Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Mr. Espresso and Chelsea

Happy together

 

Mr. Espresso and Chelsea are still perking.

Happily.

Coffee and cream, hints of sugar.

Since the beginning, Mr. Espresso and I have had a standing tease regarding points. Whenever he does something wonderful, or says something thoughtful, or acts in a way that is pleasing… I tell him, "You got a point." If he does something contrary I tell him, "You lost points on that one."

He rarely loses points.

When I was in the hospital he brought me chocolates, exactly to my liking. He made a ton of points that day. And the other day he brought me Kahlua… which is hard to find in France, Oh you can imagine how many points he gathered that day!

Well, the other day, we were talking about dogs, I don't know how we came upon that subject… Anyway, Mr. Espresso said, "As soon as I am on my own I am going to have a dog." I asked him what type of dog, telling him he was walking on thin ice in the point department.  He whipped out his iPhone and showed me photos of the dog he liked….

All points are gone.

Okay, all but a few.

He likes those big, black, scary-looking dogs, with big teeth, a guard dog type of dog, a Rottweiler!

Chelsea and I shared a doubtful worried look.

Mr. Espresso tried to convince us that they are nice.

… I use to pray that my children would find someone who would loved them, treat them well, wasn't an alcoholic, or a drug addict…. someone from a good family….

Dang, now I have to add, No big dogs to the list!

Or maybe I should pray to overcome my fear of dogs… Certainly I would make more points that way.

 

Note:

 

What is Kahlua? Find out here…. I want her lips.

Comments

52 responses to “Mr. Espresso and Chelsea”

  1. Alan

    I know you are afraid of dogs, but I have known a number of Rottweilers from my neighborhood, and they were all gentle giants.

    Reply
  2. Kiki

    OK, I’m back in France and start reading you again. Guess I missed LOADS of goodies….
    Dogs: I’m all with you on your last sentence! Dogs are absolutely wonderful and if you could overcome your fear you would see what FH means…. Although, to be fair, I do NOT think that a Rottweiler would ever figure on MY dog-wish-list…. Are you sure it isn’t just a tease?! Wouldn’t surprise me!
    What is Kahlua?
    When somebody does something good, he/she gathers ‘Brownie Points’… 🙂
    Good to be back to you; I’ll read more of your stories in my next break.

    Reply
  3. kim

    Oh Corey, Corey. You should get yourself a cavalier king charles spaniel. (How many times do I have to say that?!) They’re the perfect dog for anyone who is afraid of, or not confident about dogs. They are gentle, loving, sweet… they are on this earth to love and be loved. I’m quite certain if you had a little cavalier you would overcome your dislike of dogs.
    My dog, Pickles, is sitting with me now as I write this and I’m sure she agrees.

    Reply
  4. Liz

    I am with you on this one…pray the dog away…or pray that he changes his mind on what type of dog he chooses.
    Pray, Pray, Pray…
    Hopefully Mr. Espresso is playing!

    Reply
  5. Jen

    You have to find a way to get over your fear, Corey. I judge people by their feelings about dogs and you are one exception to my rule! The bigger the dog, the bigger the pussy cat–truly!
    If I were to be afraid of dogs it would be of those little tiny yappy things–THEY are often afraid and therefore more apt to bite. The big ones have nothing to prove and more often than not are, as has been said before, gentle giants. I grew up with Great Danes so I can say this with confidence!

    Reply
  6. Julie Loeschke

    I agree with Alan.If they have been raised lovingly,they will only love you to death.They are powerful and faithful friends.I know,they do look scary,though.

