Weekend

Rain on Saturday is very conducive to working on book and feel that will get 2 chapters in shape, at least. Send Dave out to do errands so that I will have necessary solitude. Construction going on in apartment next door, not as conducive to work as rain is. Try ear plugs, head phones, and finally, (experienceing severe dryness of throat and pain in stomach,) knocking on door to ask if perhaps workers could Keep it Down. First timid knocks and then, pound at door, to no effect, but do receive strange look from neighbor at end of all. Explain that there is loud construction going on. Unfortunately, at this moment, all noise ceases and it is perfectly quiete in hall--neighbor, rather than waiting for elevator hurries down stairs, which feel is unjustified to the extreme. Door opened and tell workers who apoplogize. Go back to apartment. Begin to smell polyeurethane. Feel that am going to be overtaken by fumes. To distract self, and to take self as far away from fumes as possible, go into kitchen, open window wide open, and try to teach Jenny how to shake (she came to us knowing how to sit.) Jenny very smart dog and learns quickly--also seems to think that if she gets a bite of cheddar cheese for offering one paw, then why not get double for two paws? We spend a long time unlearning this new twist to the trick. Next step is to wean Jenny off the cheese and see if a scratch behind the ear will substitute. Eventually it does, but can tell that Jenny feels it is unjust. When Dave comes home, very excitedly show him Jenny's new trick. Dave tries and is suitably impressed. He asks how the writing went. Have forgotten about writing and say briskly, I got more done than I thought I would so I ended early. Dave merely raises an eyebrow, which is infuriating and much worse than anything he could have said.