It was beautiful here today. Mostly warm, light breeze and hardly a cloud in the sky. So I decided to take Guinness for an extra long walk today. We went most of the way through Military Park and then cut over into Country Park. We strolled through there for a ways and stopped off in the Bark Park. For the first time. Now..I have been warned about the Bark Park. Warned that some people bring their aggressive dogs even though they shouldn't. I decided to check it out and that I would intervene if I had to. Three seconds in to the experience..I'm trying to get Guinness to drink some water at the fountain and he's being Mr. Picky and wouldn't have anything to do with it. Then here come the other dogs to greet Guinness. One of them was really obnoxious and decided to grab him and pin him down and then ROLL him in the mud. I was like OMG when I saw the mud on him. I also thought he seemed a little freaked out by that particular dog so I decided to keep an eye on him. Guinness enjoyed himself while I chatted with a couple of people there and while a really cute boxer came over and loved on me. Unfortunately..here came the obnoxious dog again. This was the only dog that Guinness interacted with that made him yelp. At this point I went over to separate them and to call it a day. Guinness was COVERED in mud! His owner only said to her dog "Thats the second white dog we've run off today." Um..I'm sorry but is that something to gloat about or even to be okay with?? Maybe she'd like to pay for the bath that Guinness was definitely gonna have to have after that. Ugh!
So we walked back to the car and at that point poor Guinness was exhausted. When I gave him his water from my water bottle he layed down to drink it haha. Poor dog! He was ABSOLUTELY covered in mud and dirt. He looked like PigPen from Charlie Brown. As soon as we got home I called PetSmart to see if I could fit him in for an "emergency" bath. Unfortunately they wouldn't take him because he's now turned 4 months and we haven't gotten his rabies shot. Money is kind of tight right now since Bob is supporting both of us until I can find a teaching job. So he was trying to shop around even though I explained to him this could happen.
I ended up having to go to Petsmart and get shampoo and conditioning treatment so that i could bathe him at home. Ohhhh my goodness. I have NEVER bathed a dog in my entire life! What a riot! I ended up getting into a bathing suit and basketball shorts and putting him in our walk in shower with me. I thought he was going to hate it and go nuts or bite me or something. Um...no. Not my little weirdo. He freaking LOVED every minute of it! He pranced around and then he would snap at the water from the showerhead. I got him clean and towel dried and decided I'd try to blow dry him. I know a lot of dogs hate this and are freaked out by the sound. Again, not the case with Guinness. He literally climbed into my lap while I blow dried him. I never know what to expect from him.

So tonight he's totally zonked out after the long walk and it has been very quiet and peaceful around here. He's relaxed, he's fluffy, and he no longer looks like a mud monster. What a day!

*Note: Pic is not of Guinness. Only after I blow dried him did I realize that I should have taken muddy pics, wet rat pics, and fluffy "after" pics. DOH! Regardless..the pup in the pic looks EXACTLY like he did after the Bark Park!

Last night I came across the funniest article here. Reading the article was humorous enough but I rolled with laughter and some of the comments below it. Please take the time out of your busy lives to enjoy a laugh at these anecdotes!

I have plenty of stories myself about sleepwalking. I guess it runs in my family through my father's side. We are both that scary kind of sleepwalker that seem very livid and "awake" though we aren't. We're also the people you see on 20/20 who occasionally eat in their sleep but never remember it. My Mom claims to have woken up on several occasions, while they were still married, to find things like fudgesicles stuck to my father and his pillow.

Apparently, I also have done this a few times and had witnesses to tell me about it. Once, while on a Campus Life trip to Florida, I apparently had a lively conversation with my friends in our cabin while I ate another girls Little Debbie Cakes. She was very unhappy with me the other day and my friends couldn't believe that I only hardly remember speaking to them and nothing about eating. On another occasion, a friend of mine spent the night and explained to me the following day that I had come out of my bedroom at least 3 times, gotten a popsicle from the freezer and ate it in front of her.

Then there are the things that I have said in my sleep. Some of the more memorable things include:

• "Honey! There's Bologna Over here!!" -I dreamed that my fiance ( who used to sit on the couch and eat rolled up bologna, ICK!) had brought bologna to bed and it was coming out of the matress
  

• "You know, we should really consider installing that second windshield. You know..for the people." and later in the night "Mustaaang, Niiiiiice! F**kin' GTO!" - This was after a visit to the Auburn, Cord, Dusenburg Museum in Auburn, IN

• "*chuckling heartily then sighing..* Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy.."- This was recent!

