Strange New World...

I had a dream last night...

Zoli and I were walking in a park (I think it was Eden Park). He wasn't on a leash (that's how I knew it was a dream!). Z ran over and propped his paws up on a wall... an invisible wall!!! I ran over and put my hands on it, looked at Zoli and he said, "Let's do it!" I knew he meant climb over the wall to the other side. I said, "Let's!" And then...........I woke up. Dang!

I snuggled under the covers and tried to imagine what would have happened next. I decided that I would have been able to ask Zoli all the questions that have been adding up over the past 10 months...since he could talk and all.

"Why are you so crazy around other dogs?"

"Do you miss Bangladesh?"
"How have you been feeling lately, allergies bugging you?"
"What's up with all that pulling?"
"Have you been happy with me?"
"Are you excited to see you Dad soon?"
"Seriously... why all the sniffing?"
"What's with the obsession with squirrels?"

I figured I could have all the answers...finally!!!

Then I realized that if Zoli could talk, even in my dream, it would have gone something like this...

"Squirrel!"

"Is that a dog!"

"What's that smell?"

"Whose there?"

"Squirrel!!"

"I want to be five feet ahead of you...NOW!"

"Eat all dogs now!"

"Squirrel!!!!!!"

Maybe that's why I woke up...

Time is running out...

My time with Zoli is quickly coming to an end. Stephen will be home August 4th and by the end of the month Z will have been flown to Botswana to be with him. I can hardly believe that there are only four months left. I am surprised at how very attached I've become to him. In fact, when I think of him leaving it makes me very sad. But, he is Stephen's pet and I know that they have missed each other. My friends/family are convinced that I will go out and get another dog, but it won't be Zoli, so I can't imagine that.

I do admit that it will be nice to not count hours every time I leave...that does get old. But...that's about it. Zoli has been a perfect visitor, even with those two bites he gave me! I was so nervous when he first arrived... we have certainly made strides with each other.

I continue with the dog training because there are still areas where he needs some improvement, but overall, he's really done great. He's able to walk down the street, see dogs across the street, and NOT go crazy. Now, he still doesn't like them on the same side of the sidewalk as he is...he just needs his space.

We like to go to the church across the street and sit in the very plush grass and watch the world go by. Sometimes we go over on Victory Parkway and sit on a little stone wall and watch the traffic pass. It's very relaxing. Since I've been unemployed Zoli gets an extra walk every day, so basically he's outside about every four hours... sorry Stephen!!! It's a nice schedule, gets me outside regularly and I know he loves being outdoors.

So... we will enjoy the time we have remaining. We'll lounge together on the sofa every evening, snuggle together every night, sit on the porch and watch the neighbor dogs (and howl!), sit in the grass, practice being comfortable with other dogs and generally enjoy each other's company. Nice!

Patrolling the courtyard!