July 1, 2008 – Sunny, dry. Perfect Pearl returned to Bedlam last night with my daughter Emma, and settled right in, hanging out with the other dogs. Lenore adores her, of course and follows her around, and Izzy and Lenore know her quite well. Pearl is a remarkably sweet and easygoing creature, unlike either Emma or me.
  We had a neat time this morning, drinking coffee on the porch, disagreeing about a couple of hundred things, including just about everything I write, but quite happily. We are both different, we are both alike.
  Now, we are both purposefully working on our books, in our various offices.
  It’s hard to break old habits – I keep wanting to do things for her, she now wants to do things for me.
  Not easy to accept that shift in roles.
  I’m happy she’s here. We are going to check on the progess of our various works, then contemplate a movie.
  I am reminded that Pearl is an awesome dog. Feeding the four of them was easy. So was walking them. Pearl remembers to watch the roads. I love dogs, but am especially partial to well-bred working dogs from conscientious breeders, and looking at the four of them, I felt quite fortunate.
  They are all well-trained, easy-going, companionable creatures, a great canine line-up. Pearl and Em and I are going to the vet this week to check out the massive titanium hardware Jeff Meyer has implanted in Pearl’s joints to keep her moving. She has the most beautiful eyes of any dog I know, well, almost as nice as Lenore’s.