The Doodlebug

Your Cheatin' Heart

It had been a long day...I was tired...ready for a good night's sleep. As I made my way to our room, I began to notice that my side of the bed looked strangely occupied. Newt was settled in and comfy...next to a long legged brindle!!!!
Needless to say, it took an act of Congress to get her to relinquish her spot, but boy, was it nice and warm when she got up. Amber, you can be my electric blanket anyday!

Farm Kids

As much as I'd like to think our 22 acres is a farm, when I visit a real farm I am reminded that our little rectangle of land is no such thing. Yesterday, we spent a little time at one of my favorite places on earth - 400 acres in familiar middle Georgia. Yep, believe it! We played in the big hay pasture with the dogs. Everyone was off leash and it was so fun to see Amber sprint and fly like the wind. She was grinning the entire time! Russ enjoyed the "big tactr" and Meg practiced her leaps from one hay roll to the other. I'd never have to buy them anything if we had such good, sweet entertainment at home. Oh to be real farm kids...

Two Years Ago Today...

I was in labor:) My little man decided to make an entrance into this world at 5:21 p.m. It was a beautiful Sunday - cool and clear. Our town had just celebrated it's 150th birthday on the day before, and Meg danced at the dedication of the historic Austin Theater that night. It was if her little brother knew that he needed to wait until all of that was over before showing up. The day he was born was one of calm for me. Since he was my second, I was a lot less hysterical and nervous. Newt went to the grocery store to stock up. Meg and I played. We walked the dogs up and down the driveway and hollered at Newt when a contraction came. After lunch, we decided to go to the hospital, and Russ was born at 5:21. He was 10 lbs.!!! The nurses had to fight with him to get a regular newborn t-shirt on him. Aunt Erin tells a great story about that!
So, he's two today. Sweet, opinionated sometimes, but totally wonderful.
Happy Birthday, Russ! Love you.

Favorites

A Major Accomplishment

It's probably no big deal to all of my "in-shape" friends, but it is a big deal to me. Yesterday I completed my very first 5K race. When Newt and I began jogging over two months ago, I signed up for this race which benefits SEGA. It was my own sort of personal goal because I knew that I'd have to be running three miles in order to really drive all the way to Atlanta and do this. This race also indicates another type of accomplishment for me - a conquering of runner's embarrasment. As a child, I was always tall and extremely skinny, plus my feet turned out (good for ballet, not for running). Boys used to make fun of the way that I ran, so I've always been terrified of running in public. But, yesterday I put all of those fears to rest and jogged my three miles in public. I'm still self-conscious about my stance, but I do realize that I'm not quite as goofy-looking now as I was in middle school. Thank God!
I can't wait to sign up for my next race!

Sweet Boy

Well, I received some bad news this evening. Slickers, our foster greyhound, had moved to a new foster home within the last two weeks. We have missed him terribly, but our lives have settled back into "normal" (whatever that is!) for us. He needed a quiet home with another greyhound to keep him company, and our house was just too much of a zoo for such an oldtimer.
Tonight, I learned that Slick had fallen ill in the last few days, not eating and not acting himself. At the vet this afternoon, he was put down due to a bleeding disorder and some seizure activity. Since he was suffering, and there was nothing more that could be done for his 11.5 year old body, Slick's new foster mom had to let him go. I am saddened by all of this, but deep down I knew that something was wrong with old Slick. I am happy that his body is whole again, and he can once again run like the wind. Be free, sweet Slick! We love you :)

Stop and Photograph the Daisies

Ok, I took the camera outside this afternoon to catch a photo of the toad who had escaped from Meg. He hopped off under the playhouse out of view... Anyway, our gerbera daisies have decided to bloom again after a week of rain from TS Fay left them fat and full of water. Their little vacuoles are so satisfied right now. Little do they know that they will be wilting again soon as I do little in-betwen tropical storm watering myself. I tried to get my little helper to douse them for me this afternoon, but he insisted on watering his feet and the well-fed weeds around the flower bed. At least he had a good time... :)
So here's what I shot...

