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It's a Dog's World.

One of my greatest joys are the dogs that have been a part of my life. My lifelong friend, Jazzy, a Cocker Spaniel/Schnauzer mix passed away last year just before Christmas. She was a major part of my childhood and was eager to be a part of whatever my latest crazy dog fad was. Jazzy was a show dog, a sled dog, and an active agility participant. Did I mention her breed? She would do anything for a little love. Some might describe her as a nuisance. She terrorized the mailman and barked at anything that dared to move down our street (watch out rolling leaves!). Sometimes she was difficult but I think we can all agree, we wouldn't have traded her anything. RIP.

Since moving out on my own a few years ago, I realized my dwelling wasn't a home. It didn't take me long to realize what was missing. Eight months later, and after hours of searching, we threw in the towel and adopted a five pound "Dachshund/Fox Terrier mix. He was the cutest little furry mess our eyes had laid eyes on. We named him Harvey. He had a rough start to life and wasn't very trusting of humans. He had serious abandonment issues. We showered him with love and tried to look past his lack of potty training (oh puppies!) and constant finger, leg, and arm biting (thanks teething). Today, Harvey is an extremely active, healthy, happy, thirty pound dog. He is the smartest dog I have ever met and he loves us with every wiggly bone in his body. 

Last weekend I went to the Dogtoberfest with my mom and fiance. This used to be a yearly tradition for us before life got a little too crazy. It's basically events, booths, and dogs. Lots of dogs. The weather was perfect. I think what I love the most is the number of people who care about dogs as much as I do, just right here in my little part of the world. Everyone had a different breed, each with its own personality. I wish I could hear everyone's story. Where did their dog come from and what was the moment when they knew that was the dog for them? 


Dogs are family members. Homes without them are quieter and definitely much cleaner but are missing the love that only a dog can provide. 

Enough of me sounding like a crazy dog lady, here are Seven Reasons that I LOVE Dogs:


7. Eager to Please. Were you reading earlier? My 20 lb. terrier let me use her as a sled dog. Enough said. (Disclaimer: No terriers were harmed while training for the Iditarod).

6. Friends Forever. You may leave your dog (not by choice) for an undisclosed amount of time. They won't be mad that you didn't call. All they care about is that you made it back safely.


5. They will eat whatever you give them. You don't have to worry about getting creative here, just toss some kibble into their bowl and they will happily devour it. That's not to say they won't droll over your chicken. 


4. They will always lend an ear and never criticize your decisions. Sometimes all you want is someone to hear you out without making any judgment. 


3. They don't mind when you have bad days. They will probably even offer to cheer you up. How can you be down when there's a dog around (no rhyme intended)?


2. Snuggling is what they do best. Sometimes they don't realize how large they are. Harvey, if you're reading this, please stop using my shoulder as a perch.


1. They are always, always thrilled to see you. When was the last time you saw a human who was that excited to see you? Never. Harvey takes on the form of another creature anytime one of us comes home. He gets a case of the uncontrollable wiggles and his tail flops around so fast, it has literally cleared our coffee table. 


If you are reading this and haven't owned a dog, you are truly missing out. 

Where are you Summer?

Apparently fall is officially here. Le sigh. 


I love summer. I love the sun, the warmth, the memories of freedom. I love wearing short shorts and tank tops. I love letting my dog out at 7 am and feeling a warm breeze rush over my skin. I love the smell of fresh cut grass and the way it feels under my bare feet. I love barbeques. I love driving windows down with my music blaring, it makes me feel cool. I love sunglasses. I love summer. 


So, to cope with the loss of my close friend summer, I have decided to make a list of 7 things that I actually love about fall. 


7. Boots! I like shoes, a lot. And there is something sassy about a good pair of boots.


6. Apple Cider. Maybe it's available all year, but I like to think it isn't. It's fruit with a kick.


5. Heaters. I love the musty smell that leaks out of the vent when the heater first kicks on. I love driving with the windows down and heat blasting (see ode to summer).


4. Candy Corn. Multi-colored, triangular bites of sugar. The layers are so perfectly proportioned. They are good for the soul. 


3. Pumpkin Cookies. Or bread, or pie. Pumpkin as a food is wonderful.


2. Halloween Decorations. It's true that fall includes more than Halloween but there really aren't any good turkey decorations. 


1. Pumpkin Patches. Call me old school but I still enjoy a good trip to the pumpkin patch. A magical wagon takes us to a field of pumpkins looking for good homes. We find one to adopt and then rip it's guts out. But, it wears a smile. 

Exercise Doesn't Have to Be About Running 10 Miles

Exciting - I'm a guest blogger for fitbotommedgirls.com!!

Exercise Doesn't Have to Be About Running 10 Miles

Seven

Alright so I've decided I need to focus this a little more. That doesn't mean I won't be posting random excerpts from the mind of KT, just that I found a fun topic...for now.


Seven has such a significance in our world. Seven days of creation, seven deadly sins (see Se7en, with Brad Pitt), seven wonders of the world, and the list goes on. I thought it would be fun to post a topic each week (span of 7 days) of 7 things. 


So, my first topic, in honor of my trip this weekend, is "7 Things I Love About Chicago." I'm no expert, but these things I know.


7. The L. Chicago's finest transportation system -  partially e"l"evated. I'm from a city where everyone drives. 


6. Dunkin' Donuts. Chicago isn't the home, but you can find one on every block. Something else KC is lacking. 


5. The Architecture. Again, no expert, but there is a giant, reflective bean in the middle of the city. And they have the Sears tower. You can stand above the the city with nothing but a piece of glass separating you and the busy street below. What do you mean there isn't a weight limit?!


