Company

Our company is in 'da house as of yesterday afternoon (hence my unusual absence; I've been socializing with actual people.  Weird, I know).  They arrived a little early which meant that Handsome & I spent the AM in cleaning mode (which any MIL worth her salt inspires).  It also means that we all get to spend more time together, which, when you've got 600+ miles separating you from your nearest emergency contacts, is SUPER AWESOME. 

Jemma Star (aka: the difficult one)

We chilled at first, then tried to go to this swimming hole place  called "The Quarry".  It is a new discovery to me (thanks LL!) in the greater metropolitan Clemson area.  Unfortunately, everyone in the surrounding 3 counties seemed to have the same idea, and since some of our guests require environments with limited stimulation, we decided to forgo the swimming hole for a leisurely stroll along the dike.  

Fortunately, we had the top off of the Jeep, we were all together, and we were loving life, regardless of a small change of plans.

Bella Bean (aka: the easy one)

Unfortunately (anyone ever read those books?) a thunderstorm had the same idea as we did, and when taking a leisurely stroll along a dike, a thunderstorm is not good company.  He's loud and spits when he talks, and always seems to have a static problem; you know those people who always seem to shock you when they shake your hand?  He's like that.  No lie, our hair looked like we rubbed a balloon on our heads.

So we ran for the car, rode through the rain in the Jeep (a new experience and semi-adventurous) and returned home for a mostly quiet night.  The puppies played and ran and barked and wore themselves out.

Sorry neighbors!

I think its a Haiku...

So I'm sitting here and...

its just rained (again)

its dark

Handsome is on his way out of town

the windows in my house are open

the smell of fresh rain and damaged basil and mint plants is wafting in my windows

I'm sad about the potential damage to my herbs

I'm absolutely loving this smell right now

my dog is lying beside me in such a way that one small input from him could ruin it

I'm going to enjoy this as long as it lasts

I'm not sure how to do my finals project

its due tomorrow

the "care" button deep down inside of me must be damaged

my Mom will be ticked at me if she reads that

did I mention it smells wonderful outside

I want to bake things and then eat it all

I can't because I didn't even exercise a little today

I might be procrastinating a little bit

its just rained (again)

its lovely outside.

I hope you are having a wonderful night.  If you're not, might I suggest opening a window to the darkness, and crushing up some basil and mint right under your nose.  Its done wonders for me.  Oh, and stay away from your dog's backside; but thats a usual suggestion.

Basically done with school,

TFW

Cliff Hangers No Mo.

I've left a few things hanging over the past couple of weeks.  I'd like to take this time now to wrap them up.  

But first, speaking of cliff hangers, can I confess to you a phobia that I have?  Perhaps its not a phobia, but it is most certainly a distorted way of thinking.  Whenever I'm waaaay up high and there's a ledge of some sort, I have to keep myself faaaar back from it.  Not from fear of falling.  And (ha ha) not from fear of landing, either.  Nope, its from fear of flinging; myself, that is.  I have this unnatural compulsion-type-need to picture myself jumping off of said cliff.  I don't think I'd ever do it, its just something I always picture, and it requires me to stay further back than I really need to.  Whew.  Glad I could share that with you and not be judged.  You're not judging, right?  Oh, okay, good.  Back to the wrap-up.

The Dog Whisperer... Me.

Oh, what a day is today.

I've had a total of six... wait, no, seven dogs at and in my house today.  You know, the house that normally holds myself and Dukas?  I've given a bath to a dog who showed up at my door, led a parade of them around my neighborhood for over an hour, and met 5 or 6 of my neighbors.  But wait... let me start at the beginning.

Around 2 PM today, Dukey started whining at the window.  Now, barking and growling generally mean that the neighbors are checking their mailboxes or raking their leaves; but whining at the window means we have a visitor of the canine variety.  And so we did.  2 of them.  A boxer with a collar, and a little yellow mutt without.  

Once they were found friendly, I tied the boxer up outside, and called the vet's # on his tag.  The emergency answering service could not help me, and I would have to wait until Monday to find out who the dog belonged to.  Say WHA?!