New iPod
I'm in heaven! I finally addressed my iPod issue. If you remember, it hasn't worked since late November or early December. On Monday I finally made the trek over to the Apple store. I had no idea what to expect. I thought the thing was still under warranty. They had a "Genius Bar" where you could make an appointment with techie guys. It didn't take long for them to say that the thing was corrupt. So, he reached under the counter and pulled out a new iPod. I haven't gotten the chance to enjoy it until today because Mike had my cord. So, last night I synched it up and now I'm listening to my music again in the office. I didn't realize just how much I missed the thing.

So, today is the day I was going to pick up Frodo. Yes, Frodo is the dog that I want. He's a Brussels Griffin who is sitting in a shelter here in S Jersey. I don't think I'm going to do it. I don't think I'm ready. Just like there are always cars to buy, there are always dogs that need homes. If I even go and visit I know I will need to adopt him. Heck, I can't put down a stuffed animal after I've picked one up for fear that I'll hurt its feelings. What kind of reaction do you think I'd have to a real, live animal sitting in a shelter!?!?!? Here are my concerns:

1 - I'm away from home during the week. Is it fair to leave an animal all by itself for close to 11 hours a day? I don't think I'd want to give it full rein of my house while I'm away. Mike suggested getting a gate for the kitchen door - what kind of damage can it do in there? Plus, I figured I could put a doggie door on my back door and he could also wander out onto my screened in porch. Now, if I could just train him to use a litter box. I actually dated a guy who had trained his dog to use a pile of woodchips on the 6th floor balcony of his condo.

2 - I have people over all of the time with my stamping classes. I guess I'd have to lock him up - potentially - if he got excited when there are people in the house. It would have to be in the basement.

3 - I travel. Not nearly as much as I used to, but I do it. Actually, I have a trip coming up Feb 18 - 20 for work. So, 1 week after getting the dog I'm going to have to place it in a kennel???

4 - Do I really want to walk the little guy in the rain? The answer is obviously "no". Ideally I would re-fence in my backyard and just let him out. Then I'd have poop all over that area of the yard. Is that one issue or two? Getting a fence is certainly towards the top of my to-do list, but I didn't have plans to enclose the yard, just put up a barrier.

5 - I love my rugs. My living room rug is from Pottery Barn - enough said.

6 - I didn't even get into all of the things he could get into in my craft room. All of those rubber stamps he could chew. All of the paper scraps he could eat. That room would definitely have to be off-limits. But what happens when I'm feeling crafty? Do I lock him up again? Does my dog get locked up for all buy 3 or 4 hours a day? What kind of life is that?

Answer to my problem - quit my job. Be a full-time Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I just need to multiply my net stamping income by about 20 then I could do it.