Visitor

I had the sweetest visitors a couple of days ago!

I hadn't seen Jasper since not long after his surgery in January.  He is the sweetest little guy!  I should have taken a picture of the back of his head...  he has the most adorable little curls!

He is doing great, too!  He can eat food now and doesn't have the problems he had before his surgery.

Jake was here too, but he would not be still long enough for me to get a picture...

Jasper let me hold him (reluctantly!) but he did look a little troubled by his crazy Grammy ;-)

His mommy sent me a video yesterday of Jasper taking his first couple of steps!!!!  I am thanking God for his amazing recovery!

I love my grandchildren...  they never fail to make me smile!!


Gracie, your turn.

Dear Mom,

I know your plan.  You are trying to make me an outside dog.   You said you put my cage on the patio just in case after you leave me out you get busy and then at least I would have a soft warm place to lay down.   Huh!  Yea, right.  This is just the beginning.  It starts with 10 minutes outside.  Then 20.  Before ya know it I'm spending days on end outside.   I knew it would come to this.   Comments like 'she's a bed hog' and 'she pooped on the floor' have given it away.  So just to let you know mom, I get your plan...  and I've got my eye on you.  

Your loving dog,
Gracie

She Has Worn Out Her Welcome!

This scene outside of our bedroom window 

keeps repeating itself.

It snowed again today.

Not a lot.  Just enough to make me say....  really?

Spring has sprung (according to the calendar).  

Summer visited.

And Winter....  ohhhh that Winter.   

She has worn out her welcome!

"Ask her if I can have another cookie, Short Stuff...
and pretend like I never put you up to it."  

Thinking of What I Don't Like To Think About

Lately I have been thinking.  Gracie will be ten years old in September.

I look into her eyes and sometimes I see an old gal

But then other times I am looking at a playful pup

When I am away, I can't wait to get home to her 

She loves me unconditionally

I can't imagine what I would do without her

But I know the day will come

And there will no longer be a dirty dog disregarding all the rules and hiding under the covers

She will not be there to help me with laundry

I will not have her attitude to deal with

I hope she lives forever

But odds are, one day I will be devastated

Because one of our pack will no longer be with us

And our home will be sadly quiet with no barking at passersby

No more crazy dog tricks

All will be calm.  And broken.  

I don't like to think about this.  And I can't imagine her ever being gone.  

Today, I am thankful for a healthy dog ~ still a bit of a spitfire and often young at heart.  

Oh!  And she does have a new post on her blog 'Gracie Says'.  You can view that HERE!!

Spring, Summer & Surprises

Last week was Harrisburg PA and the Mid Atlantic Hearing Expo.

It went something like this.

Thursday: Check in to our room.

Thursday night:  Dinner with Siemens Reps and other business owners and specialists, compliments of Siemens.

Friday: 6 AM wake-up.  7:45 off to the meeting room where I grabbed an OJ and some scrambled eggs from the breakfast buffet before joining our friends who saved us a place at their table.  

Then- Presentations - meetings - sitting- learning - etc. etc.  

All. Day. L-o-n-g

Didn't sleep well the night before so when we got back to our room at 6:00 PM I thought ... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh  finally.  peace.  quiet.  relaxation.  and...  "I'm too old for this"

Then our Siemens rep phoned us and invited us to go with him and some others to the Hollywood Casino for some food and fun.

Gary enjoyed seeing the race track where his dad used to go.

And I won $40 on the slots!  Yay me!  Back to the room by ten, then winding down and praying for a good night's sleep.

Saturday Morning:  Another early 6AM wake-up.  More meetings.  

Then.  Home.

Now, its time to rest up.  

We'll be home now for a couple of weeks, and then I have a surprise getaway for Gary in honor of his 60th birthday which will be MAY 1.  Our 'getaway' will be on April 4 and 5. 

 Where is it?  What is it,  you ask?  

Oh, but I can't say. It's a surprise!  

You can try to guess, Gary.  And, I will tell you if you get it right.  But no, it's not NC.  Guess again!  

Spring is just days away....  and Summer was here yesterday.  If you want a dose of sweet stuff today, watch her little video:

Gracie, how did you and Justin get along while we were gone?

Well.  I like that Justin's staying with me when you go away.  It beats the kennel.  But could you please tell him that I am in charge, not him? He's constantly giving me orders.  It's very annoying.

Random Memories

Did you know that the Mall Of America in Minnesota has a ferris wheel and roller coaster inside the mall?

We visited there in 2002 I believe it was...  we had the girls with us.  Lindsey was a teenager at the time and Athena was about five years behind her.  The Mall of America is huge, so we decided to buy the girls walkie talkies so we could be separated from them without losing them.  This was before cell phones were all the rage.  It turns out all parents had the same idea because there was not one single frequency on those walkie talkies where we could reach the girls.  The channels were jammed.  Yes, they got lost.  And yes, we found them.

   my bedroom BG (before Gary)  So girly, right?

  Just some family and friends gathering on Thanksgiving.  Look at how tiny Gracie was...  awwww


Any random memories for you Gracie?

My first Christmas.  When Santa bought me Mr. Monkey.