blogging...

As I attempt to type, I have a Border Collie gently rubbing her face against mine. She's so damn sweet that my heart swells when she comes near me. I love her dearly, but she makes a far better door than a window.

I'm going to the salon tomorrow so I can get my hair done in a funky cool way. I have 5 different shades of red so we'll see what we come up with. Now I just have to figure out how to get it cut. To chop or not to chop, that is the question.

I'm working from home before and after my appointment. Typically I'm ridiculously productive while working from home. There isn't any of that wink, wink, nudge, nudge type of working from home either. I mean, it's the real deal, typically. But, I think tomorrow isn't going to be as productive as I am normally. I have a ton of stuff to do and I'm running out of time. I'm hoping to get some stuff done, like boil some of the veggies and bake an apple pie. I also have to get stuff together for the weekend, which I can do after turkey day.

For turkey day I'll be heading to my sister's house where Iyman & Keith will cook the turkey and Dad & I will make everything else. It's low key and a good time, just my kind of day. I have to remember to bring Scene It so we can play that at some point... as long as my very pregnant sister is still awake that is.

I'm exhausted and going to bed.

D

draggin' ass...

Man am I tired today. I feel like I could go to sleep, for the night, right now. That's never a good thing at 3pm.

So real quick 'cuz I'm not all chatty right now, Tweak did so much better than I was expecting at her herding lesson on Saturday. I doubt she'll ever be phenomenal at it but she's trainable and if she enjoys it, we'll do it. Sarah can speak to the details using all the right jargon about eyes and whatever else. She got to meet sheep, circle the herd a bit and eat sheep poop. In a dog's world, it doesn't get much better than that I suppose. The rest of the kids were in the car and unable to partake in the sheep poop. Oh well.

I got down to Joisey around 8:30 or so Sat night, ate dinner with Kara, Erich & Miyuki, had a couple of brewskies, walked the pups and went to bed. Thrilling stuff.

Competed on Sunday - didn't expect to walk away with anything to be honest. We came home with a 3rd place in Spot Landing, 3rd place in D/A, 2nd place in Time Trial and an overall 2nd place in Time Trial for the weekend. I thought it was pretty cool that we were faster than all of Saturday's times and took it for overall. We got a pretty medal thing for that one.

Back to work so I can blow this popsicle stand sometime tonight.

D

hump day...

The seasons are changing and I am anxious for a change as well. I feel restless deep down but have no idea why or what to do about it. Maybe it's because I was on the go for the entire summer and now that fall is here things are slowing down a bit. That could be it. Regardless I'm itching for change.

So, I'm going in to get my hair done next week. It will be wild and vibrant and different. I'm looking for a new hair style too so if you see any that you'd think would be good for me, send it along! I'm kind of limited since I still want it long but I think it will be considerably shorter after next week. I'm really in the mood for change. I'm hoping chopping it off and coloring it will sate the unexplainable itch - it has in the past....

I'm going away with the pups this weekend and next. This weekend I'll be in CT on Saturday for Tweak's first herding lesson. I think that will be very interesting! She herds the Min Pins around the house but usually barks like an ass when she sees a strange animal. I don't know how much herding instinct she has or if it will override her bark-at-them-and-run thing. I can't wait!! Sarah's meeting me down there too I'll be able to see what her dogs too. Oh! And I'll get to meet Tweak's sire! I totally forgot about that. Cool. :)

After we're done herding, I'm driving down to NJ. I'm staying with Kara & Erich at their place on Saturday night and will head to the Meadowlands Pet Expo in Secaucus, NJ for a disc dog competition on Sunday. Unfortunately I'll have a long ride home but ah well. It'll be fun. :)

Next Wed is hair day and Thurs is Thanksgiving. The new tradition is for me and my dad to cook everything over my sister's house while her husband and my brother fry the turkey. I'm going to try and get as much done as I can beforehand so it's not such a rush at the end. Thursday night and Friday morning I plan on demo'ing the shower so my b-i-l can replace the tile. Every piece of tile in the house is pink or maroon and I'm determined to rid myself of every single on of them. After that, I'll pack up the car with stuff and dogs and head up to Montreal for a flyball tournament. I'm looking forward to it! I think I'm going through withdrawals or something it's been so long!

