Squirrel!! Part II

About five minutes I went back into the house, the squirrel found a place to hide and Reba and Fluffy needed a rest (years of easy living had made them soft). Molly woke up and sauntered into the living room and immediately sniffed out where the squirrel was hiding. Thus began round two of the "Great Squirrel Chase." Molly and I just stood back and watched as Reba and Fluffy finished demolishing what was left of the living room. The squirrel still evaded capture and the lazy, useless cats were still asleep.

I had to go to work so I left the house as is. The furniture was still turned over and lamps had been knocked over on their side. I thought maybe the squirrel had escaped and made his way back outside. It had been quite a chase. I sent my sister a text message about the Great Squirrel Chase and she wanted to know if I had caught the squirrel. My response was "Your house, your squirrel." I was only kidding of course but my other sister asked "Where is the squirrel at now" I re[plied "He is taking a break in the easy chair and watching the Animal Planet." I thought he was gone.

My sister came home that night and Molly had sniffed it back out but he had barricaded himself into a corner somewhere and refused to come out. I came home and Molly and I still could not flush him out. I gave up for the night and went to bed. Molly was hell bent on getting this squirrel out of the house so I got very little sleep that night. It was pretty much the same scene the next morning and still no squirrel. Molly knew where it was at but we still couldn't get him to come out.

I told my sister I had some errands to run and she laid down to take a nap. I had been in and out all morning long and my sister is famous for her ability to take four hour naps. As I was getting ready to leave right after lunch, my sister comes running out of the house and screaming something about "a dead squirrel in her bed." My response was "grab it by the tail and throw it out in the yard." No, she made me do it. I went into her bedroom and sure enough, the squirrel was laying on her bed. Rigor mortis had already set in and he looked like he had died from being scared to death. At first I thought he may have seen my sister naked but I guess with three dogs chasing you, fear was the likely cause of death.

I believe it happened this way. Molly flushed him out and was responsible for his death, Reba dragged him through the house and into my sister's bedroom and Fluffy was responsible for dragging the squirrel up on the bed and using him as a chew toy. I gave the squirrel a quick burial out behind the garage and that was the end of the Great Squirrel Chase.

Squirrel!! Part I

In a scene reminiscent from the classic movie Christmas Vacation, a squirrel got loose in my sister's house the other day. There were three dogs and two cats in the house at the time. My sister's dog Reba and I spotted the squirrel at about the same time and that was when all hell broke loose.

I was so surprised when I looked up from my laptop and saw a squirrel staring back at me from the bookcase. I believe the squirrel was just as surprised to see me. Reba and I reacted at the same time but in much different ways. I yelled "Squirrel!" and jumped up from the table. Reba vaulted over the couch in the living room and made a headlong dive for the squirrel. The squirrel in turn made a dive for me (like I was going to save him). I quickly conceived a plan (and no, screaming like a girl was not my plan) to run out the back door and I was hoping Reba would follow my lead and chase the squirrel out the back door.

When that didn't happen, I went back into the house to see what was going on. Fluffy, Reba's partner in crime, had joined the chase by this time and they were turning over furniture, knocking over lamps, and the squirrel was running around the living room jumping from wall-to-wall and flying around staying one step ahead of Reba and Fluffy. The cats slept right through it and Molly was waiting until the smoke cleared before she cleaned it all up.

In Defense Of Molly

Every once in a while, Molly puts herself in a position in which I have to come to her defense. Last night, Molly decided to tear a hunk of fur out of the backside of my sister's cat. I immediately came to Molly's defense and said something else must have happened, Molly would never do something like that. I look down at Molly and she has the got the cat's hair hanging off of her lip and the cat had a big bald spot on its back. My defense was getting weaker by the second. I tried to reason that the cat must have brushed up against Molly and some of the fur stuck to her lip. Any defense is better than no defense.

Dog Sitting

I have had to pull dog sitting duty this weekend as my sister has been out of town but it has not been that big of a deal. The dogs for the most part get along and all I have to do is dispense love, food, and treats and all is good in the world of the canine. They all piled into my bed last night which made for tight sleeping room. I learned you had to carve yourself out some body space and not give it up throughout the course of the night. I woke up a couple of times with a dog laying on top of me, I had to dole out some petting in the middle of the night, as well as settle a dispute or two. I woke up to the smell of Ol' Roy, bacon flavored dog treats, and whatever Reba had been rolling around in.

Molly's World Going National

I do not know who is reading Molly's World over the course of the past three or four days but Molly and I appreciate it. Our view have tripled and I do get a charge out of people reading about me and Molly. She is so excited at the prospect of doing interviews and going national, she is licking her ass to make sure it is good and clean. My Mom always told me to make sure I have clean underwear on so I guess a clean ass is the next best thing for a dog.

A Political Statement

On the night of the election, Molly decided to make a political statement of her own. Molly walked into my sister's room took a dump in the floor and walked out. Molly waited until my sister cleaned it up, came back about an hour later, and took another massive one, and walked out again. I told my sister that Molly was making a political statement. My sister doesn't pet her (although there was a nasty biting incident), she doesn't giver her treats, and she doesn't take her on walks. A dog can only take so much disrespect.

Still Got Some Spunk

I was seriously worried about Molly last night. I got a text message from my sister saying Molly was real sick. I couldn't leave work, so I took a few minutes to myself, shed a few tears because I realized it might be time. My work friends rallied around me and got me through the rest of my shift. I got home and Molly seemed no worse for wear. This morning I took her and her new best friend Reba out for a walk in the yard and I was petting Reba because she needs some attention too. Molly wasn't happy with another dog getting attention so Molly chased her down and bit her on the ass. I thought it was funny. Reba did not find it so amusing.

Keeping Up With Reba

Molly's new roommate Reba is a handful. She is a high energy dog that has to greet everyone as they drive or walk by the house with several hearty barks and she escorts them on their way by following them down the fence line. Molly has even tried helping her out a couple of times by trotting along after her but Molly did not see it as absolutely necessary so she stopped but it was still fun to see her make the effort. Reba sees the people on foot usually well before I do so all of the barking does serve its purpose.

Jumpin' Jack Flash

Molly's new roommate Reba is an escape artist along the lines of a canine Harry Houdini. She has been know to scale a six foot high chain link fence with no problems and our three-and-a-half foot fence poses no problems. I am worried about Reba's health and safety so I stay outside with her when I let her out. She pulled a fast one on me the other day when I stepped back inside for a second and she was over the fence and gone. I went back outside and yelled her name a couple of times. She came sprinting down the street and sailed over the fence without even touching it. I was amazed by her athletic ability but now she is on complete lockdown.

Whoops!

Molly and I have gotten moved into our temporary new residence and we are still getting adjusted. Molly's health is failing fast but she is still moving right along albeit in wide circles. I took her out very early this morning and Molly dropped a massive load right on the walkway that goes around the yard. When it got daylight, I thought it would be in my best interests to scoop that up and dispose of it. My original plan was to scoop it up and toss it into the neighbors yard (in my defense, his flowers did need fertilizing) but my aim wasn't as true as my intention and I tossed a shovelful into the back of my nephew's air conditioner. Whoops! The way his room smells, he may not notice the difference.

Molly On Politics

Molly is not really politically motivated but she does like to see a dog in the Whitehouse. Her favorite was George W. Bush's cocker spaniel Milly. She was very much in the limelight, was a natural in front of the cameras, and a very strong canine presence in the Whitehouse. Neither Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton look like dog people and they had better get one fast if they want mine or Molly's vote.

Happiness

Peanuts creator Charles Schulz once wrote "Happiness is a warm puppy." Saturday me and Molly found ourselves with her two new roommates (four if you include the cats) all alone for the first time. I did not know how it would go. I figured it would be one big brawl or they would all get along. I sat there and watched a football game while all of the dogs and the two cats took a nap. Molly was at my feet, Reba was asleep on the loveseat and Lyla was asleep on the top of the back of the couch. It wasn't quite Norman Rockwell but I will take a nice, peaceful evening with all of the animals over just about anything.

Molly's New Cousins

Life has thrown me another curveball that has led to mine and Molly's latest move. This move will necessitate a slew of changes on mine and Molly's part but we have always adapted before and we will adapt again. This move comes with two dogs and two cats and we had a canine meet and greet yesterday. Her two new housemates are Reba and Lyla. After they sniffed each other out for a while, I decided they were going to get along together or they weren't and after Molly calmed down a little bit, they were all asleep in the living room while I watched football. Not a bad evening.

Molly To Go

Moving day is drawing near and Molly has noticed. She noticed as soon as I packed that first box. She has been under my foot and in the way for every box I pack. She knows I would never leave her behind but she wants to make sure I do not forget her. I will pack her special blanket last and she will be the last thing I take. She is going to have some new roommates (two cats and two dogs) so it is going to be an adjustment for both of us.

Walking In Circles

Since Molly had her stroke, we seem to walk in circles a lot. This morning Molly decided we needed to walk in a "figure eight" pattern to get where we were going. As long as we are walking, we are both happy and the early mornings are the best. It is getting to be that time of year where it is a little bit cooler in the mornings and this type of weather is great for both of us. It is about another month before the leaves start to turn colors but unfortunately, we will be living somewhere else by then.

Dreams

I was sitting in my computer chair this afternoon getting ready to watch college football and Molly was laying beside me asleep. She started having one of her barking dreams where she will bark in her sleep at something she is chasing in her dreams. She does not have them that often any more as old age has taken over but watching her barking and clawing her feet this afternoon brought a smile to my face. Molly has taught me a lot over the course of our 14 years together and today's lesson was that you are never too old to dream.

