What I Don't Miss

I don't have children for a reason. For many reasons actually. Today reminded me of several of those reasons.

I'm taking care of Crunch, Judi's Old English sheepdog. Last night I put him in his crate while I went out to have dinner with Dave. When I got back to Judi's house, I found that Crunch had thrown up in his crate. I got to clean up his puke. He was listless and needy and I was a bit worried when I put him to bed, I got up a couple of times to check on him. He seemed okay, but when I went to get him out of his crate this morning, he had puked again in the night and rolled around in it. After cleaning him up and cleaning his crate again, he drank a lot of water and puked it up a few minutes later (luckily, we were in the yard, so I didn't have to mop up after him). I offered him a breakfast (that he didn't eat) and took him for a walk. He usually poops on his walk, but today, diarrhea ran out of him (and, forgive me, but I didn't pick it up) and onto the fur of his backside. I got to clean him up after that.

So in the space of twelve hours, I got to clean up two rounds of vomit and a round of diarrhea. I don't think an infant with a touch of a stomach bug could have presented me with a more disgusting (or convincing) round of reasons to avoid the care and feeding of another living being.

Gratitude
So, what I am I grateful for today? Of course, I am grateful to Crunch for reminding me of a few of the reasons that I don't want children. I am also grateful for Dave for coming over (with coffee and pastry) to do an hour or so of at-home yoga. I am grateful for John Friend, whose corny anusara directions led us through our asanas. I am grateful for cable TV, and especially Iron Chef and the History Channel. I am grateful for coffee and brownies. I am grateful for how damn cold it is today.