Letters from Tahn, part IV

I was out of town for work for three days and two nights, and my dear friend Summer took care of my sweet Tahn. Of course, while I was away, Tahn wrote me letters. Enjoy.

____

Dear Mum, today was super fun! I played in mud puddles, beat Aunt Copper’s dog in tug-o-war (finally!) and now I’m watching The Fantastic Mr. Fox. I miss you, but I’m having the best time. Oh, I really like Aunt Copper’s daughter, Honey (Mum, she is a CAT and lives in the house!). I kinda want to eat her, but that would upset Aunt Copper, so I just play with her instead. Can we get one?

Love, Tahn

____

Dear Mum,

Aunt Copper’s friend Chris came over last night.  I was SO excited to see him because he really likes to play fetch and always fills up the big pink tub for me to splash around in.  Since he got there so late he said I would have to wait until today.  He woke up a couple of times and looked a little freaked out to see my dark eyes staring back at him from the edge of the bed.  He even asked Aunt Copper if I needed to go to the bathroom, but she told him I was just too excited to sleep or wanted up on the bed.  Sure enough when he FINALLY woke up today he threw the ball around for me and I got to splash in the cool water.  He mentioned something about dognapping me?

Anyway, now I’m sleepy, which brings me to my next tale.  Today at lunch Aunt Copper came home.  She may have been a little surprised to find me asleep in the dog house, but it was so cozy I couldn’t help myself.  Aunt Copper’s  dog was sleeping under the hammock, which she says is her new favorite spot.  We’re having a lazy day, Mum.  Aunt Copper’s dog and I were so happy to see Aunt Copper and I told her so, but I was a good girl and sat politely while she ate her lunch.

Love,

Tahn xoxo

____

Dear Mum,

Aunt Copper says to tell you that I am being the BEST girl and she promises that her friend Chris was only joking about dognapping me.  I still don’t know what this dognapping is all about, but I think it must mean that he likes me?  Time for another nap; I have to rest up for another round of tug-o-war later.  Copper’s dog wants a rematch.  I can’t wait to see you tomorrow, Mum!!

Love,

Tahn xoxo

____

Dear Tahn,

I am so happy for you! It sounds like you are having a wonderful time. I’m glad Aunt Copper is taking care of you so well. But, tell her friend Chris that you are mine – but he can play with you anytime. Tahn, be a good girl and do not disturb anyone when they sleep tonight, okay? I’ll be home tomorrow night. I can’t wait to see you.

Love you lots,

Mum xxxxoooo

____

Dear Mum,
Aunt Copper took this photo of me early this morning.  She says I have the most beautiful dark eyes.  I know you said I’m not supposed to stare at people while they sleep, but I just can’t help it.  Please don’t be cross with me.  Aren’t I cute?!

I can’t wait to see you tonight!!  Drive safe.

Love,
Tahn  xoxo

____

(And one more…)

Hey MUM!

G-pa doesn’t know it but I’m using his Google Voice account! I’m having fun at Copper’s house.  I love her dog!!  I wish she had a name though…

Love,

Tahn

Thank you to Summer for taking such great care of Tahnee. Tahn was so happy when I picked her up (and dropped her off) and it took away all the sadness I feel when I usually leave her. I can’t be more grateful.

Advertisement

Tales of Tahn, Part III

This evening after I ate dinner, I took my sad sack of a dog to the dog park. (She sure gets sad when she’s had a day of no activity. Sad Sack Tahn breaks my heart). I took her to the park despite I had ANOTHER sinus headache. (Something in the air here in Sacto is really upsetting my sinuses…)

When we got to the dog park, I saw this:

Doesn't the water look so clean?

I knew as soon as Tahn got slightly hot she would go right in the kiddie pool. Tahn LOVES to swim. (Despite her bad behavior chronicled on previous posts).

Sure enough, before I knew it, in she went:

(well, you see, I’m too cheap to pay for the video to be inserted in my blog, so you’ll have to click this link to see it on youtube. sorry)

Tahn went in and out of the water for over an hour, being possessed by a demon each time. She had a ball. Nothing that dog likes more then water. (Well, maybe expect me. And food).

