“Everyone can perform magic, everyone can reach his goals, if
he is able to think, if he is able to wait, if he is able to fast.”
― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha
Both Dexter and Comet do not share my commitment this week to fasting. In fact, with Comet’s troubled stomach last week, Dexter has doubled his appetite. Dexter has not been pleased playing the straight man ( a la Abbott and Costello, if anyone remotely knows whom I am referencing) to Comet, in the food or attention-seeking game, so seemed to relish Comet’s lack of appetite all last week. Ever since Dexter wore his “conehead” two weeks ago, he seems to have become bolder, and in the last week was helping himself to clean Comet’s bowl.
Since Monday morning ( or should I say, Sunday supper), I’ve been fasting for spiritual reasons, which my wife and I had decided to do together at the beginning of the week. But as of this afternoon, I have already failed to climb that mountain. I was off to get some coffee – by way of the employee cafeteria. Cheese and sliced fruit got the best of me.
3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. –Daniel 9:3 (NIV)
I will probably gather the shreds of my self-discipline and reboot into another fast. I will perhaps have to forego the sackcloth and ashes for work, but the spiritual refocusing will do me good. And little fasting will be good for my waistline. When I am out in public, and see a healthy dog, I often see a healthy dog-owner. And when I see a little rotund critter, the owner may also afford to lose a few pounds. After the last couple weeks with the dogs eating less they appear more svelte. 
It’s my turn.
It's a Dog's Life 