Postponed

Well, I had all good intentions of getting to my sister's this month or July, but several things on her end and mine will postpone the trip.

It is hot and humid here--my least favorite time of the year. I was raised without air conditioning--sometimes wonder how we survived! I never remember being hot when I was a kid, and I was very active.

Like many bloggers, my thoughts are with David and Sherry. I'm wishing for fall when we hear good news and that they are back to living their dream--like the Princess and the Cowboy.

Jack and I have been lazy though we take a couple of short walks per day, and then his sister, Susan (girlfriend) comes over to walk him to his favorite place. There's a couple that walk at the nature center with their big black lab named Jack, and Susan meets them and the two Jack's have a blast sniffing and smelling their surroundings. Susan said they greet each other and get along very well. Susan ran a race with them. The picture isn't too clear--I'm not sure where it came from or who took it, but she emailed it to me (#437). Susan is in great shape and keeps very active.

She is considering adopting a dog name Maddie. http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22966208 I'm trying to stay out of her decision even though she is asking me for my advice. She must make the decision and decide whether she wants to make the commitment. Maddie is in foster care, now, but Susan met her and said she's a lovely dog. She really does sound like a very sweet dog. I know I'll have to be "involved" to a degree, but I'll need to keep it to a minimum. Jack is my first priority, and he's getting older so I want him to have an uncomplicated life without another dog in "his" house. As it is, I'm committed to watching my son's pups and my granddaughters for some time in July, but we'll go down to his home so the girls can be around their friends. He's always been very friendly and accommodating to any dogs who come into the house, but since it's such a long time, now, that it's just the two of us I think he feels a bit put out, and he pouts. I do have to laugh at the looks he gives me--"Woe is me."

Jack has become afraid of the dark. I don't know whether he may have smelled a coyote OR whether he's not able to see as well as he once did. When he knows it's time to go out at night, he high tails it for the other end of the house, but I put a leash on him so he knows I'll be right with him. I can tell that he's very nervous, and literally runs back to the door when he's finished (I let go of the leash).

It reminds me of when he was young. Lizzie, who was black as the ace of spades, used to hide in the darkness and jump out at him, scaring him half to death! He'd get on the patio and look around trying to figure out which direction she was going to come from. It was the dog version of a spooky movie--funny to watch. I think she was getting back at him for all the tail biting he did when he was a puppy. :) During the day, she would lay up on the hill in the same spot every day and he would stalk her, stopping with foot in mid-air as though she couldn't see him. She would have a bored look on her face as it took him 15 minutes to get 30 feet to her before he pounced. Rich and I used to love to watch the fun and games. Yes, pay back is hell, Jack!
I didn't post this picture of him when we were in Charleston--he's such a handsome boy.