The Photo Blog

If you're looking for the new photo blog, it's here.

A look at 2011

2011 was pretty fun! We did work really REALLY hard though and even though we are super thankful for all the business we had, we are a little tired. Working two jobs gets to ya after a bit. We're looking forward to more fun/travel in 2012 and are stoked about it! :)

A look back at 2010

So I didn't really blog any LAST year, probably won't blog much at all this year either. I've lost that lovin' feeling I guess....but every now and then I'll get a comment on here like from a recent one where a REALLY sweet lady was asking about Lucy and telling me how she remembers her sweet story and STILL thinks about her all these years after she was featured on Daily Puppy and Cute Overload...FOR REAL?! That is so frickin' sweet. I'm still constantly amazed at how awesome complete strangers can be sometimes---esp. compared to some of the people that are sort of like supposed to care a little more about things than they do sometimes. Overall I just really think people are super-duper selfish/self-involved. I think that Bean and I go out of our way A TON for people---and this year it seemed magnified a ton more some of the things we would do for people because we barely give it a second thought----it's sometimes just the thing to do---but I'm not going to lie---it gets a little exhausting when you're the one always giving, and giving and you notice that very often most people are fine with all that receiving and don't think twice about throwing a bone your way every now and then.

I can think of about one or two people who really felt THERE for us in 2010 when stupid, bad, ridiculous crap was happening. Who I really feel like whether things were good or bad, reciprocated and was always making sure we were OK. It just makes you think.

Sure not all of 2010 was bad....but looking back at the only blog posts I had here from 2010 I remember how it started off badly--everything was sucking basically and here I went into it with a lot of hope--I was seriously stoked for 2010...not sure why now though---it's crazy how just because the calendar rolls back around to 2010 people find some new-found hope like all is right with the world and everything they've wanted to accomplish and everything they want to be is POOF going to happen because it's January. Whatever. Yeah so it started off crappy and had some pretty low downs towards the end---losing Nikki and all. Not only did Nikki get diagnosed with cancer and then lose that battle---but a close friend of ours lost their first sweet baby dog to cancer and had a rough time this year and a co-worker friend's dog unexpectedly died on the operating table just during a routine teeth cleaning...a teeth cleaning. He was young and healthy and though they have a child, that little guy was totally their baby too. Then the year gets finished off with Bean's nephew and his wife having to put down their dog with cancer. I know these four-legged cuties are JUST dogs, just creatures to some people...but they weren't just that to all of us. Sometimes people with two-legged children just don't get it....sometimes they do.

They say that a lot---you'll hear---"She doesn't have kids--she doesn't get how busy I am." "People without kids don't see how much we have to do when we have kids." But people with dog children can say the same...they don't get it either. One person got it and let us know what happened actually does matter in our lives but that is also the same person that understood how thoughtful and awesome it would be to give us a small gift when Brinkley came home as a pup--someone who gets it--and realizes that HEY they do birthday parties, baby showers, wedding showers, etc...year after year after year never asking for anything in return--let's throw a little surprise kindness their way. Kindness and compassion are amazing things. They change everything.

I don't care what people say---indeed it is fine and dandy to always give, give, give your time, your efforts, your kindnesses with never receiving anything in return---yes that is great and all---BUT over the years you get tired. And if you can't be thrown a little spark of random niceness and have someone help you with your crap every now and then, you just become over it. Maybe someone reading this is so perfect that they don't become over it...super for you! I wish we could be you. But I think if people look deep down---that the people that they have the warmest fuzzies for are the ones who know how to throw them some kindness and compassion more often than not...and if you're the one always receiving that---why don't you do a little something for that person every now and then. I'm telling you, it'll make you both feel awesome and the quickest way to have someone be done with you is to always let them do every single bit of the work...because a new year might roll around and their asses might just be super tired.

Here's the 2010 video--last year's was a blast and I just couldn't not do one this year. 2010 really did have some seriously fun stuff that happened. A lot of firsts...first time in Key West, first time para-sailing or doing something that I found even remotely that scary, first time driving a little electric car, first time in Savannah, first time in Navarre and Pensacola, saw a few of the most gorgeous sunsets ever, longest time being away from home and the furthest I've ever been. The first time I've ever watched someone become sick and die that I had been responsible for/loved since her birth. The good things were really great and the bad times were really bad. Therefore as a whole, I don't know how I feel about 2010.

