Brutus, the American Bulldog

April 26, 2013 – Friday evening

63 degrees/sunny/calm

Pentoga Road

The internet has been in and out all day. Thankfully, it was on long enough that I could grade papers and do my university correspondence. The intermittent service has been an ongoing problem that seems to get worse in the summer and not nearly as bad during the winter months. My guess? I think the radio that sends and receives my information to the tower is in conflict with another. I think when someone else gets on the net, I get the boot.

In talking with the provider today, he’s decided to switch out the radio on my antenna. If that doesn’t work, he’s going to install a big ground tower so I can more altitude and a stronger signal. I don’t think that’s the problem, but he’s willing to go to any length and for that, I’m appreciative.

Spring has sprung! Today’s high is in the lower 60’s and they are promising we’ll see the 70’s for Saturday and Sunday. The last of the snow is quickly disappearing and I’m getting the itch to get down to the garden and begin that process. I have thirty Walls of Water to set up and get my tomato plants in the ground as soon as possible. Supposedly, this will add two months to their growing season. We’ll see. I’m a bit skeptical.

The past two days have been spent in the upstairs bath. I applied two coats of paint yesterday and another today. I’m disappointed. We purchased a very expensive gallon that had primer already included. By the time I brushed on the third application for good coverage, it took almost the entire gallon. I’m not sure there was any primer in the paint.

Whoever hung the old light fixture years ago put it off center from the vanity and mirror. It was the same with the bathroom downstairs and I’ll have to concoct a hollow artificial face plate in the shop so wires can be run through, then mount it covering the old hole, but so the fixture can be centered. I know why the old light was hung off center… rather than scab a two-by-four to hang the electrical box, the person simply fastened it to the closest stud and called it good enough. Who does that? Thanks to his unwillingness to do it right, I’ll get to remake it now and hopefully, will be centered and look nice in the end. I had to do the exact same thing in the downstairs bathroom.

I have walked my five miles each of the past two days. After slogging through snow, sometimes deep, in heavy clothes and boots all winter, it is almost a sinful pleasure to jog along wearing lightweight clothing and shoes.

I took a break from the bathroom this afternoon and shoveled the remaining snow from the back deck. It’s to be warm on Sunday and I hope to use the high-pressure washer then treat it with water seal. After, the summer patio furniture and swing will come out the barn. It’s that time of year!

Yooper Brother Mark and I will leave early in the morning for Stevens Point, Wisconsin, to meet Brutus and his owner. To say I’m excited would be a vast understatement. I’m a bit nervous, but only because I’ve wanted a good dog for quite a while. I almost feel like we’ve got company coming, only this guy will stay. There’s freedom from responsibilities when one doesn’t own a pet, but there’s also a lot of loneliness if one is by himself most of the time. I’m getting to the age where I’m looking forward to having a hiking partner and the company.

Sargie and I are going out tonight with Mark and Sheri for fish. Sargie should be home in the next half-an-hour and we’ll head into town. Hopefully the internet will be up and running this evening so I can get this uploaded. I’ll not be writing on Saturday morning as I hope to be out of the house before six. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

April 27, 2013 – Saturday evening

69 degrees/sunny/calm

Pentoga Road

Mark and I left this morning at 6:30 and were in Stevens Point a bit ahead of schedule. Brutus’s owners and I texted back and forth and it wasn’t long before we both arrived at our meeting place.

It was love at first sight. I saw how gentle Brutus was around their little boy, yet we played fetch and tug of war and I could see he was full of energy. When told, he sat immediately, lay down on command, and even offered both paws. There was no doubt, I wanted Brutus to become a part of our family.

He hopped in the back of the car as if following a script. I gave him a leather chew bone and he immediately became busy and stayed that way for most of the way home. If he wasn’t chewing, he was sight seeing out the side windows. I think the pup believes he’s human.

I introduced him to Pentoga Road and he was like a kid in a candy store. Though he never went far, he delighted in running around the yard and into the woods. Occasionally I’d whistle and he’d immediately return to my side.

Brutus found a snow bank and promptly dove in

We only walked three miles tonight. I’m not sure who was more tired, Brutus or Tom. He heels perfectly and most of the time, I didn’t even know he was on the leash. If I walk slower, he does the same. When I say stop, he immediately halts. I’ll teach him to automatically sit at any intersection but already does it on command.

One of our neighbors came outside and commented how well behaved Brutus was. I gave his former owners all the credit. They did a wonderful job of socializing and training him.

Though Brutus is supposed to be a purebred American Bulldog, I secretly think he’s a weird looking white Labrador retriever. Pentoga Lake (the giant puddle in back of the yard) is three feet deep in some places. Just for giggles, I threw Brutus’s toy into the water and he plunged in and swam to where the toy sunk. I was impressed, but the poor pooch couldn’t find it. I ended up wading out and showing him, but he didn’t want to get his face wet. Finally, when he was looking down at his toy, I pushed his head under and he grabbed it.

I took the toy and threw it again. He ran/swam to where it sank and this time, ducked under, blowing bubbles in the water the entire time, and retrieved it. From then on, playing fetch became a water activity. In fact, I had to drag him out of the water when we were finished.

So those are the initial Brutus stories for today. I think I wore him out. He’s stretched out on his doggie bed alongside my recliner sleeping. Armed with doggie goodies and treats, Sargie’s on her way home. I have a feeling that she and Brutus are going to be BFFs. He’s a very calm, very gentle, extremely smart, puppy dog. I’m feeling extremely good about our future together.

Brutus and I are going to hike our five miles first thing in the morning. After that, I hope to use the high-pressure washer on the back deck. After, I may start to rake the back yard. It’s that time of year. A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…