I have a pretty nice apartment, but I rarely have guests over.
There are a few reasons for that:
But the main reason why we rarely have guests is Ingrid, our labradoodle.
On a typical Friday, my apartment looks like something between a police raid and episode of Hoarders.
But not today! Today my apartment is fabulously clean.
Why? Because my labradoodle puppy is sick. It started with horrifying scene in the kennel this morning and continued throughout the morning and afternoon.
So today has been a series of emergency dog walks, laundry cycles, and floor/kennel scrubbings.
Ingrid even had to get a bath or two. Good thing our building has a full “dog spa” with professional wash tubs and dryers.
My mom came to town this weekend for a business meeting, so we showed her how Dallas does Easter.
We had Easter brunch at Quesa MX, which is a Mexican restaurant on Cedar Springs.
I recently became re-interested in Quesa after they hosted a happy hour at iLume – the new manager said that he overhauled the menu and promised that the food was better.
The way we could tell is because there was a guy on the patio laying in his own vomit.
His friend looked so upset…
Quesa was considerably calmer on Sunday, and the food was surprisingly good. I think Quesa will be a nice alternative to Mattito’s and Cedar Springs Tap House, which both get incredibly packed.
After brunch, we grabbed the dogs and went to the Easter dog parade near Turtle Creek.
It was quite the production.
The crowd at Easter in Lee Park / Dallas Pooch Parade.
Guys with matching outfits and bunny ears at Easter in Lee Park
A guy with a matching dog at the 2016 Easter Pooch Parade in Dallas.
A pink poodle at the Dallas Easter Pooch Parade.
Spectators taking a selfie during the Easter Parade – is that Dustin in the background?!
Picnics at Lee Park near Arlington Hall
She’s a Labradoodle (Labrador + Poodle mix) and about four months old.
I’ve contemplated getting a second dog ever since moving to Texas because I left Hugo back in Minnesota.
There a ton of dogs in my building, but Günter was still getting increasingly withdrawn at home.
It’s exhausting. He wouldn’t be so reluctant to go outside if I still put him in a kennel – then shitting in the closet wouldn’t be an option.
Gunter is a Chihuahua Dachshund mix that is extremely lazy.
Gunter is a Chihuahua Dachshund mix that is extremely lazy.
Gunter is a Chihuahua Dachshund mix that is extremely lazy.
Gunter is a Chihuahua Dachshund mix that is extremely lazy.
The place is an assault to the senses – howling dogs, employees trying to manage the hoard of would-be adopters, and the overpowering stench of dog piss.
It was in this chaos that we found Hugo, our new dog.
No one believes us.
The conversations usually go something like this:
Neighbor: “Oh what a beautiful puppy, what type is he?”
Me: “A lab and retriever mix.”
Neighbor: “Looks like a pit bull to me.”
Me: “The pound didn’t tell us about any pit bull mix. Other dogs have brindle colors too…”
Neighbor: “Well your secret is safe with me.”
Me: “What secret? THERE IS NO SECRET. I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE. DAMN IT.”
Günter was initially territorial and bitchy to Hugo. He’d constantly growl and snap at Hugo, especially around toys.
Then Hugo realized that he was bigger than Günter….and that he could mug him for toys.
Tangentially – my building management company recently reduced their list of banned dog breeds. We now have a 200-bound mastiff in the building, and bullmastiffs are allowed too! (About a year too late however.)
Hugo would pounce on Günter, causing a fight. We’d scream. The dogs would scatter, and then start up a few minutes later.
Then we hit a turning point where they actually started playing with eachother.
Luckily my building strictly relies on adoption paperwork, so the pit bull rumors weren’t a factor in adopting him.
Mitchell with Günter, our Chiweenie.
I think they wore each other out.
Hugo is only three months old, so that means he’s not potty trained yet. He pees everywhere.
He pees on the carpet. He pees in the toy box.
He pees in the kitchen. He pees when you let him out of the kennel.
He even (tries) to pee in the lobby.
It’s exhausting.
One day we were on the way to Mears Park when a couple asked to pet Hugo. So of course Hugo leaps up and pisses all over the guys leg.
We were mortified (and slightly amused.)
He’s working on it.
Kind of.
One of my neighbors was snowed in at work, so I agreed to walk his puppy.
Peppito growled at me and refused to leave the kennel. It took three trips and the lure of dog biscuits to get him out.
