My wonderful husband is home! He had a good time in New Jersey but is very happy to be home. We are both slowly getting over our colds, and hopefully next week will be healthy and up for celebrating the 4th of July with our families.
He brought back souvenirs; a snow globe of new york city, a couple of books with pictures of the city and especially central park (which is really the only part of NYC I would want to see), and a draw-string backpack for me!
I have been getting more and more excited about my trip to OR for my internship! One night I got so excited just thinking about it that I couldn't sleep for a while. During the weekend I am there, I am going to visit my sister (and possibly my cousin) in Seattle which will be great. I haven't seen Jenetta since Thanksgiving!!
Anyways that is all that is going on in my life up to this point.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Butterflies already!!!
Does anyone know if having butterflies in your stomach for two straight weeks can kill you?
I ALREADY have butterflies about my internship. I have to purposely not think about it, or I actually get a stomach ache, and I couldn't sleep last night because I started thinking about it. Lol, I am not worried, I am so excited!! This is going to fulfill at least a little bit of a dream I have had for years and years. I have wanted to work at a guide dog school since I was about 10 when I found out there was such a thing. And now for two whole weeks I get to do just that! I can hardly wait!
These next two weeks are going to be torture, and I can't imagine I will be sleeping the night before it starts. The people I am staying with sound really nice. They foster dogs for GDB, including a dog that was raised in my old club here in Utah, and graduated as a wheelchair guide.
The only thing about this internship I am not looking forward to is the 12 hour drive there and back. I don't do well with long drives, let alone, long drives all by myself! Books on tape will be my lifesaver, and I am seriously considering splitting up the drive between Saturday, and Sunday. I guess there are a few things that I am not looking forward to....I am going to miss my puppies soo much! Patriot is going to stay with my parents and Hobbs is going to be puppy sat by my leader. I am going to miss my husband! And last but not least, I am going to miss being around my family, friends, and husband on my birthday:( So until July 12 when I leave, I am going to be going insane! Oh, and if anyone knows someone who has a dog IFT at the Oregon campus, email me and I will take pictures (if I am allowed) and give them a special hello.
In other news, Patriot went in for a heart worm test today and thankfully it came up negative! I was a tiny bit worried that it may be positive. The reason for the test? For the past 5 years I have been buying hearguard from my vet with no problems. Then a couple weeks ago I went to buy a new box and they gave me some crap about needing a negative heart worm test! I pointed out to them that they had been selling it to me every 6 months for 5 years, but they didn't care. So I had to pay to get the test. Anyways now my mind is a little more at ease knowing my old boy's veins aren't all full of worms.
I ALREADY have butterflies about my internship. I have to purposely not think about it, or I actually get a stomach ache, and I couldn't sleep last night because I started thinking about it. Lol, I am not worried, I am so excited!! This is going to fulfill at least a little bit of a dream I have had for years and years. I have wanted to work at a guide dog school since I was about 10 when I found out there was such a thing. And now for two whole weeks I get to do just that! I can hardly wait!
These next two weeks are going to be torture, and I can't imagine I will be sleeping the night before it starts. The people I am staying with sound really nice. They foster dogs for GDB, including a dog that was raised in my old club here in Utah, and graduated as a wheelchair guide.
The only thing about this internship I am not looking forward to is the 12 hour drive there and back. I don't do well with long drives, let alone, long drives all by myself! Books on tape will be my lifesaver, and I am seriously considering splitting up the drive between Saturday, and Sunday. I guess there are a few things that I am not looking forward to....I am going to miss my puppies soo much! Patriot is going to stay with my parents and Hobbs is going to be puppy sat by my leader. I am going to miss my husband! And last but not least, I am going to miss being around my family, friends, and husband on my birthday:( So until July 12 when I leave, I am going to be going insane! Oh, and if anyone knows someone who has a dog IFT at the Oregon campus, email me and I will take pictures (if I am allowed) and give them a special hello.
