If you follow me you are aware of the fact that I went on a mostly ill-fated vacation that lasted 12 days, cost over $1000 and wasn't very enjoyable. I was very happy to return to my condo back in Danang, even though my life here is quite routine and some would say it is even boring.
I don't mind boring or routine because I have come to the conclusion that getting to destinations simply isn't worth it. During my trip to Thailand I spend probably 12 hours in airports or on planes, at least 5 hours in taxis, and 3 hours on a bus. That's nearly an entire day of my 12 day vacation in transit and I just totally hate this aspect of things.
I have no intention of going on vacation for a while unless it is to visit family and even when I do decide to do that it is going to be to a singular destination, most likely at my parents' house.
The main reason for my disdain for travel was being separated from this little monster, who I love dearly. I am sure that she felt the same way during my time away and I have now been back from my vacation for around 13 days and her behavior is just now starting to return to normal. I think she was traumatized by the experience because for the first week or so that I came back she was near or at my feet every time I so much as moved around the apartment. She would even follow me into the bathroom when I would take a shower and this is very unusual because she hates that room because that is where "bathies" take place.
Speaking of which, she was very stinky when I got back from my trip. I didn't expect her caretakers to bathe her while I was away but this is where I noticed for the first time that non-shedding dogs, which Nadi is one of, have a tendency to get stinky faster than dogs that shed. It is a tradeoff that I am fine with because I would much rather have to give Nadi a 10 minute bath and blowdry once a week than have stray hair all over my house at all times. When I find hair in my condo these days, it is almost certainly from my own head, not from Nadi.
Nadi doesn't resist the bath. She knows that resistance is futile but you can tell by the look of slight terror on her face there that she is not a big fan of the bathtub or what it entails being in there. When she gets out she does "zoomies" all over the apartment and rubs her face on the ground. She is also very compliant and will come to me with the blow dryer to get her ears and tail dry, even though she doesn't care for this part of the process either. She does really enjoy the copious amounts of treats that come after every bath though.
When I was walking her the other day I came across a very Nadi-looking dog that was on the street.
Nadi and whatever this dog's name are didn't immediately become friends unfortunately. They just barked at one another and Nadi shooed it away. Just like my own dog this little guy seems to like people, but other dogs? not so much.
It did concern me a bit that this type of dog was on the streets though because this is not your run of the mill stray. This dog has probably been lost by someone. I took photos and put it on the local FB page but unfortunately nobody knows who it belongs to and when I returned a few days later the dog was no longer there. I hope this means that he found his way back home or the owners found him and not that he was kidnapped. Vietnam is a terrible country to lose your dog in because there is an active dog meat trade here. I don't think this little guy would even be an appetizer so I am going to stay positive and think that the owners found him and he is back on a little soft doggy bed somewhere.
Other aspects of my life that have begun is that I am waking up early and getting my work done before noon on most days, then I do some half-assed workouts in the gym that is in my building, try to eat well, and have been limiting my alcohol intake to 4 beers or less per day. I have no notion of this being life-changing because we still have DUMBO bowling every Thursday and on those days everyone goes nuts with both food and drink.
I will say this though: I am absolutely delighted to be back home and not on the road looking for adventure. If this means that I am boring guy in his 40's now then so be it. I'm perfectly ok with that and I know that Nadi would much rather have me home with her anyway.
