PAMPERED POOCH
Yes, I am a pampered pooch. That is as it should be. After all I am a Dalmatian. I have been described in many books as an ornament of the gentry and we all know ornaments must be cherished and well cared for. I certainly am.
I was also fortunate enough to be preceded by Prince Duncan who, after many months of hard work, had trained his humans to almost perfection. I only had to do a bit of fine tuning of my own. I pretty much run the place now and set my own schedule.
One touchy area is my bedding. I have this uncontrollable desire to chew on it and when I finally get it ripped open - well, then all the stuffing has to be removed. It's a challenge I cannot forgo. This behavior did not go over big with the humans. It seems dog bed cost something they call money. After I had eaten or otherwise destroyed three of these lovely comfy beds the threat was made that I would be sleeping on the bare floor - heaven forbid. For a week or so I was napping on the old new England plank floor.
Then my humans discovered an ad in the Orvis catalog for a indestructible dog bed. Supposedly I nor any other canine could chew through it. And if per chance I did, the bed would replaced with no questions asked. So, I was given another trial. Now let me get this straight. I could chew this sucker up with little effort, but I have opted not to do so. It's stylish. It's comfortable. It is even embroidered with my name. Besides I am not really fond of sleeping on the bare floor. I do love my Daddies and I think I am going to give in on this one. I know I can do it, but, oh, the urge to chew is still there and I must fight it constantly especially when nobody is watching. Wish me luck. It's coming into Winter now and I really would rather not be sleeping on the cold floor.

DOGGIE DREAMIN'
It's late Fall rapidly approaching early Winter; these shorter days are just perfect for long afternoon naps. And what does this Dalmatian dream about? He dreams about snow, a good hard blow that leaves the earth covered with the heavenly white powder. It has snowed twice so far this year and both incidences were totally unacceptable. Halloween was a wet miserable snow that only looked pretty in the sky. As soon as it hit the ground it became slosh and mud and then quickly disappeared. November 26th there was a somewhat decent display of those frozen white flakes and I enjoyed looking up at the sky and catching a few on my tongue and in my beautiful white eyelashes. But, again, the ground was too warm and we were mired in instant mud. What a pleasure to awaken the morning of November 27th. It was really snowing and blowing. I couldn't wait to get outside. I herded daddy Thom through the house and out the door where I promptly slid across the ice on the deck. Oh, what fun. We went to the tennis courts and I got to romp and frolic for a good long time. It was great. I was happy. Sadly, by mid-afternoon my beautiful white world had all but vanished.
So - the dreaming continues in earnest. I want the real stuff. I want it deep enough to burrow into the drifts headfirst. I want it powdery enough that I can kick up a sparkly white spray as I charge about the yard. It will happen. It is coming. I know this for sure. After all I live in Downeast Maine by the sea where snow and ice in the winter are givens. Since it is a bit late in arriving this year I shall just have to remember last year and keep on dreaming just a little while longer. Any day now I will awaken from the dream to the reality.

CLASSY ROOF ORNAMENT

My staff drive me around town and on short trips in the Escape with the sun roof open (in the pleasant weather, naturally). I enjoy sticking my head out the top and surveying the passing views. It draws a little attention from people who see the car coming down the street with a Dalmatian head poking out the top. Summer tourists are especially amused by this local site. I think all the local people are used to it by now.
Well, my Aunt Frani saw this as another ideal photo-op and took this handsome shot of me on a beautiful sunny, blue-skied day. I know it sounds vain, but I certainly look good. Don't you agree?
I am positive that I could leap out the sun roof opening just by stepping up onto one of my Daddies' shoulders. However, they are aware of this fact also and are ever on their guard.

WATER DOG
So - my Aunt Frani came to visit me again this year. She loves me and spoils me. I love her too and I can get away with a bit more mischief when she is here in Eastport.
This year we went out to Gleason's Cove and I played in the water. The first time I was to the sea I was still a 4 month old puppy and didn't quit know what to make of it. I was not particularly amused by or drawn to those little waves lapping back and forth and rustling the beach pebbles about. As time went on, I got used to it and now enjoy a good splash about although I really don't do a lot of swimming yet.
At Gleason's Cove I was trying to impress my Aunt Frani by retrieving sticks that were thrown into the water. She was impressed and took pictures of me. Don't I look good. I like the water and I love living on an island. Can't wait till Aunt Frani comes back next for her annual "Eastport Fix"

LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER IN THE SUN
Boy, do I ever enjoy my deck. It's the perfect place for an afternoon nap in the warm sunshine. The nice thing is that if the sun gets too hot, there is always a cool shaded area somewhere else on the deck. I guess the structure was built with ideal sun exposure. I can be outside any time of the day and choose sun or shade. Right now I am eating this up as we are well into Indian Summer and I know from experience the snow will be flying soon. Oh well, that's another pleasure and adventure in and of itself. By the way, check out my vocabulary - 600 hundred words my rear, I am a walking dictionary. But - sometimes it is best to act like you don't understand.

