At least it's Friday...

I usually try to be an optimistic, positive person.  Today is really testing me.  So far, I was late to work because of taking 2 (I'll explain later) dogs to the vet for check ups (which was an adventure!), smashed my finger in the door trying to rush into my office to get the phone, which was already ringing because I was late, and had to trade buttoning my jeans for holding them closed with a hair-tie by 9:30 am. I was hoping to keep them buttoned until at least lunch. Of course the phone hasn't rang again in the past hour and a half, my finger is still throbbing and oozing a little (sorry, I know its gross), and I'm already thinking about lunch!  At least it's Friday.

So, the 2 dogs part.  A came home one day with a sad story about how his co-worker's mother was going to live in a retirement home and the whole family was upset because no one could take in her beloved Golden Retriever, Lizzie.  Of course he tells me this story with the look on his face that says "I'll pretty much do whatever I have to, but I really want this dog!"  I agree that it is sad and say that we can talk more about it later.  I have a small dog that doesn't shed and I am not sure if I want a large one that does in my house.  "Oh, she would live outside, of course!" He assures me.  We leave the conversation with the plans of talking more later.  Well, later was on a Friday when he told me Lizzie would be coming over for a trial visit on Saturday.  "Really?"  "I thought you said it was ok."  I am already afraid of the negotiation and manipulation skills our child will be born with.  I am not looking forward to big dog hair or big dog smell, but I can't be a mean person when it comes to animals, so Lizzie comes over for the weekend.  She is big and extremely needy, not a good combination.  Poor Oscar did everything he could for the first few days just to stay out of her feet.  She got hair everywhere and of course she wanted to be inside, all the time.  What did I really expect?!  Over the past 2 weeks, she has started to calm down and fit in.  She has been brushed until she almost has no hair left, but it's not all over the place anymore.  She has learned to live outside all day in exchange for sleeping inside.  She has finally noticed Oscar enough to stop stepping on him and start playing with him some.  Lizzie isn't a young dog, so she gets worn out long before Oscar is done playing and she still can't beat him to the ball during fetch, but she tries.  I have to admit, I was very unsure how all this would work out when she first came over, but it looks like Oscar and A are both getting pretty attached.  The less she sits at my backdoor and cries, the more I think she might be ok too.