On Our Way To Crazy

Can I just say? I am so Miles’ favorite.

I mean, there is no contest. No question. No tie-breakers. That dog loves me the mostest, and Aaron is a distant second. Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery distant. I can’t even see him from here.

When we are watching TV, he always chooses me for some snuggle action. It doesn’t matter where I’m sitting, that’s where he wants to be. He’s especially fond of trying to get in my lap when I’m reading something… that’s sitting in my lap. He’ll flop right down on top of my newspaper or get in between me and the magazine. He knows that thing is getting my attention, and HE WANTS IT.

Last night I was on the sofa and Aaron was in the chair, and Miles was (of course) asleep in my lap. I moved my leg and woke him up. After giving me the MILES THE WONDER DOG LOOK OF DEATH, he walked down my leg to the end of the sofa. Aaron then tried to persuade him to come over to the chair.

(This, by the way, might be my second favorite Miles trick.)

Aaron: Miles, come here! *pats the ottoman* Come here, Miles!
Miles: (thinking) Is he crazy? He is so my second favorite.
Brandi: He’s not coming. I’m the favorite.
Aaron: Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiles. Come here, buddy.
Miles: (looks at me, thinking) Watch this.

Then he jumps off the sofa and runs toward the chair. Aaron gets ready for him to jump up, and… he doesn’t. It’s a total fakeout. He makes Aaron think he’s coming for some cuddling, but he’s not. He’s doing a 180 and heading right back to me.

Because my dog does some sweet tricks.

And I am the favorite.

The beginning of our adventure is here.

Aaron made it to the airport and DC with no problems, other than extreme sleepiness and frustration. I took a big fat nap and got dressed for Steffanie’s party. I had a reasonably good outfit, a fabulous new haircut, and my favorite shoes. I was set.

Traffic on 75 ruined my plans to drive to Melanie’s house and go to the party with her. I headed back to the in-laws’ house, only to get lost. (Darn new construction.) I finally got directions and was on my way. Due to poorly labeled roads I was about a half hour late, but once I got there all was well. I’ve been stressed out about this party since we started planning it in September, and despite a venue change it went off without a hitch. The food was wonderful, the company was good, the bridesmaids’ dresses were beautiful. I got lost of compliments on my hair, which was reassuring, and really enjoyed being adults with the friends I’ve had since childhood.

Sunday morning. I left Miles with my mother-in-law and headed for my parents’ house in Mesquite. They were decorating the tree that night, and I was thrilled to be a part of it. About halfway through the decorating, Aaron calls. He’s just heard from his mom, frantic.

Miles had gotten out. OUT.

She’d taken him out in the yard, and he’d squeezed himself through a loose board and was gone. Loose in the dark, in an unfamiliar place, in the cold. GONE.

I had no idea how much I loved that dog until he was missing. I felt like my heart itself was out wandering the streets, and I couldn’t rest until it was back where it belonged. My mom and I immediately went to their house and started combing the streets with flashlights and treats, calling his name.

Four hours later, there hadn’t been a trace of him. We had to leave so my mom could go to work the next day. I was sick.

Early Monday morning, I was up making copies of a lost dog flyer. (Thanks to the wonderful Kinko’s guy who didn’t charge me.) While Aaron’s mom hung the signs, I kept looking. Called the pound and the vet. Put a notice on Craigslist.

Not a trace of that dog anywhere.

I was starting to lose it. Walking down the street, crying. Jumping out of my skin every time the phone rang, desperate for it to be someone who’d found him.

I picked Aaron up from the airport and we continued to look. We’d decided to stick near the house, unsure of where else to go. Around 5:00, we took a break. I felt completely defeated. I couldn’t just sit around. I left to walk the neighborhood again, and Aaron’s parents went to check out a new neighborhood in the general direction we thought he’d taken off in.

While we were walking, Aaron’s phone rang.

Aaron: Hello? What? You’ve got him?

I have never moved so fast in my entire life as I did getting back to the house and into the car. His parents gave us directions and we were on our way. Miles is not a big fan of any people who aren’t Aaron or me, so Aaron kept his dad on the phone and told him things to say to get his attention without actually approaching him.

We found him sniffing around in a yard. I called his name, and he sprinted toward me. I picked him up and Aaron got the leash on him. He was filthy and smelled like garbage, and was covered in twigs and burrs.

We got him home and bathed, watered and fed. That dog drank like I’ve never seen him drink before. And then, he slept. And slept. And slept.

He’d been gone almost exactly 24 hours. For those hours, I was like a shell of myself, walking around in a daze imagining all the terrible things that could be happening to him. My heart was completely broken. Monday night, it was raining and sleeting. If he’d been out in that, I don’t know what I would have done.

So now he’s home, safe and dry and warm. He’ll be on the leash anytime he goes outside for the rest of the trip. He’s shaky and scared, but he’ll make it. And so will I.

We had a pretty successful evening of trick-or-treaters this evening. We probably had 30 kids or so, and they pretty much cleaned us out. The number of TOTers we get has grown steadily as the neighborhood has developed. (I can’t believe this was our THIRD Halloween in our house!) Because Miles barks his little head off every time the doorbell rings, he and Aaron watched Monday Night Football upstairs while I handled the kids, the wine, and the viewing of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Which, by the way, I totally loved.

I was surprised at the number of kids who were being followed by their parents in a car. I understand (and like) that families come to our neighborhood who don’t live here, we’re one of the few in the area with well-lit streets and actual sidewalks. But it was a fabulous night, perfect for walking the ‘hood, meeting other kids and having a good time. Maybe I’m missing something, but it seems like it would be a much better option to park the car and walk. You get more time with the kiddos AND keep cars off the street when they are running around.

At around 9, we figured we were about done with the festivities, and Aaron and Miles came downstairs. Not five minutes later, the doorbell rings. Miles, of course, goes nuts. I grab the candy and open the door to find a woman on the sidewalk and two girls halfway down the street. Miles goes running out into the yard. As soon as they all see him, we all start laughing hysterically… apparently Miles’ bark is quite scary from the other side of the door! They thought we had some huge dog that was going to tear them apart, not a scrawny 20-lb. fuzzball. I loaded their bags full of candy to make up for scaring the daylights out of them.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

There is nothing cuter than a dog in a football jersey.

Sleepy Miles.

Cheering for the ‘Boys.

BFF.

For as long as I can remember, Aaron has wanted us to get a dog. He grew up with them and was convinced that life was not complete sans pets. I, on the other hand, have never had a pet in my life. My sister is violently allergic to anything with fur, and I am grossed out by lizzards and birds, so no pets for us. I suppose we could have had some fish, but given our history, that was probably not the best idea. I felt that, despite my lack of furry friends, my life had been quite nice and the addition of a dog was not neccessary.

Over the past few months, however, he started wearing me down. Sending me pictures from PetFinder. Talking about how fun it would be. Coming up with names (my favorite part).

And something I never thought would happen, has happened. We have a dog.

Miles the Wonder Dog.

And Aaron was right. He is wonderful and perfect and I really, really love him. He is so funny. He loves to snuggle, and gets mad if you don’t pet him. And not just any petting, it has to be in this specific spot on his stomach. If you try to pet him somewhere else, he’ll push your hand down with his paws. He is a face-licker, which I do not love. But my favorite thing he does is this hopping dance on his back legs. He gets really excited when we come home, and if you don’t sit down right away so he can flop on his back and get some stomach petting, he stands up on his back legs and starts jumping up and down. It is absolutely the cutest thing I have ever seen.

I am now something I never thought I would be. An animal person. Look out.