Wintertime Lazies

Well, the wintertime lazies are catching up with all of us here on the farm. Even Honey, our golden retriever, has gotten lax. I know that I'm getting older and slowing down, but it really hits home when even your dog starts resembling your lifestyle.

When the days get shorter, it's harder to get outside for any exercise after work. I've promised myself for months that I would definitely take up a gym membership when Fall came. It's going on December and I still find excuses to drive on by each day. "I'm going to do it this week!"I say, but each day a new excuse pops up.

You really know your getting lazy when taking the dog for a walk consists of firing up the quadrunner. "After all," I reason, "she's got more energy to burn than I. Why should I hold up the process with my slow plodding?" So, off we go. She runs ahead setting the pace. Most of the time she stays far ahead. Only on the return trip does she let me catch up. Sometimes I tease her by giving the quad the gas and speeding up. She lets me know she doesn't like it by turning to bark at the tires as if to tell me, "Slow down!" Lately, though, she's been barking at the tires from the outset, which lets me know she's out of shape, too!

I've just noticed it this Fall that she's slowing down, probably because of taking on our bad habits. Sometimes missing a walk all together, we spend the evenings laying around watching TV and eating snacks. She has caught the "snackitis" problem because of us. We keep her dog biscuits on top of the refrigerator. Now, whenever anyone even walks by the fridge, she takes a stance blocking the way back and looking eagerly toward the top of the fridge at the tasty treats. Of course, feeling guilty because I've gotten up to get a snack, I feel obligated to at least give her a small one, too. Like everyone else in the house, she's beginning to show the signs of this indulgent lifestyle. Snacking and lack of exercising has given us all extra pounds. It's sad when your dog reflects your own shortcomings.

So, with a new "dogged" determination, I promise myself once again that I will do something! I will call the gym. I will take the dog for a walk. I will not make continual trips to the fridge at night, and
I'll do it...tomorrow!