Bao and Second Dog (AKA Judy) on the beach in Mexico.

Second Dog is the nickname Judy gave herself the first time she came to visit us, in Florida. Nobody had ever stayed overnight in our little house before, and at first, Bao sort of got his metaphorical knickers in a knot about it.

"You're First Dog," Judy reassured him. "I'm Second Dog. Okay?"

Where Second Dog goes, First Dog goes. Even for a long walk on the beach at Rocky Point. The tide was all the way out, the sun was shining, the birds were catching fish off the reef and it was totally glorious. Bao trotted happily along, head and tail high, nose into the breeze. We walked for nearly two miles. Two miles! We'd brought the stroller along in case he got tired, but he didn't. Just as well. The stroller isn't made for sand. What we need is a set of those big, puffy wheels, but I haven't a clue where to find such things, or even what they're called.

That was yesterday morning. We did it again last night, and again this morning, just before we came back to Tucson. Bao and me (and Second Dog) walking along the beach. Fantastic.