This is one cool cat. Puffin is pretty laid back and just ignores Josie unless she happens to confuse Puffin with a dog who actually wants to play. Then it's time to swat if we have to put Josie in her place. Here, Josie can hang and enjoy a nyla-bone with Puffin.

Good news for Puffin & Larry this week: He's off insulin for two weeks. His dosage was steadily declining while on the new wet food diet (Puffin, that is). Good news for Larry as he was the trooper administering the needles.

Josie and the pussy cats

All of a sudden, there we were, all hanging out on the bed together. Josie has learned some cat etiquette and keeps to herself when in the presence of felines. Exception: it's cool to hang with the Puffster.

Josie has learned how to be-have around the cats. The wrath of Ccino is too intimidating. Wooster has picked up on these defensive hissing tactics rather than the earlier flight technique. This was a sweet moment not seen before or since.

Welcome Josie

A friend couldn't keep Josie any more, so we went to the Humane Society on Monday to rescue her. She's a chihuahua/Italian greyhound mix. We and the kitties have known Josie for her six years, so it should be an easy transition. Still true:

1. Josie is a ladies lady. If I'm not home, she's with Betty, not hanging out with Larry.
2. Josie is smart. I didn't think it was possible, but she has been taught not to scarf down the cats' crunchy bowls that are all around. Exception: anything on the floor is fair game.
3. Josie likes to snuggle. Thankfully, she has also been trained to sleep in her crate and doesn't have to be with you shifting under the covers all night.
4. Cappuccino has stepped up as Alpha cat to maintain the cat space. No crazy puppy hijinks within 6 feet of Alphaccino.
   

That's a yawn in the picture, but if you want to come up with your own caption . . . .

1. Easy with the Spock touch, Betty-san.

Doggie sitting and swimming

My aunt called Saturday morning to talk before she headed down to the Connecticut coastline to see her sister. Sue was throwing a back-to-school last hurrah. Debbie said she would like to come as long as she didn't have to go back to school. Would my cousin and her five children be there? Yes, all my cousins. It'll be fun to get an update.

Meanwhile, I was doggie sitting mid-day on both weekend days. On Sunday, Larry thought he'd come over and bring his trunks. He got a lesson on having dogs in the family. He got into the pool. Well of course the puppies wanted to come in too. I strapped on their jackets and helped them in. Hadley is a good little swimmer while Benny plays king of the island. Dylan the standard poodle was there too and swam in the water without a jacket. He's become a strong swimmer since I've seen him last summer.

When Larry's blood sugar felt low, he asked if there were any bananas. I know bananas are one of their favorite treats, but Larry didn't. He was quite surprised to have the attention of Sam the boxer, Benny & Hadley. You have to give them each a piece. They schooled Larry.

Beauty and the Beast at Spa MD

On Sunday, Spa MD in La Jolla held a fund raiser for the Greyhound Connection and other dog rescue organizations. One of the events was a doggy fashion show where Doctor Dylan here won first place. Patti, helping with his scrubs, works at the spa as a massage therapist.

We don't get out to the beaches and La Jolla as much, even though it's a pretty easy ride along the 52 for about 25 miles each way. It was nice to take a stroll down to the cove and around. Not much has changed, but it is disconcerting to see people down in the children's pool area where seals once pupped. I recently read in a children's book of all things that people are everyone's enemy. It's certainly true for these seals being forced out. But I digress.

It was a big day out for the dogs. Benny was dog-tired by the end of the day and slept for most of the next day.

Face Time, Space Time

I'm dog sitting / cat sitting / house sitting this week. Dylan the standard poodle is very clinggy and needs a lot of face time. Angel, the toy poodle, on the other hand, needs her space. Maybe you can see her above Dylan's nose on the other side of the pool.

Angel and I have made great progress in that she joins me in the living room in the evening to watch some television. By join, I mean that she's on top of a chair by the fireplace and she tollerates me sitting in the same room on the far end of the couch. Really, we've come to an understanding that I can put her on the leash to be taken out, she doesn't like to be picked up, and it's nice to be fed "tv tray style" on the couch. I'm not taking great liberties; her mommy spoils her too.

The trick to getting a good night's sleep is to tire Dylan out. He slept good last night after swimming laps and taking a walk around the neighborhood.

My Dad asked, "Does this mean you'll be getting a dog?" I think this means that I most definitely will not be getting a dog. Got plenty of dog right here if I need a fix.

Dog Paddling

Dylan is a two-year-old standard poodle. House sitting / Dog sitting for two days was quite a pleasure. Dylan wears a life jacket into the pool, but he is not a natural swimmer and would rather just hang onto you.

The Good Good Pig

This was my favorite book read this summer, "The Good Good Pig" by Sy Montgomery. She lives in southern New Hampshire and adopted a runt of the litter. He was named after the conductor "Christopher Hogwood" and lived 13 1/2 years longer than most pigs. Most pigs don't make it through the winter and rather get a one-way trip to the slaughter house. This was a sweet sweet story of how "Chris" started out the size of a cat and was nursed to survive and entertain for 14 years. Neighbors and local restaurants would save their "slops" and Christopher would develop a true foodies palate, rooting out his favorite morsels first, savoring every taste out on "pig plateau." Christopher was not the biggest pig that ever lived, but he grew to estimates of over 700 pounds. "As Christopher's girth increased, so did our doubts about who was in charge at our house. Not only was Chris destined to vastly outweigh us, but we faced a growing realization that our pig was dangerously, possibly diabolically, brilliant."

A great dog party!

Happy Birthday to Annabelle who turned 1 human years old on Sunday. Down the street from us is Original Paw Pleasers in North Park. My neighbor picked up a doggie cake for the dogs in the complex to share. Her mommy said the frosting was very tasty and gauging the tongue action, so does baby Belle.

Benny there, Hadley done that

Yes, yes, it's been a few weeks since I've posted a picture. My friend back in Connecticut is sending me her spring garden pictures. I can reciprocate and post what is flowering now here in San Diego. There is one house that has pansies planted along their walkway. Pansies make me smile (like palm trees.)

My new job assisting two Real Estate agents keeps me busy three days a week. My co-workers, Haddy and Benny, two English bulldogs, keep it interesting. Like Ellen DeGeneres in the Amex commercial, my life-long dream to work with animals has come true.

Ocean Beach Dog Beach

Great day at Dog Beach, Ocean Beach