Otto meets the Burberry's

Otto is like a kindergarten bully with a black belt degree. His personality completely changes when we return to Chicago almost immediately after we pass the highway sign, "Entering Cook County." Sirens go off continuously from car alarms, police and the fire station down the block. I am sure that Otto is stressed out. Last night, he lifted his leg so many times that towards the end of our walk, he was just wearily brushing by posts with his leg just slightly raised... translated, I assume to mean, I am still here and don't you forget it.


My husband and I thought it would be fun to walk the dogs one last time around Wrigleyfield. There is still a good amount of ice on the sidewalks and it made it hard to stay upright, especially when Otto becomes "Otto the Sleddog." Around the bend at Wrigley, a woman was walking her schnauzer towards us and the sidewalk was pretty narrow. The woman had on a huge plaid Burberry scarf, matching hat and matching plaid boots. Her dog is wearing much the same outfit. He had little plaid boots and a little plaid winter coat. They were fast approaching us and HER Schnauzer started barking at Otto. To my immediate left and right were banks of ice. I said loudly to the Burberry's, "Can you please just wait there until I can cross the street?" She kept on coming, Burberry Schnauzer still barking. Otto proceeded to crouch down, he wasn't going to cross the street, he simply refused to move and he was starting to escalate the tension. Again, I asked the lady, "Please don't come by us, I am on the ice and I have no where to go , can you just give me a minute here...???" She then said, "Why do I have to cross the street...you should cross the street, why do I have to???"

Charming...


Then something came over me. I said to her," Better yet, don't cross the street, feel free to walk right by us...." I have no idea why I said that, I know better. I must have been overly exhausted with the whole moving thing. I know about liability issues so I must plead insanity on having uttered this comment...Otto, at this point was standing, (bootless and coatless,) lunging, growling and barking at her dog. I think he was calling her dog names, cursing at him in anatolian babble which drove the schnauzer insane. Burberry Schnauzer was lunging with his boots up in the air, and Mrs. Burberry was dragging him, still complaining about having to cross the street.

We have had enough of Chicago...I am dreaming about seeing the bunny under our snow covered lounge chair, the hawks in our trees and the old fashions at the bar.