crazy dog

After returning from an awesome trip to the beach this Sunday, Sam, Sadie and I still had one more day of vacation to enjoy before we headed back to the same ol' same ol'. We were so excited to enjoy some time together alone, before I headed back to work, Sam headed back to classes, and Sadie headed back to the crazy shenanigans she gets into while we're away. Our Sadie is a pretty awesome dog. Sure she's hairy and sheds like there's no tomorrow... leaving every thing in our house looking like a little minature Sadie... but she's lovable, cuddly, and a great big ball of fun. Just watchin her run around back and forth, droolin uncontrollably, and knockin herself off balance with her lopsided tail is enough to crack me up for hours on end. However, her lastest little doggy bit of doggy tomfoolery on this last day of our vacation was not funny at all.

It all started when I was helpin Sam cut his hair. We were cleaning up, when I decided that I'd put some of the hair we cut out for the birds to help build their nests. My momma used to do that, so I figured it must be a good idea. In my hurry to do a good deed for the little birdies, I guess I forgot to close the back door tightly. My lovely dog, who I hadn't really seen for like an hour, decided this was a prime opportunity to escape. Out she ran, and down dropped my jaw, I was outside barefooted, with no dog leash, so it took me a moment to figure out what I should do. I decided that although I am in prime physical condition (ha), I would probably run faster if I put some shoes on. So I ran inside slipped on some flip flops (oh so good to run in), grabbed a leash, and hollered to Sam that I was out chasing the dog. As I ran outside I saw her sneaky white butt bounce into the woods. I thought this was pretty silly of her. In my mind I could easily pin her against a tree and catch her for sure. This was NOT the case. Sadie sprinted like an Olympic runner, and I clomped along in my flip flops tripping over roots and sticks. Before I knew it, I had lost sight of her. My heart sank and I got angrier and angrier. Our campus is huge, and she could be running anywhere. I ran up along the edge of the woods calling and begging for her to come back, but nope. Every time I called out to her, I'm sure she ran further and further away.

Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I saw a white flash go by and right behind was my beloved husband, head covered in shaving cream, similar flip flops to my own, and a yell that was much, much angrier. I was sure that he would catch her. I followed behind him so I could put the leash on Sadie when he roped her in. As we were chasing it just seemed to get colder and colder, especially after I chased her through a mud puddle, which was really more like the stinkin Atlantic Ocean. After about a mile...I repeat a MILE, we had pushed her into a thicket with each of us guarding the only two openings. I guess she knew we had it in for her. When she realized she was trapped, she barked, rolled over on her back, and started waggin her tail uncontrollably. She was waiting for us to come rub her belly! The nerve of that four legged critter! We finally hooked her up to the leash and brought her back home. We scolded her and made her sit in the bathroom for a while. We were so angry with her. She does everything we ask, sit, lay, jump, catch, roll over, but our smart dog cannot master "come". I am sure that she knows how to come, she just chooses not to. Needless to say, she hung her head for the next few days, she was timid and meek, and she practically had to be forced to go near the doors. She's better now. She's happy, crazy, and having as much fun as ever. I however have learned my lesson.

Next time I'm letting the birds find twigs.