Matt had last Friday off, so we spent the morning and early afternoon in the house spackling the drywall. May I quickly comment about spackling? Ok, yes? Thanks. I’m amazed at how many tools you need to spackle. You need all these knives and then corner knives and seam knives, and honestly it all seems a bit excessive. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t just slime the spackle up onto the wall with the palm of my hand, but I suppose that’s neither here nor there.

After the first coat was on, we headed out with a car packed full of food, hoodies, and Berlin, and we drove to Northeastern Tennessee for a weekend in the self-proclaimed “Horseback Riding Capital of the Southeast.” We had somewhat moderate expectations of the cabin we’d be staying in, seeing as their website primarily displayed their kitschy decor. But MAN were we blown away when we got out there!

It was a new cabin, probably no more than five years old, set on a little pond on a quiet 7 or 8 acres. We had a beautiful stainless steel kitchen to cook up a storm in, but spent most of the weekend split between flopping in the hot tub and flopping in front of the roaring fire watching HGTV. Those first-time home buyers are so embarrassing. Did I say those things? UGH! I hope not.

I had booked this weekend away to celebrate our anniversary before we had even found our house, and had no idea that the weekend would pull us away from our renovations – in a good way. I think we both were a little reluctant to leave the house on Friday when we knew how much we needed to work all weekend. But when we got out into no-man’s land it was all worth it. Even though it rained through Saturday night, we got out to a winery, and blew all our cash on outstanding Mennonite fare.

But the best part might have been seeing the look on Berlin’s face when we opened the screen door and said, “Go play!” She was all, “No leash? No poop bag? I can run wherever I want and roll in smelly things?” She romped in the mud and rain and ATE UP going back to her country bumpkin roots.

It was so hard coming back from a great weekend to get back to the grind. I guess that’s always how it goes. Now I have to get my butt over to the house to sand down that first coat of spackle. Maybe Billy Joel will keep me company.

Berlin cut her paw pad two days ago while playing outside. It was small and bled only slightly so I let it be, assuming it would heal on its own in a few days. I was trying not to be over-protective. I told myself that a lot of dogs live outside without mamas and cut their paws all the time. They survive, right?

She licked it and licked it and licked it and finally last night we took another look and it wasn’t getting any better. We decided to clean it out, which made it bleed again, and then bandaged it up. And that’s when I started freaking out and crying. Because we were scheduled to go away the next day, she was supposed to go to Camp Bow Wow, and what if she has an infection and they won’t take her? And maybe I can change my flight? And maybe the infection will grow gangrene and she’ll have to have her leg amputated!?! And maybe the gangrene will spread and she will DOT DOT DOT!

Took her to the vet this morning and she’s OK. No infection. They cleaned her, bandaged her, and sent her on her way into the loving arms of Camp Bow Wow’s employees who told me they would take very good care of her, and that she was probably OK to play with the other dogs. And when I left her she was wagging her tail and very happy to be there.

I know, it’s no big deal. The whole thing was no big deal. I don’t know when I turned into such a worry wort. OK, I do know when it happened. And that’s just it. I’m having such a hard time even just having her out of my sight. Because, God, if ANYTHING happens to that dog I will curl up and die. She has held me up and has been my greatest comfort. And I don’t want to lose anything else that I love.

These things in life are lessons, right? So next time she cuts her paw pad, I know exactly what to do. CALL AN AMBULANCE.

From @pigstubs: What is the most ridiculous thing (in hindsight) that you and Matt have ever argued about?

Oh boy, what a great question! Matt and I used to argue a TON when we first got married because we were two pretty opinionated and stubborn people. Most of the time those arguments were about stupid stuff, but the fights themselves were always of value because we learned so much about marriage through them. Nowadays when we argue we tend to either come to an agreement halfway, agree to peacefully disagree, or realize that one of us is just being a plain old idiot.

Probably our most ridiculous fight was about driving from Massachusetts to Ohio to buy Berlin. I know. Dumb subject matter for a fight, and a dumb fight to have. Most of you who have been reading Verbal Intent for a good stretch of time have probably figured out that my fatal flaw is having an irrational idea and then convincing myself it is TRUTH! And very much worth fighting for til the bitter end! Matt’s fatal flaw is getting off on being withholding. It makes him feel powerful. And right! You know the end of this story already, don’t you?

So here we were, in the first apartment we had ever lived in that allowed a large dog, and I wanted a goldendoodle! I had done my research, and knew everything imaginable about the breed. Their personality, lack of shedding, and goshdarnitall adorable looks made them the perfect dog for us. And although I’m a HUGE proponent of adopting dogs in need of good homes, you cannot find a goldendoodle in a shelter, period. They are considered “designer dogs” and haven’t been around for too long, so the best place to find them is at a breeder. For $2,000.

