Sandy and the squirrel

Is this the same squirrel that starts chattering outside on the deck at 5:30am? Or one of it's co-conspirators?



Either way, Sandy and the squirrel seem to have reached an understanding. The squirrel stations himself just out of her reach. In the event she really can reach him, she rushes up and stops just short, giving him just enough time to escape. This guy didn't know she could jump.

Woof Woof Woof! Woof Woof Woof!

Woof Woof Arf Arf Woof!

Everyone recognizes that as the dogs singing "Jingle Bells," right?

Christmas is a frustrating experience for Sandy. First of all, there's a tree in the house, but it's not for dogs.



Then, there are all kinds of sparkly round things on the tree, but those are NOT FOR DOGS either.

Worse yet, the tree is in the front window, blocking Sandy's view of approaching FedEx and UPS delivery people and of the Devil Dog two doors down. Finally, there will soon be packages under the tree, and those are not for dogs. How can this be happening?

You might get a live look at Sandy here. But probably not. Probably she'll be under the radar, or at least under the dining room table. At least until the UPS driver tries to make it to the front door unnoticed.

Bulldogs On The Waterfront

For almost a year, dogs and their people have been permitted, on a trial basis, to walk on-leash on the paths through the waterfront parks.



Last weekend Sandy and I walked with our friend Rose and two of her bulldogs. When Sandy first met Coal and Louise, I don't think she was even sure they were dogs. She sniffed, she jumped back, she sniffed again. If dogs can shrug, I think that's what she did.

So off we went through the waterfront parks, Sandy pretty much in the lead.

Rose and the bulldogs were like a walking advertisement for dogs in waterfront parks. People saw the pack of us coming and literally rushed by Sandy and me to gush over Coal and Louise. "Oh! My favorite dogs!" people shouted. It must be like this when you're with a rock star.

Coal and Louise loved this. They snuffled people's outstretched hands. One dog rolled over for a belly rub while the other dragged himself over the sidewalk in circles, apparently ecstatic.

Sandy looked at me in shock more than once. "What's with these dogs?" she wanted to know. For the first time in a long time, it wasn't all about Sandy. We stood off to the side, waiting while people pushed and shoved, trying to get close to the strange-looking slobber machines.

The next day, City Council finally voted to permit dogs and their owners access to the paths in waterfront parks permanently. Dogs have to stay on the paths. They can't step on the grass or into the water. They must be on-leash. Still, after 7 years of fighting over it, this represents progress.