Today the lady's listening to NPR while she works. I think she listens just so she can mimic the accents. Fortunately, it's just me and her here today, because anyone else hearing her mutter things under her breath like, "I am extraordinary, really" and "for God's sake, pretentious much?" might wonder if they need to back away carefully. . . like I do when the big yellow cat two doors down gives me his look. I'm sure you're familiar with that look. My people have two cats--marvelous (like that NPR adjective?) creatures, the both of them. One has developed the endearing habit of sleeping on my bed. The other has a jingley bell on his collar that wakes me at all hours--and he likes my food. Anyone out there looking to adopt?

I'm trying to teach the lady some life lessons. One of them is give the dog a cookie whenever he asks. Dogs don't care if they're fat. Today I took her for a walk along the canal in Fremont for her lesson on letting the dog enjoy the moment. I took my time, picking up various scents, pausing to deposit scent of my own, looking out at the water . . . She seemed to get it. When I was ready to go, we went. Tomorrow might be another day. She does like to race, possibly all that competitive rowing is working against my careful training. Possibly that old saying's true, it is hard to teach an old gal new tricks. Also, it's hard for her to slow down when she has so many projects. And her projects do seem to make her happy. Here's one she's working on today for her Etsy shop.

And here's one I'm working on. She might be finished with hers first. This is an awfully comfortable couch.

Today the girl took me for a walk. Thing is, I thought the lady was going to take me because she was putting on her running shoes and talking about where she was going, and when I caught her eye she smiled at me. Then, she just left and told the girl I was waiting for her to walk me. Just like that. Well, the girl is good, and I really like her, but later I heard the girl tell the lady I wouldn't walk. I kept sitting down and looking down toward the water. It's true I knew the lady went that way without me. Even though she knew I wanted to go. Even though she knew I knew she knew I wanted to go. I do have a tendency to sit and ponder when annoyed. It used to be the lady would carry me when I sat and pondered too long, but now she says 86 pounds is too much pondering weight to carry. Actually, she may have used a word other than "pondering," but she wouldn't want me to repeat that one. Anyway, I would have given her the cold shoulder when she got home, but it's not in me to do that. I was happy to see her when she got back from her run . . . without me.

Turns out Thanksgiving is about all-day eating--now that's a holiday I can get behind. Matter of fact, not only did I get behind it, I got right into it--turkey giblets, mashed potatoes, stuffing . . . I still have a little something crusty on my ear I can't seem to reach. So much irony in humans that are so ridiculous about fur on the couch one moment that they stack obstacles on it for me to remove before I can get comfortable, and then in the next moment they're celebrating a day of messy gluttony. My people are enigmas, God love 'em. Even now, my lady is eating apple pie out of the pie plate with a fork so as not to have to wash yet another dish. She takes me swimming one day, and then tries to put a ridiculous dog coat on me the next so I don't get wet. What is that about? I have to make it clear to her I am not going outside in a coat nearly every time she tries to get it out. Every time I think I have them trained the way I like them, they bring out something new to contend with. A witch's hat with green hair for the dog--I ask you! I'll tell you what I'm thankful for. I'm thankful Halloween is over. I'm also thankful that the lady thinks that apple pie is out of my reach when she puts it on top of the toaster oven. Happy day.

The Lady's New Business

The lady needs to chillax. She reminds me of myself when I was a pup and thought it was fun to chase my own tail. . . . I know better now. She's got piles of stuff that doesn't even smell edible she's working on for her new online shop (www.etsy.com/shop/4sistercreations), whatever that means, and she also has a pile of paper that smells distinctly like Martingale (http://www.shopmartingale.com) she's getting her red pen out for. I like those Martingale people. Some of them keep cookies in their desks, and they almost all know how to properly appreciate the canine personality. Seems like something the lady may have forgotten how to do. Any minute now I'm going to get off this couch and remind her that the dog has needs.