Not the day to start the diet!

Over the last 2 years, I've been dealing with some medication issues due to my asthma. Which if you all know steriods, can cause weight gain and I have no self control. New job with lots of desk time and I just plain hate the cold and refuse to move out from under my winter blankie.

So with a firm resolution, I've got my new exercise tape, the weather is warming up for walking, new shoes on order and working on getting my food intake under control.

BUT...............this happened today...........

My Girl Scout Cookie order came in today.

Foiled again! I am so screwed.

Later gators...
C

More on the weekend...

Shelley graciously sent me a few photos before she left this morning to attempt to get back home, which is north of the Cities, right through the middle of the blizzard.

The lighting in this building is horrible, especially when the weather is nice. Please pardon the glare.

Ms and her little black dog, Merlot. The one single moment when that dog stood still! Merlot is in constant motion. Gaiting is fine, standing, stacking and paying attention-not so good. Though she is an awesome table dog.

This is Sulley, Merlot's sire and BOB out of the veteran class on Sunday.

And why we had to stay till the end of the show on Sunday.....Still working out details on this but isn't it just the prettiest picture? That dog loves Alec and he's kind of smitten too.

Later gators...
C

God bless her pointy little head

Ashley loves that expression when I talk about Peterman. But it's true. She's got a pointy little head and I wonder if there's anything in there at times. Can't help but love her though. She's reliable, predictable, hangs over the arms of the furniture, perpetual pig pen and never met a person she didn't like(well one but I agree with her on that one).

Weekend at the dog show. Man, I haven't been to a good show in, what, 6 mos or so? Yes I went to one, but honestly, should have saved my money and time on that one, so it doesn't count. I'll have pictures to post from various people in a couple of days-Rhonda took some of Pete in the cardigan ring and Shelley has a couple special photos of a red bearded young man and his new toy in the group ring.

Pete was BOW/WB for 2 pts on Saturday and WB for one on Sunday. Granted she just needs majors but knowing Pete as I do, we showed anyway and could have gotten a major on Saturday but one of the specials was absent. And after having a horrible last show, she needed a trial run before we hit the spring shows in search of those damn majors. She moved out like a dream, her expression is getting more consistent and she's blowing coat-which is good as she keeps so much that it makes her look fat.

Funny part was three different people thought I was pulling Marg out of the crate when I went to start grooming Pete this weekend. That's a good thing for the pointy little headed girl! Looking more and more like Auntie as she matures is a good thing.

Let's see--oh Ashley and Ryan aka the Fur-herd, came and kidnapped Walt for awhile. He seriously needed an operation to unattach him from his siamese twin brother, Charlie. He's now harassing Reece and the cats. Can't wait to hear more about his adventures in suburbia.

Tango got to go and play at the Pom specialty on Friday. She's such a hoot. Hates to show-you can see her going "bite me" to the Ms as she goes around the ring. It's so funny. Best Junior(she's the only one ever there) and 2nd in her veteran bitch class--only two there. She was tired by then and was like-I'm not walking, you can't make me, well okay, but I'm not going to look like I'm enjoying it. The rest of the weekend the Blond Bombshell sat on laps, got passed around and lots of pets and hugs and kisses. Everyone knows her and loves that she's going strong at 8 1/2.

What else, what else? Oh Shelley came down with Chipper. The three boys and their dad didn't get to pose for photos but it was hard not to tell that they are all related-first key-they all bark the same! It will be fun to do a stud dog class with them and then to see a judge do a double take in the breed ring with Dad. It was great to chit chat and talk all weekend.

The Ms made a new friend, Paige, who has a little doodlebug pemmie that she is just starting to show in juniors. She also helped out with a few other dogs during the weekend. Alec's boxer had a melt down on Saturday. As Alec put it, he was totally humbled by Dill. But Sunday, the expression was-I could do backflips right now! Dill figured out it's not so bad after all. No points but he's getting it. Lots of help from the boxer people as I know nothing about grooming one of those. Onward and upward from here.

Rain and rain and wind and wind on the way home. We had to stay till the last group so Alec could show his new play toy. Okay it's not his yet, few little wrinkles to iron out before it comes home, but there's no doubt the connection those two have. His breeder/handler even said Alec makes this dog look ten times better then she ever did--and she had him at #9 in the breed last year! More later when I get photos from Shelley--keep guessing as to what it is!

