[Dailydrool] Our Elsinore and young Charlie host a big party

[Elizabeth Lindsey]

The description of Truman humping Roland every time he gets excited  
about guests coming over reminds me of our Elsinore. She knows  
exactly where she stands in the pack, and for a while it was  
important to her that outsiders understand and recognize her  
position. A few years ago, when young Charlie was still relatively  
new to us, it was my turn to host the women writers group I'm in.  
They were all hanging out in the kitchen admiring the hounds and  
drinking wine when Elsinore suddenly jumped Charlie in the middle of  
the group and humped him for a few seconds with determined emphasis.  
Then she hopped off, swept her gaze across her dumbfounded audience  
as if to say, "Got that?", and strode off. Most of her audience  
aren't dog people, so they were really thrown by a female humping a  
male. I'm not sure they bought my explanation about Elsinore wanting  
them to be clear about her outranking Charlie and all the privileges  
that come with that ranking. To them, I'm afraid it just looked as if  
Elsinore were either confused or a nymphomaniac.

Fortunately she didn't do any humping (at least that I could see)  
last weekend when we had Ken's congregation over for our annual open  
house. Oh, how I hate these things! They involve a tremendous amount  
of work for me in the form of careful cleaning to ward off potential  
criticism ("Look Mildred, the Minister's Wife doesn't dust the top of  
her oven hood, and it looks as if her curtains haven't been washed or  
ironed in years." "They just don't make Minister's Wives the way they  
used to, Myrtle.") and cooking a noontime meal for up to 100 people.  
I don't even cook for myself most days! This event always stresses me  
out a lot, and I'm so glad it's all over with for another year.

But it did go well this year, and I'm guessing about 70 people come  
through. Elsinore spent the party methodically working her way from  
one guest to the next, nudging for pats and giving them unblinking,  
penetrating stares designed to compel them into giving her whatever  
was on their plates. I put a sign on the table by the platter of  
brownies asking people not to feed the bassets, and I think everyone  
honored that request, though there were a few children who dropped  
crumbs the bassets were happy to clean up for them.

Toward the end of the party, Elsinore happily showed off a few of her  
dance moves and got lots of applause. I could tell she was quite  
pleased by the response. But then, as she's told various pet  
communicators, she's a very good dancer. Such healthy self-esteem she  
has! Charlie didn't want to be left out, so he showed everyone how he  
can roll over and over without even being asked. I love the way he  
looks so earnest when he rolls over, as if it's an action that should  
be taken very seriously.

Charlie was surprisingly wound up at the start of the party this  
year. He wasn't this overexcited any of the previous years, and for  
awhile I thought I might have to crate him until he could collect  
himself. I think what happened was that two young boys (maybe age 7  
or 8?) were among the first to arrive, and I'm positive Charlie  
remembers having a little boy of his own, Andrew, when he was with  
his first family. The two times Charlie and Andrew got to see each  
other not long after we took over Charlie's care, it was clear that  
they both really loved each other. Thank goodness it wasn't a case of  
Andrew mistreating Charlie and causing Charlie to hate all little  
boys forevermore. In fact, just the opposite happened--Charlie had  
such a good experience with a little boy that now he loves them all.

Unfortunately, one of the little boys said he's afraid of dogs, and  
neither boy paid any attention to Charlie, which made me feel badly  
for him. But he got over it and within half an hour had calmed down  
enough to be a delightful host. About half way through the party,  
Charlie became so calm that he went to sleep on his back, all five in  
the sky, in the middle of the kitchen floor while surrounded by four  
tall men with very large feet. That's called living dangerously. The  
men were aware of Charlie, though, and careful not to step on him.  
They thought he looked cute, which, of course, he did.

After everyone left, Elsinore was revved up for hours, ready to keep  
on entertaining until the wee hours of the morning. She's 8 or 9, and  
you'd think she'd be slowing down a bit now, but she retains the  
intensity and energy level of a terrier. It's almost impossible to  
wear her out. Charlie, on the other hand, acted as exhausted as his  
two humans felt. He ate dinner and fell into a deep sleep for the  
rest of the night. I think both hounds would like to entertain every  
day, but I'm just as glad to keep it to once a year. Especially if  
such housecleaning and cooking are involved. Oh to be able to afford  
a cleaner and catering services!

Elizabeth