I introduced ThatManILove to Facebook.
Last night, I couldn't sleep. Somehow, I woke him up, as well.
Next thing I knew, he was logging into his FB account on his crackberry and posting an update.
Now he says he's going to start an anonymous blog.
Oh, Lordy...What have I done???
Zanna the Wonderpup has been acting strange lately.
I walked in our bedroom, and found her straddling Zack the Wonderdog’s head and neck. With THAT part of her body. On OUR bed. Oh, yes, I did.
I yelled for ThatManILove, and here’s how it went down.
TMIL: What, babe?
Janie: Zanna is trying to straddle Zack’s head!
TMIL: What? Hang on, I’ll be in there in a second.
He takes one look, and turns and grins at me.
TMIL: It’s okay, honey. She’s just exploring her sexuality. (What makes him think of this stuff?)
Janie: But…is she in heat?
TMIL: No.
Janie: How do you know? Can you tell? What if she is? (Spoken in speed-dial)
TMIL: Is Zack acting like she’s in heat?
Janie: (I look at Zack. He's just laying there.) Ummmm...Noooooooo.
TMIL: Point made, Girlfriend. Point made.
Our dogs have so much fun playing with the other dogs! They get plenty of exercise, and you get to meet all the cool dog owners. There’s a pretty cool social strata out there at Hogan’s Run. People from all walks of life congregate there, and they all have one thing in common: they love their dogs.
We play in the “Over 30 Lbs.” park – aka the Big Dog Park. Sometimes, a teeny tiny specimen of the species canine will wander in, and hilarity often ensues. You see, these small dogs think they are just as big as a Great Dane. Last night, a young couple allowed their 4 lb 4 month old Yorkie, Vince, to come in and play. It was too funny!
Little Vince, though a pup, was not scared. He acted appropriately when a bigger dog came to sniff him, by rolling onto his back and letting the big dog check him out. It was obvious Vince had a great personality. We did have to pull Zanna away from Vince – she was pouncing on him and slapping him with her paw to try and get him to play…and sometimes, as a puppy, she doesn’t know her own strength. (45 pounds vs. 4 pounds was not a recipe for success with Zanna and Vince. Heck, she has stuffed toys that are bigger than Vince!) Little Vince the Yorkie was definitely the highlight of the evening, everyone fell in love with him.
Dogs need to be socialized, and the dog park is a great place to do so. One thing I say often – “Think Like A Dog” and you’ll have a great dog. Likewise, think like a dog at the dog park, and you'll have a great experience! You have to understand the species. I say that as an introduction to my next statement. 
There are a few rules at the dog park, and some are unwritten. For example, Do Not Bring Your Dog Into The Park When She Is In Heat, or even ending her heat cycle. Talk about a recipe for disaster…male dogs, whether spayed or intact, will react, and start one-upping each other. Taking on territory. Even if they don’t get close to the dog in heat.
If your dog is overly aggressive with certain dogs, you probably need to pull him aside and give him some time-out, or leave. For a while, Zack would run up to any new male dog and start having a dominance throwdown. We would have to pull him aside, or leave the park. He finally chilled out, and doesn't do that anymore, thank God. And Zanna is a social animal, she loves to play!
Another potential problem can arise from keeping your dog on a leash once you're in the unleashed area of the park. Leashes are made to restrain and control a dog. However, in a social dog park situation, a leash can get you and your dog in trouble. A dog on a leash surrounded by unleashed dogs may feel insecure and threatened. Or, even worse, the leashed dog may feel the need to protect his master. If that happens, you’ll find yourself, attached via the leash, in the midst of a dog fight. When a person tries to break up a multi-dog fight, he’ll most likely be hurt, himself.
And if you bring treats for your dog, please don't share them with the other dogs without the owner's permission. Some dogs have dietary restrictions.
If you ever need cheap entertainment, come on out to Hogan’s Run. It is so much fun to watch the dogs playing. When they get hot, they’ll go jump in the swimming pool (aka horse trough). The dogs play ball, and steal the ball from each other; a chase will soon ensue. Frisbee dogs are great fun to watch! If a dog from the herding breed is around, like a Border Collie or Queensland Heeler, you’ll probably see that dog on the perimeter, herding the entire pack of dogs. It is hilarious!
Hogan’s Run is the place to see all sizes and shapes of dogs playing together and having fun. It’s a great place to meet dog people, as well. And you know - dog people are great people! Or, at least, we think we are...
So. Who said giving up hunting with the dogs at dawn this morning in exchange for hubby cooking breakfast, then spending couch time together catching up on Cameron Diaz movies, dogs sleeping at our feet, was a bad trade?
Yup. We desperately needed some down time today…
This shot is after the "updo" party, and everybody's just getting to the wedding for the photographer (professional photographer, that is...not me!). Aren't these girls beautiful?
Everybody's dressed, and this little one HATES HATES HATES his tie. Meltdown. Everybody's flat worn out and we're still 2 hours until the wedding.
And if you're wondering what she's doing here, you're probably right on the money. I put down my camera and gave her some assistance. She will hate me later for posting this picture. Stuff happens when you're an active little princess!
This shot was spontaneous - and just prior to the wedding. Big Sister giving her little brother a kiss. How sweet. It was a miracle I caught the shot!