In other news, Patriot went in for a heart worm test today and thankfully it came up negative! I was a tiny bit worried that it may be positive. The reason for the test? For the past 5 years I have been buying hearguard from my vet with no problems. Then a couple weeks ago I went to buy a new box and they gave me some crap about needing a negative heart worm test! I pointed out to them that they had been selling it to me every 6 months for 5 years, but they didn't care. So I had to pay to get the test. Anyways now my mind is a little more at ease knowing my old boy's veins aren't all full of worms.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Injured
Patriot ended up with an owie from yesterday's romp at the dog park. His pad has a raw spot on it what makes him limp quite a bit. After a day of walking on it, just in the house, it looks red and inflamed so it has a temporary "bandage" on it until tomorrow when I can buy some doggie first aid stuff. He is less than thrilled about it, but I don't care. Here is a picture of the "poor tortured boy"
The only thing I had in my whole house to cover it with was a "happy to be a career change" bandana.
Also, today the boys got baths. For some reason neither of them were their normal cooperative selves. I practically had to drag Patriot into the tub, and Hobbs put up a fight instead of being his little docile self.
No, I don't bathe them together....this was just for the picture
Patriot looks so tortured in this one!
Loney Week
Robert has been on a business trip in New Jersey since Monday morning. I miss him so much! It is amazing how much just having him around makes life better. This is going to sound weird, but luckily I have been sick for the whole week, so I have been sleeping a lot of the boredom away. Other than going out to buy cold medicine, and taking the dogs to the dog park (to stave off their insanity) I have been laying on the couch or bed sleeping, watching tv, or reading. I can not wait for Robert to be home!!
One thing that I have been wanting to do this week though is get my diet back on track. I fell back into eating sparingly (so once or twice a day) and my weight has come back. I am really sure now that I am not going to make my new years resolution of weighing 135 by my birthday. This week I have tried to get back into the habit of eating three times a day, and eat healthy. Once I am not sick anymore, I will be exercising to at least attempt to get in shape for my internship in two weeks and three days!
One thing that I have been wanting to do this week though is get my diet back on track. I fell back into eating sparingly (so once or twice a day) and my weight has come back. I am really sure now that I am not going to make my new years resolution of weighing 135 by my birthday. This week I have tried to get back into the habit of eating three times a day, and eat healthy. Once I am not sick anymore, I will be exercising to at least attempt to get in shape for my internship in two weeks and three days!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Coming To Terms
I have had a pretty hard time being ok with Hobbs' CC. Thanks to everyone who commented and let me know that I did everything I could to help him be the best he could be. Even with all of that though, I have had a hard time with it...such a hard time that it has suprised even me!
Part of it was that I just didn't feel like I had gotten "closure" on my puppy raising. That sounds really stupid lol. What I mean is, because I will not be raising for a while (too many dogs and not enough space) I really wanted to have Hobbs go back for training. I would have been happy with any outcome, but for some reason the going into formal training part was important to me. I think because I knew that anything that we tried was not going to help Hobbs, so I figured that the trainers could magically "fix" him. Having my puppy raising experience cut short kind of shocked me. The past couple weeks I have unconsciously pushed Hobbs away, not wanting to let him down more than I already felt that I had. My last speck of hope for a "better" outcome was crushed on friday with the news that the cc was official.
Today I finally came to terms with Hobbs' cc'd status. We went to the pet store (Hobbs hasn't been allowed for months) and bought his new collar, and some soft squeaky toys. Then this evening we went to the biggest dog park in SLC. It is a trail along a small river so the dogs have tons of trails to run on, and pools in the river to swim/play in. There were probably 50 dogs there tonight, but there was enough room that every one had it's space. Hobbs and Patriot had a blast in the water! This is what finally got me to the point that I am ok with Hobbs as a pet. He was just sooo happy with life at the dog park. Instead of stressing about everything, and every dog that looked at him, he was happy.
