First off i'd like to say...Happy Hump Day!

This week has been kinda interesting i guess. My subpoena for Tuesday ended up getting stipulated (which means both parties accepted my results, and didn't need to me to testify) so i didn't have to testify on Tuesday. Which was nice. However...yesterday i received a subpoena for today! And they did end up needing me. So i went to my first court appearance today. It lasted only 10 minutes and was pretty straight forward. But boy was i a nervous wreck. The defense asked a few questions...but nothing really important. There was one woman in the jury who kept smiling...so i just looked at her. My supervisor went with me...so that made it a little more nerve wrecking b/c i wasn't the only "expert" in the room. But i think he was pleased with my testimony. So now it's all and done and i've officially been qualified as an expert witness in the state of Indiana. Go me.

On slightly less cheerful news...my dog, Barney, of 15 years was put down yesterday. It was very sad. He's the first pet i've ever lost. He was a good dog, and I remember the day when we picked him out. He was so ugly that only a momma could love him. But my brother and i just loved him to pieces...scraggly hair and all. It's amazing how much an animal becomes a part of your life. I wasn't as upset as i thought i would be...but we all knew it was coming. It just makes me think about losing columbo. I know it's silly to love your dog so much...but i will be so sad when i have to put columbo down. I just don't even like thinking about it.

I really think it's easier to love dogs than it is to love people sometimes. Dogs are always forgiving...and they never say mean or nasty things. You never worry if they love you as much as you love them b/c you know for a fact they do. Even though they can't say i love you...you just know that they do. You never worry if they think you're too fat...or if your nose is too big...or if that outfit looks tacky on you. They still love you no matter what. And when you have to scold them...they don't hold it against you. They don't blame you for their mistakes. If only people could be more like dogs. I think people would get along a lot better. I want to love people more like my dog loves me. I've also seen a good bumper sticker that says "God, please help me to be the person my dog thinks i am." I think that's a great idea. B/c if i was as wonderful as columbo thinks i am...i'd be a pretty great person.