circles

Boone's circling again, chasing that mean ol' tail. You can tell when he's full of puppy spunk because he starts to put his butt into things, like Bub's face, my knee, anything that looks like it might play with him. He doesn't know his own strength though, in typical puppy fashion, and he's sat on poor Bub's head more than once. What Bub must think of us, having brought this crazy wild creature into our home. The tail is the last resort-- if no one else will play, there's always the trusty tail. It never goes away or says no, no.

I'm sitting at the gray formica kitchen counter (I hate it, I crave solid surface) waiting on a text from my husband. He should be leaving work right now, on his way to the gym, but we were invited to dinner with friends. Mexican. Although not really "Mexican," more a conglomeration of Mexican, Texan, and general Southeastern cuisine. In the Southeast, Mexican restaurants have a white cheese dip made from Asadero cheese that is so much tastier-- salty, naturally spicy, rich-- than other quesos. Oh, how I pined for that when we were living in London.

I hear a ripping noise and look over at Boone, now too near my couch. For a second I think he's tearing into my Granny's blue and pink handmade quilt, but no, he's got his rope toy laid in the floor, pulling strands between his teeth. This one has lasted a surprisingly long time-- a whole week now, and it's probably still got a week left in it. I've attracted his attention now, by coming over to look, and he wants to play. A couple tugs and he gets that "gotta go" look on his face, and it's out the back door. I wouldn't mind except it's pouring out, again, sleet and rain, which means I'll have to dry him off, again, in a few minutes, and with all that wound-up energy he thinks the towel is the most fun game ever. The goal? Leaving me as dirty as he was when he scratched at the door.

Phone rings. He had a late customer and is finishing up the paperwork. He sounds tired, haggard, worn down. He needs a new job, one that he loves. We used to say at least this one pays the bills, but with the downturn in sales, it's just barely doing that. But we're frugal. Even Mexican is only $20, and we need some socializing. Boone needs some socializing too. Maybe a walk in the park tomorrow, on my much-needed day off. That is if it's not still raining. Otherwise it'll just be tail-chasing on the rug.