Hazelnut's Friends

The Hazelnut has made friends with the lady who brings her 3 dogs to the park across the street every afternoon.

Gabrielle, the Golden Retriever, lets Hazelnut take her ball and jump on her, but reminds the little dear when enough is enough. A bit of a nip, and Hazelnut minds her manners. Gabrielle rules the roost.

Bert, a mixed breed about Labrador size, rolls and plays with Hazelnut, and they will both chase the same ball, taking turns bringing it back.

Then there is Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris is part MinPin (Miniature Pinscher), part Miniature Dachshund, and all ego.

He goes after any and every dog he sees as if he is going to eat it alive. He is the only one of the three that has to be kept on a lead in the park.

Bred to dig truffles, he tears up turf in whatever spot he decides he likes for that day, and digs like a mad thing. He growls, and digs, then digs, then growls, then tears up more grass.

The other day i dropped Hazelnut's leash to let her run with Gabrielle and Bert. She played, but kept getting too close to Chuck Norris' chosen area for the day. He kept growling, barking, and lunging at her, which caught her attention.

She finally decided, since he was guarding it so closely, that there must be something really special about that hole. So she began creeping closer on purpose, which irritated Chuck Norris even more.

Finally i stepped on Hazelnut's leash and Miss D pulled Chuck Norris back, as it was time for them to leave.

It was so funny to watch Chuck Norris, lunging and pulling and trying to get back to go after Hazelnut. She, with me still standing on her leash, crept closer and closer to that hole as Chuck Norris moved further away, getting right up next to it before her leash wouldn't let her any further.

Then i picked up her leash and she leaped at the hole, digging and growling, while Chuck Norris barked and howled in protest.

Finally i was able to get Hazelnut to realize there was really nothing there, and we went home as well.

The feud over holes is not over, i am sure. Next time they meet, Chuck Norris is sure to remember that she moved in on his territory, and will probably try to do his ferocious, miniature best to eat Hazelnut alive.

It ought to be funny to watch.


Today is:

Alcyone -- Ancient Greek Calendar (kingfisher goddess celebration; date approximate, but during the Halcyon Days)

Bill of Rights Day -- US

Cat Herders Day -- for those whose job or life is like trying to herd cats; and good luck!

Centipede Boot-Making and Shoe-Repair Season begins -- Fairy Calendar

Consualia -- Roman Empiracal Calendar (Feast of Consus)

Coonskin Cap Day -- debut of "Davy Crocket" on TV's "Disneyland" in 1954 (and the original Davy Crockett hated the things, by the way)

Homecoming Day -- Alderney

Kasuga Wakamiya on-Matsuri -- Nara Prefecture, Japan (through the 18th)

Koninkrijksdag -- Netherlands, Netherland Antilles (Kingdom Day)

National Lemon Cupcake Day

Navidades begin -- Puerto Rico (traditional Christmas celebrations that last through Three Kings Day)

Setagaya no Bori Ichi -- Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (a two day flea market that dates back to 1578)

St. Nino's Day (Patron of Georgia)

Trivial Pursuit Day -- honoring Canadians Chris Haney and Scott Abbott, who created the game on this date in 1979

Zamenhof Day -- International Esperanto Community


Birthdays Today:

Nick Beggs, 1961
Don Johnson, 1949
Dave Clark, 1942
Tim Conway, 1933
Friedensreich Hundertwasser, 1928
Jeff Chandler, 1918
Stan Kenton, 1911
J. Paul Getty, 1892
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel,1832


Today in History:

Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Ticameron, 533
Hulagu Khan captures and destroys the Hashshashin stronghold at Alamut in present-day Iran as part of the Mongol offensive on Islamic southwest Asia, 1265
Bartholomeus Diaz returns to Portugal after sailing round Cape of Good Hope, 1488
The State of Holland grants patent on a windmill with crankshaft, 1593
The first US law school is established at University of Pennsylvania, 1791
The first Irish magazine in US, Shamrock, is published, 1810
The first street-cleaning machine in US is used in Philadelphia, 1854
The King of Hawaii becomes the first reigning king to visit the Us, and is received by President Grant, 1874
The London Underground's Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway opens, 1906
Bandleader, Major Glenn Miller, is lost over English Channel, 1944
Gemini 6A, crewed by Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford, is launched from Cape Kennedy, Florida; four orbits later, it achieves the first space rendezvous, with Gemini 7, 1965
Samoa becomes a member of the United Nations, 1976
U.S. President Jimmy Carter announces that the United States will recognize the People's Republic of China and cut off all relations with Taiwan, 1978
The 3rd reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is shut down, 2000
The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after 11 years and $27,000,000 to fortify it, without fixing its famous lean, 2001
Boeing's new Boeing 787 Dreamliner makes its maiden flight from Seattle, Washington, 2009