Nano 2012: Top Dog, Chapter Two

Good morning again Blog Fans.

I've returned immediately with Chapter Two of Top Dog. Chapter Three will follow a little later this morning. I won't waste anymore of your time because I know you're itching to find out what happens next!

Enjoy!
Cin

Chapter Two

Hello and welcome to chapter two. After leisurely walking through his beautiful neighborhood followed by a brisk strut down Main Street, Hal has arrived at his company: Meaty Teeth's Leisure Wieners.

Whoops I seem to have gotten ahead of myself a little bit. I know probably all of you are anxious to get to Hal's company and learn the ins and outs of his fine wieners, but first we need to stop and see the local baker. It seems that Hal needs to have a little chat with the owner of this fine bakery to discuss the rumor going on about the quality of the buns. I'll just step back for a little while and you can watch this conversation unfold.

"Good morning Andre."

"Well, hello to you Mr. Leisure."

"I trust your day is off to a good start."

"Yes it is, Mr. Leisure, but then, I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Well that's good to hear, Andre. That news is good to hear."

Now I know I said I would leave you be and give you space to watch this conversation between Hal and the baker Andre unfold, but I feel, before I let you continue, that I must cut in here for a moment or two to bring attention to the fact that Hal is visibly uncomfortable with the fact that he is about to have what could possibly be an awkward confrontation with Andre regarding the quality of his buns. I feel for Hal, I really do because I know if there's one thing in this world that Hal Leisure does not like it is finding himself in a confrontational situation with a local business owner. You see, Hal really prides himself on getting along with all the business operators in Blue Sky. When he opened his company, Meaty Teeth's Leisure Wieners, he made sure that all the businesses were on board with having a wiener company in their town. He made sure that his company and the products that he wanted to sell would not take away from any of the products that the businesses in Blue Sky were already selling to the townsfolk.

Hal, being a very serious minded businessman, he held a meeting and gave a talk to all the business owners in Blue Sky about how the quality of the products they sold needed to be top notch 100% of the time. He intended to use their wares to help sell his own products, but he would only do so, if they maintained the highest quality of standards with their products. To those townsfolk business owners he said,

"I think that working together can bring success to everybody and if we are going to work together then all of our products should be of the highest quality. Actually no, forget that! I don't think this. I know this!"

Now, this may sound to you like sentimental hodgepodge but believe me the townsfolk and business owners of Blue Sky ate it up. Never before have they seen a man, an outsider, speak with such conviction and looks so fine in a leisure suit. Nobody at that meeting said no to Hal. The entire town of Blue Sky agreed that working together they would mean success for everybody.

So you can understand why Hal was a little uncomfortable with having to talk to Andre about the quality of his buns. What could this mean for their relationship? What would this mean for the town? What would this mean for the upcoming annual Meaty Teeth Leisure Wieners parade?

Well let's get back to their conversation and find out. Hal has a lot to do at work today and I know you're anxious for me to get a move on.

"I'm happy to hear that you're happy that I am all for having a good start to my day, Mr. Leisure."

"Hmm...are you sure you're happy. I'm sensing some tension. What's wrong, Andre? You seem more that a little anxious."

"I… I'm fine Mr. Leisure."

"Again I ask you, are you sure?"

"Well yes I…"

"Look Andre, I think we both know why I'm here... Well obviously I know why I'm here. I came in to your shop your bakery, your fine establishment with a purpose. Not that I never stop in your bakery, your fine establishment because I do often. I know that  you know how much I love your lemon cakes. They are at a delicious combination of sweet and slightly sour and they take me back to a time when I could really, really count and something to make me feel that the world wasn't, that it wasn't just a good place to be in, but that it was good to live in but... Today, today there is a dark cloud hovering over my lemon cake and it is with a heavy heart and not a jaunty step that I enter your bakery, your fine establishment. Do I need to tell you why Andre? Do I need to explain the little black cloud over my lemon cake to you?"

"Oh Mr. Leisure I… I don't know what to say."

"You could start by saying out loud why you think I'm here just so the world is on the same page."

"Do you mean that you think that I may not know why you are here?"

