ARGHHHHhhhhhhh!!

Stella is walking better on her leash all the time... at least outside, she is.
I decided that seeing as how she was doing so well, I'd take her to the nursing home. Bad idea! There are just too many smells and too many people who want doggie kisses for her to calm down and walk nicely beside me. But even though it was hard, I think I'll start taking her every week so she gets used to all the distractions while walking. Maybe I should put the Gentle Leader on for a few minutes before we go :)

Unbelievable!!!

So, while Stella was at the groomer's I sat down and watched the Gentle Leader video, determined to get her walking well on a leash. After I picked her up, I went through the process of adjusting it to fit her. I attached the leash and tried to walk her around the house. Afterall, if we were going to use this in public, I wanted her to cooperate so we didn't look like a couple of losers out there.
She hated it and tried to paw it off. When that didn't work, she laid on the floor and refused to budge. I got frustrated and said, "the Hell with it" and pulled it off. I attached the leash to her regular collar and took her for a walk as usual. Amazingly enough, I only had to pull her back less than 10 times during our whole 40 minute walk!!! The rest of the time, she trotted along beside me just as cute as you please :) Every so often, she looked up at me with a big grin on her face as if to say, "look at me, I'm doing it." Guess all I needed to do was threaten the Gentle Leader :) I feel like we have it almost conquered and couldn't be happier! :) Stella got one of her favorite peanut butter chew treats when she got home :)

Dog Tired

Kathy brought her dog, Roscoe up late this afternoon and we took both dogs for a walk. Stella still pulls like crazy on her leash but she's getting better. Or at least she did a little better this morning. It was hard for her to remember not to run ahead with the distraction of Roscoe. On the way back, she did much better. I suppose that was because she was tired out. She snuggled right into Roscoe and they walked side by side, touching, most of the way home. If he stopped, she sat and waited for him. It was pretty cute :)
Hopefully, she'll do better tomorrow. I think I'm going to finally try the gentle leader. She has to be at the groomer all morning so I think I'll watch the video then.
I sure hope she gets it soon. I'd love to be able to take her for a walk without having it be so painful. It just isn't any fun to walk a dog who is straining as hard as she can against the leash :( I have a blood blister on my right hand from holding her back.
We can both use the excercise but this is ridiculous.

Congratulations Whitney & Delaney!

Saturday and Sunday I went to high school graduation open houses. UGH! It's hard to go to those kinds of things alone. Especially when you only know the graduate and the parents. All three of them are totally busy with all the guests so you get to sit by yourself and look like a friendless dork.
Unless, you're like me and breeze in, appear rushed, greet and congratulate the graduate and parents and then tell them you're so busy, you can't stay but you really wanted to stop and wish them well. Then you go home and wonder what the Hell to eat. You're starved but didn't eat anything at the open house because then you'd have to eat alone and look more like a friendless loser. UGH! I'm sure glad that's over again for a year!

How Come?

When you're young and can sleep in in the mornings, life is such that there is no time for lollygagging around? Kids to feed, dishes to do, laundry, housecleaning, grocery shopping, etc.

Now that I'm old and the kids are grown and gone, I have plenty of time to sleep in. Problem is, I wake up early and once I'm awake, that's it. I can't fall asleep again for anything.

It's 8:00AM , I stripped my bed, washed and dried the sheets, cooked breakfast, did my dishes, re-made my bed and just put my third load of laundry in the washer. At the rate I'm going, I'll be ready to call it a night around 3:00PM :)

Happy Birthday Marty!

Today is Marty's birthday. He, Jane and I went out for dinner last night. Marty is quite well known and liked at the new Mexican place because he's such a bullshitter and he likes to tease with the waiters and owner. And, because he and Jane eat there often.
At any rate, they were all pleased with themselves when they snuck up behind him, whipped off his baseball cap and replaced it with sombrero, all the while singing Happy Birthday in Spanish :)

Marty gets this week's award for being a good sport, especially when they painted his face with whipped cream, and I'm glad I keep a camera in my purse :)

I Need A Life

I've left the house three times since Monday afternoon. Once yesterday to take Stella to the groomer. Once to pick her up and then once today to pick the boys up from Day Care. Sucks to be me.

