We've Gone to the Dogs.

Saturday night was the fateful night when my Boyfriend and I decided to introduce his two dogs (a 1 1/2 year old pit bull and an 8 month old black lab mix) to my dog (a nearly 12-year-old Westie). Boyfriend and I met at his place and loaded his dogs and one of their (collapsible) kennels in my car (his car isn't big enough) and the other kennel in his car.

We met at a park just down the street from my house, and I went home to get Bailey. When all three dogs first met, it was a little rough. Gideon, the lab, thought perhaps Bailey was a chew toy. Poser, the pit bull, was only mildly interested, and Bailey wanted nothing to do with either of them. Just then Boyfriend realized he'd left the kennel-- th one thing that he was supposed to bring-- leaning against the fence by his garage. We decided he would go back home with Gideon and get the kennel, while I would let Poser and Bailey get to know each other. Which they did, and they were both pretty cool with the whole thing.

About 80 minutes later, Boyfriend and Gideon returned. It was a blessing that Gideon had done so much time in the car; his tummy doesn't travel well, so he was pretty tuckered out and relatively sedate. We let the three dogs hang out for a bit and sniff around. Mostly the younger dogs wanted to play and Bailey, like a crabby old man who dislikes children, grumbled for them to leave him be. And they respected him, even cowered. Ever the alpha male, that's my Bailey.

So we put all three in the guest room in their kennels, side-by-side, for the night. This way they could smell and see each other, but remain in their safe cocoons. The next morning was still a little tentative, but they were all much more at ease. We crated them again for a bit while we went to brunch, and when we returned it was better still. Since Boyfriend didn't have to work today, he and the boys stayed again last night and we did the same routine. All is well.

What a relief to have that hurdle crossed. It will get easier when the families are blended, and we've laid a good foundation and done it cautiously.

A Terrible Oversight.

I have scarcely mentioned him, and I don't have a very current photo, but it occurred to me that I have never posted about my sweet dog, Bailey. He's a West Highland terrier who came from a private home in Oak Brook. He is going to be 12 years old on April 22, and for an old boy he's in pretty good health and spirits most of the time.

He suffered from some jaw cancer when he was just a puppy. Fortunately, they did not have to remove any of the jawbone... but he has no teeth on the lower right side of his mouth. He is a very sweet and loving dog. The only time he makes a growl is when he is being picked up, and that started from the time he was a tiny puppy.

I feel terrible when I spend the night at Michael's, because it means Bailey is alone. Granted, he has the run of the house, and I leave the tv on for him, and he hasn't peed or pooped at all. Still, he needs to be with me, and it would be nice to take him with me for overnights at Michael's. So... very soon, we will be introducing Bailey to Michael's giant-sized (but puppy-aged) dogs. That should be interesting. I wonder if valium is okay for situations like that? (For me, not the dogs!)

Still So in Love.

Since my return from New York, I saw Michael only twice: last Sunday and then again last night. Sunday we cuddled on the couch and watched "Desperate Housewives," "Brothers & Sisters," and "America's Most Smartest Model." (I know-- "most smartest" is a double-superlative and a big grammatical no-no. The sad thing is that many, many people probably don't get the joke.)

Last night I slept over at Michael's (no sex until the 6 month mark, remember that). We watched a couple Christmas movies and went to bed, joined by his two large dogs, a black lab/Rottweiler mix and a pit bull (the picures are not his actual dogs, but look a lot like them). There was also an electric blanket on. At 4:00 a.m. I had to remove myself from the bed and go to the couch. The heat of the blanket, the dogs, and Michael was just too much! And I'm not a wearer of pj's, so you know it had to be really hot! At 6:00 a.m. Michael discovered that I was missing and came and got me-- he felt so badly for me. he turned off the blanket and distracted the dogs long enough for us to run into bed and into a nice embrace. Eventually they invaded again, of course, but we wouldn't let them in between us. I was so relieved when he suggested that, in the future, he'll keep the dogs gated in the kitchen. This way I didn't have to sound anti-dog by requesting that they not sleep with us.

Meanwhile, Michael has asked for my ring size. I was obviously thrown by the question, and he said I shouldn't be so curious about it-- he just wanted to know. Now, is it planning to give me jewelry for our first Christmas? I'd be delighted, and we both know that we are together for the long-term... but it just seemed so soon. (And, no, he wasn't referring to a cock-ring-- I asked just to clarify.)

Breathe, relax, take it slow, let it happen...