The Main Event

Molly has always had an aversion to being picked up even when she was a puppy whereas I have always had an appreciation for getting from point A to point B. Since Molly has had health issues over the past three weeks there are times she just wants to give up on our daily walks. It is during those times where her aversion to being picked up and my appreciation for getting to my destination cause great conflict.

These conflicts quickly turn into WWE Main Events between the Junk Yard Dog (that would be Molly) and Diamond Dan (that would be me). We circled each other and I started with an attempted takedown and a headlock. JYD countered with a couple of quick paws to the 'nads followed with a fart in my face. JYD always did fight dirty and the referee (that would be the squirrel sitting in the oak tree in the front yard) allowed the match to continue. Those moves by JYD temporarily stunned me and Molly was seeking a quick submission but growing up with my father, brother, and two sisters, I am immune to the fart in the face. I gained the upper hand when I attempted a suplex off of the top rail of the fence. JYD was too heavy to lift so I attempted an arm bar and I was able to position myself to apply the sleeper hold. The sleeper hold worked and Molly graciously tapped out and we made it back to the house.

A Matter Of Balance

Molly has her good days and her bad days but the one thing she is still struggling with her balance especially when it comes to her ability to squat to use the bathroom. The first day I took her outside after she had her "episode" she tried to pee on the side of a hill and as soon as she started to pee, she fell right over. From then on, I had to make sure she was on flat ground to give her a better chance. She still has to get a running start at it and I can't help but laugh but I am just glad she is getting a little bit better. She is after all, about 100 years old.

Runaway Train

Molly is still having a problem sometimes getting her feet under her and this was evidence yesterday when I took her out on our pre-work walk. There is a slight downhill slope to the left of the house as we go out the front door. Molly hit the ground running as soon as I helped her off the front porch but the problem was she could not stop herself. It was like the person that trips and rather than go down, they try to keep their balance and they only make it worse. Molly made it worse. She took off at a fast pace going down the hill and she couldn't stop. I had to run to catch up with her and help her slow down so she could get her legs under control. Molly was like a train with no brakes.

A Leap Of Faith

Since Molly's back legs have been ailing I have to help her down off the bed and the steps at the front of the house. Molly has always hated being picked up so she has quickly developed the habit of whenever I get close to her when I have to help her down, she just jumps. I usually catch her and help her the rest of the way down but this morning I got there a little bit late and she sprawled out on the ground. She looked at me like "What are you doing?". I guess I need to be better prepared to catch her.

The Fireman's Carry

Molly and I took the longest walk since she has been sick but she was exhausted and couldn't make it back to the house. She stopped and looked up at me and I agreed to carry her back to the house. Molly does not like to be picked up so when I picked her up, a brief struggle ensued but Molly recognized the fact that I was trying to help her. After she settled in for the ride, she reached up and nuzzled my cheek in a show of appreciation. One blown back and quite a bit of sweat later, we made it back to the house.

Still No Appetite

Molly still doesn't have much of an appetite with the exception of her treats, bacon, and whatever table scraps I give her. I guess that is the equivalent of doggie junk food. She still insists on getting her two dog treats after one of our abbreviated rehabilitative walks and I consider that a good sign.

On The Mend

It is very hard to write this blog when Molly is ailing but I am happy to report that she is on the mend and doing much better. I still do not know exactly what happened but it was a scary event nonetheless. I still have to help her up and down the steps but I am more than happy to. I will say that Molly is not a light dog but I do the best that I can.

Getting Better

Molly has shown significant improvement over the past couple of days but she is not out of the woods yet. I have to carry her outside and carry her back in but getting to go outside has done her a world of good. Molly has never been a "cuddle dog" but she might actually be getting used to me picking her up. Molly is not exactly a light dog so it has been a good workout for me as well. I just want to see Molly get better.

Time

The other day I had to face the harsh reality of being a pet owner and that was Molly's mortality. Molly's life is quickly drawing to a close and I was never more painfully aware of that fact than the other morning. When Molly woke up that morning, she had lost control of her back legs and could not maintain her balance. I was scared for her and I was also selfishly scared for myself. I knew I had to get her the help she needed but I also knew that I may not get the answer I want. I had her checked out and the decision was up to me. I decided to give Molly time. I owe her so much more than that but unless her suffering was too great, I wanted to give her some time. I am glad to say she is much better and seems to have cleared this hurdle. I realize that I need to do what is in Molly's best interests and in that vein, I cannot be selfish.

A Wore Out Molly

The walk Molly and I took early this afternoon wore poor Molly out. We walked down to Laurel Creek and back and that involves and pretty good uphill climb on the way back to the house and add in that it was during the heat of the day and Molly was done after that. She made it up on the bed and she has not moved all afternoon. I go check on her every few minutes and she doesn't even bother lifting her head, she just looks up at me with her eyes. Sometimes being physically ambitious is not always a good thing. I have learned that over the course of time.

The Instruction Manual

It is too bad that a dog's nose does not come with an instruction manual. Molly stops and smells everything on our nature walks and I need a manual to tell me exactly what she is smelling. Has another cat or a dog been by there marking the turf as their own? Or is it a wild animal that is going to jump out from behind the tree and slap all of the ass off of both of us? If she usually stops and lingers, I am pretty certain that it is a smell she is not familiar with and that usually means a wild animal. My best case scenario is a deer but don't be fooled by the angelic look of a deer. Bambi can still stick a hoof in your ass.

Breakfast Is Served

Breakfast is Molly's favorite meal or I should say my breakfast is Molly's favorite meal and I have never been bad to give Molly tables scraps but from time to time, I give her a treat, and let her have just a touch of bacon and eggs and maybe part of a biscuit. Molly does love her bacon. Molly plays it cool and makes sure she sits right behind my chair so I do not forget that she is there. If I ignore her she makes sure she gets right under my chair to where I have to notice her. How could I forget Molly?

Chasing Butterflies

Molly and I run into about every type of creature- flying, crawling, slithering, and walking- on our nature walks every day. Molly really does not pay that much attention any more but her two favorites are rabbit and deer. Those two animals must have the strongest scent. Butterflies may not have a strong scent but Molly has always enjoyed chasing butterflies. Even at the old age of 14 she still felt spry enough this morning to indulge in a butterfly. It warmed my heart and brought a smile to my face to see her acting like a puppy again for just a few minutes.

T-shirt Tug-of-War

When I come home from work, I start peeling off the work clothes as soon as I walk in the door. Last night I tossed my t-shirt on the bed and changed into some shorts. I wanted a snack before I went to bed, so I go back into the kitchen, make myself a bowl of cereal, and sit down at my laptop and troll Twitter and Facebook for a while. When I walked back into the bedroom, Molly had ensconced herself on the bed and she was laying on my t-shirt. I tried pulling it out from underneath her but she wrapped her paws around and would not let go. I do not know what it is about my clothes. Maybe it is because they have my scent on them. Tonight it was a combination of armpit, hot dog chili stains, and maybe a booger or two but Molly was not going to let go of that shirt.

That's My Spot

Yesterday afternoon I had just finished drying a load of laundry and I took my laundry basket full of fresh laundry into the bedroom and dumped it on the bed. I was going to fold it and put it away (like that was every going to happen). Molly sat in the floor watching me do all of this and as soon as I left the room, Molly jumped up on the bed and made herself at home on the laundry and immediately went to sleep. She was also right under the sir conditioner. She had the warmth of the laundry underneath her and the coolness of the air conditioner blowing on top of her. She was set for the afternoon. I cannot help but marvel out her ingenuity.

It's A Turtle

Not long ago, Molly and I encountered a baby turtle who happened to be too fearless to hide. He posed for a few selfies and I sent him on his way. On our walk this morning, Molly and I encountered the full sized turtle and he retreated to the comfort of his shell and stayed there. Molly tried to get him to come out and play but that wasn't happening. I tried to get him to pose for a few selfies but he would have none of it.

On The Road Again

As much as I would have liked my last move to be the absolute last one, it looks like Molly and I are going to be packing our bags and moving again. It is a prospect that I am not that fond of. I like it here, Molly likes it here, and we have plenty of room to roam, and a whole forest to hike through at our leisure. I have not broken it to Molly yet...

The Third Degree

Molly has that rare ability to give me the third degree that would have made Sam Spade proud. I had gone to get pizza last night and then I dropped by my Mom's house to take her the leftovers. My Mom still has a couple of dogs and one of them is a real attention hound. I feel kind of bad for the little guy so I gave him belly rubs until I thought my hand was going to fall off.

I came home immediately after that and that was when Molly pounced. As soon as I walked in the door she raised her nose and started sniffing. She is like "Why do I smell pizza? I smell other dogs on your clothes? You had pizza and were with other dogs? How could you?" I had to pay her off with pizza crust and I immediately took a shower to try to erase the smell of other dogs. I think all is forgiven.

The Evil Eye

Every man has experienced the withering glare of the evil eye. If a man has messed up or it has been perceived that he crossed some imaginary line and committed a faux pas- maybe you farted in public or somehow insulted your mother-in-law (which was my favorite. Who am I kidding? They were both my favorite)- you have gotten the evil eye from your significant other. It is usually one raised eyebrow with an imaginary laser shooting out of the eye itself meant to instill shame and fear, all with one glare. Heaven forbid if you get two evil eyes in one sitting.

Molly gave me her own version of the evil eye this morning. She knows I am getting ready to go somewhere and she will lay in the floor right behind my chair and every time I get up, she follows me with her eyes. If I don't make a move for the leash, I get the evil eye. She is bound and determined that I am not leaving this house without her.

