TGIF – Thank God Its French Roast

Up early today. Just excited about getting to today’s business. On my loaded schedule is:

Breakfast
Get ready for the gym
Brush Kinnick’s teeth – he will be seeing his girlfriend today.
Get Kinnick ready for his Halloween party
                    (yes, puppy day care has a costume Halloween party)
Take said dog to puppy day care – must be there by 8:00 am
Go to gym – Ah! looking forward to sweating.
Get some paint mixed to match Jenny’s garage (a real challenge)
Apply said paint
Insert Stabil to all gas powered tools so they will start next year
Prepare tailgating supplies for Iowa vs. Wisconsin game
Pickup Kinnick from puppy day care

You thought being retired was a cake walk – No way!  Now you can understand why I have to begin the day with 2 cups of French Roast.  No more, no less – just 2 cups.  Gives me just the right edge to cope.

I have posted that Kinnick (Yellow Lab of Jenny the elder) has a long term gig at the Grandpa Bailey Spoiled Dog Kennel and Canasta Club. Over the past two weeks we have been spending a lot of time together.  He has a pretty good feel for our daily routine now and has adapted to it with little problem.

We have had discussions on a varied list of topics from squirrels in the back yard to the upcoming elections.  He has enlightened me on a lot of things.  Like why does he have to inspect the perimeter in the morning and again at night? What is he really doing in the yard when his nose is down on the ground and he zig-zags around.  Seriously, can he remember that many smells and scents?  He has tried to convince me that it is his way of insuring that we are secure from predators or interlopers. Interlopers? Where did he pick up that term?

I have learned that he really gets ticked when I fall into talking in ga-ga baby/puppy talk. You know phrases like- “Oh, you’re such a good puppy” or “Oooh, do you like ear scratches?”  He points out that he is not a know-nothing puppy any longer.  I just didn’t realize this for quite a while.  I was perplexed as to why he just stood there glaring at me when I was doing the ga-ga speak.  Seemingly ignoring me or not understanding my or misbehaving.  I just didn’t get it.  During one of walks on a nearby trail, he finally enlightened me.  I was shocked!  I just didn’t realize what I was doing.  Since then we have had nothing but adult conversations and he is a much happier 5 year old Lab.

Future blogs will delve into some of our more spirited discussions. For now lets just understand that our relationship as being on a higher plane.  Well, my second cup of French Roast is gone so I had best get to my packed schedule.  TA!