Mischievous Maisy ~ Labor Day Weekend

Summer is coming to a close, kids are going back to school, the U.S. Open is in full swing and the Hughes family is entertaining once again in Bishopsville, Maryland. The whole family came down for yet another sun filled long weekend at the beach. I forgot to mention about the two dogs that love visiting their grandparents, Clarence & Maisy.

Well you all know about Maisy, my soon to be 3 y.o. female boxer, who lightens up everyone's day. And Clarence, a 12 y.o. Yellow Labradoodle, who is the first offspring of her generation. He was born from a standard white poodle and a yellow lab. Clarence & Maisy are cousins through marriage, they are friends as well, though they never shy away from each others food bowls, which was really evident this weekend.

"Clarence" Bickart-Hughes

Clarence's owners had forgotten his food back in NJ, so I offered to give Clarence, Maisy's food. It was evident that Clarence was hungry, with bowls left for Clarence's arrival, both were spotless from the tongues of Maisy and Clarence.

We found out that dogs have their own way of thinking and getting a leg up on their owners. Clarence was held up in his room, because he needed a time out from an extended period of barking. Maisy had felt alone, no one to play with, so what does she do....she goes and lets Clarence out of the bedroom.  Everyone sitting in the sun porch was completely shocked, trying to figure out how Maisy and Clarence came to be together again. So, it was basically elementary, Maisy, stood up on her hind legs and maneuvered the door handle and pushing the door at the same time.  This is one side of Maisy, we have never seen.

"Maisy" Bennett



We all know Maisy to be a Salty Dog as mentioned in one of the first blog posts, she just loves the being on the water, no matter how fast or slow we are going on the boat. This was Maisy's first boat ride, we were headed to get more gas, but in Maisy's mind, this was paradise.  So yesterday, we set out for another happy hour boat ride towards O.C., Md., and as most of the passengers were on the boat, my wife, Shannon and her best friend Kerstin, ( "Kdog" ) were walking on the dock towards the boat, when all of sudden, Maisy came running down the dock like a bat outta hell. No one knew how she got out of the house, but we had an inkling that her door opening skills moved on to bigger and better things. That was a glass sliding door. Maisy had used her paws mid door to slide it to the left, and without hesitation she was free.

Maisy is a much smarter Boxer then she appears, she takes command very well, but when there are other dog toys in the park, coming home, can get somewhat difficult. 

Maisy& David





WHERE HAS MAISY BEEN?

We're Back!!!

To all my readers, I am sorry we've been out of touch during the past year and a half. Late last year, I was hired as the new F&B Manager at The Algonquin Hotel, NYC, but unfortunately, like most companies, they were taken over by Marriott.  Which led to the removal of the executive committee and its management team this past summer.

Maisy will be turning 4 years old this coming January, but she is still a hyper pup that all boxer owners enjoy.  As you can see from the image above, she has had some issues with her left ear, whereas the blood vessels seemed to have collected at the tip and every time she shakes her head the wound cracks, which results in blood spatter.  At one point, our apt. looked like a crime scene from an episode of CSI.  She was on meds including steroids, which made her drink plenty of water, which of course leads to many trips outside.    She has healed tremendously, and she never seemed to be discouraged by her ailment.

Since I had some time off this summer, my wife Shannon and I were able to take a few small trips to the shores of Maryland and spending a much needed week at a rental in Montauk, NY.  Maisy used to come with us to Maryland, but after a few minor incidents, she spends her time away at Woofs & Whiskers in Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY

We are now in the throngs of the holiday season, with Thanksgiving now behind us, we are all focussing on Christmas. Which means loads of tourists, gridlock alerts, unwanted catalogs in the mailboxes and of course looking for that last minute gift.  The only present I want from Santa this year of course is a new job, having interviewed for numerous hotels and restaurants, someone is bound to have a kind heart and allow me to take the helm and become a top notch F&B Manager in our beloved city.

More news to come soon, again sorry for the delay and thank you for reading dumbobarks.