It's August....

I don't have anything to say really...just wanted to make sure I still knew how to sign on to this blog and post something.
Here is a pic from a fun time this summer and a quote that is so so true---both of these were in a cool store in Decatur!

In Like A Lion Out Like A Lamb?! Really?!

I don't have any pretty pictures to show you...in all honesty--it's kinda nice to come here right now and just have words and not worry about what picture I will post and whether or not it's relevant...or irrelevant. I post pretty pictures elsewhere...here I just want to vent and say the things that I can't really say elsewhere. :)

I hate March. March is a serious you--know--what. The funny thing is I ALWAYS forget just how much I truly hate March until March rolls around again the next year--slaps me around, stomps on me, takes a ginormous dump on me and just about when I've had enough, when I am curled up in a fetal position sucking my thumb, April comes and saves the year. I have some sort of freaky March curse---right now---I THANKFULLY have the ability to not remember all of the bad things that have ever happened in March---but some seriously messed up crap happens every time. I don't go into March putting negative vibes into the universe..therefore possibly making these bad things happen---because remember, I always forget by next March. So it's not me, it's MARCH!

Let's just start with January and February--I don't remember when all of this craziness started happening---sometime around then. We had dryer issues out the wazooo---decided we weren't going to get a new dryer just to have the washer crap out the next month---so replaced both. The water filtration unit froze up outside because we were idiots and didn't cover it up properly---or because the guy told us there was no need--AHEM. I went to the doctor for chronic eye issues only to pay over a hundred dollars to be told it was allergies and "hey, get these eye drops while you're at it." Later to have blurry vision in said eye to the point of being ridiculously terrified into tears. Thankfully to find out that blurry vision wasn't permanent and that my eyeballs are just all scratched up from my sucky eyelids. That was the biggest relief ever. I can't tell you how frustrating it was to have to listen daily to people's petty---yes petty to me--problems about this and that when all I wanted was to be able to see damnit. It's truly amazing how much people whine about stuff that truly doesn't matter and when you can't see out of one eye and those eyes are you livelihood--in your day job and your non-day job---it really puts it into perspective how you don't want to listen to other people's b.s. Seriously. That's as nicely as I can put it too...you're talking to me about how your ex-husband said this, did that...it ruined your day and I'm terrified that I can't see and will have to be cut on at best...when I'd rather lose a leg than an eye?! People are selfish and inconsiderate, they really are.

So before finding out what was really wrong with my eye---I also went to the dermatologist and found out that it could be a little bit of ocular rosacea going on with it too---if you have regular facial rosacea which I have---you are 50% likely to have the ocular rosacea (something I didn't know existed) and my derma thought maybe that was it because of my extreme sensitivity to light I was having. I was driving in the dark with sunglasses in the mornings and it was still almost unbearable. Craziness.

All of that has improved...and though I DO NOT want to add up all the money I've spent on those doctor's visits and the medicines I'm on---it's completely worth it...It's well over $400.00 now but the peace of mind I have now, makes it priceless.

Literally the day before I was able to have that peace of mind--Nikki had to be rushed to the emergency vet---we had no idea what was wrong with her--ate her breakfast, went outside, came back in and was moaning and wouldn't move around. She being 11 years old, it wasn't something we were going to play with. I HAD to stay here for bunny pics and it happened to be the day with some of the most hellacious acting children I've ever met...I practically begged one lady to get out---her kid was ripping down our "set" and screaming...carrying on like a wild animal. I was polite and told her that I really couldn't take her money---that if she just went ahead and left it would prob. be best. YOU KNOW WHAT SHE DID?! Here's the child acting like somebody needed to beat him up to Atlanta and back---is screaming, crying, laughing when Dad picks him up and tells him to stop...ripping down stuff in or house--falling out of chairs---and the Mom says---"I really, really want to get some pictures of him..." I'm like---LADY--it's NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! I played along even though I was so infuriated inside I could have gone Hulk apeshitcrazy on her and the kid. Managed to get very few pics. BUT I straight up took her money!! If she would have left I would have never taken it but he ripped apart part of the house and screamed for 15 something minutes every time they touched him...while she expected me to get pictures of him smiling at bunnies...so yes indeed I took her $50.00 and will try to talk myself into being OK with the fact that she MIGHT get 6-8 decent pics. And why should I feel guilty about her not getting pics?! I don't know, I guess because I'm an only child--it's in my blood to feel guilty about stupid crap that I have absolutely no control over.

