May 29, 2009
Well, it’s over. Another year finished! It hasn’t really sunk in yet that I won’t be taking attendance, checking homework, and making lesson plans on Monday. It really does feel like just a few weeks ago that I was standing in the hallway looking down at the rows of empty lockers thinking to myself, what will I do this summer? And here I am again.
Summer has officially started!
May 20, 2009
Today John, Nick, and I are going to Nashville to pick up my new guitar. I say new, because this isn’t my first guitar. The first was one that my grandparents gave to me after a vacation they took when I was younger – it’s a little Harmony guitar that I can still picture my grandparents handing to me in their living room when they got back from their trip. We all took turns passing it around, strumming made-up songs on it, making wretched sounds, and laughing the whole time at our silliness. Thank you, grandmommy and granddaddy.
But this one is special, too.
John and I spent an entire weekend of artsiness in Nashville, and finding this guitar on that weekend was just perfect. We started the trip with the windows rolled down and the music turned up and me singing like a maniac as John drove on the intersatate. When we got to Nashville, our hotel was decorated entirely in musical themes or musical instruments. After checking in we walked past the Ryman and I got chills thinking of all of the musical greats walking up those very stairs to perform. We walked down the streets near the river with live music and country legends blaring from every open window or door. That night we saw Billy Joel and Elton John play at the Sommet Center, and with a beer in my hand and a tap to my foot I sang every word to every song (just like everyone else around me) and was swept away by the musical talent and technical skill of the performers.
Ever since Nick has shown me how to play the guitar, I feel like I’m in some sort of secret club. A musical brotherhood. I can hear notes and find chords in music and tell which chords people are playing when I see them holding their instruments. Appreciating music has taken on a whole new level for me. The fun I get out of playing is immense. It’s calming. It’s soothing. It’s a rush that a few changes in finger placement can leave such a distinct change in tone and mood of the music. But I just haven’t had time to practice without someone staring at me or listening to my mistakes, so you could say that I’ve been self-conscious to the point of debilitation.
Here’s how my guitar-playing history has gone so far after my initial lessons: John and I go over to Nick’s apartment to watch t.v/play video games/hang out. I pick up his electric guitar after a lull in the conversation and strum (so it doesn’t make noise). Eventually, Nick takes the electric away from me and puts the acoustic in my hands and orders me to play. I say, “But, but, but…!” He shows me a few chords, shows me a strumming pattern, and then he and John stare at me until I play it. And that’s how it goes most of the time.
So just for fun, we went looking around guitar stores on Sunday morning. We went in quite a few and spent probably about 4 hours just drooling over musical equipment and instruments. At the last store I came across The One. I loved it so much I couldn’t put it down for fear that someone else might pick it up and run off with it! I decided to wait on the purchase: it is extravagant, after all, to buy a guitar. I’m usually pretty practical about what I buy, and aside from the soul-calming qualities, a guitar just isn’t practical. So we had them hold it for a week. But I didn’t get an hour away from the store without wishing I’d just gone ahead and bought it.
So today we’re going to get it. And the summer will be filled with photography, music, gardening, and sweet puppy bliss. Amen.
May 15, 2009
To say that Jax’s trip to the clinic for his four month shots went well would be an understantement. 
I know I’m his mom and I’m supposed to brag on him, but this pup did a GREAT job!
When we got there, he was wild and wiggly and sniffing and kissing everyone – of course! All of the receptionists came out and loved on him. They remember how lifeless and small he was when he was there for his extended stay with Parvo, and they were all SO happy to see him happy and full of life.
When he went to get weighed, one of the ladies commented that it might be difficult to get his weight since he had to be somewhat still and so far he was clearly not acting like a dog that could be still. I told her it wouldn’t be a problem as long as I could have a treat for him. She looked at me like I’d grown horns out of the top of my head, but proceeded to get a treat for me anyway. She was probably thinking, How on EARTH is this crazy woman going to get that hyper dog still with a treat? Boy, did we show her! I lead Jax onto the scale, showed him the treat, asked him to sit, and told him to stay. All of which he did, watching me with his sweet eyes, with his little stubby tail vibrating on the scale floor. The lady was so shocked at his obedient nature that it took her a few seconds to even look at the scale! It was so cute! So as soon as she FINALLY looked at his weight (14.4 pounds, by the way!), she took the treat from ME and gave it to him! She then proceeded to lavish praise on both him and his beaming mom while Jax lavished her with kisses. I told her at that point that THIS was NOTHING! Did she know that he knew “down” and “shake”, too? Off she ran to the treat jar, bringing back the other receptionist with her this time. He shook her hand, laid down for the other receptionist and let her rub his belly, and all the while they were looking at me saying, “And this is the same dog, right? He’s only four months? WOW!”
Back in the exam room it got even better. Poor Jax had to have a fecal exam for one part of the check up. He was wiggly, of course, the whole time. Afterwards, the technician decided to give him a treat so he wouldn’t mistrust her (even though he resumed his wiggliness as soon as the exam was over and started giving more kisses). I told her that he could sit for a treat if she didn’t mind. She thought I’d lost MY mind – he’s only four months old, right? Sure enough, there was Jax fresh from a fecal exam going through the motions of Sit, Down, and Shake, showing off for the techs. They were ALSO impressed, and I could hear through the swinging door after they left that they were AMAZED that such a young pup could be so obedient!
