11/19

Going to see Dr. K again tomorrow. He specializes in birds and "exotics," which is why I took Shumai to him last time, but this time I'm bringing him a normal, non-exotic puppy. actually, a rottweiler/cocker spaniel is sort of exotic, isn't it? (Are you snickering?) He's SO cute. He has typical rottweiler markings but has short little legs and floppy beagle-like ears. he's the sweetest. he even won over my mom in a big way -- he currently lives in a kitchen, and she wouldn't even let me keep a small aquarium in the kitchen before. TJ is only allowed to pass through the kitchen on her way to the garage. sometimes Djali hops around the kitchen while we eat dinner, but only when it's really rainy outside. But now the puppy owns the kitchen -- which is sort of wrong, considering how long we've had everyone else, but it can't be helped -- there's no other place for him. Coco seems to like him but there's too big a size difference to keep them together.

He likes cat food, electrical outlets, pouncing, hide-and-seek, toes, Djali, constant company, the garage, and naps. Cat food, outlets, Djali, and the garage are no-no's, but so far he's getting constant company which means pouncing, ten to 20 toes at a time, and lots of naps. he seems to be OK with that. We had a hard time last night (human babies aren't the only ones who don't sleep through the night) but I think tonight should be a little bit better, because he's gettign a lot of exercise today and also he's had a little bit of practice being on his own. Not that he sleeps alone, god forbid ... he sleeps in my room. On my bed. Veddy spoiled!

He's not named yet ... Eugene's Brother likes "Bumper," for some reason, and "Ro Ro." mom wants to call him "Bandit" and Brother Mart likes "Bentley." He looks like Carl, as in Good Dog, Carl, but that'll just be silly when he grows to be all of 30 pounds. Seeing that his house dog status depends on mom's happiness, I think we should name him whatever she wants (because everyone will just call him whatever they want anyway, like when we named my aunty's dog Miki'ala but then she got renamed Kaimana (after their granddaughter!!) but we never stopped calling her Miki'ala ... also kind of like the Djali situation. Mom firmly believes (s)he's a boy, but I've long since chosen not to feel around for the truth, so mom refers to her as "he" and I as "she.")

Probably tomorrow he will go into Dr. K's database as "Bentley the Bandit" or something silly like that. That's called a compromise.

Mart's home now. I should tell him it's his turn to tire out the puppy.

11/22

Bentley's first few days here have made me positive that I never, under any circumstances, want to be a single parent. Getting up every hour of the night, mopping daily and nightly, making sure he doesn't try to eat anything vile, stepping in warm squishy piles ... at least babies wear diapers. Bentley thinks housebreaking pads are snacks or blankets.

Dr. K was in emergency surgery yesterday so we got Dr. C, who was professional and friendly but not nearly as personable. He said everything looks good, next shots at next month's appointment, which I made doubly sure was booked with Dr. K.

I am TIRED. good thing I didn't have to go in to work today. Hopefully within a week B will be a little more used to being on his own, at least for short pds of time.