• One night I "woke up" to find a spider web suspended in mid air above my face. I was dreaming of course. But I started shoving Bob going, "MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!" He just looked at me in shock. I said, "FINE! I will CRAWL over you!!" And I did. He says, "WHAT are you doing??" I waved my hand in the air and said.."Do THIS" He waves his hand and says.."Honey..there's nothing there." I said "I could have sworn I was awake." and went right back to bed and passed out.
• Also on the Florida trip I woke up in the middle of the night and leaned over the girls bunk next to mine, patted her on the head and said, "I hope you feel better, sweety." Then went back to sleep. That same trip I walked in..pantsless on my friend Kasondra while she was showering. She was apparently like, "Gina! I'm naked!" I guess I grumbled and said something like, "I don't f**king care..." then used the toiled and kept saying "f*ck" or so I'm told. I slightly remember going to the bathroom and kasondra being in there but thinking nothing of it.

Then there were the Ambien-induced sleepwalking incidents. I'm convinced thats what was going on with the girl in the article. My sister was on Ambien for a while and used to call me at night. We'd talk forever and she'd seem totally fine then just slowly start to get weird and have to go. I would always get a phone call the next day saying, "Gina..Adam (her husband) said I called you last night. What did we talk about?" haha

When insomnia became too much for me I too was prescribed Ambien. I once wrote a looooong blog about how much I loved my "mommy" and "should tell her more often". Yikes! The worst, though was something that happened at the IPFW dorms. Oh my.. First of all, I don't sleep with pants on. Its just too constricting for me. I'm sure everyone wanted to know that but its relevent..just humor me. On this occasion,my roommate heard me get up in the middle of the night and went to investigate. There she found me..with a full bag of garbage in one hand and my other hand about to open the apartment door and NO pants on! I was about to take the garbage out, in my sleep, with no keys (the door automatically locked because it was electronic). I would have been locked out..wandering around the parking lot with trash and no pants on. She said she looked at me and said, "Gina..what are you doing?" She said I just looked at her and looked confused and grumpy and then dropped the trash and said.."Im going back to bed!" and I did. LOL

Well that concludes my sleepwalking anecdotes. Please feel free to share yours!

Warning...Impending Rant..stand clear!

So today was the day I had to go the the North Carolina DMV to receive my North Carolina Driver's License. I didn't notice a sign reading "Welcome to Hell" but I guess I could have missed it.

My adventure started out with the lady at the desk. Now..I think it should be stated, before I go any further, that I remained totally polite, friendly, and cooperative throughout my interactions with the DMV folks. The lady asks for my ids. I gave her my passport, my Social Security Card, and my Indiana driver's license. She asked for my proof of insurance. I gave her that. My Honda is under Bob's name because he bought it for my last year. The insurance is also in his name. She asked where my name was on it. I explained the situation...clearly. She told me that I was going to have to call the insurance company and have them fax the proof of insurance there. I told her that they would send the same thing with his name on it not mine. She said, "Maam, you are going to have to call your insurance company, and have them fax the proof of insurance." She hands me their fax number and sends me back to the lobby. Okay..fine. I call the number and have them fax it and then take my number and have a seat in the main room. For a long time.

They have like 2 people working. Another person would come in and then someone would take a break so there was always 2 people. I understand that the economy has taken a turn for the worst, but seriously..the state can only afford to have 2 ppl???

Finally they call me. I go through all the stuff at the desk, including stumbling through the road signs during the "vision" test. Some of that crap is hard! Anyhow then he sends me to a computer for the "written" portion. I thought i'd never have to do that again since I became old enough to drive!! That sucked and I missed 4 of the 5 you could possibly miss. Anyhow I passed...barely. I come back and he tells me my fax never came. He sends me to a seat to call again.

I call and wait until I can go back to the desk again. They've faxed it and now they tell me that its not going to hold up because it doesnt have my name. Well no shit! Was it ME that told you that? Was it ME that told you that they would fax the EXACT thing I held in my hand??

So there I was, having been there for nearly 2 hours and they tell me I have to get a form sent in by the insurance company. The dumbass woman sends me back to the same seat I called from the 2nd time to make a 3rd call to the insurance company. I start to call and one of the DMV guys shouts across the room "You can't use your cell phone in here. You have to do it in the lobby." First of all I already HAD used my cell in there the 2nd time they told me to call the insurance company. I said.."Sir! Your lobby is full! There is not standing or sitting room." He insisted I make the call in there. At that point I was fed up with the lot of them.. I said. "You know what. That's fine. I'll take the three steps into your "lobby" to make my call. Better still..I'll take five steps and find myself another branch." And left.