Tahn, SOAKED, in the parking lot waiting to go home...

Needless to say, she will not be sleeping next to me on my bed tonight…

____

Quick side note update!!!: Despite the part of me that said “go for it!” I totally resisted the Bad Boy dog owner at the park tonight. He had Brittany written all over him. And, his dog was adorable. But, I waved off his crunching (Never Been Kissed – Anyone? Anyone? Great movie) and moved on trying to get my soaking wet dog into my car, trying to not let her touch anything – BTW it was unsuccessful.

Quick side note II: Why are there only (usually) older, unattractive, kinda weird men at the dog park? How come no young guys have dogs? How come the dog park is FULL of young, beautiful women?!?!

Things I like this week

Today was the best Monday I’ve had in weeks. Maybe even in months. I think it was a great Monday for a multitude of reasons, but here are a few:

• I started my day getting up super early and taking Tahn for a long work
• My mom visited me all day yesterday and we had a great day: watch the Woman’s World Cup Final at a sports bar, had a relaxing afternoon eating yummy food and drinking wine at L Wine Lounge (thanks to Amy for the great recommendation!), took a cat nap, walked Tahn to the dog park, then finished the evening with ice tea outside
• My dad visited me today and brought me two pieces of furniture I have needed desperately in my apartment: a bookshelf and a butcher block on wheels.  We walked Tahn down to a local bar and had happy hour
• I found this blog post and this blog post – two new mantras of my life

I hope you’re having a great Monday, too.

Why Women Love Bad Boys

In my recent trip to San Diego to visit my sister, I was telling one of her good friends, Ann Marie, about my latest guy. I was agonizing whether I should let it go, or try to make something work. I knew (from the minute I met him) that he was not a long-term guy for me, but I thought he would be a fun guy to get to know.

Plus, he was a Reformed Bad Boy.

And I love Reformed Bad Boys.

I’ve loved reformed bad boys as far as I can remember. (They have to be Reformed, not currently a Bad Boy – like my first boyfriend when I was 15. He brought a bullet to school when we were 8 – and was expelled. But, hello, by age 15 he totally changed! He was REFORMED, people. Except for the fact that 5 years later he was put in jail for messing up some guy’s face…)

Anyhoo. I was telling Ann Marie about him, (the new guy, not my 15-year-old beau) about how he is Reformed Bad Boy, and I knew he wasn’t good for me. She told me why she though women were attracted to Bad Boys (currently or Reformed).

1. Bad Boys have an edge

There’s just something about them. The way they carry themselves, the way they sit, the way the talk. Bad Boys have it. However, I have found, this ‘edge’ that Bad Boys have is actually a false cloak that the where to mask their insecurities. They put out this energy of severe masculinity (thus, the cool swagger) but really it’s false.

2. Bad Boys have stories

They’ve seen it, they’ve done it, and they just have had so many crazy experiences. Some of the tales I’ve heard from men shock the hell out of me. At first when I heard these stories they were so intriguing, so captivating. I was so thankful that these men felt “safe enough” to tell me these well, let’s say “abnormal” experiences (at least compare to my life…) But then, it became clear that my Reformed Bad Boys were actually proud of some of these stories. Or, I find myself hearing the same story as the last guy. When my latest Reformed Bad Boy told me his harrowing stories I literally cupped my face in my hands. I sat there in disbelief. Not only because of the story he was telling me (it was whopper) but also because I found myself liking a guy that was just like every guy I’ve liked before…

3. Bad Boys have a wild side

They ride motorcycles. They drive fast. They drive their motorcycles fast. They like adventure. This is all so much fun, exhilarating and all until you are in the car with them driving fast and you ask them to pleaseslowdown and they don’t. They don’t seem to have any regard for the fact that you are very uncomfortable. You go out with them again (well, because you like them, duh) and by this time you say much firmer, SLOW DOWN. They don’t. And for some reason, you keep getting in the car with them driving. For 2 years.

