Last Year

Last year Birdy became ever more socialized to the point where I'm sure she's hoping that we get her a little sister.

She plays this great game with her friend Monty, where his person Mandy throws the ball and both run to get it.  If Birdy gets it first, she'll either drop it or bring it in and then drop it so that Monty can actually return it.

These pictures were taken last summer.


More recently, Birdy met a newly adopted friend who lives down the street.  She couldn't wait to play with Happy, and pulled on the leash as we walked behind the pup and her person until we got to the park.  We were enjoying the only snow Bend got over the Holidays.  I took my camera along, just in case she did something interesting, and she did.

Meeting Up Accidentally

Is it better to meet accidentally or on purpose?  I've been wondering whether or not to make cards for Birdy with my cell # on them so that, if people and their dogs so choose, they can make play dates with Birdy. 

Or should I just TALK with the owners of the dogs I like? 

No way.  Nah.   I am WAY too shy for that.  Need to connect only with people I through other, non-dog associations.

Well, there is at least one person I know from a non-dog lifetime -- that's this talented and way outspoken East Coast gal who was part of 135 UP.  (An art association I was part of.  I always felt like I was the most outside of the outsider artists in that group.  [I have no ambition and my muse is desultory.])  This gal sometimes scared me with her directness -- I would take on her criticisms of others as criticisms of myself. (To the extent that I am like those people who are being criticized, to that same extent I feel the criticism.  Can anyone say "boundary issues"?)

[lack of transition]  Birdy really gets along with this gal's dog:  Nela.  They played this morning in the small patch of grass near the U of O site.  (I still call it "the silvaculture lab").  Nela has a strong background in herding.  She's part dingo, part European cow-dog.  She snapped at Birdy's rump, bit too much teeth.  But Birdy does look like a sheep.

So, I know where they live.  Maybe I should just forget the whole electronic messaging thing and just go leave a note on their door.  

[lack of transition] I'd love to do a whole little Animoto of Birdy being the herdee.  (See on the front page the most recent Animoto of old Facebook "Dog Album" photos.  I think I need to buy the $30 a year update so that I can make so called "full length" videos.  In Animoto terms, I believe this means the length of a song.  You don't get to be "unbranded" until you go "pro."  I can't find a suitable definition for"unbranded:"  I'm guessing it means not having the "Animoto" mark at the top of the screen.  Well, at least it's not like a tv network crawl ad with little people running around promoting an upcoming show.)