July 12, 2005
PUP-DATE
Charlie celebrated his three month birthday yesterday...
Posted by: Sarah at
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He just needs to be snuggled. What a sweetie.
Happy 1st Quarter Charlie!!
Posted by: Tammi at July 12, 2005 08:41 AM (F4oo1)
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He is getting blonder, and bigger!!
Posted by: ArmyWifeToddlerMom at July 12, 2005 11:38 AM (TJcCA)
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OMG, he is so cute! Happy first quarter Charlie
Posted by: NYgirl at July 19, 2005 03:06 PM (JEAUq)
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July 06, 2005
HEH
Our dog is hilarious. He's such a couch potato that when I tried to take him for a walk today, he starting crying and trying to climb up my leg so I would carry him. We barely made it across the street before I gave up on the walk altogether. What a bum!
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07:44 AM
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June 30, 2005
SWEET
Now here's some destructive puppy behavior that we fully support!
(Saddam chew toy via Political Pet Toys. We get a real thrill out of seeing the dog attack that scumbag.)
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this is proof that one can buy just about anything.....
Posted by: ArmyWifeToddlerMom at June 30, 2005 12:10 PM (6QH8u)
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Someone should offer Saddam Kitty Litter.
Posted by: Walter E. Wallis at June 30, 2005 08:15 PM (xX0fS)
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Have you read the July issue of Esquire?
"Tuesdays with Saddam"..it's very interesting.
Posted by: Mary at July 01, 2005 04:35 PM (YwdKL)
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Charlie already has the "Was I not supposed to be eating this?" innocent look. :-)
Posted by: Princess Jami at July 07, 2005 04:01 PM (0gPLe)
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June 29, 2005
CHARLIE UPDATE
Dog rearing is moving along nicely. Over the weekend Charlie met his "cousin" (my husband's brother's dog) and managed to hold his own despite being a fourth of his size.
Last night we hit a milestone: Charlie slept his first full night! But both my boys were exhausted after PT...
And we just can't stop taking pictures of him.
It's funny that we wanted the Tibetan breed because we wanted a couch potato dog, but Charlie takes it to extremes! He's the only dog I've ever heard of who hates going on walks. When he sees the leash, he hides. When I try to get him out the door, he plants his feet and resists. What a hoot he is.
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Great Pics!
You mean you're little one actually rests?!?! Dang - I would give my eye teeth for a little of that right now!! ;-)
Posted by: Tammi at June 29, 2005 07:52 AM (F4oo1)
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Sarah - Charlie looks so darn cuddly.
Posted by: toni at June 29, 2005 09:48 AM (SHqVu)
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Aw geez, still adorable.
Kalroy
Posted by: Kalroy at June 29, 2005 01:22 PM (9RG5y)
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So I guess you won't need the recipe after all?
Posted by: Walter E. Wallis at June 29, 2005 05:49 PM (xX0fS)
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Love the pictures! He seems to be bonding very well with Daddy Russ! That is adorable.
Love,
Mama
Posted by: Nancy at June 30, 2005 02:28 AM (DljPa)
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June 22, 2005
SWIMMINGLY
A Charlie update: He's now lived with us for a week and is doing much better. Most of the crying has stopped, and he sleeps through the night (except for when we take him outside). He went on his first walk yesterday and after he finally stopped imprinting on me, he had a blast! We started working on "sit", which he enjoys because he gets a treat when he does it. I don't guess I'll throw him out the window after all...
Posted by: Sarah at
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I guess you won't need the recipe for puppy stew after all.
Posted by: Walter E. Wallis at June 22, 2005 11:55 AM (zJ4Tq)
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Oh puppies, so cute and such a trial. I never did ask, does this breed shed?
Posted by: toni at June 23, 2005 09:04 AM (SHqVu)
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Crate training is a very good idea. Get "crate" with wheels if you have a big breed.
Posted by: Walter E. Wallis at June 23, 2005 06:09 PM (zJ4Tq)
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June 19, 2005
SIGH
Our dog is driving us a little batty. We're trying to crate train him, which means we're getting very little sleep. Charlie, on the other hand, apparently doesn't need any sleep at night and instead prefers to pass the time howling and yelping. He keeps pooping in the neighbors' yard instead of ours, he has destroyed the boxes we put in to make his crate smaller, and he thinks that moss and weeds are the best food around.
It's a good thing he's cute, 'cause he's about to get thrown out the window!
Posted by: Sarah at
03:49 AM
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Sarah, what breed is the pup? We ended up with the same problem with our puppy, and we caved in and put him in bed with us so we could sleep. The problem is now we have a 110 lb Akita/Lab mix that thinks he is entitled to join us in bed whenever he feels the urge. Best birth control I ever found though ;-) .
