A Pekingese? Pleeeaase!! by Domino and Dash, mini & toy poodles respectively

The Westminster Dog Show was on television recently. At first, we poodles were disappointed; our breed never made it to the final cut. But just like models and actors know their careers are subject to the whims of an ever changing fan base, we’ve learned that the popularity of a particular dog or breed is also determined by what is currently in fashion .

Now that we know the Pekingese won Best in Show, we feel much better. If that’s what the judges were looking for this year, poodles never had a chance. A Pekingese?  What is that?  We know it sounds like sour grapes but is there really anything under all of that Tina Turner hair? The face has a distinct marsupial quality too.  Our family argued that the winner must have perfect form (although who could see it?)  Don’t deny you too imagined how pathetic that little Peke body must  look during a shampoo.

It’s disappointing to know that poodles are not in style this year, and perhaps even seen as a throwback or a bit foolish. Apparently having curls these days is equated with laziness (with all that product available to relax mop mayhem).

So where does this leave us? Our style of hair was once very popular and even emulated by wig-wearing French nobility. Not surprisingly, poodles were among their favorite accessories (which is really too matchy-matchy for our tastes).  It seems we’ll just have to wait for our return to the spotlight.  Eventually fashion will turn around once again and people will find themselves longing to be surrounded by members of the court of Versailles.

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Living with Ellen DeGeneres by Domino, the mini poodle

    Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live with Ellen DeGeneres.  Everyone knows that she is a major dog lover.  From photos I’ve seen of her, she seems to have an affection for poodles in particular; so that’s one thing in my favor.

    Those TV videos I've seen of her home show many dogs running around inside and outside, willy-nilly, in the most beautiful surroundings.  And much of her furniture appears to be beige and she doesn’t even care!  Things like this prove that she really walks the walk.  If I saw one sign of a slipcover, I’d know there was implied judgment about a dog’s boundaries in her home.  From what my friends and I have experienced, you don’t get to sleep in the bed of people who keep slipcovers on their furniture.

   Dogs rule chez Ellen.  While I feel a bit guilty about having thoughts to leave my own family, how could I resist living with Ellen if given the opportunity?  What dog could? 

   Besides the boundless affection she would lavish upon me, let’s talk amenities: miles of manicured lawn to explore, gourmet meals every day, the camaraderie of other canine pals.  Actually, just having a choice of pals, rather than my daily dose of Dash, my insufferable toy poodle brother, would probably be the best part of my life with Ellen. That in itself would be enough of a reason to move.

    In fact, in this scenario (and since it is my scenario), there IS no Dash. I’d somehow arrange to meet Ellen while Dash was busy at the groomer.  With him out of the way, I certainly wouldn’t voluntarily bring up his existence. Tee-hee!  She'd never know he was alive!  Then Ellen could just invite me to live with her.  Dash could always stay back with our family and comfort them through the trauma of my departure.  (I’m their favorite, you see.)

    That’s it!  I’m going to go for it and live my dream!  Who is it that says you should make a Dream Board and write out all of your goals in order to “live your best life?”  Oh wait, isn’t that Oprah?  And wasn’t she on a recent cover of her magazine reclining with four besotted spaniels in a hammock?  Not to mention, the food and back yard at her place must be pre-tty spectacular, too.

Ellen or Oprah?  Suddenly this decision has become a lot more complicated.

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SRQ Magazine Interview, February 3, 2012

[Newcomers]  Pamela Beck, SRxQ Blog Tedi Doychinova, Tedid@srqmediagroup.com Moved From: Connecticut. My Profession There: Communications Consultant, Psychotherapist, Art Gallery Owner. Friday Nights There: Were cold and tame or warm and tame. Why I Moved: To develop a real friendship with my parents now that we're all old enough to have one. Now I Am: Writer and two-blog blogger: One blog, at SRxQ.blogspot.com, follows me from museums to mangroves as I try not to gloat over my good fortune at having moved to Sarasota. The other blog, at WhatDogsReallyThink.blogspot.com, reveals the heady insights of my two dogs who concur with Socrates that the unexamined life is not worth living. I am now happy to be with my beau Brad and newly-arrived daughter Serena who already loves the Mote Marine Aquarium and beach. Friday Nights Now: New restaurant, new performance, new art exhibition or live music. First Impressions:Why don’t more people know about our Shangri-La? Biggest Potential Community Mistake: 1. Not seeing that Saraso-tomorrow is Saraso-today. What should we encourage going along with the usual? Late live music, local festivals and cross-promo between businesses, community, arts and education. Why? To keep and showcase talent; to attract visitors, young families and boomers looking for the ideal 21st century town. 2. Not enabling our seniors—i.e. all of us if we’re lucky—to be the model for our graying nation. New choices and technologies allow seniors to remain at home longer and improve their quality of life as they improve ours by being among us. My Vision: I'd love to see Sarasota better protected from economic downturns. One idea: link business, entertainment and cultural venues via a single, scannable smart-pass program. It could: provide incentives at each venue; offer last-minute sell-offs via phone updates; promote events via apps and website; shine a light on lesser-known gems; be sold in blocks of time; or be used for either visitors or locals. People do organize their choices through media and cards/passes. A smart-pass draws us to every sector in Sarasota, introduces our offerings to visitors and residents and gives us the chance to care for our jewel of a town together. Please read my other blog: http://srxq.blogspot.com/http://srxq.blogspot.com/