Paul has had this idea for a long time. Let Liam run free as fast as he wants in an enclosed patch near our
house. As if he were Lassie - Lassie was always off leash, ran free and came home. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lassie_%281954_TV_series%29
Nowadays dogs do not run free and do not come home.
We headed over to our town park knowing that dogs are not allowed in but figuring one run for Liam would be worth the risk of being chased. It was Monday, May 30, 2011, Memorial Day. All gates to the little park were closed and padlocked. I mean with locks and chains that looked medieval. No way in, except under. One of the gates was a bit warped and the space underneath was about 10-12 inches. I knew Paul expected us to go under. I lay down on my back, Good thing when you are prone is that all body parts fall to the side except for the nose, So I turned my head to the right and pulled myself under. Paul then handed me Liam's leash and Liam went under. No problem for Liam as he is one quarter doxie with a long low back and can go into hot dog mode easily. Paul got under also. Now we are inside. We can do the Liam running free experiment. Paul walked to the end of the strip. I held on to Liam. Then Paul yelled okay, let him run free. And wow, he did.
RUNNING FREE TO PAULOFF LEASH
He reached Paul and then I called him. Nothing. A rollover.
AFTER ONE RUN
He stood statue still.
I HAVE TO RUN BACK? ARE YOU KIDDING?
I began walking towards him. Now I am halfway. I call him again. "Liam come home" He runs to me.
OKAY, HERE I COME
And that was that. He walked over to the nearest tree, stretched into a sit, yawned and the run was over.
UNDER THE TREE AFTER RUNNING FREE
Paul commented, "I thought he would run back and forth until he was exhausted. He would feel so good and so wild and free." Maybe he did feel good.
As we leashed him and walked to our exit crawl space, a Security truck spotted us and began its trip around to check us out. I was mortified- we are adults who snuck into a private park on Memorial Day, a sacred day. The truck would have to take a while to make its way to us because it was locked in just as we were. We slid under quick. I told Paul "Do not make eye contact with anyone. Just keep your head down till we get away." Whew. An adventure, Yes, but more for us and less for Liam.
Liam seemed delighted to be home and in the back yard.
WOW, GLAD THAT RUN IS DONE, YAWN
He is part of our pack. We do not run around, neither does he.
We have a sunny weekend. And it is the start of summer. Memorial Day weekend. Does not matter that the official summer start date is in June. I know it started today, Saturday, May 28, 2011, because Leaping Liam did his first rollover of 2011. Let me explain the title of this week's story (with a nod of course to Bob Dylan) common dog commands are sit, stay, come, leave it. Somehow Liam added "lay" and he does not even need to be told to do so. He goes into the "lay" position so quickly it is unstoppable. And from the "lay" position erupts the "rollover." And let's leave the grammar alone-since it is really "Lie Liam Lie" but then we could not pay homage to Dylan. http://www.grammarerrors.com/grammar/lielay/
READY TO ROLL
Liam would not do the rollover unless he deemed it a worthy warm wooferful day. I always know when he is ready. I have the camera poised and clicking. He strolls out cautiously, He finds a hot spot. Then circles the spot. Eases down front legs first then the back, settling into position. Okay. Maybe a turn might do. Then back again. Okay. Here we go. Flip one side to the right rest. Again Ahh!
I have been asked the Holiday weekend question often the last few days
what are your plans?
Are you going away?
I know the suggested ones are bbqs, beach, boating, the Jones Beach Air show, parades, pool. But no, This weekend,
the health club
,http://www.twinparkfitness.com/
watching President Obama at Arlington honoring the unknownsnot too far from where my parents are in the Arlington Columbarium
throw in some red wine
and the weekend is good.
Liam likes to keep it simple
And sometimes that is fine and it is this year.
My mother used to say "Does Liam ever stand up?" Yes, got a standing one. Here's for you Mom. woof, woof
The World was supposed to end at 6PM May 21, 2011. Actually, that was just the beginning of the rapture for those who believed.
