NOT NOW, I'M WATCHING MY SOAPS

Aster loved to watch TV. Usually around 1PM when I sit down to have lunch I will turn on the Television while I eat. Aster would sit next to me and watch...for hours if I would let her. I should have realized her "addiction" when one day I walked through the living room, and saw her sitting and starring at the blank screen. The set was off. I was busy with other things, so I said..."no TV today sweetie"... and she looked at me with the greatest disappointment. I went back to the kitchen and went about my work. All of the sudden I heard voices in the living room. I went in and found Aster happily watching "her program"...she had turned the set on herself. From that day on, when I was not home, I had to be sure to leave Aster in a room away from the Television.

A few days later, I was at my veterinarians, and he was telling me with great pride about how his first grandchild had learned to turn on the television when she wanted to watch. You should have seen the bubble burst when I told him..."So can my DOG!"

Aster was especially fond of puppy videos, nature programs, and dog programs. However, she hated "Lassie" . If I was channel surfing and came across an old Lassie rerun, Aster would sit and show her teeth, and growl at the set until I changed the station. She was fine with other dogs in real life... she just hated "Lassie". She also disliked Rodeos. I used to enjoy watching it from time to time, but Aster would get upset and try and change the station. I finally gave up, if she was that upset by Cows and Horses in her living room, I'd rather leave them out.

When Aster and I would travel to dog shows, upon arriving at the hotel, she would walk into the room, climb up on the bed, and wait for me to turn the TV on. The rest of the weekend, she was a happy camper.

Now my husband is a Star Trek fanatic. The Last Voyage, Deep Space nine, you name it he watches it. Saturday evening he will turn space programs on at 6PM and watch till 8. One Saturday he was watching, and during a commercial he started flipping through Channels. When he came to Animal Planet, Aster woke up, sat in front of the set, and got engrossed in the dog program that was on. After a few seconds David switched back to Star Trek. Aster turned and looked over her shoulder with disgust..."I was watching THAT" look. She reached forward with her nose, and flipped the station BACK to Animal Planet. Then she gave David a "see I can do it too" look over her shoulder.

David again switched back to Star Trek...again another disgusted look, and Aster switched back to Animal Planet. One more time David switched back to his show. Aster then gave him "the look", reached up... turned the set OFF, and with a "THERE!"...Walked away..."If we can't watch what I want...we won't watch ANYTHING!"

I couldn't believe it... I swear she knew exactly what she was doing!

Aster taught her kids, Johnny K and Hazel to watch TV also... so far, they haven't figured out how to turn it on and change channels themselves...Thank goodness...

Ch. Acorn Hills Aster, the one I spent hours with in front of the TV with a bowl of POPCORN.

Read About The Author "Mary Louise Owens"

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