March 11, 2022

Hello friends,

It has been a long while since I added anything to this blog. I have been rather busy trying to promote my first book. Dog Days In Italy, and now writing my second book, I Bark Therefore I Am.  During Covid, there isn't much else to keep me busy.  Oh, that was true before Mia came along.  She is such a pest, but I don't think I could imagine life without her now. Although Mom would be very happy if she stopped eating the feather pillows on the bed and the sheets and comforters. 

Mia and I enjoying our Kongs

Although sales of my book have been modest, the reviews are really good. So I'm happy about that. There was a review in a local newspaper and now the local library has a copy of the book in their collection. I admit that I know little about book marketing, and while I'm trying to learn, it is not an easy task if you don't want to pay a lot of money. I guess that's one of the drawbacks of self-publishing if you are not a recognized name in the writing game.

'I must admit that I'm finding it more difficult to write book 2 than book 1.  I blame it on Mia.  Now there is not only Mom bugging me but Mia too.  And all Mia does all day is ask questions.  I never thought I'd become Mr. Answer Man, but that looks like my life about now.  Well, I do still do a lot of barking at the trash trucks, people, and lots of other noises.  And while I have been teaching Mia many things, it took a long time to teach her to bark like me.  Now, she never stops.  She barks at her ball, at the fireplace, at the wall, at Mom or Dad, at me, at the couch or the bed.  I think she has finally learned to bark if someone strange approaches the house, but I'm still trying to verify that.  One night in the middle of the night, she got up, ran downstairs barking like a wacko.  Mom thinks she had a dream.  Well, who knows.  She is a little nut case.  I guess that is a perfect companion for a dog who has been called pazzo (crazy in Italian) for most of his life.
I'm sharing with you a few of my conversations with Mia, so you can judge for yourself what I am talking about. I wonder if I was ever like this.  No, I don't think so.  I was born all knowing. 

Mia: What's wrong with our trees? They lost all their leaves. Dino: It's fall. The leaves will return in the spring. Mia: Does this mean I'll lose all my fur? Dino: Let's hope not, but if you see Mom with scissors run.

Mia: Dino, it's still raining. Dino: The weatherman says it's going to rain tomorrow too and all of next week. Mia: Can he tell the future? Can he tell me what Santa is bringing me? Dino: Good grief!

Dino: Do you see that squirrel? Mia: Yes, what is it doing? Dino: Gathering nuts for the winter. Mia: I think Mom and Dad better hide

Mia: Why do birds have wings? Dino: So they can fly. Mia: You mean like angels? Dino: I guess. Mia: Well, I'm an angel, so why don't I have wings? Dino: You do know you're a dog. Mia: So, aren't good dogs angels? Dino: I think we need to work on your definition of good.

I'd been looking for a poodle for quite a while, and now I have one.  Well, a doodle, but close enough. And now, I truly understand the expression, "Be careful what you wish for." I swear that given the opportunity I would never let the Genie out of the bottle.  I now know the potential hazards of wishes.
And on that note, I'm sending prayers to the  people of Ukraine.  War is a very strange concept for a dog.  We don't understand it, but we can be victims of it just like humans. I think if a couple of dogs participated in the peace talks, things would be resolved in no time.  Either that or a few legs would be peed on, and from there the sanctions would escalate.
Finally, a reminder if you have not yet read my book, I encourage you to take a look.  It is available on Amazon.com.
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Days-Italy-Became-Expat/dp/B09JYP2M27