The reason we own pets.

Being on spring break has offered me a chance to relax and recharge mentally and physically. What has helped me do this? Honestly, being with my dog Coda.

Over the past week, I've realized that my dog is a continual source of entertainment. Sure, if he does something dog-like that I feel is naughty I stress over it, but that comes with anything in life. (thankfully coda has been pretty good lately...)

I have played with him, walked with him, eaten with him and tested with him. I've also thought a lot about the reason I have him and why he's such a major part of my life.

When I adopted Coda, I had just moved out on my own. No roommate, no family down the road. I wanted someone here with me to help keep away the feelings of lonliness. He did just that. He wagged his tail and looked happy to see me when I got home. He kept me busy walking and playing and cleaning up after him. He gave me a sense of security at night. It was perfect.

It still is pretty perfect. I believe that Coda is a lot like me in the way he acts. He is fiercly loyal to those he loves and yet he can be friendly to everyone. (Jordan and I got into a tickle fight and when I screamed, Coda snarled at him and jumped on him. He didn't get violent, but his warning was heard. Moments later he was curled up in Jordan's lap as though nothing happened.) Coda is skittish and barks at everything (I hear every noise in and out of this house and sometimes it freaks me out) and often moans about noises that bother him. (If I sneeze while he is sleeping, he moans, opens his eyes and gives me a look like "thanks. I was having a great dream!" Coda is clumsy and yet can run like a psycho around the house and any obsticle (suitcase) laying around with such grace that it astounds me. He's playful and lazy and he honestly prefers fresh veggies to kibble. He is a doggie contradiction, and I love him.

I believe that people own pets because it gives them a sense of accomplishment. We are proud of the commands they obey. We are proud of how beautiful they are. We are proud of how well they play with others. We are especially proud of the feeling of relationship success we have with our pets. We care for them day in and day out. They see our good and bad sides and yet not much can destroy the relationship we have with them. It's not like the relationships we have with people. If we get short with our friends or lash out at them because of stress, we may end up with one less friend. I've yelled at coda unfairly because of stress and yet he still wakes me up with doggy kisses and always wants to lay beside me to sleep. He can tell if I'm upset and always finds a way to cheer me up. He even has his own little way of apologizing after he's done something wrong. It may be considered "lame" to blog about your pet, but I figured that such an essential part of my life should be talked about and honored. Two years of dog ownership has taught me a lot about myself, and I'm thankful for the experience. I'm also thankful for the friend it has brought me in Coda. He's the best first dog a girl could ask for.

Flickering Lights

My 12-in-12 attempt failed miserably this past month. I had hoped I'd be back on track, but with my skating competition on the 13th, I was more focused on preparing. Besides, the man came up on the 12th and lord knows I don't pay attention to much else while he's around. (Sickening, I am aware...)

The competition went very well. I skated decently and ended up taking home two gold medals. The man met some family and friends (and was well received) and seemed very supportive. My coach was very proud of me. It felt good, and I can't wait to do it again. I'm just waiting to see when that will be.

Valentine's day was fantastic. I felt like a tool after I opened my gifts from him. What I got him seemed so lame compared to what I received. Oh well. I made him a meal of roasted chicken (which I wasn't impressed with), roasted garlic parmesan mashed potatoes and broccoli with a bread crumb topping. I also made eclairs for dessert. All that really matters is that I was able to spend time with him, and I loved every minute.

Last week proved to be interesting. We had three straight days of snow that dropped three feet of snow in some areas and caused mass power outages. I lost power sometime on Thursday and as of this moment, I'm still without power. It's been beyond frustrating, but thankfully I am okay. It allowed me to visit some of the Ropke side of the family, as well as have a nice (but brief) visit with the man. Sadly, I will not be able to see him until the weekend of the 12th, so it was nice to spend the half an hour I had with him.

Things on the romantic front have been good. I really enjoy his company and his conversation. He makes me laugh and always seems to know the right things to say. My feelings for him are growing and while it scares the hell out of me, it's a nice thing to admit. I miss him every moment he is gone and always anticipate his next visit.

Anyway, there's the update. Perhaps I'll have something more interesting to report later.