It rained today...hell--somehow that might be my fault. :)

That same day----I almost bought a damn $10.00 basket for $1,000.00. Enough said. Thank goodness nobody else on ebay deemed it worthy of much. Now I own a $30.00 basket that I only wanted to pay $10.00 for but THANK YOU JESUS I didn't have to pay $1,000.00 for it or do a bid retract. Mercy.

Nikki came home alive and well despite the awful, negative energy I put into the universe thinking that she would not come home with Julie. They are getting older and I know this and I know that at this point any day that I have with the older two, is a miracle...is a blessing---I am still selfish enough to be sad about the idea of not having them around any longer. I will be sad when they are gone, but will do my absolute best to focus on all the good snuggles and joy they brought into the house while here.

So far--the problem was just a hurt leg---but we are changing vets---love the emergency vet in Covington but HATE our regular vet office in Griffin. A couple of hundred more dollars added to March madness. The day after all this went down----we went to the eye doc and dropped Nikki off at vet---they didn't do half the things we asked them to do and didn't even x-ray her leg after the other vet said it needed to be done...suckers. Why is good, CARING help so hard to find? Spoke with a friend about a new vet, have one that we're checking out in Macon.

When Julie got home from the mentally exhausting vet trip and I was done with bunny pics---thankfully she was here to see that last abomination of craziness---she said--you just want to cry huh?! So we gave ourselves about 10 minutes of self-pity time and then got back to work. :)
Two people, exhausted--standing in the kitchen--crying. March had beaten us down, kicked our asses and we were spent.

Today Julie goes out to open her garage door to go to work...it pops itself off the chain or whatever it's technically called---even lifting it manually wouldn't work...had to drive my car to take me to work---then drive herself to work. I caught a ride home from a friend from work...garage door repairman came--took less than 15 minutes to assess the issue/repair the problem. $85.00 more dollars added to March's tab.

I'm so so thankful for the things that are good--I think of myself as a person that knows how to show gratitude. But I'm really, really over March. Good things have happened, things have gotten better when they could have gotten worse---thank you for that! I'm just ready for the LAMB part and so over with the LION.

If you made it this far, thank you...you obviously care or are just really bored. Either way, I love you for sticking through it. Thank you for just hearing me out.

Valentine's Day 2010

I was worried I wouldn't remember how to post to blogger---posting to the new MBP site is nothing like this, so it's a little weird to post here now.

You know I LOVE LOVE LOVE me some Valentine's Day...best faux holiday there is. I don't even care that Hallmark invented it to make money...don't mind at all---because I BIG PUFFY HEART the colors of Valentine's Day. They just go oh-so-perfectly together in a nice monochromatic magnificent way. :)

Here are my V-day pics for this year...this year's cupcake is a mini...cute little thing. Didn't eat it, that's some toxic icing on that thing, but it's pretty and was given to me...so free as well.

Get Your S**T together 2010

Seriously. Seriously. That's just how I need to start this off. 2010 came in with a bang...first the filtration system got cold and we woke up one weekend morning without water...no biggie---warmed it up outside by piecing together some extension cords and putting the handy-dandy MonkeyBean baby warmer next to it. Worked like a charm and was thankful it was a weekend morning and not a WORKday morning.

Then the POS dryer that had acted like a crazy mofo back in the Fall and was repaired (so we thought) and on the up and up--started acting crazy again and this time we were like "Screw it, you're outta here." When it first tore up--we were in the mind frame of "Get Dad to fix it, because it's cheaper...though never ever easier." The second go around and being tired of not having space to air dry things---not to mention that nice crispy feeling when you dry yourself off with a towel that has been air-dried, and we decided NO MORE. So to go ahead and round it out...hey what the hell, throw in a new washing machine too----because dear old Dad took the other one that broke and gave us one that you could fit about six shirts in and that was it until he repaired the other...that's been a few years ago...so we were done with that too. :)

Been washing and drying clothes and LOVING every minute of it since Saturday afternoon when it got here...even told some buddies we couldn't go out with them and party because we were having so much fun watching things get cleaned and dried like magic. Like butta! I've never been so excited to fold and put away clothes in my life...just to see the piles of dirty clothes make SPACE on the floor again. Pure bliss.

