Scoob Bates...

Scoob,

I love you.

Thanks for being one of my best friends on the planet. You were there for me with a playful wag when I was upset or stoked. You were there through adolescent heartbreak, teenage angst, through that divorce, when I got my first guitar, my first car, first drums, first concerts and my braces. You made it though operations in 2007 that cleared my bank account and kept you alive. You were there through car accidents and that short stint when I thought it was cool to dye my hair orange and blue. Remember my blue, plaid, punk-pants? You were a supporting role in all the home movies we made and listened to me when I tried to learn to sing and write my first songs.

You listened and never judged me through all the best and worst ideas I had. 

I could go on forever about all the good times we have had.

I am sorry if I ever yelled at you or was selfish. You taught me so much about caring for others and how to be a good friend. You touched so many people's lives and you were loved by everyone you ever met. I am sorry I left for the west coast. If I could have brought you I would have. This was one of the wildest decisions I have made in my life and I am still figuring life out. I know you were taken care of these last 2 years, but I can't tell you how much it breaks my heart I couldn't be there for you today. This letter, these words, will never do a justice for what we went through.

I know you were in a lot of pain and you are in a better place, but this still sucks. I will see you soon and I am so happy we got to spend nearly 20 years together.

You are one of my best friends. I love you.

-Matt

Chocolate Covered Tampon...

 "Ew, what is that!" She yelled as I replied with "I don't know just pull it out!"

We don't know why but our dog loves to find anything in the trash with our scent on it...especially the most gross scents. Jamie and I had been out food shopping this past week leaving our dog, Piper, alone in the house. We try to put anything dangerous to her up high and throw away any trash in the proper receptacle...as anyone with common sense would. We even close the bathroom door when we leave so she can't get into the bin we have in there for all things gross. 

Arriving home after food shopping we opened the door to a grotesque scene looking like piper had killed a small bird on our rug. "What the hell happened in here? Did she catch a mouse?" I state as I go in for a closer look. Turns out I was wrong, as I tend to be. This small bird happened to be a heavy flow tampon Piper found...flowed on...with a trail of tissue and q-tips leading from the bathroom. Wonderful. "Welp." Shrugging "Looks like we forgot to close the bathroom door." turning to Jamie who is mortified. Rightfully so. I couldn't help but notice...not all of the tampon was there. "Hey? Did she eat most of that tampon?" In the most respectful and inquisitive voice I could muster.  She didn't know what to say and immediately ran to get paper towels to clean this mess up. Another afternoon here at Casa de Bates.

A day had past and we were worried if she did in fact eat the tampon some of it would hurt her or obstruct her intestines. I couldn't help but wonder "Isn't that it's job? To clog things up?" After another day had past and Piper was acting completely normal we thought we were in the clear. Nobody ever wants an expensive vet visit. We went to go see the sunset a few nights later and were greeted by our usual excited pup arriving home after. She jumped up and down on my leg and then went to greet Jamie. As Piper turned I noticed something unusual with her walk....and there was a white string hanging out of her. "Holy shit, Jamie please check out Piper's butt." Yes. It is what you think it is and thats the point of this whole thing. Jamie pulled a used tampon, let me rephrase that, her used tampon out of our dog. "Welp, Pipe. I guess were blood sisters now." She stated.

I love this woman.

YourFriendMatt

Piper...

"What the hell happened to her mouth?" was all I could say as I saw the four pound, squirrel-like, fur-ball sitting at my feet. Her tongue hanging out of her cocked head staring up at me...

Jamie and I had a rare lazy Sunday off together. Our weekly work schedules never match up so we wanted to make sure we got the most out of the day. Flea Market? Brunch? Beers? Early dinner in and an old movie? It was all on the agenda.

A cloudless sunny morning set the tone for our day and we wanted to make sure we got the most out of it. Luckily for me the local pet adoption was having an open house in a parking lot on Main Street that we had to check out...according to Jamie. Bastards. It's like they had it planned and knew we were coming. We ambled through the vacant lot of misfit animals and their misfit volunteers holding their leashes. I turned my back for a second to stare at a three legged-pit bull and Jamie was gone. I was hoping she was on the other side of the fence ready for brunch but I could not have been more wrong. I almost tripped over her. She was coiled into a ball on the oil stained parking lot asphalt clinging and cottling something furry.

"This ones got a real sad story. She needs a good home. She was thrown from a car when she was a puppy and someone found her on the side of the road. Her jaw was broken and may never close." Pausing for dramatic effect, tisking and shaking her head. She knew what she was doing. She was good. Damn it. "And needs a good home." Said the overweight college drop out peering over her black rimmed hipster glasses "But she is such a cutie!" Jamie looked up from the ground to her with an enthusiastic "Yes! She does need a good home!" She turned and stared at me as I tried talking down off the pet adoption ledge but I knew I was screwed. "IT'S SO FLUFFY I'M GONNA DIE!" was all I kept hearing muffled over kissing noises "Matt, we need her." And thats when I knew I was totally screwed. I manage to talk Jamie into leaving the parking lot...not after she gathered all the pamphlets and information she would need to surely adopt this animal...with or without discussing it with me.

A few days had gone by. We were back to our work week. No dog. "Yes!" having a conversation with myself walking from the driveway one night "Maybe she forgot about it." As I pushed the door open I couldn't have been more wrong...again. "Matt, don't be mad. She needed a good home..."

YourFriendMatt