In order to tell the whole story we have to jump in the "way-back machine" and return to February 2010 when I first set-up at the hunting show. I know, it isn't that much of a jump, but it is far enough back to make a difference.
Every February there is a trade show dedicated to hunting, fishing, and everything outdoors put together by Arc of the Ozarks! It is a great 2 day show that is the perfect way for me to reach the working class who have dogs and like to take off for quick trips. The booth layout of the event has been almost identical every year.
I have always been between the dog food guy and the turkey calls, and across the isle from another turkey call guy and the fly rod guy. Yes, I know, it is a rough way to spend two whole days!! Surrounded by very sweet, kind, attractive men. I vaguely remember there being a cabin with a bunch of deer heads hanging on it at the end of our isle, across the walkway.
Now lets jump to November of 2012, about 3 months before the 4th year of the above mentioned trade show. I sponsor an event supporting Arc of The Ozarks, and as such had tickets for their gala event.
I was informed that I was a "snub queen" at that gala event. When my "date" checked us in on Facebook at the event someone commented on the check-in that my date was with the "snub queen". In all fairness, he had a point, I had in-fact snubbed him for about three years - snubbed him to the point that he was within ten feet of me at a trade show three years in a row and I didn't recognize him, know his name, or know anything about his company. Needless to say, I was cordial to him and even proceeded to flirt with him a little as the night (and glasses of wine) progressed. Thankfully my date was a good friend of both of us, and he made light of the situation! Before I made it home that evening he had started sending me messages. Very sweet and flirtatious. I was mildly interested and of course flattered. I did a little research and found out that he had a couple kids and was on-again, off-again with the mother of his 2nd child. Seemed to me that not only was he not my type, but the baggage and drama were over the top for me. Looking back...he was FOR SURE not the guy for me.
This brings us to February of 2013 - trade show that started it all. Our booths are across the way from one another, as they have been the last 3 years. Man A is flirty and funny - and I repay the banter as to not redeem myself as the snub queen. At least I acknowledged Man A existed this year.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Some People Shouldn't Own Pets
I was walking Jacoby and came upon an Aussie laying in the middle of the road. He was soaking up the sun, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
When he saw us walking, he sauntered over to say hello. He had a great personality and walked a mile right by my side. When we returned to Jacoby's home, the Aussie waited by the door for me to return. I checked his tags since he hadn't gone back to his home (I thought perhaps he was just out and lived in the neighborhood).
He had a 2012 Rabies tag from Country Club vet clinic, yay! He had an ID tag with his name "Thompson", his owners name, phone number, and address, YAY! BAZINGA - this sweet boy was going back to his home. And a third tag which read: "This dog is NOT lost. He lives on 30 acres. He wonders away, but will come home on his own."
I debated taking Thompson back home so that I could express my lack of enthusiasm for the owner's regards for Thompson's safety.
I debated taking Thompson up to Country Club Vet so that they could perhaps express a lack of enthusiasm for the owners' regards for Thompson's safety.
BUT I decided to take him to animal control where the owner could pay a nice fine for his lack of regard for Thomson's safety. (Of course this was contingent upon the grounds that if the owner didn't respond, that they call me and I'd find the sweet boy a better home).
The moral of the story is that if you are going to have a pet, please take care of the sweet baby. Its life is precious and we make a pact with our pets that we will watch over them and protect them. We do not live in the middle of the country where it is safe to let your dog roam. We live in a growing city with people who are speeding, texting, and otherwise distracted. There is a reason fences, both standard and underground electronic versions, exist. There is a reason we have leash laws. Too many times pets are out and get hit by drivers who simply did not see them - and that is a tragedy. As a pet owner and professional pet sitter I do not understand why anyone would let their dog roam at will. Clearly Thompson has been out and returned enough times that the owner felt the need to make a tag expressing his lack of concern about Thompson being away from home.
PLEASE be a responsible pet owner. PLEASE keep your pets safe and secure. It is our duty to protect our furbabies from pain and hurt.
When he saw us walking, he sauntered over to say hello. He had a great personality and walked a mile right by my side. When we returned to Jacoby's home, the Aussie waited by the door for me to return. I checked his tags since he hadn't gone back to his home (I thought perhaps he was just out and lived in the neighborhood).
He had a 2012 Rabies tag from Country Club vet clinic, yay! He had an ID tag with his name "Thompson", his owners name, phone number, and address, YAY! BAZINGA - this sweet boy was going back to his home. And a third tag which read: "This dog is NOT lost. He lives on 30 acres. He wonders away, but will come home on his own."
I debated taking Thompson back home so that I could express my lack of enthusiasm for the owner's regards for Thompson's safety.
