I never got a blog posted last week!  I think I just got so busy and only worked on it sporadically.  Today, I plan to complete a blog for this week and last.Busy Weeks

During the week, I feel like I can’t think about anything but work.  I do a lot of planning in my head.  So I’m not doing it, I’m thinking about how it get done.  We have lots of things that need to get done between now and May.  I know who is doing the work now.  I just need to make sure that things get done and work the way I expect them to.  Luckily, I just don’t have to do it myself.

I don’t have to track either.  Beth, my PM, has her schedules and plans for getting things done.  I plan and she executes.  It’s a pretty good thing.  Without her, I wouldn’t be hanging in there.  I tell everyone we have to make Beth happy.  Thanks, Beth.

Rick’s Nineteenth Birthday

It was Rick’s birthday on Saturday, the 9th.  Nineteen years ago, we started on an adventure that continues today.  Everyone who has kids has their birth story for the kids.  We aren’t any different.

On March 9^th, I woke Rich up at 6:00 in the morning to take me to the hospital.  I let him take a shower first.  It had been a tough winter and the roads were really rough. Rich says I complained about the bumps in the road like he was hitting them on purpose.  We arrived intact.  Rick was born about 4 weeks early and after about 5 hours of labor.  He arrived very fast and very small at 5 lbs. 6 oz.  You wouldn’t know that to look at him now.

It was a good thing that we had discussed the name that we wanted.  I was not really capable when the clerk came up to get the information for the birth certificate.  Rich could have named Rick anything he wanted, even Zigmund Zelfried.  The clerk did check with me before she filed the paperwork, just to be sure.  I was glad to see that Rich didn’t try to slip one by me.  Richard Andrew as the name we agreed upon.

Birthday Celebration

On Saturday, Rick and some of his friends got together to celebrate his big day.  They first went bowling.  It was back to the house for snacks and pizza.  They were hanging out downstairs laughing, playing board games, and enjoying themselves.  Sascha went down from time to time to join in.  She was lying under the table as the kids played games.  She was trying to beg for food, I’m sure.

Then, it came time for cake.  We sang, “Happy Birthday” to Rick.  Sascha got all excited.  She has quickly learned that singing means she gets cake.  She dances and can’t wait for the plate.  Guinness was trying to figure it out.  Everyone, including the dogs, got cake.  It was white and chocolate marble from Herb’s Bakery.  I think even Guinness enjoyed the cake.

Furry Houseguest

Oh yeah, who is Guinness?  She is the dog for a friend.  Jay had to go to Vegas for training and teaching opportunity.  I had offered to watch Guinness so she wouldn’t have to spend time in a kennel.  Guinness is 13 and definitely an aged citizen with her white face these days.  She is very small and dainty.  However, Guinness sure tells Sascha what to do when she doesn’t like something.

On her first day, she is very cautious of everything and everyone.  But the second day, she is a little more comfortable.  By the end of the week, she was feeling more at home.  Guinness and Sascha were lying across the room from each other at the beginning of the week.  By today, they are only a few inches apart.

Guinness has even learned a few new things.  Going out here means getting to the back door and waiting to be connected to the lead.  She has learned to wait to be disconnected before she can go into the house.  Rich has included Guinness for the twist training sessions.  Sascha has twist done and is working on refining her moves.  Guinness is learning to go around for a bit of cheese.  She is a smart dog.

My Entourage

I’ve got an entourage these days.  Guinness follows me around the house wherever I go.  On the days I work at home, Sascha and Guinness are lying around the office while I work.  They move around the floor, but stay pretty close.  Now it’s the girls against the guys.  I’m going to miss my girl, Guinness, when she goes home.

Planning for Derby

We’ve started planning for the Derby Party.  Rich has to still brew beer.  It’s just been too cold to be out there playing water.  Hopefully, it’ll warm up soon and Rich can turn the tap outside on to get water.  We had planned on Wheat and Cherry Wheat beer.  We do have some microbrews in the frig, but it just wouldn’t be the same.  We’ll keep you updated on the beer.

The weather had better get warmer is all I can say.  Where is spring?  I know the winter has been terrible.  But I am so ready for warm weather and lots of sunshine.  I keep thinking it’ll be better soon, but the cold keeps hanging on.  By May 4, it’ll be warm, right?

Well, maybe it hasn’t been that busy over the past couple of weeks.  It just feels like it.  I’m hoping for a better week coming up.  Alas, it will mean that one member of my entourage will be going home.