Maybe I should have named him Marley.

I love my dog. I really do. There are plenty of books and stories regarding man and dog, but it seems that there aren't many written from a female perspective. Maybe one day when I have plenty of down time, I'll write about how I've learned so much about loyalty and love and companionship and patience and discipline from Cash, the Wonder Lab. I've heard that male Labs usually begin to calm down around age three. Oh, how I hope that is the case. I just can't imagine that he's going to slow down that much between now and next April. He is wide open most of the time, but much to my delight he eventually hits his wall. When he does, he's so incredibly cute and I love him the most in those moments. It's those moments that I have to consciously remember when the following picture is a snapshot of my reality bright and early on a Monday morning as I'm getting ready for work.

I'm so glad that he managed to destroy not one, but two pair of brown flip-flops in this little escapade. I am beginning to think that the shoe companies are paying him commission.

Sunday Morning Workout

I'm still in the doghouse.

Have I mentioned that my dog was thoroughly insulted when he was removed from his normal routine and environment for a couple of weeks? He obviously holds a grudge.

The Year of the Dog

One year ago today, I took on a new role: Master. Perhaps I should say that in theory I took on a new role, but this little pup had me wrapped around his paw from the beginning.

I actually started this blog post last night, but earlier today when I was finishing it up, I hit some random computer key and for whatever reason, all of the content disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle of the blogosphere. I love it when things like that happen. All that to say, this is kind of the Cliff's Notes version of my original post. Honestly when I got Cash a year ago, I had no idea what in the world I was getting myself into. Sure I had read a book on Labrador Retrievers, but I quickly learned that there is a pretty significant difference between theory and application.

Over the past 12 months I have lost shoes. I have lost sleep. I have lost pillows. Some days I felt as if I had nearly lost my mind. Were it not for a little place called Pawtropolis, I probably would have. Of course it's perfectly natural for you out there reading this to scoff at the concept that is Doggie Daycare. I will admit that I absolutely rolled my eyes at the thought of it before getting Cash. Suddenly though when I found myself with a 30 pound (and getting bigger by the millisecond) Lab puppy in a one bedroom apartment rainy day after rainy day, it seemed like the greatest idea known to man. I'm not so sure that Cash and I shared the same sentiments initially.

Cue Sarah McLachlan music please because doesn't he look like an ASPCA poster puppy in that picture? Fortunately after a few trips to Mike Vick's training camp, he began to force friendship upon the other dogs.

Just as I swore that I would never send my dog to doggie daycare prior to actually getting one, I also swore that Cash would never sleep in my bed. What can I say? It got really cold in December and he made a great foot warmer. Whenever I got Cash, I really wanted him to be a highly socialized dog that played nicely with his canine compadres as well as with people. I think that he's done pretty well thus far.

While he certainly loves other dogs and people, one of his very best friends from the very beginning is yellow and round.

His love for tennis balls is quite abnormal. In fact it's quite embarrassing at the dog park when all of the other dogs run up to him wanting to play and he stays intently focused on the tennis ball. I just call him Rain Puppy when it happens. He is quite talented though in that now he fetches them two at a time. Stupid Pet Tricks, here we come! The [first] year of the dog has been quite an interesting one. While I have lost a few things, this stuff pales in comparison to all that I have gained. I have gained more patience. I have gained an understanding of the importance and necessity of consistency. I have gained a forever friend.

[Note: I had a really hard time picking out the pictures for this posting so if you want to see even more pictures of quite possibly the greatest Chocolate Labrador Retriever, in the whole wide world, click here.]

It's Good Practice.

A few weeks ago my friend, Michele, called me and asked me what I had going on this weekend because she was going to be in a wedding near Athens and needed a place to stay for the night since she lives in a land far, far away. Needless to say, I immediately cleared my schedule [read: cancelled my date with the SNL season finale, maybe next time Will Ferrell] and prepared for the fun that was sure to ensue. And what a great time we had catching up. Honestly, I can't remember if I have actually seen her since her wedding nearly 4 years ago, but we have stayed in touch over the years. She is such a fun person with an incredible heart. I still haven't figured out how I'm so lucky to have people like that in my life.