    Reply
  7. Jennie

    Corey you need to get over your fear! Dogs are amazing, and I love big as opposed to little because they are not yappy and they offer a greater sense of protection (like when my hubby goes out of town). You can also wrap your arms around them when you need a hug. We have had two Golden Retrievers and they are the sweetest creatures on earth. Our 1st dog Gus stood with his back to my son’s crib when he was a newborn, to protect him from a storm in the middle of the night. The lightning and thunder were so bad, he barked at the windows, and my son slept through the whole thing! Gus also knew when I was pregnant with my daughter somehow, before I was really showing. It was the only time he would curl up next to me and rest his head on my belly when I was laying in bed. Dogs and humans are kindred spirits, and they bring so much to our lives. Alas, if you are not a dog person, you just aren’t. But Mr. Espresso should be allowed to get whatever he wants. Big dogs have a lot of love to give, and they will not eat you. 😉

    Reply
  8. Kristin

    Ok Corey. I know how you feel. I was bit by a German Sheppard when I was 13 delivering the penny saver. HATED dogs. After 10 years of marriage, my husband talked me into getting a dog. The first few weeks, I was ready to kill him and dump the dog… but… after taking a training class we both were on the same page and I felt like I had control. She is a boxer. She now weight 55 pounds, and she is the love of my life. I always thought I was a cat person, but nope! I LOVE dogs. I go into dog parks with huge great danes running around. Pit bulls, rotties, and anything else and love them! They are all so neat! Such personalities! It’s the little dogs that I don’t enjoy. yappy yap yap… ugh! They are aggressive and loud! The big ones, if brought up from a puppy, are really worth it! My dog brings so much joy into my life. She is the reason we go places, we also get more exercise because we have her… She has a scary face to some, but she wouldn’t hurt a baby! Her only fault: farting! LOL
    So take it from me who would freeze up when I saw a big dog or get close to one for 37 years… Dogs are fun!

    Reply
  9. marlis

    I understand your fear.. but rotties can be the biggest babies.. We had a rot-shepherd mix and he was the best friend ever.. I would be happy with another Rot anyday.. They are protective and gentle.. pray for tolerance for dogs.. keep the boyfriend, good ones are hard to find 🙂 xo marlis

    Reply
  10. Kathleen in Oregon

    Rottweilers are so sweet. My brother had one and even as an adult she thought she was a lap dog! A very sweet and loving dog.
    We had a Border Collie which was also very loving, but oh my, what a lot of work. They are like having a three year old that never grows up.

    Reply
  11. Tamra /The Gilded Barn

    Corey Rottweilers are actually family dogs!! They are happiest with people indoors.
    We had one 23 years ago. Gentle and loving. We would let her in at night and she was to sleep in the laundry room. No problem except when after our next two daughters were born….she would sneak into their room after we went to bed to sleep in front of the crib and would sneak out the minute she heard the alarm go off in the morning! She did this until they both went into regular beds then stopped. Sweet!!

    Reply
  12. Ann

    Dogs are great companions and if I ever lived alone I would get one for sure. I bought my first home many years ago when I was single and was so afraid since now I had this big front and back yard – so I got a dog for security. I loved my dog for her personality and for being such a good watch dog. I felt so much more secure with her. Then I got a second dog to keep the first one company during the day while at work. This second one was so cute with tons of personality and when she passed away I cried for a full day – it was like loosing a close friend. There is no reason to fear dogs – pray to St. Francis who loved all of God’s creatures. Pets may not be for everyone but if someone wants one they should go for it since many people will tell you pets bring much joy to one’es life.

    Reply
  13. Marilyn

    Big dogs would be on my list too, especially Rottweilers. I wondered if that was Mr. Espresso in one of the wedding pictures with Chelsea? Our children’s relationships are always a fine line of travel, but if they are cherished and loved by another that is what counts. It adds lots of points for me.

    Reply
  14. Amy Kortuem

    I think this may be the thing to get you over your fear of dogs – go big or go home!
    Maybe you could make a deal with Mr. Espresso. The bigger the dog, the more chocolate he owes you…

    Reply
  15. martina

    It all depends upon the owners and they have trained the breed. Neighbors have two big and scary looking pit bulls. However these dogs would rather lick your face and get cuddles than attack. Another neighbor was hurt by a dog as a child. She wants to get over this fear and is really trying. In fact a few months ago she was able to help me give IV fluids to one of my sick dogs.
    How can you take away points from a man who loves your daughter and brings you Kahlua and chocolates? He sounds like a keeper.