Maisy & David





D.U.M.B.O.'S BICYCLE GRAVEYARDS

~May Your Two Wheels Rest In Peace~

(But Please, Unlock Your Bikes & Throw Them Away)

 

Like Amsterdam, China, Portland Or., Seattle Wash., and now New York City, Bicycles are becoming the primary mode of transportation for many enthusiasts and commuters on any given day. Entrepreneurs are using Rickshaws to pedal tourists around the busy Manhattan streets, which has become a nuisance for motorists and pedestrians alike. With the increasing prices of the NYC Subway System, these commuters are flocking to the streets, some of which are not obeying the laws, i.e., riding down one way streets, not stopping at STOP signs, plus not wearing the protective headgear.

With the ever growing bike population comes the unwanted bikes that are stroon on light poles and traffic signs. These bikes then become vandalized for their parts, wheels, pedals, seats, etc...Bikes that were once popular in the 70's and 80's are not becoming their own tombstones along many city streets. They are left on the street, so they can defend for themselves or like stray dogs or cats. Several years ago, there was a small campaign in NYC, to have these as you will, stray bikes tagged with a neon orange ribbon. This indicated that the bikes were to be removed by a city agency, by any means necessary. Bikes that have been locked and left unattended have been destroyed by bending the wheels, urinated on by dogs and simply rusted to a point where no one in their right mind would ever want to save the two-wheeled machines.

Here in D.U.M.B.O., most commuters travel by bike from Manhattan, and other neighborhoods in Brooklyn, I know, because they pedal right down my block going against traffic, like they own the roads. In the image above, a bike rests in between the bike rack, it has been here for roughly two years. There is nothing left but the upper frame, handlebars and small rack above the back rim. The bike to its right has missing pedals, missing seat and no chain. These bikes are located on John st., between Bridge and Jay st.s, parallel to the Con Ed plant and the East River. The owners of these bikes probably through up their arms and gave up. So may these two bikes R.I.P.

Here we have a small armada of Mountain Bikes, all are fairly new, though the red and white bike has two flat tires, and its seat is missing. ( who puts a kickstand on a mountain bike? ) This bike rack is straddled between the B.Q.E. and York St. If the owner did ever come back, it could definitely be refurbished and given to a local charity where a young youth could learn how to ride its first bike. Please bow your heads and may this Mountain Bike, R.I.P.

By now, thousands upon thousands of NY'ers and tourists alike have rode on one of the new Citibikes. They have already estimated that the distance rode within the first week has reached the moon and back. That is simply amazing!!! On the first day of installation, while workers were storing these bikes, a brazen woman took one and rode off into the sunset. There have been many glitches in the system, but they have all been rectified. Bicycle retailers may be feeling the pinch in their sales, but it may also be a Godsend. More and more folks are riding bikes these days, to get in shape and to enjoy neighborhoods that they didn't know existed.

 

In this photo, on one of the hundreds of Citibike docking stations and a lone 10-speed, which has been locked up also for about a year. The back wheel and frame as you can see is bent out of shape. I am guessing the owner gave up as well, either that or lost the key to the bike lock. This bike is locked on Front st., between Gold & Hudson Ave. Let us pray and may this blue bike on two wheels R.I.P.

 

 

 

 

Next we have two cruisers, parked and locked in tandem. Both have severe rust on them, it seems these bikes have seen better days. They may have rode along the boardwalk in Coney Island, or even out on the eastern shores of Long Island, which is suitable for riding to the beaches. This pair of bikes are nestled along a tree-lined street in Vinegar Hill on Gold st., right next to the Damascus Bakery, where they make delicious Pita Bread. May these sibling bikes R.I.P.

 

 

 

 

And lastly, this Kermit the Frog looking bike. The rims are rusted, the seat has been turned backwards and also has two flat tires. Someone probably jokingly turned the seat around for their enjoyment. This little green monster can be found also on Gold st., right next to the bright yellow Buddhist Temple. Maybe it belongs to one of the monks who live their lives in solitude. This bike may have been blessed by the Dalai Lama himself during his recent visit to NYC. We will never know.

 

 

So, if you have a bike, take good care of it. Lock it up thoroughly, so it will not become another statistic or victim of the D.U.M.B.O. Bicycle Graveyard.  Ride on, Brothers & Sisters, Ride On.







