Falling In Love Is Like Owning A Dog

This is Francois, my cute French Bulldog

And at right is my other dog Justin, half Chow Chow and half Labrador.

They live thousands of miles away from me (hu hu) in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

And here's a lovely poem by Taylor Mali (http://taylormali.com/), with some minor edits

Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog

It's a big responsibility,
So think long and hard before deciding on love.

Love gives you a sense of security.
When you're walking down the street late at night
and you have a leash on love
ain't no one gonna mess with you.
Who knows what love could do in its own defense?

Love is warm.
On cold winter nights,
it lies between you and lives and breathes
and makes funny noises.

Love has needs.
Love needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.
Love needs attention, it doesn't like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
Love may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.

Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.

Love makes messes.
Love leaves you little surprises here and there.
Love needs lots of cleaning up after.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper
and swat love on the nose,
not so much to cause pain,
just to let love know Don't you ever do that again!

Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk.
Because love loves exercise.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once,
or winds around and around you
until you're all wound up and can't move.
Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.

But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.

When I first arrived in Phoenix, I lived with friends who have two beautiful dogs (above). For a month I enjoyed their company and I miss them terribly now. Now that I have my own apartment, I am thinking of getting a dog to share microwave dinners with.