The Rains Have Come

Anyone in the central Texas region knows that we are in the third year of drought here, the worst in about 50 years. So when it started raining earlier this week and continued for several days it was big news. Everyone was excited. Well, not everyone:
True, rainy days do mean more couch time. But they also mean little beagles that don't like to get their feet wet can't play outside (and burn off their extra energy) as much as they want. Before we get to that though, let's linger a bit on the really cute inside stuff.

This pose on the office couch is known around Rockwood Lane as "on patrol." We live half a block from Pillow Elementary School and more importantly, a stop sign. That means any cars that accidentally happen to invade Marshall's territory can be properly inspected from this, his viewing station. Numerous calls have been made to Austin's 3-1-1 to report suspicious activities but so far, none to the Governor's border enforcement teams.

Even rains can't keep a young beagle from his walks though. Jimmy tried to take Marshall out yesterday morning while it was still drizzling but that outing only lasted around our block. Turns out, the rains were watching and just after Marshall set out it started to really pour. Later in the day, both humans trekked out with Marshall. We got to the farthest point in our neighborhood from Rockwood Lane and noticed a small dog standing in the middle of the street. His name was Ricky and he belonged to a nice gentleman that was cleaning out his garage and had not noticed the escape. Several neighbors saw us trying to find Ricky's place in the world and so we stopped for a few moments of conversation. That was apparently just enough time to allow the rains to find us, and Bam! we were soaked.

This morning's walk was rain free but Marshall did have to avoid some of the aftermath on his walk around the 'hood. Here are his tips for walking after the rains come: walk right through the middle of the pool of water, head directly for the mud, and be proud of your paw prints!

Finally, and without commenting on his political beliefs or his view of the national debate on health reform, Marshall would like to present his personal homage to the memory of Sen. Edward Kennedy. True, that's Robert Kennedy standing in the window of the oval office, and this is Marshall sitting in the doorway of our storage shed, but he felt the lighting was enough of an artistic link to draw the two pictures together. If you don't like it, please remember he's just a beagle and is working with limited resources here.