I thought about all the times that I cried over him, and how disheartening it was to watch as my "perfect" 12 week old puppy crumbled into a ball of nerves and stress. Selfishly I pushed him, and basically tried to force the square block through the round hole. Today, I got to see a little of what I first saw when he was younger. He was confident, and reckless, the way a 14 month old lab should be. I finally cried about his career change; releasing the stress that I didn't realize I was putting on myself by worrying about him.
So at long last, I am content to have my two cc'd boys. I sill want to raise as soon as realistically possible, even if it doesn't happen for 5-10 years, but for now I am ok, with being "just" a puppy sitter. Oh, and speaking of puppy sitting, we are not taking Maury during the first of July. There was a mix up and he is going to another sitter's house. I promise that this is the last of these "pitty posts" about Hobbs' career change.
Part of it was that I just didn't feel like I had gotten "closure" on my puppy raising. That sounds really stupid lol. What I mean is, because I will not be raising for a while (too many dogs and not enough space) I really wanted to have Hobbs go back for training. I would have been happy with any outcome, but for some reason the going into formal training part was important to me. I think because I knew that anything that we tried was not going to help Hobbs, so I figured that the trainers could magically "fix" him. Having my puppy raising experience cut short kind of shocked me. The past couple weeks I have unconsciously pushed Hobbs away, not wanting to let him down more than I already felt that I had. My last speck of hope for a "better" outcome was crushed on friday with the news that the cc was official.
Today I finally came to terms with Hobbs' cc'd status. We went to the pet store (Hobbs hasn't been allowed for months) and bought his new collar, and some soft squeaky toys. Then this evening we went to the biggest dog park in SLC. It is a trail along a small river so the dogs have tons of trails to run on, and pools in the river to swim/play in. There were probably 50 dogs there tonight, but there was enough room that every one had it's space. Hobbs and Patriot had a blast in the water! This is what finally got me to the point that I am ok with Hobbs as a pet. He was just sooo happy with life at the dog park. Instead of stressing about everything, and every dog that looked at him, he was happy.
I thought about all the times that I cried over him, and how disheartening it was to watch as my "perfect" 12 week old puppy crumbled into a ball of nerves and stress. Selfishly I pushed him, and basically tried to force the square block through the round hole. Today, I got to see a little of what I first saw when he was younger. He was confident, and reckless, the way a 14 month old lab should be. I finally cried about his career change; releasing the stress that I didn't realize I was putting on myself by worrying about him.
So at long last, I am content to have my two cc'd boys. I sill want to raise as soon as realistically possible, even if it doesn't happen for 5-10 years, but for now I am ok, with being "just" a puppy sitter. Oh, and speaking of puppy sitting, we are not taking Maury during the first of July. There was a mix up and he is going to another sitter's house. I promise that this is the last of these "pitty posts" about Hobbs' career change.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
My crazy sleepy puppy
Hobbs fell asleep on one of our new dog beds today, and soon I was snapping pictures of him in the funniest position ever! Here are some pictures:
His face was the best part so here are a couple close-ups
After about ten minutes he started dreaming and whining. Then he started to bark a little, and his legs where twitching so much it was moving the rest of his body! I hurried to video tape it, but as soon as I pressed record all movement stopped :(
This is his face after twitching like a crazy puppy. His tounge actually fell out of his mouth!
His face was the best part so here are a couple close-ups
After about ten minutes he started dreaming and whining. Then he started to bark a little, and his legs where twitching so much it was moving the rest of his body! I hurried to video tape it, but as soon as I pressed record all movement stopped :(
This is his face after twitching like a crazy puppy. His tounge actually fell out of his mouth!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Soooo...
Somehow "magically" my knee is almost 100% better today!! Yesterday it was doing much better, and by night I was using it pretty much like normal.
Now I don't know what to do. I don't know if I should wait and see if it stays better, or if I should go to the doctor and try to explain how it felt even though it doesn't hurt anymore!
Now I don't know what to do. I don't know if I should wait and see if it stays better, or if I should go to the doctor and try to explain how it felt even though it doesn't hurt anymore!
