The Bruce Manifesto: A So-Full Heart

Hey World,

I've talked a little bit about my pup Bruce on this blog, like here when I adopted him, and again about a year ago when I was convinced he was a cat (you can read it here). 

Mr B has been an integral part of my life for now more than 18 months. I could go on and on about his silly, sassy (and I mean sassy!) self, but there are no amount of words that could accurately capture the goofball that he has become. 

What I can put into words is what it feels like to have a heart swell so full of love until it wants to burst. It hasn't exploded, but I don't want it to. I want to protect my so-full heart, and allow its weight to keep me grounded. 

I once wrote in an old post:

"Love can be deep. It can be all-encompassing; it can swallow you whole and become you - you will feel it be reflected in every thought and every movement. Love can manifest in hugs and together-time, in shared glances and whispered secrets. Love can wake you up in the middle of the night to glance sideways and make sure your love is alive. Love can disrupt your being, and love can give you a reason to feel alive."

With a year and a half of experience, I want to expand on that feeling:

Love can be a slow throb that you never forget is there. Love can be the confidence that this love won't be unexpectedly shattered. Love can be the lick that shocks you into awareness in the morning, or the wet snout near your pillow that welcomes you into slumber. Love can be the only worry you carry with you out the front gate, and reassure you as soon as you embrace once again. Love can be the pulsating rhythm that brings you from hour to hour, day to day, week to week, in an undulating, unwavering pattern. Love can be comfort in knowing you have someone waiting patiently to love you, whenever you are ready.  

Bruce lives each and every day with a beaming grin on his face. There is no greater gift to him than simple acts of kindness - a quick back-scratch, laying together on a sofa, or a singsong hello. 

He is a constant reminder in our house to live for love -- what greater purpose could we find than that?

xoxo,

M

My Dog Might Actually Be A Cat

Hey world,

So...I know you met Bruce Wayne a few months ago. He's now almost 9 months old (6 months living with me!), and has grown like a mostly-bones-no-fat kind of weed. 

But, as he's developed and grown into his personality from the sleepy, indifferent little pup I picked him up as, it's become more and more obvious...I think my dog is actually a cat.

BW - in all of his glory.

Here's 5 reasons why BatDog might actually be CatDog...

1. He can stretch like Gumby.

Seriously -- isn't that unnatural?! This is a regular occurrence. 

Exhibit B:

2. He is indifferent to most things happening around him.

This was taken when he realized I creeped up on his snooze spot -- a nest of dried leaves in our backyard. 

Exhibit B:

We are on a walk, and while the goat looks terrified, BW didn't even notice!

3. He is always scheming ways to come inside.

At the window, at the door; if you're nearby, he's right there with you, trying to get in. He's now even taller than when this photo was taken, so his snout fits right through the bars!

Clearly, Bruce is not an outside dog. 

4. He puts serious effort into sleeping. 

Here, I am watching a riveting performance on this season's The Voice. Meanwhile, BW is snoring away. At one point, he even used his paw to pause my show...probably so his z's wouldn't be as interrupted!

He also puts a lot of effort into waking up...there's stretching and yawning and whining.
I usually get out of the bed before he is even awake!

5. He stringently believes lick-baths are the only path to cleanliness.

Just look at that face! I had just did the worst thing a cat/dog-mom can do...give him a nice warm water bath! Following this, he ran outside and scrubbed himself with every article of dirt he could find.


But regardless of his animal species, he's a fantastic pet!

xoxo,

M

Meet Mr. Wayne: My New #1 Man

Dear World,

Today is the two-month anniversary of my adoption of Bruce Wayne.

On our initial 10 hour car ride home -- Hi Bruce! 

It was a hard decision to make, but yes,  I have another dog.
 And yes, he is named after Batman (thanks to the BF). He also goes by #BatDog.

 I needed a dog with a tough-guy name, and what's more tough than an homage to Bruce Lee, Bruce Willis, and Batman? Not much. So, Bruce Wayne it is. He looks a bit dopey, but he also looks 100% like a survivor -- exactly the kind of dog I need.



Bruce is a wonderfully lazy counterpart. He enjoys snoozing on anything and everything, and the occasional walk/jog around the neighborhood. But mostly snoozing...here are just a handful (of many) photographed testaments of that:








Bruce hates baths / smelling like apples and being near moving vehicles (phew!), loves bones and having his belly scratched, and is indifferent about: visitors, goats, cows, being outside, eating people food, seeing himself in the mirror, and taking pictures with me.

Loves. 

Loves. 

Loves. 

Meh.

He is as dark as night, with big paws, too-long legs, and floppy ears. He's almost doubled in size/length in the past 60 days, and I expect him to outgrow his cousins within the next two.

Then: the week before I picked him up (when we first met)

Now: legs for days!

He's almost big enough to go on adventures -- stay tuned (and keep snoozing).



xoxo,
M