The Labrador Diaries -- Volume 2

The Alpha-Dog has left the building for a few days which allowed us to hijack the blog again and let you know what we've been up to.


2 months later, and I think we are officially settled in and loving our new family. We stay outside for most of the day and when the humans come home they play with us, feed us dinner, and take us on a walk around our neighborhood. We sure do love that walk outside our compound yard.


We are not normally allowed in any other room of the house except the great room; however, the humans sometimes forget to put up the gate that keeps us out of the rest of the house. We love to make a mad dash down the hall and find our way into their sleeping dens. Alas, we are usually quickly captured and returned to our proper area. Drats!


Allie got the thrill of her life when the boy let her stay in his room for a while. Lucky dog.







Sometimes we get a little bored outside. What's a dog to do? How about this:



I am Sophie, Queen of the Woooooorld! I bet the humans won't leave the chairs out from the table again. Of course, I won't get up there again. Do you know how HIGH it is up there??? I was scared to death and needed assistance getting down.



We love the patio furniture....it's a great place for a nap and also for hiding under when we are playing Hide-N-Seek. You won't believe just how comfortable those chair cushions are! They rank right up there with a Tempur-pedic bed. We could lounge on them all day:



That is, if the Alpha-Dog ever puts them back on the chairs.

Until next time, we are still Sophie and Allie.

Strummin' on the ol' banjo GIT-tar

This post is more for grandparents than anyone. The Princess has been taking guitar lessons once a week since last fall. I've not really been sure what kind of progress she's made because it's like pulling teeth to get her to practice at home. However, I finally got her to play a couple of songs for me and she's actually learned a few things.

This first video was taken about a month ago:

I knew she had been working on a Taylor Swift song and Monday she informed me she had learned almost the whole song. So, naturally, I had to get a video of her progress. I was blown away. This video is almost 5 minutes long, she just kept playing and playing and playing.....

That there is progress, folks!

Greetings and Salutations

Look who's back at the typewriter.....that's 80's talk for look who's back at the KEYBOARD.


I'm not sure why I always feel compelled to explain when I step back and take a break away from my Big Fat Greek Blog. I just do.

When I was encouraged to start this little corner of the Internet, I had no idea what I was doing or where I would go with this whole blog thing. I still have no clue what I am doing, but I am still here over 3 years later and 350+ posts. I even have over 70 followers, how cRaZY is that? Of course, I have no idea how many of those 74 followers actually read my posts. But I HAVE followers! Yesterday I logged in to find that I had lost 1 follower and for some reason it hurt my feelings.

I'll be honest, sometimes I think about shutting this place down.....wondering if anybody in the blog-o-sphere would actually miss the GRITS place. But, ya' know, I didn't exactly create this space with anybody else in mind. I never dreamed that if I "built" it, "they" would come. Through this blog I have met so many people from, literally, all over the world....some of whom I have met in real life and others I hope to meet one day. The blog world is a huge place, filled to the brim with some very wonderful people. If you don't know it....click on some of my blog links in the sidebar for a start.


This space was initially created for family members to keep up with us and somehow it turned into a place for me to foster my slightly creative side. When I say creative, I sure as heck don't mean grammatically correct, hanging on the edge of your seat, or thought provoking writings. My middle and high school English teachers would shudder to hear that I was writing material that other people actually read. My book reports and term papers often looked like someone turned a toddler with a red ink pen loose on them . But those memories didn't stop me from blogging....no siree! I have overcome the wrath of the red pen, because I'm strong like that.


If it's not blatantly obvious, humor plays a HUGE role in my life. I really like to make people laugh and I LOVE to laugh. Too bad "funny" is not on the spiritual gift list, but would it be bold for me to call it my ministry? People tell me I am funny. My mother thinks I should write books like Erma Bombeck.....which cracks me up! Besides, she's my mom and she's required to say stuff like that. (I love you, Mom) However, I wouldn't say I am the funniest person on Earth; but, I do like to incorporate humor in almost every aspect of my life on a daily basis.


I have spent the last 15 years of my life in the medical field both as Critical Care Nurse and now as a Nurse Anesthetist. My job can be VERY stressful. I have seen and dealt with a lot of heaviness and sadness on a regular basis. For me, humor is every bit a part of my uniform as much as my ID badge. I have been known to lighten the mood before surgery by telling a male patient, "I think you will be very pleased with your breast implants!"