Life was great---Saturday through Sunday morning...but things change so quickly, lol! We were sorta noticing that the WARM air coming from the vents was more like Arctic air. Never a good sign really. It was pretty chilly around here last night...chilly enough to sleep covered in layers head to toe. Nikki wore her cute sweater to bed and was covered in a blanket warmed in the dryer--poor nugget gets the coldest.

That handy dryer warmed up our work clothes this morning for us---gave the whole wardrobe a little warming action then dressed like superheroes---in a quickness...have NEVER been so excited to get to work. :)

Turns out our compressor is tore up from the floor up and because the unit is already past it's life expectancy of 10 years--it has made it to 14 years---it was recommended and we agreed that it was getting its tail kicked to the curb as well. Let's see $900 on washer and dryer... $3000 on heating and air...I figure we're doing great starting 2010 with all new goods. Sheesh. We love our heating and air guy---Ted---he's from the old school---honest and hard working. Excited for him to come back and visit on Thursday with new shiny goods. Wish those goods didn't come with such a hefty price tag but thankful we have worked our booties off to have some green saved up.

Oh--and got bullied by the boss on my first day back from break...craziness.

Seriously though and this is the WEIRD part----all this stuff is going on and I STILL feel wildly optimistic about 2010....a little scared at the same time that I feel this optimistic and hopeful for it---like it's going to all just go to you know what---I'm just happy about 2010...and I'm going to enjoy it with all my new shiny shiznick! Poor----but I'll be warm with some clean, dry clothes. Lol.

And some pictures to go with this lengthy post:

More good news--one of the dogs is so talented that when they ran in from outside (apparently before being completely done with business) they formed the perfect Hershey Kiss. Those are marketable skills.

My first time trying out a snuggie! A friend brought it to work! It really does work! :)

Amazed at these new-fandangled washers and dryers with their nifty settings and whatnot. :) Chosen after many website searches for the best for the price. I love the internets.

Saying Goodbye to 2009

I don't think 2009 was too popular amongst most people...I didn't know this until recently--on facebook everyone is like "see ya 2009, hopefully 2010 will be better.." I don't have the same perspective for 2009...I actually LOVED it. Some really bad things happened to a lot of my friends, and I can see why they'd hate it...but those bad things that happened to them, led to better things happening soon after--so really they probably should be thankful for 2009.

It rocked for those of us here at the mansion---sure, more crap tore up around the house than we would have liked--and some of those things are still having the kinks get out of them---but everything else was pretty super and there's plans in place to make 2010 rock even more.

One thing that saddened me when making the video for this year, is all the stuff that got left out because I didn't take pictures...truth is I was sorta TIRED of carrying the camera around---so some fun activities got left out of picture memories and that's a shame because it's not like my old lady mind is going to remember later on without PROOF. :) We helped paint multiple friend's houses, Avery's nursery, took day trips to explore new places, Bunco nights...none of that stuff made it to the video for lack of pictures...so THE ONE thing I vow to do more of in 2010 is take more PERSONAL pictures--even if everyone gives me crap about not wanting to be in them, who cares?! They will be just like me and appreciate that those pictures exist later.

So instead of dogging 2009 out...I say "HEY YOU WERE GREAT...and I think 2010 has a lot to live up to...but have a feeling that it's GONNA BLOW YA OUTTA THE WATER WITH COOL POINTS!" :)

December 2009

Finally got some time to take some pics of my favorite wildebeests...been good times relaxing here at the mansion---well and of course editing photos in the evenings...maybe here soon after finishing up the editing of two weddings, I might have a little break from that as well.






Red Bobo is new for Christmas, Orange Bobo is an old friend...but apparently they travel in pairs and have been a big hit lately...no joke--whenever you see one Bobo--the next one is right beside it...Brinkley can actually fit both of them into his mouth and you find these guys in random places all over the house.




That's a whole lot of dog on one bed...

Animoto Rocks My World

So I'm doing a trial of Animoto, love it, obsessed with it to be quite honest, want to marry it, you get the idea. They definitely know how to make an awesome video and it was so easy to do, it's redonk.

Here are my first ones! May take a moment or two for something to show up below this text if your computer is a little slow---so don't run off if nothing is down there right away. :)