Everyone LOVES a puppy!! They're small, cute, funny, cuddly.....ummm...scratch the SMALL part for our Stewie!! He's soooo big!!! So we tend to  forget he's still basically a baby.  He's getting his adult teeth in and therefore must CHEW.  Well, he's chowed down a whole bag of rawhide chips, which are nothing more than potato chips to him, chewed up a whole box of rubber toys that were behind the garage, and any stick, bone, chunk of wood he can get his mouth around.  Friday morning I let him out to do his morning business and run.  I never thought twice about Michael, who is usually meticulous about this, leaving his custom 1987 Harley out over night.  Stewie had been out 20 min, and I headed back to the kitchen for a 2nd cup of coffee.  I just happened to glance out the window to see his head tugging on the other side of the Harley.  My heart DROPPED...I knew exactly what he was doing!!! I screamed "STEWIE...NO!!!" and ran for the door.  I got out there and omg....the leather seat!!! Michael was waiting on his feet when I came in...I was nearly shaking with fear...LOL I didn't want to tell him, but had to.  Sigh....it was NOT a pretty sight!!! He kicked Stewie (but got the table leg instead) and ran out.   So it was me and the dog in the dog house all day long. I'm still not quite sure how I figured into this, but I have an easy guilt complex and was more than happy to share the blame.

Good thing he had to leave for most of the day.  By the time he got home, he was still mad, but had cooled down some. The problem with the seat is, not only does it have a hole in it, but its custom made. Replacing it will be impossible, repairing will cost over $300.  I knew he was more forgiving when we went to bed, dog between us, and them having their late night tussle like always.  He even allowed Stewie to get in his lap for a brief moment.  Growly Harley rider he is, he's a softie deep down.  And Stewie was so ashamed, he actually sat still long enough for me to nip his dew claws...omg, those things were razor sharp!!!

The 4th was an uneasy day for poor Stewie...Mikey h ad a ton of fireworks and had been shooting them off and on all day.  Stewie spent that time cowering next to me, I don't believe my shadow was that close!!  I tried to act like it wasn't a big deal, according to the tips that came with him by dog trainers, but I just had to keep reassuring him that he wasn't going to get shot, and it wasn't Daddy that was making the noise.

One good thing from this week...he now lifts his leg like a big boy!!!  And his neutering appt has to be held off for a couple of months...I still want him neutered, he'll never miss them, but I think Michael is being a bit resistant to it.  I just want to make sure he doesn't roam as he gets older.

Well, having a dog is always an adventure, but you can't help it that your heart melts when they do something endearing, like tossing his plushy Harley Davidson bone over his head playing, or running at Indy 500 speeds from outside to the kitchen and skidding into the fridge...LOL  There's just something about a baby who is the size of a full grown husky!!!    

Okay, I just witnessed something that is so extremely RARE around here, it just felt like a miracle!! We've had a few showers here today, most cloudy and gloomy.  Well, the sun finally peeped his head out of the clouds, and the dog wanted out, so out we go. To my amazement, its actually RAINING...in the sunshine!! And on the side of the house where the sun isn't as bright, I could see the light reflecting off the raindrops as they fell. I just stood there with my mouth open.  I don't believe I've ever saw that before in my life! Yep, have seen it rain in the sunshine, but that too is rare.  SO that's put me in a better mood, for some reason.

My poor f lowers; I have moonflowers, batchelors buttons, zinnas, sweetpeas...and none are doing very well.  I think its the soil here.  I even used Miracle Grow potting soil to start them.  Once I moved them to the permanent place, they pouted...I hope they spruce it back up!!  Keeping Stewie out of them is the biggest problem. He loves to dig!!

I finished my book, "Lethal Legacy". It was really good. I started "Santa Claws" by Rita Mae Brown, but so far, its pretty boring.  She writes about animals, which I love, but these speak to each other and the dialogue is pretty juvenile, I think.  I need to go to my mom's and get my 3 huge boxes of books to bring here.  I miss my Stephen King and Patricia Cornwell!!!

Ok, I have had my last birthday!!! I turned 49 on Tuesday and have decided that's it...next year I will say I'm 48 again.  I know, age is just a number, but being half a century old is depressing!!!  I didn't mind 30; always thought that was the ideal age.  Didn't even mind 40 that much...but 50?? Auuugh!!!

I spent about 30 min yesterday playing tug of war with my dog, Stewie.  Ya gotta understand, Stewie is a Rottie mix, 6 months old, and already the size of a full grown Husky!!  He's HUGE!! But a very smart and loving dog.  I play tug of war because if I don't, he will put his huge paws on my keyboard to stop me from working...sigh.  Smart huh??  And since Mikey was at a friend's house yesterday/last nite, someone had to rescue him from boredom!!!  And he gets bored easily.  If not watched, he'll find something to chew on.  Michael has a skull from one of their Scottish Highland cattle that he wanted to place over the steps on the front of the house.  He left it on the deck, which was stupid.  I found Stewie had pulled the horn sheath off and was chewing it up.  Ewwww.....  I rescued the skull and parts, got it hung up, and wondered what would be next.  My question was answered an hour later...the garden hose.  I should have just turned it on and let him get a face full of water...LOL

I read every night before going to sleep, it relaxes me.  My latest book is "Lethal Legacy" by Linda Fairstein.  Pretty good book; I've read one of her others before. I like collecting books in a set once I've read one and liked it. I have ALL Sue Grafton's "ABC Series" with Kinsey Millhourn as the lead character. I love her style of writing!! I also have the entire set of "Dark Tower" by Stephen King (as well as all his others).  And I'm waiting on Patricia Cornwell's next installment of Kay Scarpetta series. 

Well, back to the salt mines of trying to get a dozen things done at once...