Happy

Leo has been quite happy the last few weeks.  While every day I check his neck for the signs that I'm dreading, he's been in quite the good mood as of late.
First, there was snow (early February), which is one of his favorite things.  He overdid it then, and was sore - and started to look a little old.  But in the last 2 weeks, he's bounced back and usually has a lot of energy, a pep in his step, and is naughty  - all good signs.

Leo's been going for long walks the last 2 weeks, partly a result of me needing thinking time (I have to rewrite a Thesis Proposal, and thinking is a big thing), party because of time, in general (L has 2 days during the week off, while I have weekends off, plus usually one day during the week when I'm around). He's had a lot of attention, and if there's one thing an EO likes, it's attention. And we, of course, are happy to give that to him.
And the energy!  There are some days when he has less of it, and those are the days when I worry.  But this weekend was pretty typical for him.  He was here on Friday (L dropped him off on the way to work), and I walked him Friday night.  Saturday morning he was his usual self, and I gave him a so-so walk, fully intending to take him to the Farmer's Market at McCarren Park.  Well, that didn't happen - grading got in the way - and so we just had a regular afternoon walk before I was out for hockey.  When I got home, we went for the night-time walk, a brisk 1AM walk that was longer than I was expecting - which actually surprised me, since someone (not naming names, but his name is in the title of this blog) was less than excited to go out.  After some coaxing with treats, we went, I froze, and he was really happy.  In the morning, because we were out later, he had no desire to get up and go.  I convinced him to do a lap of the park, and then he wanted to come home.  I was worried - Leo's not usually one to call it a day after 40 minutes or so, but it was cold, I was sore (did I mention hockey?) and I had things to do.  Later that evening, after a stop at the store, we headed out for a quick spin before some grocery shopping (Note: Fairway reopened!).  Someone took me on a grand tour of the less desirable parts of East Williamsburg:

Seriously, this was the walk.

The only time he slowed from a brisk trot was when I didn't let him continue down Meserole, and when I made him turn up Grand St.  He was headed for Cooper Park - unfortunately, we just didn't have time for that.

The good news, however, is that we're closing in a year, and things are still OK.  I know that one day, it's likely they won't be.  But right now we're OK, and that's as good as we can hope.  It's as good as any of us can hope, really.