Well, now to Monday, work and ugh, end of the month. Yes it's that time, February is almost gone! More later as I get photos and some godo tidbits from the weekend.

Later gators...
C

Venting revisited

See, told ya it was just the beginning! Our accounting office moto for the longest time has been, "just make it go away" or "just hide it in postage." Today it changed to "Put on your big girl panties and deal with it" Bekka has a t-shirt with that on it--I want one.

So why is it that guys will listen some of the time but especially won't listen when it tends to be a topic in which they think they might know much more? Seriously, in this age of independant ladies and the internet, that don't cut it anymore.

The Big Tow is running, for now. I said it only does this stupid thing when it gets wet, so figures an electrical item. Pinpointed the area to look at and got told-hum, we'll see. Alec got it warmed up and dried off and what do ya know-it started! Now to figure out which of the four parts it could be-though all are pretty cheap to replace.

I still don't feel that much better for all the venting. Now it's the "how in the world am I going to get all this stuff done?" worry. Too much to do, too little time. And mud.

I see a Calgon moment in my future.

Later gators...
C

Venting

Venting has it's place in this world. You can't keep it all bottled up inside or you'll explode at some point. There are proper ways to vent and very improper. Take the teacher who without naming names, vented on her blog about the state of the students in today's schools. Honestly, I agree with her. Where else can you get such a public forum to prompt discussion of one of the biggest issues facing our future? Those that bashed her would rather sweep it under the rug, imho. At some point, you've tried it all-aka been there done that and a different, often drastic approach is needed.

So what am I venting about--I could take up mega webspace for all the things I think need to be addressed, but today, it's simple. I hate my Tahoe. The Big Tow is it's new nickname. In an effort to save some money, be a little more fuel efficent, we went with a smaller suv then the suburbans I'd been driving. Replaced the fuel pump last week-runs like a charm-now. Had been dead or dying for months. What's the term, waiting for the other shoe to drop? It dropped this morning, right in the mud. I think I know the issue now-it's damp and wet outside, everythings melting. Electrical-something is getting wet, but what? I swear by the time I get this ready to sell to my cousin, it's going to have about every thing new that it can. I want my 'burb back!!! But the key being, I need it today and this weekend. Timing is everything with this damn vehicle.

More venting about the wet and muddy. Do you seriously know how many loads of dog towels I do each day? The worst ones aren't who you think, such as Eddie or the puppies. Okay, take that back, Pete seems to be able to get mud all the way on top of her pointy little head and the tip of her tail. The worst-Max. Worse yet-Clairee. The worst-Tuli. They all know the drill-come in the door, stop, drop and roll on the rug. Wait for the belly rub and feet massage. Though I will say, Fred has the softest coat right now. Melting snow has the same effect on their coats as rain water has on my hair.

Oh and there's more! This kills me and I know I've done this post before. Full disclosure. The ability of people to brag about this and that that their dog does but not fully telling you that the points were made because you created the entry for you dog. Or that you went to that show because you knew no one else would go and that you could score those easy points. Even better, you had a big win but in all honesty, you won because you were the only one entered and got the big rosette by default.

Am I done yet? Yes for now. But just wait, the day is just beginning.

Later gators...
C

PS--the photo is of Annie and Tannet in IN. Their mom sent it to me earlier in the week, with the comment that this is really what happens in IN. The cute sofa photo a few posts back is a rarity. Now I'm waiting for an another photo. Seems face fighting with cones on post alter surgery is even better to watch and hear.

Vicious cycle

All I have to say is that I hate cold, love spring but inbetween is MUD.

Short post, pardon me, I must go and wipe off a few bellies, pull my wellies out of the muck and rescue the clyde's feathers. Even the ducks have had enough.

60 by tomorrow.

Yuck.

Later gators...
C

Foto Friday

I totally forgot about a photo from January. My yin and yang aka Phoebe and Frank. Seriously look at his face, he's like-go away, I hate cameras! Frankie loves his great granny, she gives the best face cleanings and loves to snuggle with the grandkids.


New photos of Annie(Beverly) and Tannet(Connor). Isn't he just so handsome-has his momma's face. And that Annie, wish she weren't a mismark. Both kids are in an awesome home, which you can't ask for more then that.

Last but not least, though already posted on the Daily Corgi ,this is Ike(formerly the foster known as Myko) and his BFF, Leonard(Boo x Shooter). They have such a hard life with big brother Arlo(Boo x Marg), humans Pam and Brian.

Later gators...

