Happy New Year!!!

As promised here are some pictures of our trip to Mississippi for Christmas. I am happy to say we are not doing anything tonight. We were invited to our neighbor's house (who live across the street), but we have declined the invite because I am not feeling particularly well. We must be the rudest neighbors ever... it doesn't take much to walk across the street and talk for a short while. I guess this means we won't get to check out their new Porche 911 tonight. Personal goals for 2009 include 1) give more to others; 2) compete with Bailey in the obedience ring; 3) get a new computer 4) finish wedding scrapbook; 5) improve overall physical strength

The photos from Mississippi include a picture of Kameron & Drew (Joseph's niece & nephew) and a picture of Ella taken at Bonita Lakes Park, in Meridian, MS.

Our Christmas & my 34th birthday

Joseph and I made it to and back home from Mississippi safely. We celebrated my birthday and Christmas with his family. We spent a lot of time with his nephew, Drew, niece, Kameron, and his mother. At my request we saw the movie, Marley and Me, on my birthday. Great movie and great message, but sad ending. Will post pictures soon.

Bonnaroo 2009

Phish is scheduled to headline Bonnaroo 2 nights this year. I am so excited. Bruce Springsteen is rumored to be playing the last night. What a lineup!!! My grandmother is a Bruce Springsteen fan...I wonder if we could get her to go to Bonnaroo with us!

Before and After

I previously mentioned I cut my hair 12 inches. Here is a before and after photo. the "after" photo was taken to exemplify my dad's ability to lend people mismatched socks 100% of the time. While in Florida I borrowed a pair of black socks from my dad....he gave me 2 mismatched socks. Joseph also borrowed socks from my dad, seven months ago, on our wedding day. He was also given mismatched black socks to wear. Go dad!

Kiawah Island Marathon Photo

Here is a picture of Joseph running the Kiawah Island Marathon. He is just about to cross the finish line. Thanks to Angela Locke for taking the picture. I would have been in deep "do do" had she not taken this shot.... I didn't get a single picture of Joseph running because I was his support person. To me, it was more important to be ready with water and fuel than be ready with my camera....and I couldn't possibly multi-task on this important day!

Riverside Middle School, Greenville, SC

Our neighbor, Jamie, plays basketball for Riverside Middle School, who is currently undefeated. She is an eighth grader on the team. I went to watch Jamie's game last night. I cannot imagine how my dad coached my brothers and I all those years. How could he contain himself when the ref made a bad call?... I would lose control, swear out loud, and just be a totally bad example for the kids. And how did he keep his cool when his player missed any easy basket/shot/play? I've decided that I can NEVER coach a sport. I'll yell at the kids and yell at myself for yelling at the kids. I'll stick to being a spectator. ... Anyhow, here is a video of Jamie throwing and making two free throws. Lucky for her she made the shots and I didn't have to yell at her!!!!..... I love you Jamie :)

Trip to Venice, Florida

Joseph and I headed down to Venice, Florida to visit my dad and his wife, Karen last week. Joseph beat my dad in golf and I got my hair cut. Karen cut my hair for "Locks of Love". I donated 10 inches of hair to help make wigs for children who lose their hair while undergoing chemotherapy. It's a great cause and I'm glad I could help out. My shorter hair feels great and is just long enough to pull back in a tiny ponytail. Joseph prefers the longer hair, but what guy doesn't prefer long hair on a woman? Even my dad didn't want me to cut my hair... the cause won!!! While in Florida we got to see my Aunt Lois and Uncle Will, who also retired in Venice. Joseph and I had soooooo much fun seeing them. It was great to hear about their trip to Portland, Oregon to cheer on my cousin's daughter, Mackenzie, in the Nike Cross County Championships. We really enjoyed our "dog" chatter and sharing our love for Ceasar Milan (The Dog Whisperer). You guys (and Charlie) are welcome at our dog palace anytime.


