Hanging Rock State Park, NC

My trip to NC was great. Saturday afternoon, I got into Greensboro and Jada, Tim and Vonda picked me up from the airport. Jada and Vonda came running and screaming at me from behind a pillar like the crazy people they are. :) We wandered around REI and Sur La Table because it was raining. Then went and had yummy dinner at Cafe Europa. I had a big bowl of muscles. Deliscious!

Saturday morning, Tim made us French toast, which was great. Then we packed up the car and drove to Hanging Rock State Park. We hiked the Wolf Rock trail and the Hanging Rock trail. We went all the way up to the top of Hanging Rock and ate our lunch up there. It was a good reminder that I need to keep working out, but the view was definitely worth the climb. I'll post a picture of us when Tim forwards it on. When we were done we drove a little and went to see the Lower Cascade Falls in another part of the park. One the way home, we stopped for sodas in glass bottles at a little gas station.

After getting cleaned up, we had a great dinner with a couple that lives 2 doors down from Jada and Tim. Yummy food, good deserts and fun conversation.

So, I am home now. I will have to be sure to walk the dog after I pick him up, otherwise I won't be able to move tomorrow!

My new chair came!

Today, my new chair came! Here's a shot where you can see the back of the chair and the rug/carpet I got, also.


But, it's not just any chair...

stupid mastercard...

...all I wanted to do was activate the new card they sent me.

At least she's an honest dog owner...

The lady who was walking the dog this morning came by just now. I guess when Miner and the boxer (Cooper) got at each other this morning, Cooper did get bit. It was under his collar, so she didn't see it until this afternoon. Cooper is getting a stitch at the vet and she came by because the vet said to check and make sure Miner is up to date on his rabies shots. When I called her vet to give them the info, and explained who I was and what happened, the lady who answered the phone said that Cooper's owner was very honest and open with them about what happened. Which, when Cooper's owner was at the front door, she did the same and acknowledged that I had asked for the dogs not to meet. So, all is well for now. Both Miner and Cooper are up to date on their raibes shots, so no worries there. It's up to her to decide to call animal control if she wants, but the vet didn't seem to think that she would.

The hits just keep on coming.

Damn Dog Owners

I need to vent. This morning, Miner was out on his lead while I was putting out the garbage and recycling. I was folding cardboard, and see a woman walking down the alley. I recognize her and her two dogs, a boxer and a westie, because they are the ones with in-ground fence that never remember to put the collars on the dogs. With no collar that matches the in-ground fence, you might as well not have it. Their house is the reason Miner and I walk around the hospital now. I just don't want to have to deal with it.

Anyway, she starts letting the boxer walk into my back yard (I have no fence...that's why Miner is on a chain). I said (clearly, I might add), "Can we please not have them meet." As she is saying, "Oh, it's OK" the boxer pulls hard enough to make her fall down and he gets nose to nose with Miner. Dogs don't meet nose to nose...and especially not when they are both at the ends of their leads. So snarling, she pulls her dog away and says, "he's not usually like this." My response was, "but mine is, that's why I asked for them not to meet."

Sheesh! It's OK for dogs not to meet every other dog that passes. And what the fuck is she doing walking down people's alleys...there are sidewalks. UGH!

So much for not traveling...

...but it was an offer I couldn't pass up. And a damn cheap plane ticket, too. I am flying to Greensboro, NC on Saturday to see my friends Jada and Tim. Another friend Vonda will be visiting them that weekend, too. Chalk this up as something great about being single.
Flight from MLI to GSO...$227
3 days of dog boarding...$60
One meeting moved...done
Not having to OK a last minute trip with someone...priceless. :)

Who knows, maybe I'll get really lucky and it will be the Astros and White Sox in the World Series again this year and I won't have to ask anyone if it's OK to spend $600 on a ticket and parking spot to the opening game. A girl can dream, can't she?

Plus, I now have a "fare watcher" thing looking for cheap flights to Philadelphia to see Holly and Chris and Ruby when she gets here!

In general, feeling much better than I have in a while. And doing a much better job at focusing on the good stuff and not the sad stuff.

Social Observations

I got to thinking the other day about how I keep in touch with friends and relatives in a completely different way than my grandmother does/did. Different even than how my mom still does in some respects. They would call people, pay each other a visit, etc. I blog, read my friends' blogs, do the facebook thing, etc. Rarely do I talk on the phone to friends and family. I even feel awkward on the phone sometimes. Heck, I use IM and text messages more with Brian than I talk on the phone with him. In the past, I felt kind of guilty that I wasn't calling people more often, but now I am feeling less so, and more like this is just one way I have evolved beyond the telephone.

