Isabella Loves Mischief Too

Plotnik tried to get Isabella to say "Gramp" again on the phone last night, but all he got was "wharwahrhwarrha." But she was eating, so she was immediately forgiven. The Plotniks are sure Mischief misses her and they're sure she misses him even more.

The Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Soup) was wonderful yesterday for lunch, along with chicken and Thai Herbed Rice, but last night was even better. Plot and Duck walked Mischief down to Drewes, the once working-class-and-almost-empty butcher shop on Church Street but now upscale-organic-and-you-need-a-number-to-walk-in-the-door, and bought a hangar steak. Believe it or not, neither Plottie nor Ducknik had ever tasted a hanger steak before, but now that may be the only piece of beef they ever eat again. A few minutes in a hot saucepan with a few shallots and a little wine -- yowser! A baked potato and a salad -- it's like the old eat what you want days.

That's what happens when the Annual Physical is over. Your appetite comes back.

Mischief scored yesterday too, because Drewes is smart. Anyone who asks for a treat for their dog gets one. Yesterday Mr. Waggly got himself a large piece of grass-fed organic sirloin. We kid you not. Of course, he didn't taste it, he just inhaled it, wax paper and all, then spit out the wax paper. He doesn't seem to know the difference between sirloin and three day-old dog pee that he likes to lick off the odd concrete wall.

Yesterday morning, he gave his GrandHumans a scare. Plotnik woke up to the sound of a smoke alarm battery beeping in the back bedroom. Ducknik woke up too, and looked down at the floor and there was a trembling Mischief, his heart racing like it would run away with him. His tail was sort of wagging, but not in the usual exuberant way and every time the old battery beeped the trembling got worse.

So, Plot put one and one together and ran into the bedroom, wrenched open the battery compartment, put in a new battery...and the beeping stopped. When they phoned The Great PD, he said "Oh, he's just scared. High pitched sounds terrify him. That's why we can't use our microwave. He'll be OK in a few minutes."

And he was. Then, later on, he got organic grass-fed sirloin. Life is good at Camp WalkaWalkaMo'Walka?Walka. And PD sent the above picture, and this one:



As for the Physical: Over the shoulder, Ptaa! Ptaa!