Leo and Mia are best friends. They chew on each other’s faces and make growly sounds that sound like chanting Tibetan monks. They each take one end of a squeaky toy and tug. When I take Leo for a walk by himself, he stalls on the driveway, as if to say, “Wait, isn’t Mia coming?”Continue reading “Dog under the influence”
Category Archives: family
Spider-Man’s Balls
Here’s where my blog gets all edgy and PG-13. A few years ago, during a visit to my hometown of Los Angeles, we made a couple of laps around the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s one of Rob’s favorite pastimes. A dude in a cheapie Spider-Man outfit was crouched on a trash can, facing theContinue reading “Spider-Man’s Balls”
From zero to Mia in five days
Last Tuesday, Rob’s mom called me and said, “There’s a four-and-a-half-year-old female German shepherd whose owners moved away and abandoned it.” Naturally, because Isis was four-and-a-half when she died, she thought we’d want this one. I was stunned, because while I did want to rescue another shepherd someday, I thought Rob’s parents would be theContinue reading “From zero to Mia in five days”
The saddest day
Last night, Rob left me a message while I was at writing class. He was thinking of going to pick up some dinner, but he had Leo out and was going to play with him for a bit longer. We were still keeping our dogs separated. Leo gets to go lots of places with meContinue reading “The saddest day”
Living in the moment
I’ve been getting strange looks when I confess that I’ve had a puppy for four months and we’re still keeping him separated from the older dog. On Saturday, I got one from the trainer at Leo’s puppy prep school (she has not met Isis, but said she’d like to). My heart was heavy all throughContinue reading “Living in the moment”
My dogs, my babies
It’s often said in a jokey way, “Oh, ha ha, your dogs are like your children,” and yes, that’s pretty much how I feel about them. People sometimes say that dogs are a gateway to having human children, but I have to say at this point that my dogs are enough. I feel so muchContinue reading “My dogs, my babies”
This parenting thing is hard
What did I think? Isis would take one sniff of Leo and they’d play like litter mates? OK, that’s exactly what I thought. This is going to be much harder than I expected. And I didn’t really expect it to be easy, did I? Well, not exactly, but I thought I had all these methodsContinue reading “This parenting thing is hard”
Moshi Moshi
Rob’s parents and older sister are hosting Japanese exchange students for two weeks. Three boys altogether. We met them this morning and showed them how to play Wii. I got all excited about showing them my photos from when I stayed with a family in Japan for two weeks when I was almost their sameContinue reading “Moshi Moshi”
Just because you’re obsessive compulsive
…doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go back and check. Isis has gotten so good about going into her crate after our morning play sessions. Might have something to do with the peanut butter ears I stash in her Hide-a-Squirrel and Mystery of the Pyramids toys. I wasn’t even on the freeway yet when I realized thatContinue reading “Just because you’re obsessive compulsive”
Road Trip!
For our summer vacation the first week of July, we’ve decided to drive to L.A. With the dog. Rob wants to camp. Or sleep in the car. Fortunately, that’s at most two nights each direction, and we have a nice guest room waiting for us at my mom’s house.
Kari Neumeyer 