Slow Motion

Watching Molly and I slog through the heat has to be painful to see. I try to stay in the shade as much as possible but that must not be where all of the good smells are because Molly insists on being directly in the sunlight. Now that I am on vacation this week, Molly is insistent on going out 10 times a day. If Molly wants to go out, we will go out. Who am I to deny her that right? The first leg of our walk is usually pretty quick but the last leg of our journey is done at a slow stagger like Otis Campbell on a Saturday night. This has also been the hottest week of the year by far.

The Rude Dog

Several years ago the phrase "rude dog" became a catch phrase for whatever reason. The phrase had its own logo and it was on t-shirts and anything else they could put it on. That phrase came to mind this morning when Molly farted and got up and left the room before she could get blamed for it. Molly did not stop and consider the fact that we were the only one's in here. Maybe she thought "Wow! That one is seriously going to stink! I am out of here!" She was not wrong because it curled my nose hairs and watered my eyes. The rude dog left in a hurry.

Scratching The Itch

Last night Molly "demanded" that I give her a belly rub (she started rolling around on the floor barking at me) and so it started with a belly rub and then I gave her a neck scratch. When I started scratching her neck, she wrapped her paws around my hand and started squinting her eyes and she had such a look of pure joy and contentment on her face. I remember my Mom and Dad had a dog named Sheba that used to scratch her back on the underside of their 1984 Buick Skyhawk. Molly also used to scratch the area right above her tail on the couch that we had. Dogs can figure out a way to scratch that itch.

The Scent Of A Deer

My father owned and worked with hunting dogs his hole life and I remember him telling me one time that once a dog picked up the scent of a deer or started chasing one, that the hunting dog was ruined. He said the scent of a deer was that powerful and had that kind of effect on a dog.

When Molly and I were out on our walk this morning Molly picked up the scent of something. Molly has a good nose on her but this scent was extra special because her nose was glued to the ground and all over the place. I thought it was going to take a tractor to pull her off that scent. I finally got her to focus on something else and we were going to walk up the rest of the driveway. We were on the concrete portion of the driveway and I heard something "clop-clop-clop-clop-clop" coming up behind us and I turned around real quickly and it was an adult doe. I was as surprised as the deer was but Molly was indifferent because she knew what was out there. I looked at the deer like "Now what.....? and the deer was looking at me like "What are you looking at.....?" before she darted off down into the woods. Naturally I left my cell phone in the house and couldn't even get a picture.

I love seeing nature in their natural habitat but that is the closest encounter to a deer I have ever had. I have seen the YouTube videos of a deer laying a whoopin' on people so I always view wildlife with a great amount of caution. We are not separated by a fence or a cage out here which is the way it should be but I am on their turf.

Afternoon Rains

For the last couple of weeks we have been getting an afternoon shower just about every day and it is messing up mine and Molly's walking vibe. These are not your typical rain showers. There is thunder and lightning and the whole works and I am not one to tempt fate especially when it involves lightning. Molly is not a big fan either and during the really intense storms, Molly and I can be found hiding under the covers waiting on the next flash of lightning and the next house shaking clap of thunder. We shall live to walk another day.

The Watcher

Molly's eyesight may not be what it used to be and she may not be able to hear worth a damn but she still keeps a close eye on me. I keep a close eye on her as well. It is very hard for me to watch her struggle to get on the bed and off the bed and to sometimes even get up off the floor. She is still in relative good health and she insists on going everywhere I go. She still has that Molly spunk and spirit and I cannot deny that.

Knowing How To Listen

As a dog owner, you learn how to listen to your pet and to read their body language. There are times when you get your signals crossed and you do not know what your dog wants. Yesterday I misread what Molly wanted and I had to pay the price with some extra dog treats, an apology belly rub, and she got an extra nature walk. I thought she wanted outside when I had made the unforgiveable dog owner mistake and let her water dish run dry.

Easy Like Sunday Morning

I slept in this morning. Those that know me know that sleep does not come easy to me so me sleeping until 9 on a Sunday morning only happens about once a year. I was reminded of the Lionel Richie and the Commodores classic "Easy" (although I think heavy metal group Faith No More did a great version of that song).

"Everybody wants me to be
What they want me to be
I'm not happy when I try to fake it! No!"

Molly allowed me to sleep in which was amazing in itself. When I finally woke up she was snoozing right beside me so she want to take it "Easy like Sunday morning as well.

Dancing In The Rain

Molly and I love taking walks in a light rain. If it is a heavy rain, I am going by myself because Molly does not do heavy rain. Sometimes I have to hold an umbrella over her and I have seen dog rain suits before but I do not think I would get one of those on Molly. We had a thunderstorm that lasted about two hours this afternoon so Molly and I waited that one out inside the house. I do not take any chances that a stray lightning bolt may light me or Molly up. Not that it would be intentional or anything for any misdeeds on our part, but you never know.

A Dog's Life

If there is such a thing as reincarnation I believe I want to come back as a dog. Not just any dog, but I want to come back as Molly. At the very least come back as Molly with an owner like me. I take her out when she wants to go (like I ever had a choice), she gets treats whenever she comes back in, I am more than generous with my bacon, she sleeps on the bed, and there are belly rubs given on command 24/7, and her two food bowls never go empty. July and August are often referred to as "the dog days of summer" but Molly naps all day in the air conditioning and has the prime real estate right in front of the air conditioner. That is not a bad life.

Early Morning Walks

Since we have reached the "dog days" of summer, I have noticed that Molly is much more energetic when we take our early morning walks as compared to our late afternoon walks in the heat of the day. There is a nice breeze usually brewing, the shade encompasses most of our walk, and all you can hear are the birds trying to wake up the day. In the late afternoon, the heat is stifling, there is a lot more sun, and the bugs are swarming. There is a big difference but luckily for Molly, I am an early morning person and I love the solitude of the early morning.

A Learning Experience

Being a friend to a dog is a true learning experience. A lot of life lesson's can be learned from your dog. Molly has taught me patience, discipline, caring, and this morning's lesson was to slow down. I am always in a hurry but I have no place to go. Molly stops and smells everything. I do not have that kind of a nose but Molly refused to go one step more until she smelled that flower and tasted some of the grass. Her opinion was "You have no where you have to be right now." Lesson learned.

The White Trail

Molly is a real bad shedder (I guess I should say that Molly sheds badly but this is me and Molly I am talking about), the worst shedder of any dog I have ever had. Every time we go on one of our nature walks I will brush her off just using my hand. I just swipe her coat with my hand. There is a trail of Molly white dog hair from one end of the property to the other and that covers about five acres. People who are visiting the property for the first time might think that a flock of birds got hit by something or that it was the scene of the world's biggest pillow fight. I do not care how much I brush Molly more and more hair comes off. It is too bad I can't bag it and sell it.

The White Trail

Molly is a real bad shedder (I guess I should say that Molly sheds badly but this is me and Molly I am talking about), the worst shedder of any dog I have ever had. Every time we go on one of our nature walks I will brush her off just using my hand. I just swipe her coat with my hand. There is a trail of Molly white dog hair from one end of the property to the other and that covers about five acres. People who are visiting the property for the first time might think that a flock of birds got hit by something or that it was the scene of the world's biggest pillow fight. I do not care how much I brush Molly more and more hair comes off. It is too bad I can't bag it and sell it.

Bad Attitude

I committed the worst of all doggy daddy deeds the other night when I allowed myself to run out of dog treats. Molly develops a bad attitude when I run out of dog treats and she let me hear about all night long. Bark, bark, bark..... All I got was lip from Molly. I tried to placate her with some Ritz crackers but Ritz crackers are not dog treats. I respired proper order last night when I made a special trip to the other side of the store to buy some dog treats. Molly gave me a treat of my own and she let me sleep in this morning.

Independence Day

In celebration of Independence Day, Molly and I celebrate our day in a different way because she really hates fireworks. I also have to work tonight so I am hoping my neighbors will take it easy on the fireworks and not set the woods (or my house) on fire. Molly had her own independence day back 14 years ago when I adopted Molly from a local animal shelter. Molly was about eight weeks old. She has been by my side ever since. Molly and I take every opportunity we can to have a celebration of life and Independence Day is just one of many.

Copperheads

In historical terms, "Copperheads" were Democrats that opposed the Civil War and wanted a quick peace settlement with the Confederacy. In wildlife terms it is a venomous snake that can kill you dead (and before I get comments or e-mails, I know that is redundant but it helps to emphasize how dangerous they can be).

I went out to take some pictures this afternoon and I decided to leave Molly at home. She has really been looking tired lately, it's hot, and I wasn't going to be gone long. I went to a local place where I thought there was a walking bridge. There was a bridge there but I did not feel comfortable walking on it. It had concrete barriers across the entrance and I walked up to it but did not feel like hopping over the top of it. It turned out to be a good move because in a crack of the concrete barrier, was a Copperhead that was curled up napping. I would have had to go right over the top of him to get across the top of the barrier. I decided that the phot op was a little more than I bargained for and I got back in the car. This is one time I am glad Molly was not with me.

"X" Marks The Spot

Whenever Molly spots something new she is like "That's something new. I had better pee on it to let everyone else know I found it first." I don't know if that is how Lewis and Clark did it but it probably would have saved them a lot of time. Molly always tries to keep a little bit of pee in reserve just in case we find a lot of new things. I don't take her exploring as much as I used to because she is getting some age on her and we have to take it a little bit easier.

