"I Can't Wait to Marry You."

Typically, I am not up this early on a Saturday morning, especially after going to bed at 3 o'clock in the AM. But the bug terminator rang our door bell TWICE, and I jumped out of bed the second time, thinking it could be Santa delivering my presents. Instead, it was the most adorable elderly man, all bundled up, wearing his baseball cap crooked over his dark grey hair. Brutal barked hysterically as this man spoke broken english to me through the peep hole. I think his name might be Peter, because we get these little typed notes down in the lobby. They say when our building will be sprayed next and they are signed, "-Peter, the exterminator." I think it's safe to call him Peter. I let him in to spray our bathroom and kitchen and then he left after being here for two and a half seconds flat. I got up for that? 

Typically, I am not up this early on a Saturday morning, but once I'm done with this blog or post, it won't be 9:45 am, it will be 6 at night.

On this snowy weekend, I would like to talk a little bit about children and the incredible things they CAN say. Not all children are charming and bright and I know not everyone likes kids, so I hope I don't lose your attention at this point.

The other day, Porter and I went to Barnes & Noble to hang out and read kids' books. We do this often on account of the weather, and the library doesn't open until 1 on the days that I get off at 2. Anyway, Porter usually picks out a couple of books for me to read, and when we're done with those, he puts them away and picks out a couple more. We do this until it's time to leave or until he sees other kids and asks if he can join them. Most days, he finds a new friend to play and read with. 

On this particular day, Porter only wanted to look at "tv books", and he wanted to read them by himself. I sat there watching his face light up with the turn of each page. Neither one of us had noticed the boy and girl sitting behind him reading quietly to each other. While Porter was picking out new books, I watched the little boy and little girl who had been sitting behind Porter. The girl was tall with a very round face and a curly blonde ponytail. The boy was smallish and thin with dark hair and tiny dark eyes. I figured they were not related. 

I listened to their conversations, as Porter independently looked at his stories. They took turns reading aloud, but they were not actually reading, you know, because they were just three years old. The little girl was very loud when she told the little boy what to do and where to sit. She spoke to him like a big sister speaks to her younger siblings, but with a lot of love and patience. I could hear her saying, "Ronin, come here! I picked out your books!" and "Ronin! This is your favorite, you have to listen!" She was very bossy, and he obliged. 

As I was watching this amazing interaction, I was wondering if their nannies could hear what I was hearing. The little girl kindly told Ronin that he was now the baby and she was the mommy. She made him lay down with his head on a pop-up book, as she told him not to cry. "Ronin, you're the baby. I'm going to read to you," "Stay there Ronin!" "Ronin, you are the baby and this is your favorite book." While the girl placed the books by her side, and finally stopped talking, Ronin sweetly looked her in the eye and said, "I can't wait to marry you." It was the most precious and sincere moment, I almost started to cry. 

I realize that I sound like a dorkyromanticcrybaby, but given my current situation, me witnessing that second of pure kiddie love, was something that I almost could not handle. It was just so sweet and true. And I also realize that these two will most likely not end up falling in love and getting married. 

I will not leave you with just one adorable exchange of words, but with one more. This one was heard in our favorite pizza joint, and spoken by my Porter and his friend, Sasha. 

That same day, Porter and I left B & N, to go pick up Sasha from school. It was a nice walk on a chilly day. Porter was so excited to see Sasha, not just because he wanted to play with him, but because he did not want to have lunch without his friend. That means, he didn't eat lunch until 3 that day. We pick Sasha up, and slowly but surely get to Vinnie's for a couple of slices and garlic knots. While I'm stuffing my face with the best Brooklyn pizza ever, I'm watching these boys giggle after whispering the word "butt" (which my close friends know is my favorite word too).

