Category Archives: Random Life

Saying I’m not a “dog person” is a bit of an understatement.  It isn’t that I don’t like dogs, I’m just irrationally afraid that they are going to bite my face (or hand or leg) off.  I am not afraid of puppies, but then they grow up into, well, dogs.  It’s the way I’ve always been.  I always kind of wished I could be allergic to them, so I’d have some sort of good excuse.  But I’ve tried hard hard hard to overcome this fear.  It’s pretty embarrassing to be afraid of dogs.  I was actually doing alright there for a few years.  And then I went to Peru – where the wild dogs (that are everywhere) very likely will bite your face (or hand or leg) off if you’re not careful.  And then I had a run-in with a doberman pincher last summer.  Both experiences have landed me firmly in the “will always be afraid of dogs” category.  So it goes.

But there are exceptions to every rule.

Yep - I'm as close to Dory as it actually looks!

 Dory is one of the King’s dogs.  Dory is named after the fish in Finding Nemo who forgets everything because, well, Dory doesn’t have the best memory in the world.  The thing that endears Dory to me is that she is just as afraid of every human being as I am of every dog being.  So we get along pretty well.

Sweet, camera-shy Dottie

 And Dottie.  Dottie is just about the sweetest dog on the planet, and she belongs to my dad and stepmom.  She doesn’t bark or jump, just kind of leans against your legs in a friendly welcome.  I like to say that Dottie has the soul of a much smaller dog – if you sit on the couch, she would just as soon try to curl right up on your lap.  She is an incredibly submissive, calm dog.

Both Dory and Dottie were rescued from abusive homes.  They were both treated horrendously and lived in fear before they were found and adopted by the King’s and my parents.  It makes me shiver to know how terrible people can be, but also so glad they are in homes where people love them so thoroughly.  I think the fear they have of people and the fear I have of dogs has bonded us in a way.  There’s an unspoken connection – “I’m safe with you.”

As Jenn and I were out and about today, she casually mentioned “the snowman.”  ”You haven’t seen The Snowman?!”  Inconceivable.  She immediately steered the car in the direction of Brawley Street, but didn’t really give any details.

This is the best snowman I’ve ever seen in my life.  Apparently the residents of the house set up scaffolding to build it.

Justin got home from a meeting this afternoon, and the first thing I said was, “You have to see The Snowman.” He was impressed too.

Our friend Jessie is in some warm, sunny location at the moment, and posted a lovely picture of beach and palm trees on Facebook today.  And as I look out our windows, this is what I see:

Pretty, yes.  But Jessie wins, hands down!