The Canine Zombie Apocalypse

I have never watched one episode of The Walking Dead but there is a certain segment of our society that wants to believe that not only is the Zombie Apocalypse possible, it is imminent. I do not know if dogs will be involved in this Apocalypse but I am pretty sure that it is the smell of bacon that will bring the dogs back from the dead. The smell of frying bacon will bring Molly out of a deep slumber every time and from all the way across the house and from behind closed doors. I am pretty sure every animal would have their trigger as to what wakes them up. With the squirrels it would be mushrooms (that is according to the hop head squirrel that lives in the trees in the front yard), with cats I am guessing it would be the smell of tuna, with pigs it would be a big old bucket of slop, and so on and so forth.

The Canine Zombie Apocalypse

I have never watched one episode of The Walking Dead but there is a certain segment of our society that wants to believe that not only is the Zombie Apocalypse possible, it is imminent. I do not know if dogs will be involved in this Apocalypse but I am pretty sure that it is the smell of bacon that will bring the dogs back from the dead. The smell of frying bacon will bring Molly out of a deep slumber every time and from all the way across the house and from behind closed doors. I am pretty sure every animal would have their trigger as to what wakes them up. With the squirrels it would be mushrooms (that is according to the hop head squirrel that lives in the trees in the front yard), with cats I am guessing it would be the smell of tuna, with pigs it would be a big old bucket of slop, and so on and so forth.

The Canine Zombie Apocalypse

I have never watched one episode of The Walking Dead but there is a certain segment of our society that wants to believe that not only is the Zombie Apocalypse possible, it is imminent. I do not know if dogs will be involved in this Apocalypse but I am pretty sure that it is the smell of bacon that will bring the dogs back from the dead. The smell of frying bacon will bring Molly out of a deep slumber every time and from all the way across the house and from behind closed doors. I am pretty sure every animal would have their trigger as to what wakes them up. With the squirrels it would be mushrooms (that is according to the hop head squirrel that lives in the trees in the front yard), with cats I am guessing it would be the smell of tuna, with pigs it would be a big old bucket of slop, and so on and so forth.

The Vulture

I reference Snoopy of Peanuts fame quite a bit in Molly's World and with good reason. I was making my breakfast of bacon and eggs this morning and Molly was ready to pounce as soon as a piece of bacon hit the floor. That reminded me of the character Snoopy used to play, the Vulture. Snoopy would sit on top of his doghouse and act like he was getting ready to swoop in and finish off his prey. That was the way I felt when I was frying my bacon and Molly was watching me intently. She ended up getting her fair share of the bacon so her mission was accomplished. Molly can be quite intimidating.

Sweet Grass

Growing up, I remember my father's hunting dogs would always stop by the side of the road and chew on some grass. My father told me that they did that to make themselves sick as a means of curing what ailed them. Molly eats more grass than any dog I have ever seen but she does not get sick that much. I asked Molly's Vet about it and he believed that she ate "sweet grass" in order to relieve some sort of stomach irritation. Whatever the reason, Molly eats as much grass as a cow and she doesn't seem any worse for it. She still has a healthy appetite so if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The Turtle Is Mine

On our first walk this morning Molly discovered the Baby Mutant Ninja Turtle. He was headed back towards the house (he has evidently decided to make this his home base). Molly snatched the baby turtle up in her mouth and took off with him. I did not know what she had in her mouth and it took forever for me to get her to spit it out but when she did, the turtle came tumbling out of her mouth. The turtle (in the line of great artists we will call him Picasso) came out fighting mad but I picked him up, wiped him, off, and set him back down in the sea of clover.

Milestone

Molly and I hit another milestone yesterday. We had our 20,000th view of Molly's World. Admittedly, probably half of those views were probably mine doing some after the fact proofreading and editing but we still hit 20,000. I realize that some blogs get that in a day's time but we started out small and stayed small in spite of our best efforts to go national. Fame and fortune would not do either of us any good and we enjoy our anonymity. We can go on our walks and go down to the local park without being mobbed for autographs and having to pose for selfies. We have gained a little bit of attention with our blog and it has always been a work in progress.

The Sneaky Molly

Every dog has a sneaky side to them and Molly is no different in that respect. She will bring me her leash and want to be taken for a walk and if I am deeply involved in a project I am working on, my mind is elsewhere. We will take a leisurely walk and when we come back inside after one of our walks, Molly gets two treats. Molly can tell when I am distracted and she will convince me that I have not given her the two treats yet. I will give her two more treats and she graciously accepts them and goes on about her business.

Spinning Her Wheels

I had a chance to observe getting ready for bed last night and it was entertaining to say the least. Molly got in the bed and laid down. Molly evidently was not comfortable so she got up a couple of minutes later and start walking around in a circle looking for the perfect spot. She walked in the circle for about two minutes and then she started using her nose to nudge the covers into a little nest and to move the pillows into just the right position. When Molly was satisfied with her work, she laid down to test it out. She then laid down and was fast asleep. Maybe I should try all of that so I can get a good night's sleep.

Get On Up

I make a lot of pop culture references in my blogs and today's reference is to the Godfather of Soul James Brown and his song "Get On Up." Molly was laying on the hardwood floors in my living room yesterday and she indicated that she wanted a belly rub. She was laying on the far side of the living room and I was sitting in my computer chair. I told her to get up and come to me and she would get her belly rub. She could not get any traction on the floor so what she ended up doing looked like the canine version of the Curly Shuffle. I started singing "Get On Up" to help her out some and cheer her on and all I got was more of the Curly Shuffle. I ended up having to give her a boost.

Molly's Voice

Molly and I were watching one of our favorite shows this morning, Supernatural, and it was the one where Dean had to drink this potion and recite a spell where he could communicate with animals. The main animal on this show was a German Shepherd. The producers gave all of the dogs a different voice and that got me to thinking of what Molly would sound like if she had a voice. I believe Molly would sound like the actress Olivia Ryan Stern who played the part of Tracy Bell on the Supernatural episode "Devil May Care" in season nine, episode two. Olivia Ryan Stern played the role of a smoking hot hunter with a powerful feminine voice. That would definitely be Molly.

A Long Memory

Molly has had more than her share of ticks already this summer and most of them I have had to pull off the hard way. A piece of her skin has come with one of them and Molly has not forgotten that. It had to sting a little bit so now every time I go near Molly with tweezers she looks at me warily and gets up and moves growling as she does so. It is like she is saying "I am not falling for that again" and she definitely wasn't buying into "this is going to hurt me more than it does you." We are in a holding pattern for the time being as far as the tick thing goes until I can figure something else out.

Update- I smothered the tick in Vaseline but Molly still will not let me close enough to remove it from her but at least it is dead.

Ticks

The ticks are bad this year. I am pulling one to two a day off of Molly and she got so tired of me doing it, she started doing it herself. Molly took a nip at me when I was trying to remove one with a pair of tweezers and she convinced me that she could do it herself. I still keep an eye on the situation but Molly has it under control.

Father's Day

I have often seen and heard people refer to their dogs as fur babies or fur children and I guess Molly qualifies for that title. My friends that know her often refer to her as Queen, Princess, or Diva and all of those titles probably apply as well. Molly and I are going to spend a nice quiet day in remembrance of my father better known as Pops. Pops knew dogs. Pops could train a dog to Moon Walk if he wanted to and I have had several people come to me and tell me stories about how Pops had helped them with their dogs. Those kinds of stories always bring a smile to my face and that is the legacy of Pops.

Today Is My Birthday

The 17th was Molly's 14 birthday and it passed with little fanfare (Molly does not wear party hats), we had a quiet celebration of dog treats and we took a nap, and then I had to go to work. We did Molly's favorite activity and took a long walk down by Laurel Creek but she did not get to chase anything. The only thing we saw was the mushroom eating squirrel and I thought it would be best for us not to mess with him. 14 years old is quite a milestone for a dog and Molly ha made it with grace and dignity.

The Baby Mutant Ninja Turtle

When Molly and I were taking our morning walk this morning, Molly immediately caught the scent of something as soon as we stepped off of the porch. After a thorough inspection of the front yard, Molly still could not locate whatever it was that was giving off the scent that only she seemed to be able to smell. I happened to look down and saw a real tiny turtle trying to navigate his way through a sea of clover. I would not let Molly mess with him so I picked him up, took several pictures of him with my cell phone and then my Nikon camera. The turtle kept his head out the entire time and did not retreat into his shell, posed for some selfies, and I put him down and sent him on his way. I guided Molly back in the house before we found out if the turtle was really a ninja. Who wants their ass kicked by a baby turtle?

The Baby Mutant Ninja Turtle

When Molly and I were taking our morning walk this morning, Molly immediately caught the scent of something as soon as we stepped off of the porch. After a thorough inspection of the front yard, Molly still could not locate whatever it was that was giving off the scent that only she seemed to be able to smell. I happened to look down and saw a real tiny turtle trying to navigate his way through a sea of clover. I would not let Molly mess with him so I picked him up, took several pictures of him with my cell phone and then my Nikon camera. The turtle kept his head out the entire time and did not retreat into his shell, posed for some selfies, and I put him down and sent him on his way. I guided Molly back in the house before we found out if the turtle was really a ninja. Who wants their ass kicked by a baby turtle?

The Baby Mutant Ninja Turtle

When Molly and I were taking our morning walk this morning, Molly immediately caught the scent of something as soon as we stepped off of the porch. After a thorough inspection of the front yard, Molly still could not locate whatever it was that was giving off the scent that only she seemed to be able to smell. I happened to look down and saw a real tiny turtle trying to navigate his way through a sea of clover. I would not let Molly mess with him so I picked him up, took several pictures of him with my cell phone and then my Nikon camera, and I put him down and sent him on his way. I guided Molly back in the house before we found out if the turtle was really a ninja. Who wants their ass kicked by a baby turtle?

