ASTRA VISITS THE WOODSHOP 1 AUGUST 2009

JoAnn writes: Astra is settling in just fine after her long travel; she's had her hair done, bought some new sunglasses & only uses the white cane when she's taking a walk. Deanna shows off The New Girl We just might change her name, as she's pretty well deaf. So we are trying to come up with a name with some kind of resonance so she can pick up on it. I bend down nearly to her ear & say "GOOD GIRRRL!" & I get a tail wag. Too bad whoever dropped her off, didn't write her name down on a note pinned to her jacket or anything. Well, we just haven't figured out her deafness yet. People lose their high pitch first, and the best way to get attention is the deeper sounds/noises. We need a name with a hard consonant sound . . . maybe a few syllables so she can "hear" the pattern. Astra CloseUp I find I'm talking in a BIG VOICE. "C'MON IN! THAT'S IT! THIS WAY! OVER HERE!" (CLAPCLAPCLAP) "GOOD GIRRRL!" I'm trying to make my voice lower; remember Ted, the news announcer on the Mary Tyler Moore Show? That's what I feel like! Did I mention we live in a semi-detached? Ha! Anything to keep the gnarly next-door neighbors guessing! Right now, she's like a little rug. ["Toupee! TOOOUPAAAY! WHAT A GOOOD GIRL YOU ARE!"] Or, a little couch potato. ["Spud! SPUUD! SUPPPER SPUD![ A quick snooze in the woodshop before going to the DoggieSpa Otherwise, she "assumes the position" to be picked up. And gives that "lift off" assistance with her legs. I put her over my left shoulder, and she just looks and sniffs and sniffs. When I sit down, she will actually doze in that position. Too cute! Astra has a full-body bark. Don't know how to better explain it. A really small raspy barkbarkbarrrrk. She stiffens up, or is already stiff from the Lyme disease, and lifts her front legs off the ground about 2-3" . . . standing in place. So, if some otherdog mosies on by, she will do this. Or if she is sniffed. Or if she comes back in from outside, and she's ready for her breakfast/tea/lunch/supper/treat.

CONTINUE WITH ASTRA'S STORY HERE