I'm waging war on a virus that has decided to lodge itself in my chest. Unfortunately, being allergic to some of the main ingredients in most over-the-counter medications makes this war a bit one-sided.
So, instead, I took the day off work and immersed myself in a book with a quick break to wash the dog. When you realize you can smell your dog and he's asleep in the other room, it's time to bathe him.
There are several steps that must be taken when bathing a dog that is larger than you and barely fits in the bathtub.
Step 1.) Put on some of your oldest shorts and tee with the knowledge that they will be ruined beyond recognition in five seconds.
Step 2.) Sweetly call to the dog after running the bath.
Step 3.) Call louder.
Step 4.) Search the house for your dog. For a large dog, he's amazingly good at hiding when he hears the water running.
Step 5.) Coo to your dog as he crouches, deadweight, on the floor with toes splayed and grasping the carpet as though it really doesn't matter that he doesn't have opposable thumbs.
Step 6.) Grab his collar and begin the difficult process of dragging him to the tub. Continue cooing and try not to cringe as you hear the carpet screeching beneath his claws.
Step 7.) Get behind the dog that is balking and backpedaling away from the edge of the tub. Pray to the gods that your back doesn't break and heave one end into the tub. Grab the other end as the front escapes. Repeat until entire dog is in the bathtub.
Step 8.) Leap into the bathtub and tackle the dog. Forgo the cup of water and turn the shower head on while pinning him down.
Step 9.) Soap him up.
Step 10.) Chase after him through the house after he escapes, soap flying everywhere. Grab a big towel. Hope to contain the mess.
Step 11.) Take an advil, grab an icepack and continue nursing your wounds and cold on the couch while glaring balefully at the dog that is now running up and down the hallway with manic glee.
I need a foot massage, someone to cook me dinner, a good movie, and a cold compress for my neck.