Blame it on the Dog

It's been one scholastic year since I took blogging seriously enough to begin thinking I was funny. I remember it well. I planned on chronicling my spring break '08 trip. I got a few chuckles out of re-reading that submission. Now it's SB '09. Many things have changed since then. I've got a house now, and I've got a dog. I've also got a paper to write. Yep, I'm taking a class. The dog's name is Violet. I'm including two pictures. The paper will focus on whether or not the Dakota uprising of 1862 can be considered a war, and if so, whether or not the attacks on settlers was justified.

This first photo was taken within hours of Violet's arrival at my house. In this picture, she's a cute little pooch. I've examined the image closely and can find no indication or hints that would explain the speed with which she's increased her ability to annoy. Yes, I know she's just a puppy, but sometimes cute can only take a dog so far.

I was initially pleased when she realized that she could jump at the door and I would let her out; the daily messes went from many to near zero. However, she is having a hard time learning that I only like to let her outside if she has to use the lawn (or the receding ice shelf; what nice weather we've been having). Doesn't she know that the door trick is only to be used when referring to the need to relieve? Well, she doesn't, and I get bugged going outside every 5 minutes. But wait, we could be going outside right now if I'd done more work this morning on my paper. It's nearly 11am and it's 50 degrees outside. Violet's right! We should be out walking.

Is it really true that every human year is 7 years to a dog? If that's the case, then I guess every human minute is 7 minutes to a dog. That would explain why after only 5 minutes Violet thinks it's time to try her luck at getting outside again.

She might be 7 times smarter than I am. Would she have written her paper already? I haven't written the paper yet. She's never experienced spring, having been born in December. I love spring. I can barely handle sitting inside right now. The birds are all over the feeders, the water's dripping from the eaves, and driveway is nearly clear of all ice and snow. For the sake of my dog's mental health, I better get outside. I live about 1 mile from the lake I grew up on and it's a pleasant walk down there. I should go. I'm going to see "Watchmen" tonight, and when I pick up my friend and she asks, "Well, did you get anything done on your paper?"

I'll say, "Not as much as I'd hoped. The spring air made Violet really wild."