A Covey of Cats

Ok, I'm not a hoarder of animals like some of those crazy old ladies you read about or hear about in the news. Admittedly, I do have a problem with saying no to the occasional stray or rescue case, but I am NOT a hoarder. It's a good thing that we live in the country, because leash laws do not apply to us and we are allowed to have as many furry friends around us as we so choose. I love that part. In fact, we chose our current home for many reasons, one of which was the number of great trees for our, then, three cats to climb. We now have four and have lost one since that time, but our rationale remains the same - this is a great place for cats to live. We have a large tin building that I call our "barn" for the cats to live in. They have their own kitty door to the barn and they have a long counter to dine on. Louise frequently cruises the rafters and will scare the mess out of you if you look up and she's right overhead. It's a great home for our covey of cats.
My dad thinks I'm somewhat of a nut for having seven four-legged animals living at our house right now. Recently, he patted my husband on the back and told him that he was such a good man for putting up with all of these creatures. Newt loves it and he knows it. He is a good man.

Growing Up

It's official...my children are growing up, and that means that I am getting old. Today my firstborn, Meg, set off on a new adventure - kindergarten. We went to open house yesterday morning to meet her teachers and see her classroom. Both ladies are just wonderful, and we knew that Meg would be in good hands with them. My biggest concern was the fact that Meg knew not one person in her classroom except for her teachers. Now most people know that Meg is not really a shy person, but she will hang back if she is unsure of those around her, especially if it's EVERYONE around her. But, it turns out that I haven't given Meg enough credit. Newt took her to school this morning, and Meg went right in without a care in the world. She seemed at peace with the entire school process - a girl after my own heart. I am a big school nerd, after all! As Meg gets older and acts more like her daddy everyday, I am thrilled when I find out that some of my genetic material has actually surfaced in her. She will be a geek like me! :) But a cool geek, of course~
My stomach held butterflies all day, waiting until I could call Newt after school to see how her day went. Her Granddaddy picked her up from the bus with her aunt and uncle, and they set off to the DQ for a little celebratory ice cream. For Meg, it was the perfect ending to the perfect day. I hope she loves it as much tomorrow. TTFN...ta ta for now...

I've Been Tagged!

Heather C. tagged me from her blog to tackle the topic: six unknown things about me. Now, I'm really having trouble with this one. I pretty much wear my heart on my sleeve, so if you know me at all then you know me nearly completely. But, I promise to be a good sport and not let the fun fizzle with me, so here goes...
At the bottom, you'll see who I tagged :)
Six Unknown Things About Me:
1. From time to time I wish that I'd pursued a life as an artist instead of a teacher. Sometimes I just have that creative bug, and my stack of paperwork at school squelches it.
2. As a teenager, I got tired of always being the designated driver. It's not fun to be a goody two-shoes all the time.
3. I was a Georgette at the University of Georgia in 1995. We're the ones with silver shoes with red and black leotards. It was actually a lot of fun! I have performed at the half-time show for two Peach Bowls and one Super Bowl.
4. I failed Organic Chemistry in college. When I retook it, I made a 'D.'
5. I clean up my house for my mother. When I know she is coming over, I do a major overhaul on the junk laying around.
6. I hate video games. I never could get past the first flying mushroom in Super Mario Brothers, and you know what? I couldn't care less :)
So, there you have it. I don't know if these things are good, bad, weird, or what - but they are what they are. I tag Tracy, Kristy, Erin, and Beckie A. Just write a post about your six unknown things and then tag four others. Happy Blogging!

Upside Down

Last Sunday, Slick came to stay with us for a while. It's been a fairly uneventful week, minus the fact that I had to go back to work from the most wonderful summer break I've ever had. The dogs are getting along just fine, the kids have adjusted to life at the babysitter's house again, and I'm getting used to the alarm clock at 5:30. Lots of changes, but no big deal really.
I say all of this because, my own greyhound, Amber, did something that I never thought she'd do on Monday night. (Slick arrived Sunday afternoon.) Amidst all the change, I found Amber happily asleep with all four feet up in the air. She was "roaching!"
Greyhound owners talk about how their greys will "roach" when they are totally happy, content, comfortable, and relaxed. Well, evidently it took the visit from Slick to get Amber to that point in her life with us. Throughout the week, I've caught her in that position a handful of times, but I haven't been able to grab my camera. She looks so funny!
I'll add a picture soon!
Here's to you, Slickers, for turning us all upside down!

