Their dog came out with them, and when I opened the door to the backseat, the dog strolled over and hopped in, like "It's a car; I'm a dog. Let's go!"

In my family, we refer to this as "With Dog." Rosie the Dog is continuously baffled at our inability to understand that she, as With Dog, should Go With at all times.

sarameg said it better than I could, Connie. I'm sorry it's so hard. Sometimes 'fuck this!' is a totally legitimate response.

I drove out to the lake today. I should do it more often, it's less than five miles away. In the summer, though, they charge money at the gate, bah. At this time of year, though, it's wide open. The last time I was there, the quiet was a physical pressure on me. This time there were a few families out enjoying what is probably going to be the warmest weekend left in the year. But it was good. Light wind through the bushes, movement of water, the occasional bird. Quiet is finally good again instead of a doorway to thinky thoughts that hurt. I left the car radio off as I drove home, not wanting to lose the quiet.

Ah, my mind quieted just reading that, Connie.

That sounds lovely, Connie.

That _does_ sound lovely, Connie. Peaceful.

But once we're at the vet, it is PARTY TIME for him. "Oh my god, all these smells! Are there other dogs here?!? Are you going to pet me??? Score! Oh my god YOU HAVE A TREAT FOR ME!!!"

This is Cagney, particularly because we go to the hipster vets who are awesome and do all their work on the floor.

I'm not sure how they manage it, but there is NO smell. No icky cleaners or medicinal smells. Each exam room is furnished with a rug and arm chair. There is a collapsible metal table, but I've never seen them use one.

The lobby is all, cool mismatched furniture, including a church pew.

Cagney lurves them and their awesome attitudes.

Speaking of same, I had to buy him a 'pillow' collar, as opposed to an e-collar, because he's dug a terrible hole in his head. I thought it was healing, but he kicked the scab off today and walked into my office looking like Night of the Living Dead.

Thank goodness I could walk to the pet store for the collar because Cagney waited until 3 hours after all the area vets closed. Urgh.

We have an appointment for Thursday, but I'm thinking we'll need to visit the hipsters sooner rather than later.

Oh, poor Cagney! I hope he lets it heal and quits digging at it.

Speaking of same, I had to buy him a 'pillow' collar, as opposed to an e-collar, because he's dug a terrible hole in his head. I thought it was healing, but he kicked the scab off today and walked into my office looking like Night of the Living Dead.

Cagney and Kato must be emailing each other, because the really deep nasty hot spot he gave himself in AUGUST basically *almost* totally heals...and then he licks at it and reopens it. So then we have to put the Cone of Shame on him at night and he sulks and it almost totally heals...and he licks at it and reopens it. It's maddening.

Our vet works on the floor too. Harder for me than the vetand staff!

Zoe doesn't wear a collar any more. When we go out I put the awesome harness on her. Love it! The way it hooks in front of her chest if she tries to pull she turns herself around to face me. She tried to pull ONCE and never tried again. I walk her with a loose leash now and we are both much happier. If she isn't on leash she is naked doggie.

So then we have to put the Cone of Shame on him at night and he sulks and it almost totally heals...and he licks at it and reopens it. It's maddening.

There ought to be some kind of, like, liquid bandage they can put over the wound itself until it heals. The Cone of Shame is unbearable in the long term. When The Gray Cat had to wear one, he became so depressed he would barely eat.

Zoe is such a beautiful doggie, Laura.