Ya Gotta Love a Jack Russell

If any of you out there own a Jack Russell you know that they are among the most energetic and friendly dogs around. I have had the pleasure of having one as part of my family for twelve years now. "Dixie" is finally slowing down a bit but only a bit.

As a puppy she would run laps around the laps of everyone in the room - including my 85 year old Grandmother who was really not to excited about it. My Grandfather on the other hand, must have been some kind of dog whisperer. He could always get Dixie to calm down and sit in his lap. Even as my Grandfather got up into his 90s I would bring Dixie to his retirement villa and Dixie would calmly sit on Grandpa's lap.

Anyway, at 12 - almost 13 years old, you would think she might be slowing down some. Well, she does sleep more than she used to, but slowing down is not on her agenda. The other day, I let her out behind the townhouse that we have been living in since we moved to Kentucky. These particular townhouses are four to a row and there is another row of them on the other side of the "backyard" that we all share.

So, I let her out and all of a sudden she takes off like a shot toward the last "house" on the other side. The door is open, and she proceeds to run right in. Now, you have to understand that Dixie LOVES everyone, but everyone doesn't love dogs. I understand that, but she doesn't ...so I go running after her - in heels no less since I had just gotten home from work. I sort of knock - not wanting to just walk into someone's home, and realize that knocking is not going to solve the problem.

As I walk through the door, there is a woman who doesn't speak English and is dressed in non-American garb holding a baby and screaming! There are also about 7 or 8 (it seemed like 10) children running around apparently not wanting to meet my friendly dog. One of these children is sitting on the floor (there is absolutely no furniture in this house) eating spaghetti o's - which Dixie assumes is dog food since it is in a bowl on the floor (makes sense to me)...Anyway, you get the picture....lots of screaming, me trying to grab the dog, continuously saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry", which I don't think anyone understood. I finally scooped up my loving dog, and proceeded to carry her back home.

Needless to say, I now no longer let her out back without a leash. She wants to head to where the spaghetti-o dog food is (can't blame her). Luckily for the neighbors and for Dixie we are moving out to a farm in the country next week. Somehow, I don't think those neighbors will miss us.

What a break from blogging it has been...

Wow! Where do I even begin. So much has happened since I last blogged that they are too numerous to list. Let's start with the big stuff...

I got married

I moved to Kentucky

I started an awesome new job as the CFO for a wonderful company

My oldest daughter got married

My youngest daughter has been kicking %^& in Half Iron-man races and Triathlons! And she just signed up for her first Full Iron-man ( I think this should be Iron Person or Iron Athlete or some such thing because she is most definitely NOT a man...but, not my call)

Mind you, all of this happened within a nine month span of time...no stress there! But they are all happy changes. I have added some wonderful people into my family - the van Onselder clan is absolutely wonderful. My new hubby is Dutch and his parents live in the south of France. Not a bad place to visit. I am so blessed.

Now there is always some baggage that comes along with any change. I won't go into details. If you know me, you know what it is. Enough said!

The most exciting ... well, it's all been exciting... but this is the most recent and still probably has to be the most fun was my daughter's wedding to a young man who is so perfect for her, I couldn't have dreamed him up! He has a wonderful family as well. The wedding was a joyous, fun, electric event. I could not have hoped for it to go better. Thanks to EVERYONE who helped make that happen. I love you all.

Marriage, moving, new adventures, new places, new friends, new family members and great long-time family members, old friends, and old familiar places...these are what life is about my friends. So, if you are stuck in a rut...make a move, take that leap, reach for your dreams! I did it at the ripe old age of, uhhh, well, anyway, old enough...so you can too!! And if your life is just how you want it right now - that's great too. Just enjoy every little minute!!

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, so live for today and don't forget to stop and smell the gardenias!! Yup, I probably just butchered a couple of quotes there, but you get the idea. Go out and make it a great day!!

Yes, I am one of those....

Ok, I take full responsibility...I AM one of those ladies that you see putting their makeup on in the car. Now, in my defense, or as my justification, or however you would like to see it...I have to sit at a light to get out of my neighborhood for a good 15-20 minutes every morning. It is a crazy left turn and the light takes FOREVER. So, I can usually get it all done in that time frame. Hence no mascara lines down my cheek.