Dog Park!!
Now that Hobbs is a normal dog, I have been dying to take him to the dog park to see how he handles it.
Our local dog park! It is small, only about two acres, but is pretty well maintained. The trees are all young so there isn't much shade. The drinking fountain is great though with a lower fountain for the dogs.
Patriot goes just about every week and loves it, so Hobbs went with us today. At first he was a little worried, but I planned it so that there weren't too many dogs there. After the first couple dogs came to sniff and greet him, he relaxed and all the hackles went away.
Hobbs really liked the littler dogs like these two boston terriers
Our local dog park! It is small, only about two acres, but is pretty well maintained. The trees are all young so there isn't much shade. The drinking fountain is great though with a lower fountain for the dogs.
Patriot goes just about every week and loves it, so Hobbs went with us today. At first he was a little worried, but I planned it so that there weren't too many dogs there. After the first couple dogs came to sniff and greet him, he relaxed and all the hackles went away.
Patriot socializing away....the big dog behind him was not the nicest in the world:(
This is how Hobbs spent much of the time we were there. Silly boy!
Hobbs really liked the littler dogs like these two boston terriers
I am very happy that we had such a good first experience at the park. I was worried, but it went really well. We are alone this week (hubby is on a business trip) and I am already getting bored, and lonely. Our last puppy meeting is tonight and we are turning in our puppy jacket.
We haven't gotten the neuter letter from GDB but Hobbs is such a good boy as is, that I am not on pins and needles waiting for it. Hopefully neutering him doesn't make him more fearful than he is already.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
My Knee
The last few weeks, my knee has been bothering me quite a bit. It started as just some soreness one day after I had walked the dogs. It was better for a while, and then after the "grandpa race" at the reunion it really started bothering me again. Gradually it has gotten more and more uncomfortable, to the point that now, by the end of most days, I am hobbling around on it. For the most part, it hurts to straighten it but sometimes it just aches. When I sit for long periods of time, in certain positions, I have to be VERY careful when I start to walk or my knee gives out. Sometimes it feels like the back of my knee has no support from the muscles, and other times it just seems stiff.
I have been putting it off for a while, but I am going to be making an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon sometime in the next two weeks....before I leave for my internship. That way, if I can get some physical therapy done before I leave, I will be physically able to do the best while I am there.
The little bit of information I have researched on the Internet, makes it sound like I may have a strained/ruptured tendon or injured ligaments....which to say the least isn't a good thing.
I have been putting it off for a while, but I am going to be making an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon sometime in the next two weeks....before I leave for my internship. That way, if I can get some physical therapy done before I leave, I will be physically able to do the best while I am there.
The little bit of information I have researched on the Internet, makes it sound like I may have a strained/ruptured tendon or injured ligaments....which to say the least isn't a good thing.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Its Official :(
I got the email to day. Hobbs has been dropped from the program. Now I am waiting for his neuter letter as well as the career change papers. I am really hoping that they send the collar plate so he and Patriot match.
I am going to be giving back Hobbs' jacket and my manual (if I can find it) on monday at our puppy meeting. Bring on the CC'd perks!!!
I am going to be giving back Hobbs' jacket and my manual (if I can find it) on monday at our puppy meeting. Bring on the CC'd perks!!!
- No toy restrictions!
- Dog Parks!
- TREATS!!!
- Better Food!
- Agility Classes!
- Couch and Bed Time!
- And probably a lot more things!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Day 3
Saturday morning everyone met at one of the condos for breakfast, and we presented Grandpa with a book of memories of him. Each person/family sent a letter of appreciation, addressed to grandpa, and a picture of us to one of my cousins. She then made up individual scrapbook pages with our pictures and letter. It was all compiled, and given to him as a birthday present/token of our appreciation of him.
Pictures were taken with Grandpa, and then we all packed up and headed home. It was a great reunion, and I am looking forward to more reunions. Hopefully Robert's family will have some that I can go to so that he can show me off to his family. Lol, that sounded SO vain!!
