tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59375046838369141342024-03-13T11:01:35.105-05:00Just a Mommy BlogA Place To Think About Life, Love And Sometimes DogsMomma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-70323911924329037032008-08-07T15:44:00.003-05:002008-08-07T16:03:28.715-05:00Spring? CleaningI've been struck by the cleaning bug. I think it might be a tad bit late for actual spring cleaning, but hey, at least it is happening! Having clean counters and a gleaming sink makes me feel so good, right down to my toes.Now, if someone could come up with a good solution to crayon bits that have been ground into the hardwood. :\ I suspect that I am going to have to get a bit of metal (Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-52290268394353661762008-07-26T01:28:00.002-05:002008-07-26T02:16:12.718-05:00The Catch UpThis is likely to be a long post, so I'm warning you now to get a drink, go to the bathroom, maybe grab a snack... :DI am in love with my son. I always thought women who said the phrase "in love" in relation to their children were weird. Being "in love" is something else. But it's not. I realize this now. Lochlan and I, we know each other. We can sit together, his little legs on my belly, cold Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-29697515292758412702008-04-14T01:22:00.002-05:002008-04-14T01:57:57.232-05:00The One Where I Never StopI can't sleep, so I figured I'd post.Caayn and I took the troupe to the dog park today... Everyone except Artemis, who isn't very social and tends to spend her time barking insanely at all dogs and people. Much fun was had by all! We met up with Jimmy and Spartan. I took almost 300 pictures!! Hopefully I can get some photo editing done this week, so I can get around to uploading those and gettingMomma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-71558492748297462442008-04-10T17:05:00.002-05:002008-04-10T17:33:30.701-05:00w00t for Good Wi-Fi!I'm dog-sitting Spartan the Wonder Italian Greyhound. The guys are working 12 hour shifts again and I figured Spartan would enjoy getting to hang out at Camp Phoenix rather than being home alone for a long time. He gets here around 6am ish, and leaves around 7pm.He is so much fun! He's like renting a puppy, lol. And I really think it's good for everyone involved. Spartan gets to spend his day Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-52134655930452784472008-03-11T08:56:00.002-05:002008-03-11T08:59:18.412-05:00My Official GirlJust a super short entry right now... Athena is OFFICIALLY Straylight's Affinity In A Row! I got an e-mail from the AKC letting me know they got her paperwork. (Uhh yeah, I really did procrastinate that long...) We have a registration number and everything. I can't wait to go make an account on the AKC site, lol.Yippee!Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-68286551373914790832008-03-08T09:58:00.003-06:002008-03-08T10:15:32.458-06:00OMG A MEMETo be perfectly honest, I've been blogging over a year now and have managed to avoid doing any and all memes. I very nearly caved when Phoenix Says did the purse one (where you empty the contents of your purse and show it off, very interesting for pack rats!)... But this one is a book related type, and well, I just have to.This one comes from Patience:Rules:1. Grab the nearest book of 123 pages Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-62818615585539411072008-03-06T09:06:00.003-06:002008-03-06T09:14:56.270-06:00Deadly Plates!I forgot to mention this...Yesterday, Sully managed to drop a plate on his toe while trying to hand it to me. It didn't fall flat (that would be like buttered toast falling butter side up!), but with the edge directly at the base of his big toe toenail. He wailed! I snuggled him all up on the couch and thought that was that.He kept telling me his toe hurt, but I sort of just assumed that was him Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-87804519837482438402008-03-06T08:35:00.002-06:002008-03-06T08:51:58.095-06:00Congratulations Athena!Athena finished her basic obedience class! It's official. She is not very good at sit-stays (she wants to lay down), but she did manage to wait the full 2 minutes during the down-stay, getting up just as we were told to return to our dogs.As a fun little exercise at the end, we did heel-downs or something like that, where you walk around with the leash draped over your arm. The point is that yourMomma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-76935705113667863462008-03-05T08:22:00.003-06:002008-03-05T08:47:48.579-06:00AppointmentsI am