Last week, guest-blogger Annie Logue asked people for stories about freelancing with their dogs, because she has a theory that successful freelancers have either dogs or kids (I have a part-time dog at my parents' house, but I'm also a part-time freelancer.) Anyway, a response from reader Steve Bloom trickled in after I got back:

I have 2 dogs and 2 cats. After 15 years of working full-time in an office (at High Times magazine), I came home in February (my new title is editor-at-large). It was the best thing for my dogs. All the years I worked at High Times I tended to stay either at the office late or in the city going to concerts, screenings or generaly socializing (I live in Brooklyn). It would often be 10 to 12 hours between walks.

Last year my oldest dog, Suzie, a beautiful white 14-year-old spitz, started getting sick. She had some kind of intestinal problem that required many visits to the vet. I was really worried about her. Then, once I came home, she miraculously got better. She loves
the three-a-day walks and not having to wait fo me to come home any longer. Same goes for Wiggles, my 8-year-old beagle.

As far as getting me out of the house, that's a given - even in all of this rain! (It's pouring right now as I write.)