Cheap and cheerful

This year I decided to go ahead and make Valentine's day a 4 day event. Why be cheap? Why not be cheerful and celebrate it to the max? So on Wednesday night, I drove 90 km southeast and forth to get my handsome date. He is one, big nosed, big eared, charmer and felt so good to have him all to myself. 

"I want you to want me, I need you to need me, I love you to love me ... I come home early from work if you say that you love me"
Kept on singing this song while rushing home early from work just to be greeted by my dude who tried to put all his toys in his mouth at the same time and bring them to me. I'm laughing at him while playfully screaming out; "Sweetie, you silly goose, you don't need to bring me anything, I just want you". 

During our Valentine celebration, like all the other days lately, we had it hopelessly cold but we kept on going out walking, running and playing, no matter what. The challenge here in Montreal is to figure out how to avoid hurting your dog's paws as they put so much salt on the roads. I put a cream that helps a little bit and sometimes just dress him up with socks for new born babies. They do make shoes for dogs but it's hard to find ones that fit properly and basset hounds are known for their crooked legs. 

We kept on freezing our asses to the bone while enjoying our time together.
On Friday, I took my Chuck to a restaurant named the Hot Dog Café http://www.hotdogcafe.ca. It's a restaurant where you can bring your dog and I got really positively surprised. The concept really is a great one and it's nicely and modernly decorated.

You have the option of a table in a more open space or more privately, in a booth. They hand you a blanket, water bowl and treats for your dog, who gets to sit with you at the table.  You can as well bring him to the playground that is in a separate room where only dogs are aloud. 

There is a supervisor however making sure that the dogs play peacefully with each other. There are cameras in the playground and while you are enjoying your meal and glass of wine you can look at the screen showing what the dogs are up to.

I had a lovely evening with my handsome date. I ate salmon and drank a glass of wine. So my alcohol free February ended less than half way through. I felt I needed a red glass to match my red rose they gave me. 

We both liked it so much we went back the next day. So I got handed two roses for Valentine's day.

While Chuck was playing I sat there thinking. I tend to tell my dog how much I adore him, how much I love him and how handsome he is... every 15 minutes or so. What if I would do this to the man I love, the man I planned my future with, the man I see as my soulmate? Maybe instead of sitting there enjoying my wine alone I could be enjoying it with him? What if I would get off that high and ever so sarcastic horse of mine and do what my dear-ass X told me to do?

That was exactly what I decided to do and the result is a reunited Finnish-Dominican two pack. Yesterday while happily reunited, my Dominican laughs out; " You know people might think, I'm the kinda guy who breaks up with my girlfriend just to save money by not having to buy a Valentine's gift". I look at him and laugh. He is a dude who has brought me more flowers than all my x-dudes together, so I say; "well if that's what it is, feel free to do it every year, as long as you get back in my arms no later than the 15th of February.