A History of My Canine Relationships & A Little Imagination

No, I’m not referring to my husband.

Growing up I didn’t have any brothers. I did have two “sisters.” When I was born my parents had a beautiful red golden retriever named Shannon. She had a gentle soul and was a good influence on me (for example she always used the sidewalk and never ran into the street after her ball). I was in first grade when she passed on so I don’t remember much of her besides what I see in pictures (I have a mostly terrible, sometimes amazing memory). Pictures of her in my tent with me, next to me on my first day of school, accepting a tennis ball from me when I was just a toddler and so on and so on. I never had any invisible friends (from what I can remember), but I did imagine that Shannon was the closest thing to an older sister. My parents had adopted her long before I ever came along and needless to say losing her was extremely tough on everyone.

A few years went by and apparently I was going through dog withdrawal and starting asking my parents for another dog. I would sometimes even crawl onto my mom’s lap and make panting noises as if I was a puppy. I might not have had imaginary friends, but I definitely had an interesting imagination that’s for sure. Finally, my parents relented. When I was in third grade (I think…) we drove a few hours North to pick up a white fluffy golden retriever that we named Daisy (middle name Roo).

If Shannon was equivalent to an “older sister”, Daisy was definitely a troublemaker “younger sister” that was spoiled just like youngest children usually are. Despite emergency trips to the vet and other mishaps she was also a wonderful dog and companion to all of us. She was always there waiting for you with a wagging tail and a kiss so you could hardly stay mad at her. After I left for college it became evident that Daisy was no longer a happy go lucky puppy anymore and after receiving treatments for multiple types of cancer it was then her turn to leave us. Just because you’ve experience something before, it doesn’t mean it’s any easier the second time.

After that quite a few things happened: years passed, I graduated from college and also got married and moved to Kentucky. Now my parents were really empty-nesters. With my own new-found happiness I really wanted to share that feeling with my parents somehow and the opportunity came in Zeus. Long story short, Zeus was a dog I met and loved immediately. The time came when he needed a new home and I thought he would be perfect for my parents and they in turn would be perfect for them (there I went running away with my imagination again, making up stories in my head about how happy they would all be together). He came into my parents lives around the time that he was a year old. It was definitely a leap of faith for my parents to uproot their lives and schedule in order to add another addition into the family as well as to overcome the fear of once again opening themselves up to loss.

After having female golden retrievers for so long, it was an interesting adjustment to learn the nuisances of a male dog of a mixed breed. Now after almost a year everyone is well adjusted and happy. Zeus loves their backyard to run in and is obsessed with playing ball. He follows my parents around everywhere and they have a mutual affection for him. My mom texts me funny pictures of Zeus and when I talk to my Dad on the phone he frequently thanks me for bringing Zeus into their life. It may sound incredibly silly to those who have never had a dog before, but the simple joy and love they can bring about is truly astounding.  

And now for another dose of my imagination… I’ve always wondered what goes on in a dog’s mind and what  they would say if they could talk (there is a book I distinctly remember my mom reading to me about a dog talking after eating alphabet soup, so it could happen) and whether or not they have feelings.

In honor of the goofy, gangly “little brother” I’ve gained in Zeus I’ve tried to tap into his mind in order to write a funny little story from a his point of view. It’s also a reminder to not take for granted the joy that the simple things in life can bring. Enjoy.  

A Morning in the Life of Zeus (Ricky Bobby Ginger Pye Caboose):

My internal alarm just went off. I wonder how long I’ll have to lay here until she opens her eyes and acknowledges me. She’s facing me this morning and I know she can see me from her pillow, now if she would just open one darn eye. Maybe if I sigh loud enough. Ah ha! Gotcha! I just saw her eyes flutter underneath the lids, this is a good sign. Now I just have to act cool so she thinks it was her idea to wake up. I was a little skeptical at first of my new bed, but now I can see the true benefit. The edge gives me a great post for observing to the point where I can easily act like I’m sleeping still. Thank you Mommy.

