Big Day

My life is pretty full at the moment, but I'm definitely enjoying the trip I'm taking. I'm still not working full-time but that allows me to develop a kind of schedule with Elliott. Since he refuses to sleep in past 8am, we have our morning walks at 8:30 every day. We go to a massive park near our place and along with running, we've started interacting with the other dogs and their owners. It's like this entire other community within a community where all you need is a dog and you're in. Elliott likes to bark like crazy at the other dogs, which is quite annoying and a bit unnerving to other dog owners (which is understandable), however he's just excited to see them and once he gets to sniff the other pooches, he's set. It's nice to have a refreshing walk every morning. We have our regular route and although I've only had him for three weeks, we've developed our roles. Once we get home I give him his doggy biscotti from Starbucks (yes, I know...), refresh his water and then he plays with his rubber chicken that my cousin Christie gave him. He's obsessed with it. I think he likes the way the rubber feels, but he could run around for hours with that thing. All I have to say is "Get that chicken!" and he's wound up.

Today was a big morning for both of us though as it was the first time I ever let go of his leash at the dog park and let him run free with the other dogs. I was so nervous! When I picked him up at the Toronto Humane Society, I was told that he was a stray and he had a mark on his nose where he'd obviously tried to dig his way out of something. Plus he's not neutered and from what I've been told, that also encourages him to run. However, with helpful advice from another dog owner, I let go of the leash and held my breath as he ran around with a gorgeous Cockapoo puppy and had the best time. It was so nice to see him enjoying himself, but I imagine my anxiety was tantamount to a parent letting go of their child's bike once the training wheels are off for the first time as they pray their kid doesn't fall over. Elliott had a lot of fun and whined when little Lilly went home but it was a good first start for us. I felt like a good parent and I know he was happy.

There's this entire life that the park takes on first thing in the morning. You've got your dog owners taking their pets for some exercise, but there are also the kids rushing on their bikes or scooters to school, however the people I always look out for are the elderly Chinese women that gather in the same place every morning and do their exercises together while gossipping. To me, that scene is the epitimy of city living. There's just something about watching them catch up and bend in different directions, trying to exercise their muscles while I can't see any possible benefit to their calestenics, that makes me smile about being in this city and having Elliott and witnessing the life a small part of this city takes on every day. OK, enough babbling for today.