sunshine and boxes

Another cold morning. This is normal. February weather. This isn't an issue for me. Nor for Henry. Nevertheless, I pull on his sweater. 

As we wait for the elevator to go back up, I hear someone getting on upstairs. I put myself in front of Henry, creating some distance between him and the door, and I tell him to wait. He doesn't like this, but I now do it routinely so that if there are people, they wont have to be put off by a large barking dog. But it isn't people, it's just one person -- a young woman -- with a dog about Henry's size, only weightier. The dog snarls and lunges toward Henry. Obviously highly reactive to dogs. In his loudest moments, Henry has never snarled or attacked anyone. This dog? She could hardly restrain him. Later, I tell the management -- do you know that there is a dog here that is even more frightening than Henry? 

And I wonder: in a pet friendly building, what is the contractual obligation here? Must dogs be obedient and calm? I know if they bark excessively inside their units, they get several warnings and then a requirement to take them to a vet to seek out solutions to quiet them. But what about big dogs that are ready to attack your dog? Me, I took the easy way out -- I planned to leave before they threw us out! And I never once worried about Henry hurting anyone. That's not him. But this big brute coming at us? Wow, a regular terror hound!

Breakfast -- quiet. Peaceful. And if you are tired of the same scene each morning, well, at least you do know that in a week it will all change!

I call the vet then. Since I picked Henry up yesterday, I have not heard him cough a single time. Not once. Should I really come in for an exam? No, they tell me -- cancel it. So I do that. And I take him to doggie daycare and he is my happy boy!

 

Me, I stock up on a few groceries and I do some packing. Not a lot. Just a few more boxes that I will take over to the farmhouse for a temporary hold tomorrow. The sun is streaming into the apartment, the sky out there is a cornflower blue. I'll miss having windows that open up to this much sky! Sally's House hasn't the same south facing windows. It doesn't matter though. It has so much of what I need right now. Sunshine pouring into my living space -- that will come later this summer.

 

And then it's the usual -- I pick up Sparrow, we pick up Snowdrop. We ride the elevator which has some importance to me now. Call it the Elevator of Troubles. 

 

And another drop off -- this time of the girl at Girl Scouts and of the boy at home. And only then do I go for Henry.

It was a long day at doggie daycare and he'll have a whole week of long days there. Once I move, however, I have a different vision for the two of us. Well, for the three of us! For now, I settle in for a snuggle. After dinner - his, mine. Leftover shrimp. Yes, he loves those! I share. He returns the favor with a loving gaze. Henry, I think, has a hugely loving gaze...

 

 

yes, with so much love...