Lambiedog

In need of a Christmas miracle

 

Things are looking grim for Thomas' computer.  He cracked the screen a few days ago, and ordered a new one from eBay.

 Today Charlie got out his tools to install the replacement screen and carefully, taking hours, took everything apart, only to learn that that we'd been sent the wrong screen, which won't work with Thomas' computer. Then, while he was putting the computer back together, he dropped a screw into the computer's headphone jack.  He and Thomas tried everything, but they couldn't get it out.

 While Charlie worked on a communication to the eBay seller, Thomas took a quick nap on the sofa.  

Perceiving that they were both dejected, I tried to lend support.  

I wished I could do more.  Why couldn't I be a helpful techie when my brothers needed me most?

It's terrible to feel impotent to stop the suffering of those you love.  

Joyous reunion

 

We were just one of many families in the scrum at the airport. But our reunion was very special to me, even though it took place surrounded by a multitude of people standing around waiting for their loved ones and luggage.

  

This just in: three new benches for the bluffs

  
There were five city trucks at the bluffs this morning, and a bunch of men digging.

     They were there at the behest of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation , which will install three! new benches there by the end of the year, as well as some at the Via de las Olas bluff.

 I had been wondering since November about a chalk rectangle that appeared on the ground roughly halfway between the Calamaro and Berman benches.

 It turns out that that spot, which is where the men were working this morning, will be the site of the first bench to be installed. I think it will be up by the end of the day.

  It seems wonderfully appropriate that the bench will memorialize a longtime neighborhood resident who rescued dogs and loved animals in general:  Melodie Mooz, who passed away last year, way too soon.  Melodie understood dogs and was devoted to them;  they reciprocated her devotion.

  Not all of the other benches will be memorials.  As Rudy, the gentleman in charge of the bench installation, told me,"People shouldn't have to die for you to get benches to enjoy."

I liked Rudy, who seems like a warm and wise man.  I also liked Judith Kieffer, Executive Director of the L.A. Parks Foundation, who was at the bluff as well.  Below is a photo of the three of us at the site of the second bench that will be installed.

 

 And here is a photo of Rudy and Judith walking over to check on the Robbins bench, which is going to be repaired.  (That's my friend Raymundo you see parked to their right on Asilomar, trying to get his truck to start.)

All in all, it's a great time to be at the bluffs.

The void we fill

Here's an article about the importance of dogs to empty-nesters.

Charlie interview

 

Since it was Charlie's birthday yesterday, I decided to interview him.  The transcript of our interview follows:

So Charlie, I notice that you are 17 today.  How does that feel?

It feels very exciting, Lambie.

 As a 17-year-old, what sorts of things are on your mind?

Running.

So, is it true that your team will be in the state finals in Fresno on Saturday?

Yes, we are hoping to run well and have a good time.

Charlie, you are a statesman with regard to running.  Do you have the same enthusiasm for track as for cross country?

No, I believe that running around an oval is not as exciting as running across hills.  You would probably be a track dog, with your small size, but there's room for many kinds of dogs in the world.

 Any other interests besides running?

No, not really.  I like Cubicl, and of course I read a lot of Lambiedog.com.

When I joined our family you had just turned 15. Now that you are quite grown, will you have time for me still?

Lambie, I will always have time for you.  You are the most important dog in my life.

More important than Taiga?

Well, I don't want to play favorites.  You're certainly the most important white dog in my life.

I guess I will have to be satisfied with that.  You are a diplomat but I am going to guess that you secretly like me the best.

Charlie, I wish you all the best on this day and for the coming year.

Thank you Lambie.  I'm sure we'll have a good year together.  I hope to get lots of licks next year.

  

Detective work on the Robbins bench

I've been trying to learn the back story on David R. Robbins, who is memorialized at this bench.

         

The plaque states that Mr. Robbins was born in 1959 and died young, in 1994.  But there is no listing for him in the Social Security Death Index.  I am perplexed.

Mr. Robbins was a son, a brother and a friend.  Unfortunately, his bench memorial seems to have come upon hard times.

 

It benefits from a gorgeous location, however.

A case of trash

    While I was doing some sniffing work on the slope at the south end of the bluff, I happened to turn and look uphill. 

    My eye was caught by a disturbing vista of garbage. 

   
Bizarrely, the garbage appeared to be growing out of a bush.

 

I hurried to investigate.

It didn't take me long to determine that garbage-droppers had been having a heyday at this end of the bluff.

Everywhere I looked I saw signs of their disrespect.  Cans and cigarette butts were scattered plentifully around the area.

My mind turned to the late Lady Bird Johnson, who spearheaded the "Don't be a litterbug" campaign to beautify America.  I felt grateful that Lady Bird was not alive to learn of this desecration.

But then it occurred to me that Lady Bird might have been a can half-full type of person -- someone who focused not on the trash but on the lovely views, the crisp air, the cliffs too far for litterbugs to reach with their hurled cans.

What would Lady Bird do?

Gifted with opposable thumbs, she would likely have picked up the trash.  I didn't have that option.  But I did have the ability to look at the can half-full, so that's what I did.

Me and my Boswell

Elf to his shoemaker

    After his day at school and his track meet, Charlie fell asleep on the sofa without getting his essay done. 

    Looking at his computer, I wondered if perhaps I should write his essay for him, like the elves who helped out the shoemaker.  Unfortunately, that would be a violation of his school's honor code.

    So instead I concentrated, silently yet intensely, on transmitting to Charlie via the ether my reserves of strength, brilliance, and analytical acuity, so that he would awaken feeling inspired and refreshed.

Concert

There was an air of suppressed excitement at the bluffs.

Many dogs had gathered, and more kept streaming in.

    
  

The occasion?

 

An impromptu guitar concert.  

It was a mellow afternoon.  Some of us kept dancing even when the concert was over.  

The dogs hung out, and the people hung out, and everyone was happy.