“The smoke is really bad,” we say to one another,
and yet, when we hear of the smoke that those on the west coast are enduring,
it hardly seems right to complain.
As I predicted, the air quality alert did not lift on
Monday and has now been extended through Friday morning. They say that’s a best
case scenario. The smoke is still here, wafting in and out. Sometimes I can
smell it.
We have curtailed outdoor activities, though Bess
must have her constitutionals. Mike rides his windtrainer in the shop in lieu
of outdoor bicycle rides. Our outdoor yoga sessions are again online.
As a part of our bedtime ritual, Mike takes Bess
outside, gives her a treat, and puts her in her kennel. She expects that, so Sunday
night, she was confused when she woke up and found herself alone in the living
room. “Hey,” she said, awakening me, her snout in my face, “Mike forgot to put
me to bed.” Mike couldn’t convince her to lie back down on her pillow, so he reluctantly
took her to the kennel.
Mike really doesn’t want Bess to spend much time
outside in the smoke, so Monday night, he varied the bedtime routine. He took
her outside, brought her back in, gave her a treat, and indicated that she should
spend the night on her pillow, which she did. “She is so smart,” he said, but I
thought he was the one exhibiting intelligence.
Tuesday night, Mike meant to repeat Monday night’s bedtime
ritual – take Bess outside, bring her back in, give her a treat, and settle her
on her pillow. So, Mike went out, and thinking that Bess had gone off to do her
thing, he waited and waited for her to return. When she didn’t come, he began
to look for her. He finally found her in the house, watching him through the slider.
She had never gone out. She had no intention of going out. She anticipated spending
the night on her pillow again and all she wanted was her bedtime treat.
“She is so smart,” said Mike. And this time I had to agree that she had outsmarted him. KW
Yup, doggies are smart!! And good for a laugh at our own expense. :-)
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