Joseph and I flew on a new airline down to Clearwater/St. Petersburg, FL airport. We flew Allegiant Air. The plane was clean and the seats were wide and offered lots of leg room. We flew round trip for $192 for the two of us, from Greenville, SC. If anyone is looking for a good deal on a flight that lands in smaller airports check out www.allegiantair.com. and if you need guidance on how to book your flight without adding extra fees feel free to call us.

My dad and Karen were great hosts. We enjoyed Venice and had a nice break from the responsibilities of caring for 4 dogs. It's amazing how much less dog hair one has on her clothes when she is in a house without pets!!!

John Legend Concert

Joseph and i went to the John Legend concert last night at the Peace Center, in Greenville. Thanks to Joseph we had VERY GOOD seats: 4th row behind the tiny orchestra section. Oh my gosh. What a great concert. "John" exceeded my expectations. He showed off his wide vocal range and his fabulous piano skills. One lucky lady got to "slow dance" with John. I was soooo jealous. I can't say enough positive things about John Legend...If you have the opportunity to see him in concert, do it. And, if you can splurge, buy tickets that get you as close to the stage as possible. It was awesome to see the sweat dripping from John's face and to be close enough to think he was singing directly to me (and not the fat a*s near me)... It was just GREAT!

Track Star- Mackenzie Carter

My cousin's daughter, Mackenzie Carter, was recently on the cover of Running Times Magazine as a member of the Manlius (NY) High School Cross Country team. She again appears on Running Times website and on various others. Her team just won the National Champaionships in Portland, Oregon. Go Manius!!

Weekend with Manlius : Finals : 2008 NXN : DyeStat US: News about High School Track, Field, and Cross Country | DyeStat.com

Boston Qualifier!!!

Joseph ran the Kiawah Marathon this weekend and qualified for the Boston Marathon. His time was 3 hours 14 minutes. Go Joseph!!! We spent the weekend in Kiawah with our friends, Angela and Ron Locke, along with their daughters, Kelsey and Rebecca. We saw the Telligman's (Jess, Avery, and their "son", Fletcher, and "daughter", Daisy, who stayed on Seabrook Island. We had a really good time seeing all of our friends and wish we could see them more often. Today was Ron and Angela's 12th year wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary R & A !!

Pilots N Paws

I friend from Chessie Rescue passed along an article and info on an organization called, Pilots N Paws. Pilots who own their own planes are getting involved in pet transport with animal rescue groups all over the country. As a volunteer for chessie rescue the hardest task is to set up transportation for a dog. Miraculously, I was part of a 3-leg transport for a dog traveling from SC to Maine. This rarely happens. Now, what can sometimes turn into a 24+ hour transport for a dog can be just a couple of hours. This results in less stress for the animal. If any one out there is a pilot or knows pilots with their own planes, please encourage them to get involved.

http://pilotsnpaws.org/

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-11-25-pilots

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

I just got back from a quick trip to Baltimore. I met up with my long time friends, Leslie, Alan, Amelia, and Nathan Wyatt (from Chapel Hill) and saw Nathan sing the lead role (on opening night) in an opera performed by Peabody students. As an undergraduate student Nathan out performed upper classmen and graduate students to get the part. Peabody is one of the top music schools in the country and is part of John Hopkins University. While in Baltimore I met up with my graduate school roommate, Jen Allen, and her husband Terry. We ate dinner at a place called Rocket to Venus. If you like brussel sprouts and are ever in the Baltimore/Towson area go to Rocket to Venus. This place is known for their brussel sprouts.... I have to agree, that place truly has the best brussel sprouts on earth. The pictures are of Nathan and me outside the Towson mall and me with Jen and Terry Allen. FYI- Jen's maiden name is Allen. She coincidently married her husband who is Terry Allen, so she became Jen Allen Allen 5 years ago :)

Two New Favorite Restaurants

I highly recommend eating at Chicora Alley, in Greenville, SC and at 12 Bones, in Asheville, NC. My mouth literally waters every time I think of 12 Bones. Their pulled chicken sandwich is awesome. Chicora Alley has great sweet potato french fries (a tie with pizza for my favorite food) and fish tacos.

