whee! you liked it! thank you! i am glad. i liked yours very much too, by the way. i think ii posted to that effect but i can't be absolutely certain.

the arthritic dog, yes. you see rather a lot of those in hot springs. it's great. not that i know if they are really arthritic or not.

the ladder sounds scarier than it is. the first time i climbed it, i was about 8, and my dad didn't even have to help me up it, although admittedly my mom was freaking out. (she also didn't like dad to run down the stairs at a local state park with me on his shoulders and his eyes closed. bah, spoil sport.)