crazy 8s

crazy 8s.

So I found this little fun thing that's been floating around the blog world the past few weeks and decided to give it a try :)

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To:
1) Our cruise in September
2) A new project at work - I'm actually getting bored :)
3) The Vera Bradley outlet sale next weekend in Ft. Wayne
4) Grandpa's birthday party next month (he is 90!)
5) working on a couple scrapbooks for friends
6) summer!!
7) Keith being done with school
8) starting a family in the next year or so

8 Things I Did Yesterday:
1) slept in
2) mowed grass
3) took Grandpa out for lunch
4) checked on my parents cat (they are out of town)
5) took a nap
6) got a sunburn
7) went to Walmart
8) worked on birthday party invitations

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
1) fly anywhere in the world at the drop of a hat without having to pay for it.
2) completely redo the house - without a mortgage :)
3) travel WITH the dogs - lots of places aren't pet-friendly
4) only work a day or so a week (just to see everyone and keep up with the gossip)
5) anything artistic (paint, draw, etc.)
6) hire a maid
7) get my husband to STOP putting his clothes in the bathroom floor
8) teach the dogs to pick up their toys and stop dragging them out as soon as I put them away :)

8 Shows I Watch:
1) any of the Housewives shows
2) House Hunters
3) Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
4) A Baby Story
5) House
6) Big Love
7) Extreme Home Makeover
8) King of Queens

Brothers

Although the boys certainly interact and harass each other - it is rare that they lay down close to each other. I think Chewie was in the bed first - and doesn't look particularly pleased with his "company".

No grandkids for my mom (yet) = my dogs "hunting" Easter Eggs

Chewie actually is VERY good at this. He picks the eggs up and bites down so it "cracks" open - and voila there is a dog treat inside.

Marley and Me

I read the book many months ago - but couldn't bring myself to go see the movie in the theater. I knew from the ending of the book that tears would definitely be involved and I really didn't want that to be a public event....

SO I finally broke down and bought the DVD last week and just got around to watching it a few days ago. In all honestly I really wasn't that impressed. Something about it just didn't "click" with me.

One of the lines in the movie has really stuck with me though - even days later. Mom has had her fill of a new baby, a toddler, and an overactive puppy -so she spouts off "Get rid of him - he's just a dog. People do it all the time." The movie goes on and of course that isn't what happens but I still couldn't let that go. I think what bothers me the most is people in fact do this all the time and don't think twice about it.

I can't even begin to understand this thinking. I fully understand that not everyone loves animals as much as I do - and I respect that. I however can't respect people who get pets without thinking about the commitment they should be making. A dog/cat/bunny/etc. isn't a disposable item that one gets and get "rid of on a whim". They are living breathing creatures who deserve better treatment than that! I especially hate to see all the bunnies and chicks out this time of year. They are cute and fuzzy now - but in a few weeks where will they be?

I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here - as most people who read my blog are animals lovers themselves. However I do hope this movie has made the general public stop and think about what they could be getting themselves into with a cute fuzzy puppy. Take my Micco for example - he is a Marley through and through. He has a zest for life that is unmatchable and watch out if you get in his way :)

Easter is around the corner and I just found the dog's bunny ears from last year - look for pictures soon!

Anxiety

So I am - by nature - a pretty anxious person. Most people have told me that I do a good job at hiding it; but still it always lingers right under the surface. Now my anxiety isn't at a "white padded room" or "medication" level - but it still affects my daily life. What makes me so mad about this is that I really don't have anything to be anxious about! My life is good, my family and friends all healthy, and my job secure (or as secure as one can be right now).

So what I am anxious about then? Stupid, unimportant things that end up being NOTHING. Take last night for example - the stress was over a car rental of all things. We are going on a vacation in June and I can't find a car rental at a decent price. I spent hours online yesterday and I'm still worrying about it today!

I know everyone has a certain level of stress and anxiety so I'm sure I'm not all that unusual. Maybe a new hobby would help......

Cricut

I started scrapbooking about 7 years ago with a book for Chewie. From there I have done MANY - our wedding, our honeymoon, 5 for my nieces and nephews of our trip to Disney, one for Micco, etc. I have also sold a few "blank" scrapbooks - all that the buyer has to do is add their own photos - I have done all the work. I have also been doing a lot of these "blank" books for baby shower and wedding gifts.

For anyone who has even been to the scrapbooking section of Joann's you know how much STUFF is available. Literally you could spend weeks just figuring out what you need! Up until this point I've stuck with the basics; paper, scissors, stencils, stickers, markers, etc. Nothing fancy - but they can make a very nice scrapbook! I think if you had unlimited funds you could get out of control - but I try to make my books about the photos not the "stuff" I've used.

I have however been drooling over this for several months:


www.cricut.com

Basically it is a die-cut machine. It uses cartridges that are programmed with different shapes, fonts, etc. You type into the machine what word or shape you want cut out and voila it cuts. It is a pricey machine and the cartridges are - of course - also pricey. I just hadn't been able to break down and spend the $$$ - even though I REALLY REALLY wanted it.

A couple days ago I was on a message board and the discussion of said Cricuts came up. Someone posted a *really* good deal on a bundle from - of all places - the Home Shopping Network. My curiosity was peaked so I headed over to www.hsn.com ( because god knows I COULD NOT have handled watching that channel on TV). The bundle WAS a really good deal - and included several cartridges and accessories. So I bit the bullet and ordered. It wasn't an impulse buy - as I had been looking at them every time we hit Joann's. I think Keith was actually *happy* I finally bought one because he was sick of hearing about it!

We got home from running some errands tonight and a box was sitting on our front porch! I yelled because I was very excited - Keith got worried that something was wrong with the house - and I ran inside to open it up. After only playing with it for a little bit I am VERY impressed. It is going to be a really cool addition to my scrapbooks.

Now I need a new project to use it on.....

2009's First Pond Trip

A few years ago we added a wildlife "wetland" area to our farm. Essentially it was already a low spot - so we built up the sides and voila - a "pond." I think Chewie and Micco believe that this was built exclusively for them - but as you will see - we do have some wildlife that visit!

This weekend's weather was so nice that we spent several hours letting the dogs sniff, pee on everything, do a little digging, etc. They were dirty but very happy!


Micco rolling in the grass. I guess he is happy that it isn't coveredy by snow anymore :)



Here are a few of the "visitors" that we regularly have.



Chewie stalking said visitors



Micco going to say "HI" after the geese had gotten into the water


What the geese thought about my boys wanting to say Hi


Chewie digging a hole. I swear this dog is part terrier - he could literally spend HOURS digging.


Micco checking out Chewie's hole


Chewie's dirty nose after all that digging