Why do people have to be so lazy and rude? If the lady would have told me what to do the FIRST time I explained the situation, then I wouldn't have wasted 2 hours in there.

I'll try a branch next time that ISN'T in the ghetto.

Market Street DMV... You suck!

BTW..I'm watching 'Burn Notice", which is one of my favorite shows on TV right now. Its like James Bond/MacGeyver. Anyhow its weird but this is the only thing that Guinness has consistently sat in front of and watched. His little eyes dart back and forth and his head keeps tilting haha. It must be all the flashy colors and movements. Although..can dogs see color? I'm not sure.

Wednesday night means...GHOSTHUNTERS!!!



Okay..I think I'm more into this tv show than any other show EVER. And I love the drama on the side. Brian always complains and thinks the world is out to get him for some reason. Andy is a total know-it-all, and although I think he's smart I think he would get on my nerves too. Tango is a total cutie with his jersey accent. I also think Grant is kind of attractive and I'm not sure why.

The best thing about Ghosthunters is that they try their best to debunk things. Its not like Paranormal State where they try to over dramatize things or imbelish.

So here's to a night with beer, cozy fire burning, and my favorite TV Show. I <3 Ghosthunters..

I remember a time when I absolutely LOVED rainy days. Rain has always been soothing to me and I like the idea of being able to have a lazy day indoors without guilt.

Its not quite the same when you have a dog. I'd love to take him for a walk but to go to the park or anywhere else would mean some seriously muddy paws in my car. Not gonna happen! So trying to keep a 15-wk old puppy entertained indoors is like rolling a boulder uphill. It also seems that on rainy days he wants to drag me outside for no reason at all. You know, I'd rather not get soaked and have to towel both of us off every time you want to go dick around outside, my dear.

Its been a lot of chase and tug games today instead. I was supposed to go to the license branch today to get my N.Carolina driver's license. Unfortunately, I slept like complete crap AGAIN last night so I ended up having to sleep in. I guess I'm gonna have to go tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow will be sunny too so Guinness and I can get outside.

I think we both have Cabin Fever. Sometimes toddlers are easier to entertain than my dog. ;)

Ingredients

• 6 Large ( Family-Sized) bags Tea ( Luizianne if you want the good stuff!)
• 2 C water
• 1 1/2 C Sugar or Splenda
• 2 lemons

Directions

1. In a large pot add water and tea bags and bring to a boil.

2. After it comes to a rolling boil allow it to continue for 1 minute then remove from heat.

3. Squeeze tea bags out and toss them.

4. Pour hot tea into a large pitcher.

5. Add sugar/splenda and stir well.

6. Fill pitcher the rest of the way with cold water slowly, stirring the entire time.

7. Make sure to leave enough room for lemons if you want them in the pitcher.

8. Allow Sweet Tea to refrigerate for as long as you can. It ferments in the fridge as the sugar dissolves even more and the lemons sweeten the tea.

9. Use remaining lemon for individual drink slices.

10. ENJOY !

11. *Note: Using Splenda and Decaffinated Luizianne will allow you to consume as much of this as you would like, totally guilt-free and without staying up all night.

12. 
    

You know..I love my dog. I really, really do. I've waited my entire life to have him. But I have to admit some times he frustrates the CRAP out of me. I'm sure its this puppy stage. I think there is a piece missing from my female psyche that makes it extraordinarily difficult to deal with infant and young stages in animals or humans.

There are times when I'm like..OMG..when are you going to become a mature, well-behaved dog? Really he's extremly trainable and very smart ( when he wants to be). Its just these puppy things we have to deal with. There are times when he totally ignores my commands. And he has the WORST gas ever. No really..it makes me almost gag! And thats when I know he's definitely going to need to go #2 soon.

So I just took him out and he's just dicking around forever. He wants to pick up leaves and twigs and stuff. I'm in flip flops and freaking PJ pants freezing my ass off! Come ON dog! Just poop already! Finally I clipped him outside on his tie-out. I came back out to give him a toy and to put his harness on so he wasn't choking himself on his collar. And I couldn't believe it. Suddenly there are these white flakes falling all around me. What the crap?? It was 75 last week! Its snowing!

Of course I can't leave him out when its snowing. So I tried to get him to go again to no avail and he just got more and more obnoxious so he's in his crate now. I know if I let him run around in here he'll just sit be the door and whine like he has to go out. I just want him to stop dicking around outside. If you have to go..be ready to walk outside, squat, do your business, and come back inside.

The bad thing is..if he's going to act like this today I am NOT taking him to the park. Its not going to be enjoyable for either one of us if he's a total ass on the leash.