And he returns the favor. Check out her face! Isn't that hilarious?
Okay. This one, I posed. But still, it's cute, isn't it?
The wedding's finished, waiting on the reception. We're outside playing - and I just had to take this boot shot. I always was a sucker for the cowboys.
Meet Becky, my young friend who will marry the love of her life, Kyle, on Saturday. I snapped this picture at her bridesmaids' dinner last night.
Lately, people have been sending me jokes. Today, you get this one!
One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.
Along comes a game warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?
Reading a book, she replies. (thinking, isn't that obvious?')
You're in a Restricted Fishing Area, he informs her.
I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading.
Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.
I'll have to take you in and write you up.
For reading a book??? she replies.
You're in a Restricted Fishing Area, he informs her again
...I'm sorry, Officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading! she replies AGAIN..
Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start atany moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'
If you do that, she adds, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault! says the woman.
But I haven't even touched you! says the game warden.
That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.
Have a nice day ma'am, and he left.
On another note entirely, some women who blog might get together tonight for a little vino. Care to venture a guess as to the players?
I’m having a hard time blogging these days, for a myriad of reasons. I even have considered closing the blog, since I’m not being as faithful as I was before. But I know I'd miss y'all!!
My industry, oil and gas, is taking a hard, hard hit these days, as are lots of industries. All of my friends and some of my coworkers have been laid off. The lucky ones have taken reductions in pay. It’s depressing, and as some of you know, my job is finding people jobs! Argggggh! It's hard to do when everyone has basically stopped drilling/completing wells.
I keep a smile on my face, and keep beating the streets (salesman talk!) to try to find opportunities for people. When I get home, I’m wiped out, and don’t want to go anywhere or visit with anyone.
Workwise, I’m trying to deal with things I can affect. Industry meetings; introductions; taking care of business to the best of my ability. Homewise, same thing. My husband, my family, my wonder dogs. I really have lots to be thankful for, and I am thankful.
Another thing I’ve taken on is a diet, starting today. Wish me well. It’s hard to diet when 1/2 of your job is taking people out for meals! But I’m determined.
I’ll be in a wedding this weekend in the DFW area. From all accounts, it’s going to be a beautiful one. The daughter of my friend, Suzan, is getting married. And it’s going to be a big shindig. And I have to speak at the wedding. I know what I want to say, and I’m trying to put it together in a clear, concise way, keeping it short and sweet. I plan on fine-tuning it tomorrow. If I get it down, I’ll share it with you after the wedding. I believe that what I want to say has been the very foundation for ThatManILove’s and my marriage...though I wasn’t able to identify it until some years ago. It’s such a God deal.
Anyway, if you wonder why I’ve not been trekking around your blogs as much, now you know I’ve been working myself to exhaustion.
And you know, girls just gotta have fun!!
Fire Station. Being run out of a FEMA trailer. Noone is in the Fire Station at all. It has not been renovated yet.
One of the houses that's not been renovated. The houses were like this one, or had been torn down to the slab. Not much remodeling.
This is the Fats Domino Music Studio. It's directly to the left of the house pictured above. It has not been remodeled, it just better withstood the storm*.
See the waterline across the side of the house? Water stood that high for some 29 days.
Mother's Restaurant. Though it was not hit, they searched out all their employees, and had FEMA trailers put in the parking lot for housing for their employees. They lived in that parking lot for over a year. 
Mother's is known for their collard greens, which is what this young man is pouring into another container. And, again, Editilla corrected me:- that is the Pot Liqueur from the Greens that he is pouring. It is considered as valuable as the Greens. Put it in a glass with a Big Chunk of Cornbread. Mmmmmmm!I received this via e-mail, and it cracked me up.
A study worth sharing with friends both male and female: A study conducted by UCLA's Department of Psychiatry has revealed that the kind of face a woman finds attractive on a man can differ depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle. For example: If she is ovulating, she is attracted to men with rugged and masculine features. However, if she is menstruating or menopausal, she tends to be more attracted to a man with duct tape over his mouth and a spear lodged in his chest while he is on fire. No further studies are expected.
Now. I must get up and get ready for my 6:15 a.m. breakfast date. WTH was I thinking??
ThatManILove is on me HARD about the amount of books that have stacked up in my closet.
Thus begins "The Great Book Giveaway".
I'll probably give away 3 at a time. Good news - they'll all be popular authors. Bad news - they have most likely been around two beautiful German Shorthairs, so if you're allergic to dogs, you cannot play. I will not be responsible for your emergency trip to el hospitale.
I promise the books will be in good shape when I send them to you!
If you're interested, be watching!
PS - Emily's Mom...if you're still lurking, please drop me an e-mail!
Zack and Zanna, trying to cool off a little after hard play and lots of running!
Zanna the Wonderpup, trying to decide what kind of stuff she can stir up next.
Like this - our funny friend, Buddy, digging, and Zanna knowing - just knowing!- that she's not allowed to dig. So, she's enjoying it vicariously. And if we don't watch her, she Will.Be.In.There. Right alongside her friend.
While Buddy shows no conviction whatsoever, and is going after that varmint that has to be in that hole!
And here they are, exhausted, but looking back towards the dog park as if saying, "Do we really have to leave, Mom? Do we?" Check out those smiles.