We were celebrating Paul's birthday early (it was May 24) by having a drink on the Met Roof Garden at 5PM May 21, 2011. See description of the artist's work if you like: http://www.metmuseum.org/special/se_event.asp?OccurrenceId={F97033D2-802B-4A64-AC9C-EDE499383A05}
ANTHONY CARO'S SCULPTURE USED A BENCH
The Met Roof Garden is quite a bustling diverse place with folks from all over the world, of all ages and dispositions and bars at each end. A new sculpture exhibit is there overlooking Central Park -it is an outstanding place to soak up NYC energy.
Liam stayed home to watch the Preakness for us. He has been practicing his jockey position. You might note the painting above Liam by a Long Island artist, see link http://markeesullivan.com/background.html
READY FOR THE RIDE
The decibel level of noise on the roof rose with each minute. Hey! why not? We are nearer the clouds -and that is where everyone looks for the end. I was looking at my gin and tonic, protecting it from those careening about aimlessly looking up at the heavens. See the Roof Garden photos as we near the rapturous end.
NEARING THE 6PM END
RAPTURE
Liam continued hunkering down just as the best riders do. At 33 pounds he is a light jockey.
THIS IS A LONG RACE
Folks were sitting on the sculptures. The security guard had a full time job chasing folks off them. As the 6PM deadline neared, the skies became ominous, stormy, some rain came out. The buzz from the rapture as well as the buzz from the drinking crowd made it quite fun. We left just before 6 for our dinner resos in the tony Trustees Dining Room. (Paul is a member of the museum) Well, the dining room was nearly deserted.
VIEW OF OBELISK FROM OUR TABLE IN DINING ROOM
Our waiter said resos were down 50%. I asked if they had been assumed into the "rapture" Who knows. We were alone with just a few groups. Then the skies burst with rain and the water cascaded down the windows.
STORM
The fire alarms all reacted to something and began screeching almost unbearably. Was it really the end? It was determined nothing was wrong so all of us present were given free drinks- a courtesy for having endured the eardrum breaking whining noise. Then the skies cleared.
THE AFTERMATH
As we started our main dish, folks started arriving. The world had not ended. Maybe some things had. Imperceptibly. Then we began our meal. Rapture.
CARROT GINGER SOUP, CABBAGE IN CENTER
SUBTLE SCALLOP WITH TURNIP SAUCE SPINACH
SHORT RIBS, BEETS, TRI-COLOR CARROTS, RADISH, GREENS
WHEN IS THE BELMONT?
Our horses finished 3rd and 4th. Out of the money again. Belmont in 3 weeks. Liam back in position. He has heard his Kentucky Derby pick, Master of Hounds is coming back. AROOOOOOOOOOOOO
Liam went off to day care and I waited for Stanley Steemer. http://www.stanleysteemer.com/Home.aspx
Love the Steemer spelling. Like the Beatles it is beginning to look correct.
Liam is terrified of vacuum-like sounds. They are right up there with fireworks and thunder. I thought a spa day was a good way of removing him from his fear zone. He would be out of the way of the Steemer guys. Liam was going to be cleaned also. They call it a "full groom." Wash, nails cut, teeth brushed. Liam would be "steemed" and so would our rugs, couches, chairs.
I had also added in tile and grout cleaning of the upstairs bathroom. Why? I was convinced we had black mold.
MY BLACK MOLD
Here is a YouTube explanation of black mold.
I have tried every cleaner to remove the black dots and they were only growing. My fear of black mold is deep and might be worse than Liam's fear of vacuums, thunder and fireworks. The descriptions of its effects are dire. Terrible respiratory problems ending in Death. Read up on it if you like. Readers, you do not want black mold near you.
.http://blackmoldexpert.com/
When the Steemer Captain checked the bathtub where I believed the mold to be growing, he informed me that there was no mold. That what I was seeing were cracks in the caulking. They were black holes not black mold.
NOT MOLD, HOLES
How could I have made that mistake? A hole, not a mold. I realized that my multi-tasking self always attempts to clean this mold while showering, And I do not have my contact lenses in when doing this. The holes looked like black dots to me. And by scrubbing them with my bristle brush, I have been making them bigger. I was enlarging my own black holes, growing my black mold!
Whew!!! No mold. Mr. Steemer explained that I must caulk those holes. Home Depot. Caulk, to caulk, have caulked, will caulk, caulk gun. No mold. Joy!
