Day Seven -- "No Reflection on Ruby"!

Funny thing about doggies (and ghosts, too!)...  They seem not to be aware of (or don't have...) their own reflections in a mirror.  On our three mile walk of this morning, Wednesday, September 19th (Coen's birthday!), we three encountered a discarded, large mirror leaning against a tree.  Ruby may howl her greetings at passing dogs, people, tree rodents and other creatures, but has no reaction to a mirror.  Just thought you'd like to know.  

We've been having a fine day with Ruby.  Sophie's with us today too, our "newest pack member," and she and Ruby are getting on splendidly, with occasional complaints (only from Sophia!) of slobbery kisses.  

At this moment, Ruby is on her sunporch couch perch checking out passers-by, while Mary makes potato salad for Coen's (9th!) birthday celebration this afternoon and evening.  

Sophie and Ruby spent their lunch-time together, quite harmoniously.  Sophie savored her noodles; Ruby licked the residue off Soph's little digits.  Synergism!  Isn't life just rife with delightful little episodes such as this, as disparate species co-exist, sharing their time, food, thoughts, DNA...  

Mary and Joel reluctantly bid a loving fare-thee-well to our sweet little companion and return Ruby to the care of her parents.  For Ruby's part, we're certain she'll be glad to return to the quiet green spaces of Erin Township and its welcome paucity of urban noise and mayhem!  TTFN, Ruby.  We'll hope to see you soon, but on your own terms and home turf!!     

Ruby enjoys a shared meal of "hand out" noodles from Sophie.  Mary gleefully bonds on our last day together.  Joel asks Ruby if she wants to go in or stay out!  What a day!!

Day Six -- Coon Dog Meets 'Coon!

So here we all are -- Ruby, Mary and Joel -- having risen to witness a brand new Tuesday (double-punch day at Alterra!), eyelids still half-mired in the sands of peaceful sleep at 7:15 AM, walking contentedly north along Marietta Avenue...  

Holy Jumpin' Wild Critters!!  Mary lifts the lid on a City of Milwaukee green refuse receptacle to make a deposit, jumps like a frightened cartoon character (emulating Ruby!), and announces, "There's something alive in that garbage can!!"  And then she commands Joel, "Let it out."  Joel raises the lid to discover a large and very handsome raccoon, apparently trapped inside after gaining entry on an exploratory food raid.  Joel raises the lid again and lets it drop to the rear of the receptacle, now rendered wide open and enabling its occupant to escape, or so we thought.  We go on our way.

Nearing the end of our two-mile trek (we actually completed three today, so far!), we approach the aforementioned refuse container, only to discover that the 'coon had not departed.  The sides of the container, as it happens, are too high and slippery for the animal to gain purchase in order to make its escape.  We tip the container to its front and the grateful creature ambles out and across the street -- exhibiting no apparent panic or distress -- looking back at least twice, probably its way of extending a mute thank you!!  

"C'mon guys!  I'm ready.  c'mon, let's go!  Uh...  Guys, I'm ready now!!  I smell raccoon steak.  Um...  Guys??!!  I'm here, at the back door.  I got my coat on...  Guys!!  (Sheesh...  What are they doin' ?)"


And all the while -- on the north-bound and return trips -- Ruby is completely unaware of her natural quarry!!  Gosh!  That was exciting, an adventure worth chronicling for the ages, within and for the annals of human / beast pack-dom everywhere!  Extraordinary!

It is now 2:45 PM.  Mary is off walking with Ruby, as Joel drones on, boring the shoelaces off of anyone foolish enough to continue reading this fascinating yarn.  Upon her return (because Sophie is sleeping, and thus we cannot leave together!),  Joel will take to the streets to complete his remaining trek.

        

Day Five -- A Pair of Deuces!

We woke at about 6:30 AM, maybe closer to 7:00, with kisses from Ruby and a purr or two exhorting the lazy to rise and, if not actually shine, at least turn on a dim bulb or two and greet the day.  Today's walks consisted of a "Pair of Deuces," that is to say, we covered two miles in the early morning before two of us had to shower, don our business attire and then take care of a client's apparel pick up and delivery.  

The day was busier than originally anticipated, with shopping forays, banking and an added stop for Scottish Oatmeal.  Oh yeah...  A coffee stop was stuck somewhere in the mix.  Ruby didn't seem to mind our absence, as we were able to cover another pair of miles -- our second deuce -- in the mid afternoon.  The threat of a torrent of rain sent us scurrying homeward.  We made it just before the deluge descended full throttle.  

And, oh yes, Happy Ruby Rosh Hashana!  We dined at the Eckmans, along with daughter Bethie and two delightful grandkids.  Ruby did not join in the feast, but waited patiently for us to return, perhaps anticipating popcorn and Masterpiece Theatre featuring Kurt Wallender, the morose Swedish police detective.   

"Hmmm...  Masterpiece Mystery, Kong??!  Masterpiece Mystery, Kong??!  Which deserves my rapt attention.  Not really much of a mystery in that question:  KONG!!  

Day Four -- Tack to the Left, Tack to the Right...  Stand Up, Sit Down...  Fight, Fight, Fight!

It's like heading into the wind...   Repeating the ambitious total mileage of the day before, Ruby and her devoted followers walked a total of five miles again on Sunday, and once again, in two separate shifts.  Good walkies!  Ruby tends to do as Kody did, that is, she sort of "tacks," like a sailboat facing upwind.  "Ruby," Joel admonished, "Walk in a straight line, why don't you..."