DINNER AND PLAYTIME
It's always fun and a special occasion when Aunt Cheri comes to dinner. All the humans think it's a dinner engagement, but to me it is just playtime. Aunt Cheri is an easy touch. She always falls for my charm and cute Dalmatian expressions. Boy, am I ever getting good at those expressions. This is important as it is the main way to manipulate my staff. I can always win in a game of tug with Cheri. However, I let her win once in a while to keep her spirits up - this makes the game last longer too because she doesn't get discouraged. Aunt Cheri has boys of her own (three of them). Yet - she still loves me. I can tell. I wish she would come to dinner every night. We could just call it a standing play-date.

BUSY, BUSY SUNDAY
It's not yet lunch time and I have had a full morning. First off, I began with a treat from The Blue Iris Bistro - a lovely slice of ham all for me. Every Sunday when my Daddies go out to breakfast I am rewarded for my good behavior while alone in the house with a special goodie.
After that I went out to run loose at the old campgrounds. It's so much fun to have all that space to myself. I can cover a lot of ground and really get up some speed. I used to get going so fast I would slide out on the turns and come home with all kinds of grass stains on my beautiful white coat. Now, I have learned to properly bank my turns as you can see. I do get my exercise and soon found myself panting with my tongue dragging. So - it was back into the car with the wonderful A/C turned on full blast for a long ride to cool down. We cruised the newer campgrounds. I had never been there before and it was an interesting new experience - new sight, new smells. Ah, what a life, the dog's life especially here in Eastport.

GALLERY SITTING
It was a day David had to gallery sit and I decided I didn't want to stay home. I just knew things would be more exciting downtown that at home with Thom. Besides I figured it was about time I entered the Eastport art scene. I had a great time, but it was not as exciting as I had anticipated. I discovered you are not allowed to jump up on the customers and the browsers. Also to my surprise you are not permitted to kiss everyone that enters the place. It was fun, but all in all I think I would rather go shopping at the Thrift Store next door.

CAN I SCHMOOZE OR WHAT?
I am getting older and starting to mature and perfect my special Dalmatian skills. I still can use some work on my facial expressions although I am am getting pretty darn good if I do say so myself. Stare downs - I have perfected and usually get just about anything I really want through a little artful and persistent starring. It is amazing how quickly I can get that cookie cabinet door to open up with just a bit of Dalmatian eye magic. I am even getting pretty good about starring Daddy Thom awake when I want to go out at night. These are extremely satisfying talents. I love being a Dalmatian in this house.
On those occasions when I get myself in the "doghouse" I find a truly sorrowful expression works wonders. My best trick is to look really hungry even after I have just eaten breakfast and had a doggie chew. My humans keep saying something about "eating too much" and "getting too fat". That doesn't mean much to me - I can eat anytime.
The best manipulation device of all is the random doggie kiss. It can melt hearts in a minute especially when delivered unexpectedly. But - it is for real as I do love my humans and why shouldn't I? I have a great life!

OOPS, DID I DO THAT?
I know this isn't exactly a pleasant sight, but none-the-less it is a reality. About a week ago as we were going out to the car to pick up lobster rolls for lunch, I spotted my friend Mikey coming up the walk. I got so excited I lunged off the top deck step and accidentally pulled Daddy David right along with me. He is not used to diving from the seventh step of the deck onto the concrete pavers in the dooryard and I guess human heads were not meant to bounce; although David's head did bounce once. Not without a lot of blood and some very disturbing sound effects. I was really scared. Not only was I in trouble now, but I had hurt my very special human who rescued me. I am lucky and I guess everyone understood it was a wild puppy accident because there was no retaliation.
Poor David got knocked completely out and had to go for stitches in two places. The doctor wanted to know if I was going to get punished. No, I didn't get punished. I am still cherished and loved - and, I still had my lobster for a late lunch.

ROMPING IN MY YARD
Here I come with ears a flappin'. Thom and David get a kick out of how my ears flap when I really get some speed up. Me - I'm oblivious. All I care about is catching my chase toy on the first bounch. I can get my entire body 4 to 5 feet in the air for a spectacular running catch. That is if the toy is thrown properly. Sometime I get a little too rowdy and rough. Both my Daddies have a few healing wounds on their arms to attest to that fact. But - hey, I'm a puppy, a big 72 pound puppy!

LOOKING GOOD
Nothing special - just me doing my job as an ornament of the gentry. Sitting proud and looking good. Is there a dry eye in the house?

NEW LAWN FURNITURE
The neighbor across the street does wood working and carpentry. We bought this nice blue double-seater from him. I like it because the seats are large enough for me to comfortably fit. And it is so much easier to reach the table where the coffee cups are placed. There is always that moment when attentions wonder and I can steal a gulp or two of good old Hawaiian kona. Of course, as you can see by the photo, I am always being lectured about something. I guess I might have done another no-no. Hey guys, give me a break. I'm just a kid - only seventeen months old after all. You've gotta expect a little rowdiness.