I debated taking Thompson up to Country Club Vet so that they could perhaps express a lack of enthusiasm for the owners' regards for Thompson's safety.
BUT I decided to take him to animal control where the owner could pay a nice fine for his lack of regard for Thomson's safety. (Of course this was contingent upon the grounds that if the owner didn't respond, that they call me and I'd find the sweet boy a better home).
The moral of the story is that if you are going to have a pet, please take care of the sweet baby. Its life is precious and we make a pact with our pets that we will watch over them and protect them. We do not live in the middle of the country where it is safe to let your dog roam. We live in a growing city with people who are speeding, texting, and otherwise distracted. There is a reason fences, both standard and underground electronic versions, exist. There is a reason we have leash laws. Too many times pets are out and get hit by drivers who simply did not see them - and that is a tragedy. As a pet owner and professional pet sitter I do not understand why anyone would let their dog roam at will. Clearly Thompson has been out and returned enough times that the owner felt the need to make a tag expressing his lack of concern about Thompson being away from home.
PLEASE be a responsible pet owner. PLEASE keep your pets safe and secure. It is our duty to protect our furbabies from pain and hurt.
Truce
In lieu of a New Years resolution, I made a New Years truce.
Back in April, there was a small (read epic) turn of events between myself and a nice frat boy. He and I had met through a networking group and had been flirty with one another for a few months - neither one of us were available, but there was no harm in flirting or being friends.
While heavily intoxicated he was belligerent. Belligerent is putting it mildly, but I should not beat a dead horse. He was blackout drunk and being a jerk. No less than a dozen people apologized to me for his behavior and I haven't spoken to him since that day. Which I was PERFECTLY fine not associating (or even acknowledging him every Thursday morning) with such a douchetard!!
As it would turn out, I did speak to him again.
New Years Eve I went to Flo with several friends to ring in the new year and see "Big Iron Band" play. As we're all sitting, enjoying martinis... in walks frat boy. I literally saw him and muttered "of all the jerks to walk into MY bar on New Years Eve, it has to be that douchbag". Clearly I was not impressed he was breathing my air, around my friends, or listening to my friends' band play. About 32 seconds later I hear "Hey I wanted to come say Happy New Year!". WHAT? Did you just come over and speak to me? THE NERVE.
Long story longer, he slid into the booth with my friends and I, and proceeded to make small talk. I was over holding my tongue, and proceeded to let him know (surprisingly, in a calm and not Earth shattering voice) how disgusted I was with his behavior at Rockin Ribs and what the was a reason I hadn't spoken to him in eight months.
He apologized profusely and stayed to toast at Midnight. SHOCKING - no really, I was shocked. I was shocked he let me tell him how I felt. I was shocked he apologized. I was shocked he stayed. I was shocked he wanted to count down to 2013 sitting next to me, surrounded by my friends, in one of my favorite bars, listening to my favorite local band....
Our Toast: "Happy New Year. A truce and a new beginning to an old friendship."
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Stage Fright...
It is NO secret that I love Jazzercise. I first started Jazzing when I was a sophomore in college. I've gone off and on throughout the last 12 years - stopping for a knee or shoulder surgery, a car accident or three...you know, just taking a break. LOL
Well often when you open your big mouth and request a certain song the instructor will ask you to come up on stage and do the routine with her. Its just one of those Jazzertraditions. This morning I decided to text Beth and ask her if "Womanizer" was going to make an appearance in her set today. AMAZINGLY ENOUGH - it was there, on the front of the curve just waiting for me to show a little crazy! :) **disclaimer: I am not a Britney Spears fan, but I LOVE this song and the routine that goes along with it! In true Jazzerstyle, Beth cues up the song and without even looking at me says "we have a special request for some old school Britney and the requester is going to come up on stage with me RIGHT???" Of course she knew I would politely decline and smile, like I have for the last ...uhm decade. Well much to my surprise the entire class starts hooting and hollering - and I crumbled to peer pressure!
Yep thats right....in my cute little black yoga pants and **sparkley** purple jazzertog top, I took the stage for the first time EVER! EvEr EvEr!! I think Beth was more surprised than I was. She even commented after class that she was so excited and happy I joined her.
I love my jazzersisters - and all the cute comments on my Facebook wall. You girls are the best!!
Well often when you open your big mouth and request a certain song the instructor will ask you to come up on stage and do the routine with her. Its just one of those Jazzertraditions. This morning I decided to text Beth and ask her if "Womanizer" was going to make an appearance in her set today. AMAZINGLY ENOUGH - it was there, on the front of the curve just waiting for me to show a little crazy! :) **disclaimer: I am not a Britney Spears fan, but I LOVE this song and the routine that goes along with it! In true Jazzerstyle, Beth cues up the song and without even looking at me says "we have a special request for some old school Britney and the requester is going to come up on stage with me RIGHT???" Of course she knew I would politely decline and smile, like I have for the last ...uhm decade. Well much to my surprise the entire class starts hooting and hollering - and I crumbled to peer pressure!