    Reply
  16. Lilly

    Thank-you for the link to the Kahlua commercial. I watched a whole bunch of them. Very funny!
    And I was afraid of dogs when I was young, and my fear of them made them act aggressive around me. I finally forced myself to sing a little song in my head and act casual around them and they acted differently. Then I got a dog which I loved. Now I like the big hairy creatures and they like me.

    Reply
  17. Chris Wittmann

    My step daughter had a rottweiler and he was a big
    pussycat! But I’m not crazy about big dogs myself as they usually drool alot and I can’t stand drool!
    Yep, that Spanish gal has great lips and the guy behind her isn’t bad looking either 🙂 Wish I could send you my big bottle of Kahlua Corey! I hardly ever drink it.

    Reply
  18. bramble

    If treated well, any breed of dog can be nice. Though scary to look at , never known a mean Rottweiler yet. We get looks with a lab/pitbull rescue dog and she has been the sweetest dog and great with kids of all ages. More importantly, if Mr.Espresso is kind and loving, and respects Chelsea, does anything else really matter? Happy thoughts!

    Reply
  19. jend’isère

    Expresso intensity is softened with milk and sugar. Seems like a sweety just teasing. Pets have been known to grow on people. People who prefer to animal to humans are worrisome.

    Reply
  20. Kathie B

    In Summer 1994 we were adopted by a nearly-grown, starving stray Rottweiler-German shepherd mix. He was just the sweetest friendliest thing you could ever imagine (even more so once we had him neutered, so he’d stop humping me).
    The vet made a good guess at his age based on dentition, leading us to surmise he’d been a children’s Xmas puppy who, like many mixed-breeds, grew far larger than his family ever expected, so that by July they dumped him in back of the big mall just below our house — where, after failing to find enough to eat on his own by hunting, he made his way to our property, where he ate all the dry food we put out for our cats, and found soft-hearted animal-lovers couldn’t bring themselves to take him to the pound (where he’d surely have been euthanized, owing to his age, size and being a mutt).
    The pup had a badly-impacted salivary gland which caused his neck to be severely swollen, which cost us close to $1,000 in vet bills, including major surgery to remove the gland by a veterinary surgical specialist (we didn’t even know there was such a thing!), which was another reason we were reluctant to send him to the pound, because he’d become a major investment (there’s no such thing as a free pet!).
    The neighbors used to get such a chuckle out watching the dog walk Farmboy Husband twice a day around the perimeter of our property! Dog lived to be 14.

    Reply
  21. Kathie B

    I’d be far more concerned if Mr. Espresso DIDN’T like animals.

    Reply
  22. labergerebasque

    Have you not seen the children’s books about Carl the Rottweiler by Alexandra Day?
    They are so beautiful. the illustrations are pure love. Surely a couple of copies will alleviate your fears. Try it!

    Reply
  23. Franca Bollo

    Exactly. That’s the acid test I used picking out my partner. He had a cat named Lillian.
    “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
    Mohandas Gandhi

    Reply
  24. Franca Bollo

    I was bitten the face by a dog and still have the scars. Physical scars but not emotional. One of the reasons I run is just so I can watch the dog gambol about along the Marina and in Crissy Field. They are joy made visible.

    Reply
  25. Franca Bollo

    Sounds as if I bit the dog in the face. “I was bitten in the face by a dog” is how it should have read.

    Reply
  26. Franca Bollo

    Maybe those people have been treated with more kindness by animals than people. Or maybe they just realize animals are the most vulnerable of the vulnerable and their rights must be recognized, too.

    Reply
  27. Beverly

    Here is a little quote by Mark Twain Corey.
    “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.”
    – Mark Twain
    And another quote by I don’t know whom..
    The more I know of people, the more I like my Dog.
    Note: I might have paraphrased that. :(..

