Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving Day

There is one day that is ours. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.

~~ O. Henry (born William Sydney Porter), American Writer, 1862 - 1910

Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.

~~ E. P. Powell (born Edward Payson Powell), American Journalist and Author, 1833 - 1915

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.

~~ Aesop, Greek Writer, 620 - 564 BC

Do I look noble?

Sometimes it is hard to put into woofs all that I am thankful and grateful for; I see it in my mind, and I feel it in my heart, but sometimes it doesn't seem to translate easily into woofs.

Thank you, Porgy! He said sometimes we don't need woofs to convey how thankful we are. He said our actions, such as tail wags and licks, can express our love and gratitude more than woofs every could.

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

Pieter Claesz, Still Life with Turkey Pie, circa 1627 (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam)

Adrian van Utrecht, Still Life, circa 1644 (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam)

Back to me...

Let me think...I am thankful for so much in my life, where to begin?

I know of one thing thing I am NOT thankful for -- leashes! Grrrr....

I am very thankful that there is so much in my life that I have to be thankful for!

On this Thanksgiving Day I would like to my gratitude to all my wonderful blogging friends. You are all very special to me. And, despite my often infrequent postings and long absences, you still come around to visit me and leave me the best comments any pup could ask for. I am grateful for your friendship and thankful that you are in my life.

A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.

~~ Jack London (born John Griffith Chaney), American Author, Journalist, and Social Activist, 1876 - 1916

As much as I am thankful for my human, K, sometimes her vegetarianism is annoying. She never has any bones or leftover meat to share with me. So, this Thanksgiving, I am especially thankful that there is a carnivore in the house. Leftover goose, meet my tummy! I'm just sayin'...

I Know "No"

11.11.11

If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother.

~~ Epictetus, Greek Sage and Stoic Philosopher, 55 – 135 AD

My human, K, is under the impression that I don't understand the meaning of "no." And she has gathered some evidence, below, to illustrate her point. However, I understand "no" quite well. In fact, it was one of the first human commands I learned. However, as I have woofed before, being an Alpha Male of the Canine Species it is my prerogative to pick and choose which "no" I will understand and respond too.

I don't know what you are talking about. I don't see any hole.

Oh, this? It's not a hole, it is a paw rest.

I think I will just squeeze myself right in.

Ah! The bullpen. At last!

So much cow dung, so little time.

Great view!

What?

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

Raphael, School of Athens [Scuola di Atene], circa 1510-1511 (Apostolic Palace, Vatican City, Italy)

Giovanni di Paolo, The First Circle of Wisdom Led By Thomas Aquinas, Illustration of Dante's Paradiso, Canto X, circa 1442-1450 (The British Museum, London, England)

Back to me...

Submission to one wrong brings on another.

~~ Latin Proverb

Silvius, this is awesome! You really should join me.

What? Don't move my left paw?

Great view!

I'm done here.

Right where I left it!

I protest! I find the above so-called "evidence" to be highly and unfairly prejudicial! And extremely one-sided. I know "no," I just don't always act on that knowing. It is my prerogative and privilege and right, and, dare I woof, my duty, as a Canine to not always follow human rules. Unless treats are involved. Then I will always chose to follow the "no" command. I'm just sayin'...

I've Got Nothing

“Nothing can be created out of nothing."

~~ Lucretius aka Titus Lucretius Carus, Roman Philosopher and Epicurean Poet, 99 – 50 BC

I've got nothing.

Still nothing.

Hey Mr. Caterpillar, do you have something for me?

Nothing.

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

Lion of Lucerne, the monument is dedicated, "Helvetiorum Fidei ac Virtuti" ("To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss"), designed by Bertel Thorvaldson and hewn by Lukas Ahorn, circa 1820-1821 (Lucerne, Switzerland)

King Louis XII Astride His Horse, statue over main gate of Château Royal de Blois, circa 1857 as a replacement for the original statue from the late 15th century, which was destroyed during the French Revolution in 1792 (Blois, France)

Back to me...

“To do nothing at all is the most difficult thing in the world, the most difficult and the most intellectual."

~~ Oscar Wilde, Irish Writer, Poet, Novelist, Dramatist, and Critic, 1854 - 1900

All this intellectualizing is making me sleepy.

You still here? I've told you, I've got nothing.

“I have nothing to declare except my genius"

~~ Oscar Wilde, Irish Writer, Poet, Novelist, Dramatist, and Critic, 1854-1900

I guess my genius is something. I'm just sayin'...

Happy Halloween!

The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?
(excerpt from “The Premature Burial,” a short story published in 1844)

~~ Edgar Allan Poe, American Author, Poet, Editor, and Literary Critic, 1809-1849

Now it is the time of night
That the graves, all gaping wide,
Every one lets forth his sprite
In the church-way paths to glide.
(from “A Midsummer Night's Dream,” 1590-1596)

~~ William Shakespeare, British Poet and Playwright, 1564 – 1616

Thank you so much my super, amazing, sweet friends, for all your wonderful comments and concern during my much prolonged absence. I have truly missed you all very much, and am very sorry I have not responded to those of you who left me such kind comments (blame K). I am happy to be back (yay!) and am very excited to visit all of you! Now, brace yourself for my scary Halloween post. Boo!

CEMETERY 1:

This is a rather lovely cemetery. Very peaceful. And quiet.

Who's there?

Who's making that noise?!

Oh, hi K. What? No, I am not hiding.

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

John Henry Fuseli, The Nightmare, circa 1781 (Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan)

Edvard Munch, The Scream, circa 1893 (National Gallery, Oslo, Norway)

Back to me...

While yet a boy I sought for ghosts, and sped
Through many a listening chamber, cave and ruin,
And starlight wood, with fearful steps pursuing
Hopes of high talk with the departed dead.
(from “Hymn to Intellectual Beauty,” 1817)

~~ Percy Bysshe Shelley, English Romantic and Lyric Poet, 1792-1822

On Earth as vampire sent,
Thy corpse shall from its tomb be rent:
Then ghastly haunt thy native place,
and suck the blood of all thy race.
(from “The Giaour,” 1813)

~~ George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (aka Lord Byron), English Poet, 1788 – 1824

CEMETERY 2:

I don't have a good feeling about this cemetery either, Silvius.

I really don't want to go in there.

*sigh

How's this?

Tell Silvius to stop crying. He is freaking me out!

Hey! Why does Silivus get to hide, I mean sit, in the car?

This is spooky.

Can we go now?

Extra treats for a few more photos? O.K.!

What was that?!

And what's that?!

I'm outta here!

Hope you all have a spooky, scary, and fun Halloween!

Cemetery 2 was very freaky. Silvius kept crying and wanted to get into the car, and once inside, he would not come back out. I was brave, and did my photo shoot, but leaving could not come soon enough! It is not that I am a scaredy-cat, quite the opposite! I am a very brave and courageous dog! However, when confronted with ghosties and ghoulies, I think it best to scram! I'm just sayin'...