College + Three Dogs

Me @ 16 w/ Puppy #1 

The great thing about going to college while living at home is, I don't have to leave my animals behind him. I've always had a puppy accompany to my college classes, and one at home as my pet. 

Can I tell you something? I love my dogs, I really do, but ...and I know you moms out their are cringing however as the oldest of six, I think I'm qualified to have some idea of this statement...

"Having Three dogs is like having kids." 
With the exception that they can't talk. Much.

I don't travel much.
I don't spend more than 8 hours away from my home,without checking or sending someone to check.
I can't just leave the house on a whim.
I feel guilty if I have leave again if I've just come home.
My life pretty much revolves around making sure they have proper amounts of exercise.
My paycheck revolves around food and care for them.

While I love all of my puppies, I do wonder sometimes, how I wound up with three of them, and day dream how easy life would be with only one.

I don't think I'd know what to do with myself.

Oh wait, I remember now, when I had two, I worked a dog daycare, so they just went to work with me, and I had no real how care for them, life was good.

And when I had 3-4, I also worked a dog friendly job.

Me @ Dog Daze Doggy Daycare

Enter job that they can't come too and then life gets a lot harder.

Today for instance, I had to get homework done, so I forced myself to put the dogs on the back burner, make sure they got outside to potty? Yes, made sure they were fed, watered, and had toys? Yes. But no long play/walk/training sessions UNTIL HOMEWORK IS DONE.

It wasn't easy since they don't deal with down time very well, (especially after just being crated for the last five hours)

So here I am, attempt to figure out Truth Tables, and I have a lab running in and out of the room because he's bored, a dachshund hopping on and off the bed, scuffling with the lab over various toys, another dachshund, whining at your elbow because you didn't give her the granola you were eating..

Yes there were moments where I just screamed in frustration, which only gave me a moments peace, as the dogs stopped what they were doing to peer at me curiously, before returning to their antics..

But I did it, and still had some daylight left to let them run around for a good 30 minutes or so.

I really wish I could resolve not to get another puppy until Summer of next year, but God knows I'm weak when it comes to puppy faces.

Sanity vs. Puppy Breath 

9 wk old Pompei in the snow

Sanity vs. Puppy Breath 

9 wk old Midnight on my lap

Sanity vs. Puppy Breath 

7wk old Rob (and Midnight's baby) in the grass

Aww who needs sanity. I've lasted without it this long!

College + Three Dogs

Me @ 16 w/ Puppy #1 

The great thing about going to college while living at home is, I don't have to leave my animals behind him. I've always had a puppy accompany to my college classes, and one at home as my pet. 

Can I tell you something? I love my dogs, I really do, but ...and I know you moms out their are cringing however as the oldest of six, I think I'm qualified to have some idea of this statement...

"Having Three dogs is like having kids." 
With the exception that they can't talk. Much.

I don't travel much.
I don't spend more than 8 hours away from my home,without checking or sending someone to check.
I can't just leave the house on a whim.
I feel guilty if I have leave again if I've just come home.
My life pretty much revolves around making sure they have proper amounts of exercise.
My paycheck revolves around food and care for them.

While I love all of my puppies, I do wonder sometimes, how I wound up with three of them, and day dream how easy life would be with only one.

I don't think I'd know what to do with myself.

Oh wait, I remember now, when I had two, I worked a dog daycare, so they just went to work with me, and I had no real how care for them, life was good.

And when I had 3-4, I also worked a dog friendly job.

Me @ Dog Daze Doggy Daycare

Enter job that they can't come too and then life gets a lot harder.

Today for instance, I had to get homework done, so I forced myself to put the dogs on the back burner, make sure they got outside to potty? Yes, made sure they were fed, watered, and had toys? Yes. But no long play/walk/training sessions UNTIL HOMEWORK IS DONE.

It wasn't easy since they don't deal with down time very well, (especially after just being crated for the last five hours)

So here I am, attempt to figure out Truth Tables, and I have a lab running in and out of the room because he's bored, a dachshund hopping on and off the bed, scuffling with the lab over various toys, another dachshund, whining at your elbow because you didn't give her the granola you were eating..

Yes there were moments where I just screamed in frustration, which only gave me a moments peace, as the dogs stopped what they were doing to peer at me curiously, before returning to their antics..

But I did it, and still had some daylight left to let them run around for a good 30 minutes or so.

I really wish I could resolve not to get another puppy until Summer of next year, but God knows I'm weak when it comes to puppy faces.

Sanity vs. Puppy Breath 

9 wk old Pompei in the snow

Sanity vs. Puppy Breath 

9 wk old Midnight on my lap

Sanity vs. Puppy Breath 

7wk old Rob (and Midnight's baby) in the grass

Aww who needs sanity. I've lasted without it this long!

