*Confession- I changed the date for this post, because I finally went one whole month without posting anything and I'm not ready to let that happen. I'M SO ASHAMED! (I did set the time as the last possible moment in June, so I can remember what a procrastinator I am & how I almost didn't make it. ^_^ Anyway, last nite at 11:59 PM I was involved in a noble cause. I was helping Snow turn in her story for a writing contest, which was, incidentally, also being submitted at the last possible moment.)
*Truth- I'm only one day late AND I actually started this blog last month. I just never finished it...
I will here quote a description for Don Abbondio, a despicable character from Manzoni's I Promessi Sposi (ie. The Betrothed). "I have borrowed it because it suited my purpose, and told where I got it, that I might not take credit due to others: so let not one think that it is a plan of mine to proclaim that the author of this little book and I are like brothers, and that I rummage at will among his manuscripts." This too is a quote from Manzoni, because he was also a borrower of words and I share his sentiments. There may be other Manzoni quotes here and I will not mention every one. Just read the book and you will know. This will be one of my little tributes to him, I'm sure there will be others. This blog is not really supposed to be about Manzoni, though, it is about my dog, Owen. I love him truly, he is my good & faithful dog, but I promise you he would sooner chew my arm off than save me if I were to ever come under assault. Let me explain. Manzoni said that Abbondio, if he were obliged to take part in a quarrel "favoured the stronger, always with a reserve, and an endeavor to show the other that he was not willingly his enemy." This is Owen, although I'm not so sure about this last part, because Owen is quite willing to gnaw me to death under the slightest provocation. In his defense, it is as if he would say, "Why did you not manage to be stronger? I would have taken your side then." This is the dog who follows me from room to room as I move around the house during the day, the one who lays his chin on the table next to me when I'm working and sometimes sits his 150 lb. self on my lap. He has this very strange instinct to always take the winning side, like Don Abbondio, though I am sure it is for an entirely different set of reasons. If Daniel attacks me, Owen attacks me. If I attack Daniel, Owen attacks me (because he knows I will lose). You might think, well Owen just likes Daniel, and you would be right in thinking that, Owen does like Daniel; but nevertheless if Daniel attacks Ben, Owen will turn on Daniel in an insant, and leave Daniel in the same stupefied, sad state of bewilderment that I have experienced time & time again. Daniel doesn't attack Ben as often as he attacks me; he's kind of like Owen in that respect, he likes to win. ^_^ But that is beside the point, moving on, you see what I mean about Owen? What did I tell you? Highly suspicious behavior for a dog, I'd say. Fortunately Sage usually comes to my rescue and Owen is always very sorry, so I forgive him and we will always be pals. But I just had to share this (1) because I needed something to blog about (2) because Manzoni is fast becoming one of my favorite authors & I wanted to deposit him here (3) because I never want to forget this silly dog and his antics. He makes me smile. He's so silly and sweet and loyal, well sort of. So, it's been nice chatting with you. Check out the book. It's great!