The backdoor is still open, because the temperature here is still so warm, and despite some lightning/thunder storms, I kept it open so the piglets and fat boy could go as they please. Lily, on the other hand, has decided I have spent entirely too much time chatting with friends, and need to come to bed or the lazyboy when I can give her the petting she needs:
Clearly, I have spent enough time on the computer and need to head to the living room and give sweets some quality lap time. I really can not accurately describe how much I love this dog. All she has to do is look at me and I just melt and do whatever she wants. I know you all talk about “the one dog,” but it is clear this is the one dog for me. God, I love me some Lily.
*** Update ***
It was meant to be. I went for a dog a couple years back, and came home with Lily.
The prophet Nostradumbass
Awww.
S. cerevisiae
You are a lucky man.
Fordpowers
Seriously. I share your puppy love, but honey, u need to get a lady friend. ;)
Yutsano
U lurve me naow fat ape! :)
Jess
John, I haven’t told you this yet, but your experience with Lily was one of the motivating factors in my adoption of Remy–a beautiful 1.5 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback mix from a kill facility in Arkansas. I was pondering getting a dog for awhile, and kept feeling that the maintenance factor outweighed the benefits, but your mad love for Lily encouraged me to take the plunge. So I adopted Remy without even meeting him, just based on pictures and descriptions. Everyone who comes in contact with him falls in love with his sweet, calm goodness and beauty. He’s large (70 lbs), lean and long-legged, with smooth red-gold fur and caramel-colored eyes that seem to gaze into your very soul. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by his exercise needs (a long off-leash hike in the woods pretty much every day), but he’s the most loving being I’ve ever encountered, and just a damn good dog. A true friend and such a joyful addition to my life.
So thanks, John, and all the best to you and your beasties!
John Cole
@Jess: I love it!
ruemara
You are so
pussypuppy whipped. Of course, with a face a like that, who wouldn’t give in?ruemara
oops, I tripped the mod filter. Oh well. Haters gonna hate, clueless typists gonna trip filters.
sfinny
Man, those eyes have it. You have the best dog. Seriously that is an amazing transformation from that scared dog in a cage. And Rosie, while a trial, seems to have settled in.
The prophet Nostradumbass
Lily is a beautiful wee dog.
Steve in DC
I keep reptiles but that looks like a nice one, congrats.
Mary G
Those delicate little paws are adorable. She could dance ballet.
Mnemosyne
@sfinny:
I still remember the series of pictures from when he first adopted her. Her tail started out between her legs in the very first pictures, and then over the course of the next few weeks, that tail slowly started to relax into its natural adorable curl over her back until she was trotting around like she was the queen of the world.
Clime Acts
She’s a beauty.
My little rescues Ted (Chihuahua/Boston Terrier) and Hellen (Heinz 97) send their love and greetings from Boston to you, Lily, Rosie, and Tunch.
Mutts rule!
freelancer
John, your post is awesome. I miss my dog. I miss Thunderstorms.
Since I’ve relocated from Nebraska, where we used to have the weather you get in WV 72 hours in advance to the crazy Southwest of AZ; weather has gone from “OMFG Get in the Basement!” or “Your first inch of snow hits tonight and we’ll be running a ticker full of updates and cancellations until it thaws!” to the local news weather guy here stating that “We’ll be getting some weather in the Valley over the next 24 hours!” and that means that the skies will be mostly overcast for about a day. It’s hilarious.
It’d be a little less hilarious if I weren’t sunburned right now because we didn’t have any “weather” during the Angels v. Reds Spring Training game in Tempe.
PS If you come to AZ, find a hat that doesn’t just have a brim in the front. Cowboy hats work, but there’s also boonie if you don’t want to go Full Metal Country.
Jebediah
@Jess:
Man, I love stories like that. Thanks for sharing it.
As for Lily – I love that slight curl of her lip in the first picture – she’s thinking “yes, you WILL do my bidding…”
In some of these pictures of Lily, they way she’s looking at you, Cole, it seems that she feels about you exactly the same way. Forget the uplifting movies thread – I find critter love stories like these to be plenty uplifting. Thanks for the Lily, Cole!
Villago Delenda Est
Great, I have to double my insulin injection after those two pictures.
Lily is so sweet…
opie jeanne
@freelancer: You went to the game today???!!!! I am so jealous! At least we got to watch the game on tv up here near Seattle.
opie jeanne
@Mnemosyne: Are those photos still around? I haven’t seen them and don’t know how John got Lily (and Lily got John) but I’d like to hear the story.
John, she’s such a sweetie.
Mnemosyne
@opie jeanne:
They’re probably on the site somewhere. I don’t remember exactly when John got Lily.
If nothing else, it would be interesting to have one or two of those re-posted for comparison purposes.
Mnemosyne
@freelancer:
Just watch out if a real rain does show up — flash flooding is no joke. My parents live in Fountain Hills and I swear that almost every damn Christmas there would be some fool on the evening news who thought his Ford Explorer could totally cross that flooded wash. Usually the helicopter got there in time to rescue them, but not always.