D

pictures...

The summer is such a blur to me that I don't remember what I've posted for pictures during that time. I was looking through them tonight to pull some out for a friend when I noticed a couple of cool ones and thought I'd share.



This isn't a particularly good flower picture but it looks like it is crying. I can't believe I missed this one before. Kinda neat.



Look at the color of this flower. I want my hair that color next time. Amazing.



These are my chive flowers. Pretty for an herb!



You can see how neglected my garden got this summer when I wasn't there by the plethora of green weeds in the background. But good lord, would you look at the color of this flower?! I want my hair *that* color!!!!


Early morning, a dragonfly sunning itself on the screen house. I don't know why I like these bugs but I do - enough to have a tattoo of one anyway.

I didn't take as many pictures this year as I have in the past. I'll have to rectify that next year...

D

Having that feeling again...

...that not-quite-normal-feeling because I don't have the kid thing going on. Every once in a while it rears its ugly head and I have to talk myself out of feeling defective. I know I'm not, or at least my brain/mind knows I'm not. But times like this make me wonder. Where the fuck does this feeling come from?

I like my friend's kids. I like my nephew and soon-to-be niece. But I only like them if they behave. I'm not a fan of the out of control, won't listen to no one, do whatever they want, have no care in the world, never had a consequence in his/her life type of kids. I dislike the little assholes and I'm not afraid to say it.

Basically, I don't like them if they act like me. :p I'm just kidding. Trust me when I say I've learned what consequences are. The hard way. Each time.

I'll get over it, I always do.

And I won't give a flying that my profile pictures always have dogs in them. I'll remember that that's something to be thankful for. That I won't have a little snot back talking to me. Nor will they sneak out of the house, steal the family car, drink when they're too young or do drugs, waste their college education and not take care of me in my old age. Instead, I'll have to deal with Millie ripping apart a Bic and having blue paws or picking up the insides of stuffed animals after the poor thing gets shredded or vacuuming. Hmmm... me thinks I'm feeling better already!

I'm not defective, I'm procreatively challenged in the head and I think I'll stay that way. :)

D

It's been a while...

I blame Facebook. It's the biggest time suck you've ever seen. Ridiculous. Stupid eggs.

Just a few quick notes:

Here's a picture of my soon-to-be-puppy and his litter mates. Since there are only 2 males, either the brindle one or one of the solid black ones will be mine. I'll have to go back to that list of names I wrote since I can't remember a single one of them now.


The Dunkin Donuts on 28 closed down the ice cream portion of the store but now has coffee shakes. Oh my goddess are they freakin' yummy. Filling, but yummy.

I got the friggin' deal of the day when I stopped at the pet supply store for a ticked off spoon (Tweak had a nasty bugger on her) and noticed they had a new, unopened Kong Time on the clearance rack for $20. Sha-wing! Yup, that bad boy is mine and Millie will be in heaven once that puppy is up and running.

When there are 9 days left before Linen's & Things closes forever and everything is 50-70% off, do *not*, I repeat, do *NOT* get in any little old lady's way. She'll kick your ass with that cane without a backwards glance.

Freecycle is the best invention known to mankind (right behind the loo). You can get rid of all your good crap without an ounce of guilt. It's like rescue for stuff - you find it a good home where it lives happily ever after. It's a beautiful thing.

Tomorrow is Free Electronics Recycling day at the dump. I'm thrilled since I have a few computers and monitors to get rid of. Now I just have to find the dump. :)

When you coo over my dog and say "She's so cute, I want to give her a hug!", do not be surprised in the least if she obliges you. Quite frankly, she doesn't care that you're wearing white, she just heard you say the word "hug" and she knows what that means. Sorry about that. The husband made me laugh when I said to them "She's friendly", and he replied "So is she", as his wife squatted down to pet her.

Saturday Night Live is a re-run this week - it's the one Millie's in so make sure you set your Tivo!

I put together Skootchie's shadow box tonight. I've had it for 2 years but never got around to it. I pinned a picture of her and three of her toys in it. Now I just have to hang it up, which will take another couple of years.

