Dog day afternoon.
Upon arrival from S.F., I met get to play with my sister's dog. I happen to mention to their neighbor, who gave my sister the dog, that I'm adopting Zoe, the dog. She was surprised and started interviewing me for the "job". She even told me that she promised Zoe's mom, a dog, that whe will watch over her puppies.

The "psycho" neighbor wanted to get my tel. number so she can get updates of "her" dog. It was weird standing there and being interviewed by this wierdo. After a few days, I started to examine my backyard to make sure that there are no holes in the fence. I started doubting my ability to take care of this lovely dog. I wanted a pet and companion but I don't want this psycho calling me about my dog. After a few days, I starting to change my mind. Why should I be accountable to this wierdo? I can get me another pet without this type of pressure.

My sister sensed this also. She told her husband what happened and suspected that I may change my mind after the interrogation. I told her this afternoon that I was thinking about it really hard. I started researching pet rescue sites to find me another pet. Zoe is great because I have started to get to know her. She plays well and she is a calm dog. She is a mix chow and german sheperd. Find Sheperds is easy but the adoption process is strict. They want to visit my home and make sure we are a sure match. It's intrussive but they have to prevent the dog from being in another traumatizing relationship.

All this makes me think of getting a pet. I thought I was ready. Financially, I'm sound, I have a home, a nice backyard, I only work 3-4 times a week, have time and willing to have a pet. But....doubts start creeping back in my head. Oh well.

Moving to S.F.
Nothing is permanent in my life. One fact that I learned to accept. A variety of jobs had forced me to move out of familiar places to new ones. Always ending up back home. My brother on the other hand moved out when he started college and never did found his way home but formed a new one in a college town up north. My sister on the other hand has moved quite a few times since getting married and she is moving again up north near where my brother is.

Last week was specially nice to me as I played hooky from work and called in sick two days in a row to help my expecting sister get her physical and paperworks done at her new job. It was good that a series of events favored my decision to skip work and spend more time with family. It happened that my uncle's birthday was that weekend when she plans to fly to the Bay area. I was slated to be the babysitter for the rest of the week while she gets her stuff straightened out. Knowing this and we were invited to the party, I decided to just drive us all up there so we can all be together that week.

The party was great. There was lechon, pansit, vegetables, and several other dishes. A bunch of relatives were also present. Uncle was turning 76. My brother in law was also happy to see his wife and daughter.

It took a few days for my sister to get her medical and paperwork done. In the process, I baby sat the niece while we waited for her mom to finish her tasks. We spent time at a garden plucking weed flowers. The niece has a rather brutal treatment of the tiny flowers she plucks them hard and tosses them to the side.
We also get to visit a bookstore where she demostrated her dominance over her uncle. Not to be outwitted, I played games with her that will favor me in the long run. I got my shopping done. I bought two books on dog care as I am planning to adopt my sister's dog.

The rain added flavor to our driving around S.F. It was wet but it wasn't that cold. We get to visit Japan Town. I was planning to get a Japanese book but after reviewing their basic language book, I decided that I'm way over my head trying to self study this language. I have very little motivation to study Japanese besides being able to read those cool Japanese car magazines.

Some people get intimidated driving in downtown S.F., L.A., N.Y., etc. For me, it's just another city. Those one way roads don't bother me a bit. I guess I have good training, I'm always lost. I was also driving my dear black car. A Benz. Compared to my other 2 cars, blacky can make very tight u turns without throwing you to the side. It's luxury suspension also absorbed the nasty roads of S.F.

Sister is moving in a couple of weeks. Time with my niece is counting down in a few days. I will miss her a lot. After spending time with her for a couple of weeks, she has known me a lot and has been obscesed with the back of my head and my right ear. She loves twisting my ear. I also love feeding her and has learned how to bath her. Yup, I'm a trained babysitter. I can even do pony tails.