under the bed

So, with the risk of making this a blog entirely about Olivia, here is yet another interesting tidbit about my puppy.  Ryan and I discovered that Olivia likes to go under our bed and....who knows really but we assume just lay there or sleep.  This isn't that surprising.  I think dogs might like close spaces and I bet she has some kind of stash under there that we will be delighted to discover when we move our bed.  She sometimes goes under there before bed and we can hear her crawling around.  The part of this story that is kind of strange is her latest habit.  Last night was the second time this has happened.  Olivia was bored and frustrated with us because, after being gone all day, we proceeded to both sit at the table and study.  We did our best to completely ignore her.  Before long I could hear a faint whine.   Olivia went under the bed and started crying softly to herself.  This happened another time too, and I am starting to think that she really just gets so depressed from lack of attention that she can think of nothing better to do than go off by herself to cry!  I know this sounds very sad, but she definitely got her way.  We went in and coaxed her out and she was wagging her tail and so happy.  I've never met a dog with more human tendencies.  

country music

Every once in a while I rediscover country music.  I think I'll describe it as a guilty pleasure.  It's one of those things I don't indulge in much but when I do I usually enjoy the experience.  I flipped through the stations on the radio last weekend and ran into some country music.  I also found myself making a genius playlist on itunes to a Carrie Underwood song.  Tonight I'm watching the CMAs.  There's something about it that makes me want to move to Tennessee and have a big family dinner.  (Not necessarily with either of my families - they aren't very country - but with Faith Hill's family).  Does anybody else remember the Step-by-Step episode where Karen wanted to be a country singer?  And then I think Dana ended up singing...I'm not saying that country singers are the best.  I have heard some sketchy vocals tonight.  But there is something heart-warming and uplifting about wide open spaces and empowered newly single people who are going to make it on their own!  And yes, the guy from Rascal Flatts named his son Jagger and Taylor Swift performed in a purple Barbie-esque dress.  

toys!

You all know Olivia and her obsessions with playing and attention.  Her "behaviors" reached a funny point this weekend.  Ryan and I have slowly been putting toys away over the last week.  There's something unbearable about sitting down on the couch and being barked at consistently.  Anyway - as the toys started disappearing Olivia became very creative.  She usually will utilize a wayward sock or abandoned hat etc. to keep play time going once the toys are gone.  This weekend, however, she made it clear that she would play regardless.  Fed up with us, she ran into the bedroom.  She ran back into the room with the tv remote in her mouth.....she dropped it on the floor at our feet and looked at us with the knowing look in her eye.  Throw this!

elevators!

I work in a building with four elevators.  This isn't so abnormal.  Most buildings with one or more floors have elevators these days.  From the time I started working in this building, I heard whispers and rumors that the building managers were going to be updating the elevators in the not-so-distant future.  This interested me because most likely that meant the elevators weren't quite operating up to par.  I work on the 11th floor, so the elevators are basically a necessity.  I have to tell you that I count it as a blessing every time I make it to my floor or back down again.  The elevators are not well.  The doors continue to close no matter how hard you try to keep them open for the nice lady who rushed in at the last minute.  It's not unthinkable that a person could be stuck in between the doors while the elevator begins going up or down.  One elevator has such abrupt stops and starts that your ears pop and you loose your balance.  My elevator today squeaked every time a new person stepped on and I promise I could feel it bounce slightly with each addition.  Work hasn't started on the elevators.  I realized today that I will continue to put my life on the line each work day...it's a sobering thought.  

trick or treat

Last night was my first experience passing out candy to trick-or-treaters.  I had Ryan pick up some candy on his way home for work and I was ready with both porch lights on at 5:00 (the time the news told me it starts in Fishers).  Nothing happened for about an hour, and then...while I was doing the dishes...I heard a knock!  I opened the door and a really cute little boy dressed in all black with a scary mask on stared at me!  I think he was about 4 and his mom told him to say trick-or-treat.  I let him take some candy and was sooo excited for my first experience!!  :)  I told Ryan about it as soon as he got back.  Here's the twist -- my next knock didn't go as well.  Ryan was back at this point with Olivia and I was excited to show them how fun it was.  I opened the door and just stared.  A big "kid" stood there in a sweatshirt with a pillow case.  When I offered him some candy he took the biggest handful he could possible get.  I was crushed...and then I realized it was a little like Rachel's experience in Friends.  Next year I'll be ready for the "big kids."  I'll hand them a single piece myself.  