"Well I can't assume 100% that you are clear about my motivation for coming into your bakery today, again your fine establishment, on this what I hope once I leave here is a wonderful day."

"Ok, I'll give it a shot. Does your visit today, does it have anything to do with, with…"

"Yes, Andre? Come on now just spit it out. We're both men here so let's just lay our yellow cards out on the counter."

"Yellow cards, Mr. Leisure?"

"Did I say yellow cards?"

"Yes I'm afraid you did."

"It's funny I don't even remember saying that but, if you heard it than I must have said it. Perhaps I meant yellow as in scared or cowardly. It's not a bad thing because I think we both have every right to be yellow right now, or a bit scared because this situation that we need to discuss is about integrity, honesty and trust. Yes, this situation that we have yet to discuss has definitely made us both a little scared, a touch yellow. So, if we're now displaying our cards on the table, if we are laying our fears on the counter a deed that is sometimes a little daunting, if that's not too strong a word to use here in your bakery this this fine establishment, let's get on with it."

"Well, Mr. Leisure I have to admit that I have been a little scared, or yellow to use your term. You are a very powerful man in this town and I would hate to be on your bad side."

"Well I appreciate that Andre but it would take a lot more than you producing a batch of stale buns for your customers, our customers to eat my wieners off of to get on my bad side."

"Oh – Mr. Leisure, that's why you're talking to me? That's why we're laying your yellow cards on the table because of stale buns?"

"Well, yes why did you – is that not why you thought I was here?"

"No, no I but, yes I, unwittingly sold the, the batch of stale buns to that group of unfortunate souls last weekend. I sold them to out of a group of unsuspecting picnickers that were enjoying a barbecue, in the hot sun, and eating your wieners with those buns. Yes, I know that is the reason you came in to see me today. I saw it in your eyes as soon as you walk through the door of my bakery, my fine establishment, as you do so love to call it."

"There's no need to be nervous Andre. It is I who am nervous. I don't like having to tell people how to fix things about their business but, we have discussed in the past how important the bun is to the wiener. If you have a lovely soft bun in which to place your Meaty Teeth Leisure Wiener into, the taste experience is incomparable to other experiences one may have with food. You agreed with me when we talked about this before so I just need to know why the slip; why that batch was not up to par."

"Well Mr. Leisure, it turns out that, that, that the flour I used that day was off. Normally I checked my flour very, very carefully. I can usually tell by scent coming from the bag if the flour is good or not but I was in a rush. That morning, I'd slept and as a result I fell behind in my duties. I didn't take the time to notice that the quality of the flour was, was not up to par, as you say. When I first got wind about the, the staleness of, of the buns from one of the picnickers who, as it turned out was planted there  by you to keep an eye on quality, I felt much shame. Running behind was no excuse for producing a bad batch of buns. I should have politely told the clients, our townsfolk that the buns were going to be late because I needed to start again with fresh flour. No doubt, they would have understood. I hope Mr. Leisure that you will believe me when I say that this mistake was a tragic oversight on my part that will not be repeated. I appreciate you taking the time to come in and discuss this with me and I promise that stale buns from my bakery, my fine establishment, are a thing of the past. Well, buns from my bakery that you or one would buy and take home and store properly. I'm sure you understand that I have no control over what people do with their buns once they get home. I think we can agree,  Mr. Leisure that if one of our fine patrons was to buy a pack of fresh, non-stale buns and once they got home leave them on the counter with the bag open, that they all run the risk of creating stale buns and that is not something I can control. Would you agree with that?"

"Yes of course Andre I'm not that much of a control freak that I would put watchers in people's home to make sure they do up their bun bags properly. Although, to aid in the fight against stale buns you could put on the bag a label saying something along the lines of 'To ensure constant freshness please close the bag after you have gently squeezed the bag to rid the bag of air.' I realize the part about the air makes the sticker particularly detailed, but one could so easily do up the bag believing all the air in it was not harmful and they would wind up with a closed bag of stale buns. It would be a real shame because you do have such delicious buns and they do so complement by wieners."

"Thank you Mr. Leisure, for that fantastic sticker idea. I will look into that."