This blog is just another outlet for me.....a place where laughing is the rule of the land most days. I might not be here regularly and you might not even notice. You know what? That's ok with me.

I don't really have a personal mission statement, but if I did it would have something to do with using humor to bring a smile to at least one person's face each day.

Race Day

(I posted this originally on April 27, 2008....many of you missed it so here it is again.)


"Gentlemen! Start Your Engines!!!" That was the cry from Talladega Super Speedway here in Alabama today. It was the Aaron's 499.

This post will be most curious to those that know me in real life because I am NOT a NASCAR race fan in any way, shape, or form. However, once again, I felt compelled to post about something that I am not really informed about. So maybe I will know more. You know, like doing a research paper back in high school. Yea that's it.

If you live in the South you know that people have certain stigma's they associate when you tell them that's where you live. For example, they think we all have tractors, wear no shoes and still use outdoor bathrooms. The same goes with NASCAR racing. And I'm sure the movie "Talladega Nights" did nothing for folk's mental image of this so-called sport. Shake and Bake, Ricky Bobby.

When I image googled "NASCAR fans" this is the second photo that came up:



No, I did not have permission from these gentlemen to use their photo. Somehow I think they would have another round, high-five one another and holler "WHOOOOOOOO" if they saw it.

However, after a little bit of searching I found that the NASCAR fan base stretches far beyond the backyard BBQ fellas as seen above. Take for example this:



This would be a photo from an article in the NY Times about race fans who have penthouse condos that over look raceways. This little jewel was about $500,000. So, see, rich folks like NASCAR too.

My conclusion about the racing fan base is people, who transcend all walks of life and socioeconomic levels enjoy watching cars go round and round in circles for hours at a time. Interesting. Very interesting.

I can't really call the hubby a devout NASCAR fan, but he did have some reason to turn it on today after church. Perhaps to get me in the right frame of mind for my usual Sunday afternoon nap. Because not long after the engine revving began, I was out like a light bulb. Only to wake up with about 48 laps to go (that sounded a bit like an informed watcher, huh). Before I knew it, I was mesmerized by those cars going around lap, after lap, after lap. Then *CRASH* and out came the yellow flag. You think in a sport that involves cars going 200mph they would have something other than a handkerchief on a stick to let folks know there's a problem. I found myself watching and waiting for another crash. Kinda like going to a hockey game and hoping there's a good fight!

Another thing that totally amused me were the announcers in suits and ties. I don't know why, but for some reason I envisioned them to be in Bud Light shirts and jeans or something like that. I know, I know that is very judgmental of me and I'm sorry. My husband informed me they are paid professionals. Ohhhh! Sorry guys.

Finally, how does one pick who they cheer for in this sport? Is it the guy driving the car with your favorite number, the cutest driver, the one wearing your favorite colors? Is it passed down in the family--kinda like being an Alabama football fan? Who knows. I went outside the bounds of logic today and simply chose the guy sponsored by one of my favorite things. Who could cheer for any other car when there's some guy driving around in a cute little car with ginormous M&M's on it??? I mean really. And to boot, I *think* there was a giant Snickers bar on the back of the car. Awesome. Seems like there should be a sticker for a PMS pill on there too. It just seems.



I must have done something right. My guy actually won. Woooo hooooo. Anyway, today I have investigated this sport that intrigues so many. Have I now become another crazed NASCAR fan? Certainly not. But I can chalk this up in the "learned something new today" category of my life. And you can too!

Chucky's Creepy Canopy

It was a BEAUTIFUL weekend for a 20th college reunion. I absolutely love making the pilgrimage back to my alma mater for a weekend of festivities. There was a lot of squealing, hugging, reminiscing, picture taking, and endless laughing!




I spent the weekend with a group of friends at a local Bed and Breakfast. The house was absolutely amazing and the grounds were beautiful in their Spring colors:




However, I had a couple of issues with ye ol' creepy Southern mansion!

