The Dog.

Let me introduce you to the dog.

The dog's name is Zoe.

Zoe is a Jack Russell Terrier (yep, same dog as seen on Frasier).

Everyday this spunky, little four-year old dog wakes me up at 6am on the dot. Everyday.

This morning, for instance, I woke-up to Zoe licking my forehead anxiously urging me to go open the backdoor so she could do her business.

I looked over at the clock, 6:00am. Exactly.

I groggily rolled out of bed as Zoe jumped up and down from the bed to the floor and back again, stopping each time to lick my arms, legs, or any part of my body she could reach.

After I finally got the door open, she darted outside into the backyard. Two seconds later, she was back inside eagerly waiting for the day to begin.

However, I had other plans.

My bed, my nice, warm, comfortable bed was calling my name.

I walked back into my bedroom; Zoe nipping every inch of the way at my heels, begging me to stay up and play.

And that's when it happened.

The forcefield of the sharp corner of the bedframe was too much for my upper-right thigh and with all its might, pulled my fragile flesh into it.

Oh man did that hurt. And, I must admit, the reddish-blue color war-wound that remains sure is a nice.

I crawled back into bed; Zoe pouncing from one corner of the bed to the next, trampling me like roadkill.

Somehow I managed to go back to sleep...that is, until it was breakfast time for the dog and the waking ritual Zoe has so graciously perfected, began again.

The Dog Part Deux.
Zoe eats once a day. And for some odd reason, the chosen time for this once-a-day feeding is 7:15am.

For one-minute out of the day, while Zoe wolfs down her one-third cup of kibble, the world is at peace. One whole minute. Once the bowl is thoroughly licked and every last crumb is entrenched in Zoe's stomach, the dog's energy returns at full force.

She rips from one corner of the house to the next, up and down the steps, in and out of rooms, until finally, she pauses for a moment, looks around, and then begins again.

I just stand in awe and watch. And then I go on with my daily business.

However, Zoe is also quite the master of shadowing. Wherever I go, she goes.

I am quite the independent person and having someone follow me around constantly throughout the day - even if it is a dog - really tries my nerves. Zoe and I have had numerous chats about this subject; one of these days I pray it will sink in, and she will become the independent dog I know is in there somewhere.

We obviously have our moments throughout the day. But once day turns into night and that little ball of fur curls up at the end of my bed, I can't help but love her.

That is, until she starts burrowing under the covers. And that, my friends, is a whole other story.