Julie Zickefoose on Blogspot: Chet Baker: Now We Are Seven!

Julie in the Flesh

-->

Thurs. Feb. 27, 2020, 7 PM: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at Mt. St. Joseph University Theater, 5701 Delhi Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45233. Doors open 6:30 pm. For info call Colleen McSwiggin (513) 244-4864

Mar. 11-15, 2020: Bird Friendly Backyard workshop and Saving Jemima talk at Joint Conference, N. Am. Bluebird Society/Bluebirds Across Nebraska, Holiday Inn Convention Center, Kearney, NE. Right in the middle of sandhill crane migration! Call (308) 237-5971 for reservations.

Mon. Mar. 23, 2020, 6 PM: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at Morgan Co. Master Gardeners Event, Twin City Opera House, 15 W. Main St., McConnelsville, OH. Free and open to the public. Call (740) 962-4854 for information.

Sun. Mar. 29, 2020, 3 PM: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at Sunday With Friends,, Washington Co. Public Library, 205 Oak Hill St. NE, Abingdon, VA 24210. For more information, call (276) 676-6390

Apr. 30-May 2, 2020: Julie Zickefoose at New River Birding Festival, Opossum Creek Retreat, Fayetteville, WV. Friday night keynote: Saving Jemima. Curtis Loew, miracle curdoggie, presiding.

May 7, 2020, 7 pm: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at Campus Martius Museum, Washington and Third Streets, Marietta, OH. Booksigning after. If you missed the Esbenshade lecture/ People's Bank talk in November 2019, this is your event!

Weds. May 13 2020, 5:30 PM: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center's event at Essex Meadows, 30 Bokum Rd., Essex, CT 06426 This event is open to the public.

Thurs. May 14 2020, 6 PM: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at New Haven Bird Club's Annual Banquet, Amarante's Restaurant, 62 Cove St., New Haven, CT 06512. This event is open to the public!

Sat. May 16, 2020: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" for Bergen Co. Audubon Society at Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plz, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 Time to be announced. Call (201) 460-1700 for more info.

Sun. May 17, 2020, 2 PM: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at White Memorial Conservation Center, 80 Whitehall Rd., Litchfield, CT 06759. Call (860) 567-0857 for information.

Tues. May 19, 2020, 7 PM: Good Reads on Earth Author Series, by PRI's Living On Earth with Julie Zickefoose and Saving Jemima at Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln MA 01773. Includes audience participation, and will be taped for airing on public radio! Get the book first, read up and call (781) 259-2200 for information.

Thurs. May 21, 2020 6 pm: Julie Zickefoose, "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at Bigelow Chapel, Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mt. Auburn St. Cambridge MA 02138. Call (617) 547-7105 for more info.

Chet Baker turns seven today. I can think of no better birthday present for his fans than this video of him in action.

I am the person whose right big toe appears in the lower left frame. Who is trying to laugh, snort and wheeze quietly behind the camera, and mostly failing. Phoebe is the fluffer, providing His Chetness with just enough help to keep him hoping he will get a bikkit in the end. I've probably watched this video a dozen times (it has 16 views on YouTube so far!) but I still laugh until I cry. Biased? Sure. But he's a funny dog.

This is the distilled essence of The Bacon: knowing, ornery, vocal, and supremely expressive. Frustrated with his lack of opposable thumbs, but fully capable, with those amazing eyes and that rough voice, of enlisting the help he needs to get what he wants. Watch it to the end. The Bacon gets his bikkit, and then some.

Happy birthday, Chet Baker. You are the sunshine of our lives, court jester and kiss dispenser supreme. I promise we will have your birfday party just as soon as I get back from Columbus.

If you're into radio and live video streaming, I'll appear on WOSU's All Sides with Ann Fisher (squee!) at 11 AM today, Monday, December 12. Listen here. I know. What am I doing taking a gig on Chet Baker's birthday? It oughta be a national holiday. And tonight at 7:30, I'll speak to the Columbus Natural History Society. You can find out more here.

Party when I get home, Bacon. I promise. You can open the package from the Virginia Chapter of the Chet Baker Fan Club. And I got you more bikkits. (Trader Joe's Sweet Potato and Turkeh).