Stomach Pills Vs. Dog Treats

I have been taking over the counter acid reducers for I don't know how long and I usually just take them at night. The other afternoon I was having the heartburn from hell and other issues, so I headed into the kitchen to take a few of the stomach pills to calm my stomach down. I had something else on my mind and I, out of habit, reached into Molly's bag of dog treats and grabbed a couple of those instead. Luckily I caught the strong aroma of bacon before I put them in my mouth. Molly believes they are very tasty but I am not wanting to find out. I would have to say that the moral of this story is that Molly has me pretty well trained. She ended up getting the treats as she also smelled the aroma of bacon when I opened the bag.

The Heat Of The Day

As I have written before, the heat really slows Molly down. Our morning walks could be times with a sun dial on really hot mornings and our first heat wave of the summer arrived with a lot of fanfare from the weather forecasters this morning. Molly and I did not need someone to tell us that our ass was going to be dragging. Because of my second shift work schedule now, Molly does not have to walk in the worst heat of the day but it I still bad enough. We both just keep plodding along.

The Molly Factor

Whenever Molly became major part of my life, I became cognizant of what I call "the Molly factor." Everyone I brought into my life I introduced to Molly. She quickly let me know who she liked and who she didn't like. She did not like damn near all of them. Molly saw the women that I introduced to her as threats and she treated them as such. She bit quiet a few of them, snapped at others, and has only really liked one. The Molly factor took no prisoners and spared none.

Falcons On The Hunt

I was sitting outside at one of the picnic tables the other day and I heard the peregrine falcon that has taken up residence in the woods near my house except she sounded a whole lot closer than normal. I started looking in the trees to see if I could spot the falcon and sure enough, she was perched in a tree not to far from where I was sitting. I do not know if the falcon was taunting its prey or what, but the falcons cries were coming fast and furious. I kept watching to see what would happen and the falcon flew from its perch, came screaming through the woods, and snatched a much smaller bird out of mid air and choked the life out of it. It was quick, brutal, and efficient. The falcon coasted further down into the woods with its prize firmly gripped in its claws. I did not need to see what happened after that because I believe the basic "rules of the jungle" were applied and the small bird became lunch for the falcon family. It was an impressive and powerful display of nature.

A Few Days Off

Molly and I decided to take a few days off from our blogging to recharge our batteries. Today we are staying inside to take a break from the heat as the temperature is supposed to reach about 90 degrees. Molly and I do not handle the heat well and we look like two Bedouins staggering across the desert looking for an oasis. I can see Molly wearing a white cotton tob and an aba with a kufeya covering her head with an igal holding it in place. I believe Molly went set the standard for Bedouin dogs. Thank God for air conditioning.

Signs

Molly has always sent me these really subtle signs when she is trying to communicate with me. Standing beside me breathing on me after we get back in from one of our walks means that I forgot to give her the two treats she is allotted, cutting these eye watering farts that make you gag means that she needs to go out real bad, and barking at me and continually going to the door also means she needs out. Nothing will get her outside faster than the eye watering farts if at the very least to get her outside and let my house air out. She knows how to communicate with authority.

A Cat's Eyes

Molly and I were finishing up our afternoon walk yesterday and I happened to see the orange tabby neighborhood cat keeping a watchful eye on us as we walked down the driveway. All of the cats in the neighborhood keep a watchful eye on Molly. The orange tabby watched us walk down the driveway and when Garfield decided we were not a threat, he had a seat in the driveway to see if he could sniff out some dinner. This property is a fertile hinting ground for all animals and I guess it depends on what end of the food chain you are on.

The Bacon Monster Lives

I find out this morning that the Bacon Monster is alive and well and living in my house. I made one of my favorite breakfasts this morning, fresh blueberry pancakes and four strips of bacon, and as soon as the smell of bacon wafted through the house and into the bedroom, Molly was up like a hot and sitting beside me. That is her way of reminding me that she is still here, she loves bacon, and that she needs to get her share. The reason I fry four pieces of bacon is because Molly gets one. I was lucky enough that she gave me my finger back this time. I will call it a win/win.

The Squirrel On 'Shrooms- Round Three

Molly and I ran into the squirrel again and he was loading up on mushrooms one more time. I do not know if it is the same squirrel or if he is passing the word among his friends that this is some quality home grown that he has discovered. At any rate, this squirrel was chewing this huge mushroom and me and Molly walked right up on him. He then took off up a tree and then he was hanging upside down from a tree limb still eating away on the mushroom. If animals can get drunk then I am sure they can probably suffer from the hallucinogenic effects of mushrooms. Maybe they are just tasty and not mind altering.

The 1000th Blog Post

This is the 1000th post in Molly's World. The media was not waiting out in the front yard to interview me and Molly, there was no parade, and no confetti falling from the ceiling. The President of the United States did not even call us to congratulate us. We started with no fan fare and we made it this far with no recognition. I never set out to be a writer but now I have decided I want this to be a career path. For all of the attention my blog gets, I may want to rethink that career path but I enjoy writing whether anyone reads it or not. It is now time for Molly and me to take our celebratory walk around the neighborhood.

Squirrel on 'Shrooms- Double Vision

I do not know what is going on with the squirrel population at my house. I saw a squirrel with a monster mushroom yesterday afternoon and Molly and I walked right up on him before he ever ran off. He made sure he took the mushroom with him and scampered up and tree with the mushroom in his mouth. The mushroom is either very tasty or the squirrel is addicted to the hallucinogenic already. I know that they have done studies where various animals have become addicted to alcohol and nicotine and other drugs but I have never heard of a squirrel on mushrooms.

All The World's A Stage

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." Would I look like a bigger geek if I used this as a quote from Shakespeare's As You Like It Act II, Scene VII or would I look cooler if I used this as a quote from the rock group Rush's song, Limelight. Whether I am quoting William Shakespeare or Getty Lee they both left out a major player on the world's stage and that is the dog. In Shakespeare's version a man plays seven parts. I would have to say that I am stage six whereas Molly is in the seventh stage of her life but I do love my dog even more. She took care of me all of those years when I was depressed and suicidal and now it is my turn to take care of her.

Squirrel on Mushrooms

The title of this song sounds like the title of a bad punk rock song but when Molly and I were taking our afternoon walk yesterday, we encountered a squirrel furiously nibbling on something. We had a cookout the night before so I figured it had grabbed up a piece of hotdog bun or something someone had left behind and was having a snack. Molly and I walked over to take a look and I discovered that the squirrel had been eating a mushroom. I was surprised because I had never known a squirrel to eat mushrooms before.

The White Squirrel Festival was in Brevard this weekend and I suppose you could make the comparison that the White Squirrel Festival is Brevard's version of Woodstock and maybe the squirrel was in a celebratory mood and was indulging in some hallucinogenics to get the party started. Then again, that is the last thing me and Molly need is a squirrel running around here hopped up on mushrooms.

Molly And Cell Phones

Molly loves it when I get a phone call in the middle of one of our walks. She knows I am easily distracted and I will concentrate more on talking rather than where we are going. That means she gets away with going wherever she wants to. She explores every nook and cranny that may get her in trouble and get us snake bit. That is why I am so against texting and driving. It seems that I should be able to multitask better than this especially after 14 years of me and Molly being together.

Out Of Treats

I committed the ultimate sin last night as far as Molly is concerned- I ran out of dog treats. I did not realize I was at the critical level until I reached into the bag full of dog treats and it was empty. Molly does not understand empty unless it is her dog food bowl and she believes that the dog treat bag is bottomless. When I told Molly it was empty she gave me that raised eyebrow look that said "What do you mean were are out of dog treats?" I had a friend of mine's 50th birthday party to attend last night so I could not go get the dog treat's until after church this morning. Molly had to make do with a white cheddar cheese cracker. It is not the same but she accepted my substitution.

Adapting

As Molly and I grow older, we have had to adapt to our circumstances. Molly is just about deaf now and her eyesight is going fast and I have always said that a dog can adapt much faster than his owner can. I have to make sure that I am in front of her now when I say something to her so she can see me and she has to be so close to m e now that she is touching me when she lays down on the bed or sits beside my chair. She is more prone to lay in the doorway of a room so she can see me coming and going and she needs to know where I am at most of the time.

Summer May Finally Be Here

Molly, unlike most living creatures, prefers the cold of the winter to the heat of the summer. She has a thick fur coat, the heat really makes her lethargic, and our walks are more of a struggle for both of us. It looks like our last chilly spell is officially over and the heat is here. Luckily for us, we have a big patch of woods that we can walk around in and there is plenty of shade. There is also a creek but Molly has no interest at all in going for a swim.

Back On Her Feet

Molly was back on her feet today for the first time in a couple of days and it was good to see her almost back to normal. She was prowling around the grounds of the Old Homeplace, keeping all of the other animals in line, and remarking her territory. She hasn't quite got her strength back yet so she had to take more naps than normal and she even talked me into taking about a two hour nap this afternoon. Molly made a convincing argument.

Sick Day

Molly and I had to take a sick day yesterday. She was up all night Sunday night with a stomach ailment and when Molly is sick, I take care of her. Sunday and on into Monday afternoon, my care of Molly consisted of taking her outside every thirty minutes or so because her stomach was upset. She had a couple of "accidents" in the house on those occasions when I dozed off but that was hardly her fault. She is much better now and I can get some rest.

The Secret To Life

I was a big fan of the television show Married With Children and Molly was a big fan of the dog on the show, Buck. I remember one episode in particular where Al was discussing the meaning of life. Buck's philosophy was that the meaning of life "was knowing how to sniff good butt." I have been thinking about that statement in regards to how Molly deals with people. She likes very few people and she will know people for years and not like them and she will meet a complete stranger and be trying to crawl up in their lap and try to be instant friends. Molly has a nose like a bloodhound so maybe there might be something to the whole sniffing thing.

