Baby Can I Sleep A Little Longer

Know what will mess you up when you’re traveling?

The alarm clock on the side of the bed. I’ve been here all week, and every morning, the clock in the hotel has matched my iPhone time.

I set my iPhone alarm for 5:30 a.m. We have a 7:15 a.m. breakfast date, then have to drive through traffic for a 9:15 appointment some 30 minutes away. And we’re checking out this morning.

My alarm just went off...it’s 5:30 a.m. I hop up, hit the snooze, and glance at the hotel clock beside my bed.

It says 4:30 a.m.

Uh-oh. Did time change last night? (My iPhone automatically updates wherever I am.)

Thinking Daylight Savings Time must have changed last night, I pop on the computer, and type “What Time Is It?”It says 5:30 a.m., CST.

Guess I’d better get up, and trust my iPhone instead of the hotel clock. Time will tell which one’s right and which one’s wrong...but if I'm wrong at least I'll be early to my appointments!

The Game Warden's Coming! The Game Warden's Coming!

The first dove season in Texas runs from September 1st to October 25th. I pay for a yearly dove lease from a local gentleman named Earl. Several people are on this set of leases; it's a really neat deal. You get several places to go hunt, all for a small fee. You may see another hunter on the lease, but that's part of the deal, and usually, you know him. It's a bargain, and I lease this same land every year.

Today, I received an e-mail from Earl's office and I cracked up.

GUYS, (WED 28 OCT)

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON’T KNOW…..DOVE SEASON IS OVER, IT ENDED SUNDAY THE 25 OF OCT……THERE WERE HUNTERS ON OUR 420 FIELD THIS AM. ACCORDING TO THE HUNTERS TO THE WEST OF US…..WHO WERE ALSO OUT HUNTING….AFTER THE SEASON CLOSED….

EARL

Do You Really Know Where You Are? Because I Don't!

Tonight, my friends Kyle and Becky were to meet me for dinner. Yes, the Becky and Kyle of the April wedding.

Anyway, Becky called while they were en route to my hotel.

Becky: Okay, girl, you’re at the Hilton, right?

Janie: Yes. Just north of 30 on 360 in Arlington.

Becky: Okay, we’ll be there in a minute.

10 minutes later...

Becky: Hey, I just wanted to check. You're at the Hilton right by the Saltgrass, right?

Janie: Yes. It's right across the street from me. Are you here?

Becky: Yes, we’re pulling into the parking lot now.

Janie: Can you see a yellow Dodge just like yours? There’s one in the parking lot.

Becky: Yes.

Janie: Okay, you’re here, then. I’ll see you in a bit.

5 minutes later...

Becky: Okay, we’re inside, at the bar.

Janie: Y’all wanna come up? I’m in 704.

Becky: Nah, Kyle just ordered a drink. Finish your e-mails and we’ll see you in a minute.

3 minutes later, I grab my keys, and head down. Straight to the bar, I go. No Becky. No Kyle. So, I saunter over to the hotel restaurant. They’re not there, either.

I call Becky back.

Janie: Hey, Blondie, I can’t find y’all, where are you?

Becky: We’re at the bar of the Hilton.

Janie: Are there two bars here?

Becky: (Pause) I don’t think so, it doesn’t look big enough.

At this point, the concierge notes the puzzled look on my face, and asks if I need help.

I inquire as to the proximity of the next closest Hilton. Answer? It’s almost one block east, next to the Saltgrass.

I’m across the street from the Saltgrass.

Why on earth would they put two Hiltons less than a block apart?

I found them...at the bar of the Hilton Garden Inn. Less than one block away. The only yellow Dodge in the parking lot was theirs. And the Hilton Garden Inn? Only had 4 floors, so if they'd tried to come up to my room, they would have figured it out earlier. Who knew?

I'm So Going To The Mailbox Every Day!!!

Another surprise came in the mail!! Woohoo!!

Remember when I had my James Taylor Concert Tickets giveaway? Well, my friend Terri from Kansas won a set of those babies, and she and her recently-graduated-from-college daughter went to the concert.

They had a blast.

And so what to my wondering eyes did appear in my mailbox?

All this, plus a thank you note from Terri!

The book, "The Girvin Social Club". This is written by a man who comes from a small (very, very small) town in West Texas. This same man has since moved to Terri's home town in Goodland, Kansas. Coincidence? I think not!

And these cool books about German Shorthairs and the dogs we love! Terri knows my heart, doesn't she?

