A Dog's Life

Our dog Excalibur (a black Lab mix) has a very particular routine. As the dreaded morning alarm blares, Ex sleeps on the floor at our bedside.  Whichever one of us has to arise first, according to our work schedules, gets up and proceeds with their morning activities. Ex doesn't pay any attention to the early riser. However, when the SECOND person gets up (an hour, or two hours, or whatever the case may be), Ex begins his dance of  "Time to walk the dog!" . 



I am a grumpy camper when Ron has to go to work early, because that means I have to get up 20 minutes earlier than usual to allow dog walking time.

This morning, because of the Memorial Day holiday, Ron had to go to work unusually early. He was up at 4am and out the door at 4:30am. I luxuriously lolled in bed until 8am, and quietly snuck out of the bedroom, hoping that Ex would give me a few minutes to microwave a cup of hot chocolate (I don't do coffee) and stretch a bit before going on our walk. Well, now it is almost 1:30 pm, nearly time for Ron to come home from work, and Ex hasn't budged from the bedroom.

After a while, I did worry. I was like a young mother with an infant who, instead of waking every two hours throughout the night, suddenly sleeps until 5am. I tiptoed in to the bedroom to make sure Ex was still breathing. As quiet as I was, he still must have heard me, because the tail started wagging. Ok, so he is alive. Then I continued the young mother thing, not turning on the TV and trying not to make any noise, trying to stretch this out for a while. Then I thought, "I have laundry to do, and I have to mop the floor, and I have to vacuum the guest room, enough of this quiet." So I did. And still, Ex has not poked his nose out.

I think Ron left so early today that Ex didn't even realize it was morning, and he thinks I am the first person to get out of bed this morning. He must be waiting for the second person to get up so he can go for his walk.

Boy, will he be surprised when Ron walks in the front door in a few minutes. I have really enjoyed this little break. But I'm not sure Ron will be thrilled about having to turn around and go right back out to walk the dog. :)