The first 24 hrs

They say the first 24 hours are the worst. My question is for whom? Me or the new puppy?

When we brought Auburn home yesterday she was quite content. She did great on the ride home and slept most of the day. She has attached herself to a purple hand towel and seems to be enjoying her toys. She got to meet Belle, the baby German Shepherd next door, Sadie, Doug's Mom & Dad's Cocker Spaniel, and Abby, Rick & Lisa's mini Schnauzer. Auburn had many visitors and she loved being held by each of them. She even enjoyed playing with Trenton.

But the one thing she does not like (you guessed it!) is her cage.

When we first put her in it last night she whined for a few minutes and eventually fell asleep. Then at 11:20 she began to cry. I held out and she eventually fell back asleep. However, the time between her sleeping and crying disappeared and she was doing nothing but crying. I got up around 2 to take her out and we spent the rest of the night on the couch. She actually sleeps pretty good... with me next to her.

This morning we ate breakfast and I finally got her to (as politely as I know how to say it)do #2. She has no problem doing #1 and she is doing great about holding it until she gets outside. Then she played with Doug while I made us breakfast. I put her in her cage and the crying began. I swear it sounds like we are stabbing her with hot pokers. I was in tears half-way through my waffle. I tried not to go get her but my heart got in the way. I just held her while I was crying. Tomorrow is going to be so hard! Even though I will not hear her crying I will know she will be.

Here are a few pictures from out first 24 hours.

Another punch in the gut

Lately I have been in a "down-in-the-dumps" mood. I know everybody goes through a period in their life where it seems like they are stalled. Nothing is changing, you are not moving forward, you are not growing. You feel as if the gear stick in your life is stuck in neutral and a wrecking ball keeps pounding your side of the car over and over again. I keep asking, "When is it going to end?" but it never seems to stop. Just when I think things may be ok, I get another punch in the gut.
This time the punch came from the IRS. We try to plan and save for extra expenses but this one we did not foresee, and it was a big wrecking ball. Isn't it funny how you do not allow yourself to buy something or do something because it cost too much but then an unexpected expense happens and it just so happens to be the exact amount of the thing you wanted or wanted to do? Ironic isn't it!
Doug and I will be in our 30's soon. I know we are very lucky and our lives are much better than some; however, where we are is not good enough for me. I want more for us. (This refers to all aspects of our lives.) Is that wrong of me to want more? Am I being punished for setting higher goals and higher standards for us?
I feel like every time we take one step forward the wrecking ball comes in and pushes us two steps back. I feel like I am always playing catch up. Doug says I need to stop "expecting" so much and be happy with the way things are but why should I settle? If I want to be President of the US, why can't I strive to be that? Isn't that what we all should do?
I think Sex and the City did an episode on how you can't have it all. You can't be successful in life (work, money, personal goals) and be successful in love (family, significant other, etc). In life you have your health (mental & physical), family, friends, work, & wealth. Is it one or the other? Can you have a balance? Right now I feel like it is one or the other. I have family and friends. (Even though there are a few of them I am really missing right now!)I blame the others for my mental and physical health issues. Ha! Looking back now, I would say we once had work and wealth. So did I have to trade those things for family and friends? In what way is that fair?
I know I will eventually get out of the rut I am in, but if I get another punch you might see me running down Washington road screaming at the top of my lungs! Will you visit me in my white, padded cell?

Do you believe you can Jinx something? Part 2

Answer - YES you can!

First I would like to say "you are welcome" to all the Green Bay fans.

The first and most of the second quarter, I watched the game from the couch at Doug Mom's house. Green Bay played well.
The third quarter I moved to the recliner. The Steelers came back.
Right before the TD in the fourth quarter I moved back to the couch because of how bad Green Bay was playing.
Final score - Green Bay 31 Pittsburgh 25!

I have witnesses to this! Doug's Mom agreed with me that I should move back over to the couch and as soon as I did the Packers started playing like they did in the 1st quarter again. She even thanked me for moving back over.

I must truly have a gift. Now, I never know which way this gift could go. Moving to the couch could jinx the team I am pulling for or it could jinx the opposing team. I have no control! But I do know (confirmed now!) that if I am doing something and my team is playing good, I better not stop! And if they are doing bad, I better change it up!

So when is my Ticker-Tape Parade scheduled?

And yes, yelling at the TV DOES help.

Do you believe you can jinx something?

Do you believe you can jinx something? This could be an event or a person. Well when I think about it I do not rationally think I could effect something happening or someone else's life. However, when I am watching Auburn football I run out of the room when they are about to kick the winning field goal. I am not sure if it is a "I can't stand to watch" kind of a thing or if it is a "if I watch they won't make it" kind of a thing. As long as I can remember I have been this way when watching football games. Now I make Doug watch and tell me what happened. Even for the National Championship I was in the other room pacing back and forth.

