Winston's new collar came today. It's the biggest size I could find - 32". It was a really good deal. It's leather and you could have up to 4 lines engraved on it. So I put "My name is Winston. Please do not try to ride me." and the phone number, in case he gets lost. Though I suspect it would be hard to lose a mastiff, especially a loyal and faithful one like our Goober who doesn't even like to go out in the yard by himself. Anyway, he gave it a good sniff and we put it on for him. It's a perfect fit, and I'm really relieved. I think he likes it better than his purple one, which fit him a little snugly.

Then I went up to see Lolly, the beautiful chocolate lab I had the pet sitting job for today....

The Hub was all excited: I had asked the customer if it was okay if he came with me, since he loves dogs and loves to play with them. It was fine with the customer, but the dog wanted nothing to do with him. The Hub is a big man, with a loud booming voice, and Lolly was completely unimpressed by him. She just stayed in her box and gave him a troubled look.

The Hub tried everything, including trying to make himself look smaller by crawling around on the customer's family room floor - I should have taken pictures. But, it was a bust. As soon as The Hub went out to wait in the jeep, Lolly came out and went into play doggie mode. She went out, came back in, played catch, played tug-a-war and went back in her box no problem. I guess The Hub reminded her of somebody she didn't like. Dogs are funny that way.

We took some scrap wood over to my father. He's kind of bummed that the story he published through Rose Dog Press, The Adventures of Big D has not sold as many copies of the e-book, so far, as he had hoped. It's available in a traditional paperback, or as an e-book. I tried to explain that since a lot of his friends are, like him, in their 60's they may not be that hip to e-books! We had a heck of a time trying to explain the story line to my mother-in-law, who is truly a very saintly person.....but I think she might be mildly shocked by the story which includes a nude grandmother, high speed car chases, high heeled shoes with goldfish swimming around in the heels....and that's only the beginning! Anybody who knew my Dad as the buttoned up schoolteacher who used to chide us if we acted up in the market that we were "reflecting poorly on his reputation" would not be able to believe he wrote this! And it IS funny. It's one of those kind of books that you read and think to yourself, " I shouldn't be laughing at this", but you are any way. Besides not being politically correct Dad takes equal opportunity pot shots at everybody in suburbia.

"You're just ahead of your time." Dad I told him. "No artist is fully appreciated until he's dead anyway."

Either he didn't hear me or he just pretended not to, which, I suppose I can understand. So, you see, I'm not the only misunderstood, frustrated writer in the family!