"Excellent, Andre! Well I must be on my way. I have a big day ahead. We are shooting a new commercial for Meaty Teeth's Leisure Wieners so if you see us out and about and notice a camera pointing at you, give us a jaunty wave and if we feel your enthusiasm for being on film fits the commercial we may put you in. Of course, as all Blue Sky is aware, you never know when you will be watched by a member of the Meaty Teeth's Leisure Wieners staff! So be on your guard!"

"Thank you Mr. Leisure it would be wonderful to be in one of your excellent wiener commercials."

"Well who wouldn't want to be in one of my national commercials? After all, Meaty Teeth's Leisure Wieners are loved by the people of Blue Sky and beyond."

"Yes that's a well-known fact in Blue Sky Mr. Leisure and one that we are very proud of. You and your company put our little town on the map. "

"Well, I wouldn't say that, but yes it is a fact and we all should be proud. Well,  as I said, I must be off Andre but,  before I go...I hate to ask again, but are you sure that you knew what I was going to have to discuss with you when I walked in here? Are you sure you didn't think I had come into your bakery, into your fine establishment to discuss the vicious rumor streaking across Blue Sky that you're sleeping with my wife? And that, that is the actual reason why the buns were stale because you had to rush to make the buns because you lost track of time fooling around with my beautiful Blue Sky wife?"

"No, no Mr. Leisure! That is it absolute falsehood. I would never— no, no, no, no, I... That is a horrible rumor and one that contains no truth."

"Ha, ha! I'm just teasing you Andre. My wife only has eyes for these baby blues. You have yourself a good day now."

"I will Mr. Leisure and you too."

A well now, that wasn't quite the intense scene filled with moments that may or may not turn into something larger further on in the book that I was hoping for. I was really hoping for a good ol', knock em' out drag out. After all, Hal has suspicions about his wife that may or not be true and many men would let their fists do the talking before they got the information out of the man maybe having relations with is woman. However, now it not the time to dwell on the scene in the bakery, that fine establishment for we need to get back to Hal who has just arrived at Meaty Teeth's Leisure Wieners. Let's join him there, along with his devoted staff members, in Chapter Three.

Nano 2012: Let's do this!

Hello Blog Fans

It's been quite a while I know. And don't ask me why I've been neglecting you. My excuses would sound forced or lame. I've been busy and things like my blog get pushed aside from time to time.

However, I'm back and I hope with some entertaining blog postings. I'm a Nano fan and 2012 is my third crack at the novel frenzy fun. I was successful in 2010, my hands gave out half way through Nano 2012, but this year, I'm given 'er another try and we'll see how it goes.

This novel, which is called Top Dog: Wiener Takes All, was an idea my daughter and I have been joking about for almost two years. I must warn you, should you feel compelled to read the out croppings my brain churns out, that this tale is extremely silly...EXTREMELY silly. It's full of nonsense, weird bits and humor which only I may get. However, it's fun and really with Nano, that's really the main goal isn't it? To have fun?

So, without further ramblings...welcome to the first bits of my 2012 Nano Novel.

This post contains the Synopsis, the prologue and Chapter One.

***

Synopsis

When Sure Fire Wieners sets up its big business in the small coastal town of Blue Sky, their popular food products threaten to shut down the thriving company,  Meaty Teeth's Leisure Wieners.

Not willing to go down without a dog fight, Hal Leisure and his Meaty Teeth Crew decide to do whatever they can to keep their company up and running.

People may get burned and buns may get thrown, but in Blue Sky it's Wiener takes all.

Don't miss the most exciting new book about picnic fare to come out since...well...since that last book about picnic fare came out!

Don't miss Top Dog!

 ***

Prologue

"It's late, Mr. Leisure, do I have to ask again?"

"Yes...I don't know what to say, I don't remember what you asked."

"I asked you if you could explain your actions. Explain to me, if you can, why you did those terrible things down in the city square today!"

"I...don't know...I don't remember...?"

"You don't remember? Again, that's—that's a lie Mr. Leisure, if that is your real name, and you know it's a lie! I know it, the town's folk know it, and hell my cat knows it! You're hiding something and I'm not going to let you get away with it. I'll find the truth if it takes all night. We're not going anywhere until you explain your actions to me."

"Ok..."

