That's How it Blows

 For some reason the "Find My" Apple feature has been turned on for my iPad, so every time I leave home I get notifications on my phone that my increasingly forlorn iPad is getting further and further away. I turn Bluey on for Lucy when I leave her alone - do I have to start setting my iPad up to watch it too? (That or Criminal Minds, don't judge me).

There was a winter storm warning Sunday night into Monday that didn't end up being that bad, but it was heavy, wet snow, and it stuck to the trees with a vengeance and it is still there and the trees all look flocked. They look like display trees in a Christmas window. It is a Winter Freakin' Wonderland. I cannot overstate how fake and beautiful it looks. I was driving to the dealership to get my winter tires on, in a white snowscape listening to Loreena McKennitt sing The Wexford Carol and I felt like there should be a silent gun battle going on in the field, it was so cinematic. 

Speaking of Lucy

She is and always has been a bit of a jerk to the lovely lady who cleans our house twice a month. I don't know why for sure, but I think it's because she comes in and then does stuff in our house without us being with her, so Lucy assumes we are naive idiots who need to be protected. We've tried a number of things - locking her in the bedroom with one of us, speaking firmly when she barks, ignoring her when she barks, giving J. a treat to give her. Nothing works, or not for long. I've been mulling having a trainer to come in and give me some things to try, but we don't really have the budget for that right now. 

Finally, Sonia started taking her to one of her other homes on cleaning day, and the fact that I could just sit and read or iron or whatever was blissful. Then we had to move cleaning day to Tuesday this week.

I had to bring the car to the dealership for winter tires in the morning, then walked Lucy and then the cleaner showed up and I thought (hoped) 'it'll be fine'.

Reader, it was not fine.

I think it was kind of a "I thought we had decided not to DO this incredibly dangerous thing anymore!" deal. It was horrible. The cleaner never seems too bothered about it, and once I forgot she was coming and she let herself in and Lucy just hung out with her while she cleaned. But this was next-level - so. loud. I kept her in the bedroom with me, but then I got the call that the car was ready and I really wanted to pick it up before dark, but I didn't want to leave Lucy with the cleaner.

I texted my neighbour, who was at work, but said her daughter was home and just to let Lucy out to go through the door in the fence and Victoria would call her in. So I did. But of course she wouldn't go -- even though usually she dashes over there immediately and demands to be let in -- just stood there scream-barking at the back door because clearly I was going to be murdered. So I took her out the front and brought her in that way, and she was happy to see Victoria and Paul and the other dogs, but then when I went to leave she darted between my legs and didn't want to come back in. We were all wheezing with laughter at my asshole dog at this point. We finally coaxed her back in and I made my escape. My neighbour's husband also came over with his snow-blower to take care of my plow row on Monday, so I now owe my neighbours some baked goods or a kidney.

Here is the furry little monster, smushed up against me, exhausted by her ordeal. 

It wasn't quite as trying as this day, but it was close.