Today after church, we had a terrific lunch downtown at 5-Star Day [hello, soul food, you are my friend], stopped by the pet store to get some food for her small-breed dogs [Great Dane and Lab/Pit mix], and headed over to the infamous Athens mall for great shopping. Well, I don't know about great shopping, but we at least had great cold treats from Dairy Queen, and I did get a new bag for the beach [the place I will be this time next week] so over all it was a successful trip. Especially since Michele found an adorable pink shirt for her soon-to-be-born baby boy at GapKids.

After we got back to my apartment, I had the brilliant idea of getting a picture of Michele with Cash the wonder Lab before she left. Obviously the dog had other ideas.

[Look, I know what you're wondering, but no, Cash was not baptized today.]

At least now when she's chasing a two-year old little boy around a photography studio all for the sake of the perfect Christmas picture, she'll be a seasoned professional. Come back soon, Michele. We miss you already!

Wreaking havoc is exhausting.

The next time I get the crazy idea to put some clothes up in my room while my dog sleeps peacefully [or so I thought] in the living room, I going to remember this night.

Good-byes are always hard...

especially when Reese's Pieces eggs are involved. Until next year, my sweet treat. In the meantime please enjoy some pictures from Easterpalooza 2009 by clicking here.

I wonder if Benadryl worked for Noah.

Don't get me wrong - I'm thankful for the rain. I understand that we need the rain. The farmers need the rain to feed their families. The lakes and streams need the rain so I no longer have to carry guilt about taking 2 showers in 1 day. Rain is good. Until it rains for days straight and you come home to your apartment and let the dog who has been crated for 12.5 of the last 13 hours out of his crate. When that happens, things like this happen as well...

Yes, I realize that there is enough bone in my floor to reconstruct some sort of large animal. Perhaps a T-Rex even. What you don't see is the part of the floor to my right and left and behind me. More bone. More plastic bag debris. More tennis balls. More red blanket fragments. More plastic bottles. And today, I did not have the wherewithal to even try to maintain order. In fact it was all I could do to hide the Benadryl tablets in the peanut butter well enough so that Cash would never even now that I was slipping a little sleepy time into his evening snack. That was 2 hours ago. Too bad the picture doesn't show him running in circles. Even now. As I type.

Jerry Garcia called. He wants his rain boots back.

It seems that monsoon season has arrived here in The Classic City and not a moment too soon, might I add. With this rain, the pollen will clear for about 5 seconds and the lakes will rise to mud puddle level just in time for us to send the water West and South to our neighboring states. Because we're generous like that in Georgia. I digress.

Now all of this rain is well and good unless you happen to be the proud owner of an 11 month old Lab puppy whose hobbies include puddle plunging...

