Overcoming Obstacles - Sophie Style

Obstacle - ob·sta·cle, noun, something that obstructs or hinders progress.

We all run into them.  Big and small.  They try to stop us from doing what we want to do; from going where we want to go.

How we handle obstacles says a lot about who we are.  For some, they're a reason to quit, a convenient excuse.  For others, they're simply something to be gone over, under, around or through.

Any way you can.

Those of you who have been with me for a few months know we have a new family member, a little Jack Russell terrier named Sophie.  Sophie has her own way of dealing with obstacles.

 

Sophie loves to go on long walks.  Perhaps that's not the correct phrase since these outings involve a lot more stopping and sniffing than actual walking, but you know what I mean.  Sophie spends a considerable amount of time checking the canine message boards located on most trees, sign posts, and fire hydrants, and leaving her replies.  Rather like reading a blog and leaving a comment.

 

But Sophie has a small problem.  She's...well...small.

 

A number of the messages she wants to respond to have obviously been posted by much taller dogs.  These message boards seem to be a couple feet off the ground, where as Sophie's...um...message generator is only at about six inches.  

 

A lesser dog might be discouraged or even limit herself to responding to messages on the lower boards.

 

Not Sophie.

 

When confronted with this small issue of height, Sophie turns into:

Acrobat Dog!

She simply executes a perfect handstand on her front paws and holds it until her message is sent.  And then we move on.

Although not perfectly clear in these pictures, I assure you Sophie does not cheat by bracing one rear foot against the tree, post, hydrant, etc.  She stands there perfectly balanced as long as she needs to.

I'd like to say I handle all the obstacles that come into my life with such style and grace, but it just wouldn't be true.

I've never been able to do a handstand either.

How about you?  How do you handle life's little obstacles?

Have a great weekend.

Groaner of the Day: (it's a visual)

Think about it.

  

Happy Hump Day Special - Heeeere's Sophy!

Happy Hump Day.  How ever did you get over the mid-week hump without me these last couple months? 

Since I usually devote my Hump Day post to pictures selected to give you a smile, I'm going to combine that with my important introduction.  I'd like you to meet Sophie.

Sophie came to us from our county animal shelter.  She's approximately six years old but she entered the shelter as a stray so we have no history for her.  She's very friendly with people but not so much with animals.  Gets pretty nervous with other dogs. 

She's also terrified of thunder and lightning.  Something I discovered the first night we had a storm and I woke up to find her sitting on my head.

She's a lady of discriminating taste.  I knew the first day when she checked out every sleeping spot in the house and selected the bed with the Boston Red Sox blanket.  Sophie's a SOX FAN!  That's my girl.

She also claimed the hot tub in the back yard as her special perch.  Not only can she survey her entire domain but the top is nice and warm on a chilly day.

But her biggest claim to fame is her skill as a great white hunter:

I know it's up there, Mom.  I chased it myself. 

Maybe it went around this side.

Well, I'm just going to sit here and wait until it comes down.

Sigh.  I guess I lost it.  What?  Why are you laughing?

Did I miss something?

What raccoon? Where?

That's my girl.  What do you think of her?

Groaner of the Day:  A man walks into a coffee shop, and is given a huge mug which he takes to his table. But when he tries to drink it, he find that instead of coffee, the mug contains a pair of beige cotton trousers. So he goes to complain.

The counter staff are not very helpful, so after arguing with them for some time, he eventually gets them to call the shop manager. The manager is very indignant - "But it's exactly what you asked for", he says.

"No it isn't!" says the customer, "how can this possibly be what I ordered?"

"It's a cup o' chinos", says the manager.