It's been a long, dry stretch

of just me and the heeler dogs,

who, in the absence of Jack Bauer and the kiddos, keep an extra careful eye on me.

All the time.

No matter what.

No matter when.

Relentless and without fail. Body guards to the end. Even when I feed the bees.

And don't you dare even think about trying to sneak up on me when I'm sitting on the riverbank with Lila Jane and Red Dawg on the job. No siree. Not if you value the seat of your pants.

Ever try to clean your house while being heeled by tenacious bob-tailed heeler dogs?