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<p><img class="size-medium wp-image-3729 alignleft" title="Woofie" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Woofie-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></p>

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<p><span style="font-size: 12.7315px;">I live in Land of the Fit.  It must have something to do with our close proximity to Fitness Capitals of the World, California and Colorado. Our 73 degrees and sunshine for 7 months out of the year probably play a part in it, too.</span></p>

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<p>This perfect weather sends people outside in droves. Phoenicians are particularly fond of hiking.  So are their dogs.</p>

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<p>My former pooch, an Italian Greyhound with the very elegant name of "Woofie", used to scale mountains like nobody's business.  Italian Greyhounds emerge from the womb ready to tackle any athletic feat.  Despite their small size, they share an innate athleticism like their giant Greyhound relatives.</p>

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<p><span style="font-size: 12.7315px;">When I rescued Bella a couple months back, I wondered how she would fare on the hiking trails.  The trail that is ½ a mile from my house is uphill most of the way.  Would her short little legs and all ten pounds of her make it up the mountain?</span></p>

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<p><span style="font-size: 12.7315px;"><br />
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<p><img class="size-medium wp-image-3728 alignnone" title="IMG00250-20110130-1201" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00250-20110130-1201-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></p>

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<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #008000;"><strong><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Puppy Power!!!!</span></strong></span></span></p>

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<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3724" title="hike2" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/hike2-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /><span style="font-size: 12.7315px;"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3723" title="hike1" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/hike1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></span></p>

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<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00247-20110130-1142.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3726" title="IMG00247-20110130-1142" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00247-20110130-1142-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.7315px;"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3727" title="IMG00248-20110130-1150" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00248-20110130-1150-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></span></p>

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<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00249-20110130-1151.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3732" title="IMG00249-20110130-1151" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00249-20110130-1151-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.7315px;"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3731" title="IMG00251-20110130-1205" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG00251-20110130-1205-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></span></p>

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<p>*******************************************</p>

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<p>Dear Mr. Anal Retentive Hiker Guy,</p>

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<p>Little did you know that your atrocious manners on the trail would land you in a blog.  Heh heh heh.</p>

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<p>When you stopped in front of Bella and I, pointed to the other side of the trail, and demanded that we move over for you and get on the "right side of the trail", I though you were joking.</p>

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<p>But, no.  You were serious, Mr. Anal Retentive Hiker Guy.</p>

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<p>Let me fill you in on something:  It's Sunday morning on the hiking trail.  People are out enjoying the incredible weather with their dogs and loved ones. RELAX and take in the beauty around you.</p>

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<p>But you can't do that, can you, Mr. Anal Retentive Hiker Guy? Because you're on a schedule.  And you have fitness goals to achieve.  You could care less about serenity.</p>

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<p>I know your type, Mr. Anal Retentive Hiker Guy.  On the outside, you're a perfect specimen, but on the inside you're a hot mess.  You're the guy who prefers wham-bam-thank you-ma'am and then immediately rolls out of bed to shower and brush his teeth.  (And you probably showered and brushed right before wham-bamming as well.)</p>

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<p>Let me introduce you to Mr. Normal &amp; Nice Hiker Guy.  He's out for both exercise and quality time with his significant other on this fine Sunday morning. When he gazes upon World's Most Precious Pooch, he oozes, "What a cutie pie!"  His significant other beams, because it's obvious that this guy is a giver, and all women find a giver irresistible.  I bet Mr. Normal &amp; Nice (&amp; also Attractive) Hiker Guy enjoys lots of foreplay and would rather stay in bed then hurry off to groom himself.</p>

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<p>Mr. Anal Retentive Hiker Guy, there was hope for Scrooge, and there's hope for you.</p>

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<p>In the meantime, be nice to women, children, and cute puppies on our fair city's hiking trails.</p>

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<p>Cheers,</p>

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<p>Late Bloomer</p>

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