The weather outside is frightful

Yet, life is so delightful!
The back is on the mend. I finally got a doc to listen and do some tests. I am now in my third week or PT and feeling better every day. I have way too much to do this month to be stuck in bed in pain.
Lots going on here on the hillside... we've had snow more than once and it is the most beautiful place to witness the flakes falling. When it snows, I head outside and it's tough to bring myself to go back in at all. I'll be cold and wet and smiling as long as the snow falls. Now, it's just freezing cold and no fun at all. Everything is ice this morning and the weeks weather is cold cold cold with no sign of snow. Boooooo.
The mountain is open now and on the first night the boys went, D fell backwards and smashed his helmet. Cracked the thing open and a broke a chunk right off! Yes, but it wasn't his head. Thank you, helmet! I would much rather have a broken helmet then a broken boy. Helmets save lives!
Ice hockey has also begun, and the driving and craziness of it all has already started. If I ever win the lottery, I am building an ice rink in the district! (preferably right down the street from my house!)
And, if we didn't already have enough going on, I signed on to American Bulldog Rescue to volunteer and be a foster home for needy AB's. The thought of just one of those giant sweethearts being put to death because there's no room in the shelter and the family they once knew can no longer care for them... well, it was just too much for me to handle without doing something.
It's December and I'm feeling good. I'm not stressed out over the upcoming holiday. I'm not stressed about money. Granted, I could always use more, but, we have a roof over our head and food in our bellies. We have love and warmth and a damn good life. Anything more is just a bonus.

paranoid

My back hurts. A lot. More and more each time, in intervals of monthly to twice monthly. 14 days out of 30 last month. What the hell is it? Four...is it five? years ago, the new PCP listens and says "sounds like sciatica, here's some muscle relaxer." No x-ray. No follow up. Here's some pills, see ya, goodbye. It's all these years later and it's not going away and I don't want to take any more muscle relaxers, they don't work, except to knock me out so that I don't feel ANYTHING for a couple hours. I am hunched over and it hurts to sit and stand. The only thing that feels good is to be on my back with one knee bent. This is not an option.
Calling doc tomorrow.

The lady with the little hat

Or the little lady with the hat... it's been forgotten!
My little man invited me to the Halloween Parade at his school yesterday. I love seeing his face, seeing him with his friends. He was strutting around the field like an almost 10 year old boy does. Parents are happily clicking away to keep building that scrapbook. Princesses, devils, Darth, Stromtroopers, Luigi (my personal fave), cheerleaders... No candy. No party games. Just a double around the school track and a photo op at the end. Sign em out, bring em home.
This is Halloween? This is what you guys will do with an hour to celebrate a long standing tradition? Why bother to do anything at all?
I feel bad, because I thought the whole thing was stupid. Am I a party pooper or was this no party at all?

Gentle leader

http://www.buygentleleader.com/View.aspx?page=dogs/products/behavior/gentleleader/description

Best product ever to stop a dog from pulling on the leash without digging spikes into their neck.

I will let you know, however, that this product only works if you use it. Don't be swayed by sad eyes and head shaking at first. This ingenius invention makes walks with my muscle machine dog a joy. It is a strap over the snout and it is tethered so that if the dog pulls, their chin is pulled gently down to their chest. Sounds crazy? Works like a charm.

I did not get paid to say this, I bought mine on the advice of my vet when I had Ginger and it was 25 bucks well spent.

It's raining everything but money

The sky is falling! Duck! There's two cars and a house and growing boys and the fuel it takes to keep them all alive and moving, full speed. This struggle isn't very fun and who said it would be, anyway? My parents warned me that this was going to be tough. I laughed at them with a teenaged heart and unknowing soul. I will live an amazing life and it will be nothing but fun and laughter! Wasn't I just so silly in my youth? Oh, yes... and, although it comforts me to say that everyone was so silly as I, I know the truth. Not everyone has a carefree easy childhood that would allow them to be so foolish in their heart about the realities of life. Sixteen years are gone and there have been so many lessons learned. Such strong pains that, when recalled, the same burn comes back for a moment to remind you of the hurt you once felt. Luckily, it's fleeting. Let is go. There are plenty of smiles to be brought back, as well. Those are the things to hold onto. The shining moments. The good stuff.
A lot of death lately... of course, I would know none of it if I did not have a facebook account. There is an old high school friend of mine there that is the local beacon of news and information. And another old friend from the burg. I don't read that newspaper or visit those places, so I am otherwise uninformed. I kind of wish I was and have thought of cancelling my fb account just to escape it! Too many people in my age group dying. It makes me think about my own mortality and I don't like that. That's how you get a somber and serious blog like this one.

My Big Mouth

Why on earth was I born with so much to say? I try to be quiet and make sure every word is important, but ,the truth is, it's a losing battle. I talk. A lot. Just ask the poor dog who has to listen to me rant and rave. God forbid I hear something on the radio that I disagree with... I will talk back to the speakers in the car... I would tell me to shut up. And all kinds of other stuff.
This is why I write. Well, one of the reasons. There are as many reasons to wirte as there are not to. What kind of brain is that to have?

My pen was broken

I couldn't find any paper. My dog ate my hand. I have excuses for days why I haven't been writing. This morning, after reading someone elses blog, I decided that I was going to write something, anything, just write. So, here I am, with the laptop battery flashing yellow. Hurry!
Life is good. There are the usual trials and tribulations. Cars break, cel phones get washed. sashimi gets eaten, pies are baked. Take the good with the bad and never let it get you down.
The new pup is adjusting to life with our family. She fits like a glove and brings a lot of love and snuggle. She's so sweet and was quick to turn everyone soft for her. Even the 16 year old. It's great to watch.
We've been doing a lot of walking the country roads all around us. Staying out of the woods for hunting season, but there is no shortage of dirt road to visit. Last weekend, two deer ran across the road in front of us. Ear to ear smiles. Fresh air. Ahhhhhh