Her name is it really Gingerbear now it's Tony, but boy has this little lady had a bunch of names. When I first got her her name was Glorious that absolutely would not do so she quickly became Gingerbear. When she was adopted the first time her family named her Pumpkin-also terrible. When she went to her final forever home she was named Tony because of her likeness to Tony Soprano when she ate rawhide sticks. It looked like she was smoking a cigar so Tony it is, but she will always be Gingerbear to me. Her paw-lter ego is Lucille Ball, a beautiful redhead with a penchant for crazy antics. She once dragged me across the dog park to see her original savior Charlotte, and she made a habit of taking over Carmela's little shoebox sized bed. Hilarious unless you were me or Carmela. In her she has grown a little more tame in her older age, much like Lucille Ball who put some of her shenanigans aside later on in life. She still has some of that mischievous spirit and if given the opportunity she will squeeze into an inappropriately sized space or snatch a plate of unattended food off the coffee table. Old habits I guess, but if it aint broke.... just laugh
I was so busy trying to keep this blog in chronological order that I have delayed posting about one of my most beloved family members. But no more! The Smoosh will be represented!
Originally "choci" came to us reluctantly. Walt wanted no part of this newly neutered young male dog he was certain that he would cause problems with the chairman. Three short hours later he decided that choci chancy fredo smoosh was too timid to live with anyone but us. Although Fredo would have been do most fitting name because of his fear of virtually anything wall insisted on Smoosh due to his smooshy face. There has been no conclusive dna test but we are pretty sure he is a chocolate sharpei mixed with ? He was a skinny nervous bobble head of a dog when he first came but has since grown into a beautiful confident cartoon character. There has been numerous incidence of him eating nearly everything he can find. Among them are plants, hats , paper towels that have fallen on the floor, rubber gloves that has fallen out of the recycle bin and probably the most notable Walters wallet and favorite leather flip flops.
You didnt want this hat, right?
He has even grown confident enough to dance. He has grown into a confident man child clown yet he still retain some comical skittish mannerisms. He runs scared from cameras as though they will steal his soul. So who exactly is this complex character? I think hes a combination of all of the Tracy Morgan characters...Not really Tracy Morgan himself after the whole hate tirade thing but Brian Fellow and Tracy Jordan for sure. He's a big silly mess and when the sun hits him just right hes the one of the most beautiful dogs in the whole world...
The legend of our queen goes something like this....
Queen Carmela in her spot
Once upon a time a dachshund and chihuahua had a romantic encounter. A few months later a litter containing a little princess came into the world. This little princess was special she would remain a small and dainty creature for the rest of her days so her person named her Baby Girl. She had a good life with her person until she passed away. She and her brother were sent away by her person's evil family. This tragedy turned out to be a wonderful gift to the pups as they were finally whisked out of the godforsaken little town their person lived in and taken to the magical Space City! Her brother was adopted by a new family immediately and the little princess was left alone. She was renamed Ruthie, a name MOST unfitting of her. She was adored by all who met her, one of her new friends said that "she looks at you like you are the only person in the whole world." but it was not until she met me that she was really home.
Winona's greatest hits or misses depending on who you ask
Thats the story of my little chi-weenie queen. We adopted her after Lefty left to be with his family. She and Brasco were no the same kind of fast friends as he and Lefty were, but they always had a mutual respect and admiration for each other. She has a variety of nicknames, a modification of the original 'Baby Hound,' also 'Nibs!' which is the battlecry of the Coneheads (i dont really know why that one stuck but it did), but she was officially renamed Carmela- as a nod to her caramel color and my penchant for all things Soprano and Scorsese. Initially her paw-lter ego was Winona Ryder. A compliment to Brasco's Johnny Depp, she had big brown eyes and with diminutive spunk, so cute! Then she would do something cringe-worthy, remember when Winona got busted shoplifting? For carm her embarrassing antics were more like butt scoots across the dog park or attacking a giant Rhodesian ridge-back for no good reason just bc she was crazy enough to do it.
