I thought with the amount of rain that we had over the weekend and the amount I’m sure we will see in the month of May we could all use some umbrella etiquette. From Real Simple magazine

On a rainy day, when everyone is carrying an umbrella, how should I keep from bumping mine into other people? And what are the proper times to open and close my umbrella?
The tall ones need to take charge here. If two people are sharing an umbrella, the taller person should hold it. When two people carrying umbrellas are walking toward each other, the taller person should always raise his umbrella to allow the shorter person safe passage.
 
The rule for opening an umbrella is simple: Keep it shut until you are fully outside and clear of the door. Before entering a public building, Purdy says, “shake off your umbrella outside. If you get a little bit wet, that’s what happens when it rains. A few raindrops on your head are preferable to creating a wet mess in someone’s place of business.”
 
The same goes for public transportation. When boarding a bus in the rain, always turn your back to the door, shut your umbrella, then make your entrance. “Otherwise I get sprayed, and the water on the floor makes things slippery,” says Aretha Bull, a bus driver for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. Finally, never place your wet umbrella on an open seat or you’ll put a damper on someone else’s day.

To a BIG puppy dog!! Yes, two weeks ago we were approved to adopt Gallagher. Last weekend we went to pick him up in Cincinnati at a lab rescue. This boy is absolutely HUGE!! I wish I could post some pics for you but the card reader on our computer is fried and I can’t upload anything. Here’s his stats…. 1 year old….135lbs they say he could get to about 160 at full grown….he’s half Old English sheepdog and half Newfoundland….friendliest thing you will ever meet!
We are very excited to have him….especially after his first week. Don’t get me wrong, our patience are being tested on a daily basis and we have so much to teach him but he also brings us so much joy. I feel like a proud mom because when we take him out the biggest comments we get are “He’s so big!” and “He’s sooo beautiful” so even though I have nothing to do with his looks I can’t help but beam with pride. I’m hoping to get him out to some station events this summer providing it’s not too hot for him. I would love for all of you to meet this special guy! I will keep you updated oh his (and our) progress. We are so lucky to have found him!

During my last post I told you how we were desperately trying to become dog parents? Well we decided against getting a puppy. We really wanted to find a rescue that needed a home and I think we found him!! Gallagher is his name and he is currently sitting at a Lab rescue in Cincinnati. He is a year old, he’s half Old English Sheepdog and half Newfoundland and he’s a BIG BOY!! Right now he weighs 135 lbs and in the coming year he will gain most of his weight and end up being around 160lbs!! Yep, BIG! We have been really frustrated with the rescue because they were taking forever on our application and weren’t giving us much details about his personality and if he would get along with our cat. Well just when we had given up all hope of adopting him we finally heard that we had been approved for the adoption!!! Now we have to meet him in person and hopefully we will all like each other after it’s all said and done. We are scrambling to get the house in order and get the things we need for him. Little does Jack the cat know how much his world is going to change. Do cats get jealous? I’m actually really worried that he will feel left out when we leave to take Gallagher for a walks. Looks like I have some stuff to research before we bring Gallagher home! I can’t wait to show you pictures. We need to meet him first before we start making all these plans but I will let you know how it goes!!

Yes….that’s what I heard in a phone conversation yesterday. I phoned a women who is in charge of Old English Sheepdog rescues. According to her when I explained my work schedule she told me I wasn’t fit to be a mom to a puppy. What??? So because I work 3rd shift I can’t have a dog? How does that work? I was about in tears because I’m (and my husband too) such a huge dog lover! The biggest reason I want a puppy is that I already have a cat and a puppy will get used to having a cat around quicker or maybe better than a grown dog. Her comment keeps ringing in my ears. Is it true that having a puppy with my schedule would be horrible?? I’m here at the station about 6 hours then asleep for 6 to 7 hours. Now we do have a plan where I would play with the dog and take it for a walk when I get home from work and then let him sleep for awhile then when my husband comes home a couple hours after that he can do the same thing. So much to think about before getting a dog. Why does it have to be this tough? What do you think? We do have a lot of options to look at so we have some time. Good thing I’m not having kids I’d hate to see what ridicule I’d go through for that!!!