Not that I have any experience with that…

4. Bad Boys are spontaneous

Oh, how they’re spontaneous. And it’s so great! They think of so many fun, different things to do. (And you never know what they’re going to do!!) Like hike a hill on a Wednesday evening just to share a bottle of wine and look at the stars. That is until, life gets complicated and spontaneity is anything but practical. Sure, it would be fun to drive all night to the beach so we could watch the sun rise. But, it’s 9pm and I have to be at work at 8am tomorrow. And, I’d like to go to the gym before that. Bad Boys don’t like that. They tend not to like the “grind” of life.

5. Bad Boys have mystery

The mystery. The stories are evidence there is so much about their life you may not know. It’s thrilling really. Until of course, the mystery fades and you seen all of their skeletons and it’s not sexy or interesting.

6. Bad Boys know what they’re doing

They know how to talk to women. They know how to touch your back in a subtle way. They just know what women like to be told, and be treated.  News flash: this is NOT because they think you are special. They do this to all the women they date. Not just you. Sorry.

7. Bad Boys are totally devoted to you… Until they’re not

Ann Marie said this to me and I realized she couldn’t be more right. If you think about most Bad Boys they are just head-over-heals into you. They say really kind compliments to you. They notice things about you – they are attuned to many details about you (as opposed to that kinda dorky guy who can’t stop playing with his phone because he loves his new app – and doesn’t realize you don’t care about his new app and you would like some attention, please). Bad Boys get it. As stated in #6, they know what they’re doing. But here’s the kicker – Bad Boys will give you all their attention and then drop it. Usually they drop it because something better has come along (not necessarily another woman, it can be anything more exciting or appealing) or because they have a short attention span and always need something fun and new to have around and well, you’re just not that anymore. I have yet to met a Bad Boy who has remained totally, kindly, lovingly devoted to a woman for more than a couple of years.

_____

Well, needless to say, I am no longer seeing that Reformed Bad Boy. And, I hope to never see one romantically again…

(And if I do, I give all of you permission to scream, “What the hell are you thinking?!?!?!”)

“Who loves me will love my dog also.”

Especially when she’s really bad.

A few days ago, my friend Lauren posted a link on her Facebook profile to an Etsy shop that sells letterpress art print from Tag Team Tompkins.

Of course, when I saw the letterpress art below, I just had to buy it.

Could any statement be true about me?

It was priced very reasonable, and I was so surprised to find it in my mailbox today! I can’t wait to frame it and put it in my apartment. 🙂

In other news…

Update to Tahn’s sudden continuous, flat out disobedience:

Today I got home from work and was outside with Tahn so she could ‘hurry.’ She was wondering around, doing her thing. I was standing around, waiting for her to do her thing.

Then I heard it. The very quiet jingle of my neighbor’s keys. I quickly glanced at Tahn – she did not hear it – (such a great guard dog, right?) and immediately told her to sit.

She sat, happily. She looked up at me, waiting for why she was sitting. Just then, she heard my neighbor start coming down the stairs.

“Staaaay” I warned.

Tahn slightly lunged forward. She looked up at me. She stayed put.

Tahn watched my neighbor come down her stairs, walk across the yard, and exit. Tahn stayed sitting the whole time.

So, the score:

Tahn 1, Mum 1

Happy Wednesday.

Tales of Tahn, part II

Tahn, being a good girl, laying in the sun on our back porch. (I've never been able to take a good picture of the Demon Dog**)

This morning was a typical morning. I let Tahn out to go “hurry” (that was the bathroom command she had when she was trained to be a service dog) and I watched her wander around from my bedroom window as I got ready for work. (Note: I live in an old Victorian house, converted into apartments with a large shared backyard).

I was combing out my wet hair, watching Tahn start making her way back to my apartment back door.

Then, I noticed something caught her attention. She looked up towards my landlord’s apartment, and then, sheer joy radiated from her little black eyes. I knew what was happening and I couldn’t stop it.

Tahnee looked right at me, yelling at her from the window to comeupstairs, ignored me, and sprinted up my landlord’s stairs.

I ran around to my back door, calling her to come to me; and it was then I saw her Corn-Cobbing* my neighbor and his poor, old, aging dog. (This sweet dog is over 14 years old and has a hard time going up and down the stairs…)

Barefoot, wet headed, and in “non-landlord appropriate clothing” I ran up his stairs, yelling at Tahnee to leave them alone and comeherrightnow.