First Day: Fall 2011

<Insert Sigh of Relief >

The Good:

Like all my teachers, have had two out of three instructors in the past and like them a lot!

I was on everyone's rosters which was a concern, as my financial aid hasn't come through yet.. 

New instructor is a very quirky, eccentric fun lady. 

"Halfway through the class Rob stands up and shakes off. The teacher stops talking...peers around and asks "is there anything else alive in here besides us?"

I only have to buy books for "1" class, the others are "optional"! 

All classes seem to fairly straight forward and "easy" 

Only quizzes/tests in 1 class! 

Have some old classmates in at least two of my classes

Having all classes in one
(two times a week) 

Not having to rush home and than to work after class is done, or vice versa!

Rob did AMAZINGLY through the entire day. 

The OK

Having some old classmates in one of my classes

The subject matter in one of the classes (very...Crass shall we say) 

All in all, I think this will be a good semester!

Perhaps we will try the 4.0 thing?

Ack. I'm already getting panicky.

Never Mind.

3.9 than.

That's better. 

:) 

Weekend Recap: May 21st

So lets rehash last weekend. That would be May 21st, I believe. Three of my childhood friends...frenemies had invited us back to NC to watch them graduate from high-school and to go white water rafting. I'd originally agreed to raft, but once I found out there were was a crowd going,and I'd be stuck in the middle of the boat, I decided that Rob and I could hang out on the shore. That and I'd have to convince my family to squeeze Rob in the car when they came over that evening for the graduation if I left him at home. That wasn't going to happen. 

So despite working all day Friday (12 hours) with Rob in tow mind you, and then going out with friends until 10ish..

the thought of getting up at 6:30am the next morning, simply so I could "chaperon" was NOT something I was looking forward too. 

Despite going to bed at 3:00am, I was pried myself out of bed and into some clothes by 6:50am. Did I sleep on the two hour trip over, you ask. Not hardly! My sixteen-year-old sister thought this would be a great time for her to practice driving, and there was no way I could relax enough to sleep during that experience! I will admit she's no a horrible driver...but still an inexperienced one....

Anyway...

We arrived safely and everyone loaded up and headed to the river. 

Rob and I hung out on the shore, soaked our toes in the icy river and sunbathed on the docks. When our peaceful respite was interrupted by 15 or so kayakers stopping to bail water, we hiked back to the car and attempted to find another people-less spot. Unfortunately it was not to be so Rob and I continued down to the "mid-way" point. 

Rob resting after his mad dash in the river

Once there, we heard that there had been an injury in one of the boats, and one the 12-year-old boys in our group was taken away by a Sheriff... the question then was, who would get him and what would be done about it. I Volunteered to go to the end and sit with him, until the rest of the group caught up, but it was decided that I should not only get him him, but take him home. 1.5 hours away. 

You can imagine I was thrilled, but I had opened my big mouth; so I loaded Rob up and flew to the end of the route. Once there, no one, knew anything, about anything. 

"Boy? Cut Hand? ....ummm.....Brian Have you heard anything about an injury? You say he was with our company?" 

Yeah. So I wound up making the trip all the back to the beginning of the river, just to find out that he'd been sent to an unknown Hospital. Since my entire group was on the river, getting in contact with them via cell phone was not going to happen; and the LAST thing I wanted to do, was be the one to break the news to his parents. *shudders* 

Somehow, someway everything worked out, we found out where he'd been taken and one of the parents in the group, loaded up their vehicle and flew to the Hospital, while the rest of us got some food and moseyed on back to town. 

The rest of the night was pretty much a blur, a nice blur, but a blur all the same... mainly because most of my attention was on my furry delinquent child, who was tired and pitching a fit every chance he could get. 

But congrats to Devin, Patrick and Willie!!! 

I apologize for my dog barking through some of your slide show. 

The Graduates. Fun thing about being home-schooled is you get to create your graduation

My word I really should stay out of the sun. I don't "tan" well apparently. 

Other peeps. Friends. Sisters. etc.. :) 

Peeps

Photos from the Week

I have nothing of great import to write about today. 

Disney Souvenir and Subject for my Metal Assignment in Studio Calss

Hence why I am bombarding you all with photos. I've sort of reached a plateau in my blogging experience, ha, with life in general at the moment. I'm placing the blame on the summer like weather we've had over the last couple of days. The warmth just cries out for me to be lazy and lay out in the sun. But then my homework will jump up and smack me in the face, for not using those valuable hours to get the afore mentioned things done. 

Rob laying quietly on his blanket while I worked on the above photo

 Its just soo hard to focus when the weather is sooo pretty! 