Posted by: Bubba Bo Bob Brain at June 19, 2005 04:11 AM (aHbua)
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He's a Tibetan; he'll only get to be about 25 lbs, which would theoretically be do-able in bed. But we don't want to cave in! Everything we've read said that crate training is possible and effective with time...but I just don't know how much time it will take! I don't know anyone else who has crate trained; it seems most people just give in after a while.
Posted by: Sarah at June 19, 2005 05:29 AM (Sh7JR)
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It takes about a week or two. Especially once you get the windup alarm clock - oh and put a blanket over the crate if it's open wire.
It does get better - don't cave in. I never thought I'd see the day, but Cody loves his crate. It's HIS place.
The rest, well....no promises there. But seriously - give it a couple weeks and he'll be much better about the whole sleepin' thing.
Posted by: Tammi at June 19, 2005 09:27 AM (F4oo1)
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Try partioning the crate with a piece of wood to make it smaller. As for the howling, leave a radio on softly where he is and get ear plugs for yourselves. Do not react to him, sounds cold I know, but crate training is worth it. Escpecially if you'll be travelling with him.
Posted by: mare at June 19, 2005 02:58 PM (0CpxG)
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Crate training is well worth it. Do not cave in. If you even cave once, he'll keep at you. If you need to take him out during the night or early morning DO NOT play with him. Just be all business. When you come back in and want to get more sleep just pop him back in his crate. I keep the crate in my room when I first get a pup, that is if that is where the dog is going to be allowed to sleep (in your room) (I really recomend that he does sleep in your room it helps with bonding) Try to keep to a semi-schedule for feeding, pooping and naps.(don't become a slave to a schedule however!) He is a baby and will grow up faster than the human kind. So it does get easier. I seldom crate my dog any more, but he doesn't mind going in one when it is nessessary. Crate training will be especially helpful for house breaking and travel. Being in the military you need to make sure he learns to tolerate the crate so he won't be a basket of nerves when you move around! Also try a stuffed animal in his crate. That seemed to help my last pup. The biggest thing to remember is do not ever let him do anything as a pup that you do not want him to do as a dog! Spoil him, but don't ruin him by letting him be the one in control. You are the benevelont king and queen that he loves and wants to please. He really does want to please you.
Put him in his crate during the day also. Even if it is just for a short time. Give him a treat, a dog biscut or a toy with a little bit of peanut butter on it. Soon he will be running to the crate if you say the word.(I had a lab/rottie cross that would run pell mell through the house to get in her crate if you just said crate!) Reward him for going in, do not make a big deal over him when he comes out of it.
One more thing. NEVER let him out untill he is not wining. Even if he quits for a fraction of a moment let that be the time to let him out.
The bathroom thing....put him on a leash when you take him out. With you traveling he needs to learn now to releive himself on a leash. Some dogs like their privacy and refuse to go on a leash and it is tough when you need to travel and he holds back just because he is used to being free when he does his thing. I teach mine to "take a leak" I just say that or whatever you want to use for a command.(my friend uses Shazzam) When you take him out do not play with him, just say the command and wait him out. When he does it reward him and he will get the picture. This works great for road trips when you are stopping for a short time and he wants to check out every scent there is to find in a mile radius!
He isn't going to be a huge dog so I am guessing his crate is not huge either. Most anything you put in there is going to be a chew toy, cardboard, etc. If the crate isn't too big for him as a adult I would just forget about dividing it up and see how that goes. I am guessing you have a medium size? For traveling in especially on a plane it the crate is too big they actually can get tossed around too much in a large crate. They need to be able to brace themselves aginst the side. Also a crate for a dog is their den, if it is too big it looses that cozy feel and starts to feel more like a pen.
He is such a cutie! Get lots of pictures!
Cindy H.
Kenai, AK
Posted by: Cindy H. at June 20, 2005 12:24 AM (/y+c0)
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a little gin in the water dish couldn't hurt.
Posted by: Walter E. Wallis at June 20, 2005 01:10 PM (zJ4Tq)
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Sarah,
Charlie is adorable!!!! As for the crate training , you know that my dogs are not crate trained but, my moms dog Baby is. She agrees mostly with Cindy especially the part about putting him in your bedroom. She let the dog out of the crate at night though and baby never whimpered once , just crawled under their bed and went to sleep. They use the crate whenever they left the house or just when they thought that she needed a brake. Now at 2 she adores her crate and the door is always opened. Most times you find her in there taking a nap and if someone shuts the door on accident she will try to open it to get in . Good luck and I cant wait to see Charlie in person!!!!
