August 15th, 2022
Race against the rain
It just felt hot and muggy all day long. The temperature is always hot here, and the humidity is always high here, but it felt different this morning right from the get-go. Usually the monsoon happens closer to 5 PM and it’s definitely over by 6:30 or 7 pm at the latest. Today at 3:30 PM I knew I was in trouble when I saw the first few raindrops coming down. It’s my preference to get home and walk Nichol before the rain obviously. So far we’ve been lucky! But this early monsoon situation did give me an opportunity to try out my new resource/strategy. East-West laid new astroturf on the playground last week. I asked the school today for a small left over chunk of Astroturf for my balcony so that Nichol has an outdoor potty spot for situations just like this when I know he’ll need to go and it’s simply raining too hard. I know he spent seven years living in the Pacific Northwest, but he definitely does NOT like the rain, never has and never will. (And the rain stakes are much MUCH higher here than they ever were in Woodinville). So today was the day, if ever there was a day, that we (he) could make use of a patch of fake grass on the balcony. Lots of people lay Astroturf in front of their shops and on the sidewalks here, and almost 100% of the time Nichol happily stops and pees because I assume every dog that passes by there pees on it. Somehow I had it in my head that he would see this patch of green Astroturf on the balcony and just go over to it and Pee on it. Needless to say despite all my convincing and begging and pleading, he would not and did not Pee on the Astroturf.
He looked at me with those sweet eyes and desperately tried to get me to put on his leash to go outside. So since I know that he has not Peed since 6:45 this morning, I give in and take him downstairs. The second we get to the drip line at the garage door it’s a hard no from him on passing over into the rain! I knew that was going to happen, but we were already down there so I dragged him out and he Peed on the very first thing he found and then I let him come back inside. The security guard found the whole thing very funny, right from me coming through the door the first time from school looking like a drowned rat to the shenanigans with Nichol. I’m glad we can provide entertainment. He’s a really nice guy, speaks no English, but he’s trying hard to build a relationship with Nichol. It’s very sweet. Plus it’s a lesson learned… I’m only two minutes away from school but I should still get an umbrella! ☔️
This is exactly what’s still happening at 5:45pm. 100% accurate. Thunder lightning and torrential downpour. I guess the upside to the monsoon rain is the temp has dropped to 80 degrees. But hopefully it’s over soon, so Nichol and I can take a real walk.