Rob waits patiently for me to produce a treat for him.

My sister Kristen 

Thank God we only have a few more weeks left!

Bubbles lounges in the grace with me. 

Daily Randomness By Erin

• Lebron James has an animation series!?!? #randomthingsfoundonYouTube 
• Rob just dumped his water bowl on the carpet. Thanks little dude. 
• Still recovering from my "wild" weekend of gardening. #aching 
• I'm probably about to do something I'll regret. 
• Ok so I decided to NOT do the thing I would probably have regretted later. 
• Cause they are! RT @aThumper Everything is changing. People are taking the comedians seriously and they consider the politicians as a joke. 
•  RT @GuidePupRob twitpic.com/4jpywc - all this training stuff sure tires a guy out! 

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From Twitter 04-06-2011

• Spent some time cuddling with my puppies before work. Had to pry myself out of the pile and make myself go to work.

• Also I want a Dr.Pepper #30daystillcaffeine #thiswaterdoesnotcutit
  
• Ha. Rob just wagged his tail in his sleep.. #amused #boredinclass
  

Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

A One-Sided Conversation..

Crab Apple tree in bloom

So...Hi...
How have you been..?
That's good.
Yeah so its been a while huh?
Have I fallen off the face of the earth?
{ha-ha}

No....I would have totally blogged about that from my phone at least.

What's going on with me? Um..well nothing much really, just living life you know?
...although my neighbors fighting all weekend, did provide a great source for entertainment... yeah one girl was screaming and fighting with her ..Grandfather? I don't know, freaked me out something bad. I was about to call the cops, but another male neighbor ran over to check things out, so I let him handle it. I don't know exactly what was happening but she kept screaming LET ME GO! So I didn't know if he was hurting her or what exactly. That was more scary than entertaining. Then the OTHER neighbors, were having a relationshipal (is that a word? You know what I mean) spat loudly at like 11:00pm...kind of amusing, since all I had to do is stick my head out ot he door and could hear every word as clear as if I was right beside their house. That would SO not have happened in my other middle class neighborhoods.

Yeah I did feel a little sorry for them to,but not much.

How's the weather? The sun's been out all week, so you know that makes me a happy girl. I love me some sun. I'm going to replenish my flip-flop supply tomorrow hopefully.

What happened? Um... well lets just say that we broke up. Literally.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Yeah it was Rob. I love his squishy face, but his teeth? Not so much.

Three month old Rob stares at the camera

Well, I would love to stay and chat, but I need to use the next four hours, to catch up on a weeks worth of homework.

Yeah, I kind of slacked off last week...something about knowing I had extra time just promoted me to be lazy.
I know its bad, thank you very much!



Oh! I almost forgot...hoepfully my 'rents and I will be going to look at a car this weekend. Pray!

Ok well I'll talk to you later!

See-Ya.

Done.

"....Friday, Friday, I can't believe its Friday, who knew the weekend would be here so soon, soon...Friday, Friday....".

Hey. If she can do it, I can too. :)

However, I'm soooo glad its Friday, this has been one of those weeks where I just felt stupid on multiple occasions on a daily basis. I'm blaming my spike in caffeine intake. Its "funny" but since I started drinking caffeine again, my food intake has once again decreased to MAYBE once a day. Again. I know its not good for me, but when you're not hungry you don't think about food. Not to mention how tired caffeine makes you...I don't think I've gone to bed before 12:00am in about two weeks. I'm seriously feeling it right about now.

Why isn't it summer yet?????

However, next week I'm weaning myself back off the addicting stuff. Mainly cause I'll be outta of cash/change. :D

I don't have much else to write about at the moment, well...technically I have a LOT but in an effort to respect other's privacy and to "not put everything on the internet" I won't. :) So you're left with this drab post! :)

I realize I haven't been posting many photos on this blog...um..so I decided to post these that I have taken for my studio still life class. I honestly didn't think I'd like it...but have been pleasantly surprised by my teacher and what we have to do!

Don't have anything overly exciting this weekend, trying to decided if Rob and I want to "road trip" to AVL this weekend for a puppy meeting or do the sensible/responsible thing and stay home and do homework.

We'll see.

Counting down the days until Summer Vaca!!!!  2 months +

TTFN!

Glass Bear with a blue and white Background: Canon Rebel xti; 50mm; Light Table, Two light setup, Blue Gel, 

Opaque Object: Oatmeal Lotion bottle surround by oatmeal. Canon Rebel xti; 50mm; One Light Medium Soft Box, ISO 100, f/4.0, 200 sec. 

Metal: Sony Alpha a200, 18-55mm, One Light, Light Tent, ISO 100, f/11, 160sec. 

Opaque Objects: Same as above