Sunday on a walk with King

I'm trying to take King for a walk every morning, weather permitting. Yesterday, things started out well. Then the drizzle began, which slowly transitioned to light rain. I learned the hard way that my orange rain jacket is no longer waterproof, and that rain water will run down the front of a jacket and soak the hell out of the legs of one's pants. King didn't seem too enthused, either. He loves to splash through puddles and run through marshes and slosh in pools, but there's something about water from above that he doesn't like. Doesn't like being sprayed with the hose. Doesn't seem to care for walking in the rain.

This morning, he dashed for the door as soon as he saw me collect my jacket. Stood patiently while I put on his training collar, then off we went. I planned to have him out for at least an hour--the morning was muggy but not yet oppressively warm, and he deserved a decent workout. But about five minutes out, he found a filled water bottle and did what he usually does when he finds water bottles. He picked it up, then held back and made wanna go home motions, walking behind me and turning to head back every time I stopped to see what he was doing. No, I said, you need at least a half hour. So he dropped the bottle and came along with me. On the way back, we walked down the opposite side of the road, but when we reached the spot near opposite the place where he'd left the bottle, he angled over and collected it. Walked with it for a time, then dropped it when he came upon one that wasn't filled with water. Because you can't crunch them when they're filled with water. He wound up dropping that one, too, but I picked it up to dump it in the recycle bin. King collected it from me, however. He chews on it every time he goes outside.

Rained buckets Friday night into Saturday. More rain last night, but not as much. The tomato plants are adjusting to their upside-down existence--they've all twisted and curled upward so that their leaves are facing out toward the light. I am going to have to trim back the oregano, which is expanding to fill a good portion of the planter bowl.

Just after noon. The guys are napping. Mickey had a breakfast of diced chicken and chicken livers mixed with rice and some of King's dry food. He picked out the chicken and livers and left most of the doggy stuff, which is pretty much what he did yesterday. I'm taking that as a sign that I'm feeding him enough, trusting that if he were really hungry, he'd eat everything. He sleeps for most of the day. Gets up to go outside. He stared down one of the neighbor dogs this morning, but didn't go to the fence as he often did.

I have the British Open on for the voices, and am gearing up to get started on some day job stuff. Dinner will be storebought pasta and sauce because cooking just isn't in the cards today.

The new Travelers Insurance commercial has been playing, the one with the older British gentleman complete with bowler hat carrying a huge version of the company's signature red brollie and using it to save various folks on his way to the city. There's an Alice in Wonderland whimsy to it that I like--the little kids with the broken bike being floated home, nestled in the handle. The stranded circusfolk sailing down a river in the upturned umbrella toward their home. No idea whether it's a good insurance company or not, but it's a remarkably sweet commercial.

And another surreal weekend winds down.

Sunday on a walk with King

I'm trying to take King for a walk every morning, weather permitting. Yesterday, things started out well. Then the drizzle began, which slowly transitioned to light rain. I learned the hard way that my orange rain jacket is no longer waterproof, and that rain water will run down the front of a jacket and soak the hell out of the legs of one's pants. King didn't seem too enthused, either. He loves to splash through puddles and run through marshes and slosh in pools, but there's something about water from above that he doesn't like. Doesn't like being sprayed with the hose. Doesn't seem to care for walking in the rain.

This morning, he dashed for the door as soon as he saw me collect my jacket. Stood patiently while I put on his training collar, then off we went. I planned to have him out for at least an hour--the morning was muggy but not yet oppressively warm, and he deserved a decent workout. But about five minutes out, he found a filled water bottle and did what he usually does when he finds water bottles. He picked it up, then held back and made wanna go home motions, walking behind me and turning to head back every time I stopped to see what he was doing. No, I said, you need at least a half hour. So he dropped the bottle and came along with me. On the way back, we walked down the opposite side of the road, but when we reached the spot near opposite the place where he'd left the bottle, he angled over and collected it. Walked with it for a time, then dropped it when he came upon one that wasn't filled with water. Because you can't crunch them when they're filled with water. He wound up dropping that one, too, but I picked it up to dump it in the recycle bin. King collected it from me, however. He chews on it every time he goes outside.

Rained buckets Friday night into Saturday. More rain last night, but not as much. The tomato plants are adjusting to their upside-down existence--they've all twisted and curled upward so that their leaves are facing out toward the light. I am going to have to trim back the oregano, which is expanding to fill a good portion of the planter bowl.

Just after noon. The guys are napping. Mickey had a breakfast of diced chicken and chicken livers mixed with rice and some of King's dry food. He picked out the chicken and livers and left most of the doggy stuff, which is pretty much what he did yesterday. I'm taking that as a sign that I'm feeding him enough, trusting that if he were really hungry, he'd eat everything. He sleeps for most of the day. Gets up to go outside. He stared down one of the neighbor dogs this morning, but didn't go to the fence as he often did.

I have the British Open on for the voices, and am gearing up to get started on some day job stuff. Dinner will be storebought pasta and sauce because cooking just isn't in the cards today.

The new Travelers Insurance commercial has been playing, the one with the older British gentleman complete with bowler hat carrying a huge version of the company's signature red brollie and using it to save various folks on his way to the city. There's an Alice in Wonderland whimsy to it that I like--the little kids with the broken bike being floated home, nestled in the handle. The stranded circusfolk sailing down a river in the upturned umbrella toward their home. No idea whether it's a good insurance company or not, but it's a remarkably sweet commercial.

And another surreal weekend winds down.

(no subject)

Took a small step toward simplifying my life by cancelling subs to both newspapers. I read online papers now, and watch enough cable news to mix things up. The paper newspapers have been going from the plastic bag directly into the recycle bin for a couple of months now, and it really is a waste of my money. The political slant of the Trib runs counter to mine, and if I want to continue to know the enemy, I can find enough articles online to get my blood pumping. The editorial page drove me nuts, and every time I read John Kass, I was reminded that Mike Royko is indeed still dead and they hired a helium balloon to take his place.(1)

The Sun-Times...I liked it when they offered the Controversy section, which carried some interesting stuff. But overall, it's gotten a little too NY Post-ish/tabloidish. Not worth my dwindling spare time.

(1) I don't know what Royko's politics were. If you wish to educate me with regard the fact that he was just to the right of Mussolini, I don't want to hear it. At least he could write.

(no subject)

Took a small step toward simplifying my life by cancelling subs to both newspapers. I read online papers now, and watch enough cable news to mix things up. The paper newspapers have been going from the plastic bag directly into the recycle bin for a couple of months now, and it really is a waste of my money. The political slant of the Trib runs counter to mine, and if I want to continue to know the enemy, I can find enough articles online to get my blood pumping. The editorial page drove me nuts, and every time I read John Kass, I was reminded that Mike Royko is indeed still dead and they hired a helium balloon to take his place.(1)

The Sun-Times...I liked it when they offered the Controversy section, which carried some interesting stuff. But overall, it's gotten a little too NY Post-ish/tabloidish. Not worth my dwindling spare time.

(1) I don't know what Royko's politics were. If you wish to educate me with regard the fact that he was just to the right of Mussolini, I don't want to hear it. At least he could write.