Awe Rats!!! - Inflatable Union Rats Invade DUMBO Brooklyn

Within the last couple of weeks, large inflatable rats have appeared outside the Corporate and Real Estate Offices of Two Trees Management, which has a huge claim in the commercial and residential spaces in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

Below are personal photos taken and those taken by "McBrooklyn" with an excerpt from a story regarding how the Union is taking aim at Two Trees Management, as they try to remove harmful levels of Asbestos which is extremely dangerous to humans if inhaled.

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mcbrooklyn

"The Asbestos Rat Comes to DUMBO's Two Trees"

"The inflatable union rat was parked outside Two Trees management Company on Washington Street in DUMBO yesterday to protest Two Trees' use of what the union calls the "dangerous company, New York Insulation" to perform asbestos abatement at 350 Kent Avenue.

According to Laborers International Union of North America Local 78, since 2006 New York Insulation and affiliated company Nick’s Insulation (NYI) have been cited at least 110 times for unsafe asbestos abatement by the NYS Department of Labor and dozens more by DEP.

The union filed a lawsuit against the company for failing to pay workers a prevailing wage and overtime, but the company has denied the claims, according to reports.

Whatever the union's beef, according to New York State, New York Insulation has been "debarred and declared ineligible to submit a bid on or be awarded any public work or public building service contract/sub-contract with the state, any municipal corporation or public body in New York State" until 5/16/2017."

New York Insulation was disqualified as well from doing work NYC School Construction Authority Projects until 5/16/2017.

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Antigua Or Bust - Maisy Style

How Would Maisy Fare, If She Came With Us To Antigua

Maisy had her reservations at Woofs & Whiskers for two weeks from the 10th until the 24th of January. She saw that her dog food and blankets were packed, but didn't realize she would be away for such a long period of time. Her owners, David & Shannon were on their way to Antigua for their long awaited Honeymoon, by sailing the high seas and later on to get pampered at a well - known resort on the south western part of the island. This story will depict what if Maisy joined us on our trip.

Here we are flying American Airlines @ 38,000 feet headed southeast to St. John's, the capital of Antigua. Maisy of course would have to be in the cargo hold, I will NEVER have Maisy be subject to the torture of being enclosed in a crate for four hours, scared beyond her wildest dreams. Once we landed, we had to show our passports at the Customs counter, since dogs do not have any travel documents, she would have to fly back to NYC, or be quarantined on the island and looked after by a vet. We hopped in a cab shared by another couple, they were headed in the same direction as us, but we were headed to the "Nemo Yacht" in the Jolly Harbor Marina.

Once we met our crew, Andrea & Valentina, they handed us a couple of beers called, "Carib", the local brew for the islands. So this was the view we had as we left the harbor, on 

our way to our first location around the island. The waters were a gorgeous turquoise blue, as they surround the entire island. Shannon and I sat in the front of the boat and as we got out into deeper waters, the waves got bigger and a bit more violent.

In the distance this rock formation looked like a perched frog, waited to leap or grab the boat zipping by.

So as we sail east to our first anchorage, we got quite wet from sitting on the trampoline, and we had to crawl back to the back of the boat, where more beers, including, Red Stripes and Coronas were waiting for us. Maisy was in the back of my mind for the entire trip, but how would she manage the swaying back and forth of the large waves? She has actually been on a pontoon boat near OC, Maryland during the summer, so she may have taking this trip fairly well.

The views from the water was outstanding, we could see historical sugar plantations, where there are over 177 of them, back during the days of slavery and afterwards.  We finally reached our first stop, Deep Bay, as we entered the bay, we could see a channel marker which turned out to be a piece of wood that was actually a shipwreck from three hundred years ago.

Once we anchored, Shannon and I jumped into the crystal clear waters and swam to the beach about 50 yards out. Shannon had recently broken the tip of her middle finger, so she was worried that her finger cast would get ruined. The beach was very nice, with only a few tourists soaking in the warm sun, which was setting in the distance. When we got back to the boat, we went back to shore again, this time with the crew and hiked up a small hill, that also served as an old fort and watch our first sunset during our trip.