But I think it goes deeper than "I can't stand to watch". When I started watching and cheering for the Braves in the play-offs, they lost. When I picked a Nascar driver and started pulling for him, he started loosing. There has never been a time where I felt that my attention had a positive effect. There have even been times when I chose not to watch a game because I would be scared they would lose because of me.

This weekend is the Super Bowl. Now I normally do not watch NFL football but with my Mother-in-law being a Packer fan and her entire family being from Wisconsin, I have been watching a few games here and there. We had tickets to the first Packer game in ATL but we sold the tickets. I did not watch the game and they lost. Then when they played the second time in the playoffs I watched on TV and they beat the crap out of ATL.

I have not watched many of the games this season but with it being the Super Bowl I plan on watching the game. So will I jinx the Packers by watching and cheering for them? Is it all in my head or can my cheers for a team really effect their performance? I think I will decided at half time whether or not I should watch the rest or not. And I apologize now if the Packers lose because of me.

GO PACK GO!

From one OCD to the other...

Last night I was sitting on the couch, relaxing, watching TV with my husband when I got a text message from Sara. I opened up the message and saw she had taken a picture of something and sent it to me. Now, to a normal human being this would not bother them or spark an hour long conversation but it is me we are talking about here. (Yes I can admit I am not in the "normal" category.)If you have not read my previous blog, http://heatheranddougnunley.blogspot.com/2010/05/peanut-butter-jar.html, then please read before proceeding to fully grasp my story.

Here is the picture Sara sent me...



... and up under it the caption read, "Is this acceptable for pnut butter jar?"

After my answer she called me "clinically insane". Then her husband, Wes, got in on the fun of my torment by asking if the best way to get the PB even was by using a fork or a cookie! He even took a shot at Doug and asked him to show him the proper way to make a bed.

The best part about the picture is it made me realize another one of my OCD complexes. You know when you open the PB jar for the first time there is a seal across the top? Well, in my house that seal has to be completely torn off. There can be no left over pieces around the edges like Mrs. Sara's. And of course it does not stop with just the PB jar. It has to be done that way on the Advil bottle, the vitamin bottle, any tubes of creams, any grocery item such as the salad dressing and PB, and on any other item you can think of that has a seal. I am thinking of renaming my blog to "Heather & Doug - The Married OCD Couple".

So if you ever want to shut me up and keep me occupied for a while, hand me your ugly PB jars and your bottles of Advil. I won't stop until they are pretty!

Yumm!

... nothing is sweeter than summer time and American Honey...

Well, I think I have found something sweeter! Milk and Honey Shoes is a web-site where you can design your own shoes! You pick everything out; from the heel height to the straps. Any color, any fabric, any style. How AWESOME is that! Yes, it is a little pricey but think of the time you would save from searching for that perfect shoe. I am saving now! I like 2" heels and I am not sure if they do it but if they do I am ordering me some peep toe, 2" inch heel shoes. Do you know how hard it is to find "cute" shoes with small heels?
Now let me warn you, the site is usually down. They have been getting so much publicity that their server can not handle the amount of site visitors. So if you can not get on the first time, try and try again. They are working on upgrading and hopefully will be done soon so we can all get our customized shoe ordering on!

http://www.milkandhoneyshoes.com/

I think I am going to need a bigger closet!

2010 in Pictures...

It snowed... the day before we were scheduled to go out of town.


Charleston, South Carolina for Valentines Day!


Doug's 28th Birthday!


Matt & Kim's wedding!


Jessica graduated from college!


Baseball in Augusta!


I had a pool party for my birthday this year!


Panama City Beach Florida; July 4th


Eating our wedding cake a week before our anniversary because we would be in Wisconsin on our actual anniversary.


Wisconsin trip


South Carolina vs Tennessee; Columbia, South Carolina


Happy Halloween! Doug and I are not the dress up types.


Lady Antebellum concert in Augusta!


Jessica's Birthday @ the local hockey game.


Trenton Ellis turned 1 year old!


We did it! Auburn beat the crap out of South Carolina and we where on our way to the BCS National Championship!


Merry Christmas!

So this month has been a busy one. Work has kept me pretty busy all day and my life has kept me busy all evening. Between the snow and the funeral, it feels like I have done nothing but play catch up at work. I have only worked 10 full days this month! Too bad the other days have not been spent at the beach or a spa!

I was in Bama for the National Championship celebration this past weekend but I chose not to go. Me and Mom had not spent any time together the whole week I was home so we took the day to get away and do some shopping. We did go to Auburn the day after the funeral with some family to stock up on our Auburn apparel. It was wonderful to see the National Champions flags already flying on College Street.



