Coops is right here on the bed next to me. He never does that. I think he knows that I was missing Coco a lot today. Or, at least that I was feeling blue. Very sweet all day, even with Joy. They’re…starting to get used to each other. He’s more willing now to just let her run around and do her thing, and she’s learned to just kinda stay away from him and that he doesn’t want to play with her. I wish he did. I wish he wanted to play with her. But, Coops decided a long time ago that he doesn’t trust other dogs. Sigh. I wish I knew how to change that for him.

He’s my bud. My shadow. He always wants to be wherever I am. That’s his super special power. Coco’s was how good she was at snuggling—she’d just stay wherever you put her and fall asleep. But Coops…he always wants to be with me. Never wants to miss anything. I love him for that. My first pup that was really truly mine.

Joy…she’s a bundle of energy some of the time, and just a smush the other times. Very sweet. Willful, already. Doesn’t want to give up things she’s not supposed to be chewing on. We’re working on that together. Patiently. Firmly. But damn she learns fast. She’s learning how to be a good walker right now. Gets distracted very easy. Scared of sounds she hasn’t heard before. But learning quickly. Very shy at first, but exuberant once she gets to know human or animal. Like Snacks is her best friend, and he’s a cat. She’s warming up to Sunny, the King’s dog who’s much bigger than she is. So…she’s still very much a puppy and scared of stuff she doesn’t understand yet…but she’s also a sponge and she’s learning very, very quickly. I love her. I can’t wait to see what kind of full-grown dog she becomes.

I also want her to stay a puppy.

A good day today, you guys. Whew. It was…exactly the day I needed. I did a lot of self care kind of stuff today, like therapy, and got my car washed and vacuumed, and had an aperitif with Liz after (finally) doing a nice little training session on the bike we have set up in our living room. I finished Picard, the final third season. It made me choke up a little bit several times, even though the actual show is still such a freaking mess. Even though so much of it is a shit show, truly, they always ended up making the right decisions by the end. It’s finally what the show should have been all along. Finally.

A good day. Now for some reading, and then sleep. Night night.