Three years ago today...

... a pug was born. I didn't have him for his first year. By the time Karey made the connection in June of 2007 he was still plenty of a puppy. I use this picture a lot because it is my favorite. His ears are perked, there's a look of concern in his forehead and eyes... and, of course, he's got his tongue out.

This picture captures his personality perfectly.

A pug's love

For the record, I oppose all public displays of affection... but this is my blog and you chose to come to it...

I was nervous to see Gus when I returned home.  Would he remember me?  Would he be happy to see me?  Yes and yes.  Gus sat on my lap from Moline to Cedar Rapids.  He was licking me pretty much the entire way.  For the next week he wouldn't let me out of his sight, even when we were out at Mom and Dad's (his home for the past five months).  

He went about a week without seeing either Mom or Dad while I was back.  When he did see them he was as excited as he was to see me at the airport.

Blogging with Gus

It's not one of my better pictures of Gus.  He's chewing the last bit of a T-bone I gave him yesterday.  He frequently allows it to drop to the floor and sits patiently waiting for me to retrieve it for him.

Blogging with a content dog chewing up a T-bone on my lap is a pleasure I will lose in 48 hours.

*sniffle*

Dogs

The Emirates disturbs me because of the lack of dogs. Nepal disturbed me because of the presence of dogs... everywhere. It led me to pull up pictures of my favorite dog.Here is Gus encouraging my friend Sam to share his popcorn.

Happy Halloween

Mike Longwell sent me these pics. Actually, his e-mail had many dogs in costumes. I thought it was funny that half of the pics were pugs.
Gus' previous owner gave him to me with a bunch of costumes. I don't use them.
When I first got Gus he had Darth Vader tendencies. He has since proven to be on the right side of the force.
A pug as Robin Hood? I could buy that. Or is this supposed to be the three musketeers?
The owner of this dog should be turned in to someone.
Ditto.

The best dog in the whole world

33 days since I left...

... and I still miss Gus.

Gus

I have only been gone a week but I already miss my family and friends. It's not by coincidence that the previous farthest move of my life was only across the border in Nebraska.

I more than miss Gus. Why? I was able to say goodbye to friends and family. I was able to reassure them that I'd be back in January. Gus has no clue what has happened to me. He had no idea when I was holding him at the airport that I wouldn't be doing that again for five months. In his world I have abandoned him.

And that is tearing me up inside.