Two are better than one

Yesterday I saw the light- saw it all - saw the ultimate foolishness or addiction. I left early to reach work before the storm broke and dropped upon us the torrential rains. The sky was black and the darkness was spreading fast. I tossed my gear in baby car and headed East just inches ahead of the mean and ugly looking storm. It was to be a replay of last Thursday's disaster.

I was buzzing along just a wee bit over the speed limit watching the blackness behind me in the race to work. I did my left on to Moon Lake Road and out of the corner of my eye I see a man walking a really cute little dog. I go to mush when I see a cute little dog walking so proudly by his master. He was a tiny little critter prancing (almost like Russ) as fast as he could.

I think he could feel the storm approaching and was in a hurry to get his business done. His owner not too concerned about the deluge that was about to drop. I looked out my rear window at the ugliness. She was picking up speed and was no contest for the baby car. Who would be out walking a tiny little creature with the storm of the century fast approaching?

I slowed a bit as I wheeled around the corner and glanced at the man and the dog. I looked again. Here was this dog walking man with two not one but two cigarettes in his mouth. Double the effect? WHAT? Why in the hill would he do that? Then - why would he be out walking his dog minutes before a gigantic storm? That's Florida - land of opportunity.

Within seconds after my car passed the dog walker puffing away at two cigarettes at once and walking a tiny dog the storm broke. Buckets of rain splashed on my windshield making driving very difficult and hazardous - then the hail thunder and the fireworks in the sky. OMG!!! I waited for my windshield to break. The lightening danced around the baby car almost causing my hair to curl.

My thoughts wandered back to the little doggie and the man smoking two cigarettes. Perhaps he didn't have a match and he was wanting the lightening strikes to light his smokes. A death trap waiting for another death trap. I'm hoping the cute little doggie wasn't as terrified as I was.

Attack of the Crows

I walk the dogs in the early morning - in the dark. (time change) It's not something I feel entirely comfortable doing but - you gotta do what you gotta do. The little darlings need their exercise.

I arrived at the second intersection and heard a crow squawking fiercely. I'm not a big fan of crows. They be ugly and loud with no class. I ignored the commotion. We walked on determined to get our business done. The loud screeching seemed to follow us. One streetlight was out.

All of a sudden I heard a thump. I looked back over my shoulder and their on the burnt out lamppost sat the crow. Screeching at the top of his lung capacity. I began to feel a little uneasy and the hair on the back of my neck stood at attention. I searched for a stick lying on the ground to defend myself and the buddies. Nothing.

I had flashbacks of the Alfred Hitchcock movie - 'The Birds.' I was getting really-really creeped out. The squawking continued at a frantic pace and so did the stalking. Next time I will bring something besides the tissue stuck in my waistband for doggie droppings.

Should I turn around? Run for the hills? Wait - no hills in Florida. Here I was dressed in dark clothing in the dark of the morning and I surely didn't stand out like a sore thumb. The doggies on the other hand are light in color with neon doggie vest. Now I am sure that caught the crows attention. Did he think his breakfast was walking down the sidewalk in the early morning darkness? Wish I had a stick, slingshot or perhaps a B.B. gun.

I picked up my pace and headed for home. I certainly did not want to end up a statistic of a crow attack. And I didn't want the flying monster to take off with one of my little ones. Dog walking in the dark is a dangerous occupation. Maybe I could buy a treadmill for their exercise.

Just Do It!

I have no idea why the process takes soooo long. I stand outside at 5 AM in my nightgown in the backyard - sometimes very cold or raining - holding a flashlight hoping the neighbors are not watching the episode.

Why can't you just run up to a bush and let er rip? Like most doggies.....
No you take your time trotting out to the back yard and then doing a canvas of the entire back yard looking for the perfect spot. Come on - get over it - just pee. You've held it all night long. Do you really need to sniff every blade of grass? Walk - not run - from one side of the huge yard to the other in search of. What? It's just a place to pee.

Then, the magical spot is found and there is the tiniest bit of noise on the other side of the fence. Your doggie alarm voice blast the quiet morning. All concentration for that perfect spot is lost in a moment.
The neighbors lights go on. Oh NO!!!! Time for me to hide behind a bush. This nightgown is not the best.
I aim the flashlight at a place where if I were a dog I would pee. But -NO. Off you go again scanning the entire yard to piddle.

So the morning pee sometimes takes 20 minutes. UGGGG!!!! What will we do when we take you on vacation with so many strange noises and interruptions. How will the peeing ever take place? Just do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Russ and Us

Our new adopted doggie Russ is settling in or at least he's trying too. Last night was better - less whining. We are trying to desensitize him and help him get over the 'separation anxiety' he seems to be making progress. Well, if I spent weeks in shelters I would have some anxiety also. Today he is attached to my big toe.

He is helping me in my road to recovery. We are both couch potatoes. He is sleeping I am reading. I am reading - There's A spouse In My House by Peter Scott. It is side splitting and very true. I can see so much of my life in this book. The chapter 'My husband may be a moron' is very interesting. Although hubby has been a real trooper helping me with my recovery. I will never buy him a $60.00 hat like the Florida Sheriff department displays on their bald bloated heads. I'm sure some are very nice.

Hubby and Russ have bonded over their daily walks. Russ slept on the couch last night with hubby's two day old shorts. This is to help him adjust to his new surroundings and get over the separation anxiety - also dogs like stinky stuff. Sometimes they roll in dead fish.