I missed my Sunday posting!

I thought for sure if I picked one day a week to blog I would definitely do it. I failed. Fortunately, I feel it was totally justifiable because of what happened yesterday. It started off with a lazy morning, then coffee and work in the early afternoon. I wanted to get as much work done as possible on my paper that's due Thursday and I wanted to do my regular classwork as well. My goal is to have at least two days this week where I have absolutely nothing that needs to be done. It doesn't look particularly likely, but I'm still working for it.

After a couple of hours spent working on my paper, I headed home to let the puppy out. I didn't want to leave her alone for too long because she has had some trouble digesting some of the food I gave her (to put it lightly). Everywhere I read said it would happen, and she doesn't look like she's suffering, but I still feel bad sometimes. I went home, let her out. She peed and pooped on the newspaper and then everywhere else as well. I basically followed her around with toilet paper and a mop. Sometimes I think she just likes to watch me mop. I am so close to hiring a full-time ayi it's not funny. I don't really need a full time ayi to help care for my dog, but cleaning my house three times a week for about 10 dollars is certainly worth it!

Anyway, I did some work and played with the dog and Dan came back from yoga around 5:30. He sat down on the chair, put the dog on his lap and proceeded to let the dog fall off his lap, and not in any gentle sort of way. I usually get really pissy when I feel like he's not being gentle enough with Da Mi, but this time I was hysterical, because she was actually hurt. She was screaming and refused to walk on her right, hind foot. She wasn't very good at walking on three feet either, so she just kind of scooted to the washing machine (where she often goes to hide or sleep). I freaked out and was in tears, yelling at Dan, that I couldn't believe he just let her fall off his lap like that, and so on. He was being very patient and probably feeling more than a little guilty.

We basically rushed her out to the vet across the street, where they looked at her, but couldn't really help us because their x-ray machine was broken. They sent us to a different hospital where we paid 80 kuai (about 12 U.S. Dollars) for a visit with a doctor and x-rays. On the way there and the whole time in the hospital, Da Mi was so calm it freaked me out even more. She just wanted to snuggle and sleep. I had a massive headache, thought I was going to puke, and came really close to punching some people out. I slowly forgave Dan, and had a lot easier time of it when the x-rays came back and there was nothing wrong. Her bones looked strong and she had probably just bruised her foot. The doctors did ask what the heck she was eating, though, since her poop showed up in the x-ray. Turns out Chinese people don't think dogs should eat whole eggs or bones. Maybe they're right, but they also shouldn't eat toxic chemicals, so I'll pass on the dog food, thanks. When we got her home last night, she was already starting to walk on the foot a little (and continued to poop and pee everywhere). So, maybe I overreacted just a little...

This morning Da Mi has been fine, though clearly still hurting a little. She chewed her nice smelly chicken neck on some of our clothes to thank us for last night (they were dirty, but still). We even left her alone for a little while to go out to lunch. We had really delicious meal at an Indian place. We each had about 5 small dishes, plus bread and dessert for about 10 dollars. The food was well-prepared and the service was amazing! Now we're at the bookworm having some coffee. I was going to try to finish writing more of my paper, but I am too full and sleepy. It just isn't going to happen until I have a nap, and a snuggle with Da Mi!

Starbucks Rocks the Milk Scandal!

I came to Starbucks to work, because I know I will want to sleep if I stay home. It's a wonderfully rainy day. Since there is less pollution in Beijing still, there continues to be evidence of real weather (i.e. rain, sunshine, and clouds) as opposed to the usual monotone grey sky and dust storms. But I digress. Starbucks no longer offers milk here, period. They don't even let you choose if you mind dying a painful death or not. Instead, it is soy milk for everything, and they've got advertising telling you how wonderful it tastes too! There is a sign that says "Try our new vanilla soy latte!" as if you have a choice! In spite of myself, I actually like the soy latte. In different times, I would not order it, but times are tough, and I guess I should be grateful that some companies still believe in somewhat ethical conduct.

In other news... there is no other news. I continue to be swamped with work and school, but I can't complain. My life is wonderful. My boyfriend still loves me in spite of me and my puppy is growing big, though maybe not as tall as Dan would hope. I only wish I was closer to my family.

A Walk in the Park

The only thing easy in my life right now was brunch and the walk in Chaoyang Park that we took today. It was a beautiful day and Dan and I just sat on the edge of the lake for an hour and a half. In spite of the fact that school has only been going for two weeks now, I really needed this three day weekend. I have been working hard to teach, working hard to study for two grad classes, and spending a lot of time with my new puppy. I am exhausted and trying not to get sick!

Last night we said goodbye to our friend Matt, who is heading home to coach swimming before taking a job in Germany. We went to Hatsune for some really delicious Japanese food and tried to make plans to see each other again soon. Soon, I've found, seems to get further and further away as I get older. Soon used to mean a couple days from now, or next week. Then I went to college and it meant in a couple months. When I left the States, soon started to mean in 6 months to a year. Now, it often means two years, maybe more! I'm not sure where the time goes.

Today we had brunch with Filipa and Stan before our escapade in the park. Delicious food and good company makes me smile. I ate bread, which I haven't done in about two weeks, but it was totally worth it. As long as I'm going to eat something with wheat in it, I might as well binge. So, binge I did! I haven't been good about keeping the corn out lately anyway, so bad skin is to be expected. I'll just have to be extra careful this week!

It's far easier to control my diet than it is to control stress. I have a lot on my plate right now, and I am constantly preoccupied with my puppy. Something about actually managing to save her, with a LOT of help from my friends has made me worry even more. She's about three and a half weeks old now and appears to be really healthy, so there's not much to worry about. Oddly enough, I find things. Maybe she's a little sleepier or not gaining as much weight or fell off the bed, and I worry about every little thing. It's stupid, I know, but I can't help myself. I feel like it's my duty to protect her! I've also been struggling with the fact that she's looking like a big dog. At three and a half weeks, she's about four pounds. Beijing doesn't allow dogs over 35 centimeters or 14 inches, so unless she's just going to stop growing up and start growing out, I might have a problem. I'd be willing to pay the 5,000 RMB fine if that means that I can register and keep her, but I'm not sure that's the case and I don't want them to take her away and kill her. And they would. They are pure evil!