Finally, one leg is inching its way from underneath the covers; followed by the other leg and now the entire woman. YESSSSSSSSSSSS. And I’m up and have resumed my position by her side. First I’ll follow her to the bathroom and then I’ll be one step closer to the highlight of my morning. I don’t understand why it takes her forever to get down the stairs. Two leaps and I’m rounding the corner to the kitchen and the back door. It looks a little chilly out there, but I already see a couple birds and a squirrel that I would like to introduce myself to so let’s get the show on the road. Come on already. Argh.

My ears hear the sweet sweet noise of the door unlocking. I inch my way over to the right just a hair, the door opens a sliver and I’m out. Phew. Now that I’ve stretched and trotted over to the grass the question is squat or leg lift? I’m feeling a little lazy this morning so I’m gonna go with the squat. Not much of a stream there, probably because Dad wouldn’t let me have any more water last night even though I was unbelievable thirsty from that peanut butter flavored toothpaste. Darn him. How would he like it if I had banned him from a thirst-quenching beer during the football game last night? Same thing if you ask me. Unfortunately, I haven’t discerned how to use these gangly paws to open the refrigerator. Maybe that can be on my to-do list today after the ‘rents leave for work. After my nap of course.

Now that I’ve relieved myself it’s time to make to make the mandatory lap around the yard and make sure there isn’t anyone that I haven’t said hi to yet. Rounding the pine trees I see one of my squirrel friends and something circular and orange. Could it be my bouncy ball? Is that my ball? Holy crap… I think it’s one of my balls. Time to investigate. Oh, nope. False alarm, it’s just a piece of paper. A post-it note. Hmmm... I think it’s trying to say that even though it’s not my ball it would be okay to put it in my mouth and give it a taste. Hmmm… not too crunchy. Easy to chew. Yuck. Crud, what in tarnation was that? Oh tastes like glue. Hmm… to continue to eat or not? I think not. Moving on.

Alright, back to finish my round of the yard. Not much to see here. All I know is that I’ve worked up an appetite. Oh right, it’s breakfast time. I could get used to this leisurely schedule. I see Mom through the window with her tea in the hand. How long are you going to make me wait out here lady? Once again, door barely ajar, squeeze myself through, now where is my breakfast? Oh, there it is, right where you always put it. Man she is good. Too bad it’s also the same stuff as always. Huge disappointment. Better eat it fast so I don’t have to even taste it. Great strategy, although it’s a little dry on my throat. Need some water. Ahhhhhhhhhhh much better. Uh oh, Mom looks like somebody made a mess with the water over here you better get over here and wipe it up.

Okay, time to find my main ball-throwing man. I’ll just trot over here to the living room. Nobody. Downstairs bathroom. Nope. Better run up the stairs and see if I see anything from up there. Two leaps. Can’t see or hear anything from my perch up here. How long am I going to have to wait to get a little ball action around here sheesh. Better go back downstairs and see if maybe Mom wants to play. Looks like she’s heading for the stairs. Must beat her up them. Phew. I’m a little tired from all this action. 

I think I’ll just lie down and watch her get ready. Ooooohh maybe if I use my sad eyes on her she’ll give me a few pity throws in the backyard before she leaves. Or maybe I can get outside and get in the car and go with her. Much better plan. There’s nothing I love more than a good car ride. Except maybe my ball, but that’s a given. I am feeling very sleepy. I’ll just close one eye and watch her with the other so I don’t miss anything. I’m bored already. I think I’ll just close the other just for a second….

Why Husbands Can't Be Substituted for Time with the Girls

A couple weekends ago Alex and I made a trip to Cincinnati for my friend Amy's birthday as well as some quality time with my family. Upon arrival in Cincinnati Alex was carted off with my dad to do some male bonding while my mom and I were left to lunch on our own.

My mom and I promptly started to brainstorm places that we could go for lunch. There was quite a lot of consideration that went into it, and even some time spent asking for recommendations from friends. This is something that I don't think men understand. They're happy to just pick a place and go. I want to know where the restaurant is, if it is easy to park, if it will be busy, what kind of food they have, what's the ambiance, have I been there before, or have any of my friends, what's the dress code, cost and the list goes on and on. We finally determine a restaurant that fit the bill of what we were looking for, Terry's Turf Club.

