I’m tired of the red truck and the unleashed black dog

This is our beloved rescue mutt Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle. Isn’t she a beauty? It is my responsibility to keep her safe and sound, and I take that job seriously. In the winter, she tends to love sprawling in the living room. I know, though, that a daily walk is good for both of…

Snow Mountain, closed to skiers

This is getting old, this snowy winter. I promised Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, a walk this Sunday morning. The theme came to me quickly as we got to the business end of our Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood. Where are they going to put it next? The four-day mini-melt of last week is long…

Don’t you know it’s cold out here this morning?

Funny thing about Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle. Every day, no matter the season, she wakes up with sunny-and-70 in her doggie brain. A trip out the back door and out the porch should always bring her greener pastures, right? Or at least, her grassy backyard in our Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood. Then she…

When snow is kind of sickening

Hey, wanna see a dirty picture? No, not that type of dirty picture. I try to run a family-friendly blog here. Those of you who think snow is the be-all and end-all might be wondering how those of us who live in what I shall call so accurately the snowbelt can get sick of that…

And it’s back to a green backyard — and holdout rose bush — in Syracuse

Syracuse was embraced by temperatures in the 50s Saturday. Unfortunately, the unseasonable warmth for Jan. 11 was accompanied most of the daylight hours by rain. No walking for me and Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle. Besides, we had to watch Syracuse dispatch North Carolina from the Carrier Dome on the flatscreen. The Orange remained undefeated…

The Christmas spirit hits a dog and a bunny

Today is a day to reflect, appreciate and rejoice. Even Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, appears to be in the proper spirit. Two days ago, I caught our dear rescue mutt pausing her usual morning routine. Dog spots bunny at the back of the yard. She does not rush out and pursue, like she does…

Everybody and everything is on the lookout for that sleigh

Everybody is on high alert today for that magical sight and sound of Santa and his sleigh. On “Today” right now, the announcer is tracking the process thanks to web site Noradsanta.org. “Just a few moments ago, Sapporo, Japan,” Mario reported excitedly. Here in Syracuse, N.Y., Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, and I discovered that…

Catching up with ‘The Voice,’ our tree and doggie spa day

Tessanne Chin had the ear of the prestigious panel just now on “Today.” Earlier this week, the performer from Jamaica experienced an audience with Celine Dion. On Tuesday night, Chin was announced as the winner of season five of “The Voice” on NBC because she was the top vote-getter after Monday’s finale. The viewing populace…

A spa day for our dear dog includes nails, bath and even tooth brushing

My first chore of this day was to open the car door for Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle. I drove her a dozen or so miles to the east, feeling much like a chauffeur when she stayed in the back and entirely like a one-armed rodeo wrangler when she attempted to jump the console to…

Food and toys make for one wonderful birthweekend

When we brought our beloved puppy Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, to doggie day care three years ago, they told us that she was Food Oriented and Toy Possessive. Where did she get that from, I wondered about our rescue mutt. Which brings me to my recap of my birthweekend. We shall take it plate…