I picked up a freshly scrubbed and manicured Liam Gleaming teeth. Buffed nails. Fluffy fur.
The house smelled of cleaner. Liam smelled like oatmeal. That is the shampoo they use. And no black mold.
I have always loved horse-racing. Started watching with my father, Charlie, at a young age. We would all gather around the TV and place our bets. I knew all the famous horses from a board game I had. For the newbies who might never have played a board game- board games are those on which you move pieces around after you shake some die. You want to get a high number so your piece moves ahead. My horse in the game was "Native Dancer" I have just looked him up and found we were born the same year. I don't think I knew that at the time.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Dancer
I remember we bet our allowances. If we lost, Charlie would keep the money. His parenting wisdom was that you never let a child win just to be nice. The lesson is learned in losing. My father won a lot. I learned a lot about being a loser.
I have been to the tracks in NYC many times but never to the Kentucky Derby.
Horses
Hats
Bets
Mint Juleps
The Derby is a week after the royal wedding. Our chance to show even crazier hats than we saw last weekend. Also a shot at making a mint julep. We tried mint juleps one year but somehow we could not get it right and ended up with mint leaves, sugar and what tasted like rubbing alcohol.. So we do not make them. Paul has a Sam Adams and I have a red wine
I pick a horse based on a mixed scientific and whimsical study. This year it was Master of Hounds. Whimsical part-Liam is one quarter dachshund. And one quarter beagle. So half a hound. Liam is a rescue from Tennessee. Right next door to Kentucky, home of the Derby.
Then you have the Irish connection. The horse is from Ireland.
Scientific part-Master of Hounds has a good trainer, fine parents (genes) and a promising racing record. The horse runs around Ireland, up and down those hills. Here is a bit about our horse http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=horse&id=6476279
We watch the pre-race. Master of Hounds is never profiled. They have a woman jockey. A heart transplant trainer. Colorful jockey Calvin Borel. A replacement rider for an injured jockey. Even Uncle Mo, scratched, gets more press than M of H. All these make for good human interest stories. So no press for our horse. Then on the march to the track, our horse is not in the group. He is number 11. We get to number 10, then the next horse is number 12. Where is he? Was he lowered in by helicopter?
During the race, he is NEVER mentioned. Is he in the race? Turns out yes, Finished fifth. Some of the high profile horses finish behind. Not a mention. Not a picture.
Fifth is excellent-there are 19 horses.
But out of the money and never in the top three. That is okay. We are sticking with the Hound. In two weeks, The Preakness-Aroooooooooooooooooo
OFF WITH OUR HATS, NO HAT NEEDED FOR THE PREAKNESS
I had applied for and bought a safety deposit box for valuables. This was in April 1977; I was 26 years old.
I wonder what was valuable to my younger self? I had not seen the box in 34 years, yet every year in March we get a bill, pay it and never visit it. This year when I saw the bill I decided it was time to open this treasure box. Over the years, I had paid a cumulative total of over 3000 dollars for the privilege of having Chase protect my valuables. I hoped it had my Social Security card and maybe my hospital birth certificate. The NYC Birth certificates (ones with the raised seal) are so easy to get that it sure would not be worth renting a box for that.
At 26, I had no house-no deed, no marriage, no life insurance (still do not), no will (still do not), no bonds (had cashed them in immediately with no net gain), What the heck was in this box?
Liam keeps his valuables in one area. So brave, just out there for all to see.
LIAM'S TREASURES
I had a key that I thought was the key to the box. It was big and on a key-chain that I stored away in a sort of jewelry box. It looked like the key to a jail cell or a castle, so that had to be it. This giant key had traveled from two Fresh Meadows apartments to our current home in New Hyde Park.