I drove us to the restaurant in Alex's new car. Since it's a new car and I haven't completely figured out how to parallel park it I opted to go on down the road until I reached a spot that I could pull in to. (This is another thing that my mom understood, but I'm not convinced that Alex would. He probably would have teased me). We put our names in and waited outside, luckily it was an unseasonably warm January day. We passed the time by talking. Now, for anyone that knows Alex they know that talking is one of his strengths, but when women get together the conversation always steers to people and life events. They are completely different conversations when there are men around. 

Finally we were seated at the bar. Terry's Turf Club is a small hamburger joint... and for my mom and I this means milkshakes. Unfortunately for us, their neon signs were not 100% indicative of their offerings so we were out of luck. Alex is a fan of ice cream, but getting a milkshake with Alex would just not be the same as getting one with my mom. It's hard to pinpoint the exact reason for this, but I think that my mom and I have a similar appreciation for milkshakes and therefore I enjoy milkshakes more when I'm with her because I know she is enjoying hers as much as I am mine. 

Later that evening I headed over to my friend Amy's for an old fashioned sleepover. We had some wine and caught up for a while. The funny thing about girl time, especially when you're at a restaurant, is how long it takes to finally decide on what to have for dinner. Eventually someone has to take the lead, otherwise everyone will continuing talking indefinitely. I love that the conversations are always different than the ones I have with Alex. We can talk about girly things like recipes, clothes, interior design, weddings, blogging and share new stories and reminisce about old memories. (That's not to say that there aren't deep conversations as well, but those usually come later in the evening). 

Another thing I've noticed is that while girls can easily sit around and chat and do nothing for an entire evening, there are usually games involved. Girls will bring games with them to a friend's house. I doubt that thought would ever cross a guy's mind. Alex and I will sometimes play Sequence together, but it always ends up very competitive. With the girls, or even a mixed crowd, you play games to entice more laughter. We also had some birthday cake. I'm not sure if it's just my own experience or a general rule with females, but I find that birthday cakes are more important to my friends than to Alex. 

My girlfriends will always appreciate the little details of a cake, a card, a gift, or even just the effort of driving to see them. We ended the evening by changing into our pajamas and falling asleep to some episodes of Sex and the City. Even if Alex and I had a television in our bedroom, I highly doubt we would be falling asleep to SATC. It would definitely be ESPN ("I just want to see the score of the game..."). No thank you. 

The next day I met back up with my family and we spent the day with my extended family as a belated Christmas gathering. Later that afternoon Alex and I drove back to Lexington. The next weekend I had the opportunity to spend some time with Alex's family. I drove over to Louisville last Saturday morning to spend the day with his cousin Amanda and Aunt Brenda. Of course there was shopping involved. Whenever Alex and I shop together we always have a mission and Alex usually knows exactly what he's looking for before we go into the store. It's efficient, but that's not what I call shopping. 

Shopping with the ladies is more about the thrill of a find and a good deal. It's about finding something unexpected for someone else. It's about trying on clothes for the fun of it. It's also about giving your opinion and talking through potential outfits. It's about browsing through every single clothes rack and relaxing enough to just lose track of time. After spending an hour or two in the first store we were all starving. Considering we were all dressed appropriately and we were already out on the town the restaurant consideration went quite a bit faster than it had with my mom the weekend prior.

We decided on PF Chang's and each ordered something different to share. We ate our delicious food and got lost in conversation. I love when all the plates have been cleared and the bill has already come and gone and you still find yourselves talking without pause (It was already 2 p.m. by that time so we weren't in any hurry to give up our table). It's a wonderful feeling to know that I've gained more family than just Alex's parents and siblings, especially considering that Amanda and Aunt Brenda are so close by. After lunch we did a little more shopping at Von Maur which included some time spent playing dress up. You know you've found your shopping soulmates when you're all ready to head home at the same time. 

On my drive back to Lexington I called my mom to catch up. Before I knew it an hour had passed and I was already home. There's something rejuvenating about those types of phone calls. Although it was a tiring day I had enough energy to meet up with Alex and our friends for a night of bowling. Sunday Alex and I went to church and did a little book shopping. After a few hours we ended up coming home and ordering the books online. Typical. I did not feel energized after that shopping trip haha. 