Hey. At least I am not sitting across the table from you texting you rather than speaking to you. Right?

Pousson. Amy Pousson.

It's official. Actually, it was official on the 16th. The decree was waiting for me in my mailbox when I got home yesterday.

I am feeling really well. I have a great sense of "good, now I can get on with my life."

Plus, I came home to the very beginnings of spring. The grass is starting to get green, and my irises and daffodils are starting to come up. I think I need to start my annuals from seeds inside this weekend.

Pousson Weekend

I took a half day Friday and drove up to MN. I got into town in time to eat some yummy broccoli with peanut sauce that Brian made. We had time to kill before Mom and Dad got in, so we went and saw Watchmen. I didn't know anything about the graphic novel or the story. Deffinitely different. Kinda crazy.

Saturday, we had brunch with two of Brian's friends at Hell's Kitchen. It was good food and good company. I saw several bald eagles on my way up Friday, so we decided to see if we could see some Saturday afternoon. We drove down to the National Eagle Center in Waubasha, MN. It was a nice drive. Mom and Dad both got to see bald eagles, which I don't think they had before.

One of my favorite things so far this weekend has been Mom commenting about the snow on the ground and the river being frozen over. Pousson's can tend to read aloud the signs we see on the side of the road. When you are out in the country and there aren't any signs to read, Mom would randomly comment about all the snow. :) I forget that it's normal for me and Brian but totally foreign for TX.

Going to see the family

I am getting very excited...I leave around noon tomorrow to go see Brian in St. Paul, MN. Plus, Mom and Dad get there tomorrow night, and will be there for a few days, too. It will be a nice little mini-vacation. Too bad it isn't to someplace really warm. That will have to wait until I get to go see Erin and John and the boys in HI this summer. :)

Like all good Pousson visits. We already had one meal planned well in advance. We have reservations for breakfast on Saturday at Hell's Kitchen in Minneapolis. Yumm, yumm, yumm!!!

Sick, Tired and Sad

I stayed home from work yesterday because I was sick. Pukey sick. Never puked, but did my best not to make it happen. Lots of toast, crackers, 7Up, etc. And lots of couch time. I think that explains part of why my back is a wreck. Plus I am tired. I don't feel rested even though I got a good night's sleep last night. I am hoping my little mini-vacation will help me.

David signed the decree yesterday. The lawyer will file tomorrow or Thursday and I guess it's all over and done with then. Well at least the marriage part is over and done with. The name change part begins. I am still not sure when the rest of my life begins...finding a new normal is a bitch.

One Giant Puddle

That's what the yard looks like. It's been raining off and on since Friday night. I finally bit the bullet and took Miner for a walk. It was only a mist. Now he's leaving me alone.

Slimming Down

Miner has lost 7 lbs since the beginning of December. The vet tech says he looks great. He's currently weighing in at just under 72 lbs. The vet tech left a note for the vet to see if I need to up his food a little. We were in for his heartworm test. For as anxious as he was, his blood pressure was really low and it took 2 tries to get blood drawn. But he's a champ and got a E-Z-Cheese covered dog biscuit as a treat after. Spoiled.

I went to jazzercise yesterday and we did our usual run/walk around the hospital around noon today. All in all, it's been a great day not going into the office.

Mental Health Day

...combined with a "my sinuses are a pain in my ass" day. In general, I just feel in a funk. And I only have one conference call on my calendar today, so I am working from home. I have a lot of email clean-up to do, so that will keep me busy. And not having the phone ringing will be nice, too. and if it gets a little warmer, Miner and I will go for a walk this afternoon before going to the vet. Heartworm check...and he's lost some weight, so I want to make sure I am feeding him enough given his increase in activity.

I should have the decree back from my lawyer today. That's most of the motivation to take a mental health day. This may evolve into a "shop online for music and a GPS system" day as well...or maybe an excursion to Best Buy for said GPS.

Crazy Walk

The first walk back from the kennel is always a mess. They don't make him heel on his walks out there. Plus, I am trying to keep from getting any more sick than I already am. AND a crazy dog came along and I haven't walked Miner in a week and a half and so I am out of practice with remaining calm. So, Miner got a little crazy, too. AND it was cold...so our walk was only a 1/2 mile.

But, I did begin my treadmill experiment with him. I know I can't get him on the treadmill with a leash if he hasn't had a little bit of a walk first. So I tried after our short walk. He did really well. Not for a real long time, but at least 5 minutes. This was accompanied by a lot of praise and treats afterwards. He'll do just about anything if he knows treats are coming afterwards.