Dog-Gone It

We completed all of the finishing touches on our fence this weekend which, for my husband, meant that he could finally bring his baby home. Enter: Angus.


For the most part, I think Angus tries really hard to be a good horse dog. He is just so BIG and strong and that can be a little overwhelming. Sean’s mom gave him the bulldog as a gift when Sean was considering moving out of his parents’ house; he’s been in a small mud pit of a yard with two to three other dogs ever since. First, Sean popped the question to me and didn’t move out for another year or so. After that, we moved into a house that didn’t have an adequate yard for an 80+ pound beast that can jump a standard chain link fence like he’s an Olympic high jumper. He’s been attacked by a Rottweiler who didn’t appreciate Angus’ playful advances, and now his scars make him look like a seriously vicious animal. In reality, he just wants to play all.the.time.

The ASPCA has some good videos on how to train your dog. I’ve never had to train a dog; my dogs have either just been really well behaved or they had plenty of room to run and play and keep themselves occupied. We found OP like he is, and he was trained enough for me. We’ve worked really hard with Angus since we brought him home on not jumping. He so craves the attention but doesn’t realize his brute strength. That tactic still requires a lot of work, but he’s getting better at it.

The problem we can’t seem to tackle: the whining. He whines when you go inside. He whines when you leave the light on. He whines when he can hear us talking inside. And the worst: my phone fell off the bed last night while I was sleeping and he instantly started whining. I don’t know what to do! Everything I’ve read says to not give him attention when he whines and praise him when he quits but he whines all the time. Others say he is not getting enough attention; I can guarantee this is not the case. It has only been two nights, though. Hopefully this will be remedied soon. Otherwise, Sean's just going to have to go out and sleep with him to keep him company.

Crazy Love

Sean & I could not have more different tastes in music. We usually settle on country when we ride together, but if I get in my car after he has driven it then I almost always have to turn down the volume and change from classic rock. When he gets into his vehicle after I've driven it, he's scrambling to change the station away from NPR (I only listen in the morning, but I like starting conversations with, "I was listening to NPR the other day and heard the most fascinating story about sheep herding in Vietnam that really relates..." I work with people waaaaaaaaaay smarter than me and it is sometimes difficult to keep up). Naturally, there aren't that many concerts we can both willingly attend together. He only really has one dream concert that he would like to attend should he ever be able to get his hands on some tickets that won't break our checking account AND savings account AND require us to dip into retirement: AC/DC. But.... he'll have to either go by himself or find a couple of friends to go with him because I will not be purchasing that ticket.

When I heard Michael Buble was coming to town, Sean instantly started trying to find someone to go with me so he wouldn't have to go. I ended up connecting with my middle school music teacher (whom I hadn't talked to since middle school) and she had a friend who works in the box office. She found some really great seats that didn't require me to sell a kidney.

And by really great, I mean a Branson "celebrity" and a former politician sat behind me. Behind!

My former teacher & I had dinner at Nonna's; I had to get used to calling her "Becky," which was really very difficult to do so I found myself avoiding her name altogether. Dork. Then we went to the concert which went by way too quickly and somehow I still got home incredibly late.

If he should come to town again in the future, and I'm able to find fairly priced tickets, I may just have to bribe my husband to go. It was such a good time and there were so many men there that obviously did not want to be there but still laughed out loud and clapped their hands. Buble is a surprisingly funny fella and just an excellent performer.

L.O.V.E.D.  I.T.!

To Swim or Not To Swim

Almost done, a photo by Stephanie.Sekscinski on Flickr.

Today is the day we are supposed to find out if our concrete pond can be fixed or not. We found a really great pool guy (who henceforth shall be called, "the pool guy") who gave us a quote on Tuesday to have the pool fixed which we can work with. However, the pool hasn't been up and running in almost ten years and was left in even worse shape than this. The pool guy is supposed to come out today after work to test the pressure in the lines. If they hold pressure, he could start work next weekend! If they don't hold pressure, then the pool that was supposedly winterized SO well will have to be filled up one last time... with dirt.
I tossed and turned all night Tuesday night and went from dreams about pool disasters to waking up to think some more about the pool. There was quite a bit of prayer on Tuesday night seeking guidance. After a phone call on Wednesday which helped us decide what we were going to do, I slept just fine.
I hope that the lines either check out or that they don't and that there is NO gray area. We are really okay either way at this point - we'll be okay filling it in if the pipes are busted or we will be ECSTATIC to get to potentially swim this summer. Either way, we will be making our back yard look better than how we found it.

Busy

It would appear that as soon as the weather got warm enough to stand outside without a parka, our schedule filled up! Yet when I try to think about something to blog, there really isn't anything that exciting to read about going on.
Over the span of two months, we have been invited to two weddings and one wedding reception for some very good friends who are leaving soon for Cancun where they will be having a beach wedding. So of course, each of those has their own wedding shower and bachelorette party. One cousin is preparing for a new baby while another cousin was finally able to adopt her daughter - parties for both. My very best friend's grandparents are celebrating a big anniversary - party. My neice celebrated her 9th birthday with a party at our house and Sean's birthday is coming up so I'm sure there will be a party there as well with all of his friends. Is it any surprise that for my birthday next month I want a low-key day?!
Between all of the celebrations we have so kindly been invited to, we have planned a good number of projects to work on around the house. We have finished the majority of the work on our privacy fence which I have looked forward to having since we very first looked at the house. We badly need to re-side the garage and tear down the carport and some other minor maintenance tasks before Sean starts school in August. This weekend, in the midst of the heatwave we are experiencing, Sean's family is helping put together a softball tournament to benefit families in Joplin who are having difficulties paying for funeral services for those lost in the tornado. Since I don't possess an athletic gene, but I'm kinda smart, I'm running the concession stand.
I am planning on taking off work through the last week in July to relax and enjoy some time with the hubs before he starts school and our finances become tight. I want to go to the beach so badly, but he doesn't want to go very far away (I fall asleep too quickly so I'm apparently not a reliable navigator. Whatev). Regardless of what we do or where we go, I won't be at or think about work which will be a very welcome feeling I am certain.