Tux's Tale

by Fatso Escamilla (aka "Tux")

Tux actually belongs to the neighbors across the street. We met him a few months after moving into our house when he followed us home from a walk around the neighborhood. Not knowing his name, we called him "Tux" for his black and white coloring. By the time we learned that his real name is "Fatso," we were so accustomed to calling him "Tux" (and Tux himself would respond to it) that we've kept on calling him that! Of course, we have toyed with the idea of calling him Linux, to fit in better with our pets and because of the penguin mascot...

Tux is an Australian Shepherd (an unusually large one at that) and exhibits the friendliness and intelligence associated with the breed. And yes, he does herd people at times. He's got more personality than a webpage could hold, so here is just a short vignette of life through the eyes of this special guy.

Here's a picture of me with one of my favorite humans in the world, Toli. We make a good pair - Toli has wanted a dog since he was a boy, and the boy that owns me eventually grew up and left home. Of course, my owner will always be number one in my heart, but it is nice to know that Toli will be a kid forever.

Toli's wife Christine says that the reason we get along so well is because we both smell funny. I think there must be something wrong with her nose because I think we both smell just fine! But just to appease her, Toli and I take a bath once a year when the weather is warm outside. It's lots of fun!

Thank goodness the weather gets cold now and then or else I'd have to bathe more often!

But seriously, winter is a great time for me because I can really make use of this great fur coat. Once in a long while, it even snows here, and Toli will stay warm inside while I patrol the grounds.

Of course, my services don't come cheap, you know. I charge full price, and I only take edible currency. Mmm...I'll eat just about anything! (Which really comes in handy when Christine has her occasional culinary disaster.)

I also love wintertime because every Christmas, my owners have a tamalada, and they invite Christine and Toli over to make tamales. I get to eat and spend time with both my family and Toli's family all at once. And let me tell you - those tamales are great!

Sometimes I get lucky, and Christine and Toli will take me for a ride in their truck when they go to Amy's Ice Cream. Here's a picture we all took together in the cramped photo booth there. Unfortunately, my black fur made the photo come out a little too dark. Guess we'll have to go back to retake the picture and eat more ice cream!

Of course, my life isn't all about food. I have a very active life - walking and jogging with all the people in the neighborhood (not just Toli), testing the water depth of the local creeks, and chasing deer out of the yard. And just because I haven't caught one yet doesn't mean that I've given up on it, plus... wait... sniff! Is that Greek food I smell? Sorry to cut this short, but I gotta go!

© 1995-2012 Apostolos & Christine Lerios