If I am ever tempted to TRY and sleep late, Coco will insure that doesn't happen. She is downstairs right now barking her 6 oz. head off and let me tell you, there's more bark per pound with that dog than you can possibly imagine...
If I could wish for one thing in 2012 I'd wish for some money to drop out of the sky so I can pay the ZeroRez people to come out again and clean the family room rug.
Doesn't she look sweet here, with her baby blanket?!
Don't be fooled.
There are bits of toast hidden under the Christmas tree.
My mother rarely gets into her bed without finding tiny Milkbones hidden amongst the pillows.
Coco is supposed to use "piddle pads" because her medical condition makes going outside inadvisable, but she often misses. Nobody in my house walks around barefoot. Nobody.
OTOH, few people as [cough cough] large as I am are as flexible. I can bend over and scrub a mess off the floor like nobody's business. We buy Resolve carpet cleaner by the case.
Despite her mess and her bark, Coco serves an important function in our house.
If you are upset or anxious, all you have to do is sit on the sofa. Coco will hear this, from wherever she is, and come into the room and hop up there next to you. She will check you for crumbs, and if you don't argue she will lick your face, give your ears a little lick, and settle into your lap for a quick nap. Stroking her soft fur is better than yoga.
If you approach her with a milk bone or some turkey, she will get on her hind legs and dance for you.
When Michael is upset or worried he goes and lies across Mother's bed, and loves on Coco. She is always there for him.
Even my friends who don't really like dogs, like Coco. She is as light as a cat, at about 8-9 lbs.
Sure, maintaining her is a pain, some of the time.
But Coco knows how to love. And that's her mission in life: to love her family. There really is no higher calling.
BTW, she is not loving on squirrel in the above photo. Squirrel gets chewed up and growled at every time I leave the house. She blames Squirrel for Sissy [don't laugh, it's my nickname] going away. She doesn't abuse squirrel except when someone she loves is leaving her. She doesn't understand we are always coming back soon.
Boy do I wish sometimes I could work out all my frustrations on an inanimate object...
Let's hope 2012 is a LOT better than 2011, so Coco the Comforter can take a break..
