Life in a mud pie

Oh yeah, she's getting longer. And notice the wadded rags on the counter? Foot wipers right next to clean dishes. A quick potty trip can be pretty clean, but if she runs around chasing crows or squirrels or cats, or if she digs (yes, she digs), the mud load repeats have me mumbling to myself about exchanging her for a cat while delivering creative curses in a fake happy voice hoping she isn't offended. I love being able to call her assorted types of "bitch" guilt free. Apparently I should have watered the back yard at least twice this summer, as I lost grass cover in some parts of the yard while gaining it in the areas previously bare (in the shade of trees). Damn.

Today I googled for some classier and less aggravating way to deal with mud. I found three: boots, microfiber glove, and the "paw plunger." The microfiber glove claims to hold 600% (6X?) of its weight in mud and has six fingers  (two thumbs) so it can be used on either hand as well as either side. Tempting, though it's hard to judge not knowing how much the glove weighs) but nowhere on the website is the price stated, and the order online button goes nowhere. I didn't feel like calling. The boots were tempting, then not so much after I found the paw plunger. It's basically a large barrel-shaped coffee mug with brushy bristles inside. You fill it with warm water and plunge the paw in/out a couple of times. Cool. I ordered it (a little over $40 with shipping, outrageous, but at this point I could be tempted to pay even more).

Still having the occasional sunshiney day to keep me sane here (but not enough to dry out the mud). Me and Charly take up to two-hour walks when it's nice out. She can't go to dog park these days, which is driving both of us up the wall. A week ago Sunday she coughed-honked all day. Monday she was supposed to be spayed. Instead, she was sent home with antibiotics, a diagnosis of "possible" kennel cough, and restrictions on socializing for at least two weeks. Spaying is postponed to this coming Thursday. I hope she heals fast. Meanwhile, the cough disappeared practically overnight. Never did she have a moment of looking or acting sick. She became more energetic every day from lack of exercise. At least on the road trip the car ride put her to sleep. At home she's climbing the walls. These days I truly wish we could at least jog together, but my jogging ability is comparable to her level of reading comprehension.