Our camping trip... didn't happen

My group of friends and I never made it camping this weekend. One person canceled because of illness and another canceled because she believed the weatherman and didn't want to risk getting wet from rain....The other woman had packed and unpacked her car twice and wasn't willing to pack it up again once the rain subsided (by 9:30am)... so I packed up all my stuff with every intention to spend the night in Davidson Campground (for safety: a supervised, gated campground with facilities) and day hike in Pisgah National Forest. An hour into my drive up north I encountered a roadblock. A telephone poll had fallen in the road and the power company was working to fix it... I was obviously not meant to be in Pisgah National Forest this weekend. I turned around and headed over to Jones Gap State Park, 15 minutes away. Upon arriving at Jones Gap I had to wait to get into the park. The parking lot was full and the only way to get in was to wait until another car left. Fortunately I was only 2nd in line and got in within 10 minutes of waiting. After a frustrating morning, Bailey, Ella, and I managed to get a few miles of hiking in.

Upcoming Camping Trip

I am heading back into the woods this weekend with three friends, all female. Initially, we planned to hike a 14 mile section of the A.T. (Carvers Gap to 19E), over two days & one night. Over the last few months our plans have altered a bit. We are now "car camping" in Pisgah National Forest (NC) and one of the girls is bringing an inflatable mattress. This is simply hilarious to me. When one goes into the woods the comforts of home should stay at home. Perhaps we may never step foot on any trail because we'll spend all day unpacking each other's crap. I, however, will be true to my ways and will pack sensibly.

My wish for the spring is to have an all-women's backpacking trip (one or two nights), so if any of you are interested, let me know. We will be staying in the woods and will be eating dehydrated food and will be carrying all of our supplies.... Car Camping is NOT allowed. Friendly dogs are welcome.

Bailey's Boyfriends

It seems as though Bailey has had a lot on her mind these days. She dreams of winning an obedience competition and getting her CD, and also dreams about two fellow classmates, Gris-Sel and Kizer, two long-haired german shepherds. Bailey will get to hike with her boyfriends in a few weeks. Stay tuned for more details.

Halloween, Voting, and Joseph's Training Program

We had many trick-or-treaters knock on our door this Halloween! The dogs made it through the night without scaring any little kids. Jedi stayed locked in the bedroom and barked every time the doorbell rang. Gracie stayed in her crate and barked along with Jedi while Bailey and Ella took turns greeting the children at the door. One brave 1-year-old even entered the house to poke her finger in Ella's eye.

Joseph and I voted today. The line was quite lengthy, an hour and a half. Some poor couple in front of us waited all that time in line only to realize they were at the wrong location to vote. An older woman in line collapsed once she realized her vote was not going to count because Obama was going to win. EMT arrived shortly after the collapse and encouraged her to vote anyway.

Now that the Fall temperatures are here Joseph has begun his training program with Gracie and Jedi. They will continue to refine their frisbee catching skills over the next several months. Does anyone make head lamps for dogs? If so, Joseph will be outside for hours working them.

Greenville Half-Marathon; Spinx Runfest 2008

I just completed my 3rd half-marathon this morning in Greenville, SC. Conditions: 60 degrees and slight participation (misty). At the recommendation of my co-workers I "stripped down" and wore shorts and a t-shirt compared to my usual pants and long-sleeve shirt for cooler temperatures. The course went through downtown Greenville, through the park, along a running/biking path, called Swamp Rabbit Path, and past the Governor's School. The course was scenic, flat in some sections, but hilly in others. I believe this year's course was harder than the previous year's course, which went through Furman University. Many more spectators came out to cheer on the runners this year. Joseph and Gracie (Joseph's favorite canine) met me at two points along the course to cheer me on, mile 6 and mile 10. If my Garmin 305 watch is correct, I believe I set a personal record today, finishing in 1 hr, 52 minutes, and some seconds. Next up, the ING Miami Marathon on February 25, 2009. I am running the marathon on behalf of Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief and Rescue and in memory of my chessie foster, Cocoa. Please stay tuned for information on how to support my endeavor and contribute monetarily to Chessie Rescue.