Shes always been a bit of a feisty little troublemaker, but she has really grown into her true paw-lter ego, Lucille Bluth of Arrested Development.
Queen Lucille
Well polished and adorable with an omnipresent alcoholic beverage in hand and a snarky razor sharp comment for the nearest listener. She has an absolute intolerance for adolecent shenanigans. Horseplay is not allowed unless she has sanctioned it, and she is not afraid to police such behaviors to show her disapproval. Carmela is the consummate saucy older woman, which is probably why we are such close companions.
We are both happiest snuggling with loved ones while some sort of trashy television programming on and an adult beverage is within reach. That is our happily ever after.
From our first meeting I knew he was trouble and not just because his name was originally Travieso. He was just a kitten but when I looked under the bed for him all I can see with neon green eyes and then high pitch growl. I wanted no part as tosslin' with him. He was just a baby but I still knew I couldn't hang.
Early Travieso
LOCO ESE!!!
No matter how it all started, eventually Travieso evolved into Papi a much more mellow and tolerant cat. He was always my cousin Jessica's number one. Like me she has nurtured many strays, and
Papi was a gracious host same as Brasco. Although he was a feisty and rambunctious used he grew into a kind mentor for all... but you still knew that if you did something to step out of line by him he would mess you up with one razor claw. Just in case you forgot it seemed like nature reminded everyone, when he got older he grew a tiny great spot in the for his face it looked just like a teardrop prison tattoo. "So just remember who you're messing with ese, don't you know I'm loco."
Edward James Olmos: canoodling w/ Bracco, benevolent and the textbook gangster
Papi has since passed and is now making friends and avenging his enemies in heaven, but he will always be remembered. It seems pretty obvious to me that Papi is Edward James Olmos. Even though he can take on some fatherly roles you will never forget that underneath still lies a cold hard gangster so watch your step! I feel the need to mention that the real Edward James Olmos was married to Lorraine Bracco our very own Karen Hill from Goodfellas and Dr Melfi from Sopranos, for yet another case of my Gangsta love/Sopranos serendipity. She is exactly the same, warm and fuzzy on the outside but tough on the inside, just like Jessica which is why they made such a dynamic duo. Much love to our Papi, see you at the crossroads.
Nico came to me after we adopted car. He was extremely banged up 80 percent of his body was covered in demodex mange he had an eye infection, and ear infection, and an upper respiratory infection. The poor thing was barely alive , but I did my best work to resuscitate him.... And resuscitation him I did! After three short months of medicated drops, sprays, shampoos and enough codeine syrup to unsteady a Clydesdale, Nico was fully resurrected and ready for his new home. I earned myself the title of Dr. Feel Good.
The man and myth of Nikki Sixx
Fans of the legendary Motley Crue can probably recall a time when Nikki Sixx, Co-founder and bassist, actually died of a heroin overdose. He was revived only to go out score more heroin and keep on partying. This event is documented in The Heroin Diaries his autobiography and immortalized in the song Kickstart My Heart. This IS Nico. We kick started him back on track and he never looked back or slowed down. I have never seen any living thing more excited to be healthy enough to raise cane! He was adopted two a new home where he had his own Tommy Lee style running buddy to wrestle and party with all day long. Rock on little friend Thanks for teaching me how to shout at the devil.
Nico Sixx, still enough for a split second to take a photo.
Lefty was our very first Foster baby. I left for the day to go volunteer and Walt said "I'm sure you're coming home with a dog." I denied it but sure enough I came home with Lefty. Originally his name with Mickey and I was told he was about 2 years old. He turned out to be at least 8 and I renamed him Lefty after Al Pacino's portrayal Benjamin "Lefty Guns" Ruggiero in Donnie Brasco.
Donnie Brasco and Lefty Guns
Obviously he was Brasco's sidekick, so there was that. He also had this little quirk that solidified the name, whenever he would go number 2 he would lift his left leg and go "tri-dog" to make it happen.
