Color me impressed.

When the boyfriend takes both dogs for a walk there is no problem. When I take the dogs for a walk there is no problem, except for a bit of pulling on the leash which is rectified by me kicking her in the head. No, not really. (See, you don’t know, do you?) But when we each take a dog and take a walk there are problems.

Tootie starts crabbing. And by crabbing I mean getting all down close to the ground and sort of crawling like a Viet Cong in the bush, her breath all heaving. She’s like a mad beast. The walk ends up taking forever because the boyfriend won’t tolerate any pulling, much less crabbing. So, it’s "sit" every time she gets all crabby. Last night I think she had to sit about 45 to 47 times on our walk. It was ridiculous. It shouldn’t even be called a walk, it was a start and stop.

Cooper on the other hand is the best walker in the world. If he even thinks about pulling you just tighten you grip and he falls back into line at my heels. He’s dumb, but submissive. I like that. The only time he ever takes off in his own direction is for peeing on the mailboxes. But that is not to be helped. I give him those without any grief. It’s his one big thrill.

Anyway, last night we were trotting along, waiting for the wild animal behind us when Cooper dove head first into a ditch full of crisp fall leaves. One second he was walking, the next second he flung himself up to his eyeballs in leaves. Then he did it some more. It was about the cutest thing I’d ever witnessed. He seemed to love it. I had to drag him out of the pile.

Wish I’d had my camera.

I won’t say that I failed, because that would inaccurate, but there is no way in hell I’m getting that sucker finished by the end of the month. No way, no how. However! I have constructed a three-month plan and outline, so there will be a book, by God. I’m just going to be less speedy about it.

But much respect to my writing buddy, Short & Fat, who would never, ever cheat to win. Go, guy, go.