A Foster, Finally

I am finally coming into the world of greyhound fostering. It's been my dream for a year now, and it is finally going to happen soon. Slick, an 11 year old black hound, is being rehomed due to his family's choice in flooring for their new house. Slick prefers carpet or "un-slick" floors. His owners will have all hardwoods in their new home, so Slick will be coming to live with us for a while. We are pleased to accept him into our little geriatric hound circle. Josephine (a mutt hound) just turned eleven this week, and Amber, our grey, is nearly 10.5. We love our seniors, and I think that Mr. Slick is just going to fit in like one of the family.
He is such a handsome guy!

A Few of My Favorite Things

I decided to post some of my favorite photos here.

Crazy Dog/Cat/Animal Lady

Yesterday we returned from our yearly hiatus at the beach. It was a wonderful vacation with plenty of rest and relaxation. We were sad to leave the sand and surf behind, but were glad to be on our way home to see our family and our fuzzy four-legged friends who live with us.
It is a monumental task for us to go out of town. We have six animals and two human children. Three of our four cats stayed at home with my mom and good friend, Dan, looking out for them. Dan checked on them twice a day and had to administer antibiotics to Satchmo, our oldest cat, who thought it'd be a good idea to get in a fight before we left. Penelope, our littlest and youngest cat, went to Noah's Bark Kennel in Centerville. It's a great boarding facility - the owners really bend over backwards to make their guests feel at home. I think they just got a little crazy dog/cat/animal lady endorsement... :)
Josephine, our mutt who will be 11 next week, went to visit my mom while we were away. GJ, the very first crazy dog/cat/animal lady, says that Jose Begose is the perfect houseguest. It's probably because she sheds just a little bit less than her own three german shepherd dogs, and because she always has impeccable manners. Her crazy dog/cat/animal lady momma taught her well.
That brings me to Amber, my greyhound. Amber has only been in my life for about six months, but she has been in my heart for her entire life. I cannot explain the intensity of my feelings toward Amber - it's insane. She is just a wonderful girl.
My mom had her hands and indoor kennel full already, so I asked a fellow crazy dog/cat/animal lady, Heather, if she'd mind keeping Amber for me. Being the crazy dog/cat/animal lady that she is, she quickly agreed. Heather included Amber in her blog with her own two greyhounds so that I could check in on their antics. Amber and Roxie quickly became the best of friends, which has got this crazy dog/cat/animal lady wondering how the heck I can adopt another greyhound... aren't they kind of like Lays potato chips? You can't have just one?
Newt, who knows that I am a crazy dog/cat/animal lady and who puts up with it, says that he'll move out if I bring another one home. What's a crazy dog/cat/animal lady to do? Plot and plan while he's at work tomorrow...:)
Anyway, the purpose of this post was to give a shout out to all of those ladies out there who are dog/cat/animal crazy. We are hopelessly in love with our furry friends, and we will stop at nothing to save just one more from a horrible life. If more people were crazy dog/cat/animal ladies, the rest of us wouldn't have to go nuts trying to overtake the irresponsibility of this world.
Ok, enough soapbox for tonight. In closing I would like to propose a toast to one of my friends who recently became a crazy dog/cat/animal lady. Her hubby gave her a puppy for Mother's Day and she is head over heels in love with this dog. Another one bites the dust...welcome to the club!

Morning Has Broken

There are some things in life that you know are just too wonderful to ever hope to repeat. This morning, our first at the beach, Russ decided to wake up at six a.m. While I remember not being very happy about this, we got up and ate cereal, and I tried to entertain the little man while everyone else snoozed. When an hour had passed and no one seemed like they wanted to get up, Russ and I headed for the beach with a towel and a cup of coffee.
We took a little walk and Russ pointed at everything he saw. He put his arms out for me to hold him and I carried him back to our tents. We saw boats, birds, airplanes, a bunny in the dunes, and lots of shells. We pulled out two chairs and sat in the early morning sunlight. He carried on about all kinds of things. I responded, but mostly just listened. Russ has learned to say boat and bird really well. For a while, he just sat in my lap and watched the morning break in all its glory.
This is one of those times where I wish that I could bottle my heart and save it forever. I know that if I am lucky enough to visit heaven, this feeling will revisit me for eternity.

