Mishmash 01.21.2012

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Happiness depends upon ourselves.

~~ Aristotle, Greek Philosopher and Polymath, a Student of Plato and a Teacher of Alexander the Great,
384 BC – 222 BC

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The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.

~~ Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor, last of the “Five Good Emperors” and also considered one of the most important Stoic Philosophers, 121 AD – 180 AD

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The Golden Globes may have overlooked me [their loss!] but the awards that really count did not. The awards pawed out by fellow bloggers are the most meaningful and prestigious awards one can receive. The Oscars and Golden Globes pale in comparison. [But don't get me wrong Oscar Committee and Golden Globes Committee, I would still be very honored with an award from either of your organizations. I would even devote an entire post to you if you awarded me. Just sayin'...]

I am very humbled to have recently been presented with a fabulous award, the Liebster Award. “Liebster” means “dearest” in German, and the Liebster Award is meant to recognize up-and-coming bloggers, with less than 200 followers, to help them receive the attention they deserve. So, attention, come and get me! The Liebster Award was given to me by my very sweet, fun-loving, adorable, and funny friend from Montana, by way of Ireland, Scrappy! Thank you, Scrappy, for so kindly bestowing this lovely tribute to me. I am very honored to receive such a pawsome award and I appreciate your recognition.

In accepting the Liebster Award the recipient, that would be moi, agrees to the following:

1. Thank the person who honored you with the Liebster Award and link back to their blog. Done!
2. Copy and paste the Award to your blog. Done!
3. Choose five blogs that you enjoy, who have less than 200 followers, to receive the Liebster Award. Make sure to leave a comment on their blog so they know they have been presented with this fabulous Award! Not done.

You see, I am a rebel, as any respectable Alpha Male should be. I don't follow the rules, I make them. And although I gladly accept the Liebster Award and do not mean any disrespect to it, I just cannot follow Rule 3. I have too many amazing, cool, great, and deserving friends to just pick five. All my friends rock!

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

Annibale Carracci, The Choice of Heracles, circa 1596 (Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy)

Dosso Dossi, Circe (or Melissa), circa approx. 1530 (Galleria Borghese, Rome, Italy)

Back to me...

As you may recall, in my previous post I prayed to both Ullr and Khione to please bring me some snow. Guess what? They did! They answered my prayers, and rather quickly too! Thank you Ullr and Khione!

No way.

Snow! My snow has finally arrived!

Bliss.

Although I am very grateful my snow prayers were answered, I was a bit disappointed that so little snow came my way, and that it was gone just a few hours after it arrived. Two days later, I was napping in the warm sun, the snowfall a distant memory.

'Tis better to have had snow and lost it, than never to have had snow at all.

But, the best was yet to come. Courtesy of my dear, sweet friend Kika, I now live in snow forever - in cyberspace. Kika and her wonderfully creative mom, Grace, made this amazing gift for me:

Hey yummy bunny, hop on over! It is nice and warm in here in my tummy...I mean cave.

Snow forever and a yummy bunny to eat admire, forever. Life as it should be. Sometimes I feel so blessed! Muito obrigada Kika and Grace.

Thinking ahead, or rather, preparing for the inevitable, I will require a date for when I win an Oscar and a Golden Globe. I think Gerald Butler's dog would make a smashing date. Although she is rather small, just a little Pug, she is very cute. And, as I have discovered from my pawsome Pug blog friends Little Janey Austin and Tweedles, Pugs are smart and lots of fun. So, Gerald Butler's Pug and I would have a great time at the award shows! Of course, my human, K, would be my chaperone. And she had no input into my decision to attend with Gerald Butler's dog. None at all. *cough *cough I'm just sayin'...

Severe Snow Withdrawal

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Being a man, ne'er ask the gods for a life set free from grief, but ask for courage that endureth long.

~~ Menander of Athens, Greek Dramatist and best known representative of Athenian New Comedy, 342 BC – 292 BC

I wish I might a rose-bud grow
And thou wouldst cull me from the bower.
To place me on that breast of snow
Where I should bloom a wintry flower.
- [Roses]

~~ Dionysius of Chalcus, Greek (Athenian) Poet and Orator, fl. c. 444 BC

I am a snowaholic. There, I woofed it. I am a snowaholic. I am addicted to snow. And this Winter I have only had a slight dusting of snow which lasted approximately 30 minutes. To a Malamute, snow is the number one thing in our lives. That is just the way it is. We were born and breed to be snow dogs, and a Malamute without snow is like my human, K, without chocolate orangutans without primary and old secondary forests. In other words, not a life we were meant to live. Hence, I am going through Severe Snow Withdrawal. I am lethargic, somewhat sad, not eating much, and confused as to how Winter can be snowless.

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I don't see any snow Suka, but I don't mind. This weather is great!

Silvius, you just don't understand. I need snow.

*sigh...

In mid-July we started seeing huge fluffy caterpillars, a sign that a cold Winter was looming. So, where is the snow? Caterpillars don’t lie.