Posted by: Kelly at June 20, 2005 01:45 PM (WXHIS)
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hi there, not much i can add that hasnt been said already. i just wanted to wish you good luck with the new puppy, he IS adorable.
my parents had beagles and they crate trained but unfortuantley the howling never stopped. they'd go in but they'd still howl about it, even after years. dont let that discourage you though, crate training, especially for us military folks, is a very good idea. and beagles are known for their howls anyway.
we never crate trained our blk lab but he's pretty laid back and obey's commands well. he'd LOVE to jump up on the bed with us, or the couch, but we taught him not to. we got him two beds of his own, one for the bedroom and one for the den so he can still lounge with us and feel part of the 'pack'. we could walk him without a leash and know that he would behave/not run off/not 'do the doo' in our neighbors yard, but out of respect for folks who fear dogs (and obey the leash law) we make sure to keep him on one.
anywho, good luck and enjoy the new puppy!
Posted by: liz at June 20, 2005 07:45 PM (fqS+S)
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I agree with the advice. One more thing - remember that as a pup, there is a fast link between eating and potty. This starts to improve - but I have been told (and it has pretty much gone that way - my dogs have all been mutts) that it takes until at least 5 months before you can expect that they are reliable about knowing they need to go and letting you know. So patience is the word, along with vigilance! Remember, Charlie is going to be one of the best souls you will ever know in your entire life, and he wants to do well - but he is just a pup.
Enjoy the fuzz therapy - isn't it just the best?
Posted by: Jean at June 21, 2005 01:24 PM (EtDmT)
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"It's a good thing he's cute, 'cause he's about to get thrown out the window!"
One day you'll be saying the same thing about your kids:-)
P.
Posted by: Pamela at June 22, 2005 01:49 AM (E34Gm)
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I had to crate train my dog( a Great Pyrenees) when he was a puppy. By the time he was 2 1/2 months old he was 15 lbs. and eating everything.( Including a 2.5 ton floor jack)
He outgrew all crates later as he's 130 lbs now and I don't have room nor $$$ for a huge crate. but the behavior has stuck with him even outside a crate. He don't get in bed with us , sleeps thru the night etc.
I found it helped to keep it in the bedroom ... beside my bed ( where I wanted him to sleep later)
I had to sleep with my hand , arm , or leg hanging off the bed beside the crate ( in the box/crate ) when he was smaller. It aided both in bonding and comfort for him.
I also found that he took these little doggie naps in the late evening while we were busy making supper, eating , and not paying attention to him. So I made after dinner play time with him.
It took both my husband and I, 2 weeks to keep him up during this time ... play and walk him and wear him out. He slept well after that.
Posted by: MorningSun at June 25, 2005 01:52 PM (cyzjH)
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Oh btw, I'm currently crate training my kitten. hahaha
I sleep well at night. I did find a use for the old dog crate.
Posted by: MorningSun at June 25, 2005 01:54 PM (cyzjH)
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You might check out: Tenderfoottraining.com.
Great DVD available.
Posted by: Steve at June 27, 2005 05:12 PM (zZPnd)
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June 16, 2005
PUPPY
We got our puppy yesterday! So far he's doing really well: he's learning his name and has already gotten the hang of "come". And even though we only got about three non-consecutive hours of sleep last night from all the whining, we still love him to death.
Now Charlie and I are off to practice crate training...
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Congrats on the new addition Sarah! You can put a ticking alarm clock (the wind up one) in his cage under the blanket or pillow so he thinks its his Mom's heartbeat...or even a towel that you heated in the microwave (make sure it's not too hot). Having a puppy is great fun - only problem - they grow up
. What's his name?
Posted by: Kathleen A at June 16, 2005 08:06 AM (vnAYT)
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OOOOO - puppy so cute. I'm so very tempted. RESIST RESIST. lol Congrats on the new addition to your family.
Posted by: toni at June 16, 2005 02:24 PM (SHqVu)
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What a cutie!!
Posted by: Beth at June 16, 2005 03:36 PM (Wc+zF)
Posted by: Ted at June 16, 2005 09:20 PM (+OVgL)
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Gee, cutie, cute and adorable have already been used. Oh well, I second all of those and hope you enjoy him tremendously.
Posted by: Cerberus at June 17, 2005 02:57 AM (nzIoS)
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Congratulations! What a darlin'! Oh, and the alarm clock solves the whining. In fact, even after 5 months Cody get really upset if I try to take it out of his crate. But then again, he's a bit obsessive 'bout things!
Good luck!
Posted by: Tammi at June 17, 2005 08:27 AM (F4oo1)
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Absolutely adorable (wife and I agree on that) had to hide it from Buddy though. Don't want him feeling jealous.