Yutsano
@opie jeanne: I made a fascinating discovery during the last meet-up: CaseyL lives less than a half mile away from me! I’m half-tempted to pick her up and take you two out to dinner some weekend! :)
John Cole
@opie jeanne: Here is the first post regarding Lily. Her name used to be Missy.
middlewest
Is anyone going to watch the new campaign movie? The Tom Hanks voiceover may be too annoying for me.
Mnemosyne
@John Cole:
I think the pictures I’m thinking of were the first time you took her out on the local rails-to-trails. It was so cool because you could just see her start to relax and enjoy being a dog.
Then your dainty little girl went and rolled on top of a rotting skunk corpse.
Kuda Bux
OK, that post confirms my recollection that Lily is the dog the Universe gave you when you went looking for a cat. Only confirms that it was meant to be more.
ruemara
Just back from putting the channel I run to bed and found this picture on the Obama Diary. Reminded me so much of this thread, that I had to share. Now that’s how a President treats a dog. Hell, that’s how a decent person treats a dog.
serena1313
John, Lily is an angel. She has your number — she knows exactly what to do to get you to comply with her wishes! LOL
That expression is so precious, how could you not fall in love with an animal like that. But she is more than an animal, Lily is a family member, a devoted companion and a friend. The bond is so strong between you two.
I have to say, John having watched your relationship with Lily in particular along with Rosie & Tunch evolve over the years has been a true joy. Thanks for sharing that process with us.
asiangrrlMN
@John Cole: Ah, Cole. I love the devotion you have for your Lily and how she’s blossomed into such a fearless, loving girl. When I was in Taiwan, every time I saw a shiba inu, I thought of Lily. You two were made for each other.
@Jess: That’s a beautiful story, too, Jess. Any pics?
@freelancer: Onyx is seriously adorable.
I have my Shadow resting on my right boob (he only likes the right one) and right arm as I type. I’m so glad he’s still with me.
cbear
Always love the Lily (and Rosie) pics and posts.
And, as I’ve said many many times:
Dogs are the best evidence we have that there may actually be a God.
Martin
@middlewest: It’s good. It really is the kind of thing the campaign needs to do. It’s easy to forget how much has happened in the last 3 years. Best line:
“A lot of people have asked how did you feel when you first heard that is was Bin Laden that had been killed and the truth is I didn’t have time for a lot of feeling at that time because our guys were still in that compound. It wasn’t until I knew that that they were across the border, they were safe, everybody was accounted for, including the dog that I allowed myself some satisfaction.”
See what he did there?
Jebediah
@ruemara:
Puppy whipped! I love it.. I am definitely puppy whipped myself. Juno jumps up on my lap, plants her tiny little paws on my chest, looks me in the eye and I feel all warm and gooey.
dance around in your bones
Those dark velvet pools of her eyes….her gaze says “My eyes adore you“……or perhaps “Can’t take my eyes off of you”.
What? I’m in a Frankie Valli mood.
Anne Laurie
And to think there are people who don’t believe “companion” is a real dog job!
Lily is an Old Soul. I’m so glad you two found each other… and that you had the good sense to follow your instincts.
daryljfontaine
Such a happy dog, such a change over when you first met her. You’ve been good for each other.
How’s the piglet? (No, not Tunch, we know he’s the master of all he surveys, as usual.)
D
jayackroyd
She was supposed to be my wife’s dog. Part of the deal when we moved to New York from a crappy apartment in New Jersey tht didn’t permit pets was we’d only move to a building that permitted dogs, because we were gonna get a dog.
So once the renovation (read “after a year of heat gun, crowbar (don’t ask), plaster and paint”) was done, we went down to the local ASPCA and found Gracie huddled in a cage, marked “Do not euthanize.”
As I said, she was supposed to be her dog. I promised to do the morning walks, but said the rest was on my wife. But I started a business, set up an office a few blocks away, took her with me in the mornings, and pretty soon, she was my dog.
The one dog.
I didn’t buy that either–grew up with animals as part of the household but had never had a bond with any of them. Liked them fine–I don’t get the “dog person/cat person” thing–but none of the dogs, cats, gerbils, fish et alia ever mattered that much to me.
But then there was Gracie. She died almost two years ago. People have stopped asking whether we’ll get “another dog.” (One of the things people don’t understand about New York is how small and personal our neighborhoods are. Fifteen years of seeing Gracie and me together adds up.) We probably will get “another dog.”
But I do know now about this “one dog” thing.
Raven
@jayackroyd: I know how you feel but I also know that, at 62, I’ve gone through what you describe four times.
WereBear
Lily’s eyes just begged to be filled with love; and then, when she got happy, to share it. I always thought Lily was the perfect name for her.
Sometimes, it’s just chemistry. I picked out Olwyn; she cuddles with me, talks to me, and is generally a great cat. But she & my husband have a Mutual Adoration Society going.
Here is Mr WereBear’s “Punkin”
jayackroyd
@Raven:
[chuckle] At 53 I’ve only got one more try. Maybe two, I suppose. But I doubt it, frankly.
