It was just a regular Tuesday at work and we had a break between patients, so I decided to meander down the hall to visit Sheila, one of my co-workers. She was giving me a back massage when Doc came into the room. Well, Doc and Sheila started talking and Sheila stopped my massage, so I got bored listening to those two talk about work. I decided to look around the office for something to do. Suddenly, I spied a tote bag on the floor next to the desk and thought I should probably investigate to make sure there was nothing dangerous inside that could hurt the staff. As I got closer I noticed a wonderful aroma coming from the bag, so I did what any dog would do, I stuck my head down in it, all in the name of safety of course. But just as I was pulling the contents out of the bag and sinking my teeth into it, the yelling started. Startled, I turned around just as Doc grabbed me and tried to pull the baggy out of my mouth that had the food inside. I have jaws of steel and was not going to give her the bag. If she was hungry she needed to find her own food, I thought to myself. But of course she won and was horrified to find out that I had taken a big bite out of Sheila’s lunch. Doc immediately threw it in the trash where I made the mistake of trying to fish it out again. After all you shouldn’t waste perfectly good food.

Doc was quite upset by my behavior and offered to buy her another lunch. Sheila sure didn’t seem that bothered and was a lot nicer about the whole thing than Doc was. Doc scolded me all the way down the hall. I told Doc that I thought it was Sheila’s fault for leaving food where I would be tempted and reminded her that science says that dogs intellectual ability is the same as a toddler’s, so what did she expect. That really set Doc off and she gave me a lecture about taking responsibility and then sent me to my bed to use my “toddler intellect to think about what I had done.”

It’s now late in the evening after supper as I write this, and Doc has already moved on. That is the good thing about Doc, she doesn’t hold a grudge. As for me, I just can’t promise I won’t try to steal food again. After all, what dog do you know that ever passed up a free snack?

As summer vacation drew to a close, and we had to return to work, Doc and I tried to fit in every outdoor adventure while we had the time. I thought Doc might be overdoing it with all the things she had us signed up for, but I went along for the ride without complaint, because I have to admit, she does know how to have fun. Then reality set in, and we were back to our daily work schedule the day after Labor Day.

On our first day back and after having a day filled with seeing patients, we had a mandatory meeting with the big bosses. They were presenting some new section of a strategic plan for our agency. Now don’t get me wrong, I was happy to see everyone, including counseling staff we never get to see, but meetings and presentations are boring to this pooch, so I tried to liven things up a bit and that did not turn out well.

First, I went around to greet everyone while I also stayed on the look out for any snacks they may have had. some were nice enough to share. I then spotted my co-worker Homer and became so excited to see him, I tried to get to him, but was trapped on the other side of the table. So I did what any normal big dog would do, I jumped up and put my paws on the table trying to get to him. Boy, when Doc turned and saw that, I got in a little bit of trouble. I swear that woman has yes in the back of her head.

After that she made me come stay by her side while the presentation went on. I no I needed to be quiet, but I just couldn’t take it any more so I started whining. Doc, did try to correct me, but I just couldn’t contain myself and got louder. So, after a while, I got kicked out of the meeting for being disruptive on my first day back. Imagine that. I guess that means I am in the dog house for awhile. Oh well, life goes on.