Slow day at work today and boss took us out for a (very nice place to have) Greek for lunch at Vassilis. We often talk about dogs seeing as we are all dog lovers. I told them about my predicament yesterday. And he says, ‘One would think that it was a set up.‘ Ugh. Fuck. That didn’t even cross my mind yesterday. Well, it did when I got a freaking call from my mom telling me that Brixx had been found an hour later … AT HOME. TWO HOUSES DOWN FROM OURS. So what happened? I had one of the most stressful days at work - reminders for me never to pursue a career as a dentist. Soon as I got, home, I decided to take my dog out for the usual stroll/jog around Everett Crowley Park - off leash. I’ve taken him out there before without his leash; he goes up to dogs, says hello, no biggie. Yesterday, he ran up to a dog, a large dog. (Brixx is only about as small as a racoon.) I guess that dog got too friendly, so my dog decided he ain’t havin’ it and runs away. I stop, ask him to come back - which he usually does - but he just stands there and watches me for a couple minutes. He trots along thinking I could catch up I guess? (This dog never knows when to play tag, ever.) Seeing as the sun was beginning to set and becoming more and more frustrated, I ran after him. Then I realized he was running himself into the centre of the park where there were more forks and smaller trails - which all had different exits. Because I never wear contacts to work, I hadn’t been wearing any yesterday. Every remotely white object on the ground looked like my dog. (At one point, I was calling and walking up to a fricken tree stump!) Mum was at work and I didn’t want to go home and tell my dad I had just lost the dog. No way, Jose. And all I can think of was, ‘Shit. Coyotes and my father’s bitching are the only things that await me.’ So there I was, walking blindly through the park and most other dogwalkers have gone home. Realizing my chances at finding him on my own, I panicked and cried. A couple in the park tried to help me to no avail. My sister was asleep so she declined all of my calls to her cell phone. Who’s next on the list? The ex-boyfriend. He is the only person I know who lives within a 10 minute walk from my house and the park, knows my dog, whom my dog recognizes, and knows how to navigate the damn park. In tears and desperation, without thinking, I call him up to help me. Trust me, I did not want to. Last thing I wanted to do was stir things up and the only thing I could think of was finding my dog. Not even the awkwardness of the situation broke through to me… until now. And I am/was thorougly pissed off at myself. | 