"Ok? Ok? That's excellent Mr. Leisure. That's excellent. Ok. Ok what exactly?"

"Ok, I remember doing...what I did."

"So, you remember? You remember the carnage you and your cronies caused this afternoon?"

"Yes, sir...I do."

"Well, that's good to hear. Now that I've got you to admit that you remember, why don't we move onto the why?"

"Why?"

"Yes, Mr. Leisure, why?"

"Why...why, it's because..."

"Yes, Mr. Leisure? Because?"

"...because all I have ever wanted to do...is make...wieners."

Chapter One

Once upon a time, in the small town of Blue Sky there lived a man named Hal Leisure. Look here he comes now!

Good morning Hal! Oh wait. Of course he can't hear me because I'm the narrator of this fine tale.  I'm the one, the voice in your head who is going to lead you through all the character intros and plot points. My essence will guide you as your learn the who's, the what's and the why's of this story. Why do you need me? Well, this tale is a bit hard to swallow, but with my prose leading you through the dark and light times that you will be revealed to you as you walk your fingers over the pages, my "voice" will be able to give you a helping hand and aid you in your understanding about how a small, peaceful town like Blue Sky, could plunge into a fiery hell of torment and suffering all because two men.

Who are these fellows? These two men are, well let's be honest, enemies who couldn't work together. No, even though they have a similar vision, have comparable goals and similar products they cannot get along. 

These two men even have the same slightly bizarre penchant for tight fitting suits. These suits are flattering to some extend on one of these fellows, but they are not a sight to behold on the other...I honestly don't know why someone just doesn't have to courage to tell both of them that perhaps  change of attire may help both of their futures.

But I digress.

This is not a story about two men, these who are enemies, and their suits. No, this is a story about two men and their wieners. Oh now, don't you get thinking that I'm being rude. If you just took a sideways trip into the gutter, I want you to pick yourself up, dust yourself off not even look back into the filthy cesspool that you just willingly wandered into. This is a family tale and I will not allow you, the reader, to wander directly into rudeness just because I said "Wiener". You'll be hearing a lot about these men and their wieners and their love of wieners because both of these men that I speak of want nothing more than to share their wieners with the world.

I am of course talking about edible wieners. Now, now, get out of the gutter people; I'm not going to tell you again. If you wind up there again, even for a second, I'll know and don't you think I won't shut this book down on your hand. I will. I have that power.

Don't test me.

So, now...where was I. Oh yes...I am of course talking about, I'll put in another way to help you stay away from immature thoughts, hot dogs.

Now who doesn't love hot dogs? They are tasty right off the grill or out of the pot and they don't just speak of the goodness of a well baked bun, they speak of sunshine and bar-b-queues; birthday parties and family reunions; campfires and days spent at the beach. They are memories wrapped around a tube of...well...let's not speak of what exactly wieners are a tube of. It's best not to know. It may ruin every good memory that you have linked to wieners.

Well, this narrator better get back to narrating. Let's get back to Hal Leisure.

Hal Leisure is a happy man. I ask you to picture him now. He's about yay tall with that color of hair you love in a texture that makes you wish it was your own. His eyes are as bright as that star you wish on and his smile has all the homespun goodness of a prairie sunrise. I know I'm not being terribly descriptive about his appearance and that's on purpose. In order for this story to have some meaning for, because, let me straight with you people, deep meaning in a story about wieners may be a bit of an uphill battle so I need to help you add a few layers to your imagination. Picture now, someone you have met and maybe, if you're lucky, still know, someone that you looked up to, and someone your felt compelled to know and trust immediately.

This is Hal.

He's that someone. He's the type of person that you can hang your hat on and know that when you need that hat back, it will still be there for you. Hal's the kind of person who won't betray you, won't let you down. He's the one who walks the walk, talks to talk and lives life by shooting straight even around the tight corners. You know the kind of person I mean so picture that person now and there you have it; Hal.

Of course, if your "Hal" is more a "Halina" you many want to add a mustache. For the sake of this story, your "Hal" needs to on the manly side of the fence.