By the time Dr. Salley got to our room (Jax was in my arms snuggling at the time), word had spread around the entire office of Jax’s ability to do “tricks.” He walked in with a big beaming smile and said, “So, I hear the smartest dog in clinic is in this room!” I told him that I’m Jax’s mom and I feel like I should be proud, but that I felt Jax was really a smart dog. After getting Jax’s furry behind on the exam table and Jax administering some kisses on Dr. Salley, too, I showed off his obedience. Dr. Salley was very impressed and kept commenting on how well behaved Jax was! It was my turn to beam. I told him that I attributed Jax’s progress to the intelligence of his breed, starting his training young, his eagerness to please, and me making sure that ALL of his learning was a game.
Jax did get shots and screamed for each one. I felt terrible for him, but that silly dog finished his screams and turned right around to slurp all over the tech and the vet with his tail vibrating. Dr. Salley commented, “He doesn’t hold a grudge, does he?” On a medical note, Jax is 100% healthy – negative for heartworms, current on all shots, started on tick and flea prevention, and spoiled rotten with love. Dr. Salley was very happy to see a puppy with difficult diagnosis turn out to have such a great life. He said he could tell how much time we spend loving on Jax and teaching him the proper fundamentals for being a healthy, well adjusted dog. And with that, I felt like a million bucks.
I think John and I have done a wonderful job with Jax so far. He may be active and wiggly, but that’s the way I like them. He is sweet natured, affectionate, quick to learn, and an absolute spirit-lifter every time I walk into my door. Oh, and handsome to boot! What a wonderful pair of dogs we have.
April 22, 2009
This morning as I began my beautiful dawn treck to the back of our property with the dogs, I noticed that there were many, MANY birds around the back steps of our house. Jax was only mildly interested because his small puppy bladder screaming at him to go pee was much louder than the chirping. Dixon was only mildly interested because…well…she’s not really interested in anything other than squirells and this particular morning and she had already spied four near our shop building. As I was coming back inside with Dixon, one of the birds decided that since we throw one rockin’ party in the Hughes household, he would join in on the fun! He swooped into our laundry room right over Dixon’s head! Luckily we close the door from the dining room to the laundry room when we take the dogs out so the little critter couldn’t get in our house, but he did decide to take up roost in (of all places!) the cat litter box! Screeching for John I shoved Dixon into the dining room, closed the door, and tried getting him out myself. He was not interested. After a few minutes of coaxing and shooing, I went to wake John (who hadn’t heard the ruckus) to help get him out.
What a freaky morning! I hope he doesn’t decide to try that again – it takes too long to get one of those guys convinced that we are not interested in bird friends!
April 22, 2009
I try not to get too emotional. I really do. I try to keep my cool and be thankful for all of the wonderful things in my life and keep the negativity out. But today was just not one of those days. Occasionally my emotions and hormones get the better of me.
Mother’s day is coming up for one thing, and I didn’t think it would bother me too much that reminders of this really sweet day are being plastered all over creation. But the fact is, I feel like the anti-mother. I feel like “The Woman That Couldn’t Hack It, Unlike Every Other Female In The World.” Untrue, I know. But as much as I try, logic sometimes just can’t beat out hormones. Seeing those cards and flowers on display in the grocery today nearly did me in.
Work is bad. For a few weeks at work I was in what Ashley dubbed the “Prego Club,” but as of tomorrow the transition will have shifted to the “New Mommy Club.” Ashley is being induced tomorrow. The other two, due three weeks before and two weeks after I was, are well on their way to mommyhood. As the milestones are passing me clickety-clack I’m left standing in the card aisle of the grocery store trying to keep from making a big weeping mess of myself.
Tomorrow will be a better day.
April 20, 2009
So I had a long day with kiddos, but all became right with the world when I came home to a puppy who had NO ACCIDENTS in his kennel! First I romped and played with Dixon and Jax outside, then snuggled with Butters while the pups chowed. Then I did some homework while pups played in the floor. The dogs eventually came to the couch to sleep on top of me while they napped. With the rain pattering outside, the dogs snoring inside, and John coming home in a few hours, I flipped on the the TV to find the Golden Girls, and this particular sketch was playing. My sides are splitting! What a good day!
April 8, 2009
I was a child who painted her dog’s toenails red and dressed my cats up in baby clothes and duck costumes. If I had a (willing) pony as an adult, you wouldn’t be surprised to see this if I spent all of my summer with no hobby…
April 6, 2009
Tonight I’m making Mexican cornbread. For some reason I decided to go against our norm and fix cornbread last week when we had steak, and John liked it so much that he decided we should fix it again soon! So he’s asked me to make mexican cornbread tonight. I’m off to the grocery to buy peppers (and lettuce for a salad) and we’ll see how it turns out. I’ve never really fixed this dish before, but I think I’ll take pictures along the way on this one and let you know how it turns out!
March 27, 2009
…and I liked it. John cooked it on the grill.
But it still STINKS!
March 23, 2009
We HAD to start our planting for our garden this year! John has researched and purchased heirloom seeds to put in our garden, and we’re starting those (as well as some other non-heirloom seeds) in seed trays in our kitchen.
First I started out by dating some of the seed markers…
…while John prepped the seed tray and began planting.
And slowly but surely, our seed planting progressed!
And this one is a shot of John’s SECRET CREATION! He’ll have to tell you about it, though.
P.S. Pay no attention to our un-finished dining room/kitchen – that should be remedied around Spring Break time…or whenever we gosh-darn feel like it. 
