Not Bad for a (formerly) Shell-Shocked Stray

I attended an awards' ceremony at my son's high school this morning. Even at this tender age, there is a bit of politics to awards. And that's sad but, I guess, goes with the territory. Let me share my entirely subjective awards for the dear dog that has been a part of our lives for about one year. She was picked up on the streets of Cleveland, as they told us at the shelter, and spent three weeks in the pound, shaking, with bare skin exposed due to fur loss and flea allergy, and totally voiceless. She was not the dog that anyone was racing to adopt. She was not "our first choice" either. But something spurred us on to meet her, and -- as the cliche goes -- she adopted us.

The following may seem to be "just the basics" for any dog. Why reward the basics? However, through Robin, I re-learn that the basics might not be so taken for granted. Each step along the way of her adjustment (and rehabilitation, as it appears she was traumatized and/or abused) has been a victory.

I. Award for Wettest Nose in the House:

Robin

II. Award for Most Fur:

Robin

III. Pavlov Award for Quickest Response to Mealtime:

Robin

IV. Award for Best Indoors Hunting Simulation with Squeaky Toy:

Robin

V. Award for Most Smiles of Admiration and Comments like "Aren't You Pretty?" by Drive Thru Staff:

Robin


VI. Real-Time Award for Sprint in Response to Human Whistle:


Robin


VII. Dogtopia Award for Dreaming in the Sun:


Robin

Raving Alphabetically

Adjunct acrobat: One who stays supremely flexible
Badjunct: Unfortunate stereotype
Cladjunct: Colleague with scheduling luck
Dadjunct: One balancing parenting and teaching
Egadjunct: Typical reaction upon hearing course load
Fadjunct: One who follows the trends
Gladjunct: Opposite of "sadjunct"
Gradjunct: One completing an/other degree while teaching
Hadjunct: Remember position you had before reassignment, budget cuts, etc.
Idjunct: One given to too much self-indulgence
Jazzjunct: One who recharges with innovative music on longer commutes
Kitkadjunct: One who stops at the vending machine for lunch
Ladjunct: The newbie
Myriadjunct: One who works in multiple departments of the same school
Nadjunct: Someone who gives it up
Operadjunct: Your colleague with the big voice
Plaidjunct: Your color-coordinated colleague
Quadjunct: What you might be called if you conference with students outside
Rapidadjunct: Colleague hired at last minute
Sadjunct: Opposite of "gladjunct"
T.a.djunct: See "gradjunct"
Unsinkableadjunct: Got zero hits
Vegetarianadjunct: One whose compassion extends to animals
Wadejunct: What you became the day you forgot your boots
Yaddayaddayadjunct: What you sound like to someone who really isn't listening to adjunct issues
Zigzagadjunct: What happens if you forget the day of the week and drive to the wrong school