Ah...Thanksgiving...and the hungry Poodle...

Every year I look forward to Thanksgiving and the delicious food that comes with it. There is turkey, juicy turkey, not the dry stuff like in the Vacation movie that bursts open in a hiss when you cut it open. There is also buttery, creamy, fluffy mashed potatoes that  just make you want to weep and there's the ultimate, pumpkin pie. Oh my...

I have one slight problem that puts a damper on the day, the hungry Poodle. You've met my Poodle Suki, just scroll down for a refresher. While she'a a pretty girl (just ask her) she is entirely lacking in self control and manners while in the presence of food. We have to shut her away during dinner so she doesn't attach anyone for their turkey. I find it really difficult to have 25 people at my house for dinner and then have my Poodle throwing herself against the door like she is being tortured and crying like she is the most mistreated dog ever during dinner. It's embarrassing to be nibbling my turkey to the constant thunk as her 70 pound poodle body hits the door.

Last year, we had our turkey on top of the stove, covered by foil, resting. My sister went to carve it only to find one turkey leg missing and the foil just barely disturbed. She had motive, means and opportunity. And she also left evidence behind in the form of  turkey leg remains in another room. Sometimes  dealing with a Poodle who thinks like a criminal on an episode of Law & Order freaks me out a little. My Pooldle is smarter than the average human and her personality is twice as big.

So...on Thanksgiving Day, think of me and say a little prayer that my Poodle does little to embarrass me this year.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Black Friday!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today is my Dad's 78th birthday. My Dad died on August 22, 2009 and not a day goes by that I don't think of him and miss him. I was fortunate enough to have the most amazing Dad. My twin sister Kelly and I were born in 1966, an era where Dads were not all that involved with raising their children. Most Dads left that to the stay-at-home Mom. My Dad never did that. I remember going to old bookstores with my Dad when I was 4 years old in search of rare books. He never hesitated to take us places without our Mom and didn't mind that he had to chase 2 little twin girls around. He loved it! When my parents divorced my Dad wanted shared parenting at a time when shared parenting didn't exist. Luckily, I also had a Mom who realized how much my Dad loved us and wanted to spend time with us. When we were with our Dad we went to church, had lunch (but not White Castle- long story), spent time with my Grandma and saw every Disney movie. It wasn't that difficult to find a G rated movie in the 70's so we saw lots of movies. As I got older, I discovered that I was quite a lot like my Dad. I loved books, movies and being busy. That was my Dad in a nutshell. He worked up until his death and he wouldn't have had it any other way. My Dad also shared my love of Harry Potter (if not surpassed it) and attended midnight book release parties and midnight movies. He even dressed up when we asked him too. He would come to my house several times a week and we would watch TV (he loved The Closer), chat and eat pizza. Some of my favorite memories of my Dad were of us just sitting on my porch swing and chatting about whatever came to mind. I could talk with him for hours. I would give anything to have another 5 minutes with my Dad to tell him what a great Dad he was and how crazy I was, and still am, about him. My heart aches to see him again and I don't think that will ever go away. I have never met anyone who was as special as my Dad. Happy Birthday Daddy!