I set out on my mission, taking side streets all the way to Fresh Meadows, enjoying the old and new additions to the neighborhood. I parked, entered the bank. There was no sign for what I needed, so I waited within the velvet ropes with the other customers. When I arrived at the teller's window, I explained that I wanted to look at my safety deposit box. I think she had expected a routine transaction and seemed a little startled. But she shut down her window and emerged at the end of teller's row waving me to follow her. Together we went into a room with hundreds of boxes. She asked for the box number and I said I had no memory of it. She looked it up-435, sounded sort of familiar but I never would have come up with that combination of numbers. I was amazed that my signature at 26 was almost the same as it is today at 60 (when I try to be neat, that is)
And then I was shown to a little booth and left alone. My excitement level was high. Treasures of youth to be excavated. I opened the box. Three items. I really could not believe my eyes. Seriously, I was stunned. These items are what I have paid several thousand dollars to keep safe for over three decades!
Ready for the big Secret of the Safety Deposit box (I loved Nancy Drew novels as a child)
1-NYC raised seal birth certificate. Difficulty in obtaining one- none. Worth secreting away. laughable.
2- Receipt for Medeco lock for my apartment in Fresh Meadows. That would be 3 addresses removed from
my current home and 34 years of time. Did I think someone was going to ask for proof of payment?
3-Photocopy of a poem written for and about me by a long ago poet friend Not signed, not handwritten, not the original. On a typewriter. No computers in 1977.
I came out of my closet booth with these valuable documents. I told the teller I was closing down my safety deposit box. No point in keeping a safety deposit box here. I no longer live in Fresh Meadows.
Undoing my long relationship with my safety deposit box proved complicated and labor intensive. I was escorted to the sitting area for a personal consult. When I admitted under questioning that I had only one key, not the two I had been given years ago, I then was taken to the manager. We are now a group of three. I tell all how I have been paying a fee to hide three items no one would steal. No one thinks this is funny except me. A fourth and fifth person are now called over. Two witnesses must be present-one for the handing over of the key to my safety deposit box and the other must write a receipt for the money I owe for the missing key.
And it is done. The ties broken. I am free.
I threw away the Medeco receipt.
I put my birth certificate with the other common NYC ones.
I have the poem out by the PC. I intend to type it into word and save it in my online safe deposit box, entitled Documents.
Do I intend to get another safety deposit box here in New Hyde Park? Yes.
I have Googled "what do you put in a safety deposit box?" and have been collecting a group of worthy items.
Liam has been watching, he is now concerned about his treasures.
LOOKING FOR A HIDING PLACE
However, today's NY Times has an article about a trend away from safety deposit boxes towards home safes in the form of furniture, hollowed out books, fake soup cans, heads of lettuce (iceberg I hope, useless for salads).
See link. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/garden/05safes.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
Folks now want their treasures close to home. Easy to access.
Liam keeps looking for a spot in the house.
BEHIND THE COUCH?
Liam thinks he knows what to do. He has his toys in one place ready for transport.
He has watched a commercial on TV for Travelers Insurance. In it, the dog finds a safe place for his beloved bone. Liam thinks we should both go to Travelers. Important treasures must be guarded and kept safe. And easily accessible.
He has more treasures than I do right now.
My grown-up person safety deposit box will have some important documents but it also might have the whimsy of a poem just like Liam's bone.
Doesn't have to be legal to be a treasure.
LIAM UNDER TREASURED PAINTING
I will get that safety deposit box.
I will also use my hollowed-out book and pretty container boxes.
From Carol
Two weeks ago we wrote about a name change for our blog. Liam wrote about it because I was emoting. Now some time has passed, readers have spoken with support and understanding for whatever course we take. We have received many very witty fun suggestions for a new name, yet all (including those with suggestions) are in favor of keeping LiamLicks.
Two other events happened that sealed the decision to hold fast.
The reviewer of the play wrote, "the title is really the right one"
LiamLicks is really the right one for our blog. We will stick with it.
From Liam--
We read a book this month "The Art of Racing in The Rain" by Garth Stein http://www.garthstein.com/ Garth Stein is a special man. He knows dogs know things.
I am present when Carol reads so I absorb as much as I can. The book is told from the point of view of the dog, Enzo. Here is a video clip.
We got so much from this special book about living life with courage and not giving up. As a result, we are not giving up our name. Enzo told his story, I will continue to tell mine in LiamLicks. An added bonus is that Carol now believes I will come back as a man. Why she likes this, I do not know.
But I try to hold her gaze with my big brown eyes as long as I can to make her believe I am very deep and profound in my feelings.
