Mini is at it again...

Mini has been barking her tiny head off all day...the great protector, who isn't much taller than a barbie doll. I work from home and spend most of my day on the phone. I actually had a customer ask me if it was "bring your dog to work day?". First of all, could you imagine the chaos that would ensue with bring your dog to work day? What about all the cat owners...how angry would they be?...not to mention the 1 in 1000 that owns a ferret. Awesome sounding on paper, but in reality, not a good idea. Even if such an event did exist, I highly doubt Mini would be invited back.

I told her " no, its beat your dog with a flip flop day"... I wouldn't of course, but she really needs to zip it.

Disturbed

Saturday night in an effort to prevent another scratch and ding to my car, I decided to park in front of my apartment and risk an over night parking ticket than park in the public lot...parking a huge downside to living here even though I adore my apartment.

About 1 am I decide to hit the hay...I'm laying in bed and I hear an AWFUL loud, crunching noise and I'm thinking "oh snap, someone just hit my car damn it"...I get up and go to the window and in the street below I see a man lying motionless. That horrible noise was not a car hitting a car, it was a car hitting a person. The street seemed to fill with people instantly, and I'm guessing the majority of them were not sober as yelling and fighting began, in an effort to keep people away from the body. I yelled out the window that I was calling 911. Mini was going berserk, and this man had yet to move. The police came, order was somewhat restored and they cleared the street of people. I then watched as they cut this mans clothes off and eventually loaded him in the ambulance. Then they measured the location and marked it with chalk...the marks remain today, although with tonight's pending storms I'm quite certain they'll be gone by morning.

Living here in Smalltown USA, I have been unable to locate any type of news regarding this accident via any media outlet...TV, newspaper, radio...nothing. I have been hearing that horrible sound in my dreams and I think it would go away if I just had some information on the condition of this man. I live right downtown above a store and because it happened so late, the store owners were unaware of the accident, so no one has any type of information regarding his condition except to say that he was taken flight for life to the hospital.

I cross that street everyday, walking the dog, taking Maddie to daycare and the park. There have been several times that people haven't looked before turning and almost hit us, so careless. Its amazing to be so careful, look both ways, hold hands etc...and someone not paying attention could change your world forever.

Totally Lame

Well, my personal laptop finally crapped out on me... I knew this was coming, but I hate being forced into buying something. For now, I'm using my work laptop which blows because I cant view such entertainment as "fainting goats" on youtube! Lame, lame lame! (tantrum)

Memorial Day

This morning Maddie and I woke up just in time for the parade...it lasted about an hour and was actually quite pleasant, totally made up for the sucky carnival yesterday. After the parade, we went to a hotel and swam all day. All and all, a wonderful day.

I served 2 years in the ARMY in the early 90's, and had an easy tour of duty compared to some... I am grateful to the men and women who serve in the armed forces. I don't always agree with the politics of war, but I appreciate those who have fought hard, and sacrificed themselves for the sake of freedom.

Have you ever had one of those days when you wanted to punch YOURSELF in the face?

Chocolate fest wasn't as fun as it looked...

"Mini"

During one of our conversations when my mom was dying (jeez, thats hard to type) in November of 2006, she asked me to take her dog "Mini". I didnt even think twice, of course we would take Mini, I said yes without hesitation!


Mini is a Shih Tzu, which I pronounce "shit zoo"...which is appropriate since our house feels like a shittin zoo most of the time. Mini is a little dog and I must say, I'm partial to big dogs. My Brier was a Chesapeake and I always thought since having my daughter that it was only natural that my next dog would be a Golden, because of their reputation as loyal family dogs. I think only the good Lord knows what makes little dogs bark all the time, as I am unable to figure it out.


When Mini joined our house, Maddie was 3 and Brier was 12 and totally blind...a big adjustment for everybody. Brier wanted nothing to do with her and acted betrayed by me. Maddie didnt know when to leave the dog alone and was constantly getting nipped...never very hard, but I was desperate to make this work since I was emotionally attatched to the dog. In Mini's defense, it was a huge adjustment for her as well. A year and a half later, I think we finally understand each other. She is very needy, very loving and VERY quirky. She does not like her feet touched, so my favorite game to play with her, of course, involves touching her feet...its called "bear trap" and basically consists of me grabbing her feet when she walks by and not letting go.


This is what a shih tzu is supposed to look like:



















This is what Mini looks like:







I keep her hair short because its cleaner and cooler. I keep it shaved in the winter and have a variety of outfits she can wear to keep warm which she doesnt seem to appreciate. You would think since I've taken away her natural ability to keep warm she would want to wear a lovely wool coat or perhaps a sparkely sweater...but of course you have to touch her feet to put these adorable outfits on so she's pretty surley when all is said and done...she's a perfect fit to our little family.

The most delicious thing ever...

Peanut butter whoppers!

They taste just like peanut butter capn' crunch without the milk!! Awesome!

Chocolate Fest

Every Memorial Day weekend the charming little town that I live in celebrates Chocolate Fest! There is a Nestle' factory in town so we have coined ourselves 'Chocolate City USA', and by we, I mean the powers that be in this town, because I'm quite sure I would have "coined" a different name...

This is the first year I'll actually be taking Maddie inside the fair grounds, in years past we've enjoyed some of the festivities but haven't actually gone inside because I wasn't going to drag a toddler around in the sweltering heat just to show off her tantrum skills to the public. This year, I think, my little thrill seeker is ready for some seemingly dangerous, poorly put-together carnival rides.

What I'm not looking forward to is my raging PMS. I can see the headlines now: Bloated lunatic tramples children in this years chocolate kiddie parade in an attempt to reach the 'chocolate indulgence wine and chocolate tasting booth' grabbing complimentary, fresh, warm Toll House Cookies along the way! ... Wish me luck!

Marley & Me

In an effort to read something other than Harry Potter, I begrudgingly picked up a copy of Marley & Me...I know, I know, about two years after the rest of the country. I finished Friday night in a sobbing heap on the floor. I was crying so hard at the end of that damn book that I could no longer taste my wine and my eyes were puffy the next day, I looked pathetic taking my daughter to ballet... I should have known better, my wonderful dog Brier, reminded me very much of the dog in the book and died in a similar manner. I was devastated. Brier had been with me, a faithful companion, for almost 13 years and died 4 months to the day I lost my mom to cancer...2 best friends within months of each other. Dogs are amazing, funny and unconditionally loving creatures, as aggravating as they can be on occasion, I cant imagine life without one.

Why on Earth am I blogging?

I'm not really sure why to tell you the truth. I've read other blogs and I've laughed, cried, and I've been inspired. I"m not sure I can do any of those things, but sometimes you just have to get things out...I'm a single parent to a 4 year old and I'm going to use this forum to "let my hair down" so to speak. Sometimes you have to let it all hang out, the good, the bad and the ugly. Although, I think I will try to stick with the good!