May as well change the name now!
Tonight, The Ghenginator and I went over to my dad’s for dinner. I went to talk to my dad, Ghengis went to play with the other dog’s toys. After dinner and a couple hours of conversation and puppy play in the back yard and gardening tips we were sitting in the dining room chatting. Ghengis got up, wandered over to the screen door and started pushing. As I was getting up to take him out he pushed his way onto the 3 season porch and then pushed the next screen door out to the front steps. As I casually said “don’t worry, he hasnt figured out how to go down stairs.” he hopped his way gracelessly down the stair.
I didnt want to panic, it’s not a busy street, plus I had to remember what we learned in puppy kindergarten, “A puppy will run in the same direction as you”. I didnt want to run at him and have him run into the street. Didn’t matter, he trotted out into the street, turning back to see if i would follow. I did. He went right over to my car, went to the passenger side and waited for me to let him in.
The puppy had decided he was tired, remembered how to get to the car and brought me over there. he might be smarter than I thought.
Also, how do you tell a puppy that even if you are very proud of him for capturing a june bug, he still could not bring it into the house. He looked so very proud sitting there with a wriggling beetle in his mouth.
My dad and step mom and I ran the little guy ragged this evening. He’s passed out next to me. It’s a comforting thing, the loyalty of a dog.

I wish that when you have one of those days where suddenly all the clues fall into place, and all the weirdness suddenly starts to make sense that it had more to do with a birthday surprise than a bad news surprise.
Today is not a birthday surprise day, today is an “oh, shit, I overstayed my welcome” surprise day.
I don’t like these days at all.