Bye 2020…it’s been an experience.

2020 was determined to go out with a bang. There were restrictions eased and then put back in place. Train derailments the week of Christmas made for a lot of angry customers Christmas Eve. 2020 in and of itself was a bit of a shit show.

However for myself 2020 had a few upsides. Sure my wedding got postponed but when it did happen it was beautiful and everything we could’ve hope for. Also the blooper reel once I put it together is going to be hilarious.

I published my first book which has been a dream and goal of mine since I was six years old. I also got my first bad review. Some might call it scathing. I only discovered the review day before New Years Eve and that really felt great. Super great.

When I showed it to my best friend she actually questioned if it was someone that knew me and hated me. A little investigating on her part discovered that the reviewer reads purely adult fiction, some might even call it smut. So the conclusion that made the most sense was they stumbled across my book thinking that it was right up their ally and by the time they discovered they were wrong it was too late.

Rather than stop reading they decided to make it all the way to the end.

You know what I do with books that I don’t like, books were I’m not a fan of the writing or the characters? I put the book down and read another one, not continue to put myself through the obvious torture that this reviewer must have been experiencing.

By the way, once I’m done with this post I’m going to go right ahead and continue working on my next waste of time book because you know what? For that one bad review, I’ve gotten a dozen good ones not counting the people who feel obliged to tell me they like it even if they didn’t.

We’re leaving the self-doubt in the general dumpster fire that was 2020, right where it belongs.

Something else that happened that was pretty great, Matt and I got ourselves a dog.

We had no intention of getting a dog until we moved into our next house however the opportunity arose for us to take in a gorgeous Rottweiler named Mazikeen. She’s amazing and loving and gentle and so so dumb. No seriously. She has two brain cells and they spend a majority of time bouncing off opposite walls only connecting every blue moon.

I know that Rottweilers developed a bad reputation, especially amongst the older generation. Hell when I told my mum that we were getting a Rottweiler she flat out said no. After seeing a few photos and of course meeting her, both my parents realised that Maze is truly just a derp. A very loving derp. Matt’s parents were the same.

I of course didn’t expect everyone who met her to love her like we do. I’m aware that not everyone likes big dogs and Maze in particular could look intimidating. And some people have been quite upfront that Maze is too big of a dog for them. Fair enough.

What I don’t like however is passive aggressive bullshit when it comes to my dog or any of my pets.

Matt and I took Maze to New Years Eve at his parents house, and for the most part it was a lovely night despite my exhaustion and having to start work at 5am New Years day.

There was however one family member (here after referred to as FM) that got quite upset when they tried to tell Maze to sit and she ignored them. I just laughed it off and told them that Maze won’t listen to them. It’s happened before, my family have all tried to tell her sit or lay down and she only listened when Matt or myself repeated the command.

So this FM decided to voice her disapproval. Apparently our dog only responding to Matt and I isn’t a good thing.

I don’t know about any of you but do you want your dog obeying any Tom, Dick or Harry that walks into your house? If someone breaks into my house I don’t want my dog to sit and stay if that person tell them to. I want her to run at them and scare the shit out of them.

Anyways. After I explained the above to the FM they continued with, “Well what if she got out and you weren’t there and another dog saw her as a threat?”

My response was that this has happened and will always happen. Little dogs in particular see Maze as a threat. We’ll be walking her minding out own business when all of a sudden we see a little dog dragging their owner across the grass to try and get to our girl. Some dogs just like to pick fights they can’t win.

We have never allowed Maze to be attacked by these little cretins and we’re very careful to make sure she can’t get loose. Accidents happen and dogs and cats get out of the house when they aren’t meant to.

The FM then for some reason decided to escalate the conversation with, “Well it would be good if someone else could stop her without having to use a bullet.”

I shit you not these were actual words than came from an actual mouth.

This FM has a little chihuahua x jack russel. It’s a little rat of a thing and aggressive as all get out. First time I met this dog I had knelt down to get a drink from my bag and it came up and started growling and yapping at me. I hadn’t seen it before and I didn’t want to again. The FM just laughed it off that she could smell my dog on me.

Cool. Maze smells another dog on my and she rubs all over me so I smell like her again, she doesn’t bark and growl at me.

My dog is also very easy for me to stop. She has never gone after another dog. Even when they’re coming at her, she doesn’t bolt for them and even if she tried we wouldn’t let her get farther then an arms reach. She will growl and defend herself if they get close and I can’t fault her for it.

Otherwise she is the most gentle and loving girl in the world. She gets along with the cats and loves kids. Seeing her play with Matt’s four year old cousin just confirmed how gentle she is and how she adapts herself when playing with kids.

So it’s safe to say that I was quite offended by the idea that anyone would consider using a bullet to stop my beautiful girl. Just because the rat can be stopped by having a cardboard box put over it doesn’t mean it’s a better dog or better behaved. It’s just a dog that’s smaller than both my cats.

That comment actually offended me more than the review saying I’m a bad writer and telling people not to waste their time on my book.

Suffice it to say, I don’t think I’ll be looking at that FM the same way after that night. I can handle a few ignorant comments, especially if the person just genuinely doesn’t know better and is willing to learn, but there is no need to suggest shooting my dog is the only way to stop her. There were also too many other rude comments coming from their mouth. Comments directed at Matt or other cousins that I’m very fond and protective of.

That attitude of theirs can stay back in 2020 with the self-doubt. Just saying.

Now, while I go and work on my book and eat birthday cake, please enjoy some more photos of my angels. May your 2021 be better than last year.