Kalroy
Posted by: Kalroy at June 17, 2005 09:37 PM (9RG5y)
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OMG - what an adorable puppy! May you have many happy years together. *grin*
Posted by: Teresa at June 18, 2005 08:52 PM (nAfYo)
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What an adorable puppy! I know you are going to have lots of fun with Charlie. Jane
Posted by: Jane at June 18, 2005 10:47 PM (XEtUj)
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Ooooh, my new "grandbaby" is sooo cute! He'll do much better after a few days and realizes that you're his new mommy. It's not a whole lot different than bringing a baby home from the hospital! There's an adjustment period. Keep us posted on how he's doing. Did Daddy Russ pass out bubble gum cigars?!?!
Love,
Mama
Posted by: Nancy at June 22, 2005 12:55 AM (DljPa)
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June 15, 2005
THREE YEARS
Two years ago we had just moved to Germany. We had no house and no car, and since we'd gotten "lost in the system", we had no income for two and a half months. Last year we were thousands of miles apart. Here's hoping that our third anniversary works out a little better than the previous two!
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Happy Anniversary!
bryan
Posted by: Bryan Strawser at June 15, 2005 02:27 AM (xabUq)
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Happy Anniversary! I hope you two have a great day!
Household6
Posted by: Household6 at June 15, 2005 06:12 AM (T+Tkq)
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Happy Anniversary! My bride and I celebrated our first two in Germany back in the Cold War period. On our first, we took the duty train to Berlin and stayed at the Templehof Hotel. At our second anniversary we were enjoying our first son.
Back then as you know, any conflict other than potential for the Big One was no where on the screen.
I am happy for both of you to have made it thru your hubby's tour to Iraq. All the best and many many happy returns for you both. The wife and I celebrated our 26th this past week and you can too. God bless. -A greyheaded Cold Warrior.
Posted by: GreyEagleO6 at June 15, 2005 09:59 AM (WiKxR)
Posted by: ArmyWifeToddlerMom at June 15, 2005 12:37 PM (fIHOt)
Posted by: Mary at June 15, 2005 04:01 PM (YwdKL)
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Hope you two have an excellent anniversary!
Posted by: Barb at June 15, 2005 06:02 PM (4QSOR)
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Congratulations, guys! :-) And everyone knows that puppies are the perfect 3rd anniversary present.
Posted by: Princess Jami at June 16, 2005 07:10 PM (0gPLe)
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I'm a bit late... but a belated Happy Anniversary to you both. I hope you had a lovely day together!
Posted by: Teresa at June 18, 2005 08:54 PM (nAfYo)
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June 02, 2005
WASTE
You know what blogs are good for? Griping. So here goes.
My parents opened a bank account for me when I was a baby. They couldn't afford to sock away much, but all three of us kids had accounts that were to be used for college. Since I didn't need it for college, I got it as a wedding present, so I withdrew the majority of the money three years ago when I got married.
Guess what I found out today? That account, which has been open for like 25 years, went under "new management" in 2001. They charge an inactive fee when the account doesn't have any activity for a year. And guess who hasn't accessed her account since 2002? Guess who just found out she lost $240 to bank fees?
I'm so mad I could scream, but there's no one to scream at. I've never touched that account before my wedding, and I don't even get balance statements for it. It's a fluke I even found out about it now. I thought about emptying all the money out when I got married, but my parents thought it would be good to keep the account open. They didn't know anything about this new inactive fee; they've had an account there for decades too! The girl on the phone sounded sorry for me, but she said there was nothing she could do about it. I'd better go warn my brothers to check on their accounts.
So there goes lots of money down the toilet. Fantastic. You know what's the biggest load of bullcrap ever? A savings account where you lose money because you don't touch it. Don't ever open one of those for your kids.
Posted by: Sarah at
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One of the reasons why, when I stopped being a democrat I didn't become a republican was all those neat little deals like California's Fair Trade price fixing laws and limits on interest banks could pay but no limit on charges.
Posted by: Walter_E_Wallis at June 02, 2005 04:17 PM (zJ4Tq)
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Phew! glad i read this post. we were gonna empty the kiddos piggy bank and open a savings account for him this weekend! i think i'll call and double check on those fees before we do that now. we just may end up getting savings bonds. thanks!
Posted by: liz at June 02, 2005 06:38 PM (fqS+S)
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I'd love to know which account it was? Was it National City, CEFCU? Let me know and I will go talk to them.
Your Mom
Posted by: Nancy at June 02, 2005 07:03 PM (QMzlL)
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Let us know the name of the bank so we don't ever go there.
Posted by: Sean at June 02, 2005 07:31 PM (cV7Xy)
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Did you speak to the person's boss? These things can be managed - just have to persist and work your way up. Could result in bad press to do things like this - particularly as you were not notified prior. Everyone knows it costs a lot more to win a customer than to maintain one.
You may not want to share which bank, but perhaps if you let them know you are a widely read blogger, then they may wish to reconsider. I know it may not feel honorable to threaten in this way, but then not notifying customers before implementing would also qualify as dishonorable.
