A new day

Diesel loves mornings. He's a morning dog.

On a work day the alarm goes off at 6:04 A.M. (which is actually 5:54 A.M. due to the obligatory 10-minute-fast rule where I fool myself into believing I got an extra ten minutes of sleep). Diesel sleeps in his crate which is on my side of the bed in the bedroom. Moments after the alarm sounds I can here him shift out of his slumber and yawn his "squeaky gate" yawn. As soon as I open his crate door he saunters out and greets the day with a series of cleansing stretches and flops on his back for a good back roll. Dog yoga. His version of sun salutations. While he does this I'm scrambling to put in my contacts and find some clothes for our morning walk – the first order of business for the day. Perhaps I should consider the yoga option as well.

His morning walk is when he's least focused on walking on a loose leash and most focused on greeting the new day. New smells, dew on the snout, grass to nibble … he can't take it all in fast enough. This morning he was a bit more focused than usual on a squirrel scampering across the road. As he tugged forward on his lead I thought I would "snap him out of it" by gently bumping my ankle into his hip, Cesar Millan-style. His focus remained on the squirrel. I tried again. Nothing – wasn't phased. I looked up to see a man walking an unconcerned black dog towards us. The man seemed to have an inquisitive look on his face as to why I was bumping the beagle with my leg. I felt mean. I gave Diesel a sideways tug on the lead and we carried on. I guess not everyone watches The Dog Whisperer.

I have to say I don't mind getting up in the morning. I'm not quite as enthusiastic or wide-awake as Diesel first thing but I catch on. Morning walks are one of the biggest pluses Diesel has brought into my life. What better way to wake up than to take a half hour checking out the world, experiencing the weather, stretching the legs, and noticing the subtle differences in nature day to day. I couldn't motivate myself to wake up to this routine on a daily basis so I thank Diesel for this. The walk is even better to imagine how he's experiencing the world. If I could have a wish I would wish that I could smell the world like a beagle does for a day. I can't even imagine how powerful that sense must be. And since I'd be experiencing this great sense of smell as a beagle would I would find that roadkill blue jay a fascinating find. How weird. And I would be able to tell who had passed my way before because of their invisible scent. Kind of like being a detective or a medium. Chances are I won't get this wish and will continue to imagine the world through Diesel's nose on our morning walks.

Snout beagle might make alittle more sense now. It's all about the snout. And the snout loves a new day.

How a beagle can alter one's life

This is just the beginning of a diary depicting the life of a beagle named Diesel. A year ago my husband and I would have never imagined we would have a beagle in our lives, much less an online diary about him. You see, our lives are not that exciting. Despite the fact that we met online through work, my husband being English and living in England and myself being American and living in the US; despite the fact that we fell madly in love even before I flew over the pond to physically meet him; despite the fact that we were married four months after we met and then lived apart for nine months while we waited for his visa to live in the US was approved; despite the fact that the day he moved here was the second most anticipated day of our lives (the first being the day we actually laid eyes upon one another at Gatwick Airport); despite the fact that yesterday we celebrated living in the same country together for two years – despite all that, our lives weren't exciting enough to consider a blog until we adopted a beagle.

This is how a beagle can alter one's life.

Since I, Diesel's mom, am completely new to the world of blogging I need some practice. The snout beagle will just need to be patient with me until I get the hang of this. He needn't worry. It will not take away from any of his walk or dog park time.

Regarding the photo, thankfully it is now just a pretty picture. Being that it is nearly June there shouldn't be a snowstorm forecasted for the next few months.