My sister-in-law, Heather, has the most perfect set of stickers. Each one has a little cartoon dog on it, with the words, "Dogs Love You No Matter What." And that, my friends, is the truth.

I can't tell you how nice it was staying at Derek and Heather's house while I was in Texas. Not only are my brother and his wife super cool and fun, they were awesome hosts, making me breakfast, driving me places, buying me dinners. I appreciate their hospitality more than I can say.

Also cool, I got to sleep on the futon. Usually, that would not be all that exciting, but this futon used to be my bed when I was 12! When I got a new bed, Derek got the futon and has had it ever since. I just think it's kind of cool getting to sleep there again.

Seeing their cat, Brewster, again was really nice too. Brewster was the family cat for a brief period of time. That was back when we had six cats! Derek took Brewster to live with him a long time ago, and it's been years and years since I've seen the old guy (talking about Brewster, not Derek, heh). It's great to see him again, so healthy and happy.

In addition to all that, I got to hang out with puppy dogs for a week! And I am head over heels for Aeryn and Gypsy, Derek and Heather's two Australian Shepherds.

I hesitated writing this entry, fearing I'd get all choked up, and I was right -- it's already happening! Because you see, I already miss them terribly. I am in major doggie-withdrawal. Every morning, the first thing I did when I woke up was pet the dogs. I sat on the couch with them and pet Gypsy (who isn't super fond of snuggling), and then snuggled Aeryn to pieces (who is a big ole snuggle-hog) for twenty minutes or so.

They're both so awesome. Gypsy is mostly black with beautiful merle coloring on her paws and chest. She came to Derek and Heather as a stray. She likes to hang out with you, but not sit on your lap. She wants to make sure you're aware that she is the best dog ever, and then go do her own thing. And she gives the sweetest, most delicate kisses in the world. Derek and Heather said she tends to do everything delicately.

Then there's Aeryn, whose nickname is Piglet, because she eats everything and makes snorty noises. She was a shelter pup that Derek and Heather adopted when she was still only a few months old. She needs a special, loving home, and I'm glad it's theirs.

Aeryn is all white with blue eyes. She is what's called a Lethal White, which is when two merles are bred, resulting in a puppy who is blind and/or deaf to some degree. These dogs generally have white fur all over their heads, or even all over their bodies. Aeryn is completely white, has no hearing, and limited vision. She can see fairly well in good lighting, but not at all in the dark. In a few years, she's expected to lose her vision completely.

I was curious to see how this little girl got around, what it's like to train her, to communicate with her, etc. And it's funny, because it's a whole lot less complicated than I'd imagined it might be. The only thing that really stands out about Aeryn is how freakin' happy she is all the time. She's just full of playfulness, energy, and love for everyone around her.

The first night I was there, Aeryn came to my door as I was getting ready for bed. I had it open, with the light on (the only light on in the house at the time). I went over to her, leaned over the gate (a baby gate keeps the dogs out of the guestroom, because the kitty litter box is not a snack bar), and kissed her head. "Good-night, Aeryn!" I said. She slid down to the floor, lying right next to the gate. I wondered for a moment how long she'd stay there, if she might sleep near me through the night. I snapped off the light and heard her instantly get up and leave! Then I realized that she couldn't see me anymore in the dark. After I'd turned out the light, it was like I'd disappeared! With things appearing and disappearing all around her, it's like she lives in a world where teleportation is commonplace. It's interesting to watch her adapt to it!

The very next morning, I went to the kitchen, and Aeryn was asleep on her dog bed about twenty feet away. I waved my hands high over my head, and she woke up. She saw me, then bolted right for me, wiggling her whole entire body all the way. She wiggled and wagged at my feet as I pet her, hopping up and down. Wow. All that excitement just to see me? She made me feel like the most important person in the world. It didn't matter that she barely knew me, that I'd only met her the night before. She loved me already. Because dogs love you no matter what. They truly do. And that's what makes them so special, I think. They're overflowing with unconditional love, and to me, that is a beautiful thing.

Thanks to all five of you for making my stay in Texas so awesome! I love you all and miss you, and look forward to seeing you again soon!