So, as I said, picture Hal. Right now he's coming out of his front door, kissing his absurdly attractive Blue Sky wife goodbye after which he tussles the hair of his twin sons. His teenage daughter sits on the front step dutifully ignoring him while he says good bye to her, but it's to be expected isn't that right Hal? Teenagers are so selfish or maybe your daughter just sees through you? Whoa. Did you hear that musical sting in your head that indicated a wee bit of foreshadowing? If not, do so now. Excellent, let's move on.

There he goes. He's had a look back at his wife and she closes the door with a final wave just as and Hal skips down his front step to his perfectly paved walk way. I wish you could see it. Well, perhaps if I described it in enough detail, you could see it as well as I do. However, at this point, it's not really important to the story and would just slow up the narrative, but it is such a nice path. Oh wait, we'd better move on. Hal has already passed through his freshly painted, white picket fence and is now about half a block down his beautifully treed street.

Hal is looking particularly fine today if I may toss out that compliment. Yes, this man is in a good mood. He's wearing his best and freshly pressed peacock blue leisure suit. No, no, the coincidence is not lost on me. Hal Leisure...leisure suits... Yes, Hal Leisure loves his leisure suits almost as much as he loves wieners. Actually, the town rumor has it that "Leisure" isn't his given name. There are folks that say that Hal loves leisure suits so much that he changed his name to tell the world how much he loves living the "Leisure" kind of lifestyle. 

What folks don't rightly know, if this rumor is true I mean, folks can't say what Hal's family name was before "Leisure". You see, Hal isn't from Blue Sky. His life before he took up residence in our fair town and married the absurdly good looking Blue Sky girl is as cloudy as rained out picnic. Some folks have tried to find out who Hal was before he came to town, but those folks who have dared to dig have wound up with fates they never expected. That may sound like a line that should be accompanied with ominous music, but it's not.

Why do I say that? Well, I know a thing or two about our Hal here, but right now isn't the time to tell you what I know, nor is it my place to do so. If the narrative of this tale should lead us to that point, I believe the truth will be set free.

However, for now, he's Hal Leisure; devoted husband, family man snappy dresser and owner operator of the finest wiener factory in town.

Well, at this point in the story, the only wiener company in town; the company known to all as "Meaty Teeth's Leisure Wieners."

What does that name mean you ask? Well, if I was to hazard a guess, I'd say that it's because they're so full of "meat" that every few months, Hal hands out coupons to his customers. You cannot eat one of Hal's wieners without getting meat—or whatever it is that they put in those tasty, tasty wieners— stuck between your teeth.

Yes, up until recent events, people loved Hal. They loved his wieners, served them up at almost every family occasion imaginable and for the record Blue Sky has the lowest rate of gingivitis in the nation.

Or at least they did, until the day, he came to town.

Oh DannyBoy It's Spiderman

Hello All

Those of you who know me, know that I tend to be a very silly person. I can be very serious, I actually have short fuse which MAY surprise you! Ok, probably not. Unfortunately, many of you have been around when I've sort of...blown up. What can I say; I'm not very good at hiding my emotions. Some days, I'm honestly surprised that anyone talks to me.

But I digress...

And...back to silly. That's me! I love performing and when I was younger, I was all about being very DRAMATIC and making people cry. Now, not so much. I love to make people laugh. Plus, being silly is just more fun.

Last year, at a Miramichi Kitchen Party on the Irish Festival weekend I participated outside of my comfort zone: I sang. Normally I serve and clear the desserts and whatnot, but until that night, I'd never worked up the courage to volunteer to bust out a tune. Now, you may be confused. Welcome to my world. It's a glorious place confusion, is it not? Are you not sure? Have you forgotten what we're talking about? Are you confused? Welcome to my world....

OOOPs! Ok, I'm back. Now, you may be confused and be thinking "But, Cindy, why would singing be out of your comfort zone? I thought you loved to perform!" And oh, my trusty blog fans, you are correct, but I'm only super duper in my comfortable performing zone when I'm ACTING. When I sing, I feel more like "ME" than another person and "ME" gets nervous about singing. "ME" will get a tight throat and sing like a church mouse. "ME" has hardly ever sung solo in public.

So the cure for calming annoying, throat clogging, vocal chord tightening nerves is simple: Sing a Silly Song.

