"It's A Dog's Life....."

 My rancher granddad frequently made reference to a “dog’s life” as he booted Ole Pup from in front of the screen door on the back porch, “Lazy hound dog! What a dog’s life!”

Granddad got Old Pup to follow him closely to chase snakes, where they (and Mutt Neely) were the only ones to ranch, up on Comanche Peak, near Granbury, Texas, back before there was a resort lake, retirement homes, or a nuclear power plant…. Back when the peak was covered with Caliche rock, scrub Mesquites, Cedars and was miles from town.

Again, when Granddad would stomp past Ole Pup and thump him on the ear to wake him up, point to that beat-up old ’54 Ford pickup as he was getting ready to go to the pasture to feed the sheep. 

While at the sheep pen, drenched from sweat in that Texas one-hundred plus baking sun, Granddad would yank that half-chewed unlit cigar from his mouth and give a shrill whistle, wave his sweat-stained wide-brim straw hat in a circle and mumble under his breath, “What a dog’s life!”  Ole Pup would uncoil from the front seat of the pickup truck, slink down to the ground, stretch his legs and trot off to circle the sheep to bring in the ones that had strayed too far away from the flock. 

 

Then as Granddad would wind down the day by re-lighting his soggy half-smoked cigar, head to HIS faded brown plaid overstuffed chair, and would give a yank on Ole Pup’s collar to drag him down onto the floor.   

As a youngster, I never knew just what he was referring to, “Dog’s life!”  However, I’m beginning to understand what Granddad was talking about now that we host our three oldest grandkids and their three small dogs that live inside the house and sleep on the sofa; sleep on the love seat; sleep on the overstuffed club chair; sleep on the wicker chest in front of the living room window, and often sleep on our dining chairs. When you sit down to visit or watch TV, inevitably one of the little ones reclaims their title of “Lap Dog!”  Within two minutes she’s snuggling & snoring!  Then there’s Gentle George, our 23 year-old grandson’s Cinnamon Lab that sleeps on the patio, right outside and up against the back door.  Without fail, when I go to my computer in the office, George ambles to the door, unwinds three circles, relaxes and slips off into “a dog’s life!”    

Hurry...It's Coming......

Every weekday Irwin and I meet Carrie at her work and pick up Clark.  We usually go to the park; do a few projects; feed him his lunch; read a few books; take a nap; grab a snack; and drive back to meet Mommy.

As we are trying to move Clark along to meet Mommy before the traffic gets too busy on Loop 820 around NE Mall.  Not aware of our constant reminder to "HURRY before traffic gets too BAD"...Clark was taking it all in with concern.

Yesterday, Clark asked, "Where is the traffic?"
I quickly answered, "It's coming our about 5 o'clock (p.m.)."
Is Grandaddy going to go with us?
Not today, Grandaddy has something else to do.  I'll drive us today.  But we need to hurry and get going before the traffic gets too bad."
Are we going to see traffic today?
Where is traffic?
It's not here, yet?
He put his head down and closed his eyes.  "I don't want to see traffic!"
Then it began to dawn on me that I had frightened him of something big and bad that he didn't know what it was.
So, the rest of the trip to Mommy's work was spent in a very detailed explanation about traffic!
....and again today we talked about TRAFFIC in a more calm manner.

The Art of Snuggling......

The cold days are great for snuggling!  Snuggling breaks the chill....whether snuggling with a one of those sleeve blankets seen on TV & a cup of hot moca-coffee;  or with a your favorite movie & a box of chocolates; a good book; a big furry dog; your handsome sweetheart & a nice fire in the fireplace; or a soft fuzzy blanket while you watch the snow fall with the kids & talk about walking to school barefoot in the snow...etc..   However, IF you try to snuggle up to a WET blanket....it just won't work....Hang it out to dry and finish the book by the glowing fire!!

"The Happy Song"

Listen to this very brief & happy song....sung by Clark.  Come on!   Sing along if you like! .... If by chance you've forgotten the words & tune from when you were three years old, just watch & listen the first time through...... then click on "Replay"..... On the 2nd play,  you really should be able to join right in ..... it will possibly bring back memories of when you have had your own "Happy Song" .... Guaranteed to bring a smile anytime you repeat it.  

