Dreaming of a Dog

Okay, so today's post is a total self-indulgence. If you're here looking for yogic inspiration or deeper thoughts, you might want to look elsewhere {so sorry!}. Honestly, I'm just so obsessed with this topic that I couldn't possibly write about anything else today... 

Here are the basics of what's going on:

• My little brother, who is in the Peace Crops in Peru right now, got a puppy last week (see above). He sent the family tons of pics, a little video, and told us all about him. This dog is AMAZING and his name means "mustache" in spanish. Yes please. 
  
• I'm currently working on 3--three!--dog painting commissions. All of the dogs that I'm painting are freaking adorable, and thus, have kept dogs on my mind.
• I went to a holiday party on Saturday night, and there was a precious dog in attendance. I spent quite a bit of time bonding with her, and basically fell in love.
• Over the weekend, I started looking at dog profiles on pet rescue sites online...and I was a goner.

Ben and I have wanted a dog for quite a while, but have always lived in buildings that don't allow them. Obviously, we now live in a house. With a yard. In a neighborhood. With lots of space to run around outside. And walking paths all around us. 

When we first moved to the Cape, we said we would wait until spring to talk about getting a dog, so that we could settle in, get an idea of our new financial situation, finalize our new daily schedules, keep our lives a bit more simple in this new place as we figured things out.

But all of the sudden, I've thrown all of that caution to the wind. I want/need a dog--NOW! And not just any dog--I've found THE dog online. She's in Arkansas, but could be transported to Boston as soon as Dec. 22nd. OMG.

Now, let me say that I'm leading 100% with my heart in this thing. I haven't met this dog. I've seen 4 pictures and I've spoken with the rescue organization and her foster mother, but that's it. She's a breed I've never been around. There's a very high chance that we won't end up getting her, as we still have to run it by our landlord, fill out the adoption application, discuss this big decision in more detail, and hear about her final appointment to the vet.

However, this doesn't mean that I'm not obsessed.

Becoming easily "obsessed" with things is one of those qualities of mine that can act as both an attribute and a handicap. Becoming obsessed with a new project, painting, or work endeavor can often be good--it makes me super productive, allows me to create, makes things happen. But sometimes, and this instance might be one of those situations, becoming obsessed means getting my heart set on something, thinking about it nonstop, ignoring all possible negatives, and setting myself up for disappointment. 

Is getting a dog right now the smartest thing to do? Probably not. Is it a good idea to pick out a new family member without ever meeting them? I don't think so (But that face!! Those eyes!!). I want a little friend (and this little friend, in particular) to hang out with all day, when I'm blogging, painting, and working from home. I want someone to take care of; Ben and I aren't ready for kids yet, but I think we're ready to take care of a little being. We want another family member.

So why not a dog, right? We're adults! If we want a dog, we can get one...right? Right???
 
We've started talking to her like she's here already. We point to where she would be sitting on the couch. We invite her into the bed. Last night I fake fed her a piece of food from the dinner table [Is that weird?]. I wish she was sitting next to me right now! 

So that's where my head's at today. No deeper message to this post, no inspiration, no yogic wisdom--just straight up desire for a dog. 

Can anyone out there relate to my newest obsession? 

I'll keep you posted as things unfold, and if all goes as my heart wants it to, I hope to be introducing you to a new member of our family (and blog community) by the end of the month...