22 comments:

Really, ladies, don't you have better things to do than torment your faithful hound??

That was fantastic. So funny.

Posted by Connie December 12, 2011 at 6:18 AM

LOL! Happy birthday, Chet Baker! Laughed so hard at his reactions after Phoebe loosened the lid the first time! :D

Posted by MarilynT December 12, 2011 at 6:19 AM

Oh the wicked things you ladies do when Daddeh is not there to stop you... Chet Baker abuse!
What a treat to hear CB murph, talk, and growl. His wiener cousin Snitzi Lynne (all dogs are cousins, right?) watched with fascination.
Thanks for sharing him with us. Happy happy birthday, Chet Baker. Loved those peeks at your turd-tail.
miss weezie in Texas

Posted by Anonymous December 12, 2011 at 6:27 AM

Talking is the word. Expressiveness, thy name is Baker. He is so fed up with us.

Posted by Julie Zickefoose December 12, 2011 at 6:29 AM

Happy Birthday, Chet! Julie, you are blessed with a wonderful puppeh! Thanks for charing the Chet-ness with us. More videos!

Posted by Linda Navroth December 12, 2011 at 9:10 AM

To the victor go the bikkits.

C.B.s mether is a cruel and unusual person.

When you get up one day and find the kitchen destroyed, just remember the Great Bikkit Tease.

Happy Birthday Chet. Us Canadians wouldn't tease you like that and we have 7 squirrels in the yard that need attention.

Posted by Rondeau Ric December 12, 2011 at 9:52 AM

Chet wins!
What a dog talker he is.

Happy birthday doggeh.

(Wow! Your floor is so clean!)

Posted by R.Powers December 12, 2011 at 12:16 PM

Happy Birthday, Chet! I'm more convinced than ever that you are part human.

Even though you you got the bikkit in the end, if I were Mether and Phoebe, I'd sleep with one eye open tonight!

Posted by Cindy Biles December 12, 2011 at 12:46 PM

Happy Birthday, Chet! Bugs and I watched your movie together and every time you barked, Bugs barked back. Then he sat there and twisted his head back and forth trying to figure out how to help you open the bikket bucket. And yes, I did laugh, out loud, when you trotted out of the room with all the bikkits.

Posted by Kimb December 12, 2011 at 1:57 PM

I cracked me up to hear you snort laughing Julie, but I went over the edge cackling when Chet grabbed the jar and ran!
Happy birthday Chet!

Posted by Lynne at Hasty Brook December 12, 2011 at 3:51 PM

We loved this! Long time followers of Chet Baker and your awesome blog. Happy birthday Chet Baker! You are a magnificent doggy!

Posted by Georgia December 12, 2011 at 3:56 PM

Happy Birthday Chet from our Fenway Underfoot Woodard - he's watching to see the secret to getting the whole jar of biscuits!!!! :-) Bostons are the BEST!

Posted by Anonymous December 12, 2011 at 4:18 PM

Our brand new Chessie puppy jumped up in my lap to watch the video, and focussed on every second, cocking her head at Chet's snorts and growls. When it was over, she climbed down and tinkled on the rug in protest over the way His Baconess was treated. Happy Birthday Chet Baker from her friends in Florida, Summer the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and Lucy the Doberman.

Posted by Island Rider December 12, 2011 at 4:47 PM

Your voices (including cricket) and laughter are so contagious! Chet Baker speaks! I have tears in my eyes and Chet did what Bostons do, kick it around for a while and run off with the prize!

Wish him a happeh Birthday from Bella's Mom!

xoxo
Mare

Posted by Mary December 12, 2011 at 5:54 PM

Happy Birthday Chet Baker! I think they are teasing you much to much! Izzy responds to TREATIE! So funny and don't forget the bacon!

Posted by Jean December 13, 2011 at 2:36 AM

Smart puppeh, Chet Baker! You tried SO hard while your people just sat there! And I laughed very gleefully when you showed them! Just take that "brass ring" and make a run for it! Happy Birthday, dear soul.

Posted by Mollie December 13, 2011 at 1:59 PM

That's quite a voice Chet has! No doubt of what he's trying to say, in no uncertain terms. Loved it!
Stefanie

Posted by cowango December 13, 2011 at 5:26 PM