I saw a button today that said "I'm smiling, that alone should scare you." I. Must. Have. It.

Tomorrow includes the visit to the dump, Facebook, a trip to get dog food, Facebook, more cleaning, more Facebook, closing the pool (I know!) and I'll probably top it off with some Facebook. Stupid eggs.

D

How to Sweep the Floor

At least, this is what it's like at my house...

1. Put all of the dogs outside in the fenced yard
2. Pick up the dog toys
3. Separate the dog toys into 3 piles - intact, skins and trash
4. Pick up the double armful of trashed toys and place them in the trash in the kitchen
5. Let one of the dogs in
6. Chase the lone dog away from the pile of toys
7. When the dog's focus changes from the intact toys to the stuffed animal skins, throw as many of the intact toys as you can in the corner
8. Try to pick up the skins as fast as possible
9. Pick up the skins that were scattered when the dog ran to the back door
10. Let the dog out
11. Continue picking up the remainder of the skins
12. Let another dog in
13. Throw the skins in the trash
14. Watch the dog make a bee line for the pile of intact toys, picking up a dropped skin along the way
15. Watch the intact toys scatter as the dog bowls into them like stacked pins
16. Chase the dog around the house trying to get the skin back
17. Inadvertently play tug of war with the skin until you remember to say "out"
18. Throw the skin in the trash
19. Wonder how the dog can fit 4 toys into its mouth
20. Pick up the intact toys one at a time and toss them in the dog toy bin
21. Laugh in a frustrated kind of way as the dog retrieves every toy you threw
22. Grab the toy in the dog's mouth and lead the dog outside
23. Try to prevent the remaining dogs from getting in the house
24. Count to 10 from your unsuccessful attempt of preventing the dogs from getting in the house
25. Grab a handful of kibble, show the dogs you have it
26. Walk outside and toss the kibble into the grass
27. Remember to bend your legs as they zoom past, .o2 seconds too late
28. Run back into the house and quickly close the door
29. Pick up all of the intact toys, again, and toss them into the dog toy bin
30. Pick up and shake off each one of the 6 dog beds, place them on the couch
31. Kick one of the marrow bones with your slippered foot
32. Curse while dancing around in pain
33. Pick up the marrow bones and gently put them in the bin
34. Run to the back door to stop the loud, out of key, 4 dog serenade
35. Bend your knees, belatedly, again
36. Bellow in pain causing all but one of the dogs to scatter
37. Grab the broom and sweep the big pieces of toy stuffing into a pile
38. Chase the not-so-smart dog away from the stuffing pile
39. Sweep the dust, dirt and hair balls towards the pile that is no longer a pile of toy stuffing
40. Chase the not-so-smart dog away from the stuffing pile that is no longer a pile
41. Remake the toy stuffing pile and the dust, dirt and hair balls pile
42. Combine both piles while shoo'ing the not-so-smart dog away at every turn
43. Move the ottoman
44. Bellow at the not-so-smart dog that just cow-a-bunga'ed into the large pile of stuffing, dirt, dust and hair balls
45. Pick up the not-so-smart dog and place him in the bathroom
46. Close the bathroom door while using your foot as a blocker
47. Sweep under the ottoman and move the small pile towards the big pile area
48. Re-re-make the big pile of toy stuffing, dust, dirt and hair balls
49. Using the dustpan and brush, make 7 trips to the trash in the kitchen (one for the pieces dropped along the way)
50. Move the ottoman back
51. Put the dog beds back into position (which got knocked off the couch at some point)
52. Realize it's 10pm and time for bed
53. Let the not-so-smart dog out of the bathroom
54. Find a small dog lying on top of the toys in the dog toy bin
55. Find a big dog squashed into a cat bed in the other room
56. Find the shy dog under the corner portion of the kitchen table bench (read 4 inch wide opening)
57. Pick up the forgotten broom to put it away
58. Roll your eyes as 3 dogs scatter and 1 not-so-smart dog dances around your legs barking at you.

True story.

Stay tuned for my next DIY article title "How to Make a Sandwich."

D