Well I hunted high and low and finally found a “breeder” in Ohio who would sell me one of her 10 month old goldendoodles for $250, a virtual steal in the goldendoodle industry. She needed to get rid of these dogs because who wants a 10 month old goldendoodle with serious emotional issues? ME! I DO! PICK ME!

So I told Matt about the great deal, hoping to win him over to the idea by mentioning how CHEAP she was! Cheap AND cute! Remember, Matt? That’s why you chose ME!?

And you’re right with your guess – he thought it was a ridiculous idea. “Let’s just wait around until we can find the same price somewhere in New England that doesn’t require a 30 hour round-trip drive.” And then the bells went off, and we entered round One. We fought back and forth, nine rounds to be precise, each of us digging our heels in more about the issue. I’m pretty sure towards the end he was just saying “no” to watch me cry.

It got to the point where I didn’t care what he said, and I was planning on driving out to Ohio alone to pick up the puppy. “Go ahead. I’ll be here when you get back.” When my mom heard that I was going to make such a nonsensical trip she canceled everything she had planned that weekend to come with me and make sure I was safe. This was the clincher that changed Matt’s mind. That Saturday, he was in the car with me setting out for Akron.

Moral of the story is this: yes, we definitely could have found a dog in New England that would have been perfect for us. There was really no need for me to force a crazy trip to Ohio by means of what Matt calls my “emotional strong-arming.” But we also have the World’s Most Wonderful Dog, and she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to us.

I’m pretty sure the number one way to make up is to pick out a new puppy.

From Daily Daguerreotype

Berlin’s back from her second weekend in a row at Camp Bow Wow. Everytime we leave her at a kennel she comes home a little more well-adjusted than when we left, and this trip was no exception.

She’s starting to act more and more like a dog inside the house, which is good when it comes to eating her food without requiring us to hover over her, but bad when it comes to attacking the cat. I woke up this morning with her growling at Mojo, eating his food, and ripping apart my BoSox hat. Not good.

I think it might be time for us to start taking her to training classes. I was reluctant to do that when we first brought her home because she was sooo shy and sooo skittish. But she’s gained a ton of confidence and now the ill behavior is starting to rise.

So dog owners out there, should we spring for the official dog training courses or just start doing it here by ourselves?

So I just got a message from the HomeAgain automated messaging service to tell me that our yearly subscription is about to expire and we should probably renew it. Yes, you’re not the only person who can’t reach me by phone… the automated HomeAgain man couldn’t either! For shame.

When we got Berlin a year ago and had to have her spayed, we opted to get her micro-chipped as well. For those of you who think that micro-chipping is inhumane, just realize that Matt is very seriously considering having me micro-chipped as I often wander off in the store. He’s not as nice as you all think.

What I don’t understand is how our subscription can run out? I mean, I’m pretty sure we got a free year of service with the initial microchipping, but when it expires does this mean that Berlin will be wiped from their database? That at any point, if she’s lost and brought into a vet’s office they would scan her back and say, “Oh boy. Another pair of delinquent doggy parents who refused to pay the yearly subscription fees! Send this one to THE BACK ROOM.” I mean what is this?

I’ve learned my lesson. This is what happens when you allow Big Brother to step in – all in the name of safety. They charge you an unnecessary fee of $14.95 annually, and if you refuse to pay… THEY KILL YOUR PUPPY.

Off to their website to square this all away by handing over my credit card. Just to keep my title of World’s Greatest Puppy Mommy.

Now that we’re in Nashville, one of the first things people ask me when we’re catching up on the phone is how well Berlin is adjusting. This questions warms the cockles of my heart, because those people know what matters most to me in life, AND THAT’S MY DOG.

For the most part, she  has adjusted really well and has made herself at home very quickly in our new apartment. She’s taken to following me around throughout the day, yes… even into the bathroom. And she’s no longer hiding behind Matt’s chair as she used to do back in Boston.

But she’s not entirely herself yet, and that’s because we’re not close to a dog park. At our old place, we had the luxury of an unofficial off-leash dog park in our backyard, so Berlin got well acquainted with spending an hour every evening playing with her buddies. Now she only gets an evening walk on-leash, with no other puppy friends. On the weekends we try to get her out amongst doggie pals, but you can tell she really misses her old friends.

I was looking at old pictures the other day and found this one of Berlin’s bestie, Raja. I took this while dog sitting her one day, and unlike my dog, Raja works it in front of the camera. Isn’t she gorgeous?

From Daily Daguerreotype

I’m hoping that Berlin and I will meet some new friends tonight as we  head into town for “Lappy Hour.” It’s a happy hour meetup for dog owners and their dogs. Should be a great time.

But no, Besties and BFFs can never be replaced.