It comes with great joy to review the events that took place this past year and to be able to set some goals or interests I'd like to pursue.
I can assuredly say that 2023 will remain one of the most pivotal years in my life. The successes that took place in 2022 continued to snowball into, and through, 2023.
Earlier this year, I had made a post about purchasing a house with Becky (April), I will use that as a starting point for this post as I can not put my finger on significant events that happened prior to the purchase; as most of the early parts of the year were spent looking at houses.
RILEY: Soon after purchasing the house, I decided we did not have enough responsibilities as is, and we decided to foster dogs. Riley, our first dog that we fostered was very much a mixed bag. On her own, she was very much a delight, and we would sit outside playing fetch and going for walks. However, Riley was very reactive with other dogs. In an attempt to introduce her to Odin, she nipped him (did not draw blood.) We gave it some more time and thought that potentially it would be best to introduce them through our sunroom. That was not a success. In an attempt to get him, she shot her head through the screen and put a sizeable hole in the screen. She was not done putting her head through the screen. Later that evening, (I believe this to be the same day, however, it may have been the next day) while having my father and family over for dinner, we allowed Riley to be outside as we ate in the sunroom. For one reason or another, she did not like my father's presence and she growled through the screen and broke the window screen as she flung her head through it again.
Clearly this dog needed help. Over the next two weeks I had gotten her to walk on a leash and she was doing very well. While she was not good with other dogs, she showed promise of progress. We had scheduled for her to go to her first adoption event about 2 weeks after intake. That morning I woke up and around 7am decided to take her for a walk to relinquish some of the energy that aussies have. We were about 15 houses down the street when I notice she is uneasy and widening her gate. As I looked across the street to view what was startling her, I see a pit bull darting towards us, off leash. I kept Riley on my left and try to hurriedly get away, but this pit wasn't looking for a friend. As soon as it was close enough, the pit lunged and attacked. In what seemed like an eternity, I tried to keep myself between the two dogs as the owner came to retrieve his dog. Poor Riley had fur torn out of her from the attack and I had been bitten on the leg and foot (still scarred) in this attack. During the tack I had a poop bag full of shit and it had gotten all over me in the attack. Covered in dog shit, leg cut open, and Riley trembling from the attack, we went home emotionally defeated. On the dawn of her first adoption event, she went through this traumatic attack. The lack of sympathy by the other owner was the most disappointing. After I returned home, I showered and went back to the home of the dog that attacked us. Here the dog was in heat and must have gotten defensive, but I was a little dismayed by the events that took place. Those that can not properly care for their dog 1. should not own a dog 2. should not be breeding dogs in their home. I did confirm that the other owner was unharmed and told them that I would not report the attack, however, he needs to keep his dog under wraps and I would not simply be on the defensive if an attack were to occur again.
Back to Riley, I called the rescue to tell them about the events of the morning. I had confirmed that she did not have any physical wounds, but that she was emotionally drained from the attack. I told the rescue that I did not feel comfortable bringing her to an adoption event after the encounter that day, but wanted to know the policy for such events and if there was a cool-off period that needed to happen. After speaking with them, we agreed to not bring her that day, but if she seemed okay in the morning, she could attend an event the next day.
