September 15, 2003
The 'teenager sprawl.' Next thing you know, she'll be asking for the car keys.
8:00 p.m.
Now that Dusty has mastered the 'classic sit,' she's developed some interesting variations on the theme. She's demonstrated each of these when I've asked her to sit at the curb before crossing the street:
The California Sit:
"Now really, I want to get to the park and I wanted to be there five minutes ago, so can we go already?!" (rapidly places bum close to the sidewalk but without actually making contact, then immediately stands up and moves forward).
The Reluctant Sit:
"This...sidewalk...is...wet." (Very, very reluctantly lowers the bum to the sidewalk, but allows it to hover there. Note the hunched back and hangdog expression)
The Collapsed Sit:
"It's too hot out here. I'm tired...I'm...I'm...falling..." (Sits at the curb, then almost immediately crumples into a 'down').
The Keener Sit:
"Hey! Look at me, I'm sitting...Yoo hoo! Yes! You with the treats! See what I'm doing? I'm sitting. Now pay up!" (Sits up very straight and looks up with a pleading expression).