Porter and Sasha start talking about Go, Diego, Go!. Sasha excitedly tells Porter that he just got a new Diego movie. Porter is very intrigued and looks at him and asks, "Which one is it?" Sasha is confused by this and says, "Go, Diego, Go!" Porter then says, "Which one is it?" Sasha just confidently repeats himself. Porter is kind of frustrated by this and says, "Yes, I know, but WHICH ONE is it?" I'm so tickled by this, that I don't explain to Sasha that Porter is asking him which episode or adventure is on his new movie. They give each other quizzical looks and continue doing this for a couple more minutes. Finally Porter looks straight at Sasha and says, "Sasha, WHICH DIEGO IS IT?" Then Sasha takes a bite of his cold slice of cheese pizza and says, "I don't remember." And that's that. Porter didn't ask again, he was completely satisfied with that answer. 

I get to hear unbelievable conversations like this all the time, or I get to take part in them! I'm super lucky, I know. And too, I wrote down a bunch of quotes from kids I watched in Seattle, but I'm afraid they might be packed away somewhere. I wish I could share more with you, but I'm tired, and I'm going to take a nap. 

You've been wonderful, give yourself a pat on the back. Also, happy holidays to those of you celebrating holidays. I have two weeks off, and I'll be blogdoggin' it up. 

bye

My Dog's Name is Brutal.

I know that I just wrote a blog less than 24 hours ago, but here I am again. (wait, why can't you say 'here i'm again'?) In today's bloggy, I would like to talk about my dog, Brutal, and our extreme love for each other. I am fully aware of how fucking crazy I may seem after you read this. I know I know I know!

Brutal is a Miniature Pinscher, who's about a year and a half. Bryan and I got him from a nice couple in September of last year, around my birthday. As we were driving home with him in my lap, I realized I didn't really like him that much. He was so cute and sweet and he played with my hair the entire ride home. But I thought I couldn't love another animal as much as I loved our sweet cat, Mr. Susan. I was very worried that they wouldn't get along or that Mr. Susan would be mad at us for loving another baby animal. But that wasn't what happened, at all!

Now that I think about it, I don't know when we started to notice that Mr. S and Bru were becoming BFF's. I don't remember Mr. Susan's reaction to Brutal when we first brought him home. Anyway, they were best friends and brothers. They loved each other very much, which made me very happy. I then started to realize just how much I loved Brutal. By the way, they still love each other, they just don't really remember one another because they have been apart for almost 2 months. :( 

Mr. Susan and Brutal were amazing together. They played A LOT, chased each other, made big messes, and got into trouble together. One time, they were playing with the Christmas tree ornaments, and Brutal pulled down the Christmas tree, breaking my new-favorite ornament. We woke up, in the middle of the night to shattered glass, tree water soaking our carpet, and two super scared animals. They knew they were busted! And Brutal absolutely HATES getting in trouble. His feelings will be hurt all day/night if he gets yelled at. Mr. Susan just runs away... laughing. 

When I lived in Seattle, I brought Brutal everywhere. He came to work with me, if I went to the store, he rode in the car and waited until I came back, I took him to the dog park almost everyday. He went running with me every night, or walked the 3 miles around the lake. We were inseparable. And still are, of course. This is why I have Brutal, and Bryan has Mr. Susan. You can't take a baby away from his mommmmmy!

Now we're here in NY. I bring Brutal with me to work, the corner store, shopping, and stuffs. We hang out all day and all night. When I leave him at home, he cries and howls, and totally annoys my roommates. Then when we see each other after being apart, he gets crazy and jumps and kisses and licks and wiggles. When I'm not with him, I think about him. I think about what he's thinking or what he's doing with his doggyself. I might be crazy, but I think about awful things happening to him, and I get so upset. I just want him to be safe and loved at all times. When we're together, he can never be close enough. Sometimes, it seems like he's trying to climb into my skin. Sometimes, I put my hand underneath his chest while he's sleeping and I'll just feel his little heart beat. It's a nice feeling, but I should never have children. I'm such a crazy dog mom.

Right now, he is laying on my legs, curled up, just as happy as can be. He loves me so much. I have said this before, and it's so true... I'm the first thing he thinks of when he wakes up, and the last thing he thinks of before he goes to sleep. He's totally obsessed with me, as I am him. I have only loved or still love a couple people as much as I love this baby dog. We need each other!

Thanks for not puking all over yourself as you read this silly piece of shit. I truly love you.

bye