i don't spect i'm a good companion for humans. i'm too self-absorbed, especially when i hurt or feel lousy. with dogs i can get away with all my moods. i feel guilty with dogs too though. i felt guilty on the first lulu walk when i was so stiff and sore and i was shy of letting her go. on the second walk we went by the giant horseman and surveyed to see if it was clear. the dog, maybe, was just coming and i fell out with maybe's human last time i dogsat, years ago, and maybe is a jerk too, so we went back to the coyote side, the east end of the midway. i threw a stick that went into the brush where the coyote stays and lulu was determined to get that errant stick even though i threw several. she went in the green space and i wondered if the coyote was near and i went in to look around. it was beautiful in there with the afternoon light shining through the vines and leaves. i was still stiff, and my head was groggy from pills and the strain. and lulu was a good girl, she ran like crazy but in orbit around me. we didn't see the coyote and if she was there i liked the thought of her watching us play, and if she was there she was cool with lulu being in her territory, at least with me near. it was a hard day. it ended sadly.