The dogs are making me crazy. During grad school, I pet sit. Now, I don’t really like pets. It's not like I don't like animals. And I certainly don’t wish anything ill upon them or the people who own them, but I can also live without ever being responsible for a pet. I guess I've never recovered from having a fish.

It's the barking. Dear Lord. I live with three dogs that bark at EVERYTHING. Since I’m living rent-free for the moment, I just ignore them. Apparently, it's giving the corgi a complex. Corgis’ disproportionate little bodies disturb me. It’s not like I’m mean to him (I’m not THAT kid.). Like I said, I ignore all three equally. Turns out some dogs get social cues. Two of them (corgi included) won’t come near me without an express invitation notarized by the mayor. The third one still has some puppy in him and doesn’t care about my boundaries and invading them. My cousin calls me a soulless, unfeeling b****.

It never surprises anyone that, given the choice, I would take a cat over a dog. Cats are snobby individualists who usually only come around when they want something. I’m okay with that.

Speaking of dogs…on the 4th, my brother-in-law decided to help out Toby. One of my mom’s dogs (they have five). Toby is actually a sweet dog, but he’s just one big hairball. You don’t pet him for fear of losing your hand to the mats. My brother-in-law shaved off three pounds of hair and three inches of tail. Toby seems happier for the change.  He enjoyed his visit to the ER, and now, fits in better with the rotweilers (Samson and Delilah), who had their tails chopped off as puppies. [edited: see comment below]
(Toby)

I’m pretty bored. This is a difficult situation, because I’m usually really good at entertaining myself. The job thing is a pain, and it’s so distracting I can’t focus enough to enjoy extended free time.

Two bits of good news…there’s a shop in Wichita that sells both PG tips and Roobis teas (I have my name-calling cousin to thank for this discovery). I can quit rationing both. And I got a phone call from my dad last week…

“So, I was thinking of getting two tickets to the demolition derby…”

“Ooo, I want to go.”

“I thought you would.”

Thoughtful man. It’s this weekend. My stepsis and her husband host a BBQ competition at the fair. My dad is one of the judges. I’m going for the free beef and destruction.