July 7th. Re-education day.
2:30 pm
Came home for lunch and to catch up the log.
1:40 pm
Bubba got up, and Buddy misread his body language for once. Buddy jumped off the couch to get to the door to go out for a walk. Bubba went into the bathroom to pee, then came back out and stopped and stood by Buddy, both guys starting at me. I got up to get the gear, but Bubba dashed away and jumped into a bed. Buddy finally got one wrong. But Buddy still wanted to go out.
We walked over to the mailboxes area, Buddy had a quick poop, and then we returned home.
12:15 pm
Buddy wanted to go out. Bubba didn’t want to get out of bed. It was a quick trip across to the memorial for a bathroom break. Janet was out walking Brandy and stopped so the kids could visit for a second, but Brandy wasn’t in much of a visiting mood and snubbed Buddy.
We turned around and came home.
Buddy started hopping on his left rear leg, like his paw was sore. Buddy’s dog dad was informed.
10:30 am
I’m out of practice. Things that were automatic and routine before, now I have to stop and think through.
Buddy greeted me at the door, just after 9. He was excited to see me. He also forgot the routine because he wanted to spin and follow me, and forgot that he was supposed to grab a toy and taunt me with squeaks.
Bubba was curled up on the back of the couch enjoying a good nap.
From the front door, I could see a small puddle of vomit out on the deck – a “welcome back” gift. When I went out to check it, there was a second puddle and some runny-snot type poop. I would have guessed Bubba based on the locations, but since Bubba couldn’t get back up on the couch, it must have been Buddy. I still remember how to read the room.
Buddy, still unsure of what our routine is, grabbed a Greenie from the treats plate and flopped down under the MODX to gnaw on it. I stood by the coffee table, just watching him.
Bubba woke up. He probably caught my scent and it alerted him to a stranger. His eyes shot open and his head popped up. He had a “deer in the headlights” expression on his face. I was very-unexpected, apparently. He stared at me for a while, then jumped down onto the seat cushions to have a coughing fit for a while.
I went out to clean up the deck. It was different. I haven’t done it in so long, my squeamishness about cleaning it up is semi-back. It had become such a routine thing for me, I just cleaned up and it was nothing to me. It’s a thing again. I’m sure it will be just-a-normal-thing again by the end of the week. I put paper towels on each of the three gifts to absorb, and went in to sit with Bubba who was still in the middle of the coughing fit. It only lasted a few minutes – the time it took for me to put on gloves, and go set the towels out.
Bubba leaped off the couch with surprising agility. I expected him to half-flop off the couch delicately, but he sprung off and landed almost past the coffee table – a very aggressive jump for an old guy. And then he wanted to play. It was barely 9:30 in the morning, and we were playing Chase. We went back and forth from the bedroom and back several times, and then he needed a snack. He stopped to eat some treats, and then both guys went and sat on the rug by the front door, giving me a concerted “walk time” stare.
I grabbed the walk supplies, and then they scattered. I was surprised. I really forgot how things work around here. Buddy wander around, stopped to get a face rub and ear scratch a few times, and circled around the living room area, unsure of whether he was hungry, tired or wanting to play. Bubba went back to sleep in the front door bed. Buddy eventually tired of pacing and jumped up in the recliner, immediately dropping his chin onto his front paws and shutting his eyes.
I came home to get coffee and return to logging. It’s been a while.