Hoppin' Hoggie

Don't let the heat fool you, fall has hit Northern Virginia. I know, I know, you don't believe me. But just like the groundhog let's us know how much more winter we will have, Sophie lets us know when fall is here. It is officially fall when the toad returns.

You read that right.  Every fall, a tiny toad appears on our front walk and Sophie spots it first.  It hops, she hops. It goes into our flower bed and Sophie tries to track it. Fortunately she never catches it - I fear what could happen. But there is nothing funnier than watching Sophie and her frog hop around the yard. (Unless it is 3 in the morning and then you want to scream.)

Last night, Grannie took Sophie out and when the toad went under my car, Sophie did the same. Thankfully she was on a leash at the time.

So get ready to bust out those fall clothes. I mean who are you going to believe - meteorologists or Hoppin' Hoggie?

Spoke Too Soon...

There's a reason some words are never spoken. Once you put something into the universe it can feel like you've ruined a good thing. And that's what happened after last week's post about how great Stella is doing. She went from a clean bill of health to 3 nights in the hospital due to her immunity disorder. She had stopped eating and taking medicine due to ulcers covering her mouth and parts of her body.

Thankfully, the team at The Life Centre were able to get her on the right path and we brought her home Wednesday night with a 2 page discharge letter covering 13 medicinal steps. Different meds have to be taken at different times of the day including some liquid and rinses involving wiping her gums with tea.  Even Desitin to apply to some of her sores.  Yep, good training for baby to come as we are sleep deprived, worried and frustrated fighting to get her to take her medicine. Oh, and she is on a bland human food diet so I spent yesterday morning cooking for her.

But we do it because she is worth it. And she is definitely perkier since she came home. Now if she would just stop fighting me today about her medicine she would get even better. Stella is in charge and we are simply her servants!

Funny? Adventuresome?

I'm not adventuresome   I know I seem that way judging by my footwear but I'm really not.  I'm not a risk-taker and suffer from chronic worrying - a trait I inherited from my maternal grandmother.  And I am plagued by this fact.  Yesterday, in our Innovations Team meeting at work, we were asking to name a truth about ourselves and something we wished was true and I responded, "funny and adventuresome."  I think you know which is fact and which is wish already.

So I am vowing to change that. The real reason?  I think my life is too cocooned.  I have work, work, work, boyfriend, pups, friends, family, reading, TV and work. Quite frankly, I am so blessed but I feel like I should be doing more.  So I have officially become a volunteer with the French Bulldog Rescue Network.  And last night I was elected Secretary to my Homeowners Association Board of Directors.  I can't tell you how hard it was to apply for both opportunities due to my fear of rejection but I did it and am now thrilled to be developing new relationships that are mission based.  I'm even going to try Bikram Yoga with some girlfriends although I am desperately afraid of the heat and can feel the panic rising just thinking about it.

And next week, in St. Thomas, I will take a boat to St. John even though I'm afraid of the water.  If not, Todd and I could miss out on a beautiful day and I can't let that happen.

So none of this may seem adventuresome to you but it sure feels that way to me. So what is true about you and what do you wish was true?