bonny,

what askye said. I'm in the amen corner. no reason to hesitate.

He is the one who most closely fits my criteria of all the ones I've looked at.

Do you want the best dog of the lot, or the right dog for you?

It's like the Mr. Right or the Mr. Right Now question. Thing with guys, you can just not call.

the right dog for you?

Definitely this. Plus, I want to be the right person,in the right lifestyle, for the dog. It really isn't all about me.

I think it's fine to ask for the trial weekend, but I've also got a good feeling about this dog and you.

Some of your trepidation (I think) is just being on the precipice of a new relationship which could be very meaningful for you.

looks like we may have a nice lady potential tenant in the townhouse. Fingers crossed that a) she is actually a nice quiet lady and b) she signs the lease, if so.

bonny, I would definitely ask for a trial. Plus, I would hesitate buying a pet from someone who wouldn't let you have a trial or who asked for a non-returnable deposit. I've had local friends who had very bad experiences that way.

Nora, that's really great news! Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Some of your trepidation (I think) is just being on the precipice of a new relationship which could be very meaningful for you.

A world of this. So _very_ this.

It isn't that I'm not ready. It's just so BIG. I know that I'll never feel the same again. Bartleby took that huge chunk of my heart with him...and I'm okay with that. But I do make a comMITment when I commit.

I would hesitate buying a pet from someone who wouldn't let you have a trial or who asked for a non-returnable deposit.

I would never buy a dog. The money in question is the adoption fee. I don't remotely begrudge those monies. The little guy has required medical attention and neutering. It's just that I would need those dollars for the next potential if he does not work out.

Though, like David, I have a really good feeling about this one.

I didn't pay the adoption fee up front and I think I had a week to decide. This turned out to be the best thing because Rose wasn't the right cat for me and she ended up going back with no hard feelings between me, the woman who was fostering her, or the organization she was with.

askye, I'm so glad you made the right choice for both you and Rose. I only hope this foster person is as cool.

I wrote to the person without mentioning the fee. We'll see what she says.

bonny, Pork Chop sounds (and looks!) wonderful, and I hope his foster person is agreeable to a trial weekend idea.

ION, holy crap. I am (kinda sorta) using my degree. For possibly the first time ever. Sure, I'm only editing the "radio show" in Audacity, but this is me, using some sort of audio mixing tools!

(I have an Associates in Audio Engineering that I never did anything with, because in the early 90s in Seattle, there were no jobs, just unpaid internships, and there were ESPECIALLY no letting you get near the sound board -internships if you were female. I would have been stuck making coffee and looking decorative. I decided I didn't have the energy for that fight, and thus never worked in the industry.)

Jilli is one of us!!!! Woot!!!