I shouldn't write about this, but I have horrible self control when it comes to these sorts of things.

Annie and I have discussed getting another Great Dane many times. My plan was to wait until Tolkien passes. However, a month or so ago I went looking for breeders on the net. I found one that I thought was interesting, and e-mailed them. One of the breeders and I have had quite a few e-mail discussions regarding danes and pedigrees. She has educated me quite a bit, and I realize how lucky I was the first time. If I had been required to go through the current requirements for adopting a dane, I would never have had Soren in my life.

I received an e-mail yesterday from the breeders that they are re-acquiring one of their danes. He is currently about ten months old, and she wanted to let me know that they would soon be looking for a home for him. She had some questions and concerns about Annie's and my living situation, so I went on line to find her phone number. It took me a half hour, but I finally found it. We talked for quite a while, and I still feel like I am in the interview process. I could easily drive four hours to the breeder and be turned down. It took me three hours of constant thought to decide that we could do this, but our lifestyle may be incompatible to the breeders' desires. I don't think the lady that I talked to was pleased that I don't have a wife at home. Maybe I misinterpreted the "oh" and the following pause.

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of looking at his pictures on line: Mystic's Face Shot.

That's when he was three months' old, but it has an expression that I remember all too well.

Annie knows nothing about this, nor can she. We'll see how it goes. I might need to call on some of you as character references...



Sucker...