the commuter

With everyone off to sleepaway camp and potentially long, lonely days at home for doggie,  I decided to take Zuzu to work with me in New York City for a few days.

the passenger

Getting a doggie out of the house is certainly simpler than getting kids out of the door with all of their homework assignments, lunches, instruments and everything else we forget on a daily basis.  Zuzu's gear includes food, leash, poop bags, chew toy, and water.  But most awkwardly, doggies have to be in carrying cases on New Jersey Transit.  Zuzu is used to being on a lap, or at least next to one, if any of her humans are available and seated.  She did NOT like being cooped up in her Sherpa.  As plush as the accommodations were, with a panoramic screen view on 3 sides, a cushy floor, and a treat ball,  she fidgeted, clawed,  and tried to scratch her way out of the bag.  The train ride never seemed so long - even for New Jersey Transit.

obstacle course

Once in the city we popped Zuzu out of her bag and she was ready for action.  The first day we decided to take 6th Avenue uptown and walk 13 blocks to my office.  At 9am, rush hour Midtown Manhattan isn't really looking down for a little white French bulldog.  Occasionally, she'd get a giggle or a squeal from a Swedish tourist, but as we navigated the crowds she was largely invisible.   At each stop light, the crowd would thicken on both sides of the street while people waited for a walk signal, so that they could then stampede toward each other on their way to the next corner.  

Whenever we stopped, Zuzu would try to push forward through the sea of naked calves to make her way to the front.  My big fear was that someone would trip over her leash in the middle of the street, but thankfully, that never happened.  At one particularly long stop light, while we waited in the crowd, Zuzu stretched her neck out and began to LICK the woman's calf in front of her.  I certainly didn't see that one coming! Luckily, the woman laughed.

Other than trying to extract salt from human legs,  Zuzu attempted to eat as much garbage as she could find.  And NYC is full of it.  Just about every curb has it's share.

some more than others...

It was quite a relief to get to my office! 

nap time

As soon as Zuzu got to my office and made her rounds of hello sniffs, snorts and licks she lay down on the floor and slept.  

As long as I was at my desk she was asleep at my feet.  When I had a meeting, suddenly Zuzu had a meeting too.  And if I went to the bathroom, guess who came with me?

walkies

Zuzu likes to do her business on grass and if you've been, you know New York City isn't famous for it's grassy knolls.  On my block there are a series of 3 raised "planters" filled with mulch for trees that "grow" in the center.   Until that day I mostly ignored or jumped over them, like everybody else.  Suddenly they were potentially quite valuable litter boxes.   I plopped her on top of one of them and told her "pee pees". 

After much sniffing, no action.  This cement box of mulch was far from the real thing and clearly offended Zuzu's sensibilities.  Luckily, I work near Bryant Park - the crown jewel of Midtown. 

It may not have a dog run, but Zuzu immediately sensed the park's Parisian flair and and made herself right at home behind a planter.

Employee of the Month

Zuzu was a little superstar in the office.  She is such silly little girl. She spent a lot of time sitting at people's feet and staring at them until they put her on their laps. Suckers.  Winnie, our assistant editor, took this portrait of her at lunch.

home again home again

At the end of the day Zuzu's daddy and I met and walked her back to the train station.  It had been a long day and she was happy to see a familiar face in the crowd. 

Zuzu really seemed to enjoy the fast pace of NYC and the working life.  Mostly she liked all of the laps to choose from.  If it wasn't such adventure getting her to and fro,  I might bring her more often.  Life is definitely better with doggies - all day long.