I could have sworn the appointment was for 10:30. But the "new" gal behind the counter looked at me like I was too long in the desert.

You see, he does surgeries in the morning. We always set up all his appointments in the afternoon. Ours is supposed to be at 14:15.

Heeler Mom was, of course, thrilled that we got out of the vet's office unscathed. Little did she know.

So at 14:13, we were back. Had to drag the heeler Mom out of the Explorer this time, her two daughters relieved that it was her who had to go in, and not them.

By the time we got settled in on one of the waiting benches, I noticed a trail of largish dog turds running from the door to the bench area. A trail that wasn't there when we came in.

Now, it could have been from the cocker spaniel who was walking alongside us with his owners. He did come in after we did. But damn, that would be a lot of fecal matter to get from one little cocker. I don't think either one of his owners was that upset, either.

Heeler Mom was her usual, delightful self. Friendly to everyone. Especially anyone who looked to have enough intelligence to open the exit doors. Gal beside us was quite tolerant of her attentions, but even she was a little surprised when the heeler jumped up between us and promptly sat down.

Yes, our heelers know about furniture. And it ain't something they're not allowed on.

Could not believe the wait. We didn't get into the little room until after 15:15. The one gal sheepishly admitted, "Yes, I overbooked him today. But it's good for him." Then another half hour wait (some folks who "suddenly" decided to relocate to California were desperate to have their horses inoculated and papered so they could go. Hence the delay to the rest of us.).

Heeler Mom actually laid down on the stainless steel examining table. And fell asleep! With obviously unpleasant nighmares.

I took a brief rest with my head on her back... it was kind of pleasant.

Now, the overbooking gal was the only one still there from when I ran over the masked heeler last October. Everyone else was new (except the vet... but he has lost his partner, and apparently not under congenial terms). While we were waiting in the main room, two gals came out and started scrambling around behind the counter, checking every nook and cranny.

The cashier asked what in the world they were doing.

Looking for a particular x-ray or lab report.

"What makes you think that's arrived yet?"

"He (the vet) saw a sticky note out here saying it was in."

And now, this was an exact quota from the cashier, regarding her employer:

"Well, what was he doing out here looking at our sticky notes, anyway?"

End quote.

Think they're getting a little testy in that place without the second vet.

And a little territorial.

Now, the heeler Mom gained nine pounds since April. Added almost 20 percent of her body weight. According to their charts (I had a half hour to kill, in there, remember?), she's midway between "Overweight" and "Obese."

Need to get her back to going to the post office everyday.

And cut out a bunch of the snack/human foods.

'Course she was wonderful with the vet, and made no threatening gestures when he stuck her in the butt. So we had to make the usual stop to McD's afterwards. Diet or no diet.

Those folks apparently don't know how to make a sundae without anything on it, so I had to eat all the fudge by myself.

Not so good when you don't get the ice cream with it.

Heelers got the rest. And a plain double-cheeseburger.