I'm Walkin'

"I'm walkin', yes indeed, I'm talkin'"..." were the lyrics to a Fats Domino song (One of my Mom's favorite artists when she was growing up) that came to mind when my girlfriend had to walk Molly after church today because of my lingering foot pain. Molly always gets a charge out of someone else walking her because she gets to do whatever she wants to do and go wherever she wants to go. When she realized my girlfriend had the leash and I was limping back towards the house, Molly headed off down the trail with a smile on her face and a bounce in her step. Sure enough, I had to go outside after about 20 minutes and herd Molly back into the house because she wasn't going to volunteer to come in on her own.

The Rain Is Gone

The rain has finally left the area (at least for the time being) and that gave me and Molly a reprieve. The most rain I had to walk in was a heavy drizzle so it wasn't so bad and I did not have to hold the umbrella over Molly like I normally do. She was good with that. When there is a heavy mist like that, I feel like I am walking in my own personal rain forest because the leaves are so heavy and wet. The leaves also provide a great cover from the rain as long as you can avoid the big drips.

Rainy Day Inspiration

It is chilly and rainy here today and I love taking walks with Molly in the rain. It is during these walks that I draw a lot of my inspiration. Some of my best thinking is done when I have on my Outback hat and my raincoat and Molly is pulling on the leash wanting to smell something in the woods or in the grass beside the driveway. Watching Molly still living her life to the fullest that she can in spite of her advanced age provides me with inspiration. She can't hear, her eyesight is failing her, but all I have to do is pat her on the head and show her the leash and she heads for the door.

Random Thoughts

I have so many videos of dog's chasing their tails on social media. They are usually funny and some dogs can chase it for a while and they never seem to tire out. Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. A dog chasing his tail and Einstein's definition are very closely related. I guess when I look at the past couple of years of my life, I have been insanely chasing my tail. I finally get the ship righted and then I run into the iceberg. My results are going to be the same as the Titanic's but with much less fan fare. I doubt I will even get a movie out of this.

Bed Hog

Mine and Molly's fights over bed space are becoming legendary. Last night's could be labeled "the brawl for it all." It was chilly and I just wanted to squeeze under the covers. Molly was having none of that and she refused to move. She had burrowed herself out a comfortable niche in the bed and she was not moving. I had to try to squeeze underneath Molly and she rolled over me like a wave in the ocean. All I got was a dirty look. She still did not budge. At some point and time during the night, Molly did get tired of me tossing and turning and after a few growls thrown in my direction, she begrudgingly moved.

Towel Dry

Molly believes that the best part of walking in the rain is when I towel her off and try to dry her out. It wasn't raining too hard this morning but it was still raining enough to get her good and damp. She always goes through a routine. She insists on being toweled off first before she get her treats. She always follows me around the house as her way of reminding me that she does need to be toweled off and she always backs up to me. She loves the feel of the nice dry towel (she prefers it to be warm) thrown over her and she wants the full massage treatment. This is Molly's World.

Spiders And Snakes

I am just one of a very large percentage of Americans that do not like spiders and snakes. A spider will stop me in my tracks and the sight of a snake will send me screaming into the day like a school girl (no offense to school girls anywhere because I have seen my share of guys scream including myself). Yesterday I went hiking (without Molly) and I saw three or four rattlesnakes and a black snake. Rattlesnakes I am staying away from. Period. Black snakes I just keep my distance from. I keep Molly away from snakes. I am afraid of what her reaction would be. I am really not looking forward to seeing what my reaction would be, either.

The Shedding Season

Even though the temperature was down in the low 40's last night, Molly made it very clear this afternoon that the shedding season is officially here. I was petting her out by the picnic tables and the fur was just flying off her. I do not understand how the dog is not completely bald by now. Molly has a very thick coat but luckily she is a short hair dog or it could be much worse. The white hair of hers stands out against everything so everyone knows I have a dog (like they didn't already.) If cloning becomes immediately available, I can create my own Molly army.

A Great Day To Walk The Dog

When I started out with Molly about lunchtime today, the first thought I had was "It's a great day to walk the dog." The temperature was perfect, the skies were crystal blue, there was a slight breeze at our back, and everything is so green. Then it occurred to me that any day is a great day to walk your dog. That means that Molly and I woke, we were able to get out of bed, and we are able to walk. As simple as all of that sounds, over the course of the past six months, it has not been that easy for either one of us. Getting up was a struggle and walking was the biggest struggle of them all. Never take the simplest of things for granted.

Country Roads

I was out walking Molly this morning and the old song "Country Roads" by John Denver popped into my head. I reference a lot of music in my blogs but I am not an expert on music. Every once in a while, especially when Molly and I are on one of our walks, I get inspired. This is a great time of year. The sun is out, it is not too hot, there is a breeze blowing, and the colors of the green of the grass and trees and the blue of the sky is so vibrant. That is what made me think of country roads. I do not think you would get this kind of a view in the city. This is the perfect place for me to be right now. Molly and I walking down a country road, smelling the fresh air, and searching for the meaning of life. I could not have a better place to look for it.

The Luna Moth

Molly and I encounter several animals, birds, and other assorted wild life in our daily walks and at times we come across things that I have never seen before. Last night we came across what I found out to be a Luna Moth. I had never seen one before and Molly gave it the sniff test and evidently it either passed or didn't pass because Molly elected to leave it alone. I grabbed my camera, posted the pic on Twitter and Facebook and researched it on google. I have some very learned friends who immediately recognized. Molly was rightly impressed with their knowledge.

Have Belly Rubs- Will Deliver

All of my fiends that have met Molly pretty much agree that she is spoiled rotten. In fact, that is usually the first words out of their mouth. Those same people are pretty much the one's that Molly likes the least. This morning Molly is laying on the other side of the living room and she is growling and woofing and carrying on and doing her best Shemp of the Three Stooges impersonation. The one where Shemps spins around on the floor. I have to get up from my desk and walk across the living room just to give Molly a belly rub. I then had to get up and walk across the living room to hand feed her some homemade sausage biscuits that I had made for breakfast. Spoiled rotten? Molly disagrees.

A Sea Of Clover

Molly and I pretty well follow the same path during our morning walk. The crew that does the landscaping here only mows the grass about once a month and there is one section of the yard that is like walking through a sea of clover. It is a good thing Molly is a fairly big dog or she might get lost. The clover is so soft and so beautifully green. It almost looks like it should be in a Lucky Charms commercial. This sea of clover is Molly's favorite part of our walk. Molly just stands in the middle of it, takes a deep breath, and then she starts munching on a few clover petals like Bessie the cow. Clover must be a delicacy in the animal kingdom but I am not ready to take that plunge yet, not even with salad dressing.

The Running Of The Cats

Pamplona, Spains has the Running of the Bulls and evidently Flat Rock has the running of the cats. When I pulled into my driveway after church this morning three or four cats darted across the driveway in front of my car. There was an orange tabby, a gray and white, a solid gray, and the obligatory black cat. There always seems to be a black cat crossing in front of me. He might as well be carrying a wagon full of mirrors for me to break. I believe the cats are planning an organized attack on Molly because they are tired of her chasing them off. I live on a mouse and mole habitat that is a very fertile hunting ground. The cats cannot do their thing if Molly is chasing them around. Getting mugged by the neighborhood gang of cats is not my idea of a good time.

Don't Doubt The Dog

I should have learned years ago not to doubt Molly when she is trying to tell me something. This morning Molly and I had an animated discussion as to why she needed to go out again, only an hour after she had been out the first time of the morning. I rarely, if ever, win an argument with Molly so I decided it was in my best interests to take her out when she told me she had to go. I got up, threw some clothes on, and out into the chilly morning we went. It did not take Molly long to convince me that she really did need out, I should learn to listen to her without giving her any lip, and more importantly, be happy about it.

Molly The Nurse

Molly has worn many hats over the years and she get to play nurse whenever I am not feeling well. My allergies have gone haywire over the course of the past couple of weeks and Molly has been right there every night monitoring the situation. I will be the first to admit that when my nose gets stopped up, I snore, just a little. It must have been pretty bad last night because Molly woke me up about 4:30 and then she followed me around the house while I went to the bathroom and checked my messages. She then made sure I got back in the bed and I could feel her up around my face to make sure I was breathing over the next couple of hours. I will not be checking out of this world on Molly's watch.

Cinco De Mayo

Someone of Hispanic descent told me that Cinco de Mayo was an American invention created so Americans would have an excuse to drink. Like we need another excuse to drink. We could celebrate National Potato Day by drinking vodka. I can't see Molly donning the sombrero and drinking tequila shots with the Chihuahua up the street (Molly could do some Taco Bell and she can say "Yo quiero Taco Bell just as well as the chihuahua) but we will celebrate the "holiday" quietly and at home. Molly may invite the Chihuahua over but I am kind of doubting it.

Period Of Adjustment

Molly and I have entered a period of adjustment regarding my new schedule and she is begrudgingly accepting it. That is if you call acceptance turning a lamp over and chewing on my laundry. Molly really does not have a choice in the matter. She is much more clingy now that I have gone back to work but I have spent the last six months with her, basically 24/7. I am sure there is a sense of loss there. There is for me. I miss Molly. When I do come home she hogs the bed even more and steals all of the covers so I will give her that one. With Sammy the Bear roaming the property again, I am really not found of walking her in the dark and that flashlight is not that much help. We have survived this long without a boy scout merit badge, I guess we can survive another summer.

