Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Thursday, July 17, 2008

"It's a special occasion"

That's what we say when we let the dog on the couch. Which is basically all the time. But he never jumps up there without asking permission, which essentially consists of his placing his chin on the sofa cushion and then looking at us with the ultimate "puppy eyes." Well, it's a special occasion, we say. Okay!

But today really and truly is a special occasion, because Fritz is here at work with me and is sitting by my feet as I write. A colleague is writing a children's alphabet book using photographs of dogs for each letter, and she needed an "f". So here we are!

We've taken lots of walks this morning and already had one photo shoot, so Fritz is seeming pretty calm. It's unfortunate that there are workmen down the hall today banging on things, but after one bark, Fritz seems to accept their noise.

My colleague has been interviewed by Time magazine about a previously written book of photographs on dogs, called Black is Beautiful: A Celebration of Dark Dogs. (Black dogs are much harder to find homes for.) Fritz is honored to be a part of her new book, aren't you boy? Fritz? Wake up Fritz!

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Pooky's Book Club recommendation (look out Oprah!)

This morning on The Writer's Almanac, I heard that today is the birthday of Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

That really took me back, as the book was published in 1974, and I believe when I read it, I was a senior in high school in 1978. If you haven't read this book, you must do so now. It is a classic odyssey narrative, the story of a motorcycle trip Pirsig took across country with his 12-year old son. Yet interspersed in the account are Pirsig's incredibly insightful thoughts. To quote wikipedia.com:
The 1974 book describes a journey across the United States, punctuated by numerous philosophical discussions (many of them on epistemology and the philosophy of science) which the author refers to as chautauquas.

I am so glad I was reminded of this wonderful book. I bet I still have my beat-up high school paperback copy somewhere ....