When I go to the Post Office, there is a very steep hill a couple of blocks long. When I get to the peak, I am out of breath and going very slow. There is an old fat shepherd type dog living at the top of the hill. When I first heard him bark, I was worried, until he stoop up and wobbled after me. Fat dogs are no problem to get away with. After a few half hearted trots, the dog laid back down, and I coasted down the hill. We do this two or three times a week.

On another note, there is a Rotti in town, and his owner thinks it is funny for him to chase me and my son while on bikes. My son is 8 and we are going uphill when we go by the dog. I told the owner fact to face that I would kill the dog if he came within 10 feet of my son. I meant it, and I will do it. No questions asked. I hate to be in such a position, but neither I nor my son will be used as a chew toy for a 100 pound dog whose owner thinks that it is funny for him to race after people on bikes.