First of all, it seems as though my new shoes might just work out afterall. I wore them for my entire shift Tuesday evening, and my feet didn't hurt until I got home. And then, boy did they hurt! But the next morning, there was no residual pain. I think my feet are just adjusting to the shoes, as well as to the slightly new position of the orthotics. I can handle that. I think I like my new shoes!

  

On to my next news! I am sitting here at my desk with great big scratches on my face. Want to know why? Because I just met my newest dog-walking client, an eight month old black lab puppy! He is tall and lanky and loves jumping high in the air. And wow, can that dog jump! He suddenly began frolicking around the living room while his owner and I sat on the floor and that's when he got me in the face with his sharp claws. The lady seemed simply mortified, and immediately apologized. Then she said to her dog, "Hey! We want her to come back!"

She and I talked for a long time about doggie stuff. Actually, I was there for an hour and a half, which I didn't realize until I was back in my car. I suddenly worried about whether or not I'd overstayed my welcome. I hope not. I hope she doesn't think I'm a weirdo. I think she likes me, though, because I'm still willing to walk her dog even though he's a goober!

This lady actually has two dogs, and the older one kept bringing me chew-toys so we could play Fetch. It was really cute! My thighs ache from the repetition of squatting down and standing up again, over and over, to throw the toys left at my feet. I think having dogs around has the potential to give a person lots of exercise!

After I spent some time with him, I visited the cat I'm caring for now, CiCi. That's not her name. C.C. is the code I came up with for... Crazy Cat! This cat is a weirdo, for sure. She is owned by some very well-off folks, and looks not a touch out of place sitting on the wool knit blanket in the tall leather armchair every time I come over, as classical music plays softly on the radio. She has long, silver-grey fur, and is very much a princess of a cat. She reminds me of the cat on those old Whiskas (I believe?) commercials, where the people have a crystal goblet filled with canned kitty food that they tap with a fork, and the cat, with her long silver hair, runs up and eats delicately from the fanciest glass in the world... Well, Cici's food bowl is clear glass, but at least it's not a goblet I have to tap with a fork!

Anyway, that's not why she's a weirdo. She's a weirdo because of her Jeckyll/Hyde personality! I cared for her several months ago, and she was a bit freaky then (attacking my shoes, etc), but she's been known to be very sweet, too, and I adore her people. That's why I agreed to care for her again these few weeks while they vacation in France.

I was tempted to write that Cici might have to stand for Cuddly Cat instead of the original "Crazy," but today changed all that. Yesterday, she only wanted to be brushed and loved on. Today, she kept running at my legs, hissing at me, and out of the four or five times I reached down to pet her, she bit me once or twice. Goodness gracious! I told her flat out, "Dude! You are scary today!! No more petting for you. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye, I love you!" Because I do. I think she's funny, and I love her to pieces, even though she freaks me out. She has quite the personality. And the fact that she'll eat kitty cat treats right out of my hand is enough to push me over the edge every time. She's feisty, and I love her for it. I'm just glad my cats aren't like that!

I'm also glad that I'm still able to have pet-sitting and dog-walking clients while doing my other jobs. It's nice working with peoples' pets and being around a few more interesting animals from time to time. The scratches, jumping, hissing, and mild cat bites? All in a day's work, I say! I just hope Cici is in a better mood tomorrow!