She bolted down the stairs to me, wide grin, with a little demon in her*. I grabbed her collar, and pulled her back into my apartment.

This is all before 7am…

_____

*Corn-Cobbing is what I call when Tahn nibbles on people. She gives them these “love bites”, which looks like she is eating an ear of corn (especially if she is nibbling someone’s arm).

** Demon Dog is what happens to Tahn when she becomes possessed by a Demon. (Or so we think). She gets a fire in her eyes, puts her ears back, tucks her butt and tail in, and runs around like a maniac. Sometime Demon Dog lasts for 2 seconds, other times it lasts for 30 minutes (like it did at the dog park the other day). Tahn has been possessed by a Demon ever since she was a baby. Apparently, her brother and sister get possessed too. And, I’ve heard other Labradors and Golden Retrievers get possessed on an occasion…

5 things I don’t want to hear on the first few dates…

1. “…me and my boys…”
2. “when I was drunk…”
3. “okay, so this girl I went out with…”
4. “when I was arrested…”
5. “so I didn’t want to go to work, so I called in sick…”

Sarah and Brittany’s Week of Fun!

I’m super-crazy-busy on vacation this week, so I’ve had no time to blog and I barely have enough time to blog right now. I’m so super-de-duper-busy that I don’t even have time to call back the guy who is trying to date me (and that’s my story and I’m sticking to it…)

Anyways, my sister Sarah came home this past weekend to celebrate her birthday, S2’s completion of her oral exam, my dad’s retirement and his birthday. After our celebration, Sarah and I went back to San Diego for a few days (not a week, fine…) of fun.

Before we went to San Diego, Sarah stayed at my dad’s house and I stayed at my mom’s (there aren’t enough beds at either house for us both to stay together – unless I wanted to share a “double bed” sized air mattress with my sister and Tahn, whom both are guilty of totally hogging the bed and I wake up barely on the mattress). Sarah was missing her beloved dog Sami, so I let Tahn stay with her at my dad’s.

This picture was texted to me on Saturday morning.

Tahn LOVES snuggling with her Aunt Sarah

I call Tahn my ‘shadow’ not only because she’s black, but also because she follows me everywhereIgo, all the time.  My dad refuses to let her follow him around the house, so she was giddy to have my sister (a.k.a. another version of me) to follow.

I tried to get a picture of Tahn and Sarah… and it wasn’t very successful.

Annnnnd finally:

Aunt Sarah and Tahn.

After our photo shoot, we caught a flight back to San Diego.

Well, not until we visited the wine bar at Oakland Airport:

On the Fourth of July, we went to Palm Springs and hung out by the pool:

We out with Sarah’s friends:

Back in San Diego, we caught Sarah’s dog Sami, eating Sarah’s birthday cake:

Yep. That's cake on Sami's ear.

We also got to meet up with some of my good friends for dinner. It was so much fun!

I flew back Wednesday night and spent the day yesterday with Buddy.

So far, a great vacation!

Letters from Tahn, Part III

Tahn and Copper (Summer's dog) on a playdate. (Note the chairs on the couch to prevent them from laying on it...)

Dear Auntie Copper Summer,

(I don’t know why my mum keeps correcting your name. I’ve told her a hundred times, your name is Copper…) Thank you so very much for coming to see me during your lunch yesterday. My mum is awful and selfish and couldn’t leave work to come and take care of me so I am so appreciative for you. I am sorry it took me a while to go hurry; I was being slightly naughty. Next time bring your dog to have a play date again. I just love her. But not as much as I love you. This morning I told my mum that you were coming with your dog, but she told me I was wrong. So I sat by the front window looking out for you. You didn’t come. I guess she was right.

Love you lots,

Tahn

_____

*Editor’s note: Tahn thinks that my friend Summer’s name is Copper, because that is Summer’s dog’s name. We have tried to teach her Summer’s real name, but there’s quite a learning curve…

**Oh, and Tahnee’s bathroom command is “hurry” from when she trained to be a service dog.