Signs of the Times

Ardmore’s Most Wanted

Time: July 26, 6PM

Charge: Attempted Murder

Suspect: Miss Rita

Victim: Unidentifiable Songbird

Just the Facts, Ma’am: High-pitched squawks of bird in distress were heard coming from house in Ardmore; upon investigating alleged suspect was found with struggling bird in her jaws; told to drop the bird, suspect declined, and, evading arrest, fled with victim up the stairs; Officer K pursued with Deputy Pablo remaining downstairs to sniff for clues; suspect was flushed out of hiding and chased onto deck where she relinquished her prey; suspect was then brought in for questioning

Rap Sheet: Suspect was found to have a long list of previous crimes against wildlife, including toads, voles, shrews, and mice

Verdict: Guilty as Charged

Sentencing: House Arrest

Happy Trails, M!

My niece M’s visit with us came to an end yesterday. We enjoyed our time with her—and so did Pablo. One night in particular the two played together for so long that they wore each other out. Pablo dug out our every toy he owns—a considerable number—and brought them to M to be tossed and tugged. For a few short hours he was a puppy again.

M, we love you!

Bonding with Ben

My nine-year-old niece came to visit with us for a few days. M hails from Connecticut and this was her first trip to Philadelphia. She had very definite ideas about what she wanted to do, including seeing the Ben Franklin statue in Penn University, visiting the Liberty Bell, and going to the Reading Terminal Market. All three were accomplished yesterday. Today we’re off to the Franklin Institute Science Museum (if she ever wakes up; yesterday wore her out quite a bit).

Here’s M visiting with Ben:

And here she is with a new friend she met at the end of the day:

Flower Power

What’s the Number One Vacation Spot for Dogs?

Cape Cod, MA. At least that’s according to a list at DogFriendly.com. Other resort areas where dogs can vacation and unwind include Chattanooga, TN, at number 10, Colorado Springs, CO, at number 5, and Black Hills, SD, coming in at number 2.

Pablo’s last vacation happened to be in Ptown, and this was before we knew that the Cape rated so highly. We went in October of 09 to visit my mom, who was renting a house there during the off season. And although we haven’t visited the other places on the list, Ptown was indeed very dog friendly. Dogs were allowed on the beach, and Pablo got the chance to dip his paws in the Atlantic Ocean, a first for him. Restaurants were cool with dogs in their outdoor cafes, and there was even an art gallery specializing in dog paintings. We considered immortalizing Pablo in paint, but decided that $750 (for the smallest painting) was a little too steep. Photos of Sir Sheddalot (his new nickname) will have to suffice.

I'm ready for my next vacation. Where are we going?

Bon Voyage, T and B!

My sister  T (blogger of Dirt and Rocks) and her husband B (blogger of Paddling Otaku) were in NYC for a visit recently. On their way up from NC, they stopped in to see me.  Although B could only stay a little while, T spent the night. The next day we went into Philly to see the sights and have lunch with our mother. Then T went on to NYC to meet up with more friends and family. Today T and B head back home.

Since T’s feet are often featured on her blog, I thought it appropriate to show them on mine. Here are T’s dogs right before she left Philly. Make sure you use them to come back this way again, T!

Cave Canem

The NY Times had an interesting article this past Thursday. It was about how stray dogs have multiplied among the ruins in Pompeii, Italy. An adoption program was started last November, and so far 22 have found homes. The dogs are given ancient Roman names such as Sallustius, Diomedes, and Mulvia.

I can attest to the many strays at Pompeii. In July of 2006 I visited the site and was struck by the number of dogs wandering around the ancient streets. Some became the unofficial mascots of the archaeology students working there. If you look closely at a shot I took, you’ll see one of these dogs making itself at home among the students.

Halfway Down

During this non-ending heatwave Miss Rita has taken to a new perch. She now spends a large part of her day sprawled exactly midway on the staircase.

View from above

This means anyone going up or down disturbs her highness. After one too many times of having to move to make way, Rita came up with a solution. She now leaves space for stair climbers. Pretty smart cat.

For those of you with a fondness for children’s lit, you might recognize this post’s title. It comes from a poem in When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne:

Halfway down the stairs

Is a stair

Where I sit.

There isn’t any

Other stair

Quite like

It.

I’m not at the bottom.

I’m not at the top;

So this is the stair

Where

I always

Stop.

Halfway up the stairs

Isn’t up,

And isn’t down.

It isn’t in the nursery,

It isn’t in the town.

And all sorts of funny thoughts

Run round my head:

“It isn’t really

Anywhere!

It’s somewhere else

Instead!”

Happy Tweeting!