Monday night I planned to have "Bachelor Viewing Party" for ABC's The Bachelor. When I had roommates, in college and after college, it was always a tradition to watch shows together. Mostly because it was entertaining and an excuse to get together that didn't include spending any money. It wasn't the best timing because a few of the girls had things come up and they weren't going to be able to make it after all. Alex said that if nobody was able to come he would watch The Bachelor with me. I appreciated the sentiment, but that wouldn't have been the same evening on any level (instead of adding to my entertainment he would've likely annoyed me with his commentary and criticism). 

Luckily, my friend Jasmine was able to make it over and we enjoyed a quiet evening of wine and The Bachelor while Alex went to work out (thanks for making yourself scarce honey). If shopping is relaxing and talking on the phone is rejuvenating than this type of evening would be considered therapeutic. By the time Jasmine headed home and Alex returned I felt perfectly content, as if I had just received a rose myself. (Although, with Ben as the bachelor I probably would've made like Brittney and left on my own accord).

Last night Alex and I joined our friends at Megan and Greg's house for dinner. The beginning of the evening we all congregated in the kitchen and chatted, later on the men ended up near the television where they could keep an eye on the games that were on while the girls ended up talking at the table. Some things never change!

The good times continue tonight with the first meeting of the New Year for the Women's Guild at my church. While I treasure all of the girlfriends I've made in Lexington thus far, it is a nice change of scenery to spend an evening with this group of ladies, the majority of whom aren't in my age bracket. You just never know what you'll learn! One thing I have learned lately (or I should say, been reminded of), is the fact that I have friends and family near and far and all I ever have to do is reach out to them for girl talk or to plan a girl's day or night out, or in. Because as much as I love Alex, he just can't be substituted for time with the girls. 

~

This week I was on a pistachio kick... Here are a couple simple recipes:

Baked Pistachio Chicken
from the AbsDiet Cookbook

• 1/2 tbsp. dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp. honey
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped pistachios
• 1/4 cup whole grain bread crumbs
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Mix the mustard, oil, and honey in a shallow bowl; season with salt and pepper. Mix the pistachios and bread crumbs on a plate.
3. Dip the chicken in the mustard mixture to coat and then in the crumbs. Place the chicken on the baking sheet.
4. Put the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Turn the heat down to 375. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the chicken is no longer pink when tested with a knife. 

Pistachio Pudding Cake from my mom's collection of recipes (circa 1970’s)

• 1 pkg (4 serving) Pistachio Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
• 1 pkg 2 layer yellow cake mix (preferably not pudding mix)
• ½ t. almond or vanilla extract
• 4 eggs
• 1 ¼ cup water
• ¼  cup oil

Combine all ingredients in a large mixer bowl.  Blend; then beat at medium speed of electric mixer for 2 minutes.  Pour into greased and floured 10-in tube or Bundt pan.  Or can bake in a 13 x 9 in cake pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly pressed.  Cool in pan 15 minutes.  Remove from pan and finish cooling on a rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired. 

Ringing in the New Year

Alex and I returned home on January 3rd after being in Cleveland for almost a week. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable trip with family and friends. I enjoy myself more and more every time I'm there. The weather wasn't too bad either!

Once getting home there was lots of unpacking, Christmas clean-up, grocery trips and other things to catch up on (almost there). It's nice to start the new year fresh though. On Tuesday Alex and I went to pick up his new work car. It took all of 10 minutes which was amazing. We're sad to see the Jeep go because of it's extra space and 4 wheel drive, but so far the new car is pretty impressive. How exciting to start the new year off with a new car! (Thank you Eaton!)

I'm hoping that my new thing for the New Year will be a job! Along with finding the perfect job my New Year's Resolution List also includes: Live Healthier (with a few more specific goals underneath that) and Try My Best (and not be so hard on myself). I wrote them out with green sharpie and put them up on the fridge as a reminder (love sharpies and love signage). Alex is also on board for the Live Healthier part (with his own subgoals), which he'll have much better luck with once he gets over his cold.

I'm feeling optimistic about 2012. Life is good, but the best is yet to come.

Happy New Year!