This is JoJo again and it’s time for my journal.  As a diva Yorkie, I like all things nice….and expensive….given as a gift….from my boys.  Much to my surprise, I was told that a new treat was on its way to me and I was excited.  What could it be?  Diamonds, caviar, pearls, a new cashmere sweater to brave the cold?  The list is endless.  My suitor came in with something behind his back.  Flowers….maybe red roses.  BARK!! 

Well, to my horror, I was given a rawhide treat.  You know, one of those leather logs that dogs chew on for hours on end.  Absolutely not….no way.  Go directly to jail; do not pass go; do not collect $200.  Sniff….well it does smell good.  Lick…..nice taste.  Chomp….what have I got to lose?  The end result was a treat I treasured.  As with most things in our life, the simplest things are usually the best things.  The things we remember and treasure forever.  A gentle kiss from a lover, a hug from your child, a homemade Valentine, a bouquet of dandelions from your front yard.  Yes, even a rawhide treat.  Remember to keep it real and celebrate the simple things in life.  Tell me what has been your favorite simple treat? 

This is the dog that lives on Glen Road.  My name is JoJo and I would like to introduce myself and tell you a little about me.  I am a girl Yorkshire Terrier…a diva yorkie.  I was born in 2007 and am 3 years old.  I was purchased by my owner when I was very little and named after her (Josephine) and her late husband (Joseph).  They were often times referred to as the “Jo and Joe” team so it only made sense to shorten that up and call me simply JoJo.  I lived in Boynton Beach, Florida most of my life, where it was warm and I could look out over the Intercoastal waterway.  Last fall, I made the move to Connecticut and to the house on Glen Road.  When the acorns fell on the roof during that autumn, I barked almost every time I heard the cracking noise of one hitting the shingles.  My throat was sore for months from all that barking, but I’m over that now.  It is cold here now and my neighbor dogs tell me that my first winter here has the most snow that they have ever seen.  Many days this winter I didn’t even want to go outside because the yard was too cold for my little paws.  I eat and drink out of two small bowls that are red and white and have a little dog painted on the bottom.  While I am very small, I do like my food and tend to lick my food bowl clean every morning and every night.  I like to play with my toys and like my family to throw them and then watch me run after them.  I sleep in the master bedroom every night and have been known to snore loudly even though I am so little. 

So this is the beginning of what I hope is a frequent contribution to “Acorns On Glen”.  I’m calling my contributions “JoJo’s Journal“.  Don’t all blogs need a dog’s perspective?  I do have a unique perspective given I see things from less than a foot above the ground.  Please feel free to leave me some comments—what would you like to hear about from me?

In closing, our house is very supportive in the rights of all animals.  Always be kind to your pets and other animals you meet along the way.  You never know what they will do if you treat them poorly.  I am lucky to have a great family.  My friend (may he rest in peace) did not.  He hated them!  Here are his thoughts post his passing:

The Revenant by Billy Collins

I am the dog you put to sleep,
as you like to call the needle of oblivion,
come back to tell you this simple thing:
I never liked you–not one bit.

When I licked your face,
I thought of biting off your nose.
When I watched you toweling yourself dry,
I wanted to leap and unman you with a snap.

I resented the way you moved,
your lack of animal grace,
the way you would sit in a chair to eat,
a napkin on your lap, knife in your hand.

I would have run away,
but I was too weak, a trick you taught me
while I was learning to sit and heel,
and–greatest of insults–shake hands without a hand.

I admit the sight of the leash
would excite me
but only because it meant I was about
to smell things you had never touched.

You do not want to believe this,
but I have no reason to lie.
I hated the car, the rubber toys,
disliked your friends and, worse, your relatives.

The jingling of my tags drove me mad.
You always scratched me in the wrong place.
All I ever wanted from you
was food and fresh water in my metal bowls.

While you slept, I watched you breathe
as the moon rose in the sky.
It took all of my strength
not to raise my head and howl.

Now I am free of the collar,
the yellow raincoat, monogrammed sweater,
the absurdity of your lawn,
and that is all you need to know about this place

except what you already supposed
and are glad it did not happen sooner–that everyone here can read and write,
the dogs in poetry, the cats and the others in prose.

I’m just joking with you.  I don’t know this dog.  Billy Collins is a favorite poet here on Glen.  We last saw him live at a broadcast of “A Prairie Home Companion” in Manhattan.  So you know, Billy Collins is an American poet, appointed as Poet Laureate of the United States from 2001 to 2003. He is a Distinguished Professor at Lehman College of the City University of New York and is the Senior Distinguished Fellow of the Winter Park Institute, Florida. Collins was recognized as a Literary Lion of the New York Public Library (1992) and selected as the New York State Poet for 2004-2006.  Billy Collins has been called “The most popular poet in America” by the New York Times.

Until the next edition of “JoJo’s Journal”……peace and bark!