Hey, where'd the weekend go?

Why is it 6 o'clock on Sunday night already? Weekends just don't last as long as they need to.

Saturday: Up at 5:30 a.m. and on the road to Iowa City by 6:30. First stop, Wal-Mart. How can three bags of stuff cost $95? 

Then out to Kay's building to train Phoenix. We worked mostly retrieves, heeling and recalls, slipping back into Novice-mode for the Amana cluster in two weeks. I have got to spend more time working left-side finishes. They'll help get his focus off my right side (he's anticipating the "around" finish) when he fronts. Did some fun clicker work with the "back" (left-side) finish. It was a pretty warm morning but pleasant in the building with a good breeze coming through the south windows and the west end overhead door open.

Pam O. and Chance came at 9 for a lesson. They're getting ready for Open A at the Amana shows. Chance thought it was hot, too.

By 10:30 a.m., I was on the road south to visit Mom and Dad. Dad is about the same. He seemed happy to see Phoenix (no particular recognition of me), then fell asleep. Visited with Mom and Karene, had lunch, then left mid-afternoon for home.

Stopped at Ainsworth on the way home for ice cream therapy. Phoenix and I shared a cone. I got the top, he got the bottom. We were both sure we each had the best part. Stopped in Iowa City to get KFC for supper. There was a huge hole in one wall and the sign on the door said, "Please excuse our mess. Someone drove a car through the building." Yeah, that's pretty much what it looked like. The newspaper office may be crazy at times but at least no one has driven through the front window. Yet.

Got home and unloaded all the Wal-Mart stuff. Talked to the Farmer briefly, ate a chicken leg, fed the dogs (only a light supper for Phoenix, we're going to train again!) and let them outside.

Loaded jumps and ring gates and - 

PHOENIX, GET OUT OF THE TOMATOES!

- headed to the Amana Park to train with Paula, Tracy and Michele.

We had the park to ourselves and it was a great evening to train. Phoenix decided two-a-day obedience workouts were all right. More opportunity for food and toys! We did a little heelwork, marking gloves, articles, go-outs and finishes with Petra doing her sexy little black dog best to distract him. Now honestly, if 'Nix can do brisk finishes with Petra bouncing in his face, they should be no problem in the ring.

It was Paula's birthday and she brought cupcakes. It wasn't Michele's birthday and she brought pecan bars. Think pecan pie in cookie form. Yum! We ate and visited until 9 p.m. Tracy had lost the contents of a chest freezer when it malfunctioned after last week's severe weather. Ugh. Been there, done that. We exchanged tales of disposing of 250 pounds of rotten meat which somehow led to re-visiting my and Terry R.'s theory about the best way to hide a body if you need to kill someone. Don't ask where this stuff comes from. It just does.

Home, let the dogs out - 

PHOENIX, GET OUT OF THE TOMATOES!

- let dogs back in, showered and crashed.

Sunday: It was pouring rain when we got up. Decided to go to church, then out for breakfast afterward. (And I wonder why my jeans are tight. Sigh.) Made a couple batches of homemade food for Connor (See? MORE food, that's all we think about around here).

Went to the outlet mall at Williamsburg and picked up a few things. It was packed with crazed back to school shoppers. None of them knew how to drive. 

Made it back home in one piece and tackled the bathroom cleaning. (See, I went two whole hours without eating anything.) Wanted to get all the rust out of the fixtures for once and all, now that our fancy-schmancy not-loaded-with-iron water is here. The bathroom is sparkling now but sorry, Tammy, I used up all the Whink. Guess I know what to get you for Christmas.

Washed a ton of laundry and vacuumed. Where is a house elf when you need one? And how does our house get so dirty? We're never here to live in it!

The furry dogs needed a good grooming so we sat under a tree outside and did a marathon brushing session. Great for Connor and Jamie. Bad for my back. Phoenix spent the time chewing on sticks that blew down in last night's heavy rain and - 

PHOENIX, GET THE $#@! OUT OF MY TOMATOES! DON'T LIE TO ME! YOU HAVE TOMATO SEEDS ON YOUR NOSE!

Finally did what I should have done first thing Saturday morning: picked the cherry tomatoes. Picked what was left of my cherry tomatoes. Phoenix had missed a few. Connor helped. I still managed to get a bowl full.

Now supper is in the oven. Sorry. Food. Again. I can't help it.

Then the dogs and I are going out for a little agility work and a walk. Or maybe just a walk. But definitely no more food. At least not now.