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See that?
That is one of the reasons I feel good about my move to Minneapolis
from Chicago two years ago. That isn't two hours away from the
city, or even a half hour away. That is right inside the city
itself, just a short drive from our apartment.
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Above and at right is the watery mouth of Minnehaha Falls (foolishly
named by a white person trying to use Dakota to say "Water Falls,"
but who ended up naming them "Water-water-falls Falls").
Yesterday afternoon here was lovely, so B. and I packed up the
pug and headed off looking for the dog park, which we couldn't
find, and so we went here instead. Damn fine compromise, say I.
We had the digital for just a little while, as one of his students
had worn out the battery on it (bad student, bad, bad), but we
managed to snap a few quick shots of the place and record yet
another episode in the journeys of... |
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(Yes, I do know that I likely need lots of professional help,
but hey -- I'm sublimating the urge to procreate with this poochalicious
principessa, so until I have health insurance and half a minute
to take care of a kid, lay offa me, capisce?) |
| Bodies of water are not new to Sofia. She has a rather alarming
habit of not only throwing her toys or bones into the bathtub
while I'm in there, but once or twice I have been snapped from
my afternoon reverie to see a small dog flying overhead and right
into my bath. However, larger bodies of water seem to intimidate
her (likely since pugs cannot swim). But she looked ready to take
it on yesterday. |
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After a brief warm-up down a long flight of stairs to the floor
of the falls, her coach sat down to give her a pep talk. He spoke
of glory and victory for pugs everywhere, of lucrative endorsement
contracts, of oily rawhide treats, and for some real enticement,
of the cooling power of creeks that is greatly preferable to the
usual method of an ice pack on her nether regions. |
| Sofia observed humans, large and small, and their brave approach
to the water, despite children likely urinating in it, visible
cellulite and unsuitable clothing. She watched the water, perhaps
thinking it did resemble the bathtub, or perhaps noting it was
a very large water dish indeed, and without cats around to put
their persniekety little tongues into it, spreading the dreaded
CCs (Cat Cooties). |
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With a little chutzpah, some cheering on the sidelines from her
lady-in-waiting, and the realization that there were in fact sticks
-- sticks! -- in the creek (said realization aided by said lady-in-waiting
throwing a few in there rather loudly), and the observation that
mud was not only drinkable, but quite tasty, Adventure Pug boldly
went where no pug (named Sofia, in Minneapolis, with her same
ID tag) had gone before. |
| ... and proceeded to celebrate by being sure to cover her excitable
lady-in-waiting in wonderful, delicious mud, lest she be uncharitable
and stingy and hog it all for herself. |
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