Eva and Me

In 5 days of having Netflix I believe my family has watched about 15 movies on Netflix proving definitively that the minimal cost of 7.99 a month is well worth the price. In fact we have actually reduced our cable package down to basic because we don't seem to have the time to watch cable anymore what with the variety of options available on Netflix. The only downside at this point with Netflix is that the selection of movies is a little off from what the mainstream assortment of available titles is on MTS or Shaw's pay-per-view channels or from movie rental stores such as Rogers or Blockbuster. However in saying that, there is a selection of movies that although not necessarily big-screen hits are non the less very entertaining. What I appreciate the most is the wide selection of family appropriate movies and TV series available such as Dora the Explorer and Thomas the Train episodes. I thankfully have a reason to hibernate this winter.

The last movie that we watched as a family on Netflix was Marley and Me. The lead character in the movie is a lovable, disaster stricken, bull in a china shop type destructive Labrador named Marley. What I found most endearing about this particular mutt were the similarities to our own tornado on four legs Eva. Eva is a 24 pound whirlwind of destruction that must chew and destroy or fail to thrive or so it seems. Lessons that I have learned from my dog include the following; vitamin E cream makes for a great laxative, photo-albums taste great, chairs can be pushed up to the stove to be climbed on so that one little mutt can lick out the frying pans after Sunday breakfast, rawhide's are wonderful and leather couches taste just as good, cats are to be chased, dogs on TV need to be barked at and are definitely hiding somewhere in the speakers of the stereo hooked up to it, likewise babies crying on TV are also hiding in the speakers and must be found, crayons, balloons, tinfoil, garbage, socks, socks, and more socks the dirtier the better, pens, pencils, hair brushes, tooth brushes, wrapping paper, china cabinets, shoes especially flip flops, pillows, wooden rocking chairs, and dry pasta taste great. One other lesson I have learned from this little master of destruction is one of the main reasons that we will have her for the rest of her life is that  my children can do no wrong with her and will always be forgiven for sitting on her, pulling her ears and yanking on her tail. As far as this mom is concerned however, the fact that this little dog will be the perfect alarm to notify me when my children are up to no good however is the ultimate advantage to having this particular dog. My children cannot go near the front or back doors without the dog crying up a storm and if they try to go outside she barks her crazy little head off. Good luck sneaking out in the future kids!

Much as the family in the movie Marley and Me could not imagine their lives without Marley, despite his idiosyncrasies and destructive yet loving nature, neither could I imagine not having our little dog that we refer to as "the Goat" in our lives. Having something such as a little dog that knows how to love unconditionally in the life of a family is a wonderful experience and worth having irregardless of the issues that come with dog ownership. Besides, by the time Eva stops eating the furniture in my house, IKEA will be in Winnipeg and I will have the perfect excuse to buy new furniture.