Last year at the Miramichi Kitchen Party I mentioned before, I sang a most glorious rendition of "Spiderman" to tune of the Irish Classic "Danny Boy". It was a feat of glory that I hope to repeat tomorrow evening, but as sneaky peak for all you out there in Blog Land, I give you the video version.

Here you go my dears. a little song I like to call 

"SPOIDERMAN".

I hope you enjoyed this extremely silly moment, brought to you by me. It's not the best quality video I'll grant you, but I think you can still really feel the raw emotion that is felt when one sings about Spiderman and all that he does for his city.  I'd like to send out an apology to the lovely Irish man who witnessed me sing this last year. After the show he came up to me, shook his fist and said "Tanks a lot! Now I won't be able to 'ear Danny Boy without hearin' bloody Spoiderman!"

I wonder if he'll ever find it in his heart to forgive me...

Good night my fans and remember to always be,

As Silly as Cin

The Tradition of Change

Hello All

I wrote this article yesterday for Bread 'N Molasses, a local online magazine that features many great writers from around the area and the province. Once again, they have kindly published a story I have written and this story is actually the second published about Sorcha and her Canada Day dress.

Enjoy,
Cin

The Tradition of Change

By Cindy Rule

A couple years ago I wrote an article for Bread 'N Molasses about a tradition in our family. Some of you may recall the story of my daughter, her Canada Day dress and a picture. For those of you who are not familiar with the tale, Sorcha was given a dress decked out with Canadian flags when she was 20 months old. The dress is a sort of tent style cut which means that as long as we can get it over her head, it will fit her.

Every year on Canada Day Sorcha wears her dress and while she holds a picture of herself from the year before wearing the dress, we snap another picture. The dress became less of a dress and more of a shirt by the 4th picture and by the 6th, a bit too snug under the arms to have on comfortably for very long. And even when the dress started to become difficult to put on, the picture was still taken because that's our tradition.

Last year, we didn't think the dress would fit, but with a bit of struggling we managed fandangle Sorcha into the garment. As she smiled dutifully for her picture we assumed that the photo taken on Canada Day 2012 would be quite different. We assumed that more than likely she would be not only holding the 2011 picture but the dress as well.

But we were wrong. The dress still fits.

This year, instead of Sorcha posing with last year's photo in front of door in our house, the dress was taken south to Florida and my parents happily carried out our traditional picture taking on Canada Day in Disney World. For the 10th Canada Day in a row, Sorcha donned the beautiful little dress and with her favourite Disney character Goofy, the Canada Day photo was snapped. 

She looks happy, she looks older... she looks uncomfortable. It is quite obvious that this year's picture will definitely be the last one taken in this manner. We're not quite sure what we'll do next year as I in no way wish to alter the dress to fit Sorcha. Like many things in life, change is common and even traditions have to change from time to time if you want to keep them going.  Sorcha outgrowing the dress was an inevitable happening and as she changes and grows so will our tradition.

Unfortunately, some changes are ones you don't expect.

The first picture taken of Sorcha in her Canada Day dress, the one taken in 2003 that started it all, was taken at a Canada Day party in the back yard of the parents of a friend of ours. Our friend's parents have held this annual party at their place for many years and every year, as the people attending get older, the yard becomes filled with more children and grandchildren, new spouses and new friends.

This year however, the party was not only filled with laughter, children, games, old friends and new, but also with sadness. The host of the party, Pat, had passed away in April. Donna, his wife, wanted to keep up the tradition as it was an event that Pat loved and it was one of the only times of the year that this group of people all got together. Unfortunately, we were not there for it, but we were told that at one point Pat's son Sean gave a touching toast to his father and everyone at the party had moment of silence for Pat.

In the article I wrote 2 years ago, I talked about how the picture was not just a tradition, but a reflection of how our lives had changed over the years. It showed the passage of time, the changes in Sorcha and presented to the world our history as a family. Now, the Canada Day pictures that we have taken of our daughter every year for the past 9 years have gained a deeper meaning. To me these precious photos now say that while things will change around you and events good and bad will occur that you did or didn't expect, life is still beautiful and certain traditions, even if they change from year to year, should be and need to be continued.