Hey Mr. Caterpillar, where is the snow?

Did I woof something wrong?

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

French School, Leaving for the Hunt, woollen tapestry, circa 16th Century (Musée National du Moyen Âge, Thermes et Hôtel de Cluny, Paris, France)

Guido Reni, Aurora, ceiling fresco, circa 1613 (Casino Rospigliosi Pallavicini, Rome, Italy)

Back to me...

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Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray to Ullr and Khione to please please please let there be snow in the morning. Amen.

I am so excited! I hope there is snow!

Where's the snow?

Where's the snow?

Where's the snow?

O snow, snow, wherefore art thou snow?

Perhaps some duck jerky might help.

The only known cure for Severe Snow Withdrawal is snow. So, without snow, I fear my symptoms will get worse. A snowless Suka is a sad Suka. Don't worry, I normally don't woof in the third person. Suka's just sayin'...

Time For Some 2012! Happy New Year!!

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Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.

~~ Seneca, Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Dramatist, and in one work Humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin Literature, 4 BC – 65 AD

The beginning is the most important part of the work.

~~ Plato, Classical Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Writer of Philosophical Dialogues, and Founder of the Academy in Athens (the first institution of higher learning in the Western World), 424/423 BC – 348/347 BC

Before beginning, prepare carefully.

~~ Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Philosopher, Statements, Lawyer, Orator, Political Theorist, and Roman Constitutionalist, 106 BC – 43 BC

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May each and every one of you - humans and animals - have a super great 2012! Cheers to new beginnings and a year with fantastic potential! Let's see 2012 usher in a World of beauty, honesty, integrity, love, and peace.

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Well, what do we have here?

A sweet, delicate scent of melon, peach, apple and grapefruit. Probably from the Piedmont area of Italy, most likely late 1990s. My nose knows!

Grrrrr...Sorry Porgy but I am going to have to put my paw down. This is all mine!

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

Georg Flegel, Still Life With A Parrot, circa Unknown [perhaps early 1600s] (Alte Pinakothek, Munich, Germany)

Annibale Carracci, The Triumph of Bacchus and Ariadne, circa 1597 (Palazzo Farnese, Rome, Italy)

Back to me...

Woah! I only had one bowl. This stuff is strong!

What time is it? Is it 2012 yet?

No I didn't.

I am sorry I growled at Porgy and I am sorry I drank the entire bottle of champagne myself. Even though I don't think I did.

It is time for 2012! The year 2011 turned out to be a not-so-good year, and my human, K, and I are very happy to see it leave. Bye-bye 2011! Please don’t come back. There were a few good things that came out of 2011, like all the super new friends we made on the blog-o-sphere and the continued blossoming of friendships we already had. My blog friends are the best! And on a personal side, there were some good things that occurred in K’s life, and mine. But overall, 2011 was not a year we will look back on fondly. So, it is definitely time for some 2012!

In 2012 let's see a World of infinite possibilities open up – of amazing inventions and strides in intelligence and education that will create a civilization of breathtaking art, wondrous architecture, beauty in all things, creativity unleashed (hey...why can't I be unleashed?), and intellectual stimulation to challenge us to be the best we can be. Let 2012 bring us a World where beauty, honesty, truthfulness, grace, and integrity are once again admired and striven for by all. So, 2012, Welcome! And if you turn out to be just like 2011, or worse, you will have to answer to me. I’m just sayin’

A Very Merry Christmas To All!

Love came down at Christmas; love all lovely, love divine;
love was born at Christmas, stars and angels gave the sign.

~~ Christina G. Rossetti, English Poet, 1830 – 1894

Christmas is the day that holds all time together.

~~ Alexander Smith, Scottish Poet and Essayist, 1830 - 1867

And from a child's perspective of what Christmas is really about, we have Linus Van Pelt, from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (1965):

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'...That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

The Holy Family in the stable in Bethlehem by Friedrich Olivier. A single sheet from F. Olivier's picture Bible, circa 1834.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas! May your Christmas be filled with much love, peace, happiness, blessings, and cheer! And may the magic of Christmas last with you throughout the year!

On this wondrous day, our hearts are filled with love for all mankind, and all the creatures of Earth. May love and peace reign over the Earth forever and ever.

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

Master Francke, Birth of Jesus, circa 1424 (Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany)

Lorenzo Monaco, Nativity, circa 1406-1410 (Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy)

Domenico Ghirlandaio, The Nativity, circa 1492 (Pinacoteca, Volterra, Italy)

Hugo van der Goes, The Portinani Altarpiece, circa 1475-1476 (Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy)

Back to me...

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

~~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American Poet and Educator, 1807 - 1882

Vintage Russian Christmas.

Vintage Christmas.

Me, living my dream.Vintage Russian Christmas.

I could be living the life of that Russian pup. Christmas dreams do come true! "I believe, I believe, I believe..." I'm just sayin'...

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

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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

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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.

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~~ 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...

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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

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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'...