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Holly the Boston (Terror) Terrier

25 Jul

Geeky confession:  I purchased an audio book for my drive to and from the beach last weekend.


Scoff if you will, but what else was I supposed to do on a 4.5 hour drive alone (well, kind of, I had our 6 month old puppy traveling with me)?  Anyway, I listened to Marley & Me:  Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog.  And, I loved every dorky minute of it.  I giggled, smiled, belly-laughed and cried.

I’ve raved so much about it that my mom is reading the book now.  She has a “Marley” dog herself, named Holly.  Holly is a 10 month old Boston Terrier who gives Marley a run for his money in the “World’s Worst Dog” category.  As of late, Holly has eaten the entire arm off of a chair, and knocked out every screen on the back porch – to make it more exit friendly, I presume.  She’s also chewed a hole in the wall (twice), consumed a few razors, and destroyed many a shoe in her short 9 months in their home.

As horrible as Holly is, much like Marley in the book, my parents accept her for her faults – and love her anyway.  Dogs, after all, show us unconditional love…I guess it’s only fair that we do the same for them.

Give Marley & Me a whirl if you love animals, are a pet owner, or plan to be one!

My Hero in Boxer Shorts

24 Jul

Do you ever have one of those mornings where things just start off wrong?  Welcome to today for yours truly.


-Woke up at 6:00, rolled out of bed and stumped toe.
-Poured coffee, and in the drinking process, dribbled it all over my chin and chest.
-Took our freshly bathed puppy out to the bathroom, where he proceeded to roll in the wet grass, then dirt.
-Got in the shower and while shaving my legs, the puppy decided to hop in and have a drink of water.
-Put on a shirt that goes with black pants only to search desperately for said pants.  Clothes flew everywhere.  Pants were nowhere to be found.  Said curse word LOUDLY.

Just as I was about to rip off the planned outfit, shout more obscenities and give up on this day being anything but awful, hubby announced “AH HA!”  

He found my pants!  And, I think he was just as pleased as I was.

Fan and Fred

23 Jul

This week, the House and the Senate will vote whether or not to commit taxpayer money to save Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  So, who are these people – and why do they need our money?


Fan and Fred (as I like to call ’em) are “government sponsored enterprises” which means they receive support from the Federal Government, but are privately owned.  They were created (Fannie came first, Freddie later) by Congress (as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal) to help more Americans buy homes.  And, both are among the largest corporations in the world.

Ok, so why should you care?  Enter financial disaster.  As taxpayers, you and I will “take one for the team” and help the Government bail them out, if this what Congress decides to do.  And we’re not talking a few million dollars worth of debt…more like hundreds of billions of dollars in outstanding debts.  This is why you officially care.  (and why my hair hurts just thinking about this)

Read this editorial and also this one if you’d like to hear more from people who are way more educated on this subject than little ole’ me.

All the Sequins in Georgia

21 Jul

This past weekend was spent with my former roommates at St. Simons Island, Georgia.  Our “roommate reunion” was full of snacking, sunning, chatting, laughing, laziness and cocktail consumption.


One of our topics of conversation was “fake beach names” circa middle school/high school.  Mine was never the same two years in a row.  One year I was a “Britney,” the next year I was a “Kelly.”  This never worked, of course, because we would be outed by our parents who would call our real name, or wouldn’t answer to the fake name, because, well, it wasn’t really our name.  But, it was fun nonetheless.

In the spirit of this, we assigned fake names for one another.  They weren’t the most beautiful names you’ve ever heard, but having them was just as much fun as it was back in the days of 90210 and football Friday nights.

We also found ourselves doing what a lot of women do:  checking out (and then commenting on) the fashion choices of girls and guys around us.  I know, I know, it’s superficial.  So what?  We know it’s superficial, we recognize that, we do it anyway.  Among the things we saw were a guy who was not a Sailor with a Sailor hat on, and a girl with a shirt that can only be described as having “all the sequins in Georgia” on it.  

And, you know what?  I’ve got mad respect for both of these peeps.  I mean, it takes some guts to bust out your best sequined top and your Sailor cap with Halloween nowhere in sight with such pride.


Note:  Look, I’m not against sequins.  I’m from the South, and I wore many a pageant dress that was adorned with sequins.  I did not, however, wear said sequin gear out to a bar.  Ok, maybe once on New Years Eve.  Fine, maybe every year on New Year’s Eve.  But at this particular bar, on this particular night, sequins were not called for.
 


