A Jack Russell Terrier recently moved into the neighborhood, and he seems to be intent on popping my pretensions and puncturing my pomposity.  When I start to tell the other dogs about the opera I saw the other night on PBS, he rolls his eyes and mocks me mercilessly.  His name is Eddie no less, and he claims to be a descendant of Moose, the dog that played Eddie on Frasier, the long running comedy series. Eddie claims that I'm a female incarnation of Frasier's personality, and that he is here to be my foil, a Moriarty to my Holmes.  I've never heard of a dog who's sole purpose was to be a nemesis to another dog's hubris.  I'd always suspected that Jack Russells' had serious personality disorders, my study of the psychology of dog breeds intimated as much.  I am well known in my subdivision as an artistically inclined, highbrow intellectual dog with fine tastes and a high opinion of myself.  I prefer to call myself " lovably pompous" and believe I am just being true to my nature as a sapiential French Poodle.  If I happen to be an epicure and a bit verbose, I believe that that just adds to my charm.  At least I always thought so, before Eddie came to town.

     I'm going to take it a day at a time, as I learn to deal with this new challenge to my arrogance.  Perhaps Eddie has arrived in my life to serve some higher purpose, and to make me a better dog, a wiser canine.  My Freudian training informs me that each challenge to my ego serves a higher purpose, so I'll attempt to meet this "Eddie" halfway.  I was going to spend the day playing tennis with the family, then joining them as they host a wine tasting, followed by a little Pavarotti as I catch up on my Shakespeare.  I'll ask Eddie to meet me down by the pond for a few bites of grass and a drink of pond water this afternoon.  I'll see if I can establish my "street cred" with him.  We'll see how it goes.  By the way, does anyone know if Jack Russells can swim?......................... (Sorry, must be all of that Shakespeare I've been reading.)

Buffy, Proudly Pompous Pup