On the home front

My collie, Brady, is at least 13 years old (he was a rescue, so we don't know exactly), and for the past 4 or 5 years has been showing signs of something called degenerative myelopathy. Given everything that I've read about the disorder, I'm thankful that he is still able to walk Getting up, however, is increasingly a struggle for him, and usually requires my assistance. 


Unattended for even a few minutes, he can get himself into a predicament. Yesterday, as the rain was starting, I put him in the yard for a bit in case he needed a potty break before the rain got really bad. When I went outside to get him, I found him lying in the mud.

That is the dirtiest he has ever been--his entire left side was covered in mud. 

He also hates baths, and fights them quite vigorously for an old dog with muscle weakness. I couldn't even get him completely clean, because his breathing started sounding distressed, so I decided I had better stop.


Anyway, this is the sort of thing that interrupts me while I'm in the middle of creating quizzes, grading, preparing lectures, and it's one of the things that makes it pretty difficult to predict how long it will take me to do something. Your patience is/will be appreciated. And also, since I am very aware that "things happen", I am more than willing to be flexible and understanding with all of you when life throws an additional stumbling block in your path.