Posted by: JCK at June 02, 2005 07:38 PM (7jvO1)
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OMG!!! Why do you still have that money in a bank savings account?!?!
TAKE IT OUT NOW!!!! Put it in a money market account or a mutual fund. Make it work for you!
Thanks for your service to our country.
Joe
Posted by: Joe Norman at June 03, 2005 07:07 AM (fe/Mk)
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I also had a bank change ownership once. They transferred my checking account, but not my savings. As my paycheck was direct deposit, and my ATM card no longer worked, I was cashless and P.O.'d! I also had checks outstanding and no one could tell me if they would be covered or bounce. It was a little disconcerting to say the least! After a few days of being an EXTREMELY squeaky wheel, it was all straightened out.
No one had had that much control over my money since my first husband! I did not like it one bit!
(
Posted by: MargeinMI at June 03, 2005 08:35 AM (u0NOA)
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Sarah - put ALL your accounts in USAA, and leave them there for the rest of your lives. Its one of the best parts of serving, or being married to a GI.
Posted by: Tanker Schreiber at June 03, 2005 01:48 PM (DvSQS)
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Listen to Margaret in Michigan!! Be the loudest
squeeky wheel that ever was. That is wrong,
wronger,wrongest! (Not "more wrong'--WRONGER)
The bank taketh away,the bank can sure as heck
put back. Write letters to everyone at that bank
and do not be afraid to explain where you are
living and why you are living there. Burning up
over this!
Posted by: Mary at June 03, 2005 04:58 PM (YwdKL)
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We need the bank's name so we can smear them properly. It would be fun to have the email address of the highest ranking twit you can reach.
Posted by: pedro at June 04, 2005 10:13 AM (puDmh)
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yeah! i like pedro's idea! blogalanche!
Posted by: liz at June 05, 2005 06:17 PM (fqS+S)
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DOGGY UPDATE
Only two weeks until we get to bring him home...
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Ahhh, puppy breath!
He's beautiful.
Posted by: Val Prieto at June 02, 2005 08:43 AM (7GMZU)
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AAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh he's so cute!
Posted by: Rachel Ann at June 02, 2005 09:35 AM (Jgwqx)
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How sweet!!
Just prepare yourself....no kidding! Cody was a livin' doll - until I got him inside the house! Holy Cow! Talk about Jekyl and Hyde!!!!
:-)
But I wouldn't trade him for the world!
Congrats!
Posted by: Tammi at June 02, 2005 10:15 AM (ofCFG)
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OMG - he's soooo cute! I'm glad I don't have to train a puppy right now, but they are nearly too cute to pass up. Enjoy!
Posted by: Teresa at June 03, 2005 03:41 PM (nAfYo)
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May 21, 2005
OUR PUPPY
We went back to the dog breeder to make the final decision today. It was a long battle between these two challengers
but in the end, one of them was just too timid. Both of them were a little skeptical when we first got there, but one trembled when we held him and cried when we set him down. The other seemed more laid back: he took some time, but eventually he tested out his legs and came over to lick my husband's arm and make friends. In the end, we had found our puppy.
It's going to be a long month until we can bring him home! Now we just have to fix on a name...
Posted by: Sarah at
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Sarah - he's beautiful. Congrats on the soon to be new addition to your family.
Posted by: toni at May 21, 2005 01:59 PM (KXhoZ)
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Looks like he has black bands around his eyes, Name
him Bandit.
Posted by: Rosie at May 21, 2005 06:25 PM (kaTPV)
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Name him a name that sounds funny on such a cute puppy. Something like Zoltran the Destroyer or some such.
Or how about Dawg?
No, wait, I got it. Brian. As in Brian Griffin from the Family Guy.
Posted by: James at May 21, 2005 11:38 PM (UQWvC)
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Looks like an Ali Baba to me.
Posted by: Bob at May 22, 2005 05:53 PM (WMa4u)
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OH too cute! Makes me want another one :-)
Posted by: Sissy at May 22, 2005 08:24 PM (uXS+O)
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Aww...he's adorable! We named one of our cats Chesty, after the Marine Corps hero (Lt. Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller). He's a tough guy, so it seems like a great fit.
Posted by: Carla at May 23, 2005 09:59 AM (6tYwr)
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My wife gushed over the puppies. They ARE absolutely adorable.