penelope

I'm worried that my plant, Penelope, might be sick.  You have to understand that the plants in my life are usually cursed.  I was given a plant when I first moved into the apartment downtown.  Some people from my dad's office gave me a start of a plant they loved.  I think it had a name starting with a J.  Anyway, not very long after I became a plant owner I discovered minute squirmers in the soil surrounding my plant!!  I attempted to change the soil hoping to get rid of the contamination but not much after there were little gnats flying EVERYWHERE.  That plant didn't survive.  Last year for Valentine's day, as I was suffering through influenza (I debated whether I should say "the influenza" like you say "the flu" but decided it wasn't right), I asked Ryan to get me an orchid.  He bought me a beautiful orchid, which is the plant I was talking about before...I named it Penelope because I really like that name and don't think Ryan will ever let me use it on a pet or child.  Getting to the point - I have kept this wonderful orchid plant alive for months and months!  It had the attack of the gnats last spring, but my dad helped me save it with some kind of poison.  It's survived and even thrived!  New leaves keep growing, which I think is a great sign.  Yesterday I saw bad signs...some of the top leaves are turning yellow.  I'm not sure what I should do.  Does this mean it needs more/less light?  More/less water?  Maybe I should just throw in the towel and realize plants aren't my thing....

joy

Last night I received joy!  Sometimes people know you so well that they know exactly what will make you smile.  Libby called and asked if she could give me something.  She sang Rudolph!  We are very similar and I'm sure she could have guessed that I have been thinking about everything Christmas for weeks now!  She said she thought she saw snow and thought of me (because I can smell snow - seriously I can).  Her song whetted my appetite for all things Christmas.  Now maybe I can wait until after Thanksgiving....

leaky

There are so many little fun things to learn about a new apartment.  Like - the garbage disposal is touchy or the walls are really thin and the upstairs neighbor's 4 year old son is the cutest and loudest little boy!  The most recent discovery is going to be a big problem as it starts getting colder.  My body works in extremes.  It is really easy for me to overheat or to become extremely cold.  I've always preferred the cold because you can add a sweatshirt or an extra blanket and get by.  This is especially true at night.  Sleeping is almost impossible on a hot sticky night.  So - my goal this year with this new apartment and our tiny budget was to keep the heat off in the apartment as long as possible.  We didn't do so well with the AC, but I kept telling myself we'd make up for it by keeping the heat off for a long time, and when we did turn it on we'd keep it pretty low.  Here's the catch - I've just realized that our apartment leaks!  I noticed a few times this summer that the window in the dinning room seemed to be letting air in and I should have known then that we had a problem.  Also - our energy bills have been ridiculously high.  So, it's very possible that the AC was getting out, making it expensive and difficult to cool our apt.  Yesterday and today have been our first experiences with cold days - not REALLY cold but cold.  The apt is freezing in the mornings and I'm worried about the winter.  I'm sure you can see the dilemma at this point...even if we break the rules and turn the heat on, it's going to be a fight to keep it from leaking!  I do hope Olivia doesn't freeze!

olives

Lately Olivia has taken up a defense mechanism crucial to her survival while sleeping on our bed at night.  Whenever we move around and kick her or maybe attempt to squish her she GROWLS!  These growls are loud enough to wake-up/alert us that she does not appreciate us trying to take her life during the night.  This might seem extreme, but she is small enough that I don't get upset by her choice of communication.  If I were sleeping in a bed at night with two people at least 15-20 times my size, I think I would growl as well.  

caffeine

I realized today that this semester has created a dependence.  I started realizing a few weeks ago that if I didn't have a diet mt. dew or diet coke I would drag through the day.  This week the addiction evolved...Ryan bought a tastier coffee than usual, and I've had a cup every morning.  I know this addiction isn't new to very many people, but I feel like I have a new weakness.  Maybe I should have Ryan make the older less appealing coffee!

superstitions

Yesterday morning I reached for a coat because it was chilly outside.  I was going to wear one of my favorite coats that I bought last fall (the one Zachary refers to as my "hobo" coat).  Anyway, as I was reaching for the coat, I remembered that the first time I wore this coat to school last year I got in a wreck on the way to school.  I'm not a superstitious person, but for some reason this thought really bothered me.  I opted to not wear the coat because it would be the first time I wore it to school this fall...I didn't like that these thoughts affected me enough to change my decisions.  My drive to school involves lots of scary big roads with lots of traffic.  All are intent on getting into downtown Indianapolis from the north side as quickly as possible.  I hate my commute!  I usually prefer to drive in the lane I will need to be in eventually for a turn or an exit, etc.  Yesterday morning, for some strange reason, I got in a wrong lane.  I had been in that wrong lane for only a few seconds when it happened.  There was a three-car wreck in my correct lane!  The lane I normally choose!  I avoided this wreck completely by mistake...or maybe not wearing the jacket was actually significant.  (I would still like to say I'm not a superstitious person)

studying?

I'm currently in the library.  I came to school early today so that I could read before my 10:00 class, but here I am doing whatever I can to not read.  I actually think the material is interesting and I'm excited to learn it (things a law student should know about accounting for businesses), but for whatever reason I am not able to read right now.  This about sums up my feelings toward my last year of law school though.  I'm finally ready to step away from my area of expertise - school.  After 20 some years of perfecting being a student, I can't wait to do something else!  Hopefully I can at least finish with some semblance of a presentable gpa.  :)