Puppy classes.

So...puppy classes-

Hutch has been learning quite a bit in his lil pupster classes. He can 'watch me' and 'sit' and is learning to walk properly on a leash. Granted, we still have a long way to go, 6 weeks left, but he's making some great improvements.

He has been making some great friends:) There is a pitbull, lab, doberman, weiner doggie, mutt, bull terrier, and a few others. I'm soooo happy he's socializing well!

It's not changing his personality though. He is still as fun loving and goofy as ever! Right now for instance, he is surfing the couch, my personal favorite. Unfortunately, as soon as he hears the doo-doo-doo-da of the camera turning on he doesn't want to be filmed and instantly stops his hilarious puppy tirade.

I suppose this blog is pointless. I guess I just wanted to brag on how much I love my pup. And boy oh boy is he growing. But hey, he still loves his mama. We've been talking to a breeder in Louisiana about adding a girl....a new addition soon?

Taking it for granted...

The rays that is. Before you know it Summer is over and I just never feel like I took full advantage of my sun and beaches.

Living in the south we are fortunate enough to have a good 9 months of warmth [at least], but it isn't until that first fall chill that I feel like I'm white and pastey and in need of a beach day.

Like with everything, life gets in the way. I'm so exhausted from the work week I want to be lazy on the couch rather than worrying about getting to the beach for a tan.

The major downside is the sun is free. Once November comes around Ill be paying to go to a tanning bed so I don't like washed out. Another downside: cancer prone lady here. Lol.

One day this CG life could have me stationed somewhere that's freezing for most of the year. What then? Will it ever be warm enough to sprawl out on a lawn chair or cozy up on a beach towel?

Sand between my toes, sweat drizzling off my skin, the smell of salty air and sun tan lotion....
I really should plan a day...

If only you'd be happy being the best version of YOURSELF.

I always hated the idea of copying.

My mom would try and tell me when my sister or friends would buy the same shirt I had or do something I did that I should be flattered because that's their way of saying, "Hey. I like what you've got [or] I like what you've done so much that I want to do it [or] have it too!"

To an extent that's the truth and that's cool, but when is it a little too much?

It's just so funny when it comes down to someone doing it not necessarily because they like it, but because they can't be a step behind or because they have to be equal or better.

I live my life for me everyday. Of course, being married you have to make sacrifices and compromises, but I don't compare my life or make standards for myself based on others lives. I am happy for my friends in their successes and I ache for them in their pain, but what they have or don't have doesn't pave a path for my life.

I don't know if this is even making sense. If some of you know the situation, lol, I'm sure you get my drift. I guess I just wish people would live their lives for themselves and do things for them and not to 'Keep up with the Jones'.

More than anything I suppose it's sad...a little pathetic even, when people do things to make it look picture perfect on the outside. Hey you. You're compensating for something you don't have. So whatever, keep buying your 'hapiness'. Paint the perfect picture. But just know in the end. It doesn't make it R.E.A.L. So just STOP! Be you. Live your life. Stop. It's annoying.

JUSTICE!

Long story short:

Our thief was caught! And I feel...fairly safe again:)

HOW DARE YOU?

So...attempted robbery at our casa. Goes like this:

I get home and immediately let our puppy out real quick. When I come back into the bedroom it sounded like a window was open. We really never leave our windows open. So I go look over because the blinds were closed and down as always and I see a BUNCH of glass all over the floor. I lift open the blinds and see our window is TOTALLY busted out. It's a big triple paned window. This was no accident. I ask the guy above us who was sitting on his porch and he said thirty mins. prior he heard a loud crash while he was inside, but just thought something was dropped.

My guess, they busted the window out and scared the f*ck out of my dog who probably started barking like crazy and as they heard the dog bark, but couldn't see because the blinds were down and closed they probably didn't know what they'd be getting (dog wise) had they pursued and made the decision to leave.

My question for all you THIEVES-

WHO THE HELL ARE YOU? How dare you come to where I've made MY home, where I have worked for all the things I have and try to STEAL what my JOB provides me with. HOW DARE YOU make me feel scared and uncomfortable in MY HOME where I should feel calm and relaxed. At the risk of agreeing with stereotypes you UN educated, poor, PATHETIC, D*CK... F*CK YOU! Who raised you? Someone must have instilled some sort of black and white or right and wrong. You cannot be that ignorant. How about get off of your lazy a*s and get a j-o-b. How about work for the things you feel you are 'entitled' to. How would you feel if some SELFISH THIEF broke into YOUR house or your mothers house and stole YOUR THINGS? Because let me tell you something, MY Sh*t is MY SH*T!

I hate thieves. I hate you.

Where are you Christmas?

Yesterday Nick and I spent all evening thinking of our favorite Christmas songs and then singing them. We seriously cannot wait for Christmas.

Eggnog, Carols, Christmas trees, ornaments, lights, family, Jesus, wreaths, mistletoe, presents...

This year is going to be quite different from our old traditions. My families Christmas normally lasts days...

Day 1- The day before Christmas eve my parents take my sister and I to do a little shopping, we go to a nice dinner, and see a movie. When we get home we're allowed to open one gift! Mainly, a little chance for us to be together before the craziness starts.

