Ohhhhh Lucy!

He's making a list

And checking it twice,

Gonna find out who's

Naughty or nice.......

And Ms. Lucy is going to be on the NAUGHTY list!

I usually try not to go out twice in one day. But after doing a shift at the theatre today, I had the opportunity to go on the Chemainus carol boat, singing Christmas carols as the Thetis Island Ferry took us around the bay and up towards Ladysmith, where more carol ships were circling past. I had been wanting to go, a friend had an extra ticket, and so I jumped at the chance.

I came home from the theatre, fed the dogs, took Ms. Lucy for a walk (her second of the day), played with her for a bit, and went back out. While Lucy does not care to be left at home, she generally just sits in an armchair by the window and waits for me to return, upon which she jumps and leaps and licks me to death.

Despite the torrential rain, I had a great time on the boat, and enjoyed the camaraderie of other drenched carolers as we sipped hot chocolate and sang to the words projected onto the side of the ferry. And then I returned home.

Perhaps it was the fact that it was dark out and the blinds were drawn so Lucy could not watch for my return. Perhaps it was because I had been out twice in one day, for a few hours each time. Perhaps it was just that she has truly become a mischievous, energetic, naughty young dog. But I knew I was in trouble the minute I opened the back door.

The chewed up red ribbons up and down the hallway gave her away. As did the pieces of plastic bag. And the stuffing and two ears from a Christmas teddy bear. The cards scattered on the floor, the cover dragged off the sofabed, the Christmas placemats decorating the rug, and the pieces of wrapping paper littering the floor were strategically placed to mask the pee stain on the dining room carpet.

Ohhhhh Lucy. What HAVE you been up to?????

And she didn't even have the grace to look embarrassed or sorry. She just jumped and leapt and licked me to death.