Melvin: 3 years. Penelope: 5 months. Terror.

Penelope is ruining my life. She is a disaster.

Right now she is napping softly, relaxed and not at all trying to bite my face. Give it time, that will change.

Melvin is also napping softly right next to her. The only difference is that he isn't going to try to kill me later.

Melvin and Penelope are the dogs of a friend of mine for whom I am house/pet sitting this week. Pretty sweet gig. Except Penelope. She's clinically insane. And the thing is, she's potty trained! I haven't had to clean up one accident (knock on wood, finger's crossed, turn around 3 times) and I still think she is a minor pain in my butt!!

And romanticized ideas I had about getting a puppy are loooooooooong gone. Don't let those enormous, sad, grape sized eyes fool you, she is a menace to society. Melvin on the other hand is a phenomenon. He is so relaxed. He loves nothing more than sitting next to me on the couch and watching TV. Or rather, I'm watching TV. Not sure what he's doing. But he's doing it quietly, so it makes little matter to me.

Hooray for dogs.

Blog decoration or "HEY! Read my blog!!"

How do I make my blog all decorated. Also, how do I incript pictures onto it? Funny pictures make my life better. Any info is loved and appreciated.

Glorious.

Late one Sunday night, or Monday morning.

I find it all but insane that in the space of 3 months, the things that were once so very important become less so. And all of a sudden, things that were not wanted, things that you thought you'd never be ready for, become all you want.

Years ago, I always thought that I didn't want certain things, that they were fine for some, but not for me. I'm just not your average example of an American 20-something. And the pressure to acquire various "trophies", certain finish lines that one must cross, becomes more than one can bare.

But when you're young, you have this image of your future life. You make boundaries you'd never dream of crossing.

It's no longer a pressure, an expectation, a requirement. I have a certain acceptance of what I want. It's ok to want it! It doesn't make me less, it doesn't make me unintelligent. It doesn't mean I've given up, or that I don't have dreams. Dreams can change.

It can't be for anyone else. It's got to be because you really want it.

And I do.

Outstanding.