I’m one of THOSE people. The ones who get seriously hangry, really fast. I can be going along happily and then suddenly realize that I’m hungry. In about five hot minutes, I’m not just hungry, I’m “feed me the fuck now or live with the consequences” hungry. It doesn’t happen often these days, because 99% of the time, I’m in charge of feeding myself and I’m sure as heck not going to let myself go hungry.

(As an aside, I totally do not understand people, or dogs, who have little to no interest in food and can happily go without eating for ages. Yes, Maverick, I’m looking at you.)

(Also, Maverick will totally nosh down happily on treats but a bowl of freakin expensive damned dog food, and he only gets the best, is poison.)

(Yes, Mommah is a tad frustrated by this behavior)

Tonight, for the first time in a long time, Bear was in charge of making dinner. Dinner around here normally happens between 8 and 8:30. Yes, I know that’s late for many people, but we’ve been second shift people for so many years that eating before midnight is still considered a tad early for us. I bought cod on Friday because it was actually affordable for the first time in ages, and he’s in charge of dinner when we have any kind of fish. (I can cook fish but he thinks he does it better and hey, I’m okay with someone else doing the cooking on occasion!)

It’s been a crazy weekend. Friday night was our bi-weekly dinner and diamonds with my bestest friends. (Except Peachy, cuz she was being lazy) We’ve been dealing with car issues, both of our vehicles are almost 20 years old and can no longer be trusted for any more than local trips. We’ve been looking for a new vehicle – and somehow got wires crossed with both of us thinking the other was looking for something that neither of us wanted. We need all wheel drive, Bear thought I wanted an SUV, I thought he did. That little blip got straightened out on Friday and I resumed the search for something we could afford. The first car I saw on a local dealer’s website was a cute little blue Subaru Impreza that said “Hi, it’s me, you know you love me!” Mmmhmm

So Saturday being a day of rain and generally stupid weather, we made the drive to the dealer to check this baby out. Apparently she whispered in the Bear’s ear as well. We’re bringing her home this week.

I’m still feeling like “did we seriously just buy a car?” and slightly gobsmacked. When that happens, it’s pretty much always a good thing. It’s been forever since I had a car payment, I feel like a kid again! (Interest rates will make you vomit, however. Thanks, Joe)

There’s kind of a lot I want to say about the current political climate but I can’t put my thoughts into words – too much emotion at the moment.

So…………Maverick and I started a training class. Basic obedience level 2, we did level 1 four years ago, and this is mostly review but we need the refresher. I was a total stressed out mess last night because of his issues with other dogs and because the first class we did, he totally couldn’t focus on me at all. It was so bad I think they passed us just to get rid of us. (DON’T LET THEM COME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I had all intentions of taking more classes but then Covid hit and that was the end of that. Then I got him into daycare and it seemed like maybe it wasn’t necessary. (It was) So …………..I picked him up at 5:30, gave him a calming chew, and off we went. I went into the building first, got his mat down and his treats out – we had a veritable smorgasbord of treats – and then got him out of the car. He pulled me into the building! I’m not sure if he remembers the place from 3 years ago, but he was happy to be there. We went into the far corner, probably 12 feet from the closest dog, a border collie. Maverick was very interested in all the dogs, very excited, but did not react badly at all. He and the border collie were eyeballing each other, I think two guys sort of being guys, but that was fine, no growls or even hackles raised. He still didn’t focus on me a lot, but I did get some behaviors from him and the instructors got him to do what was asked as well.

I had gone in expecting the worst, that he would growl at the other dogs, that we would get kicked out, that he would physically hurt me (he’s been beating me up a lot lately). When class was over, I did have to hold on tightly to get him to the car without dragging me but I knew he was done, ready to go home. l went back inside to get our stuff, told the instructor that I had been so nervous and she looked surprised, said, “he did really well!” My heart just swelled with pride. I smiled all the way home, almost cried I was so relieved and so happy. We’ve come a long way since that first class that was such a disaster. And I’m motivated, there will be more classes in our future if I have anything to say about it. (And I do)