Day 2- Christmas Eve we wake up in our home and open presents from each other only. That afternoon we drive to Ocala to stay with my Dad's parents. That night we open presents from my dads side.

Day 3- Christmas morning we open presents from 'Santa' and then go to church. Then we go to my moms side and open their gifts and spend time with them.

What will this year bring? I have inherited a new family, well two, because Nicks parents are divorced. We will have to spend time with my family, hopefully extended family, Nicks dad's side, and his mom's side. How will we find time...to divide the time?

I hope amongst the strain to devote time to all of our families we don't forget all the fun that Christmas can bring. Maybe this year we will develop new traditions, better traditions, 'our' traditions.

All I know right now is how badly I want to hear, "Baby it's cold outside" or, haha, "The Redneck 12 Days of Christmas!" This Florida girl is looking for to a little chilly, NOT COLD, but chilly weather. I want to see others share the Christmas spirit, hopefully some smiling faces, sharing, generosity...

WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU CHRISTMAS? Could it be? You are really 142 days away:(

Ode to football

Cookouts or tailgates, beer, at the game or at the bar, in the jersey, sporting the colors. College or pros, how happy I am that football season is BACK!
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Last night I enjoyed a pre-season game, Colts and Redskins, neither my favorite team, but satisfying my hunger none the less:)

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Shocked? A girl who enjoys football? Oh but I do. It can be considered sexist assuming women would prefer cheer leading for the games rather than watching them, but there is something about watching my teams!
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I have referred to 'my team(s)' twice so I'm sure at this point you are wondering which they may be...

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When it comes to college I am a Gator girl all the way:) In fact, my sister in law and I have made it a yearly tradition to dress up in orange and blue and go walk the streets of The Landing during FL/GA weekend.
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As far as pros you will find me rooting hard for the Jaguars!

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However, I do love my Cowboys too:)

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I'm fortunate enough that even though my husband and I no longer reside in Florida, sad face, we will being going home to at least two Jag games. We have tickets to the first game of the season vs. the Buffalo Bills and another game in December vs. the Colts!

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Maybe when my parents move to Texas we'll get to go to a few Cowboy games. When we lived in Plano when I was younger I can remember taking limos to the Cowboy games and getting to sit in the sky boxes, thanks to my Dads job. It was really exciting then, but there is nothing like being in the stands with all the other crazed fans.

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So...here's to football season:)

Public Service Announcement: Traffic

How I wish we could have a public service announcement to remind all SLOW people in the PASSING lane to MOVE OVER!

It drives me absolutely crazy, whether I'm in a hurry or not, that people go the speed limit or under in the passing lane. What bothers me even worse is as people angrily speed around them and swerve in front of them they still have no clue that they are being a nuisance.

One thing that amuses me as much as it annoys me, rubber neckers.

It's like you could be stuck in hours of traffic because of an accident. You're sitting in the car thinking, "I know this is because people are driving by SO SLOW to see what happened." You think this the whole time, until, you approach the accident and do the same thing, lol. At that point you're probably thinking, "Well I waited two freaking hours I might as well see for myself." Haha.

Short blog, silly topic, but something that crosses my mind often. I hope this reaches all the slow left lane drivers and accident on lookers;)

Tipping.

I have been fortunate enough to travel throughout much of the world. I have been to some of the best and worst restaurants around. I have been where service is better than the food and vice versa. I have waited hours at times and minutes at others, for meals. But what really effects how you tip?

For me, I take no consideration of how my food tastes or how long it takes to be prepared. I feel like that is solely put on the cook (UNLESS it is brought to my attention that the server has been carelessly taking their time with my order. Sometimes you will know, sometimes you won't. If I don't know, ignorance is bliss for the server because it won't be held against them). However, if I am waiting for a while I would like for you to check on me, often. Let me know my meal hasn't been forgotten and you still know I'm around.

If my order is wrong and you 'memorized' it instead of writing it down. Yes, that bothers me.

If you have absolutely no personality, you're ok. I won't find you fun and entertaining, but hey some of us have a dud day. As long as it doesn't interfere, we're good. But if you are RUDE, watch it.

I guess I'm writing this because I feel like 1 in every 5 restaurants I go to I get bad service. I have never been a waitress, but have worked at a restaurant. Your paycheck is coming from TIPS!!! You aren't paid 'that' well hourly. So shouldn't servers do everything in their power to offer a great dining experience whether you're at Ruth's Chris or Chilis to ensure the customer gives you the best tip possible in the end?

-Don't let the glass stay empty for too long. (Especially if it's my wine glass, hahaha.)
-If the food is taking too long, keep me posted.
-Even if you aren't the most personable person, be polite.

Is that really so hard? I don't know if some people see me and think I'm 'young' so no matter what I won't tip well. That is so far from the case. If I have a decent restarurant experience I am tipping 20%. If I had a stellar restaurant experience I am willing to tip way more, go there way more, and request you.

Lol. Basically, if you can't tell, I had a bad waitress the other night (at our favorite Sushi Bar). It's actually the second time in a row we have had her AND her bad attitude. I just get so frustrated and it got me to thinking about tips.