A Hike With The Chipster

The other day, I decided to take Chipper Poodle on a hike with me. We went to Spring Valley County Park, which is near our house.

At first, he wasn't so sure he liked hiking. (He is a poodle, you know.) He found very creative ways to get around the mud puddles and such. He was very excited when we passed two girls on horseback. (I think he wanted to take a ride too.)

This picture was taken right before he rolled in some horse poop. Nice.

We had a very good time after he got used to the whole nature thing. Several times he paused at a fallen log or bramble and looked up at me as if to say, "And what am I supposed to do now?!" But, he was a good sport. He managed to pee about 8,297 times on various and sundry trees. I was so proud!

Here he is being brave and going on ahead of me!

At one point, we had to cross the creek to get back to the main road. Chipper voted vehemently against this, but was denied. I went out into the middle of the creek, which was barely up to my shins, and he stood on the shore and was nervous.



But, I told him to "take it like a man" and he went for it! ....just dove right in!! He actually only had to swim for about 2 yards and then he could walk, but he was still very brave.


After that, we creek-walked for a little while, until we got up to the bridge and climbed up the bank to the road. He did have to endure some scrubbing while in the creek due to his frolic in the horse dung, but he took it well. All in all, a great time was had by all. I believe the Chipster may actually become farm poodle like his predecessor Erma Bee....





Here he is...only slightly annoyed at being forced to creek-walk with me.... :)

Livin' in the 90's

I just found this picture on my mom's computer. It's me, in 1990. I was thoroughly amused by it, and thought I'd throw it out there for some public humiliation. :)

Ugh

I wish I could just close my eyes tonight and wake up tomorrow as a slightly different person.

I could make a list right before I go to bed. You know, what I would like to change.... If only.

It's been one of those days where I love my life one minute and in the next, I am hating myself for something dumb that I did, or said, or thought.... I have an intense dislike for these days.

Lately, I have been having these -- well, we'll call them 'feelings' about a certain person.
I cannot understand them.
I cannot find a reason for them.
I wish they would go away.
I hate them.
I do not want them.
They really make no sense at all....I mean, NO SENSE!!! Yet, there they are.

The ping pong ball is going back and forth in my head again.
(That's a funny thought until you've experienced it - ha!)

It has been brought to my attention that, apparently, I begin almost all conversations with the word 'so.'

Um...is this a problem??

I think I do this because it's like I am continuing a previous conversation (even if there wasn't one). It seems to make things more personal to me.

I often have a hard time starting conversations...I don't know how to bring something up that I want to say or ask without sounding like a dork. So, I figure by adding the 'so,' it's kind of like easing into things. You know, give people a warning that I am about to speak. That way they can run, or plug their ears or something like that.

Who knows. I don't.

haha

In The Know: Is The Government Spying On Paranoid Schizophrenics Enough?

Boys

So, I met this boy who smelled so good that it made my heart skip a beat.

Too bad that not much else about him did that to me.

That's all I have to say about that.

Yes, No, Maybe

Sometimes I wonder why, as an intelligent person, I make such dumb decisions.

I will make a conscious, thought-out decision to do something, even though my mind is telling me that it is not the right thing to do. Perhaps this means I have a lack of will-power. Or, perhaps, it's just stupidity.

I imagine two beings in my head. One says, "You know that won't work. Don't even think about it anymore." But, the other one tells me to do it anyway..."Maybe it will work. You never know until you try!" They are constantly at war.

I try not to let my emotions make decisions for me. That's usually part of the problem though.

I wonder if other people spend as much time calculating what they will say as I do? Do they rehearse it in their head over and over, trying to imagine different outcomes? Or am I alone in the ability to spend great pieces of time imagining what might happen if I say this or that.

And, then there are the times I just blurt something out....while trying to be brave and confident. (These are not traits I inherently possess.) That usually just backfires and makes me feel like a complete idiot. But, every once in a great while, it works....which is why I never give up hope.

...just some random thoughts I had to let out of my head.

Telephonophobia

So, I read this today...

Telephonophobia.....Defined as "a persistent, abnormal, and unwarranted fear of telephones", each year this surprisingly common phobia causes countless people needless distress.

It can cause panic attacks and keep people apart from loved ones and business associates. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea, and overall feelings of dread, although everyone experiences telephonophobia in their own way and may have different symptoms........

Apparently, I am not the only freak in the world, if there is medical recognition for it. And, the symptoms?? Yea, I've pretty much experienced all of these.

Of all the afflictions and phobias, why this? I could deal with being afraid of heights, or water, or the #13, or birds, or any number of other things. But, why am I so traumatized when I need to use the phone?

Last week, I had to make several uncomfortable phone calls in a row and by the time I was done, my hands were shaking so bad, I could hardly write. Seriously.

It's odd, because answering the phone when it rings is not so bad. But, having to dial and wait while it rings and then speak when the person answers....I'm nervous just thinking about it.

Yea, I'm odd.