Web page keeper, dog spoiler, science nerd, medical maniac, lab rat, future academic dermatologist.
Originally not a dog fan, Tatiana wanted nothing more than to adopt a single cat from the local pound. James adamantly refused her wishes, citing his general dislike and distrust for feline companions of any type. On a hot summer day at the end of July, after volunteering at the Fiesta del Sol health fair in Chicago's southwest side Pilsen neighborhood, Tatiana and James stopped at an animal facility "just to look." Mixed in with several puppies much larger than him was a dopey, undernourished, sickly looking pup. Upon being approached, the puppy stood up on his hind legs to greet them, and was so excited that he literally fell over backwards. James instantly fell in "puppy" love, and gave the pup the name "Drowsey" to match his appearance. However, assuming that a dog was not appropriate at the time, James left without the dog. Tatiana decided to go back and get the puppy for James' upcoming birthday, but also fell in love with another puppy, Alex. When Tatiana and her mother met with Alex, he sprung right up onto her mother's lap and began licking her face. He was very friendly, despite being abused, starved, and abandoned by his previous owners. Tatiana couldn't leave Alex behind, so she adopted him, too, without James' permission or knowledge. James was slightly perturbed when he later learned of Tatiana's actions, but figured that there would probably not be much difference in having one dog or two. A few months later, James visited the local shelter to gather information in preparation for an upcoming speech on animal overpopulation and spotted Charlie. Charlie was a quiet, withdrawn, flea-infested pup found as a stray in an economically deprived area of Chicago's south side. James brought Tatiana back to see the pup, who somewhat resembled Drowsey, and Tatiana couldn't leave the pound without bringing him home, either, and adopted him on the spot. This action later turned out much to James' dismay, for it appeared that Charlie was not housetrainable, and was deemed so by the shelter vet several months later. Despite James' constant wishes to return Charlie or find him a new home, Tatiana insisted on keeping Charlie, who eventually caught on. Adrianne, then Rachel, came next and made a doggie family of 5.
James
Tatiana's accomplice, poop scooper, dog trainer/retrainer/untrainer, highly skilled craftsman. James (a.k.a. Jim, Jim Bob, Germs, Mouse) is truly a "jack of all trades," for regardless of its magnitude, there is yet to be a repair job that he cannot successfully undertake. James not only characterizes the phrase "isn't it nice to have a handy man around the house," but embodies and defines it. When not tending to one of Tatiana's hair-brained schemes, James can be found working, cooking, cleaning, studying, or rarely, sleeping. Additionally, he fills the five gallon bucket, tastefully suited to the outdoor decor, about once per week with the canines' backyard "goodies," then altruistically donates them to the garbage man. Unfortunately for James, the dogs, being creative creatures, always leave their artwork strewn about, sometimes in places so conspicuous that only an occassional treading shoe will find it. At these times, James probably wishes he was a cat lover.
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