and rolling in grass...The good thing about water dogs is that they don't really mind getting wet when it's raining outside. The bad thing about high energy Labs is that they need lots and lots of exercise come hail or high water. Given that today is pay day, I decided to head on over to the local Target to pick up some of the super cute rain boots that I've seen while out and about. You know, the thing about rain boots is that they are the type of thing that you never really think to buy them until you need them. Which is also when most other people think to buy them. I arrived at Target only to find zilcho boots. So I decided to try Academy Sports next. Hello, it's a sports and outdoors store, they should be rain boot rich, right? Wrong. Well at least in the $19.99 price range. Not even Payless would be my source of shoes on this dreary day. I should probably mention here that while I was doing all of this shopping for rain boots my cowboy boots were getting wetter with each falling drop of rain. As a last resort I decided to try TJ Maxx or Steinmart and ended up in Steinmart for the sole fact that it was the closest to my car by the time I finally found a parking space. I wasn't really all that optimistic that I would have any luck there either because not only are rain boots functional, they are also a pretty big fashion trend. I apparently missed that segment of fashion week. So I remember as I'm walking into the store that it doesn't really have a shoe section. Whatever. As I'm casually milling around the purses, I happen to look a little to my left and see a whole display of rain boots. One pair happened to be in my size. I thought about waiting to see if Target would get a new shipment in tomorrow, but in reality tomorrow would not be soon enough. Instant Gratification! I needed it! Right! Then! So I pick them up and take them to the counter without even trying them on. As I'm walking up, I suddenly get a little embarrassed that I'm about to actually purchase these shoes. I mean, I pride myself in my taste of shoes. I have tons of shoes. [No, it doesn't matter that I only wear the same 4 sad pairs over and over again.] And I was about to purchase u-g-l-y with no alibi. I put them on the counter and proceed to explain to the girl working (who I thought to myself was super stylish and cute and probably even a Phi Mu...until I remembered that Phi Mu's at Georgia probably aren't working their way through college at the local Steinmart) that I had a dog who had to be walked and it was all about functionality at this point. In her mind she was probably thinking, "geez lady, act your age and not your shoe size and get some Dr. Scholl's rain boots why don'tcha?" I finally made it back home and decided to take them on a test drive. Of course I spent no less than 10 minutes picking out a "thrown together" outfit in the event cute British neighbor happened to see me outside walking my dog and decided to come chat. [And might I add that the extra time was not spent in vain.] So this afternoon, I learned that I don't mind walking the dog in the rain nearly as much when I can be pulled through a puddle with nary a concern about getting my socks and shoes wet. So here they are in all their glory...

Hideous? Yep. But functional nonetheless. And functional is what I was looking for when I made my purchase. It wasn't like I was going to wear them anywhere other than around the apartment complex anyway. Or so I thought. No less than 3 hours after purchasing these bad boys did I find myself in Publix wearing them along with cropped yoga pants and an old Phi Mu t-shirt. Apparently I had had one too many tokes on the peace pipe and forgot the oath that I made to always be presentable when out in public after people who I've never even met started recognizing me from reading my blog. I realize that you can't get the full effect of them in the above picture. Which is why I took this picture after getting home from the grocery store...
Now all I need is a few bears dancing in a line around my arm and I'll be set.

Attention GA DOT: Salt Truck Needed on 316.

There are at least 20 other things that I should be doing right now. Primarily sleeping. Even my [wilder than the average] dog just went and stood in front of my bedroom door and looked at me with those sad puppy dog eyes until I opened it for him so he could go lay down. If not sleeping, I should be reading for class because I certainly am behind even though I've devoted far too many hours to the cause already this week in my opinion. Instead I'm blogging at midnight because tomorrow is a Snow Day! And it's hard-wired into my being that snow days equate to staying up late and doing nothing related to school or work. As I was driving to my parents' house on Friday evening for the first leg of HP's Journey around Georgia 2009, I had a phone conversation with my mom about how I was probably going to have to head back to Athens either late Saturday or early Sunday to prevent getting trapped at their house in the looming snow storm that had the weather people all abuzz. Because like I told mom "it never snows in Athens so I'll have to get back there to be at work on Monday" [I was seriously doubting the likelihood of a snowstorm anyway because at the time of the conversation I was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt and jeans.] Guess what...

It snows in Athens. Technically the picture above wasn't taken in Athens. It was taken on my way home when I was stopped at a traffic light somewhere on 316. To be specific, the part of 316 that was easier to drive on than the part closer to home. Driving at an average rate of 25 mph for approximately 30 miles provided me with plenty of time to draft a new piece of legislation. I propose that all Georgia drivers must take their driving test in Minnesota during the winter months before being given a license. I don't understand why we get all sorts of crazy on the road as soon as the first flake hits our windshields. I passed 4 wrecks in a 10 mile stretch this afternoon. A Ford Windstar almost plowed into the side of me because apparently Bobby LaBonte (sorry Nascar fans, he's the first driver I thought of and I have no idea the quality of his driving skills or what kind of car he drives) was behind the wheel and he had a hankering for a biscuit from Bojangles. [Side note: I discovered Bojangles biscuits this week and the experience literally changed my life.] I'm not saying that my 18 hours of private driving lessons nearly 15 years ago [aghhh...age crisis] was the only preparation I needed to learn how to drive in the snow and ice, but doesn't it just make sense to stay in the tracks of the cars that are just ahead of you? Instead of trying to blaze your own trail in a minivan? I'm pretty sure you can't flip the hubs (um, I could be a little off on my 4WD lingo here) and cruise on by. Fortunately the rest of the trip was uneventful because I was going to need a lot of energy to keep up with this beast...

