Dexter & Dee Dee's Big Adventure

Andy came over for a trimmy trim today, and the occasion of visitors is always stressful at my house. We're working with Dee Dee to get her to calmly greet visitors. I keep a treat in my pocket, and a leash on her collar to pull her down from the jumping, and a diaper to prevent the peeing. Yeah, she's that bad.

But she did well today, barely jumping, and somewhat minding me. I was very proud. It gets better every time. She's such a smart girl.

We quickly went to the kitchen and closed the bottom of the farm door so the dogs would stay out of the hair. They barked a couple of times, then seemed to relax. About 20 minutes later, they were so quiet that I even yelled around the corner, "y'all are being so good!" My phone rings, and I ignore it. I do NOT interrupt a service, thank you. Then it rang again. ok, something's wrong.

As I picked up the call from Jim, I came around the corner and saw the wide-open front door. Fuck. The dogs got out.

Jim was calling to tell me that the neighbor had Dee Dee. As he told me this, I spy Dexter. He hadn't gone far. He made it to an ivy-covered island that he's probably been eyeing from the other side of the fence. He'd been planning to dig that hole for years.

I ran to the diagonal neighbors - an incredibly sweet retired couple. They had Dee Dee in the kitchen (still in her diaper - how embarrassing), and were petting her and loving on her.
She let me know that another girl used to lose her dog all of the time. And, OH YEAH, "I think she lived in your house!" She seemed really tickled by that.
Good Neighbors are awesome.

Oops

I found a Firefly marathon on tv. I guess I'm not going to clean the bathroom...

Bono and Cake

First of all, I am right now watching Rattle & Hum on MHD. I'm going to pass out from panting at these half-naked, bobbed braided and bald, sweaty little boys. I've actually never seen this before, so seeing it for the first time on 46 Inches of Viewing Pleasure while it storms outside is pretty damned hot. Does it make me a cougar if the young boys were older than me when the offending footage was filmed?

Ok, so now to the rest of my night. I went to "Snacks and Dessert" at our neighborhood park. I sorta talked to a pregnant couple. She was very blonde and he didn't say a word. In the speed dating world, they would not get a match from me. Then I talked to a family I had met before. She's a frazzled mom of 16. Ok, not that many, but enough to be frazzled.

Then it started thundering and we tore down the party before anyone got hit by lightening. Because that happens ALL the time. Anyway, as I was leaving, a couple came walking up, and I said that is was closing down. As they got closer, they looked cool. And I said, "wish we weren't leaving, I'd love to talk to you." And she, looking like a rockabilly hot chick, said that we had the same style. Even though she is WAY prettier than me. Anyway, maybe I have a new friend. We'll see.

Hairdresser Scared of Hair

I am normally a short hair girl. The stacked bob has always been my look - since way before Katie Holmes went stay-at-home-mom on her hair. Then I pursued the trashy layers that I will have again some day. Those were awesome. I loved that rock mullet.

My hair is currently longer than it has ever been. I think it looks good. And when I style it with a curling iron and LOTS of hairspray, everybody else thinks it looks good too. But it feels like it is choking me. And washing my hair may be the worst part of my day. Ug. It gets all over the place, and I have to use cups of conditioner...

So tomorrow, at 10 am, my friend Kitt is going to cut off my hair. Correction: I'm going to cut off my hair like a four-year-old. Seriously, how often do you get to do that? Then, she's going to shape it into a cute, SHORT 'do.

Here's the funny part: I'm totally freaked out by the idea of cutting my hair. Am I going to look like a boy? Is my husband still going to want to have sex with me? Will I look fat? But I recently read a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt (ok, it was on a magnet) that goes sorta like, "Do something that scares you every day."

And tomorrow that will be cutting my hair.
Wish me luck.

Lost my Wallet

I don't think I've ever actually done this before. It's really gone. I had it on Wednesday night, and I am almost positive I had it in the car yesterday morning as I organized my cash. When I bought Chipotle for dinner (which was excellent by the way), I paid with tips, so I don't think I even took my wallet out.
And this morning, it was gone.
Wow. This is annoying.

My HOA Meeting

Every time I go, I imagine it is going to be a Gilmore Girls town meeting with colorful characters and pithy commentary between myself and the other too-hip-for-this-town girl that is sure to be sitting next to me. Our Taylor is named Jackie, but their haircut is similar.

Instead, I was shown just how little people of my generation are involved in their communities. Most of the attendees have been coming to these meetings for 30 years. Most of my neighbors are NOT this old. There are 192 houses in our neighborhood. I'd be surprised if there were 40 people in that room. Our friends, who are popular, and seem to know everybody in Tucker, have lived on this street for 10 years, and have never attended a meeting. (That run-on sentence is intentional for effect, just in case you were offended by my grammar just now.)

I don't understand. Why wouldn't you want to make sure that the people who live closest to you are familiar and friendly? Supposedly plenty of people show up to the picnic party. Jeez.
The problem goes like this: The HOA is run by old people. It is kept alive through newsletters taped to our mailboxes. Young families don't have time to go to meetings in the middle of the week. We need web sites. The HOA don't understand Web sites. But the good news is - a couple of neighbors were sounding like they were volunteering to do it. That's great. I hope they do.

Ok, vent over.
There were some colorful characters though: One guy asked the visiting police officers what the rule is about shooting an intruder. And another started her question with "My husband was in World War II..." Awwww.

Dee Dee it is

Our new dachshund mix is fitting well in our household. As long as she's touching someone, she's happy. She hasn't had a real accident in days. And yesterday, the big news! Dexter and Dee Dee learned to wrestle. It took them almost two weeks, but our dogs are finally wrestling and chasing, and enjoying each other immensely. Almost too much. Both boy and girl enjoy the occasional hump.

Really, who doesn't?