I will probably be adding more pictures of the reunion, so check back if you are interested.
Pictures were taken with Grandpa, and then we all packed up and headed home. It was a great reunion, and I am looking forward to more reunions. Hopefully Robert's family will have some that I can go to so that he can show me off to his family. Lol, that sounded SO vain!!
I will probably be adding more pictures of the reunion, so check back if you are interested.
Day 2
Friday morning we got up at around 6:15am and all me at the local running track. In my family we have had this tradition every reunion that we "race" grandpa at a mile. He has been running for a LONG time and is still doing about a 9 and a half minute mile! And he is 80!! Well back when I was little it was VERY hard for us to beat him at the mile. There is a cash reward for every person who walks/runs the mile....or part of it. The reward system goes something like this:
each lap = $1finishing the mile = $5 (this includes the $1 for each lap)
beating Grandpa across the finish line -and extra $5
time under 7 minutes = $1 for every minute
I am pretty sure I accounted for everything we got rewarded for.....I may have missed it though.Robert and I are not in the best of shape...pretty far from it. So we mostly walked the mile with intermittent spurts of jogging. I think our time was somewhere past 12 minutes, so we got $5 each. But the rest of my family did rather well this year!
Daniel got a time of 6:17 and was the fastest overall in the grandpa race! He even beat his personal best time at the mile! Kathryn was the fastest girl overall! My mom was the fastest woman in the adult group! My dad was somewhere in the middle, but I think he still beat my time:( It was kind of a kick in the tush for me to get back into some semblance of shape (and I don't want to hear any "round is a shape" cracks!)
Friday afternoon was basically free time to swim in the pools at either the condo or the hotel. Robert and I went to the condo and swam for a bit and then laid out to tan (or sunburn whichever way you see it). Then we went with my immediate family to Bajio Mexican Grill for some lunch which was really good!
We knew we were going to be up late that night so Robert and I took a nap for a couple hours that afternoon. Sleep felt sooooooo good. Our hotel room had two beds, which I think were supposed to be queens, but they just seemed really small. So Robert and I slept on separate beds while we were there. I hope that doesn't appal anyone out there! We love each other, but we (more I, than we) sleep better when we have a lot of room! That evening we went to dinner and a show at Tuacahn. It is a preforming arts high school/outdoor theater. It is set up next to the most amazing red cliffs!
My mom, sister, and brother all ready and spiffed up for the show
Me and my love!
Me and my love again. This is what it looked like around the theater!
My wonderful mom and dad in front of the red rocks
More red cliffs! 
This one fits Robert and me soo well. Our whole story together is him being the devil and me the angel! We both just laughed when we saw this. They are salt and pepper shakers.
each lap = $1finishing the mile = $5 (this includes the $1 for each lap)
beating Grandpa across the finish line -and extra $5
time under 7 minutes = $1 for every minute
I am pretty sure I accounted for everything we got rewarded for.....I may have missed it though.Robert and I are not in the best of shape...pretty far from it. So we mostly walked the mile with intermittent spurts of jogging. I think our time was somewhere past 12 minutes, so we got $5 each. But the rest of my family did rather well this year!
Daniel got a time of 6:17 and was the fastest overall in the grandpa race! He even beat his personal best time at the mile! Kathryn was the fastest girl overall! My mom was the fastest woman in the adult group! My dad was somewhere in the middle, but I think he still beat my time:( It was kind of a kick in the tush for me to get back into some semblance of shape (and I don't want to hear any "round is a shape" cracks!)
Friday afternoon was basically free time to swim in the pools at either the condo or the hotel. Robert and I went to the condo and swam for a bit and then laid out to tan (or sunburn whichever way you see it). Then we went with my immediate family to Bajio Mexican Grill for some lunch which was really good!