Today, however, I start out, sip my Diet Coke and break out the little sponge and tinted moisturizer to get started. I take off the top and do my usual little squeeze of the tube. But...it doesn't just give me a little dab. Apparently there was an air bubble and tinted moisturizer sprays the windshield, steering wheel and my freshly dry cleaned brown pants! Oh the joys.

Well, being the intelligent woman that I am, I look around the car for something to clean this up with. Ok, there is a pair of socks stuffed in my workout shoes on the floorboard - cool, I have a rag. Now, for a cleaing product. Yup, you guessed it... Diet Coke makes a great cleaning product. Dipped the sock in the Diet Coke and ta da....clean pants, clean steering wheel...ok the windshield needs some Windex but who needs to see that well anyway.

So that took up all my "stop light" time so, needless to say, my makeup is not the best today and yes, I was the one putting on mascara as I drove. I know, I know.... but all is well. Happy Tuesday. Thanks goodness for a short week.

Rainy Days and Mondays...Karen Carpenter had the right idea

Ok, it's a Monday. I mean a MONDAY! Not that it was horrible. Not horrible at all, just annoying. First of all, I was tired all day. I mean, who can sleep when there is a tornado watch that goes all night till 5 am. What if it is the big one and I don't wake up. Apparently I was not alone in this as several of my coworkers had the same problem.

Second, got 3/4 of the way to the office which is a good 20 minutes into my drive and realized that I left my laptop at home. Well, there is nothing you can do but turn around and go get it! In this age, there would really not be much for me to do at work without my computer.

So, finally get settled in, and see that the bottom button on my shirt is loose. No problem, I will pull it off and get out my nifty desk sewing kit and sew it back on...nooooo, it breaks as I pull it off. It was one of those shell buttons that usually get broken by the dry cleaner but this one waited until I was at work.

So, now I am in search of a safety pin. This particular blouse is not the type you can tuck in. So, I am standing at our awesome Administrative Assistant's desk and she is trying to figure out what to do and meanwhile my belly button is on display if I move. So as she is digging through her purse and I am examining the damage, who should round the corner but our CEO. Of course I have to tell him it's just a wardrobe malfunction! Yikes! Luckily he has two daughters and a wife so he wasn't the least bit fazed by this scene.

Finally decide that I am best off cutting off the button from the top where the collar is open and sewing it at the bottom, so Awesome Admin lady tries to saw the button off with a pair of dull office scissors for about 5 minutes (in the middle of the hall)-- I can just imagine them slipping and not being as dull as they hit my neck!! Finally she pulls out a mini pair on a key chain and the button pops right off.

I go in the bathroom with my button and sewing kit....hmmm, where do I set this stuff down so I can sew it on. The toilets don't have lids or backs like the ones at home the tampon box has a sloping down lid! So, as I try to juggle, I drop the needle .... you get the picture. I have to fish it out, wash it off, anyway....all this before 9 am! Whew! Is it lunch time yet??

Saturday - trying to avoid Hoarders Show!

So, I have never blogged before. This is my initial blog. Always thought a diary would be fun to look back on. Wish I had done it when the kids were little but who has time then - and if you do - go for it.

Trying to decide how best to tackle the enormous mountain of stuff that is the combined contents of my house and Robert's house that is piled in what is now our house. I do NOT want to have someone show up at my door and announce that I have been chosen for the Hoarders! However, that is what it feels like...Jessie's stuff is all piled in boxes in the living room. That was done so Drew could move into her old room since she is now living with Adam - my (hopefully) future son-in-law. Robert's stuff is piled sky high in the garage along with Stephie's discards, Jessie's discards and I really don't even know what all. It is also piled in some of the closets and other various spots around the house.

Now I had lived alone for almost two years when we decided to do this so it is a test of patience at the moment. The yard sale cannot come soon enough!! The problem with yard sales is getting ready for them. Which one needs time to do. Ah well, this too shall pass. Anyone out there with good organization ideas, I would love to hear them.

C