Today really could not have been any better! Ok, well, I could’ve done without waking up at 3am,tossing and turning for an hour, and then finally rousing myself out of bed at 4am. But still, what a day!
I read the paper and had some coffee, catching up on the news, and of course, the comics. Nice way to ease into the day.
I did some tidying up around the house, and then got ready to go to bikram yoga. By the time I was done with the 90 minute session, I had a sweatyface, for sure. I was really proud of myself for going even though Nicey had to cancel on me. The class was really tough today. I know it’s called “hot yoga,” but it felt especially warm in the studio. I’m happy to say I made it though, and I’ll give more details about the class on Friday, in my fitness update.
When I got home I relaxed for a bit and dove into the pages of My Fair Lazy, the newest book from the glorious Ms. Jen Lancaster. I’ve had the book for quite some time, but I was “saving” it because I usually go through her books really quickly. While I like to think that I’m a fairly cultured person, I do completely relate to Jen Lancaster’s reality tv obsession, because I love me some Real Housewives of New Jersey.
My parents were coming over to help me hang some additional artwork that I recently bought to complete my living room. I absolute love the way it turned out:

Two new artwork pieces

I love the saying on this one from Margaret Shepherd: “Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith.”

This one is so gorgeous, especially in person. It has a Chinese Proverb that says, “If you keep a green bough in your heart, then the singing bird will come.” To me, it means that you will find true happiness as long as you have hope.
You can’t tell from the photos, but both pictures have a little bit of sparkle to them, and they are really vivid. I love the colors.
I also added some silk flowers to my vases, since the protea I got at the farmers market a few weeks ago were finally spent:
I love these colors, and they tie in all the other colors in the room.
As my parents were leaving, I gave them my leftover chicken curry, and later they called to tell me how much the loved it. What a compliment. My mom even asked me to give her the recipe so that she can make it again. I’m telling you, you should try it, because it was a HIT!
For dinner, I made a good beef stirfry, which was really filling and just looked beautiful (if I do say so myself):
I always feel so good when I have a fridge full of food, have a ton of leftovers, and know that I won’t be scrambling for healthy dinners all week.
But the most exciting thing happened in bits and pieces throughout the day. Get a glass of water or a cup of coffee, cuz this is going to take a while to explain.
As you know, I’ve been thinking seriously about getting a dog this summer. I’ve wanted one for quite a few years, and I really feel like I’m finally ready to take on all that having a puppy entails. I’ve been looking online for lots of different dogs, and when I went to a colleague’s house and she had this adorable yorkie, I asked her where she got him. She said that she had found him from a breeder in another state, and got him sent to her. Which made me very intrigued with that idea.
Then today LC posted on Facebook saying that she was at my niece’s Tae Kwon Do practice and a woman there had a little dog that she needed to give to someone. Long story short, LC is getting this great dog (and all the accompanying accessories like a bed, food bowl, leash, etc) for free next week. Which just made me want to get a puppy all the more. I know that sounds like I just want one because my sister is getting one, but that’s not the case. It just spurred me on to fulfill this dream of mine. So I went back online and found a reputable breeder in Missouri who had a few adorable puppies available.
One in particular caught my eye, and the price was really good. $375, including shipping her to my local airport (from MO to CA) on American Airlines. They are including all of the vet paperwork, including shot history, the crate, a health certificate, a health guarantee, and even some puppy food and a care package. I emailed the woman and found out that she’s a middle school math teacher – a great sign. I asked if I could wait until after school gets out (June 11) before I get the puppy, and the breeder said that would be fine, as long as I sent a deposit (via Paypal). So the timing is perfect.
Here’s the thing. My mom is really opposed to me getting a dog. She said she thinks it’s a huge mistake, and thinks that the fact that the dog would be alone while I’m at work (usually from 7am until 3 or 3:30 pm) is a terrible life for a young dog. My dad said that he thinks it would be fine, as long as I verify that this woman is on the up and up, which I have. I looked her up online, researched their website, etc. I really feel in my heart like this is the right thing to do. The one hesitation I have is that I usually listen closely to my mom’s advice. The fact that she thinks it’s a bad idea is throwing me. You’re probably thinking, “Bella, you’re in your late 30s, why are you so concerned with what your parents think?” Well the answer is twofold – one: in my family, you’re always “the child” as long as your parents are alive; and two: I really value my parents’ opinion, because I know they have more life experience than I do and have my best interests at heart.
But I really have thought this through. My lifestyle is such that I’m home most nights of the week. I have friends and social engagements, of course, but most of the time I stay close to home. I don’t have to travel for business, and I am not a world traveler (yet!). I know I’ll have to walk the dog to go potty in the morning, which means getting up earlier than I do now. While I’m at school, I’m planning on closing the door to my kitchen, pantry, and dining area, so the dog would only be in the part of the house that has linoleum. When I get home from school I will definitely take the dog on a long walk, and then later in the night we can go on potty breaks in either the front yard (on a leash – I live on a really busy street) or in the backyard with the gate closed. (I really don’t have a backyard to speak of. It’s mostly concrete, where we park our cars, but there are some patches of dirt/tanbark where the dog could go to the bathroom (and I could clean up). On the days when I have to be at work later (which are rare) or if I’m going out after work, I can have her go to the doggie daycare that is literally down the street from my house. (They have a webcam and everything). There’s another really highly acclaimed day care that isn’t too far from my house which is also an option, and I’m planning on going to puppy classes there this summer. The point is, I feel like I have a handle on what it will take to make the commitment to the dog.
The nice thing about having the summer off is that I’ll have two solid months to bond with the dog, take puppy socialization classes, get into a routine, and make sure we both understand the new “house rules.” I figure I can slowly wean her off of being around me all day long as the summer comes to a close, so that she’s used to being by herself for 6 hours or so.
The dog is a bichon-yorkie mix. I’m thinking her name might be Lulu, but I’m still considering. (Her current name is Bridgett, which I hate). Or I may go with a literary character’s name, like Zelda. Or something Italian. But I have time to figure that out. So without futher ado, here she is:

This is the photo from the online ad. How adorable is she?
These are the photos that the breeder sent me, which were taken tonight:


She looks a tiny bit scruffy, like she needs a little haircut (believe me, this dog is going to be spoiled and no doubt she’ll be a regular at the groomers),but she is still such a doll, isn’t she?
My question is, what do you guys think? My heart and head are telling me to do it, because this dog seems like the perfect fit, but the fact that I don’t have my mom on board is making me think twice. Any thoughts? What questions should I ask the breeder when I call her tomorrow?
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