A Mole Playing Possum

I got to play Dan & Molly: CSI again and I think the potential is there for a reality show. I have seen the shows Alaskan Bush People and Mountain Monsters on television and they will put any idiot in front of a camera and call it a reality show. Molly and I (me being the idiot) would love to have that opportunity. Molly is also very photogenic. Just check out my Facebook page. Molly caught a mole the other morning and as soon as she captured it in her mouth, the mole goes limp. I thought it was dead. I made Molly spit it out because I did not want her to have mole breath all day. We went out a little bit later and the mole was still alive. I touched it with a stick and it immediately goes limp. I walk off and it starts digging again. The mole was faking being dead or playing possum, so its predators would move on to something else. A job well done but Molly finished it off later. I learn something new every day.

A New Schedule

I had to make my return to work yesterday and I am working second shift for the time being. Any time my schedule changes, Molly's schedule has to change as well. Molly must have had a rough afternoon because when I opened the door to the bedroom when I got home, she had knocked a lamp off of my nightstand, knocked my laundry into the floor, and a few other things were thrown around the room. Molly may not be happy about it but she does understand to keep her supplied in dog biscuits and the occasional pizza crust, I do have to work.

Mayday

Mine and Molly's goal with this blog is to educate as well as entertain and since it is May 1st, I did a little bit of research on the word mayday and how it became the international distress signal. A senior radio officer, Frederick Stanley Mockford, at the Croydon Airport in London was asked to think of a word that would be understood by all pilots and ground crew in the event of an emergency. Since most of his communication was with Le Bourget Airport in Paris, he came up with "mayday" from the French word "m'aider", a shortened version of the phrase "venez m'aider" which translated is "come and help me." The word mayday as a distress call was adopted internationally in 1927.

The only mayday that Molly and I need is help getting off the couch and if you come over, how about stopping somewhere and picking us up a pizza. It would save us a trip. Molly has a preference for Domino's crust if that helps any.

The Gordie Howe Hat Trick

In hockey a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" is when a player scores a goal, has an assist, and gets into a fight. Molly had a version of the canine hat trick the other night. She got into a rumble with two Pugs that live up the street, she took a dump in the neighbor's yard (the man deserved it), but she did make a new human friend. The two Pugs did not realize there was a new dog in the 'hood but they found out quickly that someone else was in charge. I did not let Molly get any farther than woofing and barking at them but she told them off and they did not return. The neighbor was teasing Molly by trying to meow like a cat (what a dumbass) but what he doesn't realize is that Molly's hearing is about gone and she did not hear a thing. I still felt like a little payback was in order and Molly does have a thing for mailboxes.

Home At Last

Not that Molly and I did not enjoy our stay and appreciate the hospitality of Maggie and her family for the three weeks that we had to stay there, but Molly believes that there is no place like home. We have much more room to roam over here and Molly loves a good walk. In order to show her appreciation for the hospitality, Molly left a big pile by the mailbox before we pulled out of the driveway this morning. Nothing says "thank you" like a big smelly one in a high traffic area. Molly and I promptly took a walk to the creek when we got back home and she had to re-christen all of the high traffic areas on our property. It is great to be an owner of a dog. You get to watch your dog do all of the things you wish you could get away with.

Driving Miss Molly

I am writing this post as Molly has decided to sleep in this morning and that is a rare occasion for her so I am going to let her sleep as long as she wants to. While our house is under "renovation", we have spent a lot of time on the road shuttling back and forth between houses. Luckily for me, Molly enjoys riding but a trip every day is starting to wear her out so we are both going to kick back and relax today. Molly is getting the hang of riding again and she is getting much better at all of the starting and stopping I have to do. She has learned to anticipate when I am stopping and starting and she braces herself accordingly. She has learned how to lean into the curves and she gets into that. She takes a spill in the back sat once in a while and me stopping the car to help her back to her feet has all become part of driving Miss Molly.

The Pooh Analogy

Winnie the Pooh lived in Hundred Acre Wood and Molly and I live on only five acres and in order to give it a name, I guess we will call it Laurel Creek Woods. We have several characters in our woods although not quite as colorful as Winnie the Pooh's but all characters nonetheless. Sammy the Bear is the most recognizable personality (it is always the bear), Gehrig the Groundhog would have to be next and probably the most frequent visitor, the squirrels which are too many to name, a couple of chipmunks that make a very rare appearance, some uninvited snakes, a covey of different birds, and the Peregrine falcons. We probably have the most interaction with the squirrels and they are quite personable and keep an eye out for us.

Not Leaving Me Out

Two adult people on a twin sized mattress is bad enough but throw in a 55 pound dog (she has still got her winter weight on) and cozy does not even begin to describe it. However- suffocating, claustrophobic, I felt like one of the Three Stooges in a phone booth, a sardine in a can, and there are numerous others- does begin to describe it. With the Three Stooges reference, Molly would have to be Moe, my girlfriend would have to be Larry, and I would have to be Curly (nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!) Them again, Molly could somehow manage to root me out of a king size bed.

The Open Road

Molly and I love the open road but I don't think anyone is ever going to confuse us with Easy Rider or anything. Several years ago the rock band Eve 6 wrote a song called "The Open Road Song." The song opens with the line that I thought was perfect for me and Molly as we hit the open road this afternoon- "Tonight I feel ambitious and so does my foot as it sinks on the pedal." I decided to take a different route to mine and Molly's temporary lodging tonight and not go through town but hit the highway instead of going through town. It took me about five or six miles out of my way but it was much easier on Molly and that made it well worth it. All of the starting and stopping through town is very tough on Molly and there is not as much of that on the highway. Molly enjoyed putting her face in the crack of the window and putting her head to the window.

Follow The Pizza

Since I have moved away from town and out into the country, there are no pizza places that deliver to my house which has greatly upset Molly. The other day we were hanging out at my girlfriend's house when her son walked in carrying two Little Caesar's pizza boxes. The smell of the fresh pizza kind of grabbed Molly and lifted her up onto her feet and pointed her in the direction of his room. She followed along behind him and stood in the doorway to his room waiting to be offered her cut of the pirate's booty (so to speak). She prefers the crust. She did everything but the Snoopy Dance to get his attention. Unfortunately for Molly, that offer never came but at least she got to smell that pizza.

Location, Location, Location

In Molly's World it is about the same as it is in real estate, it is all about location, location, location. Molly strategically places herself in a location where there is the most pedestrian traffic. That allows her to get the most attention as people trip over her, walk around her, and completely avoid her. Her favorite location is in the doorway between the kitchen and the dining room. She maximizes the attention she receives and she also might get some scraps thrown her way or pick up a crumb or two. She is living the life.

Molly Dee-Oh-Double Gee

I finally figured out what Molly's rapper name should be. She has the bad attitude of a rapper, she could have a posse if she wanted one, and she does like the bling. I see Molly as more of a Queen Latifah type than I do anyone else. Molly has been livin' large all of these years in anonymity and now her diva personality is taking over.
Who can lick her butt and do the sit and spin,
she'll be done in just a min,
who else can it be?
It's Molly Dee-Oh-Double Gee!

Road Rage

I will admit that Molly and I have had a few incidents of road rage before. I get pissed at the occasional driver who does something stupid and careless and Molly gets mad at the dog in the other car. Nothing will get me madder than when the other driver does something careless when I have Molly in the car. We were already in one accident last summer. Yesterday afternoon I had Molly in the car and two drivers decided to pull out in front of me at various times on my way to my destination. I don't know if it is because my car looks like the sole survivor of a demolition derby or what but how about showing a little respect for the dog. The other drivers got a "great cussin'" as my grandfather liked to say even if they did not get to hear it. Molly threw in a few "woofs" and threatened to stick her paw in some ass and the cussin' was complete.

Molly: Mole Hunter

Molly may be an old dog but she can still sniff out a mole with the best of them. I can't decide if she should be "The Mole Hunter" or "The Mole Patrol." I like the marketing possibilities of the Mole Patrol better. I took her to one of the local parks this morning and she immediately sniffed one out and started digging. I turned into Elmer Fudd again. I need to buy one of those great hunting hats that Elmer wore but Molly and I do have an agreement: No guns. I wouldn't shoot one anyway but I believe even a .22 bullet would obliterate a poor, helpless mole. Molly and I are in disagreement on my "no kill" policy but she gets one by me once in a while.

A Real Bed Versus The Pet Bed

I dragged out Molly's old pet bed the other day and put it in my room so she could have a choice of where to sleep. I put it in the floor at the foot of the bed and she must have thought I brought it out for myself. She barely glanced at it as she dragged herself onto my bed and assumed her position. Her position is stretched out in the middle of the bed while she hogs all of the pillows. The pet bed went right back into storage and will be donated to an animal shelter where it will be used and greatly appreciated. It is not that Molly did not appreciate it but she likes to help out the less fortunate dogs out there.

Molly's Version Of The Road Trip

This is mine and Molly's road trip in Molly's words: Oh boy, Dan is getting out his suitcase and laying it on the bed. I will hop up on the bed and casually lay across his suitcase so he doesn't forget me. He is putting his clothes in. Hey, don't forget my new leash and collar you got me. He is putting some food in the cooler. Pack my treats while you are at it. He is taking the whole bag of dog food and he is putting the treats with it. Dan is a good guy. I have trained him well. A suitcase, a whole bag of dog food.... We are going to be gone a while. He is packing the car so I better make sure he trips over me a couple of times so he doesn't forget me. He is getting the leash....

