Off to Phoenix

See you in the New Year!!!

Family Pets

So after thinking about the pets we've owned, It might be fun to try and remember them all....the good and the bad...and the very bad. Help me with any of the ones I miss...

(This won't be in chronological order either)

Charmie- Guinea Pig

Ernie and Bert- Hermit crabs. (that was their names, right?)

Ethel- chicken

Fred- rooster

Ducky- baby duck

Quail

Wilbur- pig (am i making up that name?...i think we called him that)

Catfish- white cat

Buttons- white cat

Cassie- orange cat with boosh

Boosh- cat with cassie that got ran over

Sunny- another orange cat

Smoky- gray cat with sunny

Pumpkin- satan reincarnated as a cat

Sassy- cat i found in the garage

Chauncey- cat in the running for fattest alive

Jay-Z Asian cat

Annie- the first beagle

Mandy- was she that black lab mix something or other?

Bama- dog roll tide

Gator- dog still rooting for tim tebow

Jackson- yellow dog

Sparky- the dog that would keep me trapped on the swing set, yelling for help.

Boone- sheep dog

Emma- the second beagle, turkey killer, had 9 puppies

Rosie- fat beagle puppy that we eventually gave away

Little Bit- beagle puppy that got taken away after the great turkey killing

Hunter- the wonder dog

I know I'm missing some....

Hunter

Since I was a little kid, our family has had more pets than I can keep track of. Chicken, quail, guinnea pig, duck, fish, hermit crabs, pig, and of course, dogs and cats. We had so many dogs, probably 15? Who knows, all I remember is that we had tons and I loved every single one. There was always one big problem.....they never seemed to love me the same way. Haha. Okay, actually they just loved to run away. It didn't matter how much attention I tried to give them, they always ran away. One time, our beagle (I should say our second beagle), somehow escaped into the front yard. I tried to get her to come back, but she refused. I went into the house, got a piece of fried chicken out of the fridge, and waved it in front of me. She STILL wouldn't come. Can you believe that? It's true. Here I am, calling this dog, holding a piece of chicken, and she still refused to come to me. That just sums up how many of our dogs were. Eventually, they would run away, (or be taken away by the dog police for attacking our neighbors turkeys...)

Then one day, my dad showed up with Hunter. A beautiful yellow lab, about 5 years old. He saved him from the pound. I think I was 14 or 15 years old.

When he first got to our house, my dad had changed his name to Jake. When my mom got home she said, "He's been hunter all his life, that's what he knows, so that's what we should call him"
Hunter was unlike any dog I had ever owned. For starters, my mom actually let him in the house. He loved being in the house. He used to sleep under the computer desk, or sleep in his favorite spot- on the floor by the couch....right next to my dad. Hunter was amazing. He knew every trick and command. Most of our dogs could sit or speak, but Hunter could do so much more. I always felt like he could understand what I was saying. I could just look at him, and he knew what I wanted him to do. He was well behaved, he was gentle....never growled at anyone. (Except B.J....ask my dad)

And that's how Hunter got the name "The Wonder Dog". He was perfect.
We got Hunter around the time when I was the only child left in the house. Hunter was my friend....and a best friend at that. I never call my pets by their real name. Usually I called hunter one of these names: Hunty, Hunty grunt, blontee, dantee, ashanti, shanti....the list goes on and on. Haha. On the weekends, I would sleep out in the front room where he was allowed to be. He would lay down on the floor next to me and I would be on the couch. It never failed though....after laying there for about 10 minutes, he would sit up and just stare at me. I would look at him and just say, "okaaaaay". Instantly, he would crawl up onto the couch and lay on me. He didn't realize what a big dog he was. He would sprawl out, all 75 pounds of him, completely across my body. He would just lay there, content, so happy to be there. I would be barely breathing at this point, but still, I didn't mind.

I always wanted a dog to call mine. Just mine, a dog that listened only to me, and did everything with me. I thought Hunter would be that dog for me. And in many ways, he was. Hunter always listened to me and wanted to be with me. But if my dad was in the room, it was another story. Hunter was and will always be my dads dog. He loved my dad so much. That dog would do anything to be with him. If my dad was doing anything around the house, there was hunter. If he went hunting, there was hunter. If he was watching t.v., there was hunter. When I was younger I used to think of it as a competition. I would try to get hunter to like me more, but it never worked. Hunter knew that it was my dad who saved him, and he was gonna stick with him for the rest of his life....and he has. He is as loyal as they come. Now, I don't mind being runner up. Hunter has been a great friend to my dad....they are like two peas in a pod.


Hunter was the first dog we owned that I felt truly loved us back. My dad could actually do work in the front yard, and Hunter would just lay on the front porch and watch. At times, he would escape from the back yard, but It was just to wander around. We would drive around until we found him, open the car door and say "get it". He would happily jump in. Except......he never listened to my sister. To this day, he listens to everyone except for her. It's kind of funny.

I was sad when I had to leave for college and for my 2 year mission for my church, because I was afraid Hunter wouldn't remember me. But he did. Even after moving all the way across the country, he was still excited to see me when I got home.
So here we are today. A long time since Hunter, our Wonder dog came into our lives and literally became a part of our family. He's 15 years old....pretty old for a pure bred lab of his size. He's blind, deaf, and has tumors all over his body. In just the last month, Hunter's health has decreased considerably. We were actually surprised at how fast he has weakened. We've decided that it's time to have him put down. He's too strong willed to go in his sleep, much too strong to give up on his family. It's one of those things that you always think about, but never really believe the day will come. After all, I've never had a pet long enough to even have to deal with this. Mom, dad, and I went to the vet tonight. Even as he sat there for those last few moments in pain, he was content....because he was with the people he loved.

I wanted to write this so that I would never forget my friend. Although I know, that I don't need a little blog post to remember him. He will always be a part of our family. He will always be my friend. He will always be my wonder dog, and I know I'll see him again.....someday.

It's snowing!!

Ahhhh, the first real snow of the year. Next thing you know I'll be falling on the sidewalk.

PS: Judge Judy is an Alabama fan. (In my head) At least she would know how to show some respect. Unlike some of you...

Redemption!!!!

ALABAMA 32 FLORIDA 13
Dec 5, 2009

This goes out to all my friends, family members (yes, sadly even some of them are non-believers), enemies, frenemies, haters, fans, everyone....We told you so.
Not only did we win the SEC Championship....We dominated. We took on the big and tough, high and mighty, undefeated Florida Gators, and took care of business. They are at the top of the Nation in defense, and we humbled them. I know there's lots of you who are now recognizing our talent....but we've known it all along. Some games are good, others are great, some you just have to survive.....but in the end, it's all about winning. And that's what we did. So remember this!!!
WE WON!!!!! I called it.

Observation of the day

I'm just wondering what is wrong with some people? I saw this guy walking to school today....let me paint the picture for you:

30 degree weather
Scarf
Big, warm jacket
sandals
.......
SANDALS!!

What in the world? I just don't understand why people wear the things they do. I'm not talking about the price of their clothes, I'm just talking about the odd choices. I love it when I can just wear shorts and flip flops....but it's winter weather right now. Why would you wear half winter clothes and then half summer clothes. Let's go over how most mammal bodies work. In cold weather, your body will spend a lot of energy trying to keep your core warm. (where your vital organs are) That's why your hands and feet get cold first. So WHY would you wear sandals in the winter time??!! Your feet are gonna be numb by the time you get to class. It's just bizarre.
Also, the most annoying kid in our major was wearing no shoes in class today...only socks.....ugghh.

In conclusion, I need a job. I'm looking, but it's not going well. Stressful. One more week til I graduate.