I Could Have Said No.
I could have. I could have just said no. It's not hard after all. Two letters, one syllable, easy enough to say. No, no, no. No inflection or intonation needed. Firm delivery allows no room for discussion.
"No"
"Why not ?"
"Just no"
"Yes, but there has to be a why"
"No there doesn't, it's just a no"
"Yes, but why, you can't just arbitrarily say no"
"I can and I did"
"Well, it's not good enough, I need you to explain why we can't"
"OK, how about, we've got two and we don't need another"
"One more won't make any difference"
"How about the added expense ?"
"Come on, it's just one more, how much more could it cost ?"
"More than it does at the moment"
"You want another one, I know you do."
"I have not said anything different for the last year. Every single time you bring the subject up and ask the question, my reply has always been the same, no"
See, they're all good points, not that I should have needed to validate my 'no' anyway. I have also been consistent. No matter how many times it's been dangled in front of me. Just incase you're wondering, the above conversation never actually took place.
Then today, everything changed. My last fortress of fortitude, my last bastion of defence was breached. Legs taken away from under me, left me with none to stand on.
Allow me to introduce 'Bella'
She's a ten-month old 'Bucovina' cross and has been stuck in the kennels for the last four months. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your perspective, my nearest and dearest has fallen in love with her. An occupational habit, I believe.
My very last line of defence, actually the only defence, was that one of our dogs has a decidedly nasty streak, when it comes to other dogs. She tolerates the one we already have, barely. She was a 'rescue' as well. She's wonderful with people, just that when she meets other dogs, it's a case of 'bite first' get to know you afterwards.
We had a plan though. Muzzle the 'Psycho Dog', take them both for a walk, on leads and then let them have a mad half hour in the kennel's courtyard. Then, if all is well, off with the muzzle and see what happens.
Well, what happened was that they played and played and then played some more. My bluff had been called and my hand folded in front of my very eyes.
Looks like Bella has found a new home. She's already met our other one, the one we lovingly call 'goofball' (His real name is Neo)
The real question we have to ask ourselves is whether or not she'll be able to join the 'Synchronised Symmetry Team'
So, two becomes three in the next few days. A few modifications at home, to make sure we can adequately cater for two and a half large dogs.
As much as she's lovely and all that, she's never lived in a home before, so that's going to take some getting used to, for all of us.
That was my morning taken care of and I don't seem to have managed to recover yet. The day has just run away from me. In truth, I don't mind. Today is day five of 'lockdown' but the first day that everyone has been here in earnest. In the sense that those that were working from home, had no work for the weekend, and the one that has still been working, was also home. Bar one, seven adults, all living in harmony......tomorrow should be interesting, might even get some work done.
Have an incredible weekend and it goes without saying, stay safe and healthy.
Twack Romero.
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friend of mine volunteers at a local no-kill shelter, where they walk the dogs a couple days per week.
One day, I get a voicemail where the message was: I don't care what you say, you won't be able to talk me out of it. I fell in love and am bringing a dog home.
Besides, you weren't here to talk me out of it...!
The cutest little shitzu...
Oh, he came home to two other dogs, yorkie's....
He is very cute Rudy. Not much you can do once the deal's done. In these situations, it's just easier to go with the flow.
That's the truth. We're all going to have to have a run through of 'how things are going to be'
Once you volunteer as a rescue shelter even if its your wife's idea you are all in.This is something you have to be strong in because this is something that you can't fail at. Good Luck, and since you are good at it, I recommend many more happy adventures.
To bad you aren't here tonight. Tonight I will be making pizza with red sauce, chicken sausage(hot & mild) Onions, Black Olives & of course mozzarella Cheese.I will start making them in about an hour. I have a baking steel plate that I heat of to 500 degrees starting an hour earlier and each one cooks in 9 minutes cooking one at a time. Yum Yum.
Hey Twack!
You had me thinking your kids were trying to convince you to get a dog in the beginning! Lol then I remembered they're grown up so I just kept reading to see what the story was.
Turns out I was half right 🤷 lol
Reading this kinda made me want to get a dog but I know I can't handle that right now with 3 kids, 2 of them under 5 and a cat who doesn't like other animals.
Maybe in the future!
Really nice dogs you've got there, though ☺️
Melissa
Thank you Melissa.
Believe me, it would be very easy to have the house turn into a kennels, in the blink of an eye. It has to work for everyone though.
Three's about the limit until I can free up the back room, which currently houses all of my 'stuff'.
We might be able to cater for short stay in the future, possibly.
Luckily we've always had dogs, even before children, so they're just part of the dynamic.
Hope you're all well.
Oh boy! Imagine a house full of kennels! Lol never a full moment, that's for sure!
It's awesome that you guys have been helping dogs for so long! You guys are some great people! ☺️
Thank you Melissa, it would feel weird not to have at least one, plus it gets me up and out of the house early.
Twack, I am willing to bet it was love at first sight. Humans fight first and then fall in love. It's a test of stability - Smile - Crazy.
I have to say Twack, I thought you were being asked to get married again and you were saying no, no, no. Smile.
Good luck with the healthy growth of your additional family. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL MY FRIEND. Yes! ...Beautiful.
Easy Talk - with Clarence
Thank you Clarence.
As I was writing I was thinking it sounded like planning a family.
Husky's play quite rough with plenty of biting, which they can take, as they have some weird double coat thing going on.
I think she'll fit in well.
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So is this so you can get out of isolation three times as much as the rest of us just taking our lonely walk around the block? hahaha
Well I return to once again a very different community! With arguments about 'off topic' and accusations of bullying. All I can say is most of what I write is off topic! We'll see if the 'off topic police' coming knocking on my door. : )
Anyway how is lock down treating you? Hope you are keeping well and it is lovely to read your very unique voice and view on the world.
Stay well, unique and off topic my friend xx
I'm very rarely 'on topic'. I think I heard about this but didn't see it first hand. As we know, those that stick their oar in, normally do so when they think they can get away with it. My door is always open. 😉
All good here, seven enjoying each others company, well maybe that's a bit strong, we're getting through it day by day.
Hope you're doing the same.
Even with the situation, there doesn't seem to be a spare minute.
Yep all good here. Lots of tears at home school from 'the boy'. 'The girl' is fairing much better. I completed my second social distanced shop today. It is a surreal experience, where I almost feel like I have been transported to some movie or the walking dead. Shopping is now known as the 'supply run'.
Wine o clock has been moved from 7 to 6. Apparently for many parents this is now 1!!. I complete 5-6 hours of home schooling a day and by 6pm am exhausted, so yes there seems to be less spare minutes than before.
I love that you are rarely 'on topic', it's what keeps us individual and interesting, in my humble opinion. Yep I am sure 'the Sheriffs' were out in force that day. Maybe it is time for some kind of official admin role? that way equal members are not policing others?
I have noticed people apologising or almost putting a disclaimer on their posts today if it is not related to affiliate marketing. Maybe I'll go back to just popping in to visit and using the platform merely for webhosting. Shame.
I believe the last time this kind of thing reared its head, there was a lot of "How does this relate to WA ?" at some point in the post.
I still think hanging the comments out to dry, so that the tumbleweed rolls around their words, is the best way. No fuel for the bigotted fires, methinks. Hey ho.
Luckily all mine are past the home schooling age. I don't envy you your task. I can see how 1 o'clock would be desirable.
Happy days.
I'm sticking to the 6 O Clock watershed lol. As always the voice of calm. Happy Days Indeed : )