adventures of the miebs family: the girl's an idiot.

sometimes i wonder why i do things. one of those seems like a great idea at the time, then i no sooner end up regretting it, wondering if i really have gone mad. take for instance, my walk with the kids in late january. beautiful, 40 degree day, you would think jack would have marveled at the balmy weather the Lord had blessed us with. but no. tantrum? sure! snot and tears streaming down his face? yes, please! and a second helping! which actually brings me to another walking story.

with ben out of town, bella's needs fell into my hands. unfortunately. not that i don't love the bulldog, but do i like her? not really. and honestly, the feeling is mutual. always has been. she's always been benji's biggest fan, shouting from the rooftops her love and adoration for that man. (well, no, not really, but whatever...) but with me, any chance she ever has, she takes her dewclaws and runs away. far away. like, get-in-the-truck-yell-out-the-window looking for her stupid self. the plethora of stories i have of bella and i fighting for alpha female are countless. really. and neither of us is backing down anytime soon.

7 years old and still acting like a spring chicken

so rather than hoping and wishing she won't run off when i let her outside, i have chose to walk her this week. and don't let her fool you (me). she does get walked. she regularly walks with us, but ben's always in charge. but, with me at the reigns, she acts a fool. pulling, choking, half-vomiting, idiot. try a harness, you say? not gonna happen. bulldogs were made for pulling. i should say, american bulldogs were made for working. their strength is in their shoulders. these dogs were made to work on farms, herd cattle and piggies, even hunt for wild boar. they also excel at weight pulling and schutzhund. so yeah, slipping a harness around her only brings out that inner need to work. i digress.

back to idiot-mode. we're currently on day 5 now, walking our usual 3 mile course, and it literally takes us walking back down our street (aka getting tired) for her to walk like a sensible pooch. i envy owners that have those dogs that traipse along at their side. beanie would be weaving in and out of traffic, for sure. and, i can say this because i've seen it happen (ca. 2008).

she is extremely cute though. standard american bulldog. she's very sweet, loves to cuddle, sleeps on her back, snores like an old man and loves jack to bits.

taking another walk, this time down memory lane...

the teeny beanie, 5 weeks old