Poison Ivy

I should totally be asleep, as I dragged ass all day at work. Unfortunately I get my second wind in the evening. Immediately after work I power napped, but of course at 8PM I'm weeding my front yard like there's no tomorrow. What the heck.

On a continuing theme from last night, I had both pups in the front yard with me while I weeded. Neither took off, even with some significant stimuli: dude on bike who asked me if I'd seen his dog, redneck a couple houses down in front yard, kitty (a white one at that - Lu's racism was triggered), and just random cars and other folks going in and out of their houses. I left Lu's leash on and a few times I snuck up behind her and yanked her back, but overall they were both really good. Dex especially. At one point I was weeding with my back more toward the road and the houses down the street away from our cul de sac, and I felt Dex go sit right behind me. We were back to back or so. I reached behind me and petted him but kept weeding. Well, after another minute or two, I got up and turned around toward my weed pile. When I did, I saw the redneck guy down the street looking in our direction. Dex was facing him dead on and the way he positioned himself was directly between us. It could really go either way with Dex: maybe he was being protective or maybe he was being a weirdo. Whichever works for me because he does look kind of scary and is a big guy. Of course the redneck he was potentially protecting me from has at least 3 mastiffs in his backyard. Whatev.

The dogs behaving was the highlight of my day. I started retraining on the obedience after they went berserk one day while we hung out in my neighbor's yard. They were all over the place - off the chain. My neighbor, god love her, kept commenting on how they don't "mind." She was right, and I was embarrassed. No more of that shit, though. It was a great feeling when they obeyed the stay in the yard command and hung with me. PUPPIES!

Another highlight was Joe's commander calling me again saying we'd have him back by tomorrow. I was glad for the update for sure, as I'd been waiting for my phone to ring all day. I have many thoughts on Joe's return: First, this is only the 7th week since all this training stuff started, and it feels like much much MUCH longer. Maybe I'm wussing out or something. I dunno. I guess when I consider the family stuff and the lack of ability to have contact, it should feel like eternity. When he goes back, it'll suck. Ugghh. Second, I was too excited/depressed/busy finally having a visit with Joe over the weekend to get any grocery shopping done. There isn't much by the way of food here. And for the same reasons, the house isn't exactly clean. I've been tending more to the lawn or going to work or working out after work. Damn balls in the air. Third, I forgot to mention that Joe is covered in poison ivy. Yes, he was given the command to randomly lie down in the woods. So he did. Not cool. It makes things tricky. Like even hugging.

Last on my bloggo list here is a money update. After my student loan payment on the 15th goes through, my amount due will officially be out of the double digit thousands and somewhere in the $8700's. Yes, it'll be glorious, and I need to rally. I keep looking at newer vehicles for sale and sooo want to say f' it and finance one. No no no. I've worked too hard at this payoff, and I will get to July 1, and throw down on that son of a bitch for the final time. We will then save and pay for a car in cash come fall. I must see this plan through. Hmpf.