Over a month ago my sister Angie sent me a link that she saw on Craig’s List. It was for a doggie play date group in Troy. They have a group page thought this site called Meet Up. I looked into it and thought it might be something to take Abby to. This older couple in Troy have a very large fully fenced backyard and two large dogs. They got tired of having to go to dog parks so they created one in their backyard. You have to join their group (free of charge) and then you get all the information (this keeps weirdo’s from getting their address and such). Every second Saturday of the month they have two play date sessions. Today Abby and I headed out to the morning session. I was a excited and a little nervous. I have this fear of Abby getting loose and me not being able to get her back. But once we got there I saw that they had a two gate system for getting in and felt a little better for that. Once we got in and Abby let me get her off the leash the fun began. At first there weren’t too many dogs but more than Abby is used to. She began by roaming around getting the lay of the land. There was one smaller dog that Abby started picking on and they ran around for a little bit. Then more and more dogs were showing up and I think Abby got a little over whelmed. There were times when she would just stop and watch what was going on or go off by her self sniffing around. But she would always get back into the action. There were dogs of all sizes and breeds. There were a lot of other newcomers so I didn’t feel too out of place. I did talk with a few of the owners and everyone seemed nice. Abby had a good time running around and playing with other pups. She spent a good portion of the afternoon sleeping on the couch. We are planning on going back next month. However, it will be different next month. This is because it will be their 1 year birthday so they are having an open house style play date. Abby and I will stop in for a bit as long as things don’t get too over whelming for her. I think the more we go the more comfortable she (and I) will get.

Today my puppy, Abigail Merlot, turns three. I can’t believe how quickly time has passed. It seems like only yesterday that I was picking up this 12 week old puppy from my brothers house. At that time she was so small and skinny that I would carry her on my shoulder. I kind of miss those days but I am glad she learned how to get up and down the stairs… there is no way I could carry her now that she is over 50 pounds! Abby is such a good dog. I wish I could keep some of her DNA and have clone after clone of her. But then again, I wouldn’t want a dog obsessed with pizza (like in the movie Multiplicity). I also believe that Abby has the spirits of dogs pasted with her. Go ahead and laugh if you want but I do believe that white “orbs” in photographs are spirits caught on film (or memory card). In a lot of pictures of Abby she has two to four “orbs” with her. I like to believe that they are Nicky, Cookie, Murray and Jo-Jo. So Happy Birthday my puppy.

So it’s been a little bit since my last post…. I know you have probably read this before! Well a few things have happened since then so I will fill you in on them.

School…

I have been out of school for a while now. I got an A in my last class, which I really enjoyed. I currently am waiting to hear back from the director of the new program I am in. I just declared a new (second) major and they went and changed the program around. So I have a few questions that I was hopping to get answered before I register for the next semester (which is July 1st). But I think I have figured out things on my own and will be signing up for one class. I am now in the media and communication arts program in the photography specialty… so beware that I will be trying to take more photos at family gatherings and such.

Work…

At the end of May (the 31st) I finished my eighth year at DSI. I can’t believe how fast the last eight years have gone by. Just before my anniversary date, I was told by the H.R. Manager that the “big guy” wanted to know what his “key players” plans were for the near and far future. I guess I am one of those players because I was told to type up my goals for my job, what I liked/disliked about my current position and my goals for myself and the company for the next few years at least. After thinking about it for a little bit I came to the conclusion that I am pretty happy here but would like to get more involved with the marketing aspect of the company. So I typed up my document and discussed it with the H.R. Manager. Well it seems that management really does listen. I have already been handed a small project of gathering information for a promotional idea we are working on. I was also just informed that I will be assisting with the design of a booth for our salesmen to use at trade shows. I have also been working on a few pages to update our web site. I was also told to look for a better camera for myself at work. He has also been talking about having me spend some time with the professional photographer that we have used to learn a few things from him. I am very excited about this possibility. As I mentioned above I am in the photography specialty and my next class will be introduction to photography. If I get to work with this guy it could really help not only at work but also at school and maybe make a good connection to use in the future… you never know. The boss also told me to look for a video camera so that I can go along with our technicians and video record the job to use on the web site and at trade shows. So unless something unexpected happens I think I will be at DSI for quite a while still.

