A balancing act

Each time Sweetie brings us to the park to play, there seems to be a mad rush to get to the big rock. Many of the boys have an odd ritual that I haven't fully understood. They run up alongside the rock, throw one leg high in the air, then pee... a little. This continues as they follow each other around the rock, trying to mimic the boy in front of them. I'm not sure but I believe there may be a contest to see how high they can stretch their leg.

One day while playing with Layla in the backyard, my mind drifted to the boys at the rock. I decided to see how high I could lift my leg. It wasn't easy! I eventually found a small tree that I could lean up against to help me maintain my balance. I peed a little to see what all that fuss was about, but still, the act was lost on me. I figured that peeing must help me keep equilibrium as part of the balancing act.

I turned to see Sweetie and Babe watching; their smiles beaming from ear to ear. It was as if they were proud that I could stand on three legs. That was it! The boys did it to impress their pets! Sweetie and Babe cheered me on as I pranced around the yard, practicing my three-legged stance at difference trees. I even tried to do it near the garden. Babe didn't like that. Not sure why. Eventually, I had no pee left to help me balance, so I headed up the stairs to be greeted by two very proud fans.

I've recently started working on balancing on two legs (without peeing). I even tried using Babe to lean on when I practice but he didn't like that. (I think it's because he's jealous that I'm almost as tall as him.) But I'll keep trying when he's not looking.
I want Sweetie and Babe to be proud, so I've decided to practice while leaning on the counter tops in the kitchen. I've been amazed at all the good stuff up there! Ooooh... Bread! They must have forgotten to tell me......

Let it snow

Is this what snow looks like? I've heard about it and have always wondered what it would be like to experience it. And suddenly I am witnessing the magic that is snow.

It's white and fluffy and floats through the air like pillows descending from the heavens, landing ever so delicately on my nose. It is as beautiful as I had imagined.

My sister Layla doesn't look as enamored as me. Maybe it's because she's older (and grumpier). But she has this odd look on her face, as if she knows something that I don't. Forget about her! I resume my enjoyment of the snow! It seems endless, and I am utterly joyful.

Hmmmm.... Interesting. A thought just occurred to me. I believe that I heard that snow happened outdoors. However, this is indoors and the floor is covered with snow. I'll file that tidbit and solve it later.

Time stops for a beat and I freeze. I hear something. The door is opening. Babe and Sweetie must be home!

I begin to make it snow harder so that they will see it too! I grab the next sofa cushion and flail my head side to side until the snow explodes from the cushion in all of its glory. As Babe walks into the room, the snow is at its peak; beautifully clouding the room in a storm of puffy white balls. As the snow gives in to gravity and falls to the floor, it reveals Babe in full. He is not as joyful as me. He is not joyful at all. Layla scurries out of the room.

Uh oh...

Not fair!

My sister, Layla, is little older, a little smarter, and a little smaller than me. But I kinda like her. She almost always lets me finish her dinner and she shares the loveseat with me when Babe and Sweetie go into their nightly trance while watching the lightbox. But what's most important - Layla likes to play with me in the yard! We run and run and run. I love it!

However, I do think that it's unfair that she never chases me; I always have to chase her. No matter what I do, she just won't go after me. I try nipping at her heels to trip her up in hopes that she'll get annoyed with me, but she just rolls over, never giving chase.

So I decided yesterday that I would try something drastic! We had just eaten dinner and were brought outside for our daily chores. Typically we each go our separate ways for our private time. After we do our business, we get back to playing. But this time I had alternate plans.

I hurried and did my thing, making certain not to step in it. (Babe doesn't like that for some reason.) I saw that Layla was still circling, trying to find the perfect target. I employed my ninja tactics and stealthily made my way around the garden and along the tree line so that Layla wouldn't see me.

She had finally locked her pose. This was my chance! I began with a low profile trot that gave way to an all out sprint. I was running so fast it felt as though my ears were wings. They bent straight back, unable to provide any resistance to the wind. My tongue flew side to side in absolute elation. My eyes, wide as saucers, locked in on Layla, leading me to my victorious eventuality. In that moment I was a god!