The Blue Ridge Parkway on a Motorcycle

Joseph road his motorcycle up the Blue Ridge Parkway today while I was hard at work, at Appalachian Outfitters. He put about 170 miles on his bike today and froze his butt off doing it (although he won't admit it). The picture above was taken from the Parkway out toward a waterfall near Graveyard Fields, in Pisgah National Forest.

Outer Banks Trip

Here is a link to a video on youtube. It's of our trip to the Outer Banks, made by a chessie volunteer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2CfDIHTZos

Excitement at the Grocery Store

While shopping at Bloom Grocery Store in Greenville the other day I witnessed the manager of the store tackle a customer. As I was walking into the store some guy was trying to walk out of the store with a full cart of groceries. The manager stepped in the customer's way to prevent the customer from leaving. Some words were shared and the next thing I know the manager is tackling the customer. Being the only witness, I yelled for help. Help came and the store called the police. Evidently the customer was attempting to steal a whole cart of groceries, including a bag of dog food... Was the dog food an attempt to look normal or is there a dog starving now because its owner never made it home with food? After I called for help I picked up my groceries, PAID, and walked out. While leaving I saw the police cuff the guy and "throw" him in the back seat of the cop car. It was awesome!

Bailey made the calendar!!!

Thanks to everyone who voted for Bailey for the 2008 Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief and Rescue Calendar Photo Contest. She came in 8th place and will likely be Ms. September in 2009. Last year she was Ms. April. Bailey had 177 votes, which means $354 dollars will go toward saving and rehoming future chessies. It really means a lot to me (and Bailey). Thanks again.

Outer Banks Trip Update

Our trip to the Outer Banks, for Chessies in the Surf 2009, was lots of fun. The dogs loved running on the beach and meeting many new dogs and people. The "very dog-friendly" Cape Hatteras KOA was awesome. We stayed in a small log cabin, which had a porch and swing. It was perfect for the dogs. All the dogs got along with each other, ran on the beach together, and swam in the ocean together. Ella actually let a few strangers pet her while Bailey let anyone hold and pet her. Gracie and Jedi were on guard but were well behaved, overall. We met several chessie volunteers who were awesome and we ate lots of fresh seafood. A few adult beverages were shared among the group members. We highly recommend checking out the Outer Banks and staying at the Cape Hatteras KOA. (The KOA is actually in Rodanthe.) The beaches there are beautiful.

OUTER BANKS, NC

Joseph and I leave for the Outer Banks off the coast of North Carolina this Wednesday. We will be staying at the KOA on Cape Hatteras and will be getting together with other volunteers from Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief and Rescue (www.cbrrescue.org). Jedi, Bailey, Gracie, and Ella are going with us. We will be staying in a small one room cabin right on the beach. Should be interesting. Hats off to Joseph for agreeing to make this trek to the coast. With this post are a few more pictures of Bailey & Gracie swimming (from this past weekend).

Ole Miss vs. Vanderbuilt

Joseph and I just got back from a quick trip to Oxford, Mississippi. We went to Oxford to watch a football game and to see our friends, Matt & Melissa Zerfoss. Last year Ole Miss got killed by Arkansas and this year got beat by Vanderbuilt. There is nothing like the tailgating scene at Ole Miss. It is CRAZY. Tame, but crazy because of how passionate fans are about Mississippi football and how early they come out for the games. Ole Miss college students dress for the game in outfits more appropriate for a cocktail party. One thing is for sure, I would never have fit in as a college student there. High heels and skimpy cocktail dresses at a football game....NO THANKS. Joseph went against the mold and dressed rather casually for the game, as did I, but that's typical!!! The drive was approximately 9 hours each way and was a long way to go for such a short amount of time, but the drive was totally worth it. Joseph drove 99% of the time while I read my book sprawled out in the back seat (now known as the "queen's quarters"). Anyone looking for a good book to read, go get Lone Survivor. It is incredible.

