Around and Around

From rain and cold, we zip into impossibly hot, and I’ll stay in the kitchen while crazy Saki and Bailey run around in the heat.

Shane has to stay in bed since he’s still not used to Bailey and we can’t have him near the little guy. Not that he could catch him, but it’s better not to upset anyone. So, I won’t come out of the kitchen. Shane’s in the bedroom with a biscuit. Saki and Bailey—who’s shot from nine pounds to 25 pounds in a month (!)—are running around outside. Around the yard, around the azalea, around the doggy pool, around and around they go.

Yes, it’s another summer. Our eleventh summer with Joan, and what changes we’ve seen—three houses, seasons coming and going, Saki’s arrival, our slowing down from speedy (okay, Shane was speedy; I wasn’t) to almost neutral, Bailey’s visits, snow and heat, leaky roofs, three cars, the park, no park, four or five vets, and who knows what else. Oh, that’s right: old age.

This is the way life's supposed to be. Around and around we go.

Have a lovely summer,
Juno

Just Before the Rain Came

Saki and Bailey were panting and running their paws off, and I'm pretty sure these two puppies are now best friends forever.

Shane has now progressed to sitting on the other side of the sliding-glass door where he growls and gets all tense every time a new dog comes on the scene. Oh, Cesar Milan, how we need you. Alas! We'll just have to do things our way and introduce Shane and Bailey a little at a time.

As for me, I pretty much stay out of their way. It's fine when Bailey walks around my head and trips over my nose. It's really fine. But, when he and Saki start running, I just have to go inside.

And then the sky darkened. Bailey went home. It thundered. It's raining now. Wow, what excitement.

Best wishes, Juno

Bailey Comes to Visit

I feel so young today. Really.

Bailey came over to play with Saki, and I found him very intriguing. His smell, his attitude, his subtle signs of respect—very impressive.

I really had a good time doing my semi-romp around the yard. They're a little too fast and enthusiastic for me, but it was okay. Poor Shane had to stay inside. He needs more time to calm down when a new dog shows up. Me? I don't mind one bit.

Best wishes, Juno

Semi-Walking

I had my first walk in months, but we didn't get very far. Oh, well. It was more of a semi-walk, an almost walk. That firecracker was so loud and the cars so fast, it just didn't have that soft-grassy-yard feeling of security.

After all, what is a walk? It's a sneaky form of exercise. Too difficult these days, especially for Shane.

So we turned around and headed home. Shellavon—that's one of the neighbors—came out to say hello and pet me on the head. She told me I was beautiful and felt very bad about Shane's decline. Shane just stared at Joan. Meanwhile, Saki was bouncing all around, getting all itchy to run and play.

He's still a puppy, I guess.

Not me. Not Shane. We're adults.

Best wishes, Juno

Saki & Bailey: First Meeting

Today, Saki met Bailey, and suddenly Saki was the big dog instead of the little dog. See, it’s all relative. When Saki is with me and Shane, he’s just a cute little guy who runs his tail off and doesn’t know when to call a day a day. He’s a non-stop romping, circle running, hole-digging puppy with enough energy to light Manhattan.

Well, today he met Bailey, and Saki became the big dog, the mature, been-around-the-block strutting guy. And Bailey? He took Saki’s role and became the romping party boy all fired up and ready to dig a hole to China.

After fifteen minutes, Saki was all tuckered out, that is, until he saw Shane. Then, he ran circles around Shane for half an hour, splashed in the pool for about 20 minutes. Bored with that, he looked around for something to do.

Yup. Life. It's all relative.

Best wishes, Juno