Vacation, Vacation and a Crying Dog

Last August we took a vacation to Tahoe. It was the first vacation that we had taken in over 3 years. JR and Ashley came up and joined us the last weekend, and this video of Willow was taken at the beach on their first day there. Ash and I couldn't stop giggling at her, yet at the same time, we couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her. She wanted to go into the water so bad, but Deano and JR were out too far in the water, and we just didn't want to go in...and I didn't have a life jacket for her (shame on me!!).

Our Dog...Spoiled or Not? You decide!

Yes, this is Willow. Without a doubt the most spoiled, loved, spoiled, adorable, spoiled, sweetest, spoiled, gentle, spoiled, happy dog in the world. Did I mention that she is spoiled?

I was cleaning the house the other day and put all of her toys in her fuf chair* and I am not sure why, but all of a sudden she jumped up on the chair, on top of ALL her toys and just layed there, as if protecting them. Either that, or she really was being a spoiled brat, and if she could have, she would have been saying 'mine, mine, mine, mine, mine'!!!

*this chair was originally bought for me, but somehow the princess chose it as hers. Seems to happen a lot.

The Yellow Sweater

I have always been very close to my maternal grandparents, especially my grandfather. He walks on water as far as I am concerned. And there isn't a childhood memory that I don't have of him wearing a yellow Izod Lacoste sweater that my family had gotten him one year for Christmas. So while I was at out with Ashley the other day at the Antique Faire, an old Izon Lacoste tennis dress caught my eye. It was hot pink and very cute, but I decided against it because it was made of unbreathable polyester fabric, and I would just die if I wore it playing tennis. We looked through the vendors things and suddenly all of these memories started flooding back...I can't believe I was actually seeing it. It was a yellow Izod Lacoste sweater exactly like the one my grandfather has (oh, and I did I mention that he still has it and wears it all the time ~ my grandmother wants it to disappear ~ but I know he wears it so much because it's from me ). I had to buy it, but wasn't sure. So with a little encouragement from Ash, I bought it...for Deano, hoping all the way home that it would fit him. I mean, it seemed big enough. I was also hoping that Deano would wear it, he tends to be a little 'manly' when it comes to wearing certain things. He was just as excited as I was about the sweater, and it fits him like a glove! He can't wait to wear it when we're in Florida. Maybe now my grandfather will stop calling him Gino.

Admitting That Perhaps Mom Does Know Best....And The New Shoes to Prove It!

No kid ever really grows up wanting to believe that, just perhaps, mom does know best. I mean really, they're older than us, not so hip to the fashions, and seems to be a little, well old. However, I take that all back. I spent Tuesday with mom, shopping for a new laptop for her and my dad, having lunch and then perusing the mall. All the while, grumbling about my back hurting. Which, if you know me, you know that I have Degenerative Disc Disease, and it causes me great pain at times. Walking is always the best form of exercise for back pain, but when you can't seem to find the right pair of shoes, it sucks.

So, as we were leaving the mall, we were walking though the shoe department in Macy's. They were having a sale, so I told my mom I wanted to look to see if maybe they had some decent, comfortable shoes on sale. That's when she dragged me over to the section of the shoe department where all the sandals are. I immediately saw the new Croc sandals and was trying them on (since I have had good luck with them in the past) when she came over with a pair of Fitflops and told me to try them on. Now I don't like sandals that have that thingy that goes in between your toes, but I humored her. And, I am so glad that I did. Imagine the most comfortable pair of shoes...ever....all nice and neatly made into a flip-flop...but so soft in between the toes that you don't even feel the leather. That's what these are. No kidding. Cute styles and colors, too. But being on the tight budget we are, I was a little sticker shocked, so mom offered to buy them for me. BOTH pairs. However, after wearing them for the past 4 days, I can tell you that they are worth EVERY penny!!

Yep, after 39 years, I have finally learned that mom does know best!!

Please Help!

Ok, so I have been know to be oversensitive when it comes to animals. And, if it weren't for this particular problem of mine, I would probably have dedicated my life to caring for them (and, who knows, perhaps when I grow up, I still will)!!

I was watching Animal Planet today and a commercial for the ASPCA came on, and it reduced me to tears. I can't stand to see animals that have been abused and neglected by people that promised to take care of them. So with that said, I am now on a new crusade to help the best that I can.

Support ASPCA

The above link is to the ASPCA website with a donation form. Anything will make a difference for the lives of these animals....will you please help!