Oh boy! I am going on the road trip with him! Snoopy dance! (I dance more like Dan which is not a pretty sight). He wants me to use the bathroom before I get in his car. I will pee in his shoes if he wants me to. I will leave a little piss by the walkway so everyone know I am still around... He must think he is talking to a puppy. I am getting in the front seat. He must think he is driving Miss Daisy. One more red light.... Woof! Look at that dog in that other car! Who does he think he is!? Woof! Hey fool! You better slow that car down! Don't come driving down through here like you crazy! This is a neighborhood, this ain't no residential district! Let me outta this car! Woof! Woof! Your mother was a mutt!!

We are here.... I need to go mark a few spots so everyone knows I have arrived. There's Maggie.... She lets me do whatever I want. Maggie always likes it when I give her a big kiss after I have licked my butt... I am going to enjoy it here.

Road Trip With Molly

Molly and I got to take a rare road trip the other day even if it was only across town. We are also going to be there for about five days. Molly never seems to feel comfortable when we go somewhere to stay but she prefers being with me than staying in a kennel so she will take this one for the team. She always knows when I pull out the suitcase that we are going somewhere and she gets all excited. She just loves taking a ride. Molly is consistently underfoot when I am trying to pack the car like I am going to forget my most prized possession.

Got It!

Molly and I had to take our walk in the dark this morning. All of the creatures of the night were still out at that time and I am always on the look out for the creepy crawlers and all of the hairier creatures that can slap all of the ass off of us. Luckily we didn't see any of those kind of creatures but a mole had the misfortune of running right into Molly. In Molly's World, the animals usually do not deliver themselves so it caught me and Molly by surprise but Molly reacted much quicker than I did. The mole didn't last long and it took a few minutes for me to convince her to drop it. Molly did not consider that fair because she had killed it fair and square but mole breath can be deadly in its own right.

Molly Wants A Cracker

I do not know where the whole thing of "Polly wants a cracker" originated but Molly enjoys a good cracker once in a while. She is very fond of Ritz crackers but she will still take a soda cracker or two if I am eating a bowl of soup. I researched the phrase Polly wants a cracker and it's origins date back to the early 1800's, possibly sooner. No one seems to be able to pinpoint the exact date or instance but Molly and I will take credit for starting the dog version of that phrase.

A Balancing Act

Every once in a while, Molly will finally find the perfect spot to do her business but the problem is that it is on the side of a hill or an embankment. Watching her trying to figure out how to prop herself up at an angle is funny. She usually uses the tripod approach, using two feet to anchor herself down with her foot in the back and one free foot to use for balance. She has yet to fall over or to roll down the hill. She could have a doggie training video on YouTube on how to pull this off. Someone once said "Sometimes it takes a rock and a feather to achieve balance."

Asleep By My Feet

I always had a romantic vision of when I got older of me sitting in an easy chair with a dog asleep by my feet ready to spring to their feet on my command. I thought of that image this afternoon when Molly was sleeping by my feet. As far as springing to her feet on my command? Molly has never been the "fetch my slippers" or "bring the newspaper" kind of dog. She believes that if I wanted those sorts of things, I should have hired a maid. She will bring me her leash so we can go on walks and I am alright with that. I was telling my physical therapist the other day that I walked my dog six or seven times a day and her response was that her dogs would be jealous of that kind of a walking schedule. I have the time now and I am going to do it as long as Molly and I are able.

Down Wind

My father always got irritated with his bird dogs because they would always run way out in front of him and take a real smelly one and then he would have to smell it for about one hundred yards. I always thought it was funny. That is until Molly did it to me last night. Flowers were wilting, flies were dropping out of the air, and the neighbors started complaining. It was that bad/good. Molly was proud of it and a few of her dog buddies came by to admire it. She did not eat anything unusual. She just had her dog treats and her food. I need to change dog food and treats.

On A Roll

Molly was feeling her oats today and that is always a beautiful thing to see especially at her age. We are going through another spell of cold weather and that seems to always get Molly fired up. At one point this afternoon she even jogged around the house. She must have wanted out six or seven times today. I will take her out as many times as she wants even if I have to crawl through the front yards and the woods. It is a beautiful thing.

Dog Proverbs

Dogs have long been associated with wisdom. I decided to do some research on dog proverbs and just about every language and culture has a proverb that is associated with dogs. There were a few that caught my immediate attention. There is a Latin proverb that says "Beware of a silent dog and still water." Molly is rarely silent because if she does not like someone, she is very vocal about it. There is a Russian proverb that says "If you are a host to your guest, be a host to his dog also." Molly and I are usually a package deal. There is an Italian proverb that states "Those who will sleep with dogs will rise with fleas." Molly resented that one because she does not have fleas.

Life Slows Down

My time of convalescence is nearing its end and that makes me very sad. I need to get back to work but my period of physical healing has allowed me to slow life down. It has allowed me to spend much more time with Molly in the twilight of her life than I ordinarily would have been able to spend. It has allowed me to absorb our walks rather than just take them and it has allowed me to stop and smell the roses with Molly rather than just sprint by them because I have somewhere else I have to be. Molly has taught me how to slow down and appreciate the small things going on around me. I am hoping the lessons were not lost on me and I can carry these teachings back to work with me.

The Chicken Wing

I woke up late this morning (and yes, 7 AM is late for me) and Molly was crashed at the end of the bed. I started rubbing her belly and her right hind leg started flapping like a chicken wing. Usually when I think of chicken wings I think of Hooter's but I have been reading a lot of baseball history here lately (in particular Dan Epstein's two books Big Hair and Plastic Grass and Stars and Strikes) and I thought of dimunitive Joe Morgan, the second baseman for the Cincinnati Reds and the Big Red Machine in the 1970's. He was a left handed hitter and whenever the pitcher would throw the ball towards home plate his left arm would start flapping like a chicken wing. I believe some would call that a Segui analogy but as long as I can make the connection, it is all good.

The Working Dog

One of my Twitter followers is always showing pictures of his hunting dogs and those pictures remind me of my father and his hunting dogs but in my house, they were called "bird dogs." My father only hunted the elusive grouse and quail. Pops started training his dogs when they were about eight to ten weeks old and he finally settled on Brittany Spaniels as his dogs of choice. He would not turn down any good dog but he said that the Brittany Spaniels were easier to train and not as "hard headed." I was not a hunter and I never carried a gun but I liked going out into the fields and the woods just to watch my father work with his dogs. Watching my fathers and his dog hunt a covey of grouse was a well choreographed thing of beauty. His dog Lady probably would have moon walked to where the birds were if he wanted her to.

The Visitor

I had a visit from the neighbor's dog Amber just a few minutes ago and I cannot resist sneaking outside to pet her. Most everyone else ignores her and her eyes light up when she sees me coming. Amber is a beautiful Golden Retriever and a very sweet and gentle dog. She comes down here quite often and makes her rounds of the property. Molly can't figure out Amber and Molly always takes an aggressive stance towards her but Amber just ignores her and sidles up beside me so she can be petted. I always look forward to her visits and I try to look out for her as much as I can.

The Friendly Neighborhood Falcons

As I have been walking Molly this week, I have noticed the distinctive presence of two peregrine falcons. One afternoon the two falcons were two their best Snoopy and Red Baron routine and it was quite impressive. They were flying overhead, coasting on their spread wings, and they would swoop by each other, and bump into each other against a clear blue sky. According to the website rfalconcam.com, it is an aerobatic courtship ritual and as near as I can tell, they have a nest close to my house. I have seen them a couple of more times, most of the times together.

There are several videos on youtube of falcons attacking people and pets. Molly is a little bit too big for them to carry off but they can still put a hurting on us. We must have got a little too close to their nest one day because listening to their cries, they were not too happy with us. We left the area as quickly as we could because we did not want to ruffle their feathers so to speak, and I will donate that area of the property to Mother Nature.

Mother Nature

It has been a full moon the past couple of nights (The full Moon officially occurred on 23 March at 8:01 a.m.) and I read somewhere that if a full moon occurred in March, it was referred to as a "Worm Moon." According to the website almanac.com, "at the time of this spring Moon the ground begins to soften and earthworm casts reappear, inviting the return of robins." My yard has been full of robins but I have noticed an absence of worms. Now if there was an anteater in the front yard, he would be having the buffet about now.

The early morning colors were especially vibrant this morning with the Worm Moon as a centerpiece. It was a mixture of pinks, blues, and grays with an almost full moon that was shrouded in a heavy mist. It was one of those morning skies that really leaves an impression and something you wish you could capture with your mind's eye.

Reflections

Molly got bent out of shape late this afternoon and as near as I can figure out, she saw her reflection in the glass door that leads to the back balcony. She is either very critical of her appearance or she thought another dog was encroaching on her turf. I had also given her some steak scraps that she was ferociously guarding as well so that may have had something to do with it. There is a video on Youtube of a dog enjoying his treat and his back leg starts sneaking up on him. He is under the impression that is another dog trying to get his treat and he shows his teeth and snaps at his own back leg and goes back to enjoying his treat. Threat averted. Molly was woofing and barking and she was ready to whoop some ass on the other side of that door. She was going to get the prize behind door number one and save her steak scraps come hell or high water.

Gravity

Over the course of the past couple of months Molly and I have gotten a harsh lesson in the scientific law of gravity. It is much easier to go down the hill than it is to come back up. At least once a day, Molly and I get brave and take the short trek down the hill and the woods to the creek. After living here for almost two years, I found out the name of the creek is Laurel Creek. The weather has been getting nicer and Molly and I want to enjoy the outdoors and she makes a beeline to the trails through the woods every time we go outside. Molly and I have to stop about every five feet coming back up the hill for rest breaks. I have to admit that it is mostly me stopping for rest breaks but we finally made it up the hill without passing out.