This whole experience of moving has come with a seemingly endless well of firsts. And I’m talking in just the last three hours there has been a growing list. Like right now, it’s almost 1AM and I’m just now using the office in our “new” house specifically for writing. It’s intended purpose from the start. Feels pretty good. It might feel better if the sudden kick into the blogosphere wasn’t the result of “To Catch a Predator”-induced insomnia. Seriously, why …

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It’s been an adventurous weekend. There have been two never-tried-before experiences, and it’s only Sunday morning.
Yesterday marked the first day of the rest of Bryson’s life. It was our first dog training class, and I think there is a glimmer of hope that we won’t have to scrounge up the receipt from over a year ago and plop him on the counter at the Humane Society and ask for our money back. This particular trainer was recommended by several different people, …

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In the wake of a chaotic, which-way-is-up month, I realized that poor Bryson must be completely confused with all the changes that have taken place over the past four weeks. First, strangers invaded his house accompanied by a 3-pound chihuahua. To avoid further stress and a potential law suit, we kept the dogs separated for the three days they were in the same house. I think it’s safe to say that Bryson did not understand our intention, and he let …

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Normally this is the kind of entry that I would think about doing and never actually sit down and create. But with Clayton’s certification exam getting nauseatingly close and our move-in with my parents complete, I’ve found myself with quite a bit of free time on my hands. So, please enjoy a little snippet of those things that made up my 2009.

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Clayton and I …

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A few weeks ago my mom announced her brilliant idea for this year’s Thanksgiving festivities: a road trip! Now, I’m a big ol’ fan of road trips. I love everything about them — loading up on People magazine and easy fiction (read: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), tons of pretzel and cheddar Combos and Fig Newtons from the gas stations, batty conversations that begin after a few hours of driving, and LOTS of passenger seat karaoke. There is a little hitch in this plan, …

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Things Bryson has eaten in the last month:
Used q-tip (I don’t know if it had been used for ear cleaning or makeup removal, but neither seems hopeful.)
The stuffing of the couch cushions
The crumbs from the previous couch owner behind the couch cushions
Most of the tissues I had thrown away when I was sick
16 dog bones
The big toe portion of an athletic sock (I like to let that toe breathe, anyway.)
Leftover meatloaf (By leftover, I mean I made meatloaf about 8 …

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If you are in the Tampa Bay area, you’re going to want to avoid the Honeymoon Island dog beach for a few days. You know, until the salt water washes away the massive piles of smeared, runny poop that Bryson used to christen the sand. My sister in law and her dog, Duke, are staying with us this weekend. And Bryson has lost his flipping mind. He is so overwhelmingly excited every second and cannot turn off the switch in his head that tells him, “Find …

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Guilt likes to visit me quite often. At any given time, I’m usually berating myself for not working enough or not writing enough or not walking Bryson enough or not cooking dinner enough… simply not being enough.
But that’s a hefty ineffectual waste of  my time. So, I’m going to work on it. I don’t know exactly what that will look like — does it mean I will have to work more and write more and (insert cringe here) cook more or does it simply …

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Our Puppy Care for Dummies pocket guide tells us the following about handling our six month old hound/retriever:
“Random defiance, running off for hours, ignoring direction: Don’t take any of your pup’s frustrating behavior personally. Your puppy must challenge you in order to grow up. Through this age-appropriate behavior, she’s testing your authority to ensure that she can trust your judgment. It’s simply a part of nature.
Managing yourself is the most important concentration during this time. Anger and frustration will spell your …

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Late Saturday morning Clayton and I were lounging lazily on the couch watching Animal Planet. We became very entrenched in a show about giant pandas. It revolved around two pandas who had a whole host of volunteers monitoring them twenty-fours a day to answer the classic question: will they or won’t they. While I was watching, I couldn’t help but remember my New Year’s resolution to start volunteering at the Humane Society. (OK, it wasn’t so much a resolution as …

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