The next morning, Riley was cheerful and it gave us hope. Riley loved to ride in the car and stick her head out the window, however, that morning she didn't jump into the car as she had in the past. This was a red flag, yet it wasn't recognized at the time... We had an event at PetSmart in Mason and Riley would to be in a cage near another dog. Her and this other dog were going at it, barking incessantly. A woman who I assumed to be a coordinator made some sly comments towards us about Riley that rubbed me the wrong way. "If her son had this dog, he'd be going for a 5 mile run in the morning and night." As I tend to deescalate situations or deflect insults, I let her know that it is awesome that he WOULD do that, I just am not a runner, so her two walks a day would have to do as I was only just a foster. After another comment from this person I decided that Riley (really I) needed to take a walk. For about 10-15 minutes, Riley and I walked outside to release some pent up energy. As we return, I go towards the corner and sit with Riley in my lap. The barking of the dog was really starting to rile her up and she needed some space and affection. The woman from earlier, had made another comment about her seeming anxious and several moments later, as Riley is starting to relax, she walks over towards us. She said "Can she sit?" and reaches towards Riley. Riley reacts, between the attack the prior day and being near the dogs at the event Riley just reacts. Riley reacts and bites this woman reaching for her face. While it was absolutely not condonable, I understood had felt for Riley. The events of the weekend were just too much and we failed her. We should have gave her more time. The woman's hand is bleeding pretty bad and as she continues to speak ill-will towards us and Riley, we work to get her bandaged up. We get her hand covered, she hops in her blue Tesla and takes off to the hospital. Here to come find out, she had no association with the rescue. Prior to going to the event she asked them about their policies and forms, but that was her only involvement. She had gone to the event on her own accord without telling the rescue and in my opinion, was looking for an opportunity to make some $$$. Last I heard of said woman, she was filing a lawsuit against the rescue.
Riley had been previously adopted out of the rescue several months prior to our fostering of her. She had been returned because she was not well-behaved with other dogs and it was claimed she bit someone. After the events that took place, I believe the original owners. When we had signed to foster Riley, we were assured that she was a good dog and that the owners returning her must be lying or must not know how to handle dogs. With this being the second bite, Riley was on an uncertain path. We had her boarded with a pet hotel and for the next several weeks pleaded that they get her help and not to put her down. They left Riley's life in the hands of a dog behavioral psychologist (is this a thing?) to determine if she was redeemable.
FINN: Two weeks after the Riley incident, the rescue desperately needed help with several litters of mill dogs. Although still soon after the attack, our heartstrings were pulled again and we wanted to help. Coincidentally, the dog we received was again an aussie, but this one was mini and only 6 months of age. Finn was an interesting dog, Finn walked under your feet and would not walk in the house. When I say under your feet, I say it literally, I tripped several times over Finn because he would run in a tight circle around your feet then between your legs.
I have never met a dog as skittish as Finn. While in the car, Finn's entire body would become host of all of the saliva that his panic induced. He would cower under the front seat, as to not see the motion of the car. While working from home, Finn would scramble to lie on my feet and would hover over them if they shuffled. As skittish as he was though, Finn was a good boy. He just needed more time and affection to adjust to life outside of the mill. After two weeks in our home, we took him to his first event and he was adopted. At one point while the couple was meeting Finn, they asked if he was good with kids, not an instant later a young boy walked over and Finn grinned as he was taking in the head scritches. It felt good to have the success of Finn's adoption after the tragedy we endured with Riley. Fortunately, about a month after we had Finn adopted, we saw that Riley was back at adoption events and was adopted.
Other happenings: Becky and I had a fantastic summer. Nights playing board games, weekends at festivals, and time spent with friends and family. For the second year, we spent multiple weekends and too much money at the Ohio Renaissance faire. This was my first year dressing up for the festival and it was a blast. On one of the weekends, Blake came along with us and dressed as a Roman Emperor. It was fun seeing him enter a new world and to be able to go into this fantasy land. I won't forget him holding Robert's cane with him as he walked. He has embraced Becky's parents as another set of grandparents.
Becky and I also have spent much time playing various boardgames. Ironically, our favorite seems to be just playing rummy 500, but we have played the likes of horrified, the mind, pandemic, jaipur, fox in the forest and several others. I thoroughly enjoy the time we spend away from our phones.
