Another thing NOT to do on a whim unless you are truly super awesome

Adopt a dog (or cat, depending on your level of competence/level of crazy in the cat).

Now, I can speak from personal experience on this one.

For some context, I had just broke up with my long time boyfriend.  We'll call him Dave.  Because that is his name.

We had cats the whole time, and one in particular that we took in from a friend as a kitten was what we all agreed upon, "Shelley's cat".  I loved him so much.  He is the most adorable cat ever, aside from Maru.

Anyhow.  When I left the ex bf Dave, I came back a day or two later to get MY cat. Only, once Dave came back, he whined and blackmailed to get MY cat back, because he:

1. Did not like that I was leaving and did not like the person I was now dating, and wanted to play a power game against me.
2. Also just wanted the cat because he was now lonely. (aww)

Long story short, I let him keep my Devil Kitty, mostly because I felt bad for him.  But this left a huge whole in my life.  I have always had animals, but as an adult, always had cats.  Mind you, I was allergic to them, but I love kitties so much I never cared enough.

Unfortunately, new bf was also allergic to them, so we decided that we should not get another.  :( Woe was me.

So then I started looking at dogs.  I have a minor reaction to dogs, but nothing near as bad.  And new bf was not allergic at all, and had dogs in the past as well.  Growing up, I had helped my brother train and raise his Rottweiler puppy named Cauliflower (don’t' ask).  So I felt like I knew what to do with a dog.  She had been really smart and learned well.

However, when discussing it with him, he pointed out that we probably couldn't handle having a dog, as it is a lot more responsibility than a cat, and we are lazy folk, who are easily overwhelmed.  I sighed, and agreed. I didn't want to walk a dog in the stupid Seattle rain for 6 months or more out of the year.

But more time went by and I was getting withdrawals.  Withdrawals from cuddles with furry bodies.  (I told new bf that his hairiness was appreciated as an attempt, but that it wasn't quite the same.)

So, I convinced bf one day to go with me to the shelter, just to look.  Just to hang out with some animals again, even if for a short time.

The next day I signed papers adopting my Kimo doggie.  Months later, he had diarrhea that lasted 2 weeks that made us have to walk him in the middle of the night, every night just about.  Then he started getting somewhat dog aggressive and tore up our house when we went to work.  He steals other dog's stuff at the dog park and thinks the best game ever is keep away.

And that's why I recommend fish.