procrastinating. What I should be doing is making appointments. Already this month we have 5? Shotgun training (mandatory class for Caayn), a sleep thing for Caayn because his surgery to correct his deviated septum appears to have not worked and he is still not feeling rested, a pre-op and then operation appointments for his big V, and Sully's dentist check-up.Sigh.I have to make two Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-33468961889174962732008-03-04T08:39:00.002-06:002008-03-04T08:55:42.616-06:00One More Hour in the Day Please!Geez am I having a tough time getting on here long enough to post an entry. Yesterday was the first time I managed to completely empty my inbox of new messages since coming back from St. Paul.I had my wisdom teeth out on the 15th. UGH. It was pretty scary sitting in the chair and having two women converge on either side of me and begin poking and messing with me (sticking oxygen tube thingies in Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-88862876325394877902008-02-14T14:42:00.002-06:002008-02-14T14:43:05.274-06:00The EndIf I had been alone in the car, I would have had the window down, and my podcast MUCH louder. (Surprisingly the podcasts are better for holding my attention, since I can just zone out singing along to music.) I was tired. Exhausted. Drained. Done. I'm weaving in the lanes, but figure hey, I'm still on the road... As we are nearing Bismarck I see a sign saying 83 South, this way. I have a moment Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-88411222614919608332008-02-14T14:42:00.001-06:002008-02-14T14:42:44.591-06:00The End of The MiddleAs a precursor to the whole Minnesota adventure, I had gone down to a Verizon kisok sort of thing here on base and added text messaging to our plan. So as I'm getting ready to leave Carol's, Jimmy texts me and says to make sure I do the Bismarck route we had discussed... where I stay on 94 all the way to Bismarck and then hang a right and go north on 83 the rest of the way home. I wrote back Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-55916049568382835502008-02-14T14:41:00.001-06:002008-02-14T14:41:45.649-06:00The Middle of The MiddleI haven't even mentioned Sue! Sue is a roommate at Carol's house. She has whippets too. I didn't catch her last name, or if I did I don't remember it, but what a funny gal, and very nice too. She showed me her whippet Wade... oh my goodness was he HUGE. He is over the height limit for the breed, standing at 22 3/4"... He looked like a yearling greyhound. It was just amazing.Monday was a mess. My Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-42798246574582600282008-02-14T14:40:00.001-06:002008-02-14T14:40:41.190-06:00The MiddleSunday was the match. Carol had me running circles around that ring forEVER! I'm so not in shape, lol. Athena was sort of just terrified out of her mind. A slight tremble to her, pulling on the leash any time we neared an exit, trying to hide under chairs or tables. Poor girl. I know I need to do more in socializing her with different places and situations, but there is just nowhere for that out Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-11408167444623592862008-02-14T12:49:00.003-06:002008-02-14T14:40:25.719-06:00The BeginningSo many things have happened this month, that I'm not sure where to begin this tale. At the beginning, I suppose, since that's usually the right place. I'm pretty sure this is going to be LONG... I'll probably break it up into more than one post, otherwise I'm likely to forget to finish up!The beginning of February found me busily preparing for my 500 mile, 8 hour long trip to St. Paul, MinnesotaMomma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-57087313851351680702008-02-02T05:40:00.000-06:002008-02-02T05:43:48.190-06:00See Ya!Well... we're off!Not -quite-, since I have to stop at Jimmy's for a special camera lens and then at WalMart because I forgot to buy something yesterday... :P but still. The car is all packed up. I'm running on about 4 hours of sleep. I have a pillow and some blankets in the car, for when I get tired and need to pull over. Which will probably happen.I've got a 12 pack of Red Bull, an Amp, and a Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-69801012007684495462008-01-29T08:46:00.000-06:002008-01-29T09:18:57.319-06:00Whose Bright Idea Was It To Settle In North Dakota?Just a little weather update.... last night the winds were over 40 mph. I think the temp was around 5 when I checked at 8... I'm probably off. Not sure what the wind chill was though. All I know is I bundled up to take Athena out and when I tossed her out (I always have to give her rear end a hoist because half way out her brain sends a signal saying the front is really cold and to abort mission.Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-62228554234300681872008-01-27T22:06:00.000-06:002008-01-27T22:23:12.218-06:00Achilles The Bad Karma BoyToday peaked at a whopping 45 degrees! The high for Tuesday is stated at being -12. What is up with the weather out here?!Since the weather made it over 40, I took the hounds out to the dog park. We met up with Jimmy and his new friend, Spartan, the italian greyhound. A good time was had by all. Athena just loves to get out there and run. She'll weave beside you, mere inches from your legs... Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-29713976676455264902008-01-24T13:39:00.000-06:002008-01-24T19:56:15.381-06:00Athena Rawks!Another obedience class has gone by. Athena did really good! It takes her to the end of the class to warm up to the situation. That's when she feels comfortable enough to start walking out further on the leash, sniffing other dogs and people. It seems to me like it might be considered 'bad etiquette' to let your dog walk up and sniff other dogs... whenever the other dog starts to sniff back, the Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-66876284554738844712008-01-16T17:40:00.000-06:002008-01-16T18:13:27.249-06:00Wisdom TeethI think I need a day planner/address book thingy. It seems like this year has kicked off with a bang so far; appointments left and right. Today I had an appointment with an oral surgeon. Apparently at my last dentist appointment, the x-rays showed that my wisdom teeth are really needing to come out. I've always planned on leaving them where they are because they hardly bother me. Only one ever Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-27838150153209638042008-01-11T00:03:00.000-06:002008-01-11T00:20:26.841-06:00First TimeYesterday night was the first of the obedience classes. That was a lot of fun! Athena was about as nervous as a dog could get though, poor thing. She kept trying to crawl under the chairs. We learned to have our dog in the heel position, and then to walk forward, then stop. When we stopped, the dogs had to sit. (Our homework for the week is to have the dogs sit without needing to be touched.) AndMomma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-165084323173452852008-01-06T22:49:00.000-06:002008-01-06T23:01:08.239-06:00Potty TalkOooh! Oooh! Oooh!Sully has reached a new milestone in his ever changing world of toddlerhood. Today he peed in the toilet. Of course, there were two accidents, one before and one after, but we don't care. He did it! It was so exciting. And since we made such a huge deal of it, he's now really excited about it too. The rest of the day he kept asking to go sit on the toilet. He didn't do anything Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-68413697780151755642008-01-05T12:44:00.000-06:002008-01-05T12:56:01.501-06:00Nike+iPodOoh! On a totally un-dog related note... Nike+iPod made a little widgety sort of thingy for blogs and such. I stuck mine on the blog... Don't laugh, I've only just figured out how to work the thing so it only has two walks recorded. Yes, I said walks. I'm so out of shape for running! A couple of "runs" back, I thought I had hooked it up right and did a lot of walking and actual running... but it Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-29125289126159101432008-01-05T12:09:00.001-06:002008-01-05T12:44:00.850-06:00Have I Said I Love Dogs?When I was little, we had dogs. Always had dogs. I suppose that is why we always have dogs now, too. We didn't have a lot of money. When my dad left, I was a month old. My mom chose to stay home with me and my 6 year old brother and to get on welfare. The house we lived in was through Section 8 (which I suppose is called HUD housing now? or something like that). She bred Australian Shepherds,. Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937504683836914134.post-5402316818950775202007-12-31T09:12:00.000-06:002007-12-31T11:25:09.175-06:00A New YearThe end of another year... It's weird how having kids seems to make them go so much faster. I spent this whole year having trouble with the idea that 1997 was 10 years ago. It seems like yesterday to me. 6 months from now Achilles will turn 4. My oldest son will be 3 in a few months. How did all of this happen?!I have never made a New Year's Resolution. Mostly because I know myself. I'm lazy and Momma Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08439529935166694382noreply@blogger.com3