The Polar Bear has been doing swimmingly well on his reduced Prozac. So much so that last week I took him up to Stevens Pass and we did an 8 mile round trip hike up to beautiful Lake Serene. It was serene until the Polar Bear took issue with an older male hiker who had a trekking pole. Since I only had him on his body harness and not his Halti, his growling and barking scared the guy half to death and it was harder for me to control his head and therefore his body without the Halti. So we learned a few good lessons - Halti always, the need to back up the trail if necessary for PB to have enough space not to trigger him and that physical exertion like that also tends to increase his overall stress level. He actually did the entire hike without stopping and without complaint which shocked me but I was thrilled. If I can find more out of the way, mostly deserted hikes to do on weekdays with him, I would be in heaven. He is a little less excited than I am:

You want me to go how far? I'll wait in the car.

However, other than his being overstimulated on our hike, he has done great. Last night I brought him to work for the first time in awhile. He happily walked all through downtown, passed a million slipper dogs, people, noises etc. as it was a sunny Saturday. He went into the station and into the lieutenants' office where he hobnobbed with my lieutenant, took treats from a male co-worker and provoked oohs and aahs of amazement once again, as to how far he has come. We went to the dog park at 0230 after I got off work and he was ecstatic as we haven't been in awhile. I was ecstatic that he was exhausted when we got home and did not want to get up! So starting Tues, we move to 20 mg of Prozac every other day, carefully monitoring his reaction as always.

Today was spa day for the Polar Bear. Unlike me, he does not appreciate spa day. First it was the ear cleaning and this is the look I got:

Touch them and die.

To pay me back for that, he promptly rubbed his face and ears in the mud as I was cleaning the house and happily presented himself to me when I came to fetch him for nail grinding:

(Sticking tongue out at me)
"Two can play this game."

When that failed to work, he took it a step farther. And then he bolted across the yard and tried to play catch me if you can which I refused to engage in:

The equivalent of an obscene dog gesture.

When I had finished with the nails, he went back to pouty Polar Bear look but this time he refused to even look at me. This is his super-guilt posture that says I would rather be back in the barn than acknowledge that I still love you.

What's wrong Polar Bear? (Turns nose up)
Nothing.
Sometimes he's more like a girl.

Due to my constant treat motivation, he has become an outright beggar which I can live with given the alternative. So he got a specially stuffed kong today to alleviate his spa trauma. It didn't take long for him to recover:

What's that? You want to brush my teeth too? Call my secretary. I'm busy.

Um hello? I'm done. Fill it up again please.

Unfortunately for PB, I am still in charge around here and I said no. We are working on getting him to bring the kong back to me when he is done. We're getting there but it's still hit and miss.


Yes, readers I finally got a few photos of the kittens who are decidedly more sedate than when you last saw them. Stabitha is by far the more mellow, shy of the two of them. Notice she has not only recovered from her illness but she has gained the weight to prove it.

Are you going to pet me? No? See you tomorrow.

Dexter is and forever will be, the clown of my three animals. He is irrepressible and he cracks me up on a regular basis. When I come home in the morning, both he and PB are sitting on the step together at the bottom of my stairs waiting for me to come in from the garage. He is the coolest cat I've ever met and I'm so glad I found him.

Look how much I've grown mom! If I stretch it adds 1/2 an inch!

I know this fleece blanket was one of your Christmas gifts but I think it sets off my orange coat so well. Don't you? Thanks, I think I'll keep it!

Why do you always have to write about the Polar Bear? We're way more interesting than him. Put more pictures of us up or we'll eat the rest of your plants.