Here is Valentina & Andrea, not sure who the dog belongs to, but it had recently given birth, plus it was one of the many stays on the island.

The island to the left of the sun is called, "Redonda".

Our first dinner was Mozzarella & Tomatoes, then Gnocchi Pomodoro with Basil, it was outstanding. If Maisy had been on board, she would've had her usual, Iams dry food with pumpkin puree'. I hope she was having fun at the kennel. I know she missed us dearly, but she always has fun there, plus she needed to shed a few pounds.

The next day, we woke up to a light breakfast, we put on our 30 lotion and waited to set sail to our next location around Antigua. During the sail, it rained and rained and rained. It didn't let up until 4pm or so. We got to sail pass the Jumby Bay resort, it was quite nice, but it looked empty, no one was on the beach, plus there view was of industrial region and the airport. We got to hike at another small island, which is also used for day trippers and naturalists alike. The island has many different species of birds, geckos and snakes, once Shannon heard the word "snakes", she immediately didn't want to be there. But we dredged onward up to the top. Luckily we didn't see any snakes.

Maisy would have liked the hike, exploring new trails, chasing birds and running up and down the beach. Now, the next day was a big sail to Barbuda, another island, which has joined forces with Antigua to become one country. Their flag shows a sunset over blue waters and white sands, making it a flag you see every where, buildings, all boats and tourists shops. And yes, I did buy one myself, but its an authentic one, to which you would hoist on your boat to show a sense of community. Barbuda was to be a four hour sail, being excited to get going, I sat in the other chair where the other steering wheel sits. Shannon on the other hand, decided to stay below in bed until we came close to Barbuda, she wasn't feeling so good from the day before. The swells again were very high, and as I gazed northward, I couldn't see the island, hoping we were going in the right direction. As time passed, I could see in the distance the tops of the trees and the white sand beaches that stretches for seven miles. It was a happy site to see, that we would finally reach land once again. It wasn't until almost 12 noon that Shannon showed her head looking refreshed and happy to breathe in the fresh sea air.

The Nemo was swaying back and forth, hence the bad camera angle.

Now Barbuda only has 1500 inhabitants, and 2 hotels, one semi private. We got to swim ashore and walk on the beach. Maisy would have had a hard time swimming, since she doesn't really know how to swim, since she just turned 2 years old. Barbuda is known for it's caves and the largest Frigate Bird Sanctuary in the world. We had a guide take us there the next day, forgetting his name, but he knows almost everyone on the island. We also had a lobster lunch which was delightful, but since they cook everything in butter, well you know what happens later on in the evening. So here are some pictures from our days and nights on Barbuda.

Definitely not Jacques Cousteau

A male Frigate Bird trying to find his mate.

Our tour guide.

The view from atop the cave.

As we got back to the boat to relax, Valentina had chilled a bottle of Rose' Champagne for us, and we got the chance to enjoy the sunset from atop the Nemo with some Hors d'Oeuvres. What a way to end the day with another beautiful sunset. Maisy would have loved to chillax on top of the boat, licking our faces and wanting the cheese and or crackers.  At the end of each evening, Andrea would pull out his homemade Limoncello, man that stuff was awesome!!!  He had made it months before, so it was ripe for the drinking.

For the next couple of days, we set sailed again, and headed back to Antigua. There was going to be more snorkeling, trolling for fish, to which we caught a wahoo and had it for dinner, yum! Our first stop back in Antigua was Green Island, a small island off the coast, where large sailing yachts would also anchor for periods of time. Though we didn't see any boxers, there were several dogs on board the many vessels, especially in Historical English Harbor. Shannon and I got to swim once again, and headed to a small beach to look for shells and sea glass, which is a huge hobby of mine. We saw some enormous yachts with a crew of 8 at least. These are the type of yachts you would see in magazines, and is owned by celebrities are retired hedge fund managers, etc...

Our next stop was English Harbor, a historical dockyard marina that once housed the British Navy back in its hay day. We went to the museum, where they had exhibits of old pottery, clothing and other artifacts. Being that Antigua is of English rule, there was a photograph of a young Prince Charles, and yes I did take a picture of the photo, see below.