Song Lyric Oops

18 Jul

On my way to work this morning, I heard Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know” hit from 1985.  I used to sing this song, brush in hand, at the top of my lungs when I was a kid.  So naturally, I did the same thing in the car (minus the brush), with all the enthusiasm that I had at age 6.  Only this time, I noticed that Whit and I weren’t singing the same verse during the chorus.

She sings:
How will I know if he really loves me
I say a prayer with every heart beat
I fall in love whenever we meet
I’m asking you what you know about these things

And I sing:
How will I know if he really loves me
I say a prayer with every heart beat
I fall in love whenever we meet
I’m asking you what you know about bee stings

Bee stings?

In the Throes of a Crisis

17 Jul

With all the problems facing the world today, it’s no wonder my mother-in-law is in the throes of a crisis.  I know what you’re thinking…you don’t want to be reminded again about the state of our economy and how we’re all doomed.  That is what the news is for, right?  Side note:  I’m talking to you, Today Show.  Thank you for the every five minute reminder that our economic system is in the toilet.  I mean, I almost forgot that when I filled my car up with gas and the total was $983.


Back to the crisis.  Last night, the “MIL” stopped by for a chat while the hubs grilled us up some supper (aka, he was in charge of our nightly meal).  Anyway, she’s there and we are talking about this and that – you know, nothing in particular, just idle chatter.  And then, out of nowhere, she gets this serious look on her face and reports, “I am in a mayonnaise crisis.”

Beg your pardon?  Did she say mayonnaise crisis?  Yes.  Yes, she did.  Apparently this has been going on for a while now.  Why she hasn’t sought comfort from us before now is beyond me.

Most folks in my neck of the woods use Duke’s Mayonnaise, but my mother-in-law has tired of this brand.  It should be noted that there was a look of shock on my husband’s face when she expressed this.  It was as if she said she was lying to him all these years and she was really born in New York City.  (A Yankee?  Gasp!)  People in the South have strong feelings about their mayo.  Maybe it’s because we’ll put it in anything.  Chicken salad, potato salad, broccoli salad, fruit salad, pasta salad, deviled eggs, coleslaw, pimento cheese – and these are the “normal things” we put it in.  My mom is quite proud of her “before dinner appetizer” of canned pears (cut in half), a dollop of Duke’s mayo, and a topping of grated extra sharp cheddar cheese.  We had this at least twice a week in my house growing up.  Or, as a snack, she would slice a banana down the middle (why the half servings of fruit?  too healthy to eat the whole thing?), spread on a thin layer of mayo, and top it with peanuts.  Don’t get me wrong, both of these things were (and remain) delicious, but it’s a miracle that I haven’t been on Lipitor since I was 5.

I will keep you updated on the “crisis situation” – and if you have any suggestions, please, send them my way.  It’s summertime, and a tomato sandwich sans mayo is just…depressing.

Today’s Yays

16 Jul

yay for:

emails about beach weekend with the ladies
the new shirt i have on that was purchased on sale
country music on our radio at work
lunch with an old friend
a good hair day
articles about election results
having a third cup of coffee when i got to work
a funny quote from my friend kelly’s three year old
not being called ma’am by a store clerk
a completely beautiful summer day
my mom being on her first real vacation in years
lip gloss that tastes like watermelon
my e! news widget
pedicures that still look good after two weeks
my husband telling me i looked pretty this morning
putting down a deposit for a trip to alaska and canada next year
not having to cook dinner tonight

The Tightrope

15 Jul

First things first, y’all.  The title of this blog derived from lyrics to a song I heard while cleaning the house this past weekend.  I was listening to it on cd (yes, those still exist), and the words really struck me.

“I grew up on a tightrope, 
learned to smile 
even when I was falling down.”
I said out loud, “I love that!”  And, truth be told, I love it because it really fits me and who I am.  If you think about it, we all have “tightrope” moments in our lives.  Trying to walk from one place in our lives to another – balancing – and trying not to fall on our face.  Sometimes we make it across fairly easily, sometimes it’s a struggle, and sometimes we bust our tails no matter how hard we have tried not to.  But, instead of making an awful face on the way down – why not just brace yourself…and grin and bear it?  

I’m not suggesting we be emotionless robots, but there is something to be said for being able to laugh at yourself (or your circumstance), and then get off the ground, hop right back up on the rope, and keep going.

Sure, sometimes we all need a break.  Sometimes we need a moment to say, “That really freakin’ hurt.”  So take a break if you need one, but the next time you have a little fall…try smiling on the way down.  Beacause, hey, at least you’re still part of this crazy circus life.

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