Ruby and Shilo

 Today was my last scheduled Ruby and Shilo park date until after school vacation, so I very selflessly did not cancel when woke up with a sore ankle (what else is new?) after a shitty night's sleep to very dreary, raw, drizzly weather.  I bought myself a coffee and a ham and cheese croissant on the way to the Grey Barn, and listened to some fun music, because mentally healthy girls make an effort to change their shitty mindset in the morning.  But when I pulled up to Ruby's house, I was magically cured by the vision of my sweet sweet girl sitting in the entryway, looking out the front door, waiting for me.  Tail wag, doggie smile, tippy taps, I got the whole shebang. Molly was heading out when I arrived and asked "You don't mind taking her today?"

Are you kidding me?  How could I resist?  

The park was fun, Shilo was wearing her big coat, and her mom told me it was partly to hide her love handles because the vet said she needs to lose 10 pounds.  We had a good laugh at poor Shilo's expense, about the calorie content of all the woodchips she eats, and how her habit of finding joints and edibles wherever she goes probably gives her the munchies.  But then Mel got real serious and said "Shimi hates when I talk about her weight, he feels so bad."  And then I felt a little bad for body shaming a dog, but also get over it, Shim.  One time I dropped her off and reported to him that she had vomited at the park and he literally gasped and put his hand over his mouth and said "oh no!"  Um... you know she's a dog, right?

The park was fun.  Cathleen and Megan were there and Amanda left just as I got there, which is ideal because I can do without Amanda.  I know you don't know these people, but trust me. Amanda would annoy you too.  The surprising thing was that Giona and her dog Giorgi (yes, that's how she spells Georgie) were there, and she has been ghosting me all week and last week when I asked her to set up an account for dog walks and give us a credit card for a deposit.  I ended up canceling all of her services for next week yesterday and she finally wrote back to that email saying she had broken her phone and laptop and was just catching up on emails, but that her travel plans had shifted so she was all set for this time, blah blah blah.  But come on, she broke her laptop AND phone?  Highly suspicious. And yet, relatable.  I am the ghostiest ghoster who ever ghosted.  As a matter of fact, I am currently dodging my podiatrist, who I missed an appointment with, and don't want to schedule another one because it's really expensive and they don't take insurance, and I don't like the receptionist, and is it really helping?  The last time she called was weeks ago. She left a voicemail and I haven't even listened to it, that's how anxious the whole thing makes me.  

So I get it that Giona just avoided me instead of canceling. She was very nice and chatty at the park.  We didn't talk about the ghosting or canceling, because gorgeous gorgeous girls avoid awkward conversations.  She asked about my ankle. We talked about dogs. That was that.  I did end up talking to Megan at the end when it was just us and I was realizing that I was very chatty (remember the coffee I got on the way?) and my brain was like "okay, you can shut up now" but my mouth just kept on moving.  Oh well. 

So part of my reason for writing about this today was kind of a practice run for the dog blog I want to start. But I'm realizing that I will definitely need to heavily edit because my tendency is to complain about people and that isn't really the image I want to project.  But this is why we write multiple drafts of things before they make it to the public eye.  

Anyway, I'm sorry about your top bunk bad luck, and the weirdo in the bed tent, and the bitch in the tv room. (Let's be real, she was probably indeed a bitch.) I hope you are having a fun day today. Oh, you're probably sleeping now.  I'm going to take Murph to play with Sully and then do some house-cleaning-type stuff.  Rebecca ordered me a fancy cake for my birthday and she and Kristine are going to come over Friday night and have cake and dinner. Which is very nice of them. I'm a little jealous of all the people traveling in or two exotic, tropical lands, but also I do love doggies. And I have a hot tub and a hot husband and sweet and social dog... Pretty much the luckiest girl in the world over here.  Is this how you brain wash yourself into changing your midset and manifesting the life of your dreams?  Am I doing it right?