Angus's to-do list

TEN THINGS ANGUS STILL NEEDS TO LEARN

1. Coats are not edible.
2. Slippers are not edible.
3. Boots are not edible.
4. Laurie's toes are not edible.
5. Throw rugs are not edible.
6. The list of what is not edible is much longer than the list of what is edible.
7. If you throw your body at a door and scratch at it, it will not open.
8. If you sit nicely by the door and wait, chances are it will open.
9. No matter how much you lick the bottom of your empty dish, no more kibble will magically appear.
10. Two weeks ago, it was cute when you tried to tug Laurie's socks off of her feet but now it is getting annoying.

I am leaving this afternoon for New York and will be back on Sunday. Poor Doug must go it alone, including taking Angus to puppy class by himself, even though it is a two-person job just wrestling Angus into his harness.

This puppy has only been part of my life for a few weeks--not even a month yet. But being away from him for two nights seems so sad! So lonely! I will miss him!  Except--except--when he mews and chirps and barks at midnight and at 4 a.m., I won't hear him.

I might, for the first time since Dec. 29, get a full night's sleep.  Aaaaahhhhhh.

If you need an Angus fix while I'm away, check out the Pets page in the Saturday, Jan. 20, Star Tribune. He gets the back page of Variety: full color. Well worth your fifty cents, and the start of an occasional puppy column by me, featuring him.

Angus, you're gonna be a star.