Saturday, September 3, 2011

Noble Beast

photo by John Sandel

The noble beast, the pompetus of love, the elder statesman of his radius, has been suffering neighborhood walks for an entire month. A month! Walking on cement! With his delicate toes!

I remind him that some dogs don't get a daily walk, but he's spoiled. He remembers hikes in the mountains. When do we get to go back to the wild? he wants to know. When do we get to smell coyotes again? Not that he wants to meet them in person.

Boz doesn't know it yet, but today we get back on the trail. He has new flea meds, a special water bottle and desire enough to carry him far past where we're going, no matter how delicate his toes.

But you can't tell a dog these things until the last second or they'll follow you at your heels, gazing at you desperately until the moment the leash jangles and the car door opens. So I haven't told him yet. Right now, the fava bean of farts is snoring.

23 comments:

Dina said...

Boz does look especially noble when looking up to him. Give him my love when he wakes up and have a great hike.

irinapictures said...

I went to the Zoo yesterday (to draw). Before I was always against "the Zoo" idea. But it felt so good to see them, that naive and clear creatures even in the box decorations. The visit was felt so fresh and clean upon the return. Maybe that is one more reason why we have animals around, the sample of pureness.

dive said...

What a magnificent portrait, Petrea. I do hope Boz enjoys his hike.

Michael Coppess said...

Noble, yes. But, you can just tell he wants back on the trail. Have fun!

Trish said...

beautiful shot, handsome boy!

hope you all enjoy the trek! neighborhood jaunts are nice, but there is nothing like the "wild" for a pup like Boz!

if he keeps ripping toes, there *are* booties, if he will put up with them. I'd ask around and see if anyone has a pair to borrow to test them out---or outright give to you b/c they tried them and the dog didn't like them.

Laurie Allee said...

I love that furry mug.

Speaking of coyotes, one trotted past me when I was taking pictures on Arroyo Drive near the Batchelder house. Never had one almost brush my leg before.

Bellis said...

You got me today - I had to look up pompatus of love.

Boz'll be so happy on the familiar trails. There are weeks of weemail messages to catch up on, and poop to bury in dirt with his magnificent rear-leg flourish.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, Dina.

Irina, you make a good point about the pureness of animals. Perhaps they keep us grounded.

John took the picture, Dive. He and Boz had a photo shoot. Boz makes a great supermodel.

Michael, we're both going to have a good time!

Trish, I just think of his toes as delicate because they're so pretty, but he does have a set of boots if he needs them. Cowboy boots. He doesn't much like them.

Laurie, that's (literally) wild. Or maybe not. It sounds like that one's getting a little too used to humans.

Bellis, you're getting us both excited.

ben wideman said...

Great photo - and "fava bean of farts"? Nice.

John Sandel said...

That knobby alien skull, fit for tearing flesh & kept on kibble.

Petrea Burchard said...

Ben, I was looking for alliteration.

JS, you got some good alliteration going there. And what a fine photo, I might add.

Bellis said...

Tonight's talk "Enjoying the Miracle of Now" by a famous Buddhist monk at Pasadena Civic Auditorium is sold out. Tickets bought by people thinking ahead to the future - how ironic.

I say all the disappointed fans should hear from Boz instead - he'll teach them how to live in the now.

Petrea Burchard said...

Right now he's napping in his sunny spot.

Steve Scauzillo said...

He's so arrogant...he'd be better off staying away from those dern coyotes!

Susan Campisi said...

What a great portrait. Boz is such a handsome gent. Hope you both have (had?) a wonderful hike. Tommy is itching to get back on the trails too, but my crazy schedule has gotten in the way.

Bellis, Thich Nhat Hanh? I was interested in seeing him but didn't plan well enough for the future, which is now the present - almost. Are you going?

Pasadena Adjacent said...

up and atom! glad to hear your feeling up to the task. enjoy

Petrea Burchard said...

Steve, Boz would like to be arrogant but he's too chicken.

Thanks, Susan and PA. I kind of overedid it today and it looks like I have to put off the hike 'til tomorrow. Please don't tell Boz, but I mustn't overdo. I am bummed.

Speedway said...

I love his noble gray head, lifted to take in breezes that tell him stories so detailed we can only imagine what they might be ... but they do tend to be pretty funny...peemail and fava bean farts. Hah!

Shell Sherree said...

Sigh. Boz, you're such a sweetheart, gaseous expulsions and all. Have a wonderful time. I imagine both of you will relish heading off the beaten macadam.

Ms M said...

Such a grand "Ode to Boz"! I hope he enjoyed his hike thoroughly.
Speaking of the Pompatus of Love, did you know Steve Miller lives in Sun Valley, ID?

Petrea Burchard said...

The pompatus and I have changed our plans. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Steve Miller, Ernest Hemingway, and my mother. She used to tell stories (about Hemingway, not about Steve). It was quite the place for growing up.

TheChieftess said...

Ahhh...the fava bean of farts...so poetic!!!

Miss Kelly thinks she's died and gone to heaven...her first year and a half she spent in the back yard with nary a walk to be had...now she gets four walks a day (no fences does have it's drawbacks..) and many of them out in forestry land...just Friday she got to run to her heart's content through a meadow...she chased birds, thought about going for a swim but opted instead for wading a bit in fresher water....she's living the dog's dream!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

She hasn't died, but she's in heaven for sure.