The Waiting Room

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

As an expectant father I’ve come to view the world as one large – and unsterile – waiting room. Everywhere I go there are reminders of what is to come – even the Vlasic pickle mascot is starting to rub me the wrong way.  Messes, bruises and tiffs with the neighbors are soon to come, but I’ve grown impatient. I want my new puppy – and I want it now.

I must admit, like most people who own hunting dogs, I signed up for this. A number of months ago (this is an eternity in puppy-time) I put my name in for a Lab puppy at a Hunters Point Kennel out of Marshalltown, Iowa. Since the moment I placed the doggie-deposit, I’ve been counting down the days until its arrival more closely than astrologists are waiting for December 12, 2012. At this point you may be wondering “What’s the rush? You’ll have a long time to create memories with that dog.” Well, I’ll tell you what the rush is.

Timber & Casey's litter at Hunters Point Kennel

There are stray tufts of carpet that need to be chewed and unraveled across my living room floor. I have pairs of matching socks that don’t have holes in them. I’ve been consistently sleeping through the night. Paper towels and lint rollers just sit in my closet going unused and for the life of me, I can’t figure out what to do with the crust of my sandwiches.

Over the next few months I’m sure I’ll share with you the trials, tribulations and joys that come with raising and training a puppy. I hope you’ll share some advice with me, as being a first time father will be daunting at times. But until then, who really eats their crust?