For the last two days of our sailing portion of our Honeymoon, we ate like king and queens, snorkeled a large reef, that had a wreck from a sailing vessel that couldn't have been more then 2 years under the water , swam amongst sea turtles, sting rays and other colorful reef fishes. Soaked in the rays, drank the local beer and Andrea's famous Lemoncello. And on the last morning, Shannon and swam to shore once again after breakfast. In the back of my mind, I wondered how was Maisy was doing. She would have loved the serenity of the open ocean, long walks on the beaches and to visualize what a true sunset looked like without the skyscrapers in the way.  For the next five days after, we stayed at the Curtain Bluff Resort, which lies on the south western part of the island. It was time to get pampered!

An early morning rainbow

The Nemo Yacht logo.

After reading my short story of our trip and are interested in chartering Nemo, go to Yatesyachts.com, Sherry Yates was a pleasure to work with, she can help you with any destination and any size yacht.

Sorry Maisy, we really wished you could have joined us on the our trip, but we were happy to see you once we returned.

Maisy VS. The Christmas Tree

A Boxer Christmas

Well this is Maisys 2nd Christmas here in Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn.  I think she gets it now, with all the Xmas trees on the street and her jingle bell collar around her neck. Last year, Santa was very good to her, she got her favorite squeaky toys and a few edible treats as well. 

The downside is that she likes to rip off the ornaments off the tree. My wife Shannon and I thought she may have been over the sneaking around and chewing of the wooden frosty the snowman and the stars with bling on it.  We thought wrong!  We have been out a few times, including during the day and each time, an ornament was broken or chewed in many pieces.  What is the fascination with our ornaments? Does she think they are chew toys, is she bored with her old toys, or maybe she is antsy for new Xmas toys.  And just yesterday I sprayed the apple spice on the limbs and the ornaments that hang on our tree, hoping she wouldn't tear them down. Is there a chemical deterrent to dogs do not take a particular liking to?

As you can see, our tree is not very big this year, a request made by my wife, a 7 ft tree was trimmed to reach just over 5 1/2 ft, 2 of the 3 light strands didn't work, so one is just enough for this year. And most of the ornaments have been placed out of the reach of Maisy. But she still finds a way to grab them with her teeth and tear them apart.  If this keeps up, Maisy will get several lumps of coal in her stocking.

This is what happened when she turned 1 year old last January, it must be nice to get gifts so close to the holidays, do you notice her left ear is up, she heard everything I said  when I took this picture on 1/26/2012.

Happy Holidays & A Happy New Year to all my readers.

Do Our Dogs Appreciate Art, Like We Do? Part II

Well it's August, and you know what that means. An open air Art Gallery in the Brooklyn Bridge Park. We know dogs do not see in color nor do they understand the concept and appreciate art as we do. They come to the park to meet other dogs, fetch balls and take care of business. As dog owners, we look at these pieces of art and imagine what the artist was thinking when they created their works, what inspired them and how do they want spectators to feel when they see what they have created.

This years exhibit, again, is colorful, thought provoking and stimulating for the eye. Without further ado, here are this years contributions. Enjoy!

This is called "We". The top portion resembles jean shorts, legs made out of wood with brown shoes. What you cannot see is that it is a full circle around. In the foreground is the Freedom Tower, the Brooklyn Bridge and a portion of lower Manhattan.

This piece is called "Bread Line". It speaks for itself.

Here we have a large disk propped up sitting underneath the Manhattan Bridge. What you are unable to see are the letters circumventing around. There are letters, "H - C", which is the "Benzene Molecule", which this exhibit is also called from the Periodic Table of Elements, which we all learned in science class.

"Time", this is a sun dial and the paddle like piece faces due north. Not sure if this can actually tell time, but if you stand next to it all day, it may actually work.

"Perpetual Motion", strangely enough, it's a bunch of ping-pong balls attached to one string. The funny thing is, it doesn't move.

This one is called "Muse IV".

And finally, this one is called "Pregnant Queen". As for me, I don't get it, but it's really cool to look at. I think Maisy can crawl through that space.

Hope you enjoyed the newest installments of the open air Art Gallery in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Woof!