The New Hobbit Hole

[g'nad]

and he won't poop with anyone else but me

You need to get out more bro... I had my Rott trained to dump on command...we had a special code word , Scheist, (real imaginative, I know...remind me to tell yuh about the German tourists sometime)and he would walk in the brush or into the woods (I trained him not to take a dump out in the open) and take care of business...he was a great dog...I could walk him off a lead at 6 months and he wouldn't break heel...

[Corin Stormhands]

You are the only one that can recognize all the things that need to be done before the trip. The rest don't see it.

Yep. That's true. But even when I say "you need to do this before we go," it doesn't happen.

That whole episode with Corin, Jrs. ear surgery is a prime example. I nagged the Mrs. every day for two weeks to take care of that before she finally did. And we needed to know to reschedule. I nagged her for two weeks to find out if her sister was going to visit us at the beach. Finally, I had to find out...

Part of the problem is my nature. I HATE being surprised by anything. So when there's a question about something, I want to know the answer right away. I can handle it if the answer is unavailable, but if it's readily known, I want to know it.

Plays into holidays and birthdays too. Don't surprise me with anything. In a lot of ways because I need/want to know how much money is being spent. But I can also say "these are the things I want for birthday/father's day/Christmas." And I'm pretty specific because I know they're going to spend money, so it should be money spent for things I need/want. I'm not sure that I've EVER gotten anything on my list.

The Mrs., on the other hand, LOVES surprises, and wants to make a big deal out of holidays/birthdays. I think it's a wimmin thing...Drives me nuts.

[Sam Cree]

I pay alot of attention to weather, as I'm sure you do also, though alot of the science behind it is beyond me.

I think, though, that El Nino is a real phenomenon with real effects. I just think that even in the recent past we did not know that it was the cause of those effects.

Read somewhere (FR maybe) that it's now being theorized that global warming causes the effects of El Nino to be even more severe than usual. Though there's probably not much we can do about global warming since it more than likely is not caused by us.

[Corin Stormhands]

You need to get out more bro...

But here's the difference...ZAT EES NUT MY DOG!!!!!

I love the dog. I really do. But I've threatened several times to get rid of him if they don't take care of him. We got him for my older son since we thought a boy, especially an only child, needed a dog. Then the little one came along.

But the 13-year-old has allergies (probably to the cat and the dog) and the little one has asthma. And this dog sheds like crazy.

Anytime I threaten to find him a new home I always get "I'll walk him, I'll brush him, I'll feed him, I'll sweep up the dog hair..."

But guess who "I'll" turns out to be...

[Corin Stormhands]

Though there's probably not much we can do about global warming since it more than likely is not caused by us.

Algore caused global warming...

[Sam Cree]

"Sam, last I looked on the Hurricane Watch site there was nothing brewing in the Atlantic (as of yesterday afternoon).

Yeah, I see now that a tropical wave is coming ashore, that's where all the wind and rain are coming from. I love South Florida in the summer, hot and sultry with beautiful skies, good beer drinking weather, good yellowtail fishing, good weather for crossing the Gulf Stream. Just wish there weren't hurricanes.

I noticed that most dog food is full of starch: corn meal or something like that. Dogs are carnivores so eating that stuff makes them get overweight, I think, just like with people ('course dogs are people too :-) Sometimes I think Vets are more expensive than MD's.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Mrs. Stormhands and I used to think we could bring rain to the desert.

You ought to charge money for that, you could get paid for going on vacation to drought-stricken areas.

[HairOfTheDog]

Hehehe - Poor Corin.

I think you just need to start feeling thankful that you have this talent for seeing things that need done that your family lacks. See it as a source of pride. And stop nagging about everything, just choose the one most important thing. It doesn't matter if the sister shows up! Let the dishes go! - She will see them when she gets back and perhaps wish she had done them first! Get the van loaded!

