Beautiful Day

Usually when I go out onto the deck, Picasso sits at the back door and worries about me. I'd like to think that his worries were eased when I got the new back door installed a few months ago. The window in the new back door is waist high, not shin high, so Picasso can no longer see outside. This did nothing to ease his concern-- in fact, I think it may have increased his concern over my whereabouts.

 

"Where did she go?"

 

"What is she doing?"

 

"Is she safe?"

 

I attempted to show him what I was doing on the back deck-- which was sitting there doing nothing but studying Army board topics. Of course, he is untrustable to be left to his own devises, so I had to put him on a lead. He cared very little about anything that was going on beyond me.

 

For a while, he just stood there.

 

Then I gave him a rawhide, and he had something
to do.

I threw a rawhide chewey out into the grass. He retrieved it, and chewed on in on the deck next to my feet. Apparently being outside means nothing to this dog unless I am his constant companion.

 

Although I, sometimes, inhumanely keep him indoors up to 12 hours a day due to my Army schedule, he seems very adjusted to the indoors. I truely believe this dog prefers the couch and only views the outdoors as a place to go potty.

Begging

This morning I was eating cereal in the living room and watching Mysteries At The Museum. I looked over at Picasso, who was predictably begging. He is a great beggar. I know that sounds ridiculous. But seriously, when this dog is begging for food, he is the most well behaved he is all day. He just sits there and stares longingly, yet silently, at you while you eat.

 

He had his bulldog lips stuck in his bulldog mouth:

 



April PT Test

I took my biannual PT test today. I scored better than I have in a long, long time. Like, since I was 19 and stationed at Fort Bragg.

 

I did 44 push ups in 2 minutes, 73 sit ups in 2 minutes and ran 2 miles in 17:03 minutes. My score was 272 out of a possible 300 points. That is awesome, right!?

 

I was really happy with my score so I calculated what it would take to earn 90 points in each event (90 points in each event earns you a Physical Fitness Badge, but most importantly, an Excellence bullet on your NCOER (which is a report card for an NCO)).

 

90 points in push ups... that's good!

 

93 points in sit ups... even better!

 

89 points in the run... are you freaking kidding me!?!?

 

I reminded myself 272 is still the highest score I have had in a very long time. Most certainly attributed to the PT enhancing surgery I had last summer. But then I got curious how far off from 90 points I really was. Once I calculated it, I no longer was proud of my 17:03 minute 2 mile run time. In order to earn 90 points in this event, I needed to run it in 17:00.

 

3 seconds. 3 lousy seconds!!

 

Next time, I'll see those 3 seconds and I'll raise them 10 seconds!!

Seasonal Update

 

I think Spring finally made it to Clarksville!! And if I don't look quick, it'll be gone before I can enjoy it. It's already been 85 degrees once this week, which is a tell tale sign Tennessee is skipping through Spring and straight to Summer at full speed, as expected.

 

Everything is blooming and fragrant right now. The trees, daffodils, tulips and violets are blooming in full swing-- everything is colorful and such a refreshing change of pace from the everything-is-brown-and-dead scenery we've had since November.

 

I went to Lowe's today and got my first patch of annuals to pot. I say first batch because I know they will all burn to a crisp by June and I'll have to start over. But they're so pretty right now!

 

I've already mowed the yard twice this Spring. The yard is actually starting to look pretty good. It's immensely improved from the time we moved in. My plants (those that can make it through the Summer heat) are starting to get big and strong. The roses and day lilies came back strong. I'm happy with the yard. It's going to be sad when we PCS and have to leave this all behind. Such is the Army life, I guess.

Poor Picasso

What originally was supposed to be a vet visit to deworm Picasso, turned into surgery. Expensive nail removal surgery (which was classified as a pedicure on the bill and I thought that was pretty funny).

Picasso had an unfortunate playing accident-- similar to a training accident. Somehow he broke one of his nails vertically leaving the nail meat exposed. The nail tried growing back, but he kept ripping it back off, as he is a very active player.

The vet told me I had 2 options: 1. He could cut it off real fast while he was awake and it would hurt him really bad or 2. He could put him under and painlessly remove the nail at the low low price of $100.

As I said before, I chose the expensive pedicure.

 

He's home now, and he's still very high. He looks so pitiful in his cone collar. He's afraid of it. He whimpers until I take it off, then he tries to bite it and runs away. I don't see the wearing of the cone lasting very long.

Best wishes to a speedy recovery, Picasso! And may your worm situation also be resolved soon.