Kalroy
Posted by: Kalroy at May 27, 2005 01:34 AM (9RG5y)
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Sarah,
Name him "Grok the blog dog"! ;-)
Posted by: Pamela at May 31, 2005 12:37 PM (E34Gm)
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May 19, 2005
COLORS
Theresa's comment on the last post made me smile. I didn't care where we went on vacation, as long as we were together. It's funny because we came home from two and a half weeks at the beach without getting a tan! My husband and I aren't really beach people; we're definitely sunscreen people! This was the front yard of our hotel in Ft. Lauderdale...
and we spent most of our time inside Arby's and the mall! The real vacation was just being in the US, getting to shop for clothes that we both needed and food that we both craved. On the cruise, we sometimes felt guilty about just hanging out in our room, but Theresa points out another military family perspective: all time spent together is time well spent. And we participated in plenty of cruise activities; we even won trophies for winning four of the six trivia contests.
To me, the highlight of the trip was the colors. I saw colors I had never seen before, shades of blue and green that photos can't really capture. The world was so bright we could barely keep our eyes open for the photos. The world looks a whole lot brighter here
than it did here
That's what this vacation was all about.
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LOL - I don't tan... so the couple of times we've been able to do a beach vacation - I haven't had a tan either when I got home. *grin* Sounds like it all turned out great - minimal problems so you two just had a chance to hang out and relax together.
Posted by: Teresa at May 19, 2005 11:11 AM (nAfYo)
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Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Hooray!
Posted by: Princess Jami at May 19, 2005 02:17 PM (0gPLe)
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May 04, 2005
AWESOME
We're having the time of our lives here, eating and shopping to our hearts' content. (And looking at alligators!) I can barely button my pants from all the cheeseburgers and milkshakes I've been having! The USA is a blast...
(And I just saw the heaps of spam I got delivered. Will fix when we return home.)
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Yummmmmm cheeseburgers...
Posted by: ArmyWifeToddlerMom at May 05, 2005 04:17 PM (Lh1NL)
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Where is the whirlwind tour taking you?
Posted by: Sean at May 07, 2005 12:18 AM (cl3Om)
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Back in the Land of the Big PX!
Oh. Everyone has a big PX now.
Posted by: Bunker at May 07, 2005 01:29 PM (X9Hcy)
4
If you get a chance, eat at Carrabbas. The best Italian in the world.
Posted by: Tom at May 13, 2005 02:13 PM (kLnH/)
5
Looking forward to a compare and contrast essay!
The United States,why we love her is your bonus
question. Hope you're having fun!
Posted by: Mary at May 18, 2005 06:46 AM (YwdKL)
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April 30, 2005
SWEET
We're leaving for our vacation tonight, but look what we did this afternoon...
When we get back, we will choose one that's right for us. The cuteness went to eleven today.
We'll be gone for two weeks, as if I could get any further outside of the blogging loop. It's been 16 months since we've been in the US, and we're jumping out of our skin. I'm sure I will have stories when I return.
Posted by: Sarah at
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1
ohhhh gotta be #2 or #4....doll babies, have fun.
Posted by: ArmyWifeToddlerMom at April 30, 2005 05:06 PM (xHu3J)
2
Yeah, we're leaning towards the brown ones: I like #2 and the husband likes #4, but I think personality will go a long way towards the decision...
Posted by: Sarah at April 30, 2005 05:13 PM (CxES3)
3
Pick for personality. All else means little.
Posted by: Bunker at April 30, 2005 07:10 PM (Hx5dx)
4
Not to be a downer, but don't forget what I posted a few months back -- worm early, worm often.
That said -- Oh. My. God. CUTE! While it's good to pick on personality, remember that personalities evolve over time -- what they're like at 2 weeks is a *lot* different from what they're like at 6 months, or a year. Generally, it's a good idea to decide what energy level you're looking for -- mellow? agile? non-stop rocket? -- and get a feel for that. We got both the largest and smallest from our litter. The big guy was really well-behaved but sometimes distant, while the little one is *so* sweet but sometimes gets into trouble. Personally, I'd suggest looking for the "runt" if you want to have a lapdog. Good luck, whatever you choose.
Also, have you looked at any old articles lately? Seeing a lot of comment spam. Pure Discount Viagro, anybody?
Posted by: James at May 02, 2005 11:48 AM (FpasZ)
5
Oh my Lord... Your eating Puppies???
Posted by: Baldgrant at May 03, 2005 06:09 PM (HoSBk)
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April 27, 2005
MOVING ON
I woke up at 0400, fidgety and anxious. You see, two 7th graders had gone on vacation and hadn't turned in their make-up work and they were now failing. Boring stuff, huh? But it kept me awake fretting, and I'm not even their teacher anymore. Theoretically I left all of that behind me yesterday, but I lay in bed last night wondering about certain kids: what they'd be like in ten years, how they'll do on their quiz today, if I'll ever see them again. As much as I despised a handful of them, a different handful became very dear to me. I was their teacher for two months, which is a good chunk of the school year; it's funny to think they're not my students anymore. Moving on is more bittersweet than I thought it would be.
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1
Did you ever bond with your older students in the same way?
