Beagle Advent Calendar!

At work I have this ongoing web search on international groups that love Beagles. Pictures of people with their Beagles in Asia, Beagles on mountains, Beagles living in Hong Kong high rises - I love it. Of all the countires out there who have Beagles, the Germans and Japanese never disapoint! I like to think about possible Beagle names for fun. It is the kind of activity that would fall under the "how to start conversations about Beagles" category. In Germany, one special owner of Old Copperbeech's Amy (that is the Beagle's name) has a long list of Beagle names to consider. I think that they are more "hound" names, but it is a pretty extensive list if one needed ideas.

But then there is the Beagle Advent Calendar...I found this last year and bookmarked it on my work computer only to re-discover it in December. I am fascinated by the work that went into this and the dedicated photoshopping of the Beagles to make them look like they are very into Christmas. Maybe they are, maybe they are not, hard to tell. Regardless, I am very happy to share this advent calendar as I am sure it could not possibly get the exposure that it needs in the United States, especially since it is in German. I note some interesting recipes for dog cookies.

Crap. Now I have to go to work.

Taking a break from all the attention. 

Check my Harley Davidson sweatshirt! 

When puppies pass out... 

Roman Beagles: Do they exist?

While traveling for work in Rome and Geneva recently, I noted that there is a really strange freedom of dogs in Europe. They are in stores and restaurants. It is surprising to me. If you are shopping for clothes with your dog and you want to try things on, the dog goes into the dressing room with you and watches as you slither into some jeans. But what do store managers think of this? Dogs in the dressing room? Dogs sitting on the discarded clothing? In a Zara store in Geneva, there was a woman cruising around in a full-length fur with a 10 pound dog trailing along behind her. Bold in some ways, but maybe it was the huge fur that she was sporting in 55 degree weather. I could only imagine the boredom that a Beagle would experience in such a place. Anyway, there don't seem to be any Beagles in Rome or Geneva, there were more in the airport. Note: Do NOT try to take pictures of the Homeland Security Beagles (Beagle Brigade) when they are working. It is not ok I have recently learned. I had to try this out in front of my boss, too. I think that he thought it was funny. Although I was on constant lookout for Beagles in Rome, there were only the occasional cat. Cats on ruins, cats on cars. Cats in churches, cats in bars.

Halloween on the Hill

May I say that Capitol Hill has an awesome, impressive and involved Halloween party in the streets for kids? We went out for a walk to take in the scene and it was so much fun. The kids were really dressed up and the adults had gone all out on the decorations for houses. There were many re-creations of graveyards and spiderwebs that scaled 3 stories of the house. And the weather was divine, which helped bring out tons of people.
In Beagle-related news, the last puppy, currently known as Leroy, remains on the family farm. His sisters have been given away to two young guys that like to hunt bunnies. I suppose Hans and Silka are fine with that, as it is their major passtime as well.
I declared over dinner on the outdoor patio of Banana Cafe (possibly the last night of the year where we will be able to dine outside) that I would want to take Beagles trick or treating for Halloween someday. I think that would actually be acceptable on the Hill. These people love their dogs. And there were a lot of dresses up puppies out for Halloween.

How to start a conversation about Beagles

Sometimes, when there is a pause in the conversation or I am bored or I have just spotted a Beagle, I like to bring up Beagles. A little pushy, I know, but there are many questions to be pondered about Beagles. I have been accused of trying to work the word "Beagle" into every sentence, but you know you couldn't get away with that at the office, even if you worked for the Federal Government with all the other crazies.

Here are some thought provoking Beagle questions to throw out at your next Thanksgiving dinner or to defuse a tense situation between international negotiators of a Free Trade Agreement.

1. Who is your favorite historical Beagle? (one of my favorites)
2. Who has been the most influential Beagle of the 20th century?
3. If Beagles could speak in English, would they have an accent like Triumph the Insult Comic Dog? Sort of Eastern European, but not as nasty?
4. If Beagles are truly democratic, how would they vote in this year's election? Additionally, is their voting record as a group unrecognized due to the interest groups (rabbit habitat conservation, Planned Whelping) they support?
5. Name 4 Beagle inventions. (this one takes some creative thinking)
6. Which of my Beagle stories have you heard the fewest times?

This last question is especially useful, as it opens up the conversation to long, meandering discourses on various family Beagles' hunting abilities and their drinking problems, not that they would ever drink and hunt. We did have one hunting accident in the family, but it did not involve drunk dogs shooting people. The scenario of a dog actually shooting the owner probably proves that guns do kill people, and not just people kill people, as dogs can now kill people, too.

But where is this really going? Family, Beagles, drinking, guns...that would bring us to yet another Beagle-related question, Beagles: liberals or conservatives?

Please, God, please let the elections be over soon so that Washington can return to normal. It is affecting my brain. Thanks.