The New Barley

The Barley Pop had their grand opening this weekend. Patty, Deb, Cindy and I were there Saturday night. It's a beautiful place and best of all, it's clean and there's no smoking. However, I can't help but miss the dirty, stanky, smelly, smoky old place. It's just not the same anymore :(

Terrorizing the Dog

Yes, I Am Crazy

I had Jameson for the day yesterday and when I dropped him off last night, I brought Gage home to spend the night :)
Yep, call the men in the white suits...

Wedding Dress

My friend Jane's daughter is getting married 6-7-08. Jane's dress needed some minor alteration and I offered to do it. We're talking about a 20 minute job, tops. I've been putting it off for a week. I finally got off my ass and did it today :)
I love when I can cross something off my to do list :)

Merry Christmas To Me!!

Sarah and Allan gave me a picture of a wall gallery frame for Christmas. She had ordered it from The Red Envelope and was having it delivered to my house.

After Christmas, she started getting e-mails periodically saying it was on back order. It was on back order for 5 months but they finally came through and it was delivered Friday :) I spent all weekend finding pictures I liked in the right size and orientation.
Karter, my hero, hung it today :) Thanks, Buddy! What would I do without you? :)

Mother's Day

I got the cutest box of Kleenex with Stella's pictures printed on it from Sarah for Mother's Day. She always finds the most unique gifts :) See for yourself how to make them... http://www.mykleenextissue.com/ Thanks, Sweetie!

I got a wineglass from Allison which will be my official Friday Night Happy Hour glass :) And the envy, no doubt, of all my girlfriends. Thanks, Sweetie!

Karter cooked us all dinner last night. Bruce, my Grandma, and their gang were all there. He does an excellent job on steaks and even though he and Bruce eat theirs charred through and through, he still makes a great medium rare steak. Thanks, Sweetie!

And from Stella, I got a new camera :) I didn't need one but this one has 8 megapixels and 5X optical zoom and is slim, trim and fits in your pocket. My old one is slim, trim and fits in a pocket but only has 5 megapixels and 3X optical zoom. It takes fabulous pictures but c'mon, the new one is hot pink!! :)

Allison has been wanting a purse sized camera for sometime now. She'll get my old one :)

Mother

Look What We Woke Up To!

And YES, it IS May tenth!!

And They Call It Puppy Love

Bad Dog!

I wonder how long before FuckFace starts complaining about the damage Stella has done to my lawn. I now have her on pills to neutralize her urine and I put some patch grass seed down. If that doesn't work, I'm prepared to call a lawn service to have them do the spray on grass thing.

Happy Birthday Karter!

Hard to believe you're such a young pup!
Hope you have a great day!

Cinco de Mayo

I have a dinner date with Jane & Marty to go to Mi Mexico tonight :) I'm so lucky to have them for friends :)

7:15 AM

Grandma? Daddy said if I could come to your house for the day?
Guess who has a companion for the day?

Happy Hour Tonight

7:00PM, my house :)
On the menu is homemade guacamole, salsa, tortilla chips, chipotle ole dip and chicken quesadillas. Sour cream on the side for those that like it. We haven't had it for awhile so I'm hoping for a good turnout. Stella loves it when I have company.

For The Love Of Crystal

After I took Stella to the groomer this morning, I came right back home. I immediately started taking all the crystal out of my larger curio cabinet. I washed the shelves and mirrors inside and then cleaned all the glass on the outside. I washed and dried every piece of crystal before returning it to the cabinet. The only breaks I took were to transfer clothes from the washer to the dryer and to go potty. Three hours later, I was done just in time to go pick up Stella.
Tomorrow, I'm going to tackle the smaller curio cabinet. That only contains pottery and has a lot fewer pieces, thank God!