So I inadvertently went dark for a couple months due to changing jobs and stuff...but Hi! I missed you guys.

Barb, that is so way very cool!

Hey Raq! I've been thinking about you lately so I'm glad to see you pop up. How's the new job? How's the fam?

The only Doberman I've had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with was a lovely, calm, relaxed lady who was missing a leg. She and her person were seated next to me, my mom, and my cat while we were in the waiting room of the local veterinary clinic. This was roughly three decades ago, give or take a couple years. She and Suzie-cat touched noses, and politely sniffed each other, and were totally at ease sitting next to one another. Since the clinic was only three blocks from home, we would put a collar and lead on her, carrying her as we walked. Since the vet was extremely popular (people would move to the suburbs, and drive the hour to stick with him rather than finding a more convenient; and all attempts at bringing in a partner failed because no one wanted to see the partner), a Saturday morning appointment meant at least an hour wait, so the animals had plenty of time to get to know each other.

TWO PM.

Oh, hey, Raq! Good to see you! How is the new job?

The new job is good. Actually, it's great. I get paid a ridiculous amount of money to aggregate stuff from the Internet and to be the "expert" on online/virtual identity. I get to do lots of creative stuff and often work from home.

But what really makes it cool is my team. They are smart and fun and I'm no longer having to manage 40+ people all over the world via chat.

The fam is likewise good, no major changes there.

The "and stuff" part of my darkness was fairly sucky, but has been resolved with a bit of counseling and a lot of medication.

Raq! So good to see your pixels and hear that everything is settling nicely with the new job and that the darkness has been resolved.

Re: the dog thing, I'm as doggy a person as it gets. I like the big 'uns and have never been intimidated by one, but I'm also not foolish around them either. Then again, I'm not foolish around any dog, since the only dog I've ever been gnawed on by was a Chihuahua.

I'm not a big small dog fan, but absolute truth of the matter is, faced with a dog, I'm going to become a big mushy puddle of goo and well do they know it since I have the neon "SUCKER" sign tattooed on my forehead.

The toddler with the clappy hands squealing oh doggie! will always be a part of me.

As I put on 'boy deodorant' to go outside because we are out of coffee and I must have coffee before I shower I am reminded of the other night and how much I love having guy friends.

One unexpectedly stops by with beers and wants to play Dominion so I join in and say, "I apologize, the last person who hugged me said I'm stinky but instead of taking a shower I just put on some boy deodorant." "No worries." says one boy. "That's what I do." says the other.

well do they know it since I have the neon "SUCKER" sign tattooed on my forehead.

Me, too! I remember the time I went to my dad's for the afternoon, and his neighbors were out shoveling their driveway with their dog running around playing in the snow. Well, he just gamboled over to me for some skritches, which I very obligingly provided. His owners were looking at me in shock, and said that he never ever does to anyone, let alone complete strangers. I told them that he must have known I was a soft touch.

The DC shelter took in a bunch of orphaned pets from Tuscaloosa, and I was sorely tempted. I know the cats would hate it if we got a dog, and I know we aren't home enough.

But...dog!