Lucy: Red Ball

Red Ball is a simple game. Someone (with opposable thumbs) throws the ball and Lucy runs madly after it and brings it back. And repeat.

Lucy loves playing ball more than anything (rawhide chews and rolling on dead animals a close 2nd and 3rd). She can do it for hours, with periodic trips to our faux creek to cool off.

As we play this game, I wonder if there’s anything in my life with such a high joy-to-effort ratio. Nothing comes immediately to mind. Except Red Ball.

Lucy and Barb

Lucy –the junior pup at our house– is extremely camera shy. If you pick up something that even resembles a camera, she runs under the bed (her sanctuary). I thought I could fool her with the iPhone. No way.

But I got this shot (with iPhone) last night. Hardly a great photo but I like the monitor glow on Barb and you can just spot Lucy’s nose peeking out from beneath the table.

For some reason it appears I’m about five floors up but it’s just one.

Lucy: Chewed glasses

Lucy the Golden Retriever ate not one, but two, $400 Palm Trio cell phones (back when they cost that much). But her favorite forbidden fruit is reading glasses (dirty underpants don’t count). I drop a pair about twice a week and Lucy scoops ’em up and heads for her spot under the bed. I only pay about $8 for a pair of cheap readers online but we worry about here swallowing glass or a sharp piece of plastic. Yeah, I know… I could wear one of those little cords around my neck that are so popular with librarians. Naw.

Holiday Greetings from Ripley and Lucy

Far and away the most asked question about the annual holiday card, “How did you get the dogs to sit still for the photo?” The answer has always been a combination of patience and treats. This year, neither was enough to get Lucy to pose. When the camera came out, she freaked and ran. Barb never lost her cool but I really thought this would be the year she’d have to punt.

The image above perfectly captures the exhaustion of everyone involved. Not an award winner, but an honest and true image of the season. We’re all a little exhausted.