It was slightly less than a month ago that I spoke about my Borzoi, Rudy.

     Rudy died yesterday.  He was only 5 years old.  My wife and I thought he was a completely healthy dog.  It came as a total surprise to us.  Fortunately, every indication was that he died totally peacefully.  There were no marks on him.  There was no blood.  We went into the backyard to look for him.  There he was, his beautiful white fur blowing in the wind.  But he was gone.

     His lifetime buddy, Trouble, the Whippet was so upset that he tried to throw himself in the grave as we covered Rudy with the first shovelful of dirt.

     Gracie, a Belgian Sheepdog, who has her U.S. and Canadian championships has not eaten.  Ten years old and pudgy, she usually eats compulsively.

     Rudy was so very handsome, strong and athletic.  He was also a very gentle dog who showed a lot of sensitivity and compassion to my wife and myself.

     Rudy, we know you’ve gone to Heaven.  We loved you Rudy.  You will be greatly missed.  G-d Bless you.

     Very concerned about my brother-in-law working in Iraq, during his last visit, I signed him up on www.matchmaker.com  A divorced gentleman and stubborn about continuing his dangerous work, I thought that perhaps only the power of a woman had the potential of keeping him from a career of dodging missles, bullets and other assorted projectiles.  As I said to Ralph, “man does not live on I.E.D’s and MRE’s alone.  We found a very nice young woman who I perceive to be a fine person, intelligent, humorous and attractive.  What more could a man ask for??

     She and Ralph have exchanged emails for the last several months.  Ralph sent her some Iraqi souvenirs.  They have finally exchanged phone numbers.  The stage is set for a meeting!!

     My wife and I have been playing matchmaker.  Hopefully now, Ralph and the unnamed woman will discover some mutual compatibility!  Stay tuned for further updates, assuming this writer is not annihilated upon Ralph’s possible discovery about his business being posted.  :o)

     Slightly more than an hour ago my wife left me a voice mail message.  “He’s back!”  Ralph has returned from Iraq.  Ralph is part of the international law enforcement effort in Iraq.  He’s back on leave for a couple of weeks.  A large physically imposing man of few words, with a Sylvester Stallone type of demeanor, his often rather gruff exterior is well balanced by a mushy center with a heart of gold.  Ask Ralph a question like, where were you last night until 2:00 a.m. and you’ll likely get a response to the effect of, “If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you”.  His responses to my feeble but persistent attempts at humor are often statements such as, “Why me?” or a pleaful yell to his sister, “Will you do something with him?”  My wife assures me that the only time for concern is when Ralph doesn’t tease you.

     You know, Ralph and Rudy have a lot in common.  Both are large white living creatures who are physically imposing, intimidating in appearance but gentle in manner.  Both are as strong as an ox.  Neither verbalizes a lot.  Ralph, a man of few words; Rudy a canine of few barks, growls or moans.  Both will give you a warning, but once they do; look out.  Neither will strike without provocation.  If they do strike, you don’t want to be the object of their aggression.  Both can be kind and very compassionate.  Rudy persistently pushed my wife’s head and ravenously licked her face to bring her back to conciousness when her blood sugar dropped dangerously low earlier this week.  Without even being asked, when my mother passed away in Jan. ‘04, Ralph drove my wife and I about 1300 miles round-trip to attend my mother’s funeral.  Welcome home Ralph!!  You’re one of the good guys!   :o)

     Rudy is a very handsome dog.  He’s very athletic, extremely powerfully built, runs like the wind and is very gentle.  Until now I did have some questions about his C.I.Q. - Canine Intelligence Quotient.

     Yesterday, Rudy climbed the ladder on that scale, in my eyes.  My wife is okay but she did pass out very briefly yesterday.  Apparently her blood sugar dropped very low.  When she came to, Rudy was ravenously licking her face and nudging her head.  He quickly brought her back to conciousness.  She got up, checked her blood sugar and it was in the forties.  She took appropriate measures.  Thank G-d for Rudy!!  I was at work, but Rudy was ready to resuscitate.  Even before she passed out, she said that she could not shake the Borzoi.  “He was sticking to me like glue for about a half hour.  He even insisted on going into the bathroom with me.  He’s never done that before.  Rudy must’ve known that something was wrong.” 

     They say that there were almost no dogs that drowned in the tsunami.  Through the ultra-sensitive pads on their feet, they apparently knew that something was wrong and all ran away from the water.  You know, dog is G-d spelled backwards.  :o)

     The diners were good.  They always are in New Jersey.

     We stayed under the Red Roof.  They’re one of the only motel chains that accept dogs.  We had Rudy, Trouble and Max with us.

