Nights in Potrero

Late on these balmy summer nights Daisy Dorables loves to relax while watching an old movie, but Lil' Nikki Snikki prefers being read to - nothing scary for these tender hearted girls though or they simply cannot sleep...

Ida

Although I've cared for Ida several times now, she never loses patience with my inferior ball throwing abilities. " Just watch me," she"ll say sweetly, gently wresting the ball from my hand. " With time and practice you're sure to improve. Don't worry, you'll get it." It's so heartening to be believed in...

Chloe Meets a New Friend

Ming

My former next door neighbor, the heartstoppingly handsome Ming, has hated me for years. As a serious guard dog, he would snarl and bark at me every time I passed his gate. So when his owner asked me if I would stay with him for two weeks this summer I said "Yes, certainly, I'd love to", because I try to accept what is offered to me in life, all the while ignoring those shivers running up the back of my legs whispering "Run as fast as you can and get the hell out of here!".

Ming suffered a stroke last year, he's deaf now and almost completely blind, but his sense of smell is still intact - and there's nothing wrong with his teeth either.

I spent the night before she left there, because, quite frankly, I was afraid to enter the house after her departure.

At every step of the way, I worried. When I left the house, would he let me come back in? - Yes.

Would he let me walk into the back of the house? The bedroom? The deck? Yes Yes Yes.

I quickly came to realize, Ming no longer hated me. In fact, he kinda liked me, and it was a pleasure to see his tail wag as I scratched his back and neck. I don't know what changed. Perhaps he's decided to retire from a long guard dog career - or maybe he just realized I was there for him. Within a matter of a couple of days we became good friends, although I admit I was always intensely aware of my ankles every time I had to pass by his slumbering body, lest he forget our new relationship.

Let's go - bring water

I came upon this post while blog browsing, and while I certainly realize the sad circumstances, I think if the Australian Tourist Board used it in their advertising they would be flooded ( no pun intended ) with thrill seekers ...

http://aubreyirmgard.blogspot.com/2009/06/cute-koala-bear-email.html

Boss Lady

Life with Cleo is a breeze once she impressed upon me one simple fact - her way or the highway. This means I am free to hike the beautiful hills and coastal trails here in lovely Pacifica all day, as long as I adhere to a few modest requests. Number one most important - breakfast is to be served at 3:30 a.m. She is happy to remind me of the time by stepping on my head. Should I ignore this gentle reminder, Cleo will step to the edge of the bed and launch herself into a full body slam against me, which sends me flying to the kibble closet, quaking with fear at what might come next. Breakfast is followed by the gentlest stream of water from the kitchen tap, and once her thirst is quenched Cleo is ready to begin patrolling her garden, a job she takes quite seriously. For the rest of the time, whenever I'm in the house, my one responsibility is to respond immediately to her swift rap against the window, signaling her desire to come in and snack.

At nightfall, Cleo will curl up beside me on the couch, and allow me to pet her, as long as I don't get carried away. When I remark on her great beauty, she quietly agrees. And when I admire her lovely orangeness, Cleo says that she is really more golden than orange. She went on to explain that golden cats are the highest form of life, and that they are in direct communication with all of the magical beings. "What? Magical beings?" I stammer, wide eyed. Cleo pauses, yawns delicately and then stretches. " Not for humans to know," she murmurs, and then settles down to sleep, ignoring my questions completely, until I finally give up. After all, she is the boss.

Chloe/Katherine

I know what you're wondering - which one is which? Not only is the resemblance uncanny, but they are both spirited, feisty women who enjoy an active sporting life. And now that Chloe is getting up in age, she even has a little bit of that shaky limb thing that Hepburn was so famous for not hiding. But most importantly, Chloe has a huge dose of that sparkly, magical star quality that makes people do a double take when they pass her on the street.

Do people reincarnate as dogs? If they have an inkling of the good life ahead, as in Chloe's case, they'd be foolish not to.

And I think we all know Kate was no fool - I'm just saying ...