4. Chicago Style Pizza. I could eat pizza any day, from any place. But pizza is so much more impressive when it's 4 inches thick.


3. The Cubs. Ah the Cubs. I wish you would win a World Series so I can stop coddling a grown man every Fall. But really, they are America's favorite team and quite a sight to see.


2. Wrigley Field. Is that cheating? This stadium is extraordinary. It sits in the middle of the city, it's sold out nonstop, and people wait in line for hours to get in. It hasn't been touched by the modern world. It's distraction free baseball, the way baseball was meant to be. 


1. Jared Wight. The love of my life was born in Chicago. Lucky for me, he didn't stay there forever. 

No pain, no gain. Or something.

Yoga Booty Ballet - Yoga Core. One word...KILLER. Those are 2 crazy chicks with rockin' bods. I was shaking from head to toe and fell over more than once. Ah yes, backstep, I feel so weak. There is no need for that. I'm young and beautiful and I need to feel beautiful! So after I had my butt handed to me by the yogi twins, I did some crunches, jumping jacks, and a little weight lifting. Smile, you are beautiful too! 

Red Swingline Stapler

I need something to do. I'm craving a new goal (as if wedding planning isn't enough). So, I'm applying for grad school; two actually. The first is through MU. It's a library media specialist teaching certification. I would get to spend my days in an elementary (hopefully) school library, reading children's books...my favorite! Oh and you can't beat free summers! They accept 12 people a year...so that only leaves 11 spots for the rest of the country. Yikes.


The other is a new creative writing program at UMKC. I could choose a focal point in fiction or screenwriting. Too exciting! But, at the end of the program you have to have a completed work, from your focus area, and defend it in front of a panel of professors. Talk about nerve-wracking. 


After the GRE and application fees I probably won't be able to afford grad school anyway. But I feel like I'm so much better than a low-paying data entry job. I can't live stuffed in a silent cubicle day after day. There has to be something more. I know God has a bigger purpose for me and I intend to find out what it is. But until then, the clicking of keyboards and hum of the air conditioner will just have to suffice. 

Students

It's Friday night and I must say, I couldn't be happier. This week was my first "first week of school" experience on the staff side at a university. It was insane. Clueless students, from all walks of life, stampeded through the office day after day. The phones and fax machine were constantly screaming. If you managed to get away, there was no solitude. There was always someone, somewhere.

But it made me think back to my first college experiences. And I get sad; maybe a little jealous of the students. I wish I was in their place: excited, optimistic, and terrified.

I miss the community, the atmosphere, and the learning.

But, it's Friday night, I have the weekend to relax, and I don't have any homework. Cheers.

OH!

Did I mention..I found my dress and it's beautiful!

Brides Against Breast Cancer, check it out! 

I highly recommend this to any engaged lady looking for a special dress.

http://www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org/

:)

We're on top of the World!

Made it back to normalville.  I must say it feels good to sleep on a mattress that won't deflate. I like peeing with a rug under my feet. And showering isn't bad either. 


We hot-dogged, s'mored, tented, hiked, and bean bagged. That's right, I said hot-dogged. But really, we had an afternoon long bean bag toss tournament. Hardcore. 


Upon hiking a 2 mile "warmup" (see photo) and a 4 miler at 13,100' the "real deal," I have come to terms with the fact that I am out of shape. If you aren't able to recognize the signs on your own, vomiting and nearly losing all oxygen (mostly caused by altitude sickness) should definitely clue you in. Hiking at high altitudes is hard for anyone, but especially a desk jockey from Kansas City, MO. 


With that being said, I have the best fiance a woman could ask for. He absolutely loves the outdoors (clue in on the mountain beard). He's stronger and faster than me and probably wanted more than anything to reach our original goal of Mt. Ypsilon a peak at 13,500'. But we summited at a slightly lower peak, Chiquita at 13,100'. He stayed behind with me and encouraged me to keep going when I probably would've turned around. We're partners; lovers. That's how it should be, the two go hand-in-hand. 

S'more what? I didn't have anything yet.

Got my traction tennies. Finishing packing. Definitely bringing along lot's of cleanliness items.

Yes I CAN!

Thought about bringing along my bear mace. Let us not forget bears are the #1 threat to America. It'll probably get more use from predators here.

^ Camping...it's in tents. ^

boots?

I'm stuck in a 6 month probation period at my new job. The good news is we planned this trip prior to starting. So, Colorado camping here we come! I've always wanted to go camping with the love of my life. I guess I always imagined it would be just the two of us sitting by the fire, snuggling, and enjoying each others company. How about camping in the middle of Estes Park with 4-5 other deodorant-less couples, without a shower in the vicinity. I'm sorry but I'm not totally convinced this is the camping experience I have always dreamed of. Thank the sweet Lord Jesus there will be a toilet. He knows squatting isn't kind to women. Everyone else claims to be packed and ready...they aren't leaving until Friday. What is so crucial that it must be packed a week in advance? Maybe I'm not thinking about this hard enough. I was going to count my socks and undies, you know, the basics. Anyway, it should be quite the experience. More to come as the week goes on.

Sometimes decisions aren't as easy as choosing red or blue...

especially when they don't taste like chocolate.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

...Robert Frost

Summer Lovin'

Family, barbeque, movies, warm nights, sunny days, relaxing, shorts, tan lines, traveling, lemonade, and garage sales. I LOVE Summer.