Day 1938

Today was surprisingly busy. I walked Dash early to avoid the rain I thought was on the way. I needn't have bothered. It didn't rain at all and gradually grew warmer and warmer as the day progressed. I put the warm coat I wore yesterday away and got ready for Summer again. By the end of the day, the air conditioner was running and cooling the place down.

By the time I finished breakfast and turned on the computer, there was already a long laundry list of things for me to do. I spent the rest of the morning answering client's questions and making changes to various websites. It was a good thing I watched my movie yesterday, because there wouldn't have been time today.

It's getting harder and harder to get things done while the dogs are sleeping. Now that Dot is feeling better, she doesn't sleep as long. She doesn't like being penned up either. My little window of "quiet time" seems to shrink with each passing day. I keep trying to see if Dot is strong enough to wander around the house on her own, but she's definitely not ready yet. She can get up reasonable well without assistance now, but she's still pretty wobbly. Even though there are non-slip rugs everywhere, she can still find the few isolated areas where the floors are still slippery. It's great that Dot is becoming more mobile, but I have to follow her around constantly, so I can catch her when she starts to slip.

After I got finished answering e-mail and updating websites, I thought there would be time to go up on the roof and remove all the standing water. That didn't work out so well. Whenever Dash hears the front door start to open, he races to the hallway and starts barking. This wakes Dot up and she starts barking too. They both think Janet is coming home whenever they hear something at the front door. Lately, the only way I can get out of the house with any semblance of peace is to quietly go out the back door, unlock the back gate, and go around to the front of the house. I tried this several times this afternoon, but still wasn't able to finish everything up on the roof.

I'm not sure what to do about the dogs. Dash seems depressed now that Janet has returned to work and Dot has grown so used to having me at her side all the time, that she's developing separation anxiety when I leave. I will be so glad when Dot is strong enough to live a normal life again. Dalmatians are high energy dogs by nature. The tried and true remedy for keeping Dot and Dash happy while keeping my own sanity has always been to take them both on a very long walk first thing every morning. When they came home tired, they immediately went to sleep and I had the rest of the day to myself. This plan no longer works. Even when Dot gets stronger, I doubt that I'll ever be able to walk them together again. Dot needs slow steady walks on flat surfaces and Dash needs a chance to roam the park and be a normal dog. Me? I think I need a vacation.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be a little quieter. It felt like a three-ring circus today. I don't think I'd ever choose nursing as a profession. To me, it would be so discouraging to throw your heart and soul in to helping someone get better and then have to turn around and start all over again with another sick person. I think I am doing a good job with Dot, but I will be so glad when she's strong and independent again. Every morning on our walks I tell Dash that he'd better stay healthy for a long, long time.

Paxton is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day