9 Days

9 days left of this school year! It's the last day of May and I'm wondering where time has gone. I remember as a child thinking that time tended to stand still and adults were silly when they said "time flies by." I must be getting older, because time does fly by. For me, at least, it seems to be going at rapid speed. So welcome, June and summer. I'm so very ready for you!

40 Pounds

That's how much the "puppy" weighs. 5 months old and 40 pounds. She still has about 50 more to go. Yikes! She looks more and more like a big old Sheepdog every day. But she acts all Puppy! Here's the latest proof of size.

Life

Life is crazy, isn’t it? It never stops and one just has to hold on for the ride. I have been reminded of this over the past few days. My dear, little Grandma, who is almost 84 years old, took a spill this week. The result of which has been some severe injuries to her aging body. I have had to think about how I take my youth for granted. I wish for slimmer hips and a tighter stomach, better defined muscles in my arms (you know, Hollywood leading lady arms), smoother skin and better hair. Yet, I have health and youth and energy. I am able to run 5k and probably still go for more (but am too lazy to push it). I have also been reminded about faith. My aunt and great aunt who were with Grandma most of the day in the hospital said that as she was in pain and all of the “stuff” of medicine was going on around her, Grandma still prayed with faith. I think I would have been laying there asking, “Why me? Why can’t I get a break?” She is such a good example of calm surrender, but active faith. I often think of her (and my mom) when I think of the kind of woman I really wish I could be. So, now I take her example and see if maybe, with God’s help, I can learn to have that peace and faith that Grandma has. Content in letting life take me on a ride, but knowing that God is there all along.

Massive beast

Our dog continues to expand into a massive animal. I took Marci to Rita's tonight for some ice cream. We saw a cute little German shepherd that was 4 months old, the same age as our puppy. Winter absolutely dwarfed this dog in size. She was at least twice his size. I got a cold shiver down my spine. A German shepherd is not a small dog.

She is cute though. Here is the latest pic. I'm not supposed to let her up on my lap, but I cant resist it. Included is a picture taken from only 2 and a half months ago. Yikes.

I guess all that organic, expensive dog food is really working.

Busy busy

Hi Folks,

Not much to update you on except that we have both been quite busy. Marci has had a bunch of school stuff going on, and I've been kept busy with work, rehearsals etc, etc.

Winter is now getting huge. We love her, it seems that the small puppy phase is slowly slipping away and we are approaching the adolescent years. She sleeps most of the time, and if I had doubled my size in 8 weeks I would be sleeping a lot as well.

I am being kept entertained by watching this circus we have now, called the government.

What a joke, and yes that includes republicans as well.

American idol? Hmm lets see, either Danny or Adam. I cant stand Adam, because everytime I see the guy perform I feel like I'm at a dinner theater. Anoop, sorry buddy, you just looked too much like any regular dude.

Ok, gotta go.

S.

New Car

Somehow Sean and I managed to get ourselves back into debt. We now have monthly car payments on a brand new 2009 Subaru Forester. Little did we know when we began this Easter weekend that we would be driving home a new car. Yesterday we started out with a little trip to the Subaru dealership to "just take a look." We were sold after a test drive and talking with our new sales-guy friend Derek. We did a little more comparison shopping today but still came back to the Forester. Lest you think we are impulse buyers, I want to assure you that we have been talking about a new car for a while. However, this weekend it all just came together. We got the price we wanted on the total package. So, happy driving!

Space for big doggie (and Sean's amps, guitars, etc). It's supposed to be my car.

Beastie

Our puppy is growing. We brought Winter home when she was 8 weeks old and about 12 pounds. Tonight we had her 16 week vet appointment, and after a struggle to get her to simply stand on the scale, Winter weighed in at a whopping 28 pounds. The doggie is becoming a beast.

8 Weeks

16 Weeks

Floating shelves

Quick word of advice to those of you who want to hang those nice "floating" shelves you see on HGTV. You know, the ones that look like they are magically not attached to anything on the wall....

Don't do it.

They don't float, they sag and then sink. And then when you try to re-attach them they rip huge holes in your drywall.

You will end up trying to convince yourself they look nice because you put 4.3 hours worth of your time trying to hang them. Then one day you will realize that you really hate them, because they look pitiful, and now you are going to have to spackle, sand, paint, repaint and paint again.

Sean.

Here He Goes Again

Sean has this need to keep perfecting the study. First, we purchased the desk that created quite a stir in our house over the deliver of said desk. Then Sean hung the shelves and re-hung the shelves. After that, he decided he didn't like the shelves and we needed to find a piece of art to hang on the wall. Yesterday we found the something that we both agreed on and now Sean has removed the shelves, spackled, and is in the process of repainting. Oh boy! Finished product pictures will be shown in the near future. Let's hope this is the true finished product.

Getting bigger

Winter baby is getting bigger. By the minute. It seems that we put her in the crate at night, and she wakes up, bigger. Soon she will no longer be winter "baby" but winter "middle school."

After that I'm sure she is going to want the keys to my car.

I'm being told by everyone to "enjoy the puppy years." Those people have obviously never had to get up at 2 am in 12 deg f to let her out.

She is still a love bug. All you have to do is sit on the kitchen floor and she'll come over and flop into your lap. The barking in the crate at night has (mercifully) come to an end. She simply walks in after a bit of persuading and goes to sleep. I guess a puppy's life can keep a pup busy most of the time, what with all the smells in the yard that need investigation, all the sitting for treats that need to be done.....

I have come to the realization that my beautiful grass is going to be destroyed this summer.

Oh well, look at these pictures and tell me she's not worth it.

Sean.

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