IDIOTS

Boy, are we tired of dealing with contractors, internet sites, and companies that just think that you were born yesterday. It's been a real struggle all winter to get people to do what they say they are going to do. I just don't know what has happened to the work ethic. I think that people just want to get a job done and then collect their money for doing it (or not doing it as the case may be).
Our electrician installed a light over our pedistal sink last week. When we got there on Saturday we had to clean up all the sheetrock dust and dirt out of the sink before we could use it. I would never go into somebody's house and leave that kind of a mess on a job. I also noticed that there were dirty hand prints in the upstairs bedroom around all the outlets that went in. Now we have to clean walls. I thought we had a "new" house??? IDIOTS
Our painter got sick a few weeks ago and now, even though he is better, he is not coming back to finish our job. We have left numerous messages for him and he has refused to call us back even though we have paid him for the completed job. He was always prompt in calling us to tell us that he needed another check. We may end up having to "eat" some money and just hire someone else to finish. Our carpenter (who recommended this painter) is going to try to help us get him back to finish. IDIOTS
We ordered a ceiling fan for our sunroom on the internet in the middle of May. It was supposed to be shipped the first week of June. I finally had to call last week to see what the deal was, plus they had already charged my credit card (company policy). I was told the fan was delayed and would ship last Friday. I called again today and was told the fan is on back order 'til July 15th. I cancelled the order and asked that my credit card get reimbursed today, but of course it takes 7-10 days. Why is it so easy for them to charge my card the minute that I push the "send order" button, but it takes that long to get the credit? IDIOTS.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love this house. I'm just tired to dealing with IDIOTS.

PROGRESS

We got a lot done at the camp this weekend along with attending the wedding of Dick and Susan Poland's daughter Nicole. We unpacked most of the boxes and put away everything that we could and then proceeded to setting up beds. The beds in one room upstairs are all set and we need another bed (which we're bringing from here) to complete the second room. We recycled a shelving unit from the old house that fit perfectly in our loft space upstains (thanks Josh for that suggestion). It will be a great space to kick back and relax. Now if we can just get the painter to finish.... and our garage foundation be poured....
We'll be up over the holiday to get more things organized. I have to find and buy some more bedding and linens for sure. We'll be taking a little relaxing time to BBQ with Cindy, Josh and the kids on the 5th. Can't wait to see the new fire pit.

AFTER THE STORM

We've had thunderstorms rolling in and out for the last two days. Yesterday we got 2.6 inches of rain in storm after storm. But.... today we had the "big one". Luckily I don't think there was any damage, especially to our camper.

GREAT WEEKEND

Kyra, Denver and I had a great weekend at the agility trial and conformation show in Cumberland, ME this weekend. I entered both shows and did a lot of running back and forth, but it was all worth it. Denver and I took our first ever "Best of Breed" ribbon on Saturday and then went on to show in the Herding Group where we took fourth place. I'll post his professional pictures when I get them. Denver also had a qualifying run in Novice Standard Agility that same day to finish his AKC Novice Standard agility title. Sunday, we didn't win in the breed ring, but Denver finished his Novice Jumpers title and Kyra finished her Open Jumpers title.
Tucker got to go to Kokajo with Lee on his fishing trip because he had already finished his AKC championship. He missed some good agility courses, though.

MESSY

Things usually get worse before they get better. We're looking forward to having this huge pile of dirt next to our front door GONE, and a new foundation for our garage going in. I don't know how realistic it will be for us to think that we will "vacation" here this summer. Still lots and lots of work to be done, but it should be beautiful when it's finally finished. We'll keep everyone updated as work gets completed :)

SHOW STUFF

Here are some pictures of the show this weekend. Tucker took "Reserve Winners" to Nancy's Black tri dog Bolero. He needed only one point to finish his ASCA championship and Tucker needs two. The judge, who is a breeder from Texas, loved both of them and had no idea that they both came from the same breeder.
The other picture is of Nancy's Red Tri puppy Amber. She is only 6 months old and got pulled for every winners class and ended up taking her first major win on Saturday. I think that she will finish her championship really quickly.
Tucker and Lee also finished their Open Standard Agility title. They will now be competing with Kyra and me in the Elite class. Watch out!!!
I'll be in Cumberland, Maine this weekend at an AKC agility trial and show. Kyra and Denver will run in agility and then Denver will make his AKC debut in the show ring. Because Tucker is already an AKC Champion, he will get to go on vacation with Lee to Kokajo and hike and fish. Lucky him....