Boxer Puppies

Our neighbors a few houses down bred their boxers and the bitch had her puppies three weeks ago. I brought Bailey over to see how she would react to the pups and to take a few pictures. They were soooooo cute. Bailey, of course, was a gem around them... She was more interested in playing soccer with our neighbors than interacting with the puppies.

Happy Birthday Susan Goetz

As many of you know, my mother died of cancer 11 years ago. Today is her birthday and, if she were still alive, would turn 65 today. Happy Birthday Mom.... Yes, we still think of you often. Here is a picture of my mother with her brother, Chip Collin.

Running Times Magazine-Go Get IT!

I just found out my cousin's daughter, Mackenzie Carter, and her high school running teammates are on the cover of Running Times Magazine, October 2008 issue. The team is a two-time national champ. Mackenzie is the most forward blond on the left. She has followed in the footsteps of her very athletic parents by competing and excelling in sports. Here is a link: http://highschoolsports.syracuse.com/news/article/-201016795/

Thoughts and Prayers

A few days ago I called my friend, Barb, who had just returned home from visiting her parents in NY. She informed me that her parents were in a bad car accident on their drive home after dropping her off at the airport. Her parents were hit head on and due to extensive injuries are now in critical care...another friend, Jen, recently informed me that her mother, who has battled cancer for the past few years, has stopped chemotherapy and now has hospice care. Neither situation is easy. Barb's parents recovery will be tough, as they are in their eighties, but I am hopeful they will make it through. They are both quite active for their age. As for Jen and her family, hopefully she/they can share some good laughs and happy tears over the next few months. This is one strong family. I am confident, that day by day, Jen and her family members will make it thru this tough time. Both friends and their families are in my thoughts and prayers.

Dog Therapy Incorporated

Bailey passed her 3rd clinical observation en route to be a therapy dog. All I have to do now is send the paperwork in and she will be certified!!!!! She completed all of her observations at Shriner's hospital. All the children there loved Bailey's coloring and staff loved the texture and curl in Bailey's hair. Bailey's 3rd observation was not without incident. A new dog who was there to complete his first observation demonstrated aggression (lunging, barking) toward Bailey. This dog was about 140 lbs, twice the size of Bailey. To the disappointment of his owner he (named Baby) did not pass the observation and will not be a therapy dog. Go Bailey!!!!

Recent Events

The U.S Pro Cycling Championship was in Greenville this past weekend. Joseph and I got to go this year. The riders completed 110 miles of intense riding in hot temperatures. A few riders from Winston-Salem were among the crowd as was the rider who Joseph beat when he won Mt. Mitchell. I never fully realized how huge a Mt. Mitchell win was until this weekend. It's incredible... On a completely different topic, Bailey, our chesapeake bay retriever, has her last observation for her certification to become a therapy dog tomorrow. We will be at Shriner's hospital in Greenville. If she passes the observation, she will become a certified therapy dog. Will keep you posted.

US Open

The pictures in the previous post are of Alexa (my neice), Ryan (my nephew), and Chris (my sister-in-law, their mother). Here is a photo of Matt, chris, Joseph, and I at the U.S. Open.

New York Vacation

Joseph and I just got back from New York today. We spent a few days in Long Island and a few days near Lake George, NY, in my hometown. A close relative implied my blog was boring because all I talk about is dogs. So, I've added some non-dog photos to this post....Trip highlights: eating good soft served (blueberry cheesecake with rainbow sprinkles) ice cream at Cooper's Cave in Glens Falls, NY with my brother, Greg, watching Ryan (age 8), Alexa (age 7), and Taylor (age 2) play tennis, beating Ryan in ping pong, going to the U.S. Open, meeting up with Guthrie (cousin) and Jenny (his wife) in Manhattan, and watching Joseph puke 6 times in front of everyone after landing at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport. Unfortunately, Joseph has caught some bug and is now sick in bed. Hopefully he recovers quickly.

Vote for Bailey!!!

