Where Credit Is Due

I like to believe I'm the kind of person to give credit where credit is due. I'm not one to take on the accomplishments of another. Today is that day. Today David's dog, the dog I have found to be completely useless since the moment we brought him home a mere three years ago. The dog who delights in things like going through garbage and stealing dirty diapers and running through the yard with them and many other activities to raise my blood pressure (even now is jumping up to the table trying to eat the kids' breakfast). That same dog. Today I would venture to call him "my dog." He has proved himself useful and thus secured his place in our family. On his own has "done away with" that pesky problem that has been plaguing me since Monday.

Here is how it all went down.

Jefferson starting sniffing around the stove, a little more determined than his usual wander-around-the-house-sniff. I moved the gate thinking he might be going somewhere with this. As he rounded the corner I moved the vacuum out of the way and then spotted the little bugger. This is the point where I thought I might be going into heart failure, I think it was the presence of my children alone that kept my heart a beating. It is hard to teach your children to not stand on chairs and the like when that is the direction I immediately headed. Jefferson was able to get a hold of him (I call it a him because I have convinced myself that a woman of any species would not do this to me) and take him into the kitchen. I put the gate up and for about ten agonizing minutes my dog went to work until the end. I silently cheered him on for fear of distracting him. The whole time I was trying to figure out how to get into the kitchen to open the door in hopes that he would carry it outside. Once it was finally over the yells of my starving children were beginning to get louder, I had to get into the kitchen. Somehow. I took a step in (fighting my inherited gagging reflex) and climbed over the counter (to walk around would put me in too close of proximity) and opened the door. Jefferson ran out and so did I (back into the safety of the dining room). He never could figure out that I wanted him to finish the job and get it out of my house. I ended up calling my trusty rescuer from the other night and he came down and got it out. I feel like I'm able to breath a bit easier now, although I'm still a bit leery and will be glad when today is over.

And so here's to my dog!