It was particularly difficult because Steve had taken vacation time between quarters and was home all of last week. The Army thought there was nothing unusual with that but basked in his being home even though his "to do" list was jam packed. He was home.
Today starts the new quarter at school...and a new schedule. He will not be teaching on Saturdays for the first time in ages but July is Opera Season so the White Ones will get limited pleasure out of that day off as we head to Santa Fe in the late afternoon and do not return until after midnight.
In exchange for Saturday time off, Steve will be teaching THREE late night classes that do not end until 11pm. The WDA groaned because they hate eating dinner without him and the endless wait for the headlights to shine up the drive.
This week Steve also has an extra late night as he must fill in for one of his adjunct faculty members who does not return to the city until next week. So he will be out late nearly every night. And just to add to the White Dog separation anxiety, for the next two weeks Steve still teaches his summer session morning class in information modeling to grad students at UNM.
These adjustments are hard on the WDA...as well as on Steve. He tries to make up for not being home by still doing bedtime walks at midnight and the pups get snacks as he eats a light supper when he returns. The relief when he is home is obvious as the White Dogs, particularly Ferguson, Sachi, Zsofia, and Puff, smother him with attention and demands for interaction.
White Dog has what the Army feels is an "easy" solution. "Why doesn't dad just win one of these bazillion dollar lottery things and then he doesn't have to leave us ever to go to work?" she asks.