It is the time of Cedar Fever here in Central Texas. Austinites are shooting sprays up their noses, putting drops in their eyes, taking antihistamines in maximum doses and still wishing they lived in bubbles. I am sufferring with cedar allergies worse this year than any I can remember and have considered whether scratching my eyes out would actually somehow feel better. My nose has been stopped up for a week and counting. And yes, before you ask, I’ve tried a netti pot.

However, today, I have something to smile about. Some kind of large animal (possibly a coyote or two) dug into our large trash can and got out a bag and dispersed the trash evenly all over the back porch. TH got home from work and after noticing the trash, he went to let Sydney out of her crate. A smell hit him as he was walking down the hall to the laundry room. Evidently, the room smelled so bad that he couldn’t stand to be in it. He took her out and shut the door behind him. He picked up all the trash and bathed the dog because she smelled that bad. To him, the room still smelled so bad that he couldn’t stand to go in there and get her food. It seems she worked herself into a tizzy while the animal was on the back porch very close to her. She sweated and seems to have thrown up a bit and who knows what all. I went in the room to clean her cage and had to smile to myself. I can’t smell a thing. really. I expected to be gagging or at least uncomfortable. nope. not bad at all. I can tell there is a smell. that’s it. So, as I scrubbed her cage from top to bottom, I had to kind of giggle to myself. Who am I kidding. I was actually half inside a dog crate scrubbing and laughing to myself. Cedar fever has a positive side after all.