Merlin's Diary: My Monthly Diary for February, 2013

Mommy always complains that even though February has the fewest days of any month it lasts longer than all the others and, even though the days are supposedly getting longer, they sure seem dark to her.

This month We finally got some actual snow. We had hardly had any snow all year long and then it snowed, and it snowed and it snowed and it snowed. I love when it snows and I always insist on playing fetch in the snow. This is because in the summer I tend to get overheated rather quickly when I play fetch, but I don't get overheated in the snow! This year though Mommy limited my snow fetch games because of my hind end. Just because I fell over every time I ran after the ball and took three days to recover from each ball game doesn't mean she should limit me, but she did. Mean Mommy.

When it was time for my laser treatment this month my normal vet was on vacation so I had to see the man vet who I like well enough, but I don't really trust ever since he thought he could dry my toe stump with a blowdryer during my amputation recovery period. Mommy and I got there about 10 minutes early, which is our habit, and we waited. When the ten minutes were up and they hadn't called me yet I started barking at the receptionist. She was the weekend receptionist not the weekday one and she seemed a little slow. She just kind of stared at me and didn't apologize to me or jump up and get the vet. Shame on her. Mommy told me I had to quiet down and I grudgingly did so. About 10 minutes after that we FINALLY got called (Mommy said that is because the man vet is just as nice as my normal vet and he sometimes goes over on his appointments answering questions). Anyway we went into the exam room and I stood by the back door and stared at it waiting for the vet. Finally he came in and when I saw who it was I went back to Mommy until I was sure he didn't have a blowdryer. Mommy told him I'd taken a hard fall on the ice the day before and asked that he work a bit more on the hip I fell on and he said he'd see what he could do. Then he took my leash and I dragged him to the door. When he opened the door I dragged him out of the room and all the way to the laser room. When I got in there I lay down on the pad and stared at him until he started up the machine and did my treatment. As soon as he started I fell asleep and had to be woken up to turn over and again when it was time to go back to Mommy. I'll admit he did a good job.

Mommy got sick this month too. It wasn't the fun sick where Mommy goes to bed and I get to cuddle all day with her. It was the annoying sick where Mommy goes to bed and just when I get all comfy cuddled up next to her, she gets up and goes to the bathroom and she keeps this pattern up for the whole day and night. I find this kind of sick very annoying so I told her towards the end of day one that I'd had enough of it and when she got out of bed I moved and took all the pillows and refused to give them back. The next day Mommy kind of moped around doing her chores and sitting down a lot which was boring so the day after that, since it was a Sunday, when she let me out in the backyard, I told her I wanted to go hiking.

Mommy said, "No, we aren't hiking today. I've been sick for two days. I'm not hiking." I stood by the back gate and stared at the garage. Mommy said no. I stared at the garage. Mommy said no and told me to come inside. I looked right at her then turned and walked out to the middle of the backyard and lay down in the snow. Mommy said, "Fine, pout in the snow." and went inside. Twenty minutes later she came back and called me to come in. I ignored her. She called again. I ignored her. She called again. I ignored her. She finally sighed and said, "Fine, we'll go for a hike later this afternoon." I got up and trotted back to the house and came in. A couple hours after that I walked up to Mommy and barked at her reminding her that it was afternoon and time for our hike. Mommy grumbled and got dressed and we went on a 3.5 mile hike.