to be more like my dog

I realize that Inti has something good going on. She's content and happy, her coat is sleek and beautiful, and she still has her girlish figure, even at the ripe age of "somewhere between nine and 10." There are many ways I'd like to be more like her.

She eats her breakfast with gusto and then usually goes right back to sleep.

She lets someone else clean her house and do her nails.

In winter she naps in the sun, and in summer she naps in the shade.

She doesn't mind getting dirty when she plays. She loves her walks even when it's raining.

She has grass every now and then, but not on a regular basis.

She accepts love and affection freely and without guilt or trepidation.

She's not afraid to play with the cat, or suffer the occasional consequences.

I don't want to get all Robert Fulghum on you or anything. So let me reassure you that Inti and I are already quite a lot alike in many ways.

She likes to swim whenever she can, and being in the water is a joy.

She's pretty honest with other dogs. If she doesn't like them, she lets them know immediately to stay the hell away.

She gives affection freely, and is loyal to her loved ones.

She enjoys babies and small children, but is quite content not having them in the family.

She'll take all her toys out of the toybox but is generally incapable of putting them away.

She. Loves. Food.

Pretty much the only person she obeys is hobbitt.

And when she's playing and really frisky, she likes to be lying down.