Yesterday was our bi-weekly visit with Sheila, the PW supervisor. This time we went over to Loblaws and went into the store, where Rockwell sat and watched all the people go by. He was most attracted to children and would break out of the “sit” and lunge if we let him. However, he did settle well and recover quickly so Sheila pronounced him ready to be taken into stores if I wanted. I said I would take him with Peter or when I grew a third arm but not by myself and actually attempt to get any groceries. He is still a handful when seeing people and I’m not sure I would be able to keep my sanity trying to push a cart, put things into it, and keep Rockwell from committing mayhem.

Also, his rash has come back. Just a few spots on the inner, right hind leg but they are new. So we’re renting a car for Tuesday and I’ll take him to the vet and we’ll get him well checked out. It’s not bad timing either since I can go get a bunch of stuff to get ready for Christmas baking (never mind the liquor store). I was out today on my bike and in the morning, it was fine with temperatures above freezing. However, I went out again in the afternoon and everything was freezing over, the temperature had dropped to minus 4C and the winds had really picked up, gusting to 50kph. It was exhilarating, if nothing else!

Finally, we have decided to call the dog by his proper name “Rockwell”. This has come about for a number of reasons. We have learned that he is sponsored and therefore, it is possible someone named him Rockwell for a reason and it would be in bad form for me to ignore that and call him “Rocky”. Secondly, he really doesn’t seem like a “Rocky” - he has presence and a personality that really does seem more like a more formal name like “Rockwell”. And when Peter exerts his Alpha Dog self and calls him “Rockwell”, his head snaps right around and his attention is undivided! Thirdly, my mother named me Julia and for the first 20 years or so, she had to put up with me rejecting that name and insisting on being called “Julie”. It was the 60s and I thought Julia was just NOT the right name for me and the time. When I got to university, I realized that Julia was a lovely name and so I became Julia, for my mother. [In fact Mum, I am probably closer to “Jule” which is what the family ended up calling me anyway, but in public, I AM “Julia”! And Mum, if you are actually reading this, give me a sign. :) ]