Not quite as easy as I thought

So. the countdown has begun and Tanner arrives home this weekend. I hope.. We are having a bit of trouble getting everyone on the plane. By some blessed gift Tuuli decided to confirm the reservations and the airline did not have them. They could not fit the larger crates on the plane and she could not travel with Tanner and four puppies. OMG!!! Most of yesterday was spent trying to work this out. I said to Tuuli, "You worry about over there, and I'll worry about over here" She rebooked Tanner and two puppies on a flight from Paris to Newark, a bit farther from me but doable and we are now waiting to confirm the flight from Helsinki to Paris. We still are waiting as I type.

Now, how to get the third puppy over here. So the planning began. A friend whose parents live in Finland are coming to Chicago on Tuesday and they have graciously offered to fly with the puppy. That works. Now, how to get the puppy from Chicago to PA.. And which puppy. If it is Chris's puppy than Chicago to Denver. Nelli is coming for a visit, but she comes Saturday. So that is where I started. Call Nelli and see if she can change her plans.. Come on Wed with the puppy. After much hand wringing I think we worked it out. Nelli will fly with Fiona on Wed and go home on Sunday.. Christina will pick the puppy up on Tuesday and she will spend the night with her and I will get them Wed. I cant' tell you how indebted I am to Christina, her parents and Nelli. I really don't know what I would have done if they had not helped me out.

It is amazing how people come together to make things happen. Its just not always as easy as it should be.

Not quite a 4 star stay

This weekend was the Watchung Regional Specialty. I am a big proponent of the venue, because I love to be on the same site as the show. I love the comraderie and just being able to hang out and not worry about getting back and forth. So, we arrive at the Rhodeway Inn.. Ok,,not the quality that I may be used to but..When I made the reservation months ago, I asked that my room be near where the ring would be.. They put me where the draft ring was the day before, all the way on the other side of the grounds. Well, this was not going to work. So we asked to be moved and were. When we entered our room imagine my surprise when the bed had not been made. Now, I don't really expect much, but I can't sleep in a bed that unknown strangers have slept in. I called the front desk. Sorry, housekeeping was gone (you bet they were) and they could only move me to another room, probably back on the other side of the world. I asked to speak to the manager. She pretty much said the same thing. Sorry, but no help here. I asked her if she could just get me some clean sheets. No she said. They I got mad.. Just get me some clean sheets and I'll make the bed myself. She said she would see what she could do. 30 minutes later, clean sheets arrived, no pillow cases. The guy said they didn't say anything about pillow cases. Well, if the sheets are dirty probably the pillow cases are as well. So he went to get us clean (I hope) pillow cases. So here we were, Newell and I ( just like at home) making our own bed. But this time we had to pay 69.99 for the honor..

But.. we still had a great time..

Better late than Never

So, every year I play in a golf tournament to benefit breast cancer. It is called "Pink Out". Yesterday was the day of the tournament and it was a beautiful day to play golf. I asked a friend of mine to bring my clubs down from the country club and I would meet her there for the 12:00 shotgun. All morning, I puttered around the house. I had the car washed. The plan was to get there around 11:00 or so, have some lunch, say hi to the girls and than enjoy a wonderful day.

Imagine my surprise when I pulled up to the course to see no women there. Seems the shotgun was at 11:00. UH OH.. "Not to worry" they said. "We'll get you out to your girls". Where are your clubs? Well, that was a great question. They were brought down by my friend and I was not playing with her and now my clubs were MIA..

My other friend was late as well. She was the one who told me the 12:00 time. So we searched and searched. And there, in the middle of the driving range was a lone cart with some sad and lonely clubs on them. I said to the nice people, I think there they are. And lo and behold, I was reunited with my sticks. My Bernese head cover still intact.

They rushed me out to my girls and after I woofed down a hot dog and a jello shooter, all was well. There is not much a jello shooter can't fix.. A great time was had by all.

Too Good to be True

So we all know the saying.... Well, I am dropping off some stuff to Good Will the other day. The guy looks into my car and notices I have crates... He askes " Are they crates" I say "Yes they are" Well, he said I just put a wire crate out for sale in the front of the store. Good condition.. I drive the car around to the front and there it was. Beautiful crate, would fit right in and only 30.00 Wow what a bargain.

I am now packing up the car to go to the show this weekend,, and I am so excited to put my new crate in the back.. There it goes, fits perfectly.. What? What is this? I can't open the door. The door is malfunctioned. The door is permanently either stuck open or shut.. I can't believe. Well, maybe I can...

You get what you pay for, and it is always too good to be true.

The meaning of life

Check out my facebook page for the meaning of life video.. It is well worth the 2 minutes it takes to watch it to put if all in perspective. Enjoy!!!

Bailing out the Ocean

Well, I finally decided to do it. Clean our Mere's room. I don't know who raised this child. I am not a pack rack, but she has kept every momento from birth. Three of her walls are covered with pictures of her and her friends at various moments in their lives, all scotch taped together on the wall. What a mess. It has taken me hours to get them off the wall without ripping them to shreds. Garbage filled with trash, old clothes and things she may want to keep. What a job.

October 18th

That date probably doesn't mean a thing to you, but to me... Ah well that is the day that Tanner comes home. I can hardly believe it. We were all ready to go and get him in Sept. We had our tickets almost bought and when we tried to make his reservation, Finair says, we only fly dogs on Mondays. What kind of weird rule is that? Anyway, the next Monday available was Oct. 11th. Well, that didn't work for us. So, on to the next plan. Tuuli is going to fly here, with Tanner and a couple of his babies in tow. We are going to have a excellent week here. Chris will fly in and it will be all wine and Finnish chocolate. I can't wait to see my boy again. I miss him so much.