Since moving here we have started a ritual of walking over to the beach every morning and evening with Queenie, our Labrador Retriever, for a game of fetch. It involves the greatest invention since the internal combustion engine, the ubiquitous “Chuck-It.” This clever device really levels the playing field for those of us in our later years of human development. Working much like a catapult, it allows anyone to pretend they are the Sandy Koufax of the beach. (Get it?…Sandy….oh, well) Anyway, following are my top 10 reasons to own a Chuck-it:
The weapon of choice
1. Avoiding surgery because you tore your rotator cuff while throwing fetch with your dog.
Cost of surgery – $10,000, cost of physical therapy – $3000, cost of a “Chuck-it” – priceless!
2. Giving your dog a stress free, low impact workout while you calmly sip coffee from your Starbucks, obscenely overpriced, state-of-the-art, insulated, go anywhere cup.
“Just mention this blog and this cup can be yours for only $179.99!”
3. Bringing back great childhood memories of when you were well-known and admired for throwing out runners at home plate with that golden arm of yours.
Big Al, All American…what a guy!
4. You can pick the ball up with it without bending too much, thereby preserving what little is left of your 3rd lumbar disk.
Hurry Queenie, the waves are awesome this morning.
5. The dog does all the work and then asks for more.
” He thinks this is hard but this salt water buoyancy is a piece of cake.”
6. Bikinis
Hey, Big Al, we’re over here….over here!
7. You have an attack dog to defend you when that beach bully kicks sand in your face.
“And if you do that to him again, I’ll do more than just sniff your butt!”
8. If you throw it too far out for the dog, the porpoises will bring it back to you.
Thanks, I could just kiss you for doing that.
9. It’s a good way to meet the 150,000 other dog owners in the neighborhood.
A “light” morning at the beach
10. And last, but most importantly, it provides an easy topic for a blogger who would rather be at the beach.
No, Queenie, let’s play some more or else I’ll have to go write a blog!
The Cvillean 
Just for the heck of it I peruse your oldies but goodies from time to time! You still got it I see.
I wonder if they do one on a string, for cats?
Yes, Pseu, I think they call that one “the heck with it”.
🙂
Hi Al, Love this post, and I nominated you for the One Awesome Blog Award (updated by me from One Lovely Blog Award). Cheers! Jerri
Thanks, Jerri and much appreciate the nomination. I shall display it proudly!
Sweet! 🙂
What i want to know is who is fixing your meals while you play with the dog??
Why, my lovely wife, who else?
Now if you could just find someone to throw the ball for you so you could watch from the deck.
I like the way you think, Barb.
You need two balls so you can wave the second one for the dog to have a reason to bring back the first. Mind you if Queenie is a Labrador/Retriever then you probably don’t have this issue! Have fun. 🙂
She’s pretty good about bringing it back. I’ve only had to use the dolphins a couple of times.
Yay, a blog about your dog!
See I would use a fetch it if my dogs actually fetched. Even though I tell them they are retrievers they don’t care much for fetch. 🙂
Does Queenie enjoy walking the beach or is her sole purpose for fetch?
She actually loves the walking too. It’s more fun in the summer because she gets to scavenge for food left in the sand by the day’s sun worshipers.
Wow! If the English had a Chuck-it the seige of Orleans would have only lasted a couple of days instead of 3 years. (Note: this comment is intended as a humorous offering. The commenter does not guarantee the accuracy of any or all historical-sounding statements.)
Notwithstanding your faint-hearted disclaimer, in the future, please do not make any historical-sounding comments which force me to go to Google to verify their authenticity.
I’m fairly confident that the “English” were a real people that existed in history. Did Google confirm anything else?
Yes, it confirmed I slept through all of my European history classes.
The English – I’ve heard of it.Wasn’t it murdered by Americanese? 🙂
Love that last one.
Love it, too….Al. I’d say the beach has improved your blogging.
It shore has.
No comment other than…just plain love it!
I wonder how it would work for golf, Jeri? I could probably throw it farther than I can drive it.