Long Time, No See

Sorry I have really slowed down on my postings. I feel like with work and school lately I have just been too busy to post, and it's almost as if nothing has happened to me because I have been so busy with mundane things such as a the aformentioned, school and work. Let's see. Well Mikey G took my dog for the week in Cincinnati, something I looked forward to. Not being away from her, but just having a week where I didn't have that responsibility, and also a week where Mikey G could be with her. He is as close to her as anyone outside of myself and I feel bad that he moved to Cincinnati and was forced to be away with her. I never understood the TRUE greatness of that dog and how he missed her that much until this week. EVERYTHING reminds me of her and everytime I am reminded of her, I get the urge to whistle for her so that I can play and/or pet her and yet she is not here to come to me. Little things; like tonight while watching a movie, it thundered and I thought uh oh where's sophie, shes going to growl. And of course, she wasn't there. I grew up without a dog in the house and outside of an outdoor cat that we sort of adopted, I did not have a pet until I was like 9 and we got a cat. So from then on in, I grew up with cats. And don't get me wrong, I loved them, but nothing compares to a dog. I never fully understood why people loved dogs so much, but about 3 years ago, I decided to find out. I realized that there must be a reason that people got dogs and loved them so much and I decided that I wanted one. My girlfriend at the time, Berkie, had a dog that she loved and so I went to her for guidance. I asked her, what kind of dog do I want. What would be the greatest dog for me. My only obligation was that I loved the dog and it loved me. She came back to me with a quick response. "You want a Yellow Lab." I didn't know why she said this at the time, but now I do. Sometime in late June her sister got a full bred yellow lab. I immediatley saw pictures and was jealous. In July, when Kara was about to go to Africa, I told her "Don't be surprised if I get a dog while you're gone." Obviously I was telling her this because I wanted her to get jealous that she could not be there to look for a dog with me. She came back to me and said "Well, do you want Sophie?" Sophie was the yellow lab that her sister had gotten. She informed me that it would be free and that Amy was not able to give the dog the time it deserved and wanted to get rid of it. After a few calls to my dad, he told me that a dog was a huge responsibility and that I had better think about it before I get her. Well, the terms were that Sophie would be returned to the breeder very shortly and I had to make a decision. I am notoriously known for wanting something, not thinking it through and getting it, and I did so this time. I told Kara that night that I wanted the dog. Later in the week my brother brought her up from Cincinnati and I was the proud owner of a dog. I had all the repsonsibilities, but I had done my research. I took that dog out to pee every 30 mins or less for the first week. At night, I caged it, until I could not take it any longer and let it get into my bed. I was blessed. That dog was amazing. I think she went to the bathroom in my house about 8 times total in the first few months I got her and never again. I chose not to take her to puppy classes but to instead reward her when she was good and scold her when she did something I did not approve of. Man it was a responsibility. My dad was not lying. Every time I leave the house now I have to worry about when she has last gone to the bathroom and when I will be back. Now I have the best dog on the planet. I love dogs now. But mainly, I just love very few dogs and like the rest. I love my dog because she loves me and only wants to make me happy. Last night, talking to Mikey G he was telling me that she was making noises at him (the noise, only I can hear in my head) and when I said take her out, he did and she did not have to go to the bathroom. He texted me back, I think she really does miss you. I never thought that I would miss the responsibility of having a dog but I do. I miss them greatly. That dog is my life now, and mainly because I am hers. That was the best choice I have ever made. My best memories are with that dog...I am glad that Mikey G is getting this week with her, but baring any vacations or deployments, this won't happen again. A piece of me is gone and I cannot to reunite with her....

Long Live Johnny Cueto