The Many Moods of Maceo or
Nostalgie de la Boue

	In late January 1998, a young couple who had recently moved to Charlottesville from New York City decided to get a dog. As both of them had grown up and lived most of their lives in Manhattan, they had led a very sheltered, provincial existence. Like most New Yorkers who have moved to Central Virginia in the last two decades, this young pair had little choice in the matter -- their new hometown was chosen for them by the people who run the Witness Protection Program. They had seen some movies and had read books about life in the American South, but nothing in their limited experience quite prepared them for day-to-day life below the Mason-Dixon line. The precipitating event in their decision to get a dog was their first experience of the uniquely Virginian phenomenon known as "Lee-Jackson-King Day" and their utter inability to make any sense out of it.
They realized they needed a local guide, a true born and bred Virginian, to help them get their bearings. They went first to the Charlottesville- Albemarle SPCA, but, as they later recalled, "no one there called our name". Instinctively, they drove further south "for what seemed like an eternity" until they came to the Nelson County Animal Shelter, which they describe as "a lonely tract of land adjacent to a garbage dump" -- authenticity, at last! As soon as they emerged from their car, the young couple immediately sensed some indescribable yet unmistakable connection with the land itself. Indeed, the connection was genuine and powerful -- and it emitted an unpleasant odor; all about them at the dumpsite lay various items once possessed or briefly used by themselves or their neighbors in their original hometown. They knew at once they had been drawn there for some purpose....
Upon entering the modest facility, they spotted, in the very first stall, "the boy" (as he has come to be known). The only information they could get about his background was that he had been dropped off five weeks earlier by a Mexican girl who was returning to Mexico. They took him out, walked around a bit, and went into the trailer office. As soon as they sat down, "the boy" fell asleep almost immediately -- standing up, head resting against one lap, butt anchored to the other. They were in love. It was mutual. It abideth still. Next year, on Lee-Jackson- King Day, they'll probably worry a little less about the anomalous- eponymous commemoration and just enjoy a long walk in the park with Maceo.

Just the Facts:	Maceo is a neutered male mixed-breed dog. He is about two years old (estimated). He weighs approximately 34 lbs. and stands about 24 inches tall in high heels, maybe.
What's in a Name?:	Maceo's Significant Human Others (SHOs) report that the name comes from Maceo Parker -- "of course!". Maceo's SHOs were kind enough to offer further clarification on this point "for those who don't know" (a group that originally included St.Ella's handlers, we humbly confess): Maceo Parker was James Brown's saxophone player and band leader in the late 1960's. (We -- i.e. St.Ella's handlers -- have to admit we still didn't see the connection -- until we paused, took a deep breath, and applied the critical analytical and interpretive habits we had absorbed over too many years in graduate school. Suddenly, all became perfectly clear and we were at peace again with the reality of attempting to keep up with monthly student loan repayments: we inferred that the name "Maceo" is a brilliant popular cultural allusion to the little-known fact that the working title of the James Brown single which first prominently featured MP's saxophone playing was none other than: "Papa's Got a Brand New Dog"....Who says a liberal arts education is a waste of time?).
AKC Papers?:	The short answer: Bite me!; the longer answer: Maceo's DNA is a veritable canine genetic jumbalaya (see the Glossary entry for "Canis Familiaris Sui Generis") whose ingredients include (but are NOT limited to) the following: a half-cup of Beagle, a quarter cup of Collie, something called "special sauce"(?), a pinch of Whippet, a twist of Shephard, and -- St.Ella's handlers suspect -- a splash of twisted Jack Russell -- all of which adds up to one kick-ass little doggie.
Maceo's "A-list":	Maceo's favorite dogs include the following: Rose, Zeke, Cally, Piedmont, Duncan, Amani (Youngman), the Vizlas (Silus & Hattie), and Putney (the yellow lab at the Blue Moon Diner); favorite bi-peds: Marcus and Antonio, the "Two Gentlemen of Rivanna".
Favorite Book:	A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
Turn-ons:	Maceo enjoys the simple pleasures in life: tasty bones to chew on, cuddling in bed with mom, and sassy girl dogs with good smelling butts. His main pleasure at this point in his life, however, is full-contact dog wrestling -- any time, any place, with ANY opponent. Like a true Virginian, Maceo is particularly fond of taking on dogs much larger than himself and he doesn't hesitate for a moment before going into (play) battle with even a true behemoth like Greta the Rottweiler. Maceo doesn't bother to conceal his disdain for other dogs when they tire of playing or when they fail to join in the fray with sufficient vigor. He expresses his contempt for such dogs by taunting them with his patented high-pitched squeal/bark which makes us glad we're not his neighbors.
Turn-offs:	As a true Son of the South, Maceo is quite put off by disparaging remarks made about his "back country" roots and by the condescending attitude taken by many urban dogs, such as his cousins the Big City Jack Russell Terriers (Butch and Sundance) who ruined an otherwise perfect Thanksgiving dinner by referring to Maceo as "the Country Bumpkin". Most of all, however, Maceo is very quick to take offense at any remark, hint, comparison, or suggestion that might possibly be interpreted as meaning he is a "small" dog. Maceo is VERY sensitive on this point, so if you happen to come in contact with him at an area park, please refrain from making insensitive "small dog" jokes in his presence. Above all else, do NOT, under any circumstances, tell Maceo he resembles "that Taco Bell dog".

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