    Reply
  28. Birdbrain

    OK, I’m with everybody else. Dogs are a reflection of their owners;when treated fairly, trained responsibly and loved, any breed can be a wonderful addition to anyone’s life. Funny thing is that alot of small dogs such as chihuahuas, have what a trainer calls “big dog in a little dog suit” meaning you get alot of attitude in a little dog which can make them just as scary as a big dog! Dogs are a source of unconditional love, can’t get that with a cat, they just tolerate you. Tell Chelsea to encourage Mr. Espresso to look for a breed that doesn’t shed. Dog hair everywhere is a pain!!

    Reply
  29. Zosia

    In media studies they though us “Dog bites man” is not news. “Man bites dog” IS news. My friend’s dog bit me in my behind when I was about 6. It was a small dog, about the size that could reach a 6-years old’s butt without jumping. After that I was scared of dogs for a long time. I’ve been around a few bigger dogs recently, but they all are used to people and are very friendly and obedient. So I think I am beginning to leave my fears behind, but I don’t know how I would feel about a Rottwailer.

    Reply
  30. Zosia

    In the first sentence it should read “they taught us”..

    Reply
  31. deborah

    I am not a fan of big dogs, BUT I think the chocolates and Kahlua are pretty hard to beat! lol!

    Reply
  32. vj kohout

    Corey,I never knew that Rottweilers were scary. My friend had two and they were the nicest dogs. Instead of big teeth they always had a long slimy saliva hanging from their mouth. I think they have an undeserved reputation of being mean.

    Reply
  33. Franca Bollo

    You only like animals (and humans) who you can boss around. Cats will just turn and show you their little puckered butt as they walk away.

    Reply
  34. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic

    We have 5 cats and a cocker spaniel…all are very loyal and privde “unconditional” love in return for a hug, a lap to rest upon, some play time, a walk…you get back what you give.

    Reply
  35. Natalie Thiele

    Good point!

    Reply
  36. Natalie Thiele

    I have never owned a dog, but have always found Rottweilers to be very gentle.
    Mug, our macho cat, once saw a man walking a Rottweiller down our sidewalk. He raced down our driveway and promptly shooed the dog and owner to the other side of the street. The dog’s owner and I had a good laugh.

    Reply
  37. jeni

    I go for walks in a park where people gather to walk their dogs, or go for a jog. I have observed they seem to be really content people. Maybe because they are outside enjoying the fresh air, or maybe that they all seem to greet each other in friendship? It seems like having a dog brings lots of benefits, and sometimes lots of work, but overall the benefits outweigh the negatives. I love my German Shorthair Pointer, Annie. She has loved our family unconditionally for 10 years, and hope for many more to come.
    NOW about Kahula, I’m in love with it as a hot fireside drink on a chilly fall evening, in fact I need some Now! Thanks for reminding me.
    Cheers.

    Reply
  38. Linda

    Corey, please let me send you Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day! You will fall in love with the illustrations, the story, and Carl the Rottweiler. We have many dog friends at the dog park where we take our lab mix Annabelle. One is a Rottweiler named Porter, but we only know him by his nickname, Lump of Love!
    Linda

    Reply
  39. Linda H

    Agree with you, Cheryl! I’m still looking for a good man that will love me as much as my cats do!
    Corey, I think you should pray to overcome your fear of dogs. Dogs (all animals) give their humans so much in the way of loving, laughing, and the simple acceptance of life.
    Anyone who is interested in planning for a pet like Mr. Espresso is deserves points in my book!

    Reply
  40. Linda H

    Agree with you, Cheryl! I’m still looking for a good man that will love me as much as my cats do!
    Corey, I think you should pray to overcome your fear of dogs. Dogs (all animals) give their humans so much in the way of loving, laughing, and the simple acceptance of life.
    Anyone who is interested in planning for a pet like Mr. Espresso is deserves points in my book!

    Reply
  41. PJT

    If he likes big black dogs, may I suggest a Newfoundland? A sweet, bear of a dog with no mean bones in their bodies. And so huggable! Okay, a little sloppy on the kisses but they only drool when food is near. Your religious medals remind me of all the ones I had hanging from my bedroom doorknob when I was a teenager, given to me by great aunts, grandma and nuns. Where did they all go? I would love to have even one of them again. I cannot pass up any nun items at a thrift store either. I almost bought a 5′ x 4’painting of 2 nuns but thought Jewish husband would not want it over the mantle!