As a professor, I've had students as long as 1 1/2 years; that's nothing compared to the years I spent under some professors. Needless to say, the grad school master-disciple bond is even more intense than most teacher-student bonds.
Although I'm out of academia now, I still think of my former students every once in a while, and they even contact me out of the blue. I also keep an eye out for my former gurus (who later became my colleagues).
Changing the topic somewhat, this post gave me some idea of what you must have just gone through:
http://multiplementality.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2005/04/25/217/
(via http://www.joannejacobs.com/mtarchives/015096.html )
Posted by: Amritas at April 27, 2005 03:49 PM (+nV09)
2
http://distanceeducation.ivtcscs.org/articles_business-education/ talentstitillatedtusk
Posted by: snack at August 14, 2005 11:56 AM (HOia2)
3
http://check_payroll.americasparty.org/walmart/ agentmanhoodragged
Posted by: pray at August 24, 2005 07:11 PM (C5F6u)
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April 26, 2005
GOOD NEWS, EVERYONE
Shoelaces arrived in the mail yesterday; they're perfect. My friend came over and reinstalled Windows last night, so we're rid of the crap. Today's my last day of school too...
Posted by: Sarah at
01:31 AM
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1
Pocket Bike with 47CC/49CC 2Stroke
Pocket Bike  MP01
?
Packing:1pc/cartonÂÂ
Size of carton:100x33x60cmÂÂ
N.W.:19KGS,G.W.:21KGSÂÂ
140pcs/1x20',310pcs/1x40',340pcs/1X40'HQÂÂ
Material:plasticÂÂ
Mini Pocket race motorcycle with gasoline/fuel engineÂÂ
Single cylinder with air coolingÂÂ
49cc 2 stroke (mixing 1:25)ÂÂ
Top speed >55KM/hoursÂÂ
Manual pull startÂÂ
Fuel tank of 1 liter. Reach distance 60KMÂÂ
Rear air race tyre 10"ÂÂ
Front air race tyre 10"ÂÂ
Front disc brake and rear disc brakeÂÂ
Engine with chain driveÂÂ
Deluxe muffler pipeÂÂ
Max weight capacity (persons weight) 90KGÂÂ
Dimensions 990L x 350W x 560H mm.ÂÂ
Color: Blue ,YELLOW,SILVER,BLACKÂÂ
http://www.minipocketdirtbike.com
Posted by: pocket bike at July 04, 2005 12:46 AM (Zlipb)
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April 24, 2005
SEWING
Today my husband has 24-hour duty, so I've gotten a lot of stuff done around the house, stuff that I normally put off because I'd rather be hanging out with him. Like his sewing...he asked me to start getting his BDUs ready when he was still in Iraq, and once I finally found green thread, I had no desire to sew. Then he came home and started studying for the GMAT on my sewing machine (it's one of those old antique ones that folds into a desk), so any time he was busy, he was always blocking the machine. I finally got to work today and spent a couple of hours changing rank and insignia and also adding the combat patch and the flag. It was quite a job, but they're lookin' good now.
Tomorrow my friend is coming over and we're finally getting rid of this awful virus once and for all. That is, we're reloading windows and starting over. I'm looking forward to using the computer and not having it ask me repeatedly if I'd like to meet hot German singles.
More after school ends on Tuesday...
(P.S. The litter of Tibetan Terriers was born last week; we are going on Saturday to see them and maybe pick one out. I don't care which color we get, as long as we get something that looks as cute as this!)
Posted by: Sarah at
12:00 PM
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April 20, 2005
WIFEING FAILURE
My husband is officially sick of being a house-husband. He can't wait for me to stop working so I can take care of him again. He said he'll pay me to stay home and square away the house, which I thought was cute. It's true that this job seems to have taken more of my energy from me; I'm not devoting nearly as much time to wifeing as I did before. Today I realized I forgot to pay the credit card this month, which means that I made $87.50 today and I just blew $35 of it on the late fee. Sheesh, where's my head?
Just a few more days and it's back to wifeing...and hopefully puppy training...
Posted by: Sarah at
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1
call up the credit card company, if this doesn't happen often, you can usually have them waive the late fee as a courtesy.
Posted by: jake at April 20, 2005 08:56 AM (SIC+L)
2
I am fortunate in that my wife and I were able to work it out where she did not have to work outside the home. 50 years and counting, it was a good idea.
Walter E. Wallis
Posted by: Walter E. Wallis at April 20, 2005 05:46 PM (MBCZx)
3
I always wanted to be a mom and stay home with my kids, and fortunately I was able to do that. I hope it made a positive effect on your life. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
Love you,
Mama
Posted by: Nancy at April 21, 2005 11:55 PM (YuW6k)
4
oops! "had" a positive effect on your life. You know your English teacher mother!