WereBear
It is true that when we have a special pet relationship, it remains unique and cannot be recreated.
However, it is certainly possible to have another special pet relationship; which can be equally unique and incredible and wonderful.
It is only limiting the capacity of our imagination that makes it seem not so.
p.a.
went through the comments on the original Lily post and right at #100 Emma suggested Rose or Lily. was Rose her name when John got her, or was that his choice also? I don’t remember a Rosie/naming issue, just many comments around the theme of ‘my god, what have I done!’ ;-)
Patricia Kayden
Adopted two dogs in September and have to admit that I finally understand why people make such a fuss about their dog companions. They are family. And adorable.
Lily is gorgeous and I loved reading the post where you first found her.
Rita R.
Awww, she really has the most adorable face. And thanks for sharing the how you got Lily story. It was uplifting and sweet. :)
Raven
@jayackroyd: We’ve finally decided to do a will and our conversation has turned to what we will do about whatever critters we have when the time comes.
harlana
but you never stop trying :)
sweet-faced little girl!
bemused
I always have a suspicion of people who don’t like dogs, cats or other critters we pet lovers treat as family. I understand that people who have allergies or overwhelming fears can’t be around them. I know people with allergies who would dearly love to have a cat or dog and it kills them they can’t. It’s easy to see that the appeal of pets are lost on some people when they show absolutely no desire to pet or talk to even the most adorable critter. Even those who don’t want to or are unable to have a pet are usually unable to resist at least a little pat or scritch to some cutie. I know I shouldn’t paint people with a broad brush but they all seem to turn out to be conservatives.
A Humble Lurker
Lily’s eyes: Love? Love?
You’re a sweet man, Cole. And it’s amazing how many beautiful pet stories start almost by accident.
Skepticat
I remember with pleasure the process that brought Lily to you (though I still wish you’d also gotten the cat), and I identify intensely with how you feel about her. I have only one cat now (though that may change relatively soon), and he’s perfect–extremely affectionate, smart, entertaining, low-maintenance, and gorgeous (apparently purebred Maine coon). This fall, after I’d been alone–except for cats–for many years, an old and wonderful relationship rekindled. Unfortunately that ended in heartbreak. I recovered only when I realized that having my purring cat curled on my lap fills quite neatly and securely what could have been a void in my heart. Please give the fur kids extra scritches from both of us.
Raenelle
Pretty much for me, the saga of John and Lily has been the best story on the nets.
muddy
When the world is harsh there is no soothing balm like the gaze of a loving dog. It’s not every day a person would look at you like that, but your dog will do it multiple times a day. My dog tells me when it’s bedtime by sitting bolt upright on the couch next to me and then he tips his head all the way back so that the top of his head is resting on the top of mine (tall dog), throat stretched out backward.
I liked this book very much: http://www.amazon.com/Your-Dog-Mirror-Emotional-Ourselves/dp/1608680886/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331908150&sr=1-2
I believe our dogs are our mirrors, I’m sure that John’s face has the same expression as Lily’s.
Maude
The first rails pic of Lily was the best. She was looking up at John and her eyes said, I like you, aren’t we having a great time? She liked him, aside from loving him.
CaseyL
@Yutsano: I’d be up for that :)
different-church-lady
Wow, what a difference.
My cat who wouldn’t say two words to the first year I had him, has now evolved into a little chatterbox. I guess, like people, it takes a while for positive reinforcement to reprogram the negative.
MomSense
Awww, sweet puppy. Thought I would make a balloon-juice dog lovers movie recommendation.
The movie is called “Dean Spanley” and it features Peter O’Toole, Sam Neill and Jeremy Northam.
One of my favorite lines in the film is Peter O’Toole’s character talking about his childhood dog. “He was one of the seven great dogs. At any one time there are only seven great dogs in the world”.
Wonder how many of us believe our dog to be one of them? I know my old lab is absolutely!
Sharl
Lily near the point of her apparent breakthrough? These look like they might be before and after the apex of a transition.
Woodrowfan
what a sweetie. did she ever learn to bark?
Jacquie
Awwww, so adorable! Yesterday was the fourth anniversary of the fateful day that I brought home my sweet Eliot, who was featured in a pet rescue open thread here awhile back. BTW, when are we bringing those back, huh?
trollhattan
Wow, it’ll be three years soon. I remember that post well.
A great decision on your part and fine outcomes for everyone. Moar pics are always welcomed, even if you suspect you’re overdoing it! (You can always conter the Lily “awwww” factor with one glaring Tunch.)
opie jeanne
@John Cole: Thank you so much! I’m reading through the comments now, about halfway, and chuckling at some of them.
opie jeanne
@Yutsano: OOoh!
I’ve forgotten, when is your surgery scheduled?
Arclite
I remember reading that original story back in the day. SO GLAD it worked out. She is such an awesome dog. You just look in her eyes and know it.
wobbly
The downside with dogs is that the “until death do us part” thing kicks in all too soon.
Savor each lick and wag!