A letter to my dogs.

Don't get me wrong.

I love dogs.

I've got a Jack Russell Terrier, and Geoff's got a Great Dane. They get along great - they're complete opposites but they don't know that. They are the best of friends and look after one another. It's endearing...

However, as dogs, they of course do things that completely tick me off. Get on the furniture and lick themselves so much it leaves wet sloppy spots that I always end up sitting in, they bring things in from outside that are not meant to come in (sometimes things that are completely unrecognizable), Maggie especially likes to take anything sweet off the counter and have a snack. Sweet rolls, donuts, cookies, cake, pie, doesn't matter; she's not picky. And there is always a mess going on somewhere with the floor; be it drool, hair or something else that they 'drop' every so often...There's also the occasion they just use whatever is laying around to make their mess.

I came across this 'letter to my dog' and I found it so appropriate I have personalized it, printed it out and will take it home to stick on the fridge. (Of course, I am always thinking of others, and think that if I post it here, you too can use it in your home.)

Dear Roscoe and Maggie,

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and/or dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest. Feel free to consume that which has fallen from my plate onto the floor.

The hallway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me down the hallway is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run. This applies to the stairs as well Maggie...

I cannot buy afford to buy a bed bigger than the one I have. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will sleep on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. You can actually curl up in a ball, you know. You do not have to stretch out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the door in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine attendance is not required. Not to mention, you stare. I don't like that.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell each others butts. I cannot stress this enough. GROSS!

We love you, but honestly, enough is enough!

That being said, in fairness to Roscoe and Maggie, I have posted the following message on the front (and back) doors of our house:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR DOGS:

(1) They live here. You don't.
(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture or just go home now.

(3) We like our dogs a lot better than we like most people, so don't push it.
(4) To you, they are just animals. To us, they are adopted children who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and thankfully...Oh praise God, don't talk.

Rock on with your bad self,

H

Moving stinks! But I am glad it's over!

Long time no write BLOG! I have been so busy this past week!! I decided to move, and initially thought it may take me a month. Once I started packing, I realized that I didn't need to keep dragging all this junk around with me, and I started purging...That lasted a week, and by the time I was done, I had decided that I didn't need a month after all! I ended up moving/giving away/throwing away it all in a week! Some of it was done in car loads, and there were three trailer loads.

I decided to part with a good many things that I have schlepped around with me for years. Some of them went because I was just tired of looking at them. Others went because I no longer needed them and quite a few items went, simply because they reminded me of lives past - and I felt they were full of bad karma. I am making a move for the better and I don't want or need that negative energy in the new space.

Especially, since my kids and I moved in with my boyfriend and his son...
Shock! I know, I felt it too.
Some moments I still do, and I get that drunk butterfly feeling in my belly.
=0)
You know the one. It's all good and I am smiling as I post this. He is my best friend. There is no one that I would rather spend time with. He makes me laugh, he makes me think, and he challenges me. He is supportive and thoughtful, kind and loving. I think sometimes it embarrasses him that I can so openly tell someone this. I would walk up to a complete stranger and talk their ear off about how wonderful he is, the wonderful things he does, and the way he makes me feel.

I love him.

I know how hard it is to live with someone though, I've done it. So far, this seems pretty easy. We're all learning each other's habits and schedules, and trying to be respectful of boundaries and personal spaces. My dog is having a harder time adjusting than anyone else. He has had to go through some behavior modifications since moving in, and he hasn't entirely liked them all.

The house is a mess with boxes, and items which need to be sorted through and put away. So far today I've emptied three boxes and it doesn't look like the pile is growing any smaller! There is also laundry to do, floors to sweep and I am dead tired and would LOVE to take a nap...

I've been a busy bee this past week, and from where I am sitting right now, it doesn't look like this weekend is going to be any better...OMG, could someone please shoot me?

I came home the other day with 6 bags of bagels, two loaves of bread, two danish (one raspberry and one cheese - cheese was #1!) and some dinner rolls. Someone laughed at all that bread, but know what? In a house with two adults and three teenagers (two of which are boys) who have all have 2+ friends here on a continual basis - I am happy to report that it is almost gone and none has been wasted. The best part of this is that I got it all at the bread store on Forest Ave/Stevens Ave and saved a TON! Who doesn't love that when you need to put all your extra funds into the gas tank of the car...

Anyway, I suppose I will go make dinner now. I couldn't tell you how many mouths will be around the table tonight. Although, it honestly doesn't matter. It is easier for me to feed them all of them (body and mind) while they're here - I don't want someone else doing that job.

I may not like the job they do.

Rock on with your bad self, I am totally rockin on with my new family.

H