Teva!

Because it doesn't seem I have important things to write about now. (EDIT: YES I DO!)

By that, I don't have axes to grind or crazy things to say, like I did back in my Misplaced Apostrophe's days. Less important stuff is afflicting me, while more fluff gets in the way of good writing, I'm afraid.

Oh! But big news! Let's write about the big, big stuff! (Suddenly I figured out that I have huge news. Well, ignore what I just wrote then.) So ignore the lack of organization here as I just blather about this great news.

I got a dog! I'm a dog owner now! Or I'm a human for a dog, really. Her name is Teva. She is a fabulous, lovely pibble (a fun term for a pit bull), estimated about 6 years of age, with a sleep dark gray coat and white paws. She's a velcro pibble. She loves to be around her human.

I adopted her on October 12 from a local shelter. She was taken in as a stray, but she's far too well-behaved to be a stray. She knows her name, sit, stay, come, kennel (my favorite), and even lay down (somewhat). The first few weeks, Teva was quiet, friendly, and still trying to get adjusted to her surroundings at home. Then she, uh, discovered her voice. By that, I mean she began barking. Then barking more and more. So I take it as a sign she needs stimulation of some sort. Or just relaxation. So I'm now in my home office while Teva sleeps on her bed in front of my desk. She loves that bed. I'm so grateful; it makes phone calls and Zoom calls so much more, uh, non-barky.

I take Teva on walks twice a day, and once or twice a week we go to the local dog park so she can get fellow-canine stimulation and human stimulation as well. She LOVES humans! She is okay with other dogs, usually.

Oh, and let's address the elephant in the room. Pit bull, right? So people assume the worst: aggression, biting, attacking. Yeah. Teva exhibits NONE of those. She is enthusiastic about meeting people, and I'm trying to work on her not jumping up on people. But she does not bite, is not aggressive, and her only form of human attack is with her admittedly Gene-Simmons-sized tongue. Oh, and she has, unfortunately, unintentionally, drawn blood with her dewclaw, but not as a form of attack. And that was a one-time deal.

She is sensitive, and wants love and attention. She will bark—LOUDLY—if she does not get it. Or does not get to sleep in her favorite bed. But the barking is the extent of her aggression, if you can even call it that. Again, she does not bite. I can barely even get her to open her mouth to play with chew toys, which really don't interest her. She's just...meh on those. It's the human attention and loving that gets her.

So I'm now on a schedule. Wake up, take her on a walk, feed her (at some point...usually not first thing in the morning), get to work while she lies in bed. Take her on a walk again in the afternoon, feed her again (a greater quantity of food than in the morning), cuddle with her and play kinda-catch with her. Oh, and let her outside to the backyard often to relieve herself. Again, I'll exchange a walk some days with a trip to the dog park, especially if she's getting more antsy and excited when she sees other dogs and humans.

About those dog parks: I love them. I get to let her off the leash so she can run free instead of her dragging me through the neighborhood. I also get to meet other dog owners and share stories, tips, and meet other dogs. Honestly, good times.

I'll admit, sometimes I feel overwhelmed when she barks too much, or I can't read exactly what she wants. I'm sure she feels the same. Becoming a daddy has been a life-changing experience. But we're getting used to each other. She's adapting to home and is more comfortable with her routine.

Oh...and the big one. Meeting Auggie, the chihuahua-dachshund mix (chiweenie) that Dennis and Mark have. I'll save that for later.

But life has been good. I've had Teva for nearly two months now, and it's been great to have her.