One, Two, Free Thor!
So, back at this post i mentioned that there is a good story that goes along with THOR’s Halloween Costume for this year. Now is as good of a time as any to explain.
Note: THOR was AJ’s dog well before I came into the picture. And in his first three year of life, he lived in a nicely sized fenced outdoor kennel, or dog run, if you will. (i know, poor puppy!)…
well, i am sure you can’t blame him for wanting to be out of his cage to be with people and see what it out on the other side of the chain link.
so, apparently, as the story has been told to me, THOR found a way out. i am sure his first thought was, “I’m Free!” and maybe his second thought was, “Squirrel!”
well, for whatever reason along a series of events, THOR did not come home.
AJ was distraught (as i am told) and did all he could to find his precious outdoor-living pup. Various calls were made to the local shelter providing a great description of a “Copper Colored Vizsla-Lab Mix”… “nope, we don’t have anything that matches that description….” was the consistent answer.
bummer.
then, coincidence of all coincidences, AJ’s sister had a whim to go look at the puppies and kitties at the shelter. as she walked down the dog aisle, she sees a copper-colored dog start bouncing vertically as if spring-loaded.
“Thor?” she asked, and he jumped higher, if that’s even possible.
he was there all along. uggh!
So, AJ propelled himself across town to rescue his pooch.
When he arrived, they kindly handed him the bill for boarding and feeding for four days, plus the cost of the requisite microchipping and …er… mandatory alteration, if you know what i mean.
Outraged at the cost to rescue a dog that they repeatedly said they didn’t have in residence, AJ was rightly miffed.
Then the volunteer at the counter flagged AJ over and said… “Yes, sir, this is the cost to reacquire the dog you lost, THOR. however, if you would like to adopt “Sparky” (the name the shelter had given him), he’s yours for $89. I am sure he would be happy in your new home, and he’s microchipped and neutered….”
AJ said, “Sold! Sparky, let’s go!”
so, that’s the story of how AJ had to readopt his own dog, and why it is so fitting for THOR to be dressed as an escapee for Halloween!!!
after i was told this story, I asked AJ if he picketed outside the shelter chanting, “One, Two, FREE THOR!”… and that’s where our beloved has gained the nickname Forty!
The Great Lu-Dini
THE SCENE: 5:29 am – i hear a slight rustle in the hallway, then the faint sound of a zipper opening… a few seconds of quiet and then the ambush as Lucy jumps on the bed and snuggles right in between us providing sloppy kisses and wriggling around until she is comfortable.
i am exhausted, and she is sweet and cozily warm… but no, this goes against the new rule: the dogs must sleep in their kennels at night.
so i get up, let her out and tell her to go back into her kennel, which she does, kindly.
i zip it up and try to secure it as best as i can, and go back to bed.
18 minutes later… repeat performance.
this time, i get right up and say “Kennel” and once again, she walks right in. i zip again.
16 minutes later… i hear the rustle, and wait for the pounce onto the bed, but nothing… so i get up, turn on the light, and she’s slowly slinking into the room hoping to make it this time.
nope.
“Kennel”… and, as the good girl that she is, heads right back into her red travel kennel.
this time i place the zippers together at the bottom– seems to have foiled her attempts…. for now.
But, as anyone knows, once you have been awakened just shy of one hour from when your alarm is scheduled to chime, there’s really no going back to sleep.
you lay there, you change positions a few times, you try to count to 100 – or as i did, trace the lower-case alphabet in cursive, backwards.
and then, just as you are drifting off… The Alarm dings, and it’s time to free Lucy for real.
Silly Woosey!!!
Howl-O-Ween fun!
at the risk of this becoming a Dog Blog (okay, really? who am i kidding, that’s what this has turned into, but still…) i have to show off the cuteness found at the local Super Target (oh! how i love thee):
Front
Rear
Lucy’s Rockstar Wig from last year
and of course, THOR’s mullet wig from last year.
HA! Cracks me up.
I am not usually known to dress my dogs in clothing – they are DOGS for goodness sake… but Halloween is a totally different thing. HA!!!
(it always reminds me of the Friends Episode: “What is Monica’s biggest pet peeve?” – “Animals Dressed as Humans!”)
we all know Lucy-Cakes has a Devilish Diva streak… but i’ll save the THOR-as-Prisoner story for another post!
too cute not to share
a quick google search led me to an etsy site that combines two of my loves:
Go Here to see what i mean!!!