Life in General…

I am now just a few days away from leaving for Boston. I really can’t wait. I know I have been driving people crazy by talking so much about the trip. There are so many things that Cris and I want to do while we are there. Like I have said before I am going to try to blog every day while on vacation. I will even try to post a few pictures along the way. We are sure to have plenty of pictures to pick from. Both Cris and I will have digital cameras, plus I now have a small digital video camera to use. Snapfish is really going to love me in the next few weeks.

Abby is about to turn three (as far as I can tell her birthday is July 3). I can’t believe that she has been with me for almost three years… I didn’t get her until September. She has been such a great dog. She is super cuddly and extremely good with kids. Almost every day when I take her for a walk kids flock to her. Kids I don’t even know seem to know her. And I have to say I am pretty impressed with how many of the kids ask if they can pet her before they touch her. I have also noticed that she is more protective of me and the house. She has been barking more but only when she sees someone she isn’t really familiar with.

Well I think that is enough for now. I am sure more things have happened but I really can’t think of anything else worth mentioning. Until next time…

Today Abby and I went shopping… and not just to the pet store. A new mall, Partridge Creek, opened up on Hall Road. It is an outdoor mall and is dog friendly. There are quite a few stores that allow dogs inside. Since it was so nice out today I figured Abby and I would check it out and see how she would handle it. I am very happy to report that she was a very good dog and will be going back again. She, as usual, made a lot of new friends. We went to a store called The Three Dog Barkery, to get a few treats for her. One of the guys working there seemed to really like her and kept petting her. Then we moved on to other stores and people kept wanting to pet her and were saying she what a good dog she was. There were even a few stored that Abby seemed interested in going into but there weren’t somewhere I wanted to go or they weren’t dog friendly stored… I think she is a little shopper at heart! It is nice to have somewhere to take Abby where I can get some shopping done too.

Last year sometime I was told about this website called Dogster, which is like a Myspace for dogs. I figured what the heck and made a profile for Abby. I haven’t been to her page in quite some time but I get emails from them from time to time. Well the other week I got an email that was titled “What Dog Breed Are You?”. It sparked my interest and I took the quiz to see what kind of breed I was. Well it turns out that I am a golden retriever (Molson will be happy to here there is another one in the family!). Following is the description of the golden retriever.

Laid-back, sociable and well-groomed, you’ve got your own hip little pack of groupies who just love to be around you. You have a brain inside that adorable little head of yours, though you use it mostly to organize your hectic social calendar. You never poop out at parties, and since you’re popular with ladies and men, as well as children and adults, you dish out your wit, charm and luck to whomever is close enough to bask in it. The top dog likes you and wants to be your best friend, despite the fact that he doesn’t really know what the heck you do. No one does, in fact, but everyone loves you all the same. A true foodie, you’ve got your keen ears fine-tuned to make sure you don’t miss out on the opening of a trendy new place to nosh. But your youthful days of being able to wolf down food 24-7 are wagging behind you, meaning you’ve got to watch what you eat so you don’t pull a Brando and outgrow your coats.

Click HERE to take the test yourself. And please let me know what breed you are… just leave it in the comments.

Here are the answers to the questions people asked me. This are only my opinions and I do not mean to offend anyone.

1. Why is orange your favorite color?

I’m not really sure when it really started but shortly after high school (which my school colors were orange and black) I was just drawn toward orange colored things. Then it helped that when I became a NASCAR fan I started to lean toward Tony Stewart. Also orange goes well with the other colors I really like which are blue and purple.

