WEINER NATIONALS!!!

For the first time this year, (I've wanted to do it for several years) we entered our dog "Maizie" in the Weiner National Weenie Dog race. Now, if you've never witnessed a weenie dog race, that is something you have GOT to put on your to-do list. That was the funniest thing ever! I've never seen so many weenie dogs in one place! Although, there were a few that I would question their "weenie dog" pedigree. None the less, it was a blast. Maizie was racing in the 8th heat (there were 8 heats with 6-8 dogs per heat). Lon said there was no way she would know what to do and laughed at me for even entering her. Well, let me just say, she didn't know what to do, but she was not alone in that regard!! Most of the dogs ran out of the starting gate and started sniffing each others butts! Some jumped over the rope and ran amok in the crowd. Some, however, were highly trained and knew exactly what to do. There were some owners that were VERY serious about the race. (The winner got a trip to San Diego to compete at the national level during the Holiday Bowl) But, I was so proud of Maizie, she came out of the gate a little slow, doing the butt sniffing thing but then here she came ambling (not running mind you) towards me at the finish line and I thought she was going to win her heat for sure and at the last minute this little long haired weenie came racing past her, so she got second in her heat, not bad for a first try. At the finish line, she went to a total stranger and rolled over on her back at the lady's feet. It was hilarious! Those people are very serious about it though, there was a lady standing next to me at the finish line that was screaming cuss words because she thought the people near the starting line were distracting her dog! Oh well, we'll have to train for next year. "She coulda been a contenda!"

Things with a plug

For probably about the last year, I have been scouring the internet and checking local sales looking for the best deal on a Kitchen Aid Artisan stand mixer. For some reason, I am dying to have one, not that I am a cook or anything, I just think they are really cool. And, I probably really would use one several times a year. So, I've been looking and looking. I was tempted to buy one on Ebay, but chickened out. Anyway, when Mother's Day rolled around, that is what I asked for--a Kitchen Aid Artisan stand mixer in Imperial Yellow. Well, Lon was a little leary about buying me a mixer for Mother's Day. He said he's always heard that you NEVER buy your wife a gift that has a plug or involves work and that he was afraid I might be mad at him later for getting me a kitchen appliance as a gift. But I assured him that was what I wanted, it was what I was asking (more like begging) for. So, a few days before Mother's Day, armed with my 20% off coupon, we went to Bed Bath & Beyond and ordered my mixer in Imperial Yellow. I probably didn't get the best deal, but at least I knew it was a reputable seller. So now I am the proud owner of a Kitchen Aid Artisan stand mixer in Imperial Yellow!!! Yea!!!! I am so excited, I can't wait to whip something up. I haven't had time yet, May is always soooo crazy with end of school events, Wonderland night, teacher apprec., 5th gr. blessing, etc. Send drinks for this, send cookies for that! However, it is a kind of crazy that I love, even though I gripe about it, I know the day is coming soon when the kids will be gone and I will long for the days when May was full of end of school frenzy. Summer is coming though. My favorite time of year. I love everything about summer.......the smell of chlorine, legs sticking to hot seats, baseball games, sleeping late, wearing flip flops every day, grungy camp clothes....everything!!! The kids and I have so much fun. It just goes too fast. But, this year, we have an extra couple of weeks and I am thrilled! Some of my friends don't like it, they say they would rather have the extra time at Christmas, not me, like I said, I LOVE summer!!!