How cute is this?
oh, if only my sister-in-law knitted…
even the TOYS!
and even for you cat-lovers- she has THESE to offer.
okay, i can’t stop!
GNOMES! Seriously!
knitting animals!!
Woolly Pink Sheep!
etsy is awesome. i highly recommend you check it out, if you have a few spare hours!!!
Buy Handmade!
i’m a sister again… i guess
brace yourself for what i am about to say:
my parents got a dog.
seriously.
i know.
i was shocked too!
it all started as a silly suggestion from my brother, two weeks ago, when he was perusing Facebook and saw a posting from (my new fave doggie group) Domesi-Pups stating: 6 yr old, Blue Merle, Rough-Coated Collie; Retired Therapy Dog; For more info, email info@domesti-pups.org.
The Bro sent the link to my dad saying, “well, if you ever wanted a dog, this is probably your perfect option. 6-years-old, so no ‘puppy stage’, Domesti-Pups trained and sweet… what more could you ask?”
well, we had a collie growing up, she was so sweet (we had the same birthday!) and she lived for almost 13 years. it has now been 13 years since my parents have had a dog.
i never.
never.
never, thought they would get a dog.
and i have heard plenty of times that AJ and I have two too many dogs. (to which, i do not agree)…
but sweet Neil, the retired therapy dog has found a way into their hearts, and i am excited for that.
Neil came home last night, and of course we stopped by with goodies. he’s the most docile dog i have ever met — hopefully Lucy and THOR can take some pointers from his demeanor!
oh, fun times for sure!!
Estes Park
Oh, the Rocky Mountains… how we love thee!
we just returned from a long weekend at the family cabin in Estes Park… we have decided that the trip was ultimately for the dogs.
yes, ladies and gentlemen, we have become those people… but how could you not love those faces? they’re just our babies!!!
pictorial evidence of the travels:
mile two – Lucy is already pumped
ELK SIGHTINGS:
KT & THOR checking out the “Big Dogs” (elk) in the front yard
thus: Elk in front yard
KT & Lucy in the Big Thompson River… brrrrrrrrr
Good Girl, Lucy!
Lucy was pooped from all the fun downtown
we talked ourselves into a “working” backpack for the Therapy Dog in Training… we seriously spend more money on our dogs than ourselves.
THEN, we had the opportunity to watch our friend, Russ, play in his Senior year for Wyoming vs Colorado. My dad and bro came out for the game as well – fun times had by all… well, we won’t talk about the score of the game (or the Huskers’ subsequent loss, for that matter)
GO Russ = #70
Sunday, we drove home… and the pups were pooped!!!
Miss Lu, sleeping on my pillow.
sweet babies!!!
can’t wait for our next trip to “The Shack”… 
on a happier note…
i rarely stop for coffee in the morning.
i mean, i ALWAYS drink coffee in the morning, but i am of the mind that if they are going to provide it at work, i’ll drink it for free… however, there are those days when i just can’t seem to stomach the office blend… so i’ll stop.
the other day, i was by The Mill, and i LOVE the Mill, but never stop. so i stopped. as i pulled up to a meter, i saw this little guy, hanging out — thank goodness for camera phones!!!
i swear to you, i walked up to him and said, “hi sweetie”, and he slowly moved his head from right to left, and then i took this shot! love it, love it, love it.
plus, i am in awe of his patience – my dogs would be out of that car and off with the first semi-friendly-seeming person to walk by!
the weekend flu by…
don’t tell Betsy– but yep, its the flu. apparently its making its rounds faster than the hottest celeb gossip… the BFF has it, as does her BF… the people at work are dropping like flies (and blaming ME for it… uggh!)… and the fingers are tightly crossed in hopes that AJ does not get it.
i must, must, MUST get better soon — a big week is ahead — in just a few hours, really– and i must be in tip-top shape for BK’s wedding… and i will NOT let her know of all this drama because i remember that week prior to my wedding– no unnecessary info necessary…
but i have been resting. resting until i am sick of resting, and then resting some more. thank goodness for weekends.
this morning i was so looking forward to a hot, steamy shower to wash off all the sickies… but instead, i had to wisk Lucy into the shower with me, as she chose to stand under THOR as he pee’d on the bushes…. classy. but now she’s a fluffy, clean babers!
nutty dog.
I Swear, The Dog is Part Cat!
That Little Lucy! she’s just so funny.
Since we got her, i have said i think she’s part cat. here are my points of proof:
- she likes to “hunt” THOR – she crouches down and waits for him to get close and then pounces on him. i said, Pounce!
