I want a dog.

But I'm still too chickenshit to do much about it. (I also want a baby, but again, chickenshit. Well, and the uterus in which the baby would be planted is half a continent away. Fuck you spacetime!)

However, we're talking about the DOG thing right now. I do have a *list* to rationalize my status though:

1. Look, I'm traveling a lot right now. I was gone one weekend in August, and 10 days in October. I'll be gone like 20 days at the end of the year. I'll be gone 13 days in March, two weekends in April, and another good five days in May. I don't want to get a dog, and pawn the poor little thing off on friends/kennel him right away. (Plus, I'd like the wife to help pick out the dog, get to bond with the dog etc.)

2. Dogs are expensive. Right now, we're paying two rents, two sets of utilities, lots of plane tickets etc. It seems financially irresponsible.

3. I just moved into my place. We can have dogs, but the lease specifies "small." I want a midsized dog. I'm hoping if I can prove I'm a good tenant for approximately a year, there may be some *flexibility* on that.

4. I may or may not be allergic to dogs. I had a dog when I was a kid and did fine. Sometimes, I go over to friends' houses who have dogs - and it's awful. Other times, it hardly bugs me. Sometimes, it bugs me at first - and I acclimate. I know there are types of dogs, and upkeep chores (regular brushing, getting a hepa filter) that can address some of these issues too. But I feel like I should see my doctor, or something first.

Hence, I am in stasis. And it's dumb. (Though, if getting a pet is the worst of your problems....)