To say that Cash loves the snow is a bit of an understatement. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to have to move to a cold climate now or else he'll sink into a deep depression. We spent a lot of time outside this afternoon which is fine by me because have you ever spent much time in a 1 bedroom apartment with a 10 month old Lab who hasn't been exercised all day? It's not pretty...The snow, however, was very pretty.

It snowed...
and snowed...
Unfortunately many of the trees have been slacking in the exercise department [it happens to the best of us] so they were not up to the task of hosting all of this wintertime goodness...A few of the extra wimpy ones enlisted additional assistance...The only thing that could have made the afternoon better was if I had collected some nice clean snow to make up a batch of snow cream...but I don't keep sweetened condensed milk on hand which is a key ingredient in the deliciousness that is snow cream. And of course, I would have needed some folks around to share the snow cream with, but it kind of goes without saying that the snow is much more fun when shared in the company of others. Maybe I should make some friends in my apartment complex before the next time it snows. Something tells me I'll have plenty of time since "it never snows in Athens".

Blame It on the Skinny Jeans

Remember a few days ago when I cleaned out my closet because I feared that the shelf was going to fall at any moment? Tonight I was hanging up some clothes when I was blind-sided by some flying debris (a.k.a. shoes)...The shoes konked me on the noggin because I had two rows of them on top of the closet shelf that crashed to the ground. Unfortunately Kid Rock (my new neighbor who looks exactly like him so that's what I call the dude) is back from his most recent tour so I hope that he wasn't trying to get some shut eye because I'm sure the sound of shoes, denim, cotton, polyester, metal, and plastic falling from above would wake even Rip Van Winkle. At least someone thought it was funny...

The Great 08 Clean-Out

Today I'm going to allow you all to take a glimpse into a part of my life that I don't typically share with the free world...

I think that you can tell a lot about a girl by her closet. They say that eyes are the windows to the soul. I beg to differ. The good news is I'm no longer quite as compulsive about the organization of my closet as I once was. I like to think this translates into a more mellow me. It's a nice thought. Prior to going home for Christmas I was hanging some things up when I noticed that the shelf on the left side was starting to break away from the wall. So I mentally prepared myself to arrive back to my humble abode only to find half of my closet contents dumped into the floor in complete disarray. It was nothing short of a Christmas miracle that this tragedy of epic proportions did not happen. Monday afternoon I decided that I could not press my luck any further so I began the arduous (is that word appropriate here?) task of cleaning out my closet. Little did I know at the time that I would need the extra space for the new skinny jeans that I would purchase only a couple of hours later. [Sign #25 of the Apocalypse: HP has skinny jeans hanging in her closet.] Anytime I clean out my closet I use the rule of "If it hasn't been worn in a year, I'll never miss it" to determine what goes and what stays. This is the result after about 15 minutes...And here are all the discarded clothes before being shipped off to Goodwill...

I know...I have a ridiculous amount of clothes and I understand that I'm very fortunate to have the "problem" of full closet shelves. I also have a problem with discarding this shirt...When I was in high school I vowed to myself that I would never become one of those adults who got stuck in the rut of dressing the same way that they dressed in college for the rest of their lives. Turns out that I've had this shirt since college. And for whatever reason I love it. I still wear it 8 years later despite the fact that it has always fit me crookedly because of the way it is sown. (It's obvious how crooked it is just by looking at it!) Something tells me that I can't really rock it with my new skinny jeans and tall boots, but when I pulled it off the hanger to throw into the discard pile I just couldn't let go. So much for "out with the old, in with the new".

Have I ever mentioned that Cash's 2nd most favorite thing in the world to chew is a hanger?Needless to say this was more exciting for him than all the wrapping paper on Christmas morning.