    Reply
  42. Kimberly

    Oh Corey my heart skipped a beat when you said Rottweiler. My favorite dog of all time was a Rott named Holly. We got her as a pup and my oldest son was 2 at the time. She watched over my boy like he was one of her own. So precious. She was around for all of my boys and she was by far the sweetest dog we have ever had. I am still weak to Rotties to this day. Maybe my next pup will be one. Blessings, Kimberly

    Reply
  43. Sue from Seattle

    Corey, I was always afraid of dogs…a big one chased me home when I was about 5 or so. I was intrigued by them though and so 6 years ago at age 51 I got my first pup, a pretty sheltie girl named Jenny. In the past 6 years I have rescued 7 more …not all at once. I had 3 for the past couple years then on Sunday I had to take in a one that needed a place to stay for awhile. Dogs have totally transformed my life. They are the best most loyal companions. Yes, my house is a little messier but its full of love.
    It possible to teach an old dog new tricks.

    Reply
  44. Sarah

    Puppies are the best mine have have saved me and my sanity a million times these past six months

    Reply
  45. jend’isère

    Links to animals do indeed fulfill important human needs. It is so touching to see how couples first have a pet they adore together before they have their first baby.

    Reply
  46. heyjude195430@msn.com

    When I was six I walked to school and on the way were two huge German Shepherds who would rush the chain link fence when I walked by. I would literally quake. One day I walked over to the fence where they snarling and ksnahing their teeth and very calmly told them I would no long be afraid of them. And I wasn’t.
    When I married the consummate dog lover when I was 19, we had and cared for many, many dogs that he would bring home, the ones that wondered up, people gave us and some we would buy. All sizes, all breeds, smart collies and dumb as a door knob basset hounds. I’ve never been bit and never been attacked. That being said, I’m very dismayed at the misuse of certain breeds, most notably the pitbulls. I hope France does not have the problem with these vicious animals the was the US has.

    Reply
  47. Massilianana

    I understand your reaction. I love dogs (and I agree with PJT if Mr Espresso likes big black dogs , Newfoundlands are irresistible.)but I had a very scary experience with a Rottweiler that was my neighbours’dog in Brazil. So it really is not my dream dog (my number one is an Irish Setter and/or any no-breed-black dog with nice hair, fluffly dropping ears and a joyful tail)but I suppose it all depends on the dog’s personality and on the way he is raised by his owner.But anyway Mr Espresso is talking about having the dog for himself not as a Xmas present to you so…beat him to it and get yourself a dog !!!Chiche ?:o)

    Reply
  48. Nicolette

    Corey, you did fine with ALL my dogs. You had 7 around you. Big ones and small ones. It is all how the master treats them. Dogs just want to be loved and they will love you unconditionally. Don’t take take points away, so many dogs need a good home. For those who have open their home to a dog, have endless points in my book.

    Reply
  49. Barbara (Australia)

    You may want her lips, but I think I would quite like Roberto!

    Reply
  50. Kathie B

    As a cat-loving girlfriend of mine loves to say:
    Dogs have masters. Cats have staff.

    Reply
  51. Kiki

    Corey; Thanks for Kahlua reply; I KNEW that I knew it…. a bottle has been sitting absolutely AGES amongst our liquor supply – I hate it! HH loved it too – had I known it was so valuable to you, I wd have kept it for you… 🙂
    Sorry, I seemed to have mixed up Mr Espresso’s views with FH’s…. Shan’t happen again

    Reply
  52. Lemon Tree Tami

    Rotties can be sweet dogs but the trick is that they MUST be trained from a wee little pup to be social and to obey. My husband’s old roommate had one who was the best trained dog ever. I don’t think that they’ve been inbred like pit bulls. Then again, they need a lot of exercise so unless Mr. Espresso is going to be in a house with a yard I wouldn’t worry too much. 🙂

    Reply

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