It is that time of year again and Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief and Rescue has started their annual fundraiser. For the last year I have been an active volunteer with this organization. The people who volunteer for this group dedicate their free time and extra money to help save and rehome chessies. Over the last year we've had many successful adoptions and have saved several chessies from being put to sleep in a strange place (shelter) among strangers. this has all been made possible by the money raised in last year's fundraiser and donations made throughout the year.

So, I am asking everyone to vote for Bailey's picture in the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief and Rescue (CBRR&R) photo contest. Bailey made the 2008 calendar and was Miss April. Please help her make the 2009 calendar by voting for her. Each vote costs $2.00 and you can vote as many times as you want. 100% of money raised will go toward helping save and rehome chesapeake bay retrievers. All money spent on voting is tax deductible!!! You can pay via paypal or credit card.

Bailey's picture is included on this post and is titled "Bailey on the Appalachian Trail". this is the one to vote for.

To vote, go to http://www.cbrrescue.org/

Once you are at the website, click on the link for the photo contest. Then scroll down until you find Bailey's picture, and the title next to it. She is toward the bottom of the list. (I just posted her picture and other pictures with lots of votes have been posted for a while). Voting ends in mid-September.

thanks so much to all who vote!!

Our Latest Camping Trip

Joseph and I went hiking/camping with our young friends, Jamie, Christine, and their slightly older brother, Thomas. Jamie, Christine, & Thomas are our dog sitters, neighbors, family away from family, and friends. This was our first camping & hiking excursion with 4 dogs. It was great to have 3 others to help out with the dogs. The trip was great except for a few mishaps on our way home. While eating lunch on a sidewalk cafe in Brevard, NC, Bailey threw up, grossing out two small boys and a girl walking by and Gracie lunged at a dog walking by, jumping up from under a table and knocking over Joseph's chili dogs, soda, and Thomas' water. Bailey also threw up in the truck requiring us to pull over for cleanup duties. If you ever go camping, PLEASE bury any of your darn toilet paper so someone's dog does not surrender to the temptation to eat it. GROSS!!!! Please leave no trace.....

A few more wedding pictures

I am still trying to get together a few pictures for family and friends. It's a challenging task picking a few pictures out of 1200. I've narrowed things down to 188 photos. Here a few family photos I thought you might enjoy.

First pool swim

Our pack added two new dogs to their list of canine friends, Sadie and Lotus. Lotus didn't care for our pack too much, but Sadie tolerated being cornered by Gracie, Bailey, and Ella quite well. Sadie generously shared her pool and toys. Bailey demonstrated her true chessie spirit. She belly flopped a dozen times into the pool. It was awesome to watch and she loved every minute of it. Gracie swam around the pool trying to get the toys before Bailey while Ella ran around the edge chasing her sisters and new friend. Maybe next time Ella will be brave enough to jump in!

Joseph learns to water ski

Joseph and I had the opportunity to spend the day on Lake Keowee, near Clemson, SC, with my co-workers from Appalachian Outfitters. Joseph water skied for the first time in his life and got up on his 2nd try. He was great. He received great instructions and got to watch his wife ski before trying. He was so brave. Good job Joseph!!! One of my co-workers, Greg, went wake boarding. this is him on the board.

Our Wedding

As many of you know Joseph and I got married on May 2, 2008. We had a small wedding at Rumbling Bald Resort on Lake Lure, NC. Married life has been going well... We finally got our wedding album and the copyright to the 1200 pictures the photographer took. If you ever need a photographer we highly recommend Ashley Felkel, in Asheville, NC. She is willing to travel for your event, takes great pictures, and makes you feel comfortable in front of the camera. Thanks to our friends and family who came to our wedding.... And to those friends and family who weren't invited, you were in our thoughts during the event :) We chose to keep the event as small as possible to keep me from freaking out.... I do not like being the center of attention and am not much of a wedding person. This said, I had a great time at my wedding and enjoyed working with everyone who helped in decorating, planning, and providing moral support!
Here are a few of the pics.