C

Snow angels

What a weird day. Back into the swing of things after the blizzard. School was delayed, but the county plows were out in full force. Our road is a piece of cake now, though I am still amazed at the depth of the drifts that were once stretched across the road. Road crews in our counties are the hidden angels.

Yesterday I realized that among us are people who add value to our lives or drain the life force out of us. I had a several incidences yesterday that really reinforce that. One I'll have to address next week per their request, but needless to say it was a pleasant though unexpected phone call. Another an email that was sad but in the end a joy to meet this person and be able to unknowingly have played a part in their lives. Two fold aspect of this was the fact that it is now fate that we meet and that other people once in our lives have chosen to continue to withhold from both of us. I do believe that this goes back to my sin of omission post many moons ago. Feeling a need to harm another person by refusing full disclosure in the end, only hurts you. God has a way of turning this to benefit those you aim to hurt.

But even with that sort of moment yesterday, it was wonderful to realize that there are still people who do for others for nothing more then a sense of community. We have a Snow Angel! Someone, no idea who, during the last two snow storms, has come by while we are back at work and plowed our driveway! It's 150' long, usually not bad other then one spot as it starts to go up to the road and then right at the entrance onto the road. We pulled in last night to a wide, open, plowed driveway! To whom ever you are--THANK YOU! If you stop in to introduce yourself one of these days I think I manage a small reward of warm home baked bread or Hawaiian Banana bred. A hot cup of coffee or mug of hot chocolate?

And we have dog angels too! Frankie makes those. He loves nothing more then rolling and sliding on fresh snow. I don't think I see him walk more then 2 feet before he rolls. Kim remembers this from his first snow adventure while we were in Chicago for the Christmas Cluster and on his walk outside the hotel, he rolled like a snake all over the snow. Too dark to take photos of his works of art-see if there are any left over the weekend.

With that, have a great weekend and ask yourself this: Am I a drain or do I help plug up the holes in someone's life?

Later gators...
C

My least favorite color-white

Tuesday afternoon I text the young son at home and ask" What's the weather like at home?" Of course this is in an attempt to try and figure out when to leave work to beat the wind and snow. His reply....

"White"

reply #2

"snow"

reply #3

"cold"

Smart a** kid.

But he is right--it's really white out. Definition of the roads and everything else for that matter is hard. David had to wear his sunglasses on the way home to try and get some definition of the road ahead of him. And that white is caused by SNOW-loads of it. I know, I know, Shelley's been getting 18" at a crack this winter but for us, 13-14 inches by the end was more then enough. And last but not least, cold. I don't do cold. period. This morning it as a toasty -4 when we drove into town, windchill not figured in there.

So the recap in photos-no work, no school. I cooked, I cleaned, Alec cooked. David and the Ms spent the day out with the dogs, trenching through the 4' drifts, er uh, make that glaciers coverign the entire front yard.

Yes this is Pete. She was rolling, being rolled and head diving into the drifts in the back yard. Then in typical Pete fashion, figured out how to hang off the top of the drift like she does the chairs in the house.

Clairee Bear hanging out with her kid on top of the 4' glaciers in the front yard. They are on top of the peony beds.
The pack in hot pursuit!
David trenching a path to the barn. Behind the Ms is a large hole she is digging in search of her sled that she left out by the dog walk. 4' x 20' later she found it and took her all day.

More trench-David's 5'11' for reference.

View to the front gate-natural snow fence, always leaves a decent path from gate to front door! No shoveling there.

Oh and they had to find the other hydrant since the barn one is frozen(long story). The dogs love running into it and then climbing the sides to the top.

And this is why they can't go out unsupervised. Max just walks right over the fence. Trenches to be installed over the next few days. Somewhere in there is a 69' international truck--free to a good home if you can dig it out!
And last but not least, the garage. Since we don't park vehicles in it, no need to shovel but I would really like one or two of the clay pots under there. Think I can get someone to find them for me?

Later gators....
C

Wish I may, Wish I might....

....be transported to the land of sun, sand and at the dogs, horses and ducks request--green grass.

6-12 inches, Blizzard warnings starting at noon through tomorrow. Maybe more snow, maybe less, depends on how much ice this storm dumps on MO first. Which I can officially say, there is one place in this world I would rather not be then here, and that's in the frozen south of the Missouriland popsicle!

Not really sure that the ground hog will even be able to get his door open to search for his shadow tomorrow.

Later gators...
C