Posted by: Nancy at April 21, 2005 11:57 PM (YuW6k)
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STUFF
Last night I ruined one of my favorite shirts while I was making enchilladas. I was bummed all night about it.
At one point during the deployment, a friend and I briefly ventured into what we would do if our husbands didn't come home from Iraq. My friend said that she could leave in a minute and never look back, that someone could come and loot her house for all she cared because she wouldn't want anything from her house. She wouldn't want to take her old life with her to the next. I remember thinking that I could never do that because I love things too much.
I love stuff. I bet if I really tried, I could catalog nearly everything we own. I don't like to borrow books because I want to own them myself. I never really got into the Napster craze because I like owning the CDs and seeing them lined up (alphabetically, naturally) on the shelf. I get very attached to material things, and I always thought the worst thing that could happen to me would be a fire. (In fact, I went through this phase where I kept a bag full of the most important things I owned so I could grab the bag as I ran out of the burning house.)
The comical part about all of this is that I hate spending money. I love owning things, but I am the stingiest person I know. Sure I want to own the book, but I will wait and wait for it to get a dollar cheaper online before I buy it. I'm still waiting to buy From the Earth to the Moon until I can find it a little cheaper. One of my friends always teases me about my "card" because I have this index card where I write every book, movie, or CD that I want to buy. Some things have been on that card for two years, because the test of knowing how much you want something is how long you keep it on the card. If I still want it after a year, I probably will shell out the money for it.
So when I ruin a shirt, it hurts me. I ruined something that I can't replace, and I feel angry. It will take me years to find a blue shirt I like as much as that one.
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March 28, 2005
GEEKS
I think I made some progress on the computer over the weekend, but this evening will be the test of Sarah's skills. Hopefully my work will pay off.
I'm still subbing, and it's funny how I view things through the eyes of a teacher now. The husband and I have been watching the series Freaks and Geeks, and I can't help but see pieces of my own 7th graders in the show's characters. I am very sensitive about the geeks and very hateful towards the freaks, simply because I now see those interactions in front of my eyes every day.
I haven't given up on blogging. My mom says she misses me, but it's really because of our computer. I haven't even read a single blog in over a week. I hope to be back in the saddle soon.
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1
Hateful towards the freaks? Why? And as a teacher that's not a healthy view to take towards any student.
Posted by: Josh at March 28, 2005 09:06 PM (UmYTB)
2
Josh, do you mean to say that I am supposed to feel all warm and fuzzy about the kids who call other kids "retarded", "stupid", or "nerdy"? That I am supposed to enjoy their presence when they disrupt class, whistle while I talk, and make my life and the other students' a nightmare? I currently have an obligation to teach them math, but I don't have some sort of "moral obligation" to enjoy their abuse.
Posted by: Sarah at March 29, 2005 06:15 AM (MOoZ+)
3
P.S. Have you ever seen the show? "Freaks" doesn't mean kids with green hair and noserings. They're kids who hate school and cheat, lie, and abuse others.
Posted by: Sarah at March 29, 2005 06:17 AM (MOoZ+)
4
Hang in there sarah. as a veteran sub and now veteran teacher we need good people to cover for us when we need a day off. As to freaks you mean the people (ahem) that taunt and tease kids outside their click until they snap and blow a bunch of people away? I wish I had the power to remove these "good kids" from school permanently.
Keep in there and hang on tight!!!
Posted by: Jeff at March 29, 2005 03:04 PM (NhiBI)
5
It is an essential part of the learning process to show respect for others, to communicate without rancor, to resolve differences amicably and to SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN when teacher suggests such.
Posted by: Walter E. Wallis at March 29, 2005 09:15 PM (MBCZx)
6
You're putting words in my mouth. I never said, nor even hinted, that you should feel all "warm and fuzzy" towards them. I merely meant that having a hateful attitude towards anyone, let alone young people, leads one to treat them differently, lesser than the other students.
And even assuming that you are able to prevent the unconscious behavior changes that normally occur in a situation like this, posting it on a public blog - where some of your students could read it - might not be the most professionally wise thing to do.
I understand, and am familiar with, having a hierachy of students in your class. But, I've seen too many of each side (freaks and geeks, not mention bullies, jocks, etc) change for the better to become hateful to anyone. And I teach for a public school in the 5th largest city in the US.
Posted by: Josh at March 31, 2005 01:54 AM (UmYTB)
7
Josh, I'm not a middle school teacher. I'm a long-term sub working for someone on maternity leave. I hate 75% of the students: they're rude, mean-spirited, disrespectful, and incorrigible. I'm glad there are people like you who can do this job without feeling emotionally abused every day at 3:00, because I'm not one of those people. I can't wait to get out of here.
Posted by: Sarah at March 31, 2005 08:13 AM (MOoZ+)
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