The Great Adventures of Billy The Kid

Well, I should know enough by now to realize that the fun just never ends. With three Cockers, there's always somebody who is thinking of some way to spice up their hour, day or even just their life.

I have been home from work for a couple of days with that gross cold that is going around. Stuffed up nose, sore throat, sore ears, tired . . . you knowm the typical mid-winter cold that everybody gets eventually. Yesterday I tried the exercise tactic to get rid of it - I shovelled the snow off the driveway. Didn't work. Sigh. Figured today I'd try the spa tactic :)

So I'm sitting in the hot tub on our deck (not covered, so we can enjoy Mother Nature), and Billy is running around playing in the snow. Occasionally he puts his paws on the edge of the hot tub and tries to take a drink. I'll never understand the lure of chlorinated water. So I decide to read, and try to "steam" the cold out of my body. Sounded like a good plan, and I was feeling relaxed.

Hah! NEVER let down your guard! All of a sudden somebody (who will remain somewhat anonymous for now) did a massive cannon ball into the middle of the hot tub. I was stunned! Even Farley, who lives for water in the worst way, can't manage to jump clear over the edge of the tub into the middle. So I'm soaked (more than I was from sitting in a hot tub), my book is soaked, and I have a 5.5 month old puppy swimming around the tub gleefully. So much for rest and relaxation.

I got out of the tub, grabbed my robe and sandals and brought Billy inside. It's about -15 or so outside (Celsius - the only TRUE way to measure the weather!), so of course I'm concerned about his hair freezing. He thought that was the perfect time for a game of keepaway. Of course, how could I be so silly?

So I finally got him inside and had the dubious pleasure of bathing him while wearing a wet swimsuit. Lucky me. The perfect attire for a girl with a cold, I'm sure.

Anyhow, I decided to go ahead and do the full groom on him, since it was going to happen this weekend anyhow. Bathed him (with my new favourite product - Buddy Wash and Buddy Rinse) and then blew him out. Reminded myself that he HAS to learn to lie down for blowdrying. Right . . . in my dreams. That should be an exercise in futility.

So he's clean and sweet-smelling (and in his kennel, so he stays that way). And me? I still have the cold. And am now afraid to go in the hot tub anymore for a while.

Life is always fun, that's for sure!