Life is better with a dog

Disclaimer: I know I'm turning into an annoying dog owner. But I just have to say: living with a dog for just two months now has actually improved my life. Here's how!

I exercise. Before having a dog, I would use my treadmill, maybe, two or three times a week, in addition to one leisurely walk per day. Mr. P and I used to walk on the slow side - no speed walking for us, no siree! But now, not only do we have to walk at least twice daily (usually three times), we have to walk a few miles in the morning to properly tire out the dog, and at a rather brisk pace. Mr. P has already dropped two pant sizes, and his latest new pair of jeans is already falling off him! I feel a little firmer, too, though I'm not sure if I've lost inches or weight. My energy level is definitely better, though.

I smile in the mornings. I've never been a morning person, and as I get older, I worry about things, so I used to start every morning with thoughts of dread. Isn't that sad? But now, even if I have the same worries, seeing the dog smile and wag his tail at me first thing in the morning makes me smile, too.

I am more organized. Whatever is not put away - especially shoes - is fair game for the dog. Dutchie believes that all paper exists for his shredding amusement. Which is annoying, and I hope he grows out of this, but in the meantime, I need to pick up after myself. I forgot how "the dog ate my homework" was once a valid excuse.

I have moments of unabashed joy. You know how children have that innocent lust for life? So do dogs. When I play with Dutchie, I am able to escape my burdens and realize that running through a field at top speed is the greatest thing in the world.

Recession Update: Home Entertainment

I read somewhere that "cable TV is the first to go" in an economic crisis. Well, they must have talked to our cat because that's exactly what we cut just last week. That's right: I'm one step away from shooting the TV!

My decision to cut the cable was partly motivated by a need to save money and partly by a need to decrease my tv watching. Comcast charges way too much for cable, but I also waste too much time watching mindless shows that I do not plan on watching.

Of course, I immediately regretted my decision as soon as it was gone and came very close to calling Comcast to tell them it was a big mistake and ask for them back like a lost lover. Luckily, I remembered my friend with benefits, good ol' Interweb, which offers an abundance of tv, so I think all will be ok. At least until this storm blows over and I pick up a book again.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to adjust those rabbit ears again. PBS has a finicky signal.

Carnage

There has been some bloodshed in the vicinity of my backyard these last 24 hours.

My cat, a fat, cuddly orange tabby living on approximately the 8th of his 9th life, killed a bird yesterday. I was not at home, but Mr. P reported the bloody scene to me. Despite the cold that has settled in on us recently, Vinny begged to go out, and not 20 seconds later (no exaggeration), his paws were red with blood, feathers were sticking to his mouth, and he was already gnawing on his kill, a dove, who was not even completely dead. This was his first dove, I'm not sure why he did it, other than to prove he's still "got it" or something.

And because that wasn't quite gruesome enough, our neighbors bled a deer carcass in their backyard last night.

Our new next-door neighbors, renters in a house with a long line of strange tenants, are cross-bow hunters. We discovered their hunting interests on Christmas Day, as I watched them shoot bows at a target, sensing that this was no ordinary archery practice. I joked to Mr. P just the other day, "you'll see; one day they'll drag home a deer carcass." Well, the doomed deer made its appearance yesterday, and our lovely neighbors strung it up in the backyard by its feet and butchered it at 11 pm last night.

This is suburban DC, people! I don't even think that's legal.