What's the difference between happiness and contentment? One of the most evident manifestations of happiness is when dad asks if I want to do the "G" word; until we are saddled up and moving, I absolutely lose my mind. At even the slightest hint of a "go", Max and I will stand in quivering paroxysmal anticipation, never letting dad out of our sight until he opens the car door. If you think that we consider…

The predawn hours of Monday at the Casa usually have a different feel than those of a Sunday, or even a Friday, for that matter, but one thing sets this one apart: Anticipation. It's amazing the difference that actually setting a goal will make in a dog's psyche; in this case it's our departure next week for the west. How are we going to do it? Dad has no idea; Miss Ellie is still in…

"Remember your father for the man he was, not necessarily for what he is today" Sunday AM at the Casa; we've already rousted dad to let us outside, and we've now brought the remnants of dew and grit back to the bed. Max and I are sprawled out across our rightful territories, Mia, Angel and Echo waiting outside for everything to settle back down before demanding that dad get to be let them back in;…

The dad is my servant, I shall not want I maketh him to lie down without covers, I hoggeth the bed with the others.  He restoreth my roll: he taketh me on the motorcycle when he would ride solo.  Yea, though I wreak havoc when others would slumber, I will fear no evil: for I am the Charlie; dad's  bark and his bite, they amuseth me.  He preparest a table before me in the presence…

...so I can come back inside and yark it upon the living room floor, as I'm sick to my stomach; just spent the last hour working on a post, only to have it inexplicably vanish, and it was a good one. Mom and dad are tearing up the carpet in the bedroom, the stains and dirt underneath similar to the rings on trees in that they represent the passage of time; the proof of fifteen…

YAAAAAY!!! Dad's back! Kat says I just mope around the house while he's gone; while I neither confirm nor deny, I will admit it's not the same when he's gone, as I have no one to do my bidding. The first priority is to fulfill my nightly face licking obligations, and since he was gone last night, duty decrees that I do double duty tonight. He thinks that it's just a sign of affection, but…