This entry was posted on 1/4/2007 6:03 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
Hi Princess,
Your Christmas visit was delightful, but much too short. I miss having you around already. You asked what's going on around here — well, things are getting back to normal (what ever that is) now that the holidays are over. Darwin is talking my ear off, as usual. Mannique is complaining that she has nothing to wear that goes with the fresh-water pearl earrings I gave her for Christmas. And Bonsai? Well he's very excited about being challenged to his FIRST on-line Chess game. Now that's a story in itself...
Bonsai's Tale - K-9 Chess
Part 1: Bonsai Buys a Book
I have known for a long while that Bonsai is smarter than the average Toy Poodle. Unlike any dog of my acquaintance, Bonsai takes an interest in the physical nature of his environment. I have watched him place his rubber ball on the second story landing, then carefully nudge it forward by fractions of an inch until at last it rolls over the edge. By carefully studying the effect of gravity on his thus liberated ball, he has perfected the timing required to lunge forward and snatch it an instant before landing on the step below.
On our walks, when all the other dogs have their noses to the ground sniffing every bush, every blade of grass, I have seen Bonsai searching the sky for the location of honking Canada Geese. He would watch them approach, then turn his head to follow them as they gracefully disappeared over the tree tops. I often wonder if he actually imagines what it might be like to fly.
As bright as his little K-9 brain is, I never expected Bonsai to develop an interest in Chess. All of those hours that he lay on my lap while I worked on my computer, I assumed he was sleeping. It appears that instead, he had one eye open studying my key strokes, memorizing my log-in sequences, watching me purchase books, chat with friends, and play on-line Chess. It never occurred to me that he might actually want to play Chess himself, let alone have the ability.
My first clue was finding a chewed open UPS box on the kitchen floor, upon arriving home after work. His dog walker had obviously brought it in when she made her lunch time visit. Packing material was scattered all around and the box was empty, except for a shipping memo containing one line item:
Qty: 1 Book title: "Don't Bite the Bishop - Chess for Dogs" Price: $5.95 Paid by: CreditCard
Paid by CreditCard! My CreditCard? I didn't order this book, so WHO DID?!?
I found Bonsai in the family room, my chess set pulled off the coffee table onto the floor, and the new book opened to:
Chapter 1 - Chess Pieces Are Not Biscuits
All of the pieces were properly arranged on the board. Bonsai had already made the first move from the White side. He looked up as I entered the room, cocked his head to one side, lowered his gaze to the board and looked back up at me. By his expression alone he said, "It's your move, Dad."
Love you,
Grandpa
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Copyright 2007 PSAI Publications. All rights reserved.
