Master Robert has been certified by two universities in mindfulness. I listened in to one or two of his courses on ZOOM during that accursed COVID. Lots of living in the moment, acceptance, forgiveness, meditation and lots of stuff my limited vocabulary prevented me from understanding. On one of our walks Master Robert tried to give an example of mindfulness. Instead of walking me with a mind racing to and fro he explained the mind should be focused in the moment. Feeling the pavement under your feet, focusing on the natural beauty and ugliness about you, sniffing the breeze, feeling the cold. And some psychotherapist called Marsha Linehan in her book “Building a Life Worth Living” (which I think is a doctor of the human brain?) saying radical acceptance is the key to moving on. All this for the moment stuff! As a West Highland Terrier I could be the next John Kabat-Zinn that human mindfulness guru as this is the essence of a dog. It is the moment! So dog owners realize that it is “the moment” that counts for both you and I. Enjoy your dog in the present moment as that is the moment you are living in. And “radical acceptance” and death. We will get to that shortly as my memoirs are soon ending as is my 40 days on earth before I must go up to The Land Beyond.
RKS 2023 Wine: Wallet Friendly Fizz: Prosecco
I suspect many of my readers enjoy a glass of Champagne every once and awhile. Many I know see a bottle of sparkling wine and erroneously call it Champagne. I used to cringe hearing this but saw no use going into a fuller description of how Champagne is made and that it must be made in the Champagne region of France. Forgive them as they do not know what they say!
The price alone should be a tip off. Entry level Champagne costs $50 or so in Ontario. The Prosecco we try now is $16.95. With that price differential the lure of Prosecco is shining! So it is made by the tank method and the bubbles are a bit bigger than the beads from a Champagne.
We try a Pitars 2021 Extra Dry Prosecco. Oh yes Prosecco is from Italy as Champagne and Crémants are from France.
Aroma: Actually the bubbles here are fairly ferocious and numerous! Lemon, lime, tangerine and peach. More fruit than you’ll get in most Champagnes.
Palate: The acidity is far gentler than you would encounter with Champagne and it is fruitier. Quite frankly Prosecco is a different beast!
Food Match: Given its somewhat fruity characteristics this Prosecco would go well with vegetable or seafood curry or one of my favourites Swiss Chard Lasagna backbreaking to make but worth the effort.
Personality: Easy going good for sipping. I may not be Champagne but I got lots of sparkle!
Cellarbility: Drink up to the end of 2024.
Price: $16.95 CDN.
RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 90/100. Jamessuckling.com 90.
(Pitars Extra Dry 2021 Prosecco D.O.C., Pitars, S. Martino, Tagliamento, Italy, 750 mL, 11.5%.).
Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in The Land Beyond: To Crate or not to Crate That is the San Quentin Question
Master Robert had strong views against ever crating me. With his last two dogs Suzy and Ginny in the 1960’s and early 1970’s crates were never used. Mistress Fotini and logic prevailed however and a crate was decided upon. A crate provides a safe nook for a West Highland Terrier. A place to call their own. A refuge. A big house all alone as a young pup can be intimidating. So a crate was purchased and I was “eased into it gradually”. I started with a half hour then gradually worked it up so I could happily be crated. There were toys, my blanket and when The Stephen Family was out leaving me alone in my crate there was classical music on the radio. I loved the opera! Saturday from the Met was my favourite.
My crating career was relatively short only a year and a half with the door closed until I felt comfortable roaming about the house alone. It was never that long behind closed doors as after the house was empty on the week-days there was always the dog walker from 11-2 then Master Andrew was home at 4. You know even when the crate was not necessary from a pup perspective I used it as my home for several years because I wanted to.
So for me and hopefully for your pup the crate is not San Quentin. Consider it at worst a minimum-security facility or perhaps what it really is a home for an unsure pup.
If The Stephen Family gets another dog, and they absolutely must, my crate is waiting for the new family member.
Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in The Land Beyond: Pure Bliss of a Green West Highland Terrier
A popular question posed by all my canine buddies to each other here in The Land Beyond is what your happiest moment on earth was. Although the answers are different one element in common is FREEDOM. Westies are dogs that relish freedom and being off leash is FREEDOM. Almost all of us realize we are safer in urban areas on leash lest our instincts get the better of us and we decide to race off after some rodent or to greet another dog. So off leash was a huge treat for me. In fact my 4 season walks at a nearby golf course called Don Valley were the happiest times of my life. Yes even better than turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes and carrots on Christmas or lamb and Greek sweet bread (tsoureki) on Greek Easter! I ran, sniffed, jumped over logs, barked and looked (unsuccessfully) for rodents to hunt. Up and down hills, struggling through snow and meeting so many other dogs and people. I remember rolling on the ground in ecstasy. One early spring I rolled in wet grass and became a Green West Highland Terrier! I would return home exhausted and immediately crashed out in my bed for a happy sleep and I would often dream of chasing foxes.
Before I was born Master Robert went up to Don Valley Golf Course to cross country ski. He met a couple with two Westies ready to go for a walk. They said their Westies loved the walk. These two Westies were their fifth and sixth Westies! I am not sure but you might say my fate was sealed after this Westie interaction!
Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in the Land Beyond: Oscar Night Flying Leap: Westie Down!!!
Aside from my brief flirtation with skin issues and a wee heart murmur I lived a healthy life. For the 2023 Oscars I was watching them in a room I do not ordinarily watch television in with Mistress Fotini. After the red-carpet fashion nonsense I fell asleep on the sofa. I mean why no Westies on the red carpet! Then Master Robert entered the room and, in a rush, to give him a greeting I took an enormously high leap off a sofa I was not used to and hit the ground hard. West Highland Terrier down! A sharp pain and shock. I limped around shivering and in pain and Master Robert picked me up and rocked me back and forth to calm me down. Man, he has experience with sweet talking dogs so much so the pain numbed.
