How I came to kick a dog today.

It was a bad day. But it was a day that reminded me how much I love my friends, and my dog (pretty much my bestie, not going to lie). All you people( dog) are incredibly important to me. Thanks for being there. Yes, even out there in cyberlandia. Or on the futon mattress which is temporarily in the dining room and looks like the biggest, comfiest dog bed EVER.

Today was a tough day. It started with my coffee from McDonalds (a latte to get me started in a good mood) was chunky because they put the wrong kind of carmel in it and it bonded with the milk and turned into sweet and yet sour tasting curdles. I learned this the last time that it happened. But, I was on my way to work and didn't have time to turn around and go complain. So I continued on my slightly less merry way... I should have just gone home right then. But I did not heed the warning, and I pressed on.

And then work. It was our 10th birthday anniversary party thing today, and my dear, dear boss (sarcasm) is not good with events and stress. It was a long, bad, 12 hour day. Also in this day the new instructor-in-training quit. So, yeah, that's 3 out of 4 in the last 2 years that we lost before they were even certified. And it's a busy time of year to lose someone. And she was really good. Damn that she doesn't want to work in a "toxic environment". (That phrase was actually used earlier this week.)

And also my AVCA meeting is next week. Talked to the previous president, who was supposed to bring me the bylaws and stuff in March, but she went on maternity leave. I talked to her for the first time since March last week. She said she'd bring me the stuff Friday. She didn't. She's on a leave of absence from work and won't be back to fill her duties to the chapter or to the state AVCA group. Also the Secretary quit last week and no one has nominated anyone to fill that roll. I'm not actually sure of the process of nominating and voting mid-year, as I DON'T HAVE THE BYLAWS. The next meeting is in a week and our venue (the LR airport) just canceled on us. I also have not booked a speaker because I'm too damn busy with my own job.

I tell you all this to set the tone, so that you better understand my state of mind on returning home. (Ok, and also cause I like to whine.)

Anyway, poor Lavern had a rough day, too. She was in her kennel all 12 of those hours I was gone. of course, when I get home, guilt ridden as I was and late to serve her dinner, I took her on a walk. We walk out the door and there are kids next door/in my yard are playing kickball. They seem to think I'm hearing impaired because they say things all the time that are really dumb and often rude and I guess assume I can't hear them? Today they said, "watch out for that dog!" "Oh, look it's a dog!" multiple times.

Uh, Lavern is
1. tiny
2. incredibly timid and
3. on a leash on the other side of the street.

We continue. We almost make it home when Lavern gets attacked by a 100 pound boxer. She starts screaming... and I say screaming because "yelping" doesn't begin to describe the terrified sound she was making as she tried to escape while tethered to me by her leash. She keeps diving away as I try to pull her close and pick her up as the boxer ("Dodger")'s owner calls from the other side of the street. Dodger is NOT listening, and Lavern is not able to safely come to me. Dodger grabs her with his boxer jaws a few times, but she's wiley and slithers away. The owner is not coming over. She's just calling. She's NOT COMING OVER.

Until I kick the shit out of her dog.

Yes, that's right. KICKED THE SHIT OUT OF HER DOG. You don't want me to kick the shit out of your dog? Find me on a better day, but more importantly, train your dog, or don't let your vicious dog out of the house without a leash on.

My voice is still horse from lunging and screaming at the boxer, right before I kicked it. Square in the ribs, with the cowboy boot I was still wearing from work. It's pointy toe made a thud on his side and caused him to bow away. Post kick and medieval-lost-control-of-my-emotional-state scream-cussing at him, he didn't come near Lavern, circled us with a wide berth, and after evaluating the pleasure of tearing my dog apart against the pain of being beaten by me, went back to his yard, where his owner was saying "Oh, I'm so sorry, he doesn't listen to me at all! He always does that, he's just bad with other dogs!" I snapped "Yes, I can see that." And walked away. I just finished putting neosporin on Lavern's gashes.

Now, dinner. For both of us. Sorry, Vern. That happens again I will not wait a single second before attacking the other dog. You are way more important to me than being polite to a stranger who doesn't have control of her dog.