My First Video

Let's just say that I'm never the first person to learn how to use some new, cool piece of technology.  I'm usually nearly the last - only my husband would be further behind, actually. So, I bought Newt a point and shoot digital camera for Father's Day.  He does a lot of riding in his truck during the day, and he always spots some crazy creature along his route.  He tells us about them when he gets home, but, of course, we don't believe him! So, now he can document his sightings.  I thought it would be cool to make a little book for Meg with all of the creatures in there. 

Anyway, I digress...I used the camera the other night to take a video of Meg in her last t-ball game, and it is a hoot. I finally figured out how to get her hair to stay in a ponytail and stick out the back of her hat.  Before she looked like Forrest Gump running from base to base with a stiff red cap slammed down, but yet still riding high on her head full of hair. In this video, she looks like a little girl playing t-ball, not Forrest. I am pleased that we figured out how to do this on the last week of the season. Go figure...

So here's to my first attempt at film (or digital) or whatever records that stuff in there.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LCIja4tBuY

Beauty and the Boot

Miss Amber had toe surgery last week, and I have not had a chance to write about it until now.  We thought that Amber's toe was broken as a result of a racing injury over five years ago.  However, the vet suspected that she might have a tumor in the injured toe.  So, reluctantly I decided that we would be better off removing the toe.  

Surgery was scheduled for Tuesday morning.  I dropped her off on my way to work, complete with a mat for her kennel to make her comfy, her muzzle, and her Thera-Paw boot. I tried not to cry when I left, but I know how risky anesthesia can be for a dog her age. We agreed to go ahead and do a dental cleaning on her, since she would already be asleep. 

The doctor called me at 12:30 to let me know that everything was great. Amber's toe was not broken, but dislocated at a 90 degree angle!  Ouch!! I don't know how she was walking around all this time without yelping.  So, I felt good that we really did the best thing for her by removing that toe.  She is already feeling so much better, and I can't wait until next week when we can remove the bandages for good!

How Sweet It Is...

So, Saturday was the James Taylor concert at Chastain.  Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE James Taylor.  I have always loved him, since I was a little girl.  My dad used to play him for me, and I really do think that I know most of his songs. We actually traveled to Lenox, MA to watch him play when he was sold out in Atlanta one year. I have all of his "new" albums, which I think are some of his best, and I have more JT on my ipod than any other artist.

Newt says I like him so much because he reminds me of my dad.  True, I do associate JT with my dad, because he likes him as much as I do, and probably a little bit because they have the same haircut.  JT has a little more fringe than my dad. :)

My dad used to play the guitar, too. And, I noticed last night that they share some of the same moves while playing.  Dad reminders aside, I have to say that JT still has such an awesome stage presence.  He's down to earth and quite humorous, and his show was so wonderful.  He played several "money makers," as my friend, Amy, called them, and he brought out some covers and new songs, too.  Honestly, he could sing the alphabet, and I'd think it was great.

Chastain was fun. We took a cooler that was entirely too large for the table space we had, but we worked around it.  I think we've decided that we will just use the onsite caterer next time, and walk in with ourselves and a six-pack. :)

I don't know how old JT is or how many more tours he will do, but I know that I will pay whatever it takes to see him every time he comes to Atlanta.  It's like my own little piece of immortality, a blip in my life that takes me back to days where life was not necessarily better, but definitely much simpler. And of course, JT will always remind me of my dad. :)

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

On Saturday, Meg, Amber, and I set out to Newnan for SEGA's annual Bring Your Greyhound meeting. I've never attended a meeting before, so we were very excited. Plus, we planned to have some quality catching-up time with Allison and Matt and to visit the Meyer crew as well. After missing the turn on the way up, we finally arrived in the quaint little town of Newnan.  (Secretly, I'm wishing Newt could find a few pecan trees there to grow.) We let Amber meet Scooter - Michele's little white snowball of a dog, and they hit it off fabulously. We took a walk, and Amber wore her Thera-Paw boot. After a snack, we went to pick up Allison and drop off our stuff.  SummerWind Farm is less than two miles from her house, and we found it easily. Lais were plentiful, even Amber wore one! 