An example of "Tri-dog" position
He had several other similarities to Al Pacino, soulful brown eyes dark brown hair with a touch of grey, and he was quite the actor. After staying a week with us I took him back to the adoption event so he could find a home. He must have known where we were going because he started acting really down. He even started limping which made us take him to the Banfield vet inside the Petsmart that's where we found out his real age and they said he may have arthritis. Great. We decided that it would be best not to take him back to the adoption event since it was too physically stressful. However when we got home he bolted up the stairs and all demonstrated signs of frailty were history. He obviously just gave an Oscar worthy performance, to evade adoption or at least adoption events.
Al Pacino as Lefty
We decided that unless the right person came along he could live out his golden years with us. He and Brasco were fast friends, like the real Brasco and Lefty.
Fast friends!
Eventually a little older lady came to an adoption event she looked like she was ready to cry. She was having no luck finding a dog, who from her description was Lefty to a T. I showed her his pics, brought him over for a home visit and it was a perfect match. Like Donnie Brasco/ Joe Pistone, Brasco was pretty sad to see his friend go.
Heartbroken Brasco
Over the next few weeks when I asked him what was wrong and he would look at Lefty's side of the dog bed. It broke my heart. I took comfort in knowing he brought lots of joy to his new home. Lefty would bring loads of humor and happiness everywhere.
The
chairman came to me through my old job at Sabine St. Lofts. One of the
residents found him wandering the bayou (cue up the CCR!). She thought he must
have belonged to someone since he had fantastic manners and was neutered. She
put up a few flyers, but after a few weeks no one answered, she brought him to
the office so we could take some better pictures. I fell in love. I told her
that I would take him if we didn’t hear anything by the end of the week. The
rest is history.
Brasco and Smoosh imitating Crocket and Tubbs of Miami Vice
Brasco and 2 legged brother JJ
Originally named Brody (after Adrian Brody maybe? Who knows),
Adrian Brody
Eventually I named him Brasco after the
movie Donnie Brasco. In the begining his paw-lter was Johnny Depp because he was a little
aloof with other dogs at the dog park.
Aloof Depp
Once we started to foster rescue dogs I saw how kind and
gracious he was with them. I couldn’t really put my finger on it, so I would
say “He’s like the cool guy in prison movies who shows the new guy the ropes
and tells him who to stay away from.” Once I was reunited w/ Sesame St. through
his 2 legged brother JJ, it hit me. Brasco is Gordon, but not just Gordon,
Roscoe Orman.
Roscoe Orman
His name is Roscoe for starters which is perfect, not
just bc of obvious similarity but also bc people always messed up his name and
called him Roscoe. Roscoe Orman is best
known as Gordon, the patient mentor of Sesame St. who puts up with the ridiculous
(and often annoying) antics of all characters….Big Bird, Elmo, Ernie I’m
talking about you, get it together. Very much Brasco w/ all his sibling,
foster, 2 legged, etc. He also plays super hero Trash Gordon, if ever Brasco got loose his first stop would be to check out someone's trash can.
Orman as Gordon, likely trying his best not shake a muppet
Orman as Trash Gordon
Most people don’t know that he’s been in tons of other
movies and television programs. One of my favorite being a small cameo on the
wire where he plays an old detective who allows Freamon and McNulty to carry out
some pretty extreme antics of their own. If go to my other blog you know I'm
obsessed with the wire. So if you blinked and missed it don't feel bad, just take
my word for it....
Orman as Officer Oscar Requer on The Wire
Roscoe has received some reason bad press over a falling
out with his common law wife of 40 years the claim is he led a complete double
life. Click for details, yes I read it. I'm part of the problem forgive me.
"That's one, count them, one bad deal! wah ahahah!"-Count
Did Brasco lead a double life? It’s doubtful but who
knows? But The Chairman was very good to us I can only hope we were at least
half as good to him. He will be dearly missed.
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