Becky and I also spent much time in the garden this year. We grew various herbs, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and mint. We had about 35 pints of pickles this year, oddly enough the variation we didn't care for (bread and butter) were an absolute hit with family, we'll continue making them for others. I learned that I loved mint tea, Becky would grab bunches of mint and stew a refreshing tea. We've been dipping our toe into homesteading. We started canning goods this year, we've been eating on our homemade salsa, pasta sauce, pickles, and I have been making sauerkraut from home which has been absolutely killer! We've continued making our own candles, albeit we are in need of oils from a different source. While they smell decent, the fragrance isn't nearly as strong as I'd like. Lastly, we have been making homemade pasta from scratch. This started when we went to a cooking class for our one year anniversary, we cooked steak and a homemade pasta and we were enthralled with the process. Nearly every Friday we have been mixing our own dough and trying new pasta variations. This year has pushed me towards self sufficiency and learning how to make things rather than just buying them from a store.
The biggest of happenings:
In the week leading up to last weekend, I pitched the idea of doing a winter hike to spend some of the excess energy from the cooped up pups. Seeing as Odin was restless, Becky was on board with doing so, and on Friday I told her we'd be waking up early to get to hocking hills. Friday night we packed our bags, one with medical supplies and the other with food/water for ourselves and the dogs.
4:45am the alarm sets off and I'm up and anxious to get to hocking hills. The last time we went we left around 5am and arrived at 7am, I find that I much prefer to get hiking early while the trails are barren. We get everything packed on this cool morning and take off around 5:30am. As we are driving east towards hocking hills, the sun begins to creep over the horizon. It is one of the most beautiful sun rises I have witnessed and I'm almost giddy inside when Becky begins taking pictures of the red rays in the distance. She doesn't know how much she'll enjoy these pictures.
We arrive around 7:30am and embark down the path to old man's cave. For reference, when we arrived there were 4 other cars in the parking lot. We end up on the heels of a group of 4 on the trail and as I look around I realize this isn't the right spot, no waterfalls, in a cave, kind of weird. We continue trekking in the woods, about 1/2 mile later we find a stunning waterfall to our right. This could be the X on the map, however, you'd have thought these dogs were trained for the Iditarod, the way they're pulling. Odin and Shelby are fantastic on walks - but once you get them in the woods these dogs are doggin. Further down the trail there is whispering cave to the right or cedar falls to the left, the fork in the road. Falls > Cave, but before we go there was a swinging rope bridge called hemlock bridge that we had to try out. Becky and Shelby first, Odin and I to follow. Not even 5 yards onto the bridge and Odin is sprawled out and will not budge any further. Moving bridge = no go for the big man. We turn back and we are about a mile from X. This entire hike I am making quite a few reference to the actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and other rocks because geology rocks, of course.
The path is quite rugged, slick spots on flat rocks and general rocky terrain in the last stretch of the hike. I nearly fall, but manage to get my grip after 15 seconds of near collapse. As we arrive, I knew this was the place. My heart begins to beat incessantly. We start with feeding the pups and making sure they're hydrated, followed by a few everything bagel pretzel thins for ourselves. About 5 minutes in and there is another couple behind us, taking pictures of the waterfall. Becky is ready to dip out, but I needed to stall. We sit around, her not so patiently any longer, and once the couple leaves - I walk out to the rock where it will happen. Becky comes up to me and gives me a hug (maybe more of a nudge to leave.) My heart continues to pound even though we have been relaxing for several minutes. I begin to speak of our little family and how I've enjoyed being with her. The words come out poetically, rivaling the greatest romance novelist of the modern day. Little family. life. little family. I love you. What. Where are the words. What is happening to my brain. Am I speaking French.
Screw it. After my short rambling, I get onto a knee and propose to Becky. She is certainly shocked and her cheeks flare up as red as Andy Reid's at a Chiefs playoff game; not sure if the red cheeks are due to my elegant speech or the ~20 degree temps. She, very unassuredly, says yes a few time - similar to when a friend asks if you'll help them move. After, I don't know 6-7 Yes's (more like maybes), Becky comes to realize what is happening and adamantly says Yes. I'm glad I only have to do this once, I sure as hell am not good at improptu (Not the engagement, but the speech) speeches.
So yeah... that was 2023. Pretty sweet year and I hope that the years continue to bring me good fortune, happiness, and opportunities to grow. On to 2024 (and hopefully more posts on here.)