2. What is your favorite 80’s or classic rock song right now?

I would have to say that my favorite classic rock song right now is Fooling by Def Leppard. Though in a close second would be Carrying On My Wayward Son by Kansas and Renegade by Styx.

3. Out of all the concerts we have seen together what one is your favorite?

I would have to say that it is a tie between the John Mayer concert (even though we ended up leaving early due to Sheryl Crow) and the Styx/Def Leppard concert.

4. Why did you choose multi-media for you major and public relations for you minor?

Well that really isn’t the case. The multi-media program is kind of a stepping stone to the public relations program. Though I will not be going into the public relations program. I have decided to go more into the media and communication arts. The next degree I will be going for is heavily base in photography.

5. When do you think you are going to graduate college with your first degree?

I am hopping to be done with this degree no later than the fall semester of the 2008, which means I am hopping to be done in one or two more semesters.

6. What game is your favorite to play?

Well my favorite board game would be monopoly, my favorite computer game would be rocket mania or secrets of olympus.

1. Who will win the 2008 Daytona 500?

Ok just to be crazy I will say JJ Yeley.

2. I asked you this last time, but maybe your answered has changed) Who will win the Winston/Nextel/Sprint Cup in 2008?

I believe that I said Reed Sorenson and I am going to stick with it. I really see him as an up and coming star of NASCAR

3. How do you think the Red Wings will fair in the next season?

Well I am not really sure. It is no secret that I am not happy about the goalie situation. I think the wings need to get a few big rough guys to go with the finesse of Zetterberg and Datsyuk. I am hopping that they make it thru at least the second round of the playoffs.

4. Early yet, but who do you think will win the Stanley Cup in 2008?

Of course I want to say the wings but I am going to say Nashville.

5. How many pairs of jeans do you own and why that number?

I have 10 pairs of jeans. I have four that I wear most of the time plus a few that are different sizes (which is a woman thing I guess).

6. Have you ever bought men’s clothing for yourself to wear?

Yes. Most, if not all, of my sweatshirts are men’s. That way the are bigger and cozier. I also have some long sleeve t-shirts and short sleeve t-shirts that are men’s.

7. What are your top five albums currently? (I know this answer probably changes from month to month, that why I added “currently”)

#1 Fall Out Boy - Infinity on High

8. What are you top five movies currently?

#1 Time to Kill

9. Who is your favorite actor?

Well there are a lot of actors that I really like and looks have a lot to do with it. But as far as who I think is a good actor I would have to stick with some of the oldie but goodies such as Tom Hanks, George Clooney and Matthew McConaughey.

10. Who is your favorite actress?

Sandra Bullock, Reese Witherspoon and Amanda Bynes.

11. Do you have a favorite TV show that is currently on the air?

Yes…Supernatural, Heroes, CSI:NY and America’s Next Top Model

12. Is there a TV show that is off the air and that you really miss?

This will be the first season without it but I will greatly miss Gilmore Girls. I also miss Will and Grace.

13. Do you think the Tigers can make it back to the World Series?

Given their recent slump I have a fear that they may not. But if this years team is anything like last year they will pull a few surprises once the playoff start.

14. Are you holding out hope that you won’t find out if Harry Potter lives or dies in the last book so you can see the movies without knowing the ending, or do you just not care?

I don’t really care. I never got into the Harry Potter thing. I haven’t read any of the books or seen any of the movies.

15. What was the last book of fiction you read?

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich. I am currently reading Mary Mary by James Patterson.

16. Was there a book that you had to read for school that turned out being something you really enjoyed?

I can’t think of one. Though I watched 1776 in seventh grade and it is one of my favorite movies to this day.

17. If you played on a sports team and had any choice of uniform number, what would it be and why?

I would pick 7 or 8. I am not sure why but these numbers seem to be lucky and happen to pop up a lot in my life.

