The Thorn In My Side - Part 1 of 4 - The Arrival

Trent talked me into babysitting a dog for 2weeks. I wasn't thrilled about it but felt like it could be a good opportunity to see what it would be like having a dog around. A young couple from church have a dog that they're not supposed to have in their current housing on base. They were asking around for someone to take the dog for 2 weeks. Trent told them he was interested so they called us. This is when we found out that it's not for 2 weeks, it's for 2 months (until their housing contract was up). We decided to tell them no, we couldn't make that kind of commitment.

3 days later, Wednesday night to be exact. They call us at 6pm to say that they got caught with the dog again and were going to be evicted if they didn't get rid of it that very minute. Of course I said yes, I can't turn someone down on the fly and in a jam like that. stupid. stupid. stupid.

The husband brings the dog right over. Well the dog turned out to be a puppy. But they said he was potty trained and that he never barks at night. He'd brought all the supplies and a dog carrier, so I thought, "Ok, I can do this." Then he left. Trent and the kids were immediately smitten and in love and we could hardly get them into bed b/c they were so busy playing with the puppy...whose name I can barely speak out loud because it's embarrassing. His name is Boo boo. When you stop laughing (Maggie) imagine yourself outside calling that name....so ridiculous!

So it's night #1. The wife decides she needs to stop by to say goodnight to Boo boo and calls us at 9pm saying she's stopping by on her way home from work. Well she stayed at our house until almost 11pm! Finally she left and we put Boo boo in the carrier to sleep. Fast forward oh, lets say 6 minutes...he's whining. Trent assures me he'll stop. Fast forward another 12 minutes...he's whimpering. Trent assures me he'll stop. Fast forward to midnight...he's yelping. Fast forward to 1am...he's barking. Fast forward to 2am...he's whining, whimpering, yelping, barking and howling. Fast forward to 2:01am...Millie's had it and demands that Trent do SOMETHING with it...put it in the garage, anywhere. I just wanted some sleep!

Fast forward to 2:05am...Millie is able to sleep in silence.