The guilt pang I felt then will hopefully spur me to remember not to make his life harder!

I don't recall if I told this story but I was at a community event here and was introduced to the Mayor. Who recited my full address *cold*. He's also my postman. It's a small town so public office holders usually keep their day job. And I was clearly the problem address. I'm a lot better about fetching my mail every couple of days now. Really nice guy. We chat when I see him now.

For those amused by the on-going drama of the pet care industry...the employee whose dog was bitten last week said she would not be 'doing anything legal.'

Today, I get a message saying, among other things, that she is claiming lost wages because her dog is 'too upset' for her to work and he may never be 'normal' again.

No bite is good, but this one wasn't as bad as I've seen. She wasn't even going to take him to the vet!

Oh my.

Both Bartleby and Cagney have been bitten badly enough to require vet care. It's not that I don't understand being upset having endured an injury like that but...lost wages? For an independent contractor whose pay is based on the number of assignments the person chooses? How, exactly would you calculate that claim?

Cass, my mail guy is a savant like that.

You can give him paltry details, like a dog's name, and he can tell you the address and much, much more.

Since we chat regularly, I'm sure he would be a reliable witness as to my lifestyle, should the police ever need to question him.

Though, I hasten to say, he has never divulged any personal details about anyone else to me...except in one case where another neighbor told me about a street acquaintance who had been injured on the sidewalk. They could not remember her name, but they could remember her dog's very common name (I must know a dozen Winstons). Turns out, it was one of my clients and I was able to help her with walks while she recovered. That would not have happened with out the mail guy!

Not to downplay poor doggie injury, but I don't think worker's comp covers "pet's emotional instability" disability.

Not to downplay poor doggie injury, but I don't think worker's comp covers "pet's emotional instability" disability.

My dog sometimes seems disconcerted about some unnameable thing. That ought to be good for at least 5 bucks.

My dog sometimes seems disconcerted about some unnameable thing. That ought to be good for at least 5 bucks.

I fully support writing up this comp claim. "Reason for inability to perform regular duties: Dog stared into abyss, abyss stared back."

My dog was just discomfited by the fact that the printer made noise in the other room...without anyone near it! Shocking! Unsettling!

Is the abyss that blank patch on the wall? Cause that happens a lot around here.

And right now he's exhibiting ennui. HARD. That's got to be good for a $20.

And I was clearly the problem address.

Oops. That's pretty funny.

bonny, if you take that employee at her word, she isn't doing anything 'legal,' she's just hoping her emotional blackmail might be worth a couple hundred bucks or so. Which, sadly for her, it's not.

Dinner was trout! Franny ate a boatload. Must remember: picky kid likes fish.