Winston20024 – Page 4

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Jump!

Wow, when you wake up in the morning, you never know what kind of excitement might greet you during the day! We made the jump to hyperspace: not once, but twice!

The car ride started simply enough. We were going to pick up some guacamole and queso to take to a dinner. We were driving up Riverside Drive and – well, take a look:

If I didn’t know better, I would have thought we were still in downtown Tulsa, but I guess we traveled really far away – maybe to a parallel galaxy or something. That must be some really good queso and guacamole!

I’ve heard someone say that making the jump to hyperspace isn’t like dusting crops. I’ve never “dusted crops” (unless that’s one of those nice ways to say something else), but I can’t imagine it could be any more exciting!

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Every Old Smell is New Again

We’ve been taking our morning walks in the neighborhood for the last couple of weeks. We were going to head over to the Gathering Place this morning, because Wednesday is the day they reserve especially for dogs. I’ve never been there, and I was so excited, I don’t think I slept very much. Since I was up early, I figured my brother would be, too. He didn’t seem quite as excited as me, but he got up anyway, and we headed up Riverside Drive.

Well, I guess the Gathering Place folks are not morning people. It was closed! Maybe the sun was not technically up yet, but there was definitely light. We weren’t sure when it would open, so we decided to walk the tried-and-true Utica Square-to-Temple Israel-to-Cascia Hall-to-Nakatomi Gardens circuit.

After being gone for a couple of weeks, it’s always nice to get reacquainted with all the good smells. Plus, there are so many new ones! You know what I mean, right?

One great new smell: bacon! The Wild Fork was open for breakfast and, when we got out of the car, it hit us like a breath of fresh air! I don’t think the Gathering Place has bacon.

Temple Israel’s garden was beautiful, but their sprinkler system was going full blast, so we side-stepped it and headed toward Cascia Hall. There was a good crowd at St Rita’s Chapel for early morning church. Maybe one day I can go inside. I promise not to sniff around too much.

There was a group of young folks getting ready to play tennis. And we saw a sign we had never noticed before.

Oops! There goes our shortcut. Oh well, it’s a nice walk the longer way around – and more new smells!

After a quick swing through Nakatomi Gardens, we got back to Utica Square. My friends weren’t open at Anthropologie yet – they always come out to say “hi” if we’re there during business hours – but I think my brother finally understands why I always plop down in front of their door. Their air conditioner runs full blast and it comes out of the gap between and under the doors like an icy jet!

A pleasant reward for a walk well done!

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Peach Perfect

If it’s summer is eastern Oklahoma, then it’s time for peaches!

We got to ride in the car to Livesay’s Orchards near Porter.

My brother calls peaches “God’s Candy”. I appreciate the clarification, because I always thought that was a little piece of Egg McMuffin that someone dropped on the ground. But, we all know that God has more than one favorite. He’s God, after all!

There were a lot of people buying peaches. Luckily, I didn’t have to bring my wallet. I even got to walk around in the orchard.

I thought I looked like Indiana Jones in search of treasure, but when the fruit started dropping out of the trees, I didn’t want to be Sir Isaac Newton!

The Livesays have a little schooner in their yard. I would like to take a ride in it sometime. Fortunately, though, no one wanted to hitch me up to it, because I had already had my exercise for the day.

These little wagons were more my speed.

If you’re near Porter, come on out and enjoy Summer – by the bushel!

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The Talking Hockey Puck

Do you have one of these? They’re amazing!

I never even thought about hockey pucks having names, but ours is Alexa and my brother talks to her a lot. He asks her to add things like butter, bacon, and (my personal favorite) dog treats to our shopping list. That’s one less thing for me to have to remember. She can turn lights on and she even must be friends with all kinds of musicians. On many evenings, if my brother is going to be gone a while, he’ll ask her to get Brad Paisley and, a few seconds later, there he is singing to me for the evening!

Here’s something I thought about the other day: remember to always say “please” and “thank you”. Otherwise, you might forget to do that when you talk to people or dogs who don’t look like hockey pucks.

Alexa must work out a lot. She is a lot harder than other hockey pucks. The first (and last) time I tried to pick her up, my teeth were surprised. Now, she lives up on the top of the bookcase. I miss seeing her on the table.

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Here Comes the Groomed!

Every once in a while, you just need a little sprucing up to give you a new lease on life. I got to go to the barber shop!

First off, there were two other Golden Retrievers when I got there, so we had our own, private waiting room. Fun times!

It had been a while since I got a trim. The pile of fur on the floor was bigger than some of the other dogs that were in the place.

Before I show you the finished product, here’s a flashback to a couple of months ago, when my Older Brother tried to give me a bath. Bless his heart; he did his best, but I don’t think either of us enjoyed the experience.

Kind of like what Mark Twain said about baptizing a cat.

On the other hand, take a look at the groomer’s handiwork. Poetry in motion!

They cleaned up my “potty area” and gave me a nice, patriotic bandana around my neck. I call it the Reverse Mohawk: party in front, business in back!

Whether you call it the barber shop, the day spa, the beauty parlor, or the groomer, give yourself a treat. It’ll lift your spirits!

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Shine, Sweet Freedom

For the first time in about three months, we went to Biscuit Acres this afternoon! The back yard at home and daily walks are nice and all, but a fellow just needs to run every once in a while. Untethered. Like the lady in “Gravity”, but in a good way. Maybe more like the guy in “Chariots of Fire”.

… and when I run, I feel God’s pleasure!

Biscuit Acres is situated next to a nice lake. Lots of ducks and geese to supervise, but I had more important business to tend to.

First, I gathered information about all the dogs that had gone before. So much sniffing to be done!

Then, I met up with some new friends. More sniffing.

Then, what a pleasant surprise to run into a group that meets just about every day. Their ladies bring lawn chairs and they’ve also become good friends. Without even sniffing each other. Imagine that!