We are getting ready for spring and with that comes lots of cleaning and repairing…especially for my husband and I. We have been putting off a house warming party until this spring/summer so that we aren’t couped up in this house. We have a big backyard and we look forward to putting it to good use this year. But we have so much to do before we have a bunch of people over. It’s called decorating and painting!! We still haven’t decorated the house because there isn’t any color on the walls. Everything is an off white with the exception of one bedroom that is purple…yuck. I honestly don’t know what to pick out when it comes to paint colors. I really wish I could hire someone to make these decisions for me……then at least if we don’t like it then we can blame someone else for the poor color choice!

Well I’d just like to report that the snow should be stopping….soon. The reason? and how I know this? My husband is going to buy a snow blower today. Yep, he wants one and he’s going to go buy it. So kiss all the snow goodbye and you’ll never see it again! He will buy this snowblower and I hope we never see one blasted flake again. Naaa I heard there is more coming on Sunday so it was wishful thinking. But the hubby will be VERY happy with his new toy.

Heard on the news last night that we could see “blizzard conditions….white outs” So with my bottom lip quivering, I asked my husband if he could possibly drive me to work. I told him that there was no way I’d still be on the road with the new car and that I would be in a ditch somewhere. Well he did bring me to work and the roads seem just fine. I’m not seeing blizzard conditions and I don’t think we will see any. So here I am at the station waiting patiently for my husband to pick me up so I can go home and sleep. Don’t get me wrong….I’m VERY happy that we didn’t get all this snow but now I’m going to be here for a couple more hours…fun!

I could sit and watch old movies all day. I love the elegance of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. But not only did their dancing amaze us but I always wanted to dress like Ginger. How they dressed back then always dazzled me. The dresses, the high heels, beautiful waves of golden locks, long eyelashes…..simply perfection! What our elders must think of us now! It simply baffles me to see people doing their grocery shopping in their pajamas….have we gotten that lazy that we roll out of bed and do our daily errands not stopping to brush our hair or even put tennis shoes on? I am guilty of dressing like a slob….maybe not to the extent of wearing my Pj’s out  shopping. But I love my comfy jeans, soft sweatpants and oversized sweatshirts. I don’t necessarily see the point of dressing to the nines to do shopping. Unfortunately, times have changed and dressing in long dresses with petticoats, high heels and hair perfecty pinned up just doesn’t fit in today’s world. While we women dress in comfort, men choose not to shave, throw on a flannel shirt and toss on a baseball hat…..and if we are lucky the pants actually fit around their waist not around their rear ends! But thoughts of Carey Grant and Rock Hudson are never far from my mind. How handsome they were! So when I’m faced with seeing someone at my local grocery store decked out in their tweety bird Pj’s I think of what must be going through our grandparents heads. How glamourous they must have been! Do I think we’ll ever get back to the glamour of the 40’s and 50’s? No. But we can at least stop wearing the pajamas…do our hair…shave the beards….pull up our pants. It’s a start!

Today I’m filling in for Trisha, who is on vacation. Switching schedules is not easy! Those of you work work shifts and have to change after so many days….I tip my hat to you! You should see the looks I’m getting in the hallway….the what the heck are you doing here look. I’m having a good time and I hope your Friday is going as well and as fast as mine is!! Look forward to seeing you tonight for the 20 Outstanding Women You Should Know!

I’m starting to notice a trend. Every time my husband and I go food shopping together he turns into this incredibly grumpy person. I really don’t know why but it starts as soon as we hit the produce dept. He will question my reasonings for getting a certain brand or a certain quantity…”Why are you getting that?….What do you need that for?” When I tell him its something that I would like, his response becomes a big sigh of “FINE”. I try to remain upbeat and positive but boy is it hard when he huffs and puffs and complains about everything. In fact it leads to many arguments throughout the store. But I have no clue why this happens! He is in an absolutely delightful mood on our way to the store. So I’ve finally come to the decision he’s not allowed to shop with me anymore. Not only will I not have someone throwing a temper tantrum but I can do the shopping soooo much quicker!! Has this ever happened to you? Do you shop with your spouse or go it alone?