Crazy Aubrey

Meet AUBREY.
She's our dog, and she is seriously CRAAAAAZY!  And, not necessarily in a good way.  She's smart and crazy.  Jody says that's better than dumb and crazy.  And while she's probably right about that, smart and crazy is so tough to live with, too.

We want to SEND HER AWAY.  Far, far away.

Okay.  I said it.  Yes, I know.  So mean.  And, I do feel very guilty for saying it.  But, you don't understand.  This dog is driving me...the whole family...CRAAAZY!

She looks looks like a good and OBEDIENT dog in this picture, doesn't she?  Yeah, it was just a snapshot in time.  In reality this was just prior to her jumping up on my husband's lap to try to steal a piece of food off of his dinner plate.

She's good at snatching food off of plates.  She's also really good at nipping hands, jumping on TOP OF OUR KITCHEN TABLE, peeing on the floor in a show of INTENTIONAL disobedience and barking.  Man this dog BARKS....and barks, and barks and BARKS.  GRRRRRRRRRRR!

This has to be a first.  She's actually LICKING instead of NIPPING.

My hubby and I had to have a serious talk about Aubrey last night.  Truly deciding what to do about her behavioral issues.  Aubrey hasn't had the best of starts.  Her prior owner(s) dropped her off at the pound with a broken leg.  She was only about 5 months old and it was clear that she had been abused.  She was put on the "Euthanize List".  Fortunately, a local pet adoption organization stepped in and saved her life.

I know what you are thinking:  "You guys knew that she would have problems."  Yep, you are right.  We did commit to this little pup.  And, we are not going to send her away.  But, oh how we want to, though.  The behavioral issues that the adoption agency recognized (and we were told about) are pretty much a thing of the past.  The problem now is that she is developing new nasty issues.  Boo!

One of the things that we have decided to do to help out the "situation" is to focus on as much praise as we can possibly give and to spend more time with her.  As I have been typing this post, she has been laying on the floor being "such a good girl".  I just realized that SHE WAS CHEWING MY SOFA!! 

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.   Taking deep breaths now..........

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I love Lyle...

LOVETT, that is!

We saw him in concert Sunday. 
Man, I love his shows!  I love that he stays true to the big band.  There were 14 musicians on stage at once.  And, that guys has got some soul. 

He played at one of my all-time favorite venues:  Red Butte Gardens. 
It really is the perfect place to have a concert.  The stage is outdoors surrounded by some of the most beautiful gardens ever.  It is a smaller venue with general admission seating.  It's intimate and every spot is great.

Only drawback of a concert outdoor:  Chance of rain.
It has been sweltering hot here for weeks.  Of course, it was broken with a torrential downpour just before Lyle took the stage.

Good old Lyle and his Big Band came out anyway.  Said the rain wouldn't stop them.  Even when it REALLY started pouring, he just kept on singing his heart away.

My view.
I was lucky.  The umbrellas in front of me lined up just perfectly.  I was still able to see great.

Me and my man. 
I'm sporting a Coleman Rain Suit.  Sold for camping.  Used for concert.
By the way, does anyone ever look good when they hold a camera 2 feet in front of them for a self-pic?  Serious.  If you know a trick, let me know.

We enjoyed the night with some of our good friends.  These two are the best!  See that lady?  Heart of GOLD.  She helps children get into great Foster Homes.  She needs her own post.


Down the row there is another great woman.  Cracks me up.  Someone referred to her as "Julie the Cruise Director" at this event.  So fit!  Every group of friends needs a person to corral them.  She's that (and so much more) for this group.

Want to know something REALLY cool about her?  She used to ride horses on a ranch in Wyoming!  Now, that is one cool mama!

Back to Lyle.
He is cool.

There's something to be said about a band that wears suits (and best dress) to perform.
What a dynamic combination of Country, Blues, Gospel and Jazz.
His band is just as talented as him.  Amazing musicians.

"Here I am.....Yes, it's true.......all I want....girl......is you......."
Have you heard "If I Had a Boat"?  One of my favorites!  If you haven't, check it out now.  You will love it, too!  Promise.

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Like a Kid In a Candy Store

As a kid me and my best friend had a candy store....it was a blast.  Not so lucrative when you eat all the candy....but a great experience.  So when my son wanted a summer time project to earn money I suggested opening a Candy Store.  It has been open a few weeks now and they have done pretty well.

ZOTS Are officially all the rage for grade school kids.  Hmm...never heard of 'em.

Doesn't it just make you want some goodies??  Does me....why else do you think they are doing so well ;)

Look at those budding entrepreneurs!  Math skills, Business Management Skills, People Skills.... Check...Check....Check...

I had to take a step back and let them do their thing.  It was hard....VERY hard!  Sign ideas....display concepts...pretty typed up prices....visions of grandeur were swimming through my head.  

But what would their store be if I did that.......MY STORE.  

While I would love to go off on my tangent of "letting kids experience life on their own terms".... I am much too tired to stand on that "Soap Box" tonight.  So I will leave it that! 

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 Night Y'All

 

20 Years

I went to my 20 Year High School Reunion last night.
Interesting.

Fun and interesting!

It was really great to see so many people that I hadn't seen in so many years and to catch up.  Fun to reminisce.  So many funny memories.  I laughed a lot!  A LOT!

It was also sad to miss those that didn't make it.  I couldn't help but wonder where they were at and why they decided not to come.  We had nearly 400 people in our graduating class and only about 150 came.  I think that Facebook is squashing reunions as we know them.  It is so sad.

You know, I almost didn't go.  Thought that my curiosities had been met - I had already connected with so many classmates on Facebook.  I was SO wrong.  And I am so very glad that I went!  Facebook does not substitute for any face-to-face conversation!



Sadly, I forgot to take my camera,  Someone took this with my phone.


This is John.  He is one of my best friends from school.  We've stayed in touch, but I don't get to see him much, because he lives in California.  It was so great to see him.  It has been too long.  We got to spend Saturday together.  When you hear someone say "So and so is a character", John is that!  A character!  HILARIOUS!  Always fun...crazy.  Heart of gold, too.

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