I need a pet

Growing up, we didn't have pets; we had siblings. And while siblings can be better at video games, I still think some 4-legged friends would have been just as much, if not more fun. (Dogs can't sass you back or blame you for shit.)

Living with the Cheese Fiend, I got spoiled by living with her cats, which were my cats by proxy. I was especially attached to Dustbunny, who once she got used me (it took about 3 months), was very sweet about putting me to bed every night, and before we moved into the frosty Yellow House, would also wake me up in the morning. It became just part of making a tuna sandwich that I would drain the tuna juice into a ramikin for the girls to share. And I knew to always check the computer chair for hairballs. And that I would always have help eating curry, pizza, donuts or raspberry yogurt (they had very sophisticated tastes.)

(Scat being spooned by Dustbunny on the Computer Chair)

Also in Charlottesville, I had a dog by proxy. A wonderful SPCA special. Arnie the Grumpy Old Man. It took a while for him to get use to me taking his spot on the couch, but eventually I could even get a half-wag greeting out of him. (Funny enough, he went ape-shit for the Cheese Fiend). I got to attend all of Arnie's birthday parties, and watch him spirit away his birthday steak. And then there was always someone willing to walk with me. (albeit very slowly) And if I wanted to get my crazy dog fix, there were always the Huskies.


Since moving to Chicago, my animal interaction has gone down a bit. When I moved in, there was a fussy cat and fat pug. The pug has since gone off to the big dog park in the sky. And Mischa only gives me the time of day during storms or when her owner has been away for what Mischa deems as an unacceptable length of time.

I miss having pets. I miss having something to love on and sneak treats to. Someone who mostly does not judge (Dusty and Scat are feline, after all.) And seeing all the dogs out in the morning on my way to work just makes me wistful.

To this end, I decided to be That Girl at lunch. Got sucked into Panera's for a turkey artichoke panini (can't wait to bust out my GeoFo to attempt this). And there is no way I could finish that whole thing. Or more accurately, no way I should finish it. But there was a very well-behaved, sweet-looking black dog at another table, patiently waiting for something to fall. So I approached the owners to see if I could share the rest of the turkey with her. The owners were hip, the dog was tickled, and I got my animal fix for the day.

Sadly, I can't have animals in my Athens apartment. Must rectify.

on Pandora: "Fruition" - Stereolab