18. If you could change you first name, what would you change it to?

I have always wanted a more unique name. After being in my fifth grade class room where there were five Jennifers in the room. I am not sure what I would change it to… maybe something like Bailey or Avery.

19. Do you like the idea of couples naming a son after the husband (meaning a junior or further down the line if applicable?)

I am undecided on this issue. I understand a father wanting his son to carry on not only the family name but also his name. Then on the other hand I think the child should have his own identity. One thing I don’t understand is when parents have one son and give him some name then name their second son after the father.

20. What was the last movie you saw in the theater?

I think the last movie I saw in the theater was Step Up like forever ago.

21. Is there a movie that is currently playing that you just absolutely MUST see?

There isn’t one that I absolutely HAVE to see, but there are a few that I would like to see… The Bourne Ultimatum, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Oceans Thirteen, and Knocked Up.

22. What is your general opinion of Barry Bonds?

I don’t really have an opinion of him. Let him have it for the few years he will have the title. But then A-Rod will pass him and his light will go out. We will never really know what happened through out his career and people will talk about it until the end of time (Pete Rose anyone?).

23. Why is the sky blue, the leaves of trees green, and chicken feathers white? OK, just kidding. Well, not really, why do are these things the color they are?

This has to do with light waves and how much of a light wave an object absorbs or reflects. Or something along those line.

24. Are things between you and Jeremy getting close again?

No we are just going to be friends. Due to distance and other things it is just too hard to have a relationship so we have decided to just be friends.

1. Did you consider any one particular teacher a big influence in your life?

I don’t think any teacher was really and influence. No one made me say “wow that is what I want to do with my life”. However, there are some teachers that made a impact on my life that I will always remember. Those teachers would be Mrs. Cain, Mr. DeFusco, Mr. Errante, and Mr. Cross.

2. What one place in the world would you want to visit for three months, other than the USA?

I would really like to go to England. That is one place I would like to spend some time at and not just a quick vacation. A second choice would be Poland.

3. If you could live any where in the USA other than Michigan, where would it be?

Well I haven’t been too many places in the US to really know of a place I would like to live. Though I wouldn’t mind trying out the east coast. If it wasn’t so expensive to live in New York City I think that would be pretty cool.

4. What is your idea of the perfect way to spend ONE DAY, if all expenses were paid?

I would wake up in a hotel suite in New York City (maybe the penthouse suite at On the Avenue Hotel) and have breakfast in bed. Of course Abby would be with me. Then we would go down and take a walk though Central Park. After getting back to the hotel I would drop Abby off at the dog spa (which I don’t think the hotel has but hey this is my day). Then I would go and do plenty of shopping and grab lunch along the way at the Hard Rock. Then I would go see some of the sites (getting souvenirs along the way). After all of that I would get dinner at some nice restaurant then go see a play. After that I would go back to the suite and Abby would be there waiting for me. We would curl up in bed watch some TV then fall asleep and wake up back in our bed in Michigan.

5. Is there any politician, past or present, that you especially admire?

Well I have been fond of John Adams. We truly have him to thank for our independence.

Today was my last day of class.  I am now off for the summer.  It will be nice to have a few months off without having to do homework.  I’m not sure my puppy will do what to do with me on Tuesday nights. 

Well last week we had a small taste of spring here in Michigan. I think it spoiled me. I am so ready for spring and summer. And I think Abby is ready for it too. I got to take her for a walk last week and we even went for one today (though it was colder than I thought outside). And she liked being able to go out more and be out longer. But another reason that I want the warmer weather is so that during the day Abby can run around outside with my nephew Braylen and be tired out when I get home from work or school. I know that my sister-in-law Jodi is also looking forward to the warmer temperatures so that Braylen can run around and use up some of his energy. He and Abby are so cute together…. I think they are kindred sprits. Abby gets so excited when he gets to the house in the morning and usually Braylen is yelling down stairs for her before I can get the door open so Abby can go up and see him.