We knew we were going to be up late that night so Robert and I took a nap for a couple hours that afternoon. Sleep felt sooooooo good. Our hotel room had two beds, which I think were supposed to be queens, but they just seemed really small. So Robert and I slept on separate beds while we were there. I hope that doesn't appal anyone out there! We love each other, but we (more I, than we) sleep better when we have a lot of room! That evening we went to dinner and a show at Tuacahn. It is a preforming arts high school/outdoor theater. It is set up next to the most amazing red cliffs!
My mom, sister, and brother all ready and spiffed up for the show
Me and my love!
Me and my love again. This is what it looked like around the theater!
My wonderful mom and dad in front of the red rocks
More red cliffs!
The dinner was good, but it was REALLY stressful for Robert and me. The reason for the stress? Robert is really allergic to bee stings (as in die in 45 minutes allergic) and there were tons of them everywhere that they had people sitting to eat. Eventually we had to ask if there was anywhere we could sit inside! Luckily they let us, and we had a nice private dinner together in the hall of the high school!
We went into the gift shop to get some souvenirs for the trip and found a couple good ones.
A neat plastic horse with native American pictures on it.
A neat plastic horse with native American pictures on it.
This one fits Robert and me soo well. Our whole story together is him being the devil and me the angel! We both just laughed when we saw this. They are salt and pepper shakers.
The show that night was The Sound of Music, and they actually did a very good job! My favorite part was at the end when they are preforming in the show and all the Nazis are standing guard. Then the family disappears, and they actually had actors dressed as Nazis searching the isles and shooting guns! It was very real and gave you a taste of what it would have been like for that actual audience back then. Most of the actors were from the high school I think, but some of them were professionals!
The show went really late, and some of the family left at intermission because everyone was really tired.
Smith Reunion 2008 - Day 1
Finally I am getting around to posting this !!
Robert and I left at an early 7am to drive the roughly 4 hours down to St. George. Patriot was dropped off at my parent's house to spend the weekend. Hobbs had already been dropped off at a puppy sitter. I have always enjoyed drives with Robert because that is when we get a lot of talking in. This time was a little different because we had a book on tape to listen to, but it was still fun.
We were the second people to arive at the park around noon. As people started ariving we said our hellos and Robert was introduced, and reintroduced, to my dad's side of the family. Lunch was on our own so we just snacked because we had eated a late breakfast on the road.
The pavilion we met at
Lunch is served!
I got to meet my little second cousins...I think that is what you call your cousin's children, right? So far there are three boys and two boys. I only know three of their names....there is Bromley, Marlie, and Jade.
Most of the family
After lunch we played some games and sat around and talked and reminisced. The games were:
Bottle rockets. Very popular with the smaller boys
The winner of the bubble gum contest! Aunt C.
Watermellon seed spitting contest
You can't really tell from the picture but this was a game of volley ball with a giant ball. 
We met up with a cousin from the other side of the family (the one on the far left)
Football with the little cousins...and two big cousin-in-laws
Robert and I left at an early 7am to drive the roughly 4 hours down to St. George. Patriot was dropped off at my parent's house to spend the weekend. Hobbs had already been dropped off at a puppy sitter. I have always enjoyed drives with Robert because that is when we get a lot of talking in. This time was a little different because we had a book on tape to listen to, but it was still fun.
We were the second people to arive at the park around noon. As people started ariving we said our hellos and Robert was introduced, and reintroduced, to my dad's side of the family. Lunch was on our own so we just snacked because we had eated a late breakfast on the road.
The pavilion we met at
Lunch is served!
I got to meet my little second cousins...I think that is what you call your cousin's children, right? So far there are three boys and two boys. I only know three of their names....there is Bromley, Marlie, and Jade.
Most of the family
After lunch we played some games and sat around and talked and reminisced. The games were:
Bottle rockets. Very popular with the smaller boys
The winner of the bubble gum contest! Aunt C.
Watermellon seed spitting contest
You can't really tell from the picture but this was a game of volley ball with a giant ball.
We met up with a cousin from the other side of the family (the one on the far left)
Football with the little cousins...and two big cousin-in-laws
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