Caution: It can become addictive!  The more you play & sing along, the closer your smile becomes a chuckle & then a giggle & who knows you might even show some teeth!  

Perhaps sometime during the day when you or your friend needs a "Happy Song" you could share it with them.   Can you imagine what this world would be like if we all carried this little "Happy Song" to keep it ready just in case of an emergency? ....such as: 

• On a long and tiring flight that is non-stop and so is the passenger next to you .... Just softly begin to sing "The Happy Song."  Your smile will work it's way to your face and before long the whole plane is singing and happy.

• In traffic, on the Interstate,..... begin "The Happy Song" and your commute could be contagious!
   
• In the waiting room of the dentist.....B-I-N-G-O! ...and you could have created yourself a new job encouraging the anxious patients!
• Shopping those horrific isles at the supermarket when everyone is in the "me first" mode, break out in full voice with your "Happy Song" accompanied with your very best Sunday smile... guarantee the isle you're on will either empty or you will be joined with a chorus!
• At the Ball Park in those long crowded corridors leaving the game, you may have to sing "The Happy Song" through a couple of times, smiling and gesturing with your arms for the guys to join in, but before long you will ..... (well, I'm not sure the results; I've never been in that situation.) 
   
•  Payday-Saturday at the mall.... when the families of eight are pushing twin baby-strollers up the wrong side into on coming traffic.  Lead your family in "The Happy Song" and everyone will immediately back up to the walls, take out their picture-taking I-phones thinking you are beginning a Flash Mob experience....(wave, smile, and enjoy the clear path).
• Husbands!  In the delivery room (oops!) .... On second thought, this might be when you would want to sing silently to yourself and wait to do your giggles when that blessed bundle arrives you will be ready to teach him/her their first song.... "The Happy Song."  And just wait until you hear your little precious eventually sing it back to you!
   
• One of my favorite movies is "The Unsinkable Molly Brown",  with Debbie Reynolds.  She portrayed a woman who definitely refused to focus on the dangers and troubles, but kept her sights and heart on "The Happy Song" saving an dangerously overloaded lifeboat.
  
  "Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms."  (Psalm 95:2)
  
  "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise." (Psalm 98:4)
  "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)
  
  " Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9)

Lighted, fold-away Christmas trees......

The brilliant guy that invented our lighted, fold-away Christmas tree should have received the Nobel Peace Prize! 










It saved the age old argument of who was going to dismantle our tree after Christmas!










I did, as usual....but I did it in record time!  Reminded me of the Calf-Roping event at the Rodeo....to show the completed time I even threw up my hands as I completed "the tie!"

Grandsons (Braiden & Brendan) are masters at putting up the lights and taking them down....and their record time beat my time by 17 hours! .....and many of hundreds of dollars in medical bills!

Old age seems to have hit with an “Ouch!”.....

The last two weekends (and the five days between them) I helped our daughter Carrie move her four offices from a two story building into their own not-too-ready office building.  It took us one whole day just to pack and move the supply and old file closet.  It looks great but I have used muscles that I haven’t used in a long time.

Then,  ALL 17-days of this week, I played basketball, soccer, golf, football, and baseball with an enthusiastic sports-nut three-year-old.  

(Excuse me while I go do another RAIN DANCE, snow, or  I would even take a dust storm so I could lie on the couch, prop up my feet, and watch some Disney movies!)

This precious child is such a blessing is really so much fun...it's just me being 68 that's so tough.  We enjoy him all  
                                                                       day, every single day.   But.........

Clark loves all sports, and really, really, really loves baseball!  And since I was so tired and wanted to recuperate from such a tough couple of weeks,  I thought a great way to wear his energy level down was to my speed.  I pitched the ball very slowly, so as to let him make contact with the ball MORE…and stay up at bat MORE.  I was slow to retrieve the ball when he hit it so that he would get MORE time to run the bases and therefore, stay at bat longer.

Then, I encouraged him to run and touch all three bases that I had drawn on the driveway/patio.  I tried to help him hit lots of home-runs so he could stay at bat. This child genius remembered every detail of the Ranger game we took him to two months ago……and he called his own balls and strikes…and outs…..accurately!!!

IF ANYONE else tells me that keeping a young child, in my old age, will keep me young, I an going to hit them with my crutches!