Now That We Have A Dog . . .

Now that we have a dog . . .

. . . Our snowy backyard can take on the color of white with yellow polka dots - with a few chocolate chips thrown in for good measure.

. . . We no longer can run around the "circle" from our family room, living room, dining room, kitchen, and back to family room. Road blocks abound - not because our little "someone" goes potty anymore. No, thank Heaven, that's in the past. But she still persists in this one thing: she likes to chew. What kind of things does she chew? Easy - anything of value (or stinky).

. . . I have a shadow -- and I love it.

. . . We have a "protector" from nasty squirrels, foreign dogs, and Pepper (the bird in our kitchen.) Don't expect any special protection from people though - she loves anything on two legs without feathers.

. . . Someone is ALWAYS happy to see me come in the door.

No one likes a poor loser, Meridee

What is it about games? You know, the pleasure of winning one? And how about the feeling you get when you lose? Do you like being on both ends equally? Honestly. I love games - table games, especially, but there is a place in my heart I've noticed in the last year that I don't like when it comes to losing games. Apparently I have taken an unhealthy pleasure (read: pride) in winning board games on a regular basis. Lately though, I haven't been winning that much. In fact, I'm losing alot. What's going on? Am I brain dead from being a housewife? Time to update my resume.

Seriously though, I have this very ugly thing going on inside of me. If I lose too many times, there is an uncomfortableness that starts creeping up the inside of my gut. Almost a churning. I don't want to lose! I want to win! I can't lose! I've GOT to win. Ahhhhhhhh! Good grief! I know, I know. I shouldn't take it so seriously. It's just a game. I've got to be humble enough to lose. I know all that. I'm just being honest here. It ain't pretty is it?

Marley and Me

Jeff and I tried to see Valkyrie the other night but all the seats were taken. So instead of a WWII action film (I assume), we went to Marley and Me. I tell you, after having a little dog-friend of our own, this movie punched smack in the middle of our emotional buttons! It was a very enjoyable view of a ordinary married couple, with all their ups and downs - who nevertheless stay married. An old college friend of the husband pops in once in awhile. You see the contrast between this man, who lives for pleasure, going from one girl to the next, sacrificing relationship in the process, and the married couple, who have true relationship with each other and their kids. Theirs is at the price of dirty diapers, hard-to-get-a-shower-in motherhood, marital friction, and career changes. As they live their lives, Marley, a true puppy who loves to destroy, accompanies them through the years. He gives them unconditional love, but there is a sacrifice in having a relationship with Marley too, such as destroyed household items. We see relationship is worth the sacrifice. It was a good movie.

Parental warning: there are some scenes where you know the wife is nude and they're about to be intimate. I think the producers didn't need to handle it the way they did - it was much too "erotic" for a family movie. But nevertheless, it's worth seeing for two reasons: the much too rare portrayal of 1) a woman choosing to stay home and not look like a dummy in the process, and 2) a married couple who is committed and a dad who is not a dooffus (?)(spell-check didn't help me on this one).