Meg had such a great time - she played with Audrey and Will at their house, served herself yummy food at the luau, visited all of the greyhounds in their exercise pens, did the hula all by herself, and even led Amber through the doggie limbo contest.  It was a hoot, though Amber was not the least bit interested, but completely a good sport.

We met some of the nicest people at the luau.  It was great to finally be able to put names and faces together and link them with their hounds.  SummerWind is a beautiful place, and I feel so privileged to have been able to visit there. I know that we will return for future SEGA events there. 

Allison and Matt have a beautiful home in a beautiful neighborhood with plenty of room for guests.  Amber and Meg just settled right in. I know Matt and Allison will make great parents one day, as Meg just couldn't get enough of either of them. She did not want to leave to come home!  She wanted me to go get her fishing pole instead! I can't wait to go back this summer to spend a little more time.  It's always great when we get together - it's like no time has passed at all.  Allison is still one of my best friends, and I imagine that she always will be :)

I enjoyed my daughter so much this weekend.  When she's out of her everyday routine, she is actually a very funny little girl. It took her a while to warm up to each new situation this weekend, but she was a comic once that happened.  I was pleasantly surprised that she was polite in public - lots of "please"s and "yes, ma'am"s. That made me feel good.  I loved spending time with her, and I think she enjoyed me, too.  I look forward to many more girly weekends with some of my very favorite people, and hounds.

A Well-Rounded Girl

Miss Meg - five going on about thirty-five most of the time...

This weekend Meg had her annual dance recital at the Pettigrew Center.  She was very excited as she had two costumes this year instead of just one! She was the only child in the whole production who did not have her hair in a bun.  I even took her to a professional to have her hair pulled up, but we were not successful.  On our best attempts, Meg looked like one of those gymnasts with what seemed like dozens of those tiny clips and bobby pins holding on for dear life. So, we gave up and opted for a shorter cut instead.  This way her teacher would surely know that there was no way under the current laws of physics that Meg's hair was going up :) 

Meg did a great job - she is clearly ready to advance to the "blue" class with her buddy, Anna Kate. This is a point that Meg brings up frequently.  

On the flip side of this girly girl, is my tomboy (sort of).  Meg had her first t-ball game this week.  She plays second base and actually caught two balls in her first game.  She also had two hits. I won't mention all of the times she was spinning in the dirt, but she managed to pay attention when it really mattered. Sometimes Meg surprises me so much.  She is so scatterbrained and disorganized, but she totally understands both sports and dance.  She has great respect for her teachers and coaches, and I know that she has learned so much from them. I'm sure Meg won't grow up to be a dancer or a sports star, but right now she wears a ball cap and tutu at our house! What a girl!

Much Needed Therapy

Today Amber went to school with me.  My students had a big project that was due last Friday and they did a great job with it. So, their reward was Amber, and I surprised them!  They were so happy to see her. They all had a great day.

Road Trip

So, Meg and I had our first experience as greyhound transporters today.  "Bug" has a broken leg, and needed to go from Birmingham to Ocala.  After a breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon, Bug's trip began early this morning at the track.  Meg and I picked her up at Hartley Bridge Road at noon from Teresa. Teresa handed me a bag of treats, Jiffy-Puff Marshmallows, a disposable camera and a card to send along with Bug. At each transfer we were to sign the card and take a picture of ourselves with Buggy. Meg and I were up to the challenge!

As soon as Bug was settled in the back of the car, we set out.  On the entrance ramp to the interstate, Meg and I noticed a foul odor.  Guess all those eggs for breakfast clashed with Bug's stomach.  She gave us three or four really stinky bombs during the ride, but Meg and I just laughed and cracked the windows.

