Thursday, December 05, 2019

Barney the TV-Watching Dog

Many dogs I’ve known over the years paid no attention to the TV. Then we got Barney, who would watch and listen to the TV. When there’s a yard and a family on TV, he perks up because there might be a dog there too. When a dog comes on the screen Barney will leap off the couch and get real close to the TV to watch. Sometimes he will bark, and jump up with his front paws on the shelf where the TV rests. He also plays close attention to insurance commercials where damage takes place – a tree falling on a car, etc. He always barks at Mayhem, the guy in the dark suit.
 
Now B has cataracts, but it hasn’t hampered his TV watching. Sometimes when we go out Ceil will want to leave the TV on so B can watch. I don’t think he barks at the TV when we’re not around, since he doesn’t have to protect us. He also pays close attention to dog food commercials, of course.
 
I watch the Tom Hanks movie “You’ve Got Mail” whenever it would come on TV. Hanks has a big dog in the movie, Brinkley. I watched the movie so much that Barney knew which scenes Brinkley was in, and he’s be ready to watch. Once there was a Hallmark movie about a judge for a dog show. We couldn’t watch because Barney was barking the whole time. He also barks at action movies, where there’s a lot of violence. Star Wars, etc. Sometimes during football games Ceil or Will would yell at the screen, and Barney would get all excited and jump up at the TV and bark.
 
Since Barney has had to sleep downstairs by himself, he’s been quiet at night, sometimes moving from our regular couch to his dog bed, and sometimes to the couch in the front living room. But for some reason Tuesday night he was softly barking, and once every 10-15 seconds. I went downstairs to check on him. He was on the couch. One of the pillows had fallen on the ground, so I picked it up and tucked him in, and sat with him for a minute or two.  
 
Barney will still jump up on the couch, which isn’t that high. He will be sure to get a bit of a running start before making his leap. And I think I told you that when we’re eating or C is cooking B will still hang around looking for scraps. At night around 10 pm Barney used to walk up to me and give me “the look” that he was ready to go outside one last time before bedtime. But now usually he won’t do that. Only when he’s sure we’re up and ready to take him out will he get up and come to the back door with us.
 
We used to not take Barney for rides in the car, because he gets so excited that he barks so much. Now when he rides he doesn’t stand and bark, he lays down quietly in the back. Plus he doesn’t want to make in the leap in and out of C’s SUV.
 
 
GT: Nebraska only shot 25% from the floor in the second half. See the clip of LeBron’s obvious double dribble? The defender’s reaction was incredulous.  
 
Hopefully the Cole Hamels signing will work out. Largest salary ever for a Braves pitcher.  Saw his Labor Day no-hitter at Turner Field. Purposely did not read fan reaction. There are always people who take offense. At worse he takes Teheran’s place. I did see people were saying the Braves would miss all the innings Teheran pitched, but last year Soroka pitched just as many. They might move Newcomb back to the rotation from the bullpen, and the GM said he’s not through adding players. If not Donaldson or the Nats third baseman then maybe another outfielder, but rookies Pache and Walters will try to make the big team in spring training. Donaldson was named comeback player of the year.

Today is the last day to vote for the Lou Groza Award. Vote early and often – for Rodrigo.
 
 
A repeat of why the nation’s top kicker should also kick off.
 
 
Written several years ago: the top five college kickers.
 
 
Wednesday: Left work at 5:30 and headed to the Y. C was tired and sick and just wanted to rest on the couch. On the treadmill I quicken my race, and ran as well as walked. Made it 3.76 miles in little over an hour. Need to keep upping the pace. On the way home I stopped by Trader Joes for spaghetti sauce and salad, which was supper. Watched Schooled and a Christmas movie.   
 
While walking I listened to my book: a biography of William Shakespeare. Also watched ESPN and the Golf Channel. Tiger double bogeyed 18 to finish 4 over. Patrick Reed lead after the first round.

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