The next day I had a stiff leg that was difficult to walk on. Damaged tendon. Time to heal weeks. No long walks. Take it easy. I began to realize I was no longer a pup but an ageing 13-year-old West Highland Terrier. 4 months later I was back to “normal”.
Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in the Land Beyond: Playtime! Attack on the Vacuum Cleaner
West Highland Terriers require their play time. Yes dog owners your dog loves to play. You can’t simply abandon your dog and ignore us!
In my younger days I loved chasing the ball or a frisbee. But why was Master Robert always yelling at me to return with the ball or the Frisbee? I could go until my body said enough. Then I’d lie down and catch my breath and Master Robert would quickly get the cue it was time to return home. I would tank up on water like a camel and have the best sleep. I would also chase the ball indoors but outside I could show off my speed. West Highland Terriers can run fast!
Then there was the towel game. Grab a towel and shake it back in forth like I was breaking the back of prey. Yes my instinct again. I also chased stuffed animals and loved their squeak when I shook it back and forth in my jaws. Instinct again.
Then there was the shift and shake game. Master Robert would approach me bent down and shift his legs back and forth. I would do the same and bark and snap in play. So tiring.
I played a soccer goalie too!
Oh yes I liked footsie with Mistress Fotini when she moved her pant legs about and I was nearby I might get close and mouth the pant leg and have a friendly tussle with her wiggling foot.
One activity I would not call play was attacking the vacuum cleaner much to the chagrin of the Stephen Family member operating the vacuum. I would be shooed out of the way. Geez instinct again?
RKS Literature: The Supreme Mr. Dombey (Charles Dickens)
“Mr. Dombey was resolved to show her that he was supreme. There must be no will but his. Proud he desired that she should be, but she must be proud for him, not against him. As he sat alone hardening he would often hear her go out and come home, treading the round of London life with no more heed of his liking or disliking, pleasure or displeasure, than if he had been her groom. Her cold, supreme indifference attribute usurped– his own unquestioned attribute usurped – stung him more than any other kind of treatment could have done; and he determined to bend her to his magnificent and stately will.”
Charles Dickens, “Dombey and Son”
RKS 2023 Literature: The Great Mr. Dombey (Charles Dickens)
“Towards his first wife, Mr. Dombey, in his cold and lofty arrogance, had borne himself like the removed being he almost conceived himself to be. He had been “Mr. Dombey” with her when she first saw him, and he was “Mr. Dombey” when she died. He had asserted his greatness during their married life, and she had meekly recognized it. He had kept his distant state of seat on top oh his throne, and she her humble station on its lowest step; and much good it had done him, so to live in solitary bondage to his one idea. He had imagined he proud character of his second wife would have been added to his own – would have merged into it and exalted his greatness. He had pictured himself haughtier than ever, with Edith’s haughtiness subservient to his.”
Charles Dickens, “Dombey and Son”
RKS 2023 Literature: The Great Mr. Dombey (Charles Dickens)
“Towards his first wife, Mr. Dombey, in his cold and lofty arrogance, had borne himself like the removed being he almost conceived himself to be. He had been “Mr. Dombey” with her when she first saw him, and he was “Mr. Dombey” when she died. He had asserted his greatness during their married life, and she had meekly recognized it. He had kept his distant state of seat on top oh his throne, and she her humble station on its lowest step; and much good it had done him, so to live in solitary bondage to his one idea. He had imagined he proud character of his second wife would have been added to his own – would have merged into it and exalted his greatness. He had pictured himself haughtier than ever, with Edith’s haughtiness subservient to his.”
Charles Dickens, “Dombey and Son”
RKS 2023 Film: “The Battle for Chile” (La Battala de Chile): Part One: “The Insurrection of the Bourgeoisie”
If you were alive in 1973 you may have been aware of the leftist coalition Popular Unity winning the March 4, 1973, Chilean general election under the leadership of Salvador Allende.
Unfortunately the opposition Christian Democrats and various national parties controlled the Chilean Congress. From Congress they attempted to block progressive legislation, remove Allende appointed ministers and attack neighbourhood organizations attempting to control hoarding. The “opposition” more of less did all it could to encourage civil disturbances and undermine the Allende government. Allende was after all speaking revolutionary Marxist language and this terrified the industrial elite. Allende referred to himself as a “militant socialist”.
The entire documentary is in black and white and the microphone is buried deep in the leftist’s camp. For historians and political scientists interested in Chilean politics and history Part One spells the beginning of the end of Allende and his leftist agenda in detail.
It wasn’t as if the military decided to seize power immediately after the March election. The rise of the black market and hoarding, attempted expropriation by the Allende government of key national industries, strikes, student demonstrations and an offensive by the economic elite, the interference of the U.S. State Department and a government in constant crisis all contributed to Chile on the verge of collapse if not civil war.
Aside from a particular Chilean context “The Battle for Chile” is a study in the collapse of a legitimately elected leftist government headed by a militant socialist aided by his “comrades”. The collapse of the Allende government might have been inevitable but it was over a 4-month period superbly captured by director Patricio Guzmán in this new 2K restoration.
Part One plays 8-15 September at the Brooklyn Academy of Music to be followed by openings in other cities in Spanish with English subtitles. Filmed from 1975-79.
You can see the trailer here https://vimeo.com/ondemand/battleofchile
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