EXHIBIT A: After my arrival, I made my way upstairs to the room I would be staying in all weekend. I immediately noticed these items sitting directly across from my room:



For whatever reason, this miniature doll play area absolutely gave me the creeps! I mean, seriously, check out the picture on the wall. Based on the bow alone, I'd swear that is Nellie Olsen's evil twin. Never mind the CREEPY doll she's holding in the photo. *shiver*



I'm not completely crazy because one of my friends said it reminded her of the Chucky movies of days gone by. *shudder*



EXHIBIT B: Check out the "Baron's Bedroom" bed, which required a 3-step stool to get ON the thing. I felt like Edith Ann in her rocking chair, "and that's the truth!"



The first night's bedtime conversation included idle chatter about how high this bed was off the ground. When we put our heads on the pillows and looked at the canopy top, my weekend roommate asked, "oooohhhh, do you think is what the inside of a coffin looks like?"

Ummm, I *think* so! What do YOU think:

Flashback Friday -- 20 years, really???

This weekend I am going back to one of my favorite places of my past.....my college campus.

It's hard to believe a Baptist women's college in the middle of NOWHERE, Alabama would play such a pivotal role in my life. It's the place that changed me forever! I walked on campus a shy, introverted girl and graduated a more confident, independent young woman.

Y'all I graduated from college in June 1990.....TWENTY YEARS AGO!

*gasp* *choke* Somebody call the doctor.

This weekend is our annual Alumnae weekend, and, as usual, my college peeps and I are getting together.

In honor of my *cough* 2o *cough* year reunion, I present to you......my Senior portrait from 1990.





I will rebuke any comments regarding my highly fashionable, at the time, she-mullet. Thankyouverymuch.

The Labrador Diaries-- Volume 1

Hello Greek GRITS fans, it's Sophie and Allie.....AGAIN!

Rumor has it, we were a big hit with our very first post, so the Alpha-Dog has decided we can make an appearance around here every once and a while. We were so excited we came up with a name for our posts......"The Labrador Diaries".

The Alpha-Dog wanted to go with "The Destructo Duo" but we voted her down.....8 paws to none!


The weather has gotten warmer and we've been spending a lot of time outside in our big back yard. Our humans have provided us with so many things to play with.....Nylabones, tennis balls, and even a couple of stuffed animals.

Pshhaaww, who wants to play with that junk?! Not us.


We added a little flair to the grill cover:




The neighbor dog told us we could dig a hole to China to help keep ourselves busy and out of trouble while our humans are not home. We aren't sure he was right, be we've had fun trying:




A couple of weeks ago, we need a little roughage and ate the flowers off this fancy stick we found stuck in the ground. Today we decided the fancy stick had to go:


The little brown headed girl was not very happy with us. She brought the fancy stick to us and started screaming, "NO, NO, NO....bad dogs!" which sounded an awful lot like Charlie Brown's teacher talking?!





We sometimes get to play with a little blue disc, but hello, there are two of us and one is clearly not enough:





However, our favorite object to play with, by far was this:


We're not really sure what it's called but the Alpha-Dog left it on the patio after sweeping off all the dirt we got on there. Our motto is, "finders, keepers" and, buddy, we kept it all right. The pole thing was a bit too hard, but the straw bristles at the bottom just flew off everywhere when we chewed on them. We bet the Alpha-Dog won't leave another one of those out based on her incoherent babbling when she found us with this.


We love it here as you can see!

Until next time....we are Sophie and Allie!

Raising Arizona......GRITS Style

I don't mind taking my kids shopping. Now that they are older, I don't have to look for them inside the clothes racks and they typically behave well for a longer period of time.

Take last Saturday, for example. We had to finish up some pre-Easter shopping and found ourselves at a local shoe store. The hubby was in the man shoe area and I had the kids with me.

As we walked around, I heard the kids talking and laughing. However, at some point I became completely oblivious to my kid's behavior, until I noticed one of the sales girls looking behind me and giggling.

How, ummm, marvelous is it to turn around and find your children looking like this:


Seriously. I can't make this stuff up.

How fortunate for me, I lived in the 80's and the first thing that popped into my head was this from Raising Arizona, a favorite movie of mine.

Son, you got a panty on your head. sound bite Raising Arizona sound bites

Just in case you wondered (because I DID), they took the socks fresh out of the box, so no nasty foot germs were transferred to their sweet faces in the making of their fun.