Pat, this one's for you.

I don't want any more of these ** snacks on this ** plane!

Hello Blog Fans!

Today is a very big day...a day that has been many years in the making. Today Sorcha and my parents flew to Orlando, FL to begin their Orlando adventure. Do you remember the ad a few years back for Disneyland where the kids won't got to sleep because they're too excited to sleep? That was their feeling yesterday. I hope they have the time of their lives and I'm looking forward to hearing all their stories.

On July 1st of this year, Sorcha and my parents will be heading to Disney World and for those of you who are fans of the "Canada Day Dress" and pictures and stories that surround it, the dress did go with Sorcha along with last year's photo. She is hoping to have her picture taken this year in front of Goofy. If it fits it will be a miracle. However, the picture will still be meaningful even if she is just holding the dress.

Stay tuned!

And if you're traveling by plane soon, be aware of the inherent risks packing MANY snacks can bring. Snacks unleashed at 30,000 feet can sometimes bring turmoil to those around you especially if you accidentally drop them or refuse to share them with people in your row.

Happily full of,
Cin

This One's for Maxx

Imagine this: It's a cold winter morning and as you pull into your parking spot behind the shop where you work, your mind is full of worries about things that haven't happened and guilt over things that have. You open the back door, stomp the snow off your boots and as you wonder how long it's going to take to shake your sour mood away, you hear the sound  of feet on the floor in front of you. Soon after feel a nose press against your hand followed by a head that wants to be petted. You look down and smile at your co-worker.

You look down and smile at Maxx.

Or at least, for many of my days at Saltwater Sounds, this is how my day would begin. In October, 2008 I was given the gift of minding one of the most unique stores in Miramichi and awarded the privilege of working with one of the most loved dogs in town.

For those of you who know Maxx, you will know that I am talking about "the doggy in window", the beautiful, kind hearted, gentle Boxer; the dog who kept vigil in the store window of Saltwater Sounds for over 10 years; Maxx, who was more than just a dog. She was the heart  and joy of the shop until her passing in mid-April.

Her sweet face gazing out at Water Street stopped many in their tracks. Dogs are not uncommon in Miramichi, but a dog sleeping in a comfy bed in the window, sometimes staying as still as statue would cause people to slow down and not be in such a hurry. They would stop, sometimes tap on the glass, and smile as she looked back at them with her gentle expression. Sometimes she would be mid-nap and the surprise of the stranger finding a dog in a place they didn't expect, would go peacefully unnoticed.

"Look a dog!"

"Is it real?"

"Say hi to the doggie!"

Every day as I sat in Saltwater Sounds, I would hear these sentences and more. However, for some people, just looking at Maxx through the window simply wasn't enough. The person, or people who could not allow themselves to walk by without actually meeting the dog in the window, would come into the shop to see her. Maxx, more often than not, would immediately jump up, stretch in her bed and wag her wee tail in pure joy as she made another friend.

People loved Maxx as much as she loved them. She was the perfect dog. Sweet, kind, gentle with children, attentive to those who really wanted her attention and for those people who came into the store who were not really dog people, she would give them a sniff and the give them space. She could read people. I suppose a lot of dogs can, but with Maxx she always seemed extra in tune to the feelings of people around her. 

There are people in town or people who visit Miramichi every year who don't pass by Saltwater Sounds without coming by to hello to Maxx. She was the lucky recipient of many dog treats. She always returned the gifts with a heavy lean on the givers legs and a panting grin when they gave her what she really wanted: a really good scratch on her back.

When some people left the shop, they would sign our guest book. Phrases such as "Lovely dog!" or "It was nice to meet Maxx." grace the pages. 

While I worked with Maxx I saw many people who were sad when they came into the store leave a little happier after a visit with Maxx. I've had people come into the shop specifically because they were down and wanted a little Maxx time. 

Maxx's passing is not easy for those of us who knew her best and from the comments on various social media sites and visits to Saltwater Sounds to give condolences it is obvious that Maxx's passing is being felt beyond the shop, beyond the window.

In the window where Maxx took thousands of naps, there is now a picture. It is a beautiful picture of her, one that captures her gentle spirit and her sweet face to perfection.  She will be greatly missed because, as I said, she was so much more than just a dog. Like the shop she graced her presence with she was unique, comforting and made you feel at home.

