The Dogfather

You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.

~~ Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor (last of the "Five Good Emperors"), Stoic Philosopher, 121 – 180 AD

.

Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.

~~ Plato, Classical Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Student of Socrates, Writer of Philosophical Dialogues, and Founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world, 424/423 - 348/347 BC

.

In a scene reminiscent from the movie, "The Godfather," I found a horse jaw in my bed.

O.K., actually, the horse jaw was found at the front of our driveway. I moved it to my bed for dramatic effect.

Who left this for me, and what are they trying to tell me?

I woofed about this with my Wisepup, Silvius, and he went out to sniff around and pay off some informants. Turns out the horse jaw was left for me by the West Side Furs, a local coyote gang. They mean business. They don't like free roaming dogs wondering around on their turf. And they especially don't like dogs that run away from their homes. I happened to have been both a few weeks ago. I didn't realize, though, that I was encroaching on their territory. I mean, I was aware of their territorial markings but seriously, they are coyotes and I am a dog. And an Alpha Male at that! I think I take precedence.

Silvius informed me further that the West Side Furs are all about respecting the home and I am not to go on a fun adventure run away again. Well, between the West Side Furs and all my amazing friends who left me comments in my last post, I can woof: Message heard loud and clear! Thank you to all my amazing friends who expressed fear about my adventure running away the other week. It was very touching to know that I have so many friends who care about me. I took all of your advice and concern to heart and promise not to put my Pack and my friends through that again. [To my friends Tiger and Cindy, I left a message for you in the comments section of that post.]

I don't like this one bit.

I'm gonna make the West Side Furs an offer they can't refuse.

.

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

Pietro Cavallini, The Nativity of Christ, circa 1296-1300 (Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere, Roma, Italy)

Gentile de Fabriano, Adoration of the Magi, circa 1423 (Galleria degli Uffizi, Florance, Italy)

Jan Gossaert, The Adoration of the Kings, circa 1510-1515 (The National Gallery, London, England)

Gandolfino da Roreto, Nativity, circa Late 15th - Early 16th Century (The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia)

Back to me...

.

Where is the man who has the strength to be true, and to show himself as he is?

~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German Writer, Pictorial Artist, Biologist, Theoretical Physicist, Polymath, and the supreme genius of modern German literature, 1749 - 1832

.

Poor horse.

[Suka's human, K, here. We really did find this jaw bone at the foot of our driveway a few days after Suka returned from his running away.]

As my Wisepup Silvius and I were sniffing around where the West Side Furs left the horse jaw we suddenly heard them howling nonsense about me. Well, I do not take kindly to taunts so I howled right back at them. If you turn up the volume at the beginning you can faintly hear them.

Did you like the little jig I did at the end? I was pretty proud of myself! West Side Furs, you've been served. I'm just sayin'...