And whatever you do, STOP killing their fun surprises at Christmas. Thats a drag! You have to let them think about fun things and stop with the "don't want them spending money on things I don't need" Bah humbug! Give them the money they can afford to spend and let them go be creative. It isn't about need!

[HairOfTheDog]

You need to learn something about how to be passive aggressive!

[HairOfTheDog]

Have a good time on your trip and tell your family to be glad you aren't as big a nag as me! Jeepers.

[Overtaxed]

Mrs. Stormhands and I used to think we could bring rain to the desert

You need an extended vacation, right?

[Corin Stormhands]

I noticed that most dog food is full of starch: corn meal or something like that. Dogs are carnivores so eating that stuff makes them get overweight, I think, just like with people ('course dogs are people too :-) Sometimes I think Vets are more expensive than MD's.

And he's real fond of table scraps too. My oldest never eats the crust on anything. Dog's just gonna have to learn.

We lost a very favored cat a couple of years ago. We got him from the animal shelter and he was probably sick from the beginning. He was a wonderful cat (like a brother to the kid). But his liver was enlarged and there were other problems. When he started getting really sick we spent close to $400 dollars and it was right before Christmas. I finally had to say, "okay doc, I can spend another $50 on this cat." I decided I was going to go ahead with the more expensive tests, but he died before we got back to the vet.

After Christmas, we decided to go ahead with another cat (wife wasn't ready for the dog thing yet). Of course none of the shelters had kittens, so we found an adult stray (she wasn't quite a year old). She looked healthy, but had an injury to her paw. So we spent another $300 on the "free" cat...

I guess all in all, I have no business complaining about losing the 12 cent fishes...

[RosieCotton]

You found it! Well done...sounds like the English word may come from the Gaelic in the first place, no? They're pretty close, though for all I know it's pronouced WAY different.

I'm going to try to remember it...and use it at some point.

[Corin Stormhands]

You ought to charge money for that, you could get paid for going on vacation to drought-stricken areas.

Unfortunately, it apparently doesn't work anymore...

[g'nad]

I'm outta here! Got a few meetings this afternoon, then a run, then red meat off the bone and homebrew...I'll try and stop by tonight if Mrs. g'nad doesn't take away my ketboard...

[RosieCotton]

Shameless. Absolutely shameless. (and nicely done I might add...)

Thanks! Had to beat you once before you headed out on vacation...

Though I still think it's more fun when you can sneak in one or two posts instead of five. Gives you a sense of accomplishment...

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Have a good afternoon, and if we don't see you back here, have a good weekend!

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

it apparently doesn't work anymore

Darn, that's how all of my money-making schemes seem to pan out...

[Sam Cree]

"Unfortunately, it apparently doesn't work anymore..."

Could you try going on vacation in Richmond?

[Corin Stormhands]

I think you just need to start feeling thankful that you have this talent for seeing things that need done that your family lacks. See it as a source of pride. And stop nagging about everything, just choose the one most important thing.

I know, I know, I'm just being a grouch this morning.

And whatever you do, STOP killing their fun surprises at Christmas.

See, here's the problem I have with that. I could handle surprises. But you'd think after 16 years they'd have a better handle on the things I'd like. It took my Mom 30 years to stop buying me clothes and say "here pick out what you want." But it just kinda sucks that your wife will go out and buy something she thinks is perfect and my first thought when I open it is "you really thought I'd like that?"

I know her. I know she works very hard at it. So I'm always "appreciative." But I can't help feeling that she really doesn't know me sometimes.

I'm griping a lot this a.m. Mainly because I have this to do list and can't get at it until she gets back. Then I'll be okay.

And it's better than where we were last year. My Mom went with us to the beach to watch the little one. That was okay for the most part. But by the end of the week the Mrs. and I were closer than we'd ever been to getting a divorce. My Mom knew that. After she visited at Christmas last year, she called back and talked to my son about her visit, he said to her "Well, it wasn't as bad as the beach..."

So, I'll liten up and we'll have lots of fun...as soon as we get out of here!