Oh little miss,

Twelve months ago today I drove down to the puppy pick-up stop and brought you home. True, the butterscotch boys got birthday hats to celebrate our first year together, but they had something much more special in mind for you.

Much like the tradition among some folks of a spank, a pinch, or a shot of tequila for each year older, the boys decided to give you their tussle of love.

Yes, you would be advised to run away.

(Good thing no one would ever call you a girly girl I can hear you in between your squeals-- you're shouting "bring it!" aren't you.?)

Has no one ever told you? Love hurts.

Speaking of a painful love, let?s be clear?you were the perfect puppy. Perhaps because we made so many mistakes on the older brombies, we did a couple of training things right with you?mostly keep you close all through the day so you bonded to us and not them.

You do so many things right?you are sweet and sociable. . You ALWAYS come when you are called which is the definition of a good dog, per me. You are a champion snuggler and yet, you are never needy or clingy. You love to travel in the car and are a dream companion.

In fact, you had the reigning title of ?best dog ever? wrapped up until a few months ago. The perfect puppy developed a terrible and expensive habit: we came home to our beautiful, custom-built window sills with a Daisy mouth-sized chunk chewed out of them!

I cannot begin to tell you how much this sucks. The design of these sills defies an easy replacement AND, girlfriend, we already have tons of unfinished projects, we really do not need to go back and redo work that was complete.

After the second incident, T decided to dissuade you by putting big nails into the spot you liked to chew.

Did this deter you? Uh, no, you just moved down the window and began a new spot.

Next, he decided to put hot pepper on the spot you liked. Again, much like The Great Nail Solution, you just moved onto new real estate.

The end result was a room replete with ruined sills. (Made especially pretty with nails! and red stain!)

Some might say, hmm, how interesting that this all began just as I started commuting and being away from home days at a time. To them I would say NPP (NO Psychoanalyzing of Pets)!

(Also, methinks this might be payback for The Contest But wait! That would be an even more aggregious act of NPP, n'est-ce pas?).

And, I would say, damn, even dogs that never go to the vet with a snout-full of quills or a backside gouged by a bobcat or legs impaled with sticks STILL cost us time and money. Damn.

But, hell if you aren?t just a lovable fluffbunny of a dog, damn you.

Here. Have a birthday stick.

I can tell from your face it?s like your dark chocolate, non?

Oh, ecstasy.

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