- when she is playing, she kind of Meow’s… well, maybe it sounds more like Chewbaca… but its kind of a “RRrrwoooww”
- she likes to bat her right paw at me when she thinks she doesn’t have my full and undivided attention
- when she’s happy, she pushes her head back (as if she’s trying to give herself a double-chin) and then makes this snorty noise from her throat… kinda like a purr
- and then last night- though we are trying not to let the dogs on the bed – she was being ultra needy– and finally got comfortable on my pillow, above my head, curled up, LIKE A CAT!!!
Weirdo!
but she’s sweet, and she’s such a cuddler. she loves to walk, and RUN, and chew things! she’s our baby, and we love her!!!
here are some WOOSY PHOTOS from months past!
first hour home- she stunk!
cuteness
My baby- when i could still hold her in my lap!
catch-all photo post
As The Mamas & Papas said, “Monday, Monday…“
I downloaded/uploaded some photos and have some other things so say, so prepare yourself!
let’s see… i did finish those holiday wreaths i mentioned in posts past… The MIL asked if i would make some Valentine’s and Easter ones that she could sell at her salon in Hastings. we’ll see how that goes. here are photos… tho, not the best photo representations in the world because (a) i don’t have a tripod, (b) i didn’t use photoshop and (c) you can see how messy my house is!
This is a Valentine’s one. i made another one which i donated to the AFL Winterfest Ales & Auction… which only sold for about $15… so boo for that… but i guess donators can’t be choosers, huh?
easter 1
easter 2
easter 3
further to this, the MIL and SIL and I have been talking about starting an etsy shop… the only thing that confounds me thus far, and keeps me from moving forward – paypal! for some reason, my tiny brain just can’t wrap itself around that monstrosity. kinda like how i feel about podcasting! but… i was finally able to figure out blogging… so, maybe there is hope.
onto more snaps:
Oh! I haven’t posted the puppies recently– and yes, they are still silly as ever… so have a look!:
My Baby Lu, napping in my spot on the couch– naughty, but oh-so-sweet!
I beg you – please only notice the sweet pooches and not the dirty carpet!
though she’s not really all that trained, Lucy does love to “sit” and then her favorite part is kissing your chin… LOVE HER!
playing with my babies… same rule on ignoring the house clutter applies to this photo, thank you.
And then it was off to the PRCA Rodeo – Tough Enough to Wear PINK Night! It was fun… but if i might, i will add some community commentary– People of Lincoln – you complain that nothing “cool” comes here, and then, when it does, you don’t support it. I understand it was a Rodeo, at the Pershing Center, and it happened to be -3degrees and snowing… but COME ON! It was fun, this is cool stuff, and allow yourselves to be cultured… ignoring it does not help bring it back!
Okay– further to my digression — it was a fun time! the whole gang was there– including our friends, the Wortman’s! thus, the pictorial evidence:
Buddies: Bryce & Mom
Cutness: Sophie, Isabel & Ben
our Adorable Niece in Grandpa Dean’s hat! YEE HAW!
the Rodeo was a fun time with the fam… other than the fact that my dormant asthma reared its ugly head… not sure if it was the dirt, bulls, cowboys or dung… but some beastie did not happily cohabitate with my bronchial passages… yet, i endured, with a pink bandanna over my face – outlaw style!… and the second i stepped outside, i could breathe again– weird.
Thus, probably my first and only post about attending a Rodeo.
on to something i find fun! the Snuggie! If you have watched any bit of late night or weekend television, i am sure you have seen the sales pitch – and maybe even thought to yourself: “I have always wanted a blanket with arms!!!” ha!
here is my awesome boss modeling his latest Bed Bath & Beyond-My-Budget purchase: THE SNUGGIE
Just this morning, i found a web article on this very article of warmth!
and finally – i had a meeting at the Hillcrest Country Club on Saturday, and when i drove up, i saw this:
this is awesome. My first thought was that someone had just gotten engaged Friday night! But then, i walked in for my meeting, and noticed that the ballroom was set up for a wedding, so then i thought, how cute, this is how the guy proposed, and now they are sharing it with all their wedding guests… (awe!)… which was confirmed (i think) by reading Khara’s awesome Photography Blog, this morning! FUN TIMES, INDEED!!!!
Congrats to Heidi and Jan Michael – and here’s a big thumbs up to memorable and unique engagements!
this was a very long post, and now its time to tackle Monday, Monday! Have a great week!
