Linux

I've decided to take some time away from talking about health and fitness and my personal life for a bit to go back to the original idea for starting this blog. People (and in this case a pet) who has changed my life for the better.

As I'm sure all, or most, of you know I have two dogs, Joey and Linux.
Though Joey is a pet, he hasn't effected me the way a first pet has like Linux (mostly because, well, he ISN'T my first pet.)

If you've read my entire blog, you know that I got pretty close to forced into getting Linux by my ex Ace. It's not that I didn't want him, it's just that I couldn't afford to take care of him with my time or money. I was already taking care of Ace and her dog Minni in a two bedroom apartment. And I was the only one with a job.

Linux's mom is a beautiful white Huskey named Izzy. She gave birth to five puppies. Two white, two black, and then Linux, who is a white pup with black splotches all over him.

I got him the moment I could, 8 weeks in, and he forever changed my life.

Now, people with pets, or just maybe dogs in general (no offense to cat lovers) will understand this next sentence, people without pets, please just nod along with all the agreers of peopel WITH their first pet. I love this dog like my child, and I would give anything up to make sure he is OK and taken care of. He isn't my soulmate, but he is definitely my counterpart. He makes sure I'm happy when I'm sad, and brings me to the ground when I've been on a high streak for too long.

He has destroyed, mangled, and dismantled more of my stuff than I probably have myself in my lifetime. Potty training alone cost a lot of money from powder carpet cleaners to professionals shampooing them.

I've been turned away from having homes because of his breed. Both Great Dane and Husky are on the "No-fly" list when it comes to apartments. They either have too much energy and/or are too big. He's probably kept me from making many bad calls though.

But I love him. And I love him more than he could ever understand. And he loves me. Unconditionally.

There was a time during the time I was living in the two bedroom apartment, Ace and I had fought. I was feeling incredibly upset, I don't even remember what it was. Linux had done something to get himself in trouble, probably trash from the trash can and I lost it, I yelled at him harshly and he cowered away into another room. Not one of my finest moments.

I go and sit on the computer. I do nothing on the computer for a good ten minutes. I calmed down and felt bad about for both the fight with Ace and yelling at Linux. I just sat there upset and ashamed. It was at that time Linux, who was sitting on the bed behind me, put his paw on my shoulder. I turn around and he looks at me... Unafraid, not mad, not upset, just there to make sure I have company. I wrapped him in a hug and laid on the bed. He laid his head on my stomach as I pet him.

There was another time much later, in a house I was renting, I got a new Xbox game and was playing it day in and day out. It was fun and friends came over and had a good time with it. I come home from work one day to find the controller chewed to bits. The bumper and trigger buttons missing. It really sucked, but that was just one of two, so I used the other one for some time. Sure enough, that one got destroyed by my wonderful pet too. I realized later that it was him trying to tell me he wanted attention, clearly I was spending too much time on my Xbox. I gotta tell you folks, I don't even remember the name of the game now.

On a similar note, I have been through many headsets for the computer. I've always packed them up, put them away, and Linux has always managed to destroy them when I get too involved with a game. One specifically, Left 4 Dead 2. MAN that game is a blast. But my buddies Aaron and John could testify, more than once I couldn't play without a headset, because Linux had gotten to it.

The thing about Linux, and most dogs I'm sure, is that he's are full of love, and that's it. I love him, he love him, plain and simple. Dogs absorb your personality, they become your companion and best friend. He is the only thing on this planet that could wake me up multiple times and I could never get mad at. (I'm literally holding back laughter right now remembering the many times he's woken me up.)

He's not the most obedient dog.
Nor the nicest.
Nor the quietest.
But he's the perfect dog.
Perfect.
For me.

~Just a thought.

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me they are the role model for being alive.  ~Gilda Radner

I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better.  They fight for honor at the first challenge, make love with no moral restraint, and they do not for all their marvelous instincts appear to know about death.  Being such wonderfully uncomplicated beings, they need us to do their worrying.  ~George Bird Evans, Troubles with Bird Dogs

One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he doesn't try to find out why.  ~Author Unknown