SPRING STORM

With temps in the 90's for the last 4 days, we had quite a show last night as a front came through. I didn't realize the extent of the wind, lightning and rain until this morning. We must have had a lightning strike to this big oak tree. Luckily it fell at the edge of the agility yard, and we just have some leaves and sticks to rake off the lawn. Guess we'll have an extra tree to stack on our wood pile to keep us warm next winter. The cost of heating oil is going up and our thermostat will probably be going down.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Happy Birthday to our family members - all 6 of them - who have had birthdays in the last couple of weeks. Emma, Veronica, Jeff, Diane, Sophie and Pop Pop. We love you all!!

T-BALL

On Monday, May 12th, I got to see my first T-ball game in years. Lee had to go to Scarborough to attend a trombone rehearsal for a concert he was performing. Cindy was at work, so I went along to help Josh, who was handling both childcare for Breanna and Lucas and assistant coach for the team. Here are a few pictures that I was able to take while bouncing Lucas... who wanted "Dada" and watching Bre eat her snack. It was fun to see my first grandchild play ball.

WE MISS YOU

We lost three members of our family in 2007. We miss each of them dearly. Below is a quote that my Uncle Tom wanted his family to have to remember him. It has become a favorite of mine for the meaning it portrays.
We remember Nanny (January 12, 2007), Bill (May 24, 2007) and Uncle Tom (Dec. 6, 2007).

Life is Eternal

I'm standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her until she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to meet and mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says, "There she's gone!" Gone where? Gone from my sight - that's all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of her destination. Her diminished size is in me, not her.

And just at that moment when someone else at my side says, "There she's gone", there are other eyes that are watching for her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "There she comes".

Annapolis, MD

On Thursday, May 8th, we loaded up the Subaru for our trip to Annapolis, MD with Mom and Dad to attend the Memorial Service for my Uncle Tom, who died in December. We packed a lunch and left around 8 in the morning (much to the chagrin of Dad, who is not a morning person) and arrived at our Comfort Inn hotel rooms about 9 hours later. The day of the Memorial Service was pouring rain (in fact it poured the entire time we were there) and we parked outside the Naval Academy Gates and walked to the chapel. It was quite a hike in our dress clothes and umbrellas. Poor Mom was wearing sandles and her feet got soaked. It was a nice service followed by a luncheon at the Officer's Club. It was really nice to see my cousins, who I haven't seen in years. Later that night, we were going to get together again at the Westin Hotel where all my Uncle's family was staying. The four of us drove to the hotel and couldn't find anyone??? We coerced the desk person to give us some room numbers and still couldn't find a soul. We drove all the way back to the Comfort Inn to get Mom's cell phone to find that Aunt Joan had left us a message. We had walked by the restaurant in the hotel a number of times while we were there and had not thought to go in because we were told to come to a "hospitality suite". Well, we finally found the party and visited and looked at old pictures and videos until about 10. We all had fun..... finally. Saturday, we had breakfast in the hotel and hit the road again. We had rain part of the way home, but it finally quit as we got north.

Enjoy the pictures.....

NADAC Agility - Greenfield, MA

May 3-4 we attended our first outdoor agility trial of the season. We went to the same trial last year, so we were familiar with the fairgrounds and camping situation. Although it was cool and wet all weekend, we still had fun. It never really rained hard.... mostly just a drizzle. The dogs were all cool anyway and they all had a great trial. I think that Tunnellers is everyone's favorite run. The entire course is made up of only tunnels and you just run as fast as you can. It is always fun when we can be in the camper enjoying friends and their dogs.

The sun finally peaked out just as we were hooking up the camper to come home.... :)

CATCHING UP

Well, it's been over a month since my last post. Things were busy with trips to Maryland, Maine, NH and Pennsylvania. We ran a couple of agility trials and moved all our furniture into our new house at the lake. Since temps are in the high 90's today, I thought I'd stay in this afternoon in the AC and catch up on my posts. It was 85 at 8:30 this morning when I got home from the gym. YUCK!! We're not ready for this heat yet. It was 54 last Friday and I was looking for an extra blanket for my bed since I had taken off my thick comforter in favor of a lighter one. We're supposed to get thunder storms this afternoon to cool things off a bit. We're all looking forward to some more temperate summer weather.
Enjoy the new posts.....