And, oh, yeah....Sunflower Peanut Brittle - gotta love it! And it's yummy!!!
And no way are Pepsi and Sierra going to forget their doggy friends Zack and Zanna!
I'm telling you, going to the mailbox is fun! Fun! Fun! Thanks, Terri-girl. You're too sweet!

Nature...Rocks!

I just rolled into Arlington, Tx. for sales calls tomorrow in Dallas, and then Tuesday in Fort Worth. I thought I'd share some pix with ya. I took this rare shot on one of my hunting trips. I love it. That chukkar was praying, I promise! (And with good cause - he lived!)

I've Been Boo-ed!

I love surprises!

The other day, I got a package in the mail. A Halloween Boo Package! How cool is that?!!

I was wondering, “What did I order from eBay this time?” I put it in my truck, and forgot about it for a day or two. And then, I hauled it into the house, and opened it up. The sender tried to surprise me, but I follow her blog. And my Sherlock Holmes senses kicked in, and yes, I can add 2+2. The answer is:

Look what I got, from Lani at The Never Ending Adventure! Spicy dill pickles, and pomegranate jelly! Yummmmmmmmm. Lani is amazing. Not only is she a cancer survivor, she never slows down!

Lani, how on earth do you have time to do this? You work, you babysit birds, your household belongs to the world of roping (which is never a sedentary sport...horses take lots of care, and ropings are never in your backyard), you cohost a radio show, and you take time to can pickles and make pomegranate jelly? I know you had help, but, Lord, how do you get all those little seeds out of those pomegranates? I'm WAY impressed.

I had the jelly on toast this morning and it was awesome. (So your friends and relatives aren’t blowing smoke up your behind, it is really, really, good.) ThatManILove does love him some pickles, so we’ll be breaking into those soon.

Thanks so much for my surprise, you crazy Lani-girl! YOU ROCK!!

I love you!

Zanna's Growing Up

Zanna at 11 months...

Zanna at three months:

It has happened.

A first in our marriage. I guess we’d been holding our breaths, hoping against hope that it wouldn’t happen to us. Dreamweavers, that’s us! Really, we were delusional.

It has happened, full out, all the way, happened.

When we came home from Memphis, Zanna jumped up on our bed as we were unpacking. I don’t even know what made me look, but I did.

Janie: Oh, no!

ThatManILove: What?

Janie: I think Zanna’s in heat, this time, for real.

ThatManILove: What makes you think that?

Janie: Ummmm, look.

ThatManILove: Oh, yeah, she definitely is in heat. Our baby’s not a baby any more!

Zanna is 15 months old. By rights, she could have been in heat one or two times now, but she’s not been. There have been times I’ve wondered, but I was always wrong. (Well, I’ve not had a female dog in a long time!)

PetSmart has all these cool things now for dogs in heat...diapers. Pads. Cute little ruffly panties.

I had a set ready, just in case this thing ever came to pass. Not that I wanted it to, but, logic says, ya know? And mommies have to be prepared for that special day.

I got ready to go to work.

Janie: Here’s everything, honey, we’re going to have to diaper her. Please help me.

ThatManILove: It won’t be that bad. It will only last 2-3 days.

Janie, smiling: That’s not what I read. Again, here’s everything, honey, we’re going to have to diaper her, now.

Zanna handled the diapering pretty well, and since, has grown accustomed to all her new “finery.”

ThatManILove, however, is having a problem with all of it. You see, he’s home from the field this week, and as such, has most of the doggie duty while I’m working. Zanna has become really huggy, which is cool, but when TMIL has something to do, she won’t get out of his way and has to be in the middle of everything he’s doing. And she’s also very smart, and can strip those little doggie panties off in a New York minute, velcro and all.

She has to be under supervision at all times.

We attended a party tonight, came home, let the dogs in. We got Zanna dressed, and went into our room. The dogs followed. I was putting up some clothes, and realized Zanna was no longer around. I turned and looked out our bedroom door, and saw she was on the living room couch, walking up and down.

We ran into the living room. Zanna had (1) taken off her panties and diaper, (2) walked through all the laundry TMIL had folded, thus unfolding it, and (3) had torn her panties to shreds. All in about 10 minutes times.

TMIL was furious. I was laughing. At 15 months, Zanna still has a lot of puppy behavior in her. Clothes can be washed again, it’s no big deal. And for some unknown reason, I had purchased an extra pair of doggie panties last night.

Thank God.

Now, how long will this stuff last? Because if it’s not over soon, I may have to take vacation and give TMIL a break. He may be experiencing PMS himself.