However... I had overestimated my ability to change direction at such high speed. As a result I struck her left flank, full on, toppling her like a Nascar highlight. Though I didn't mean to do that, it seems as though my plan had worked. Layla was mad and the chase ensued!

This was great! I turned to look back but something seemed odd. She had an intense look about her with a snarl I had never before witnessed. "Uh-oh", I thought, "This isn't good." I was suddenly scared and began running for my life. Eventually I felt a tugging at my ears. "Owwwww!" I had to stop just to keep my wing from being ripped off. Layla gave another nip to my jowl and then headed back up to the house.

So with my lip bleeding and ear burning, I put my head down and made my way back inside. I learned a valuable lesson that day: Never interrupt a lady when she is powdering her nose.

A closer look

Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

I know that soon it will be time to eat so I wait for the slightest change in their breathing as the signal. But it doesn't come. So I rest my head back down again, still waiting.

I decide to check out the living room, then the sun room, then upstairs, then the kitchen, then the living room again, and the sun room again for good measure. Yep, everything's still there. Time to go back and check on Sweetie and Babe.

They haven't moved. So I lay down and wait.

Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

Did I hear something? Did one of them breath deeper than they had been? Could it be?! Could it be time for breakfast?!!!

I decide to check on Sweetie first since she's the morning cook. But I can't really make out her head. Not only is it dark but I think she's under the pillow. Hard to tell. Let me take a closer look.

This is always risky. If I wake them, it could backfire and they may decide to lock me out of the bedroom. I jump up slowly and rest my paws on the edge of the bed. They don't notice, but I still can't tell where Sweetie is. Let me check on Babe.

I hop back down, head toward the end of the bed, and make two right turns. I can see him. Eyes closed, mouth open; he hangs over the edge of the bed. But is he really asleep? I must know. I move in closer.

It sure looks like Babe is asleep. The hairs of his mustache vibrate rhythmically with each exhale. But still, I need more proof. Closer still I must go.

It is so very strange to see him this close. I had never before noticed the manner in which his eyelids flutter. Could this be a sign that he is waking? I must investigate further!

I know! I will check the dryness of his nose by pressing it to mine. That will surely tell me!

We both jump back! I, a split second after him.

I KNEW he was awake! Time to eat!

I see what I see...

Hi. I'm Jazz. You don't know me, but I know you. At least I think I do.

You're the person in that car who keeps driving by our house. Or you could be the person who stops in front of our house most days, playing with the "pit stop" post at the edge of our driveway. Or you might be that kid who keeps hopping the fence in our backyard to play in the stream.

You see, I see all of you, but you never see me.

I see a lot when my human pets, Sweetie and Babe, are gone. I don't know where they go, but at least they always come home. I hang out in the sun room most of the time, and with 14 windows I can see quite a bit. So to kill the time, I've decided to keep a journal of all that I observe. I'm hoping that eventually it will help me make sense of things.

I'm beginning to notice a pattern. Most days, Sweetie wakes before the sun rises and leaves the house before Babe gets up. I just can't figure out why she sneaks out on him like that. This happens for several days in a row, then suddenly it stops for a few days. So the other day I decided to take matters into my own hands.

Once again, Sweetie had very quietly risen from bed and snuck into the bathroom, then the kitchen. She had just fed us and let me out for a few minutes. Normally when she calls me, I come right back, but this time I decided not to. She chased me around the yard for a while, using her flashlight to find me. But each time she got close, I ran. It was fun! (Though she didn't think so.)

Eventually, I noticed that the light in the bedroom had switched on. Aha! Babe was awake! So I ran past Sweetie, up the steps, and waited by the back door. Sweetie didn't seem pleased when she finally trudged up the stairs and let us in. In a few minutes I would be the least of her worries. That is, once Babe had caught her in the act of sneaking out on him!

To my surprise when we entered the house, Babe just stood there rubbing his eyes, while Sweetie pointed at me and barked. To make matters worse, Babe handed Sweetie her coffee, and she ran out the door. Babe didn't seem upset at all. In fact he was smiling at me.

So in the end, my plan didn't work. But at least I know now not to worry about Sweetie and Babe. They trust each other, and so I will too.

Now the neighbor... He's another story.