It's a Ralph and Sam Situation in QUOTIDIEN

Many of you have NO idea who Ralph and Sam are - and before you read on, please go ahead and note if you do. :)

Many, many, ma....oh, hell - back when cartoons were funny, there was this Looney-Tunes duo: Ralph (the wolf) and Sam (the sheepdog). Ralph and Sam each had a job. Ralph, a slave to his hunger and baser instincts, hunter of sheep. Sam, slave to protective tendencies, kept those sheep safe. Naturally, both Ralph and Sam spend much of their time trying to get the better of the other with Ralph playing the fall-guy.

At some point, a whistle blows in the distance signifying the end of their work day. They meet at the time clock, and share their amiable good-byes.

So it is in our household. The entire time Ziggy is in the house, him and Beth go round and round, chasing one another - or ganging up on Boo - driving me to distraction. But when morning comes, and that back door opens as I take Beth out for her morning pee, Ziggy calmly walks beside.....or beneath the shelter of Beth's belly. A cordial glance, Beth's tongue lolling out to the side, and a look that says, 'Ziggy, man! Whattaguy!'