Yep thats right....in my cute little black yoga pants and **sparkley** purple jazzertog top, I took the stage for the first time EVER! EvEr EvEr!! I think Beth was more surprised than I was. She even commented after class that she was so excited and happy I joined her.
I love my jazzersisters - and all the cute comments on my Facebook wall. You girls are the best!!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Changes...
Admittedly it has been a while since I've blogged. I spent the first week of September doing final prep for my vacation and then I spent a month traveling, when I returned home in October I was busy with final prep for a couple charity events and of course the holiday season. Needless to say - its been a whirlwind. While I was traveling I had a lot of time to think - which I needed. I learned a few things - or at least wrapped my head around the concepts since I was removed somewhat and could view things from afar.
I learned that the people you value most in your life and that are the closest to you, are often the ones who cut you the deepest and do the most damage. I learned that when you hire friends or business associates, they are the ones who turn out to be the worst employees and firing them is overly dramatic. I learned that sometimes you really do have to just let go of people in your life. I learned that standing up for myself - even to those who are supposedly your best friend - is ok and more than necessary.
** I had forgotten I had even started this post. It is now July. July 4th - so I guess I should echo that the sentiments above are truer today than they have ever been. The last six months of my life have been amazing!
I have reclaimed my life for me - Im learning to say NO to overbooking myself, Im learning that it is OK to let my other sitters do the work that I contracted them to do, Im learning that having fun is part of life and an added bonus of working hard all these years to build an amazing business!
There will be more blogs...and more about where my life is going. Just know that more than ever, its my life - on my terms!
Love you, Mean it!!
I learned that the people you value most in your life and that are the closest to you, are often the ones who cut you the deepest and do the most damage. I learned that when you hire friends or business associates, they are the ones who turn out to be the worst employees and firing them is overly dramatic. I learned that sometimes you really do have to just let go of people in your life. I learned that standing up for myself - even to those who are supposedly your best friend - is ok and more than necessary.
** I had forgotten I had even started this post. It is now July. July 4th - so I guess I should echo that the sentiments above are truer today than they have ever been. The last six months of my life have been amazing!
I have reclaimed my life for me - Im learning to say NO to overbooking myself, Im learning that it is OK to let my other sitters do the work that I contracted them to do, Im learning that having fun is part of life and an added bonus of working hard all these years to build an amazing business!
There will be more blogs...and more about where my life is going. Just know that more than ever, its my life - on my terms!
Love you, Mean it!!
Four Tires on The Track Please
Being from Daytona Beach, FL it would only make sense that I sponsor a race car (or five, as the case may be). Last night proved to be one of the most frightening nights at the track to date! The driver of the #25 car was nearly flipped on his roof in front of thousands of fans.
Thankfully he lived to tell about it with little more than a headache. While coming out of turn four a lesser skilled driver thought it would just be easier to tap him, in order to get his car lose so he had to slow down, than pass him like a real driver. The result - one of the ugliest crashes this season!
Thousands of dollars worth of damage to the car - but that is nothing when we could have lost an amazing young driver with a lot of life left to live.
Today we are thankful for safety gear and God's hand in not letting gravity take over.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Where Fun and Fitness Come Together
Since I moved to lovely Springfield - there have only been a couple things that were consistent in my life, no matter what, one of those is Jazzercise.
The women of Jazzercise really are a little family - it doesn't matter what time of day you take class, which instructors you prefer or even which class format is your favorite. Everyone really does get to know one another and we have fun in and out of class. Its more than 55 minutes of working out to your favorite songs of today and yesterday - its shaking your booty with your besties while laughing, singing and burning calories! Can I get a "Wooooo"!!
Tonight we had practice for the Springfield Cardinals game. Tomorrow night just before the game starts we get 10 minutes of life in the lime light out on the field to strut, shake it and of course do the funky monkey. :)
The women of Jazzercise really are a little family - it doesn't matter what time of day you take class, which instructors you prefer or even which class format is your favorite. Everyone really does get to know one another and we have fun in and out of class. Its more than 55 minutes of working out to your favorite songs of today and yesterday - its shaking your booty with your besties while laughing, singing and burning calories! Can I get a "Wooooo"!!
Tonight we had practice for the Springfield Cardinals game. Tomorrow night just before the game starts we get 10 minutes of life in the lime light out on the field to strut, shake it and of course do the funky monkey. :)
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