Traveling with Dogs: Dogs in Social Media, The Magic of the Welsh(ie), and Rumours

Good morning and welcome to our second edition of “Traveling with Dogs.”  Today’s topics are: Dogs in Social Media, The Magic of the Welsh(ie), And Rumours.”

We are riding along with Birdie the Welshie.  Birdie, it’s so wonderful to have you with us today!  We have some important questions for you.  So, just like our first show, we will transcribe the questions and responses afterwards and make them available for our online audience. A bit of a disclaimer: I am going to really focus in on our guest’s heritage in this particular interview.  This might alienate our guests who aren’t familiar with things Welsh. And a quick shout out to our last guest and Birdie’s Havanese roommate, Comondante Ché Guevara who’s in our live audience today.

Natalie:  Hey Bird!  I want to thank you so much for being here today, I know you are still have a lot of puppy energy so sitting still for boring interviews is hard for you.  Let’s start with your parents-Clifford and Twitter!  They both have been in the show dog circuit, in fact your pops was the second ranked Welsh Springer in the USA just recently.  And your mama…she has retired from the circuit.  I mean it must be impossible to maintain show-dog status and keep up with the demands of a news and social networking community that exceeds 319 million people.  And you, Birdie, do you wish to try out for that “Best in Show” designation?  Or perhaps design the next big social media phenomenon?

Birdie:  Rolling around on her back and snorting, then scratching left ear with left hind leg..then with lightening speed jumps super-high over Comondante Ché…just ’cause she can…she continues to spring and spring and spring (Ché growling, showing a few teeth).

Natalie:  I understand, that lifestyle certainly isn’t for everyone- and social media…I mean we have enough of that already, yeah?   I’m glad you don’t feel pressure to follow in the footsteps of your folks if it doesn’t fit you- it’s actually very refreshing.  Moving on.  You are of Welsh ancestry…Wales “The Land of Song!”  It is also historically known for it’s mystery and witchery…the monolith stones that make up Stonehenge are traced to the Preseli Mountains in Wales (located about 100 miles from the site!).  And the Welsh culture is inextricably linked to poetry, singing, and magic.  It is said that Elvis Presley is of Welsh descent… I’m sure that I don’t need to tell you that “Elvis” means “elfin” and that the Presley is just another way to spell Preseli!  And perhaps better known for her Welsh descent and witchery, is Stevie Nicks. So, Birdie, are you yourself also a “Welsh Witch?”

Birdie:  Opens her mouth in “dog song” and the Three Birds of Rhiannon fly out and flash away like a sunbeam through the night.

Natalie:  Impressive Birdie.  And also sufficiently answers my question.  One emerald-green,  One snow-white…One golden…  So much magic, music, and poetry in your response.  Magic…music…poetry…maybe they are just really one in the same?  Your Welsh ancestry really does explain a lot about your nature: your love of lawn tennis, singing, your longbow abilities, and your fondness for ball bearings.  This might be a hard question to answer since you are not even a year old, but do you think your Welsh blood will help you to be the next Welsh pioneer…someruff who really changes the world? (Natalie quickly apologizes for that really terrible play on words).

Birdie:  Spinning in circles, chasing a solitary gnat.

Natalie: Ummm…well you have to start somewhere.  Oh, Birdie-sweetheart, there’s so much I want to ask you but we are running out of time already. So this is the last question:  I really don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable here (quickly glancing at Ché) but there have been some rumors spread about you.  Or should I say “Rumours?”  It’s been said that “packing up… shacking up’s all you wanna do…”

Birdie: Chases a sunbeam reflection, crashing into the car door.

Natalie: Oh dear. Hmmm….I guess we’ll have to decide for ourselves on that one.  Thank you so much for joining us Birdie, you magical, mystical, witchy Welshie!   You’re the best!

(For the first episode, click here)

Natalie resides in Peoria, Arizona, with her husband, two children, and two dogs. Her artistic journey has taken many twists and turns but photography and writing have become the primary outlets for her artistic expression. She is an artist at Offset.com, Lensdrop and Adobe.   Her work/photography has been published by National Geographic Your Shot, Lensbaby, Beyond the Wanderlust, and has been licensed for ads by Samsung and other companies for advertisements. Her best days are filled with loving and guiding her offspring and pups, music, reading, creating photographs and writings, hiking, yoga, cooking, and sky-gazing.  In the social media world, she can be found on Instagram @natalie_a_wheeler, and as a moderator for @theechoesinside, a hub for self-portraiture.