Mary and Joel note that Ruby -- unlike her first day with us -- has begun howling at passing dogs.  Perhaps it's a factor of feeling at home with us.  Mary, in her usual thoughtful manner, decided that maybe it was time to pull a Cesar Milan (the Dog Whisperer!).  When Ruby started yapping at a squirrel scampering up a tree, Mary stood in front of Ruby, emitted her own version of "Pssst...  Psssst..."  She would block Ruby's view of the object of her longing to chase, and hold her hand in front of Ruby's nose.  Ruby sat instantly, and modified her behavior.  "Amazing," said Joel.  "You're Baba the Dog Whisperer."  Mary repeated the procedure whenever Ruby encountered passing doggies.   An aside from Mary,  "It works better for the doggies than the squirrels."

Earlier, when Joan rang our doorbell, Mary opened the door and Ruby came flying onto the porch.  Mary grabbed for the collar, missed, and Ruby went flying down the porch steps and up the sidewalk.  Mary yelled really loudly, "Ruby!"  No reaction.  And then she remembered how Rob told her that Ruby reacts much better at soft requests or commands vs. yelling.  And so, she followed Ruby slowly and softly said, "Here, Girl.  C'mon."  Ruby obeyed.  And the two walked calming back into the house.  

This was Mary's great day of bonding with Ruby, and both enjoyed a productive, happy and successful Sunday!     

Day Three -- Come Saturday Morning...

Ruby woke us, not too early, but in her usual affectionate manner.  She wanted to go for a walk, right away.  "Get up, you lazy oafs.  It's a beautiful day.  Time for walkies!"  

Ruby and her temporary pack covered a total of five miles today, Saturday, in two separate shifts of two and then three miles respectively.  Mary says that we made a major tactical error in our routing!  On the second leg of our trekking, we walked to Alterra on Prospect, traversing Downer Avenue with its fairly large volume of noisy traffic, right on Bradford and then left on Prospect.  Ruby seemed agitated, even ill at ease.  After fetching cups of java from Alterra, we then reversed our course.  At the intersection of Prospect and North Avenues, Ruby spun her head in the direction of a passing city bus, then skyward trying to locate the passing jet airliner that was roaring overhead. 

"This is just too much for her," Mary said.  "She's experiencing sensory overload.  We have to get her back into a quiet neighborhood."  We turned off of Downer Avenue onto Summit as it travels diagonally toward Belleview.  "Ah, that's better...  Quiet," said Ruby.  We learned our lesson.  Back home, Ruby retreated to her now favorite perch, the front porch, its nicely elevated couch from whence she can look out and howl her greetings, or protests, to passing pooches!  What a great day!  

We've also discovered about Ruby that she seems more interested in salty vs. sweet!  She rejected our offer of cantaloupe and apple, but lapped up the last bit of ham (from our pea soup) and definitely loves pretzels!!  

Day Two -- Ruby Friday!

Ruby Friday!  A Pair of Gems!  Both emerged from crowded slumber with unanticipated delights, cool and precious, yawning and stretching their presence into our consciousness, full of the bright promise of possibility.  

After breakfasting from a "kong" on the living room rug and wood floor, Ruby wanted walkies.    Our first "shift" consisted of a two-mile trek north from Marietta to Hartford to Shepard.  A block further north along Lake Drive, and then back again.  A good stretch of the eight legs in our little pack.  Lots of stopping and sniffing, discovery.  

Ruby seems to be a critter of habit, like most of us.  She made a morning deposit along a strip of boulevard adjacent to the common space just south and west of our lodgings.  She made a secondary deposit directly into a sack, amid the admiring gawks and comments of passers-by, undoubtedly suggesting, "Ohmygosh!  Look at that, mamma, daddy, that doggie made poopies into a bag.  Could we train Sheldon to poop in a bag?  Ohmygosh!"  

A few larger doggies on our route barked their greetings, or perhaps theirs were sounds of envy, as Ruby was gamboling happily while the bigger dogs were gaping and yapping from their fenced enclosures.  On balance, however, we have to report that once back home, Ruby regained her newly-favorite perch on the sunporch couch, spotted a squirrel, a rabbit, a couple of passing doggies and a chipmunk, amid a few barks and howls of hello, or were they protest?!

Our second trek was just a mile long roundtrip to Downer and Webster and the Starbucks on the corner, where we sipped our respective Frappacino and iced coffee.  Ruby enjoyed a rest under a shaded table and watched the people pass by.  Ruby's walking behavior has improved by leaps and bounds compared to last month's foray with Rob and Sue.   Ruby has quietly enjoyed our walks while those around her bellowed obstreperously.  At one point Ruby asked, "Why can't they behave themselves?"  She added, "Noisy beasts think they own the doggone neighborhood!"

  

   

  

Day One -- Ruby Begonia Arrives!

Rob and Sue arrived at the home of Mary and Joel to deliver our most welcome and honored guest, Ruby, at about 1:30 PM on Thursday, Sept. 13th.  They, Rob and Sue, stayed with us for approximately two hours in order to facilitate the (almost instantaneous!) bonding process.  We learned how to use the "Kong," and absorbed other important details about the proper care and feeding of our delightful, cute as the dickens and lovable cohabiter.  

Joel assumed his usual role as stern task master to ensure that Ruby would spend the night, not on our bed, but on her own bed next to ours.  But how can one resist a sweet ball of fur nestled between us and sleeping peacefully.  We awoke to paws in our noses and a darting tongue that licked us both quite dampish!  Joel rose to use the bathroom and returned to bed having to negotiate his rightful space, mostly succeeding but, in the end, ceding an amount of bed space that exposed his western regions to the night air!

Mary asked Joel what happened to the mean guy who was going to kick Ruby out of our bed!  Joel replied, "I can't help it...  She stole my heart and I'm smitten!"    

Below is an important and revealing photo of Joel doing his sit-up exercises, but not very successfully as Ruby has other plans...  She wants to go walkies right NOW!