Baka 9 weeks
2006-07-17

When Baka came into my life, part of the house training ritual when he was a puppy, was to take him out immediately after waking up to get him into the idea of urinating outside and avoid an accident. Puppies have a small bladder, are impatient, and want to pee immediately after waking, so you had to be dressed, lead on, and out the door like it were a fire drill.

That routine stuck even when I started morning runs after Baka’s walk, partly to keep the morning routine and also not to shock him with the idea that I was going to leave him alone for an hour with a full bladder. Was also part of getting Baka used to the idea of me being absent for periods of time and that I also found that the short walk before the run gets the blood flowing, stretch the legs, gets you used to the temperature, and lets the mind get into gear.

So today I was out for a short 6 Km run, trying to build my routine back to 10 and 15 Km runs. Trouble sleeping, stress, and some late nights have hampered my efforts to keep a regular running schedule. Today’s objective was a time better than 25m24s, but that wasn’t a firm goal, just getting out, running, work on alternating my stride and step, and not feeling too bad. As it turned out, I felt pretty good, and alternating stride and step kept me from falling into a monotone rhythm that can make a run a hard slog.

My pace and form were good coming to the last kilometre with a light down hill grade to help kick the final stretch. All until one of those tiny little flies that runners typically find stuck to the sweat of their arms, legs, and shirts managed to skirt the rim of my sun glasses and into my eye. It has to be one of the worst things that can happen to runners, after needing to go potty on a long run at the half way mark and twisting your ankle from a misstep.

Well. They don’t call it endurance running for nothing. I finished 24m57s.

A warm blustery west wind, Le Ponent, was blowing back and forth through my apartment, tapping and slamming doors and windows that refused to remain wedged open. The rustle of the trees below my balcony at times was the only sound to be heard.

Shawna Coronado is an avid gardener and green fiend. She’s probably one of the few who is not tweeting a marketing agenda on Twitter and actually says something about her life, hobbies, the environemnt, and her cute dog, Harry The Pug. Though Baka The Bichon is cuter IMHO

Now I’m no gardener. I have neither patience or temperament for it, plus allergies tends to put me off the idea. However, I still appreciate both tended and natural green spaces; the calm that can be found in a garden, park, or forest, away from the hustle and diesel of busy streets. I try to appreciate them when ever I can, particularly while out walking Baka.

The neighbourhood I live in Cannes (just below SuperCannes) has many green spaces, typically on the grounds of private homes and estates. In between them are many natural spaces in areas where it is very difficult to build like step ravines and gullies. I like these particular spaces, as they’re woody, shady, almost magical, as though they are home to Kami.

Sometimes I wonder if he assumes these cute positions deliberately in the hopes that I’ll snap off some more pics to write about.

If I’d been quick witted enough I could have put on his black nylon collar and leash to give him a “bondage” themed look; but I know he wouldn’t stay still long enough for that.

I picked up Baka today from Jilly’s place and was given a lavish welcome as he licked my hands and face for about an hour. I think both of us appreciated the time apart, but it is also nice to be back with family. Something to be said about the unconditional affection and trust given by an animal.

My previous bichon, Cotton, was really hard to spot in the snow at night. All one could see was three black spots for his eyes and nose. Guess the same would be true of Baka against the white duvet.

• Baka: My white fluffy little dog; a bichon frise. Word from Japanese means fool or idiot, though I meant it, when I named him, in the context of clown, bouffon, or jester. And Baka’s friendly, affectionate, and often amusing personality has developed along those lines.
• Cotton: my previous bichon frise I had from just after graduation from U(W) in 1990 to his passing in early 2005. Still in my memories.
• Eos: Greek goddess of the dawn.
• fée: French for fairy folk.
• Helios: Greek god of the sun.
• Selene: Greek goddess of the moon.
• Tatty – A online friend from Norway. Witty, fun, free spirited, chatty friend, who likes dark beer and light bruises.
• Thor – Norse god of thunder.
• Unclr – An excellent photographer from Norway and friend of Tatty.

I often write of dawn, dusk, scenery, and storms as I find them interesting times of change often mixed with beauty, colour, scents, sounds, turbulence, and emotion. They act on the senses and the mind in infinite ways and every day nature offers a new painting to begin and end the day. It also happens to be times of the day that Baka and I go for walks and the places we go when I might reflect on the world around me.

On those really hot and humid summer mornings, I can end up soaked head to toe, such that my running shoes will go squish squish squish as though I’d been running in the rain. Those are the days that you leave a trail of warm saline from the door all the way to the bathroom, fridge, or laundry, which ever comes first.

Now Baka just loves this. From the moment I’m in the door, I’m besieged by a fluffy little white dog intent on giving me a tongue bath. First the legs, then arms as I bend down to remove my squishy shoes. His little tail wagging furiously as though this were better than play time or long walks.

I hate to deprive him of his small pleasures, so I’ll sit or lie down on the floor and let him enjoy his moment licking my legs, arms, and face. It is not like I have much use for the sweat anyway. It’s not like I’m going to scrape it off and put in jar to use as lard or soup bouillon. And having Baka show his affections and interest in the by-products of my physical exertions allows me further time to cool down and can actually be quite relaxing, though it tends to tickle when he gets to the ears.

In my apartment, all I have in my bedroom to keep cool during summer nights is a squeaky ceiling fan (Casablanca fans take note). So last night I sat in bed with my laptop and watched Mystery, Alaska. Nice chilly underdog hockey movie. Just the sort of thing to remind a Canadian of home, beautiful vistas (and no, not the Windows shite), lots of snow, and hockey.

Of course I couldn’t keep the laptop in my lap; throws too much heat, when the idea is to think cool thoughts. Though it would make for a good bed warmer in winter, Baka does a good job of that year round. Soon as I open the bed and start to get ready, Baka jumps up and finds a place in the centre nuzzled against the pillows. Of course he gives me a disgruntled look as soon as I slide him over a tad so that we can both comfortably sit and watch.

I woke early yesterday around 6h00, took Baka for his walk before the sun crested the hill, while the air was still cool and fresh, with nobody around to disturb the silence, sort of like Charlton Heston in Omega Man. After Baka had finished marking our territory, made a cup of tea, grabbed the last of the dark chocolate chip & pecan cookies, and sat down to watch Alien v Predator Requiem on DVD I just received, having not yet seen it. This cheered me up.

I like sci-fi, fantasy, adventure, thriller, drama, almost any story really, good or bad. I can suspend disbelief pretty well and get immersed in a story. In my current frame of mind, it wasn’t hard either. So to be watching a sci-fi horror flick based on the Alien and Predator creatures at 6h30 in the morning and claim that it cheered me up just goes to show how much of a downer I’m going through just now. I suppose the cookies helped too.

In any recent flick with the Alien, they have a tendency to breed faster than black flies hanging around Uranus and have a nasty bite too. To say that these critters leave a little welt is an understatement. So after the film, when I spotted Baka lying on his back in that all so cute “rub my belly please” posture, you might have thought I had a vision of exploding chest cavities.

Not so. But I did oblige him and rub his belly only to find grit or worse flea dust. Not a little either, but a lot. Dog owner’s worst nightmare is not drooling Aliens and face huggers, but ticks and fleas, especially if there is more than one and they can breed almost as fast. Right, my mood might be no better than Marvin the android, but action had to be taken. Immediate bath time for Baka.

Just as well too. Found four of the blighters despite the bath he had last week and the Frontline I applied. Now instead of Aliens, I might have to deal with more fleas and me only armed with a can of Raid.