     One woman approached me while walking Rudy, saying, “he’s so beautiful, I’ve never seen anything like him.  He’s so big.  He’s like a horse.”  Par for the course.  Another woman asked about Trouble.  She marvelled at how cute he was, at his confirmation and my wife told her how wonderful he is as a companion dog.  Then we started to tell her how neurotic the breed is.  She backed away.  Max was sitting in the van staring inside of a McDonald’s.  A trucker said to me, “It’s been a real tough couple of days.  My truck broke down, I’ve been here 2 days and I’ve got 2 cents to my name.”  He seemed credible.  He just gave you the feeling that he was completely emotionally drained.  Then he said, “I don’t think I’m hallucinating, but is that a guerilla staring at me?  The reference was to Max, his studious stare and his long thick black fur.  No, he’s just a Belgian Sheepdog.

     Let’s not forget Dad.  He was the most important part of the trip.  He’s out of the hospital and in rehab.  He’s medically stable but weak.  We had several nice visits and enjoyed his usual Henry stories.  They broke the integrity mold in 1913.

     We’ve been home since Sunday evening.  I guess it was just a case of blogcastrination.  That’s when your blog is delayed.  He’s still got his manhoood.  :o)

     Dad’s now in a rehabilitation facility following his approximately 1 month hospitalization.  There he began undergoing dialysis for the first time in his life.

     My wife and I are heading to Jersey to visit him.      While there we’ll look into whether it’s possible to receive some justice in the Jersey judicial system.  We know we can get a lot of great meals at the abundance of Jersey diners.  We’ve had plenty of the latter.  We’d like a little of the former.

     Back within the week.  :o)

     Lt. Lori gave birth to this blob.  She’s a friend of my wife and myself.  She’s in the U.S. Navy.  An attractive, pleasant and intelligent woman; Lori is a Helen Hunt look alike. 

     I had been sharing my thoughts and witicisms with Lori by email.  Like a lightening bolt striking the ground, it suddenly occurred to me that I was writing to an audience of one.  Writing on the internet, I thought to myself, can significantly increase my potential audience - by a factor of, oh about, 6 billion.  I can write to one person I thought, or I can share my cerebral oddities with a potential of about the population of the planet.  Slam dunk, no brainer!  I’ll choose the latter.

     Don’t get me wrong; I’m neither delusional nor egomaniacal.  I know the number reading my musings are infinitely closer to one than to 6 billion.  Yet, the comments indicate that there are a handful of people taking note.

     So, to the mother of my blog, Lt. Lori, I say thank you.  Just don’t hold your breath waiting for the child support.  :o)

     Max is my main stalker.  Max is a Belgian Sheepdog; one of some noteriety I might add.  He was once rated the #1 Belgian Sheepdog in the Southeast.  He’s been to Westminster twice and has his U.S. championship.  Most importantly, he’s our Max and we love him.

     Max is always smiling; almost perpetually.  His mouth is always open, and his smile is so wide, that you get a close-up view of his front teeth and upper gums.  Then he will typically sit in front of you and give you his paw.  A sneeze or usually mulitple sneezes generally follow.  He smiles so broadly, that he irritates his nose to the point of triggering a sneeze.

     After using the facility in the middle of the night yesteday, I had trouble falling back asleep.  Not wanting to disturb my wife, I went to one of the spare bedrooms.  My wife tells me, Max was going crazy looking for you.  He was going from one room to the next looking for you and sniffing the air.  Then he went outside on the deck and in the backyard continuing his search.  She says he was crazed.  I was still sleeping behind a closed door.

     Max searches for me every morning and when he finds me, if I am not already dressed, he begins to ravenously lick me wherever there is any exposed skin.  Everyday.  He wakes up like a small child who remembers its Christmas Day and he’s got a truckload of presents under the tree.  For Max, my salty skin is the presumed object of his palate and oral fixation.  He licks so long and hard, that he becomes out of breath. He has this crazed look, like an addict suffering withdrawl symptoms until he gets his morning fix of me.  I think it’s the saltiness of my skin that drives Max crazy.  It’s good to see the old fellow so excited, running to me so fast, and jumping up to make tongue to skin contact.  But Max, you’ve got to calm down.  What makes Max run to stalk me?  Only Max’s taste buds know for sure.  :o)

     Anyone who loves their blog should take proper care of it.  Here’s a little guide:

      When your blog is feeling especially nervous, try some blogazepam.

      When your blog is really down in the dumps; like depressed, feeling worthless, having a loss of appetite, trouble sleeping and so forth, try some Blogzac.  Remember, it will take several weeks for your blog to start feeling better, so don’t discontinue hastily.

     For severe mood swings; a bi-polar type condition, start your blog on Blogithium carbonate ASAP.  The therapeutic and toxic levels of this salt are very close, so please monitor your blog’s blood closely.

      Blog’s love life not what it should be?  When the moment is right, is your blog not always ready? 

     Try Blogitra, Blogalis, or Blogagra.  For blogrections lasting more than 4 hours; although rare, seek immediate medical attention.

     Is your blog still in school?  Having trouble paying attention, sitting in his seat.  For blogs with ADHD, consider Blogalin.  It could help your blog focus, get better grades, and get a better blogupation down the road.

 :o)