I hate I missed the celebration but it was time well spent with my Mommy. The whole week we had at least a living room full of people at our house throughout the day. It was great seeing my family especially since it has been a long time since we all got together. but it did make me a little claustrophobic. Me and Doug left one evening to go to Wal-Mart just so we could get out of the house for awhile. Our church and family friends are the best anyone could ask for. They asked if there was anything they could do and did something anyways if you told them no. We had so much food that we did not have to bother thinking about what we were going to eat. I am thankful to everyone who called, gave their time or cooking skills, and prayed for us last week. I am especially thankful that I was able to take the days off I needed to be with my family. Not everyone can say that and I am truly do appreciate it.

In response to a friend of mine's blog that asked would you rather know or not know that someone was about to die... You want to know so you can have that last conversation and tell them how much you love, appreciate, and are going to miss them. You also want the time to prepare yourself so you do not go into a state of shock. I think more people get severely depressed after loosing a loved one if it was a sudden loss compared to having time to process it. You also get to appreciate the times you spend together more. Now that I have said that, let me say this. I also do not think the person should have to suffer. I would rather them go quickly and feel no pain than have one last day with them. Yes, it would be nice to be able to have that last conversation with everyone you love but that will not always be able to happen. No last conversation or script of what you would like to say is needed if you tell them now while they are still here. If you tell them now how much you love them and appreciate them then when they pass they will go knowing exactly how you felt about them.

Who takes pictures at funerals?

Answer - MY FAMILY!

How weird is that? They took pictures of the casket, my Grandmother inside the casket, the flowers, and of people standing by the casket. These pictures where taken at the funeral home and at the grave site. I can understand the pictures of the flowers because flowers do not last forever but the rest is just plain oogie. I refused to take part in this family tradition... and yes I said family tradition. It seems that ALL my family like to take pictures at funerals. We found a photo album that belonged to my Grandmother that was nothing but funerals! Caskets, flowers, and bodies!

My question to you is, is this a southern thing? Or is this an old fashion thing? Or is this just a weird thing? I love my family and all but this is not a tradition I would like to continue. And for the ones closest to me who practice this crazy tradition, you can forget about me taking pictures at your funeral and do not even think about doing it at mine!

A sporadic blog

Since I still have much of nothing going on to write about, here are a few sporadic things that have happened in the past few weeks.

Well two of the biggest things (one the biggest thing in my life besides Doug (love you sweetie!)) happened all at the same time... Auburn won the National Championship and we got snow. Well snow then ice but it was snow first! The game was a great game. All I will say about it is the Defense won that game for us and I am very proud of them. I have enjoyed flying my new Auburn flag for my car that my Mom got me for Christmas. Ironically (HAHA!) so have many other Auburn fans. I see way more people with Auburn on their car or clothes since they won the SEC championship. Very Odd... I ordered my National Champions shirt yesterday. I have to save up some for the cup, magnet, car decal, and everything else they sell that has 2010 National Champions on it. :)My Birthday should be easy this year for Doug. Ha!

The snow was very nice but we did not get to enjoy it much. It started snowing at 9 pm Sunday, right when it was time to go to bed. They still had not canceled work yet so we had to go to bed and get some sleep to be up at the normal time. By the time we got up the ice had taken over the snow. My neighbor tried to have a snow ball fight but the ice would not cooperate. I stayed in the house and admired from the window. I did open the door a few times to take some pictures but mostly I handed the camera to Doug and sent him out. Ha! The best part was watching the Weather Channel. They were set up in Atlanta and shooting live all over the city. All they talked about was the huge and dangerous winter storm that was plummeting the southeast. Then they would pan out to show the inches of snow and ice. Ha! I bet the people in places like New York and Wisconsin were laughing their butts off at us. They don't close anything unless there is 2 feet or more (just guessing here) of snow. Us southerners run around like its the end of days, stocking up on our food and water where they get in their cars and go to work.

And guess what... I had to get a new phone!
-Doug this is the part you stop reading!-
I never had any (according to me!) trouble with my old dinosaur phone but I had to get a new one. So what happens? The new one gives me problems. Now yall know me so you know how I love change and I love replacing things I have had for a long time... I had already made the switch once and I had come to like my new phone. Now I had to do it all over again. What made it worse was they sent me a refurbished (AKA USED and BROKE) phone. So of course this leads to a "disagreement" because I am not ecstatic about the new phone. I am happy that I have another phone but we only had it turned on for an hour. How do we know THIS phone is going to work properly? Plus I had to go and change everything to get it back the way I had it. How dare they expect me to personally customize the phone to the way I prefer it! They should have someone do it before hand. Every time I could not do something or figure out why the phone would not do it (yes, it was the phone a few times and not the operator), I would ask Doug and he would take the phone and do it for me. While he would have it I would get super anxious that I would not be able to get it back the way I wanted it or that I would not be able to do it all that night. Doug would get mad at me for not "playing" with my phone enough to know how to change everything I wanted to change. I responded by telling him to stop taking the phone away from me and show me how to do it. I think I have it all done now but I have not "played" with it to find out either. I will take not knowing for now... Kiss it DOUG!

Shout out to Margaret! I hope I made you laugh today!