Meg brought an entire bookbag filled with stuff to eat and keep her occupied.  She played games, looked at trucks, and occasionally fed Bug a marshmallow. (I'm sure these didn't help the gas situation...) We talked about lots of things and sang along to Victor Vito.  It was good for the two of us to do something together for a change.  She is such a daddy's girl, that I don't get much one-on-one time with her lately. She seemed to realize that what we were doing was important, and she was excited about that.

We reached Tifton by 1:30 and met Bryan, who owns two greys, and is deaf.  I went along babbling and gesturing wildly (I'm sure he thought I was an idiot), and finally asked him for a piece of paper to write things down.  He was super nice and Bug settled in nicely in the back of his car.  We said our goodbyes and took our photo.  We know Bug is on her way to a successful surgery and a forever home.  That's what it's all about...

We grabbed a Starbucks for the ride home.  Meg had a rice krispy treat that was the size of her head which she promptly polished off by the time we reached Cordele. We talked a little less on the way home - I think we were both tired. But it was a good day.  I'm glad I got to spend it with my little girl and a dog.

May, the month of anticipation

May is my favorite month of the year. I love summer vacation, and the month leading up to it is the best. I am literally humming with anticipation of all that free time. (Who am I kidding- since when do moms have free time?)
May is also the month of my anniversay which means that someone in our family will take pity on us and watch the kids for us while we go out to dinner. This year we will celebrate at the end of the month at Chastain with James Taylor and some good friends. May also includes the end of school for Meg - she'll graduate from pre-K on May 21st. She has spent three years at her preschool, and has enjoyed every minute of it. We will be sorry to see her leave.
Other notables: Derby Party, T-ball games, dance recital, SEGA meeting in Newnan, Memorial Day, Mother's Day... The calendar is looking pretty full! I can hardly wait...

The Fruit of an Obsession

Amber Opal

Ok...I've come to admit that I may be a little obsessed with greyhounds.  We just adopted our first grey in December 2007, and I would certainly have a house full of them if we won the lottery tomorrow. It's the beginning of this obsession that I would like to explain...

When Newt and I were first married (nearly nine years ago, this week), we vacationed in Ormond Beach, Florida. Newt had grown up visiting this beach with his family and then later as a bachelor where he would frequent the greyhound track for some friendly betting. So, when he asked me if I wanted to go with him to the tracks on our first vacation together, I quickly agreed.  At the tender age of 23, I'd never given a thought to greyhound racing. When we arrived at the track it took about a nanosecond for me to sniff out the adoption room from which Newt had to drag me after what had been several hours. All that week, I begged to return to the track, and Newt gladly obliged.  He had no idea that I was secretly planning on packing one in between the duffle bags for our trip home.  I bought and eagerly read Adopting the Racing Greyhound and spent as much time as I could gazing into the hounds' eyes.  It was like looking straight down into their gentle, sweet souls. I was totally in love!

So, for nearly ten years I have pined away for my very own grey.  At the time we had Dixie and Josephine which we thought was steep on the responsibility slope.  Now we have six animals and two kids -let's just say we've realized the value of those footloose days, a faint glimmer in our memories.

When our yellow lab, Dixie, died at 9.5 years to cancer last May, Josephine was left as our only canine child. I waited until Newt was deep in the throws of pecan season in November before making my move on a greyhound. He couldn't possibly object to a new dog if he was never home! I found SEGA and filled out an extensive application.  When I talked to Patty Winters, of SEGA, on the phone, she informed me that a wonderful senior girl was located in foster in Perry - how convenient!  That was on a Thursday evening, and Sunday, Amber Opal came home to our house for good.  She just turned ten last week, and we celebrated with peanut butter milkbones and a new squawking duck toy which she loves!

Amber is such a joy to our family.  I will probably have a lot more to write about her...stay tuned.

New to Blogging

Ok, so I'm not a writer at all...I just feel like jumping on the bandwagon with this blogging stuff.  Why are my mother's words echoing in my head right now...if everyone was jumping off a bridge, would you too?  Well, no Mom.

But in this case, I think I'm pretty safe. This doesn't require any special equipment, it's free, and I think I'll be good at ranting and raving about stuff here.

Let me know how I'm doing.