kitchen... Michael's item- iron skillet (I think) Mario's item- his head... when pressed for a non-body part he said ...a knife. I tape The Chew every day: I have been to one of the first shows. Attending this seminar has renewed my interest in watching. They both are Twitter folks and do their own tweets. They give back as good as they get. When asked how he handles a nasty tweet, Mario explained that usually one of his thousands of followers will blast the tweeter. He does tweet answers, and praise as does Michael.
Here is a review of their TimesTalks interview
http://www.thebraiser.com/batali-symon-authenticity-nycwff/
Emeril-  Famous for so long. Unbelievably did not watch him too often on his many shows. I watched here and there. This man made the Food Network what it is. He is now on Top Chef as a sort of adviser and sometime judge. He was dressed more formally than M and M with a white shirt, dark pants and leather shoes...not a chef's attire  He was a solo interview and he had the quite warm witty Kim Severson to engage him. They developed a relaxing repartee. And that accent! I have been thinking he is a New Orleans chef so I must be hearing a gumbo of accents. No, he is from Fall River Ma and that is a Northeast accent I am hearing. Wow! Here is a bit of Emeril

He revealed that he gave up a full music scholarship and instead set out to learn to cook.
A questioner thanked him profusely for dancing with her mother at charity event a few years ago. She brought him a thank you surprise which was brought up to the stage. Not opened in front of us. A CIA student asked if he would try her hot sauce which she had brought in a little gift bag. It was accepted and placed on the side.  And another questioner made a statement that he cooked Emeril's dinner recipe for his girlfriend 19 years ago and as a result they married. Emeril asked what he cooked. He remembered rice pudding and wife shouted down from the top row "shrimp"... a review of the interview follows
http://www.thebraiser.com/emeril-reflects-on-food-network-paula-deen-nycwff-times-talks/

Then we are done-tickets x'd

We went to David Burke's Townhouse http://www.davidburketownhouse.com/and here are some of our treats

spicy lobster dumpling &coconut soup crispy chicken wing, bok choy, straw mushrooms, bean sprouts

pretzel crusted crabcake tomato orange chutney, poppy seed honey

quiche with many ingredients

side view of quiche

I tweeted to David Burke and my tweet was favorited  to his followers(thousands) see...

David Burke favorited your Tweet

19 Oct:

Thanks to Orlando Ramos #davidburke townhouse for a perfect brunch after our TimesTalks sessions #NYCWFF @chefDavidBurke

Where is Liam? Home. Exhausted from his day with his person, Paul... watching The Chew and Top Chef and tweeting with his doggie friends. Yes, he has friends on Twitter, hashtag #petchat. Here he is listening to The Chew. He prefers it that way. His hearing is quite superior to mine. I do hear our chirping parakeets in the corner.

Woof, Woof

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