Maybe this is normal but he has great days and then he has days where I just want him to be like a 5 year old dog. Grow up Guinness!! :)

I'm sure I'll be posting in about a year saying "Oh My Dog! Where has my puppy gone??" But at the moment I could deal with a better behaved pup. He's being sweet at the moment because he's ASLEEP in his cage. Terrible twos anyone?

Here's to a better day...with wagging tails instead of fingers.

Well this should be a new experience.

I've always been slightly fascinated by these blogspot postings. Every once in a while I stumble across someone's blog and take the time to read their thoughts. Not that much of what I have to say is worth stumbling across, but the pages of my journal continues to fill up. This is so much easier. We'll give it a try.

So, I've been taking Guinness to the Guilford Military Park right by us. Its a great park and its full of little foot trails through the woods. He does so well when its just him and I on the trail. He's getting to be really good on his his leash. If he gets a little bit ahead of me he looks back at me, pauses and then falls into step beside me again. So we finished our walk and I always bring a bottle of water with me and a rubbermade bowl to give him some water when we're done. I went to the trashcan to throw it away. It had this weird latch that said "Animal Proof Latch". So I open it up and there is a mouse inside of it scurrying around. It looked at me in shock like I had just walked in on it showering. haha I just laughed and said "Animal Proof my butt!". Weird.

Anyhow. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I have something special planned for Bob. Well a whole day's worth actually. I'm starting by making him breakfast. Everything he likes. For lunch I'm taking him to Jason's Deli in Friendly shopping center. I'm making chocolate covered strawberries. THIS time they won't include rancid shortnening. haha There's a funny story behind that.

Last summer I decided to surprise Bob with a romantic picnic. I bought things for small sandwiches. A nice french baguette and some decent brie. I made chocolate covered strawberries with Ghiradelli chocolate. I got him his favorite Ginger ale and me some Orangina. I had planned to take him to a park, spread a blanket out, the whole deal. THAT didn't happen. He was on his way home and I step outside and suddenly it looks like its going to storm. Okay..I changed my plans. I set us up outside on our patio table. I have the whole shebang out there. I even brought out the little wine tasting glasses we got when we went to Chateau Morrisette in Virginia. I took Bob out there and showed him what I had planned. He was pleased as pie! So we're starting to eat and really enjoying ourselves. The drinks are poured and ALL of a sudden the wind gusts. Our umbrella gets caught up in the gust and it picks the ENTIRE metal and glass table up!! We had to throw ourselves across the table top to keep it from flipping the table. Its made of tempered glass so if it cracks..well it wouldn't crack. SHATTER into a million pieces would be more like it. So we saved the table...The rest of it..well not so much. The food we had out was dumped with the gust and at least one of our glasses shattered. We gathered everything up and pulled the umbrella out of the table and ran indoors. I spread ablanket out on the floor and the rest of our picnic went pretty well. I pulled the chocolate covered strawberries out and he was like "Oh wow!" Until we tasted them. We both grimaced and looked at each other and ran to the trash can to spit them out.

When I dip anything in chocolate I use about a teaspoon of shortening to keep it creamy and smooth. I thought that his crisco looked kind of funny. I hadn't realized he had it for ages and I never use crisco except for something like that. I hadn't given it a second thought. It was totally rancid and upon closer inspection it looked like melted plastic. UGH! We had to throw out all of the strawberries. This was the picnic from hell! haha

We still laugh about that. I'm certain that he'll bring it up tomorrow when I bring out the chocolate covered strawberries. haha.

Sometimes in my life when it rains..it pours. Well..my surprise from him is coming tonight. I'll let it be known that I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a new phone. I've been waiting and I keep bringing it up haha. I know it doesn't sound very romantic but I hate having to use his phone with his phone number. I wanted to get the Pink Sandstone Blackberry Pearl. I dunno if that's gonna work out though because Cingular (AT&Crap) says I have to purchase a data pkg to get that phone. What a rip! I think I'm going for the Samsung Propel which was originally the phone I was interested in. So I'm hopefully going to get my hands on one of those and start doing a lot of Ozzy impressions.." blahblahblabhblackcoffee" "Itsjustf758ingbollocksman" Oh Ozzy. haha

Well..I should really actually get off of my rear and do something productive. And I suppose that watching The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, and Pillow Talk doesn't count towards that. Besides...I have more things to pick up for the big day tomorrow. Did I mention I have a romantic candellite massage planned? Oh..don't put it in the gutter. My intentions are totally aimed at relaxation. I happen to be quite good at massages.

Anyhow I'm signing off..until next time.