She was special.

She was Maxx.

-

Cin

This One's for Wendy

Greetings!

This morning, while Sorcha was getting ready for school, I gave her a hug and noticed something different…something I could no longer do. For a long time, when she would run up to me for a snuggle, as she leaned on my shoulder, I would bend my head sideways and lean on her head.  Eventually the “lean” turned into a “rest”. She would run up to me, the hug would begin and since her head came to just below my chin, I would simply rest my head on her head looking forward.

However, this morning while mid hug, I realized while resting on her head, I was looking up and not forward.  I was taken aback! Suddenly, out of nowhere, my little one had become too tall to be a head rest.  She is no longer a head shorter than me—it appears she has quietly snuck into the area of, when it comes to growing taller, catching up. Soon, we will be eye to eye and some day, I just know it, I will become her head rest as I lean on her shoulder.

This isn’t so bad really; Sorcha won’t be the last person to treat my head as a perch for her chin and she certainly isn’t the first, which brings us to the person in the title of this blog entry.

When, not that many moons ago, Sorcha fit under my chin, I told her a couple times, that the height difference between my friend Wendy and I, when we were kids, was a head difference and Wendy would often come up behind me and use me as a head rest.  I remember finding it amusing as my lack of height never really bothered me and I was happy to help with the resting of her head. To me it was sweet and showed the world that we were friends.

Wendy and I met over 30 years ago back in grade 3. She was shy, shyer than I was, and I longed to be her get to know her. She seemed interesting and smart, both traits that turned out to be true.  I’m not sure if it started in grade 3 or if it wasn’t until grade 4, but eventually we started walking halfway home together. We would walk with each other until we reached Aldene Ave, remembering every day to shake hands for luck. (You see, Wendy had been attacked by a big dog at some point, on that street and we figured a “you’ll make it past the dog” handshake would ensure safety. She never got attacked after our handshakes started so I’m thinking it worked. )

For a few years, we were what you would call “school friends” meaning we just hung out together, although not exclusively, at school.  It wasn’t until the summer going into grade 7 that we started to hang out together outside of school. It was a big step in our friendship and with it came sleepovers, cookie making (along with exploding blenders if I recall), Froggie’s Diner and recording ourselves on tape pretending to interview famous people.

We went through a lot together. Wendy was the first person I confessed my love of Michael J. Fox to. (It may not seem like a big deal to you, but to me it was huge!) She and I went to camp T-Bird together and were “Wild Outposts” for two weeks.  I stayed with her and her family while my parents headed to Ottawa to find a house and she was with me when I said goodbye to my cat Rocky before we left Victoria.

During my 4 years in Ottawa she was…let’s face it…the unfortunate recipient of my longest, most tedious, poorly written, letters.  When we returned to Victoria, I had assumed we would be going to university together, but Wendy had decided that SFU, not UVic would be her university of choice; a decision that crushed me at first, but later came to an eye opening experience for both of us. My many travels to Vancouver to visit Wendy changed my life forever. They enabled me to see life beyond Vancouver Island and forced me to live outside my comfort zone. It gave me courage to realize what I wanted out of life and move on to new things.

In October 1997, at my wedding in Ottawa, Wendy (along with a few other very good friends) stood as witness to my marriage to Sean. In October 2001, she held my baby Sorcha and in December 2002 I held her first daughter (after politely turning down the offer to look at the photos of her daughter’s birth).  The miracle of life in my arms, the good friend in the bed in front of me, our spouses at our sides, smiles on our faces;  I marveled at how far we’d come, at how much we’d grown up and changed and been through. We had taken very different roads to get to that moment, but through it all we were still friends.

There’s so much more I could write, but that’s true of anyone who has been a friend with someone for as long as Wendy and I have been friends. I’m not saying it’s all been rosy.  We’ve had our ups and downs, but the fact that we are still friends shows that the core of our friendship, the seed that started it all, still remains.

Wendy, I wish you a very happy birthday. I hope that you have a good year, the last of your (and mine!) thirties, and I thank you for being my friend.

Cin