All Things Profane and Sacred

We've been having some mixed signal problems with the new doggy, Pogo. When Jude needs to pee, he goes to the door. If we don't notice him there, he'll circle back to us, walk to the door again and whine. It works very nicely.

When Pogo wants anything, he just looks at you. After a while he will either yip or make his wookie noise. This could mean he wants to play ball, sit with you and get lovin, get some food, get water or go pee. So last night we were trying to decipher why Pogo was staring us down. We started running through the list, and J suddenly realized that he never gave the boys supper. He told them to fetch their dishes, and they both started running around gathering their things. Then Pogo stopped in the middle of the library, and started peeing on the carpet.

Ai ya! I was laying on the hide-a-bed, saw him start to pee and shouted "Pogo!" and clapped my hands. Now let me explain-when I first got Jude he had some potty issues (he was a stray), and a trainer said that if you catch a dog peeing inside, you need to distract them so they stop, take them outside and then praise them for going outside. This seemed to work fine for Jude's bad habits. Unfortuneately, Pogo thought I was calling him, so he stopped peeing in the library, ran into the living room, jumped onto the hide-a-bed, and started peeing on it. I screamed in shock and jumped off the bed. Pogo was surprised, so he hopped off the hide-a-bed on to the couch, merrily peeing all the way.

By the time we regrouped and got him outside, everything was soaked in urine. Ah, the joys of dog ownership.

Very odd-3 hours after being added to the ad-hoc job list through the school, I've been offered a job. Ok, so its only about 5 hours worth of research type job, but work's work. I've actually been surprisingly motivated since the swearing in. I don't feel quite as overwealmed. After all, I passed the bar, just like all those high powered attorneys (I'm a low powered attorney). Today I sent out an application for a job (yes, a real job. I'm not crossing my fingers or anything, it was one of those blind box ads, and I'm not real sure how one addresses oneself to a friggen box. but anyhow), an application to volunteer at the ACLU, and an application to the Oregon Women Lawyers. I'm all applied out. Now I'm gonna do some relaxing.

Well, I got sworn in to the bar yesterday. Traveled down to Salem with J, raised my right hand and took an oath to uphold the constitution and the laws of these United States. Skipped out on the reception after snagging a chocolate covered strawberry. Went up to Fry's and goggled at all the sweet ass electronic stuff that I can't afford.

Today I'm feeling much better than I have been feeling. I started running again on Monday-Sweet running which my body is so quick to punk out on, but which makes me feel so very good. I'm slow and I've lost both lung capacity and muscle strength (as well as having to schlep around more weight), but its slowly starting to come back. I've been running a mile, walking 5 minutes and running another mile. I think next week I'll go for either 2 or 2.5 miles, depending on how good I'm feeling. I've lost 4 lbs since Monday, and the idea of dealing with a job and the real world isn't making me want to puke quite as much.

I still love this neighborhood. I love running through Irvington park and through the odd little ends of the hood. I like the way this place puts new ideas and happy thoughts in my head. I like the multi-colored houses and the strange gardens our neighbors cultivate. I even liked our possibly drug dealing neighbors I saw getting busted yesterday-J though it was funny that I didn't realize there was something going on at this duplex a few blocks away. He said that duplexes usually don't have 2 guys with cell phones standing out front all hours asking if you need anything. Since they never said anything to me except typical "hi, how'rya" type stuff, I don't see how I could be expected to know anything.

I haven't been blogging much. I think I'm a bit depressed. Or maybe just lonely. Or something. Sigh. Maybe its all this unemployment, put on 30 lbs, debt to eyeballs thing that's getting me down. I dunno.

Spent Saturday at a Katrina benefit-J volunteered to do security, so I tagged along with him. Sunday I was a sicko. Today I'm feeling better physically, but my motivation is in the toilet. Spiritual malaise. Boo fucking hoo.

I passed the bar exam. Why do people keep asking me, "what are you going to do now?" Haven't I freaking done enough already? Dude, I finished what I set out to do. I have a Dr. and an Esq. I can sprinkle into my name. Let me bask in the glow of my accomplishments. Friggen Geez.

I wish I could say I owe it all to a little board game with a big heart.

Hmmm. I was in the middle of a long newsy post explaining what's been a happening in my life when the computer just up and switched off, sending my lovely post to blog heaven. I'll just hit some of the highlights:

1. I'm all moved in to the new house-J and I are living in sin in a big old place in NE Portland. I like the neighborhood (even though people-including those who rave to themselves-are weirdly friendly).

2. I've had my wisdom teeth removed sucessfully. I was pretty much blown on Percocet for about 4ish days, and have now only been needing one in the late evenings. I know it sounds fun, but it sucked. I go back in tommorrow so he can peer in at the gaping holes in my gums and see that they're behaving themselves.

3. I get bar results this afternoon. I haven't decided if I'll be able to make myself take it again if I fail. I don't even know if I would be able to do any better if I did retake it. Okay, not thinking about it anymore.

4. I've read a shit load of great books which I've been thinking deep thoughts about. A short list includes: Animals in Translation: Using Mysteries of Autism to Decode AnimalBehavior, Where God Lives: Paranormal Science and how our Brains are Connected to the Universe, some David Sedaris, some Neil Gaimon, and whatnot. Man oh man has pleasure reading been great.

5. Sadie Mae is back with the family again and is still alive and kicking. She's eating a combination of liquid and canned food, and although I wish she'd eat a bit more, she is doing well.

6. There is a new dog in the family. Pogo is a 10 year old pointer mix who really loves his squeaky weiner (the toy perverts, the toy. Not that kind of toy.).

And there you have it.