By Katie Tallo

I am of two minds. Awake and in a dream state. I haven’t had five hours of straight sleep for two weeks. This state is no blissful Maryland. It is a foggy and distracted state like coastal Washington. I’m tired, eating badly and not exercising. I need to shave my legs. I keep forgetting to floss. Well I don’t actually forget, I’m just too tired to bother.

Truth is, I’m a bit of a mess and my back aches from bending and chasing and scooping and barricading. I feel like my house is under siege — invaded by a furry little dictator. Levi is his name and he’s an 11 week old golden retriever. And for the record, he only chews, gnaws and takes. He does not retrieve.

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