A new name and a new look.

This weekend just flew by. I'm glad I have tomorrow to recoup! (I know.... I know.... Get a job.)

The weather has been simply miserable. The grass is wet and the mud is soggy; both are conditions Belle loves. We've not been to the park in a week because I know the river will be swift and dirty. Every inch of her will be covered in mud and dirt and that doesn't go well in the cream interior of my little Sue-bee. Who thought it was a good idea to get a light colored interior with a black, usually wet and mud covered dog? I don't know what I was thinking. It won't happen again!

Anyway, to show Belle some extra love I've been making all of her dog treats from scratch. The vet said she needed to lose ten pounds of "chub" so I've been really paying attention to what's been going into her yapper. She especially loves Snickerdoodle Poodle Poos (and so does my Dad, but that's another story!), but tonight she's getting Belle's PBO's (peanut butter oatmeal - I just made that up in case I start a dog treat business some day. *ahem*). Anyway, she was showing some signs of a wheat allergy (licking paws, scratchy skin) so I decided to eliminate it as much as possible. All of her treats arre now made with ingredients such as oat and brown rice flour, oatmeal, safflower oil, honey (from the Rochester farmer's market!), molasses, peanut butter, dried cranberries, flax seed, carob chips....and I try to use organic and all natural.

Why go the extra mile for a dog? I mean, she's just a dog, right? Here's the thing. Belle gives me this amazing, unconditional love. She makes me get out of bed. She makes me take walks. She makes me leave my desk after writing for three or four hours at a stretch. She always has something in her mouth when she greets me at the door, and if she doesn't she runs and gets something before she'll come to me. It's like she brings me a gift every time I come home. She's funny and she's sweet and she protects me. She's worth the extra mile.

Much like George's, Labs are prone to chubbiness. Every pound that she is overweight shortens her lifespan and let's face it; dogs don't live nearly long enough. it's part of the heartbreak that comes with being owned by such an amazing creature. Yes, I said "owned" by a dog. She owns me as much as I own her. She's amazing.

I've always said that I hoped that I could find love in a human like the love of a dog. Maybe it's why I am still single. I'm not sure any person is that selfless or unconditional.

Love you, Belle George!