I found the above photo yesterday morning when I was scrolling through an old photo album on Facebook. It made me laugh! For those that don’t know, in 2009, my mom and I adopted Dutch from my great-aunt who could no longer keep him. (He was snapping at her grandkids too often.) My first-ever dog, Minnie, had died six months prior and I was ready for a new pup. Dachshund was my preferred breed, but I was trying to find a dog from the SPCA, rather than going to a breeder.
So getting Dutch was like all of my prayers being answered! He was exactly the breed I wanted and I would still be fulfilling my goals to adopt. When we got him, he was almost seven, and I remember a family member talking to us about how spoiled he was and that my great-aunt had treated him more like a human than a pet.
Umm. Well. I’m not sure we’ve helped matters any. Ha! He’s definitely still spoiled. He probably does think he’s a human. And I honestly would not have it any other way! Dutch has brought such intense joy and happiness to my life. I cannot imagine my life without him. Adopting him was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Pets are so much more than just pets. They are our lives. They are our family. They give love unconditionally and abundantly. They know nothing but that YOU are their favorite person. It’s the least I can do to lavish love and attention on this pup since he gives me so much more in return.
The high of my week was finding out I’m having another nephew! Okay, okay, I was hoping for a niece, but another boy will be fun! My nephew really wanted a sister, so he was a bit disappointed, too, but I am sure he will love having a brother! I’m just super excited to meet this wee one, and see how different (or not different?) he will be from Jovy!
The low of my week was having my work-from-home day canceled. Hopefully, I can reschedule for next week. I had planned my WFH day for yesterday and got an email right as I was shutting down my computer at the end of the day, requesting a meeting for the following day. Bummer! I was looking forward to yoga pants, sleeping in, and snuggling with Dutch!
A podcast episode I loved was Dax Shepard on Nerdist. I’ve loved Dax Shepard for a long time and I love his character Crosby on Parenthood (probably my favorite character!). I was so excited when I saw this episode pop up on my podcast feed. And it was such a great episode. It was nearly an hour and a half, but I think I could have listened to Dax and the host talk for hours and hours. They covered so many topics, from getting sober to how social media has changed how we view public figures. Ah! It was so good!
A blog post I loved was Stop Sleeping with Liars by the oh-so-fabulous Hannah Brencher. Oh, this was so exactly what I needed to read. I want to wallpaper my bedroom walls with her words.
“Stop crawling into bed at night, pulling the covers over your body, and letting liars hiss inside your ear: you’re unworthy. You’re not good enough. You’re falling short. You’re a burden. You’re alone.
These liars take up room. They snicker and grow when you give them credit. They hold tight to your ankles. They make you feel like less: less of a lover. Less of a mover. Less of a shaker. Less of a person. Please– for the love of lovelier things– do not fling away your life and feed it to the liars in your head that tell you you don’t add up.
You need to stop holding yourself back. The pity party must cease and you must de-invite the little liars to your darkest parts. You need to stop thinking you have never deserved good things for your life.“
The best money I spent was $24 on a pedicure on Saturday. Oh, it was so, so, so needed and felt so, so, so good. I can’t help it – pedicures have to go into the monthly budget!
My plans this weekend include deciding on my Halloween costume (book fairy, third wheel, ceiling fan, Waldo?), working on my fiction novel (maaaaybe doing NaNoWriMo. Maaaaybe.), and enjoying our last brunch book club at the pool for the year!
What was the highlight of your week? Are you planning on dressing up for Halloween?
I feel like we share the same type of love for our pups. I feel the same exact way about Buddy. He is SUCH a little human, right down to his different expressions and the way his eyes change when he’s happy or sad. I love it! Never thought I’d be a dog person or experience this kind of love for an animal, but it’s definitely intense! xox
Highlight of my week. Um. Maybe today because it’s Friday. Is that lame? It’s been a WEEK so I’m glad that the work part of it is almost over.
I vote Book Fairy for the Halloween costume, but Waldo would be fun (and I bet cute + comfy!). I don’t have any plans to dress up for Halloween at present. I work with all dudes who are 50+ so they don’t really care about that stuff, so we’ll see if I opt to or not. I AM going to paint my nails glow in the dark so that they are fun when the kids come to trick or treat at our house.
Happy Friday/weekend!
I’d love to see what a third wheel or ceiling fan costume would look like! Please be either one of those!!
And that last photo of Dutch – the smile on his face kills me!!
Congratulations on your newest nephew! It’s so exciting to find out! The high of my week will be tomorrow when we return the moving truck because it means we are DONE! Ha. The low of my week is the week in general. I’ve been sick, moving, insanely swamped at work, just not a fun week all around.
Dutch is such a happy boy! I feel the same way about my cats. They are so spoiled 🙂
My dog is soooo spoiled too. But I can’t help it…he’s my baby boy!
I love Dax Shepard too, btw. I’m definitely gonna check out that interview.
Aw, that is exciting that you are going to have another nephew! I had to wait until the 6th grandchild to get a niece as the first 5 were boys!
The high of my week was spending the day with my friend Lori that is visiting from Charlotte! I also had some fun nights with Phil and had a planning meeting for a local book club that my friend and I are starting!
So true about dogs and pets. We are their whole life, so the least we can do is treat them with tons of love. 🙂 I can’t imagine life without my pup, Dakota.
All of your posts about Dutch make me want a dog more and more!
I agree, pedicures are definitely worth the splurge. Thanks for the reminder that I could use one!
I could totally see you as a book fairy for Halloween. 🙂
High of my week was having drinks with some of my close girlfriends on Monday night. For Halloween, I was planning on being Gamora from GOTG, but I’ve decided to recycle a costume instead to save money. Zombie Snow White it is!
Ughhh, I have NO PLANS for Halloween, & I’m really disappointed about it. Halloween is my favorite holiday, but my friends here just don’t do a damn thing for it, so I’ve ended up totally plansless this year. C’est la vie…
That picture seriously cracked me up, I love it.
As for Halloween ideas, I don’t even know what I’m doing or if I’m dressing up. I have a funny shirt I might just wear and call it a day.
You know I wholeheartedly agree with you when it comes to our pets. Mine are my babies! I mean, they take up our whole bed and Iz and I just kind of try to fall asleep in such a way that we don’t disturb them, haha. That is love right there!
Yes yes yes to pets being family. Right there with you on that one!
I think you should do the book fairy costume! I am probably not dressing up for halloween but I am looking forward to handing out candy!
Dutch’s cute little face 🙂
Third Wheel…ha!! Do you actually glue 3 wheels to a shirt, or something?