JUST ENJOYING SUMMER
After my mid-day nap. Daddy David and I went out to enjoy our lovely, green, freshly mowed lawn. I love to just sit or lie in the sweet smelling grass. Oh, sometimes it just feels so good to roll around and wiggle about on my back. Lawns were made to be enjoyed. I really don't care if I get a few grass stains on my white parts. I have it firmly ingrained in my mind that I AM a self-cleaning Dalmatian.
Occasionally I include the staff in my pleasures and play with them. They seem to like it when I run around and chase my toys when they toss them. It's fun and the exercise is good for me. I even get them to run about once in a while by bouncing my toys out-of-bounds of just dropping them and leaving them at the far reaches of the lawn. Hey - we all need a little exercise!

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Yesterday was community service day. David went to put in his hours at the Food Pantry. Thom and I took a ride out there at lunch time so I could check the place over and see just exactly what was going on. Not a bad setup. There were lots of nice and intriguing food smells - off limits to me, of course. But all in all it was an interesting trip. I always enjoy new territory to explore.
There also was a nice little stretch of woods out behind the building. I got to go walking and romping about there. Nice place. I think a lot of deer hang out there. At least their scent was all over the ground.

Rainy day - can't go running at the old campgrounds. Can't take a decent walk. Can't play in the backyard. I am just going to sleep and hope that when I wake up things will be all sunny again. I did get to go on errands in the car today - big Whoop! I wanna run. I wanna frolic. I'm still a puppy and it ain't gonna last forever.

AH! SUMMERTIME AGAIN
Finally, I think summer is here. It's 78 degrees and the sky is nice and blue. The sun is making me so drowsy. I am just going to lie here in the warm rays and have a snooze. If only those people whould stop taking pictures of me from the studio balcony, it would be a perfect world. I always look forward to summer when the deck can become just another room of the house.

MORNING JUMP-START
Like everyone else in this house I just can't seem to get going in the mornings without my coffee. Usually I have to sneak it when nobody is looking. Then again, sometimes I just bump the table hard enough to spill coffee on the floor. I'm not proud - I'll lick it up. Occasionally I am given my very own small serving; I guess you'd call it a demi-tasse.
The final OK on my coffee sipping was given by my Vet. Although she did suggest decaffeinated as my Dalmatian natural personality is already running on hyper-drive.

Dancing in Dandelions.
Yesterday I discovered - if a Dalmatian does his 50 mile an hour circle runs in a field of damp grass and wet dandelion blooms, he will end up with yellow/green feet. Daddy Thom couldn't scrub the yellow away. However, being the self-cleaning breed that I am, by evening I was back to my normal coloring and we all wondered where the yellow went.

My very first walk in my new town was in the misty morning fog. My Dalmatian radar kicked in immediately and I knew my way back home; to my home, my forever home! There were all kinds of animal scents, a feast for my nose. There were strange noises too that I have since become able to identify as fog horns. There were chattering seagulls everywhere and the big black crows were a little frightening initially. I still don't like to see them on my lawn, but I have come to accept the gulls as my daddies feed them everyday in the winter. I soon realized that my barking, growling and fussing did no good - so, now I just stand on the deck and watch them eat. And, what do they eat? Dog food - at least it's not the good expensive brand that I dine upon. What a wonderful life and so very much different from Maryland. There are no fussing and crying human babies to compete with on Water Street. I am the star here!

I began my life in Maryland in a home with a ten month old baby. Anyone who knows about Dalmatians should have realized this would not work out. Dalmatians must have all the attention - 24/7. My first owners soon came to understand this and put me up for sale on Craig's List. Can you imagine. I was embarrassed although the asking price was pretty high.
The wonderful people at The Willing Hearts Dalmatian Rescue Organization saw the add and tried to talk my owners into letting them find me a home. The gentleman was not a gentleman and told them if they wanted me they would have to pay the price. So - they did and perhaps saved me from a tragic future. My first owners had no concept of Dalmatian dignity; they named me "Yankee" for goodness sake. I wasn't a Yank, I was born in Maryland. But now that I am a Yankee living in New England I have acquired the fitting and dignified name of Dylan Thomas. My new owners, David and Thom and readers, can you tell? With a name like Dylan Thomas I can prance down the street with my chest out and my head held high. And - I most certainly do.

Yes, I am the Downeast Dalmatian. My name is Dylan Thomas (and that's another story in itself). I began my Life in Maryland and am now permanently situated in my "forever home" in Eastport, Maine with Daddy Thom and Daddy David. My family here includes lots of friends, human and canine, and too many Aunties to count. I am a lucky boy; settled in a forever home and constantly surrounded by love and tolerance. Oh yes, tolerance must be an attribute when adopting a four month old Dalmatian.
This is the first cell phone picture of me that Thom and David ever saw and I hear David was especially impressed and began shouting, "Yes, yes. Let's get him." So they flew to Philadelphia, rented a car and drove to a small town near Scranton, Pennsylvania, met me in person, filed the necessary papers and loaded me up for my very first road trip to my new home. I was very anxious for a new beginning AND for the duration of that trip I was on my best behavior. Oh, I did chew up a few plastic bags in the back of the car; but after all I was excited and full of energy. I was just a baby and a whole new world was opening up for me.