It's a Dog's Life



Nigel took a trip to the dog park today.  Not just ANY dog park - the Chris Green Lake dog park.  Here in beautiful Charlottesville, VA it made it to the mid - upper 60s.  Perfect dog park weather.  We typically go to a dog park which is a big, open, fenced-in field that gives Nigel plenty of opportunity to play chase and wrestle with the big dogs.  However, today we ventured to the north end of town to a park we'd never been to.  That's correct.  Dogs here have not one, not two, but THREE choices of dog parks to visit.  Pretty fancy-schmancy, huh?

Nigel loved it!  The fenced-in area is very wooded and mimics a forest - which we all know Nigel loves by his frequency of running away at Grandma and Grandpa Lawson's house to the woods.  There were also a TON of dogs there.  Easily 20 dogs.  The unique feature of this park is that there's a lake attached to the dog park.  Do I need to remind you of what happens to Nigel when he gets too close to water?

Because of the traumatizing experience of falling into the pool, we didn't expect Nigel to get too close to the lake.  Now, Nigel might not be a water dog, but we were definitely proud of him going to the edge and sticking his paws in.  Plus, when you run around a lot you get thirsty.  And since desperate times call for desperate measures he might have stolen a drink or two. 

But alas, all good things much come to an end.  And for Nigel it took about an hour to wear him out.  But it's like I always say, you can tell by a dog's color how much fun he had at the park.  What do you think?





I'm Hoarse, I'm Deaf... and it was totally worth it!

I received my long-awaited Christmas present... the Brad Paisley concert!  You know what they say - good things come to those who wait.  The concert was awesome!  Darius Rucker opened for Brad - and he was phenomenal.  Matt was really hoping that he'd play Hootie and the Blowfish music and he did.  I don't think Matt and I have ever felt so old when the youngen's in the crowd didn't know the words to any of the Hootie songs.  Really?  Anyways...

Before the concert started I had Matt guess which song he thought Brad would open with.  I mean there are so many to choose from - Celebrity, Welcome to the Future, Online, Ticks, I could go on.  Matt ultimately went with American Saturday Night.  Good song, but I didn't see it happening.  I went with Water.  It is called the H20 Tour after all.  Guess who won that contest?

If I'm going to choose the highlight of the concert for Matt it will either be the Darius Rucker's opening act or Frank Beamer making an appearance on stage.  My highlight?  Breathing the same air as Brad. 

For those of you who think I might like Brad TOO much.  I do try to Matt feel more secure by telling him that he looks a lot like Brad.  I'm being serious!  Am I the only one who sees the resemblance?

It's What's on the Inside that Counts

Valentine's Day isn't a very big holiday at Casa de Lawson.  Honestly, I think I cared more about Valentine's Day when I didn't have a significant other versus now that I'm married. In any case, Matt and I ventured out Saturday night for a normal date night - not really for Valentine's Day.  We ended up going to a local Italian restaurant and found ourselves in the midst of a candlelit dinner for two.  There were roses on the table, candlelit tables and a violinist.  A violinist!  It was a great surprise... and delicious, too!

I had planned to make dinner on Valentine's Day with a special dessert.  Because of the holiday being on a weekday, I chose to make the "secret dessert" the day before.  Why must the dessert be a secret?  Being devious is probably my favorite hobby.  I love being sneaky.  It makes me feel like I'm out-smarting Matt (which doesn't happen that often).  Pst!... don't tell him that... it'll go to his head. 

I made the dessert and to the untrained eye it looked to be plain, ordinary cupcakes.  I repeatedly had Matt guess what he thought they really were.  It's very satisfying when his guesses are way off.  It's like the time I took him on a surprise trip to Roanoke, VA.  He could've swarn I was taking him to see Mount Vernon.  They're in opposite directions!  Oh, Matthew...

Anyways, back to the mysterious cupcakes.  I saw them on a food blog and decided that would be my mission to recreate.  The result?  (Please ignore the spiderweb cake wrapper.  I only had two heart ones left so I had to save them for dinner!)



Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow?

Am I the only one who gets giddy after seeing this report from The Weather Channel (which, by the way, is headquartered in Atlanta, GA)?  Let's do some math.  To-date-snowfall equals 5.9".  This is 4.1" over the norm.  Assuming I know how to subtract (you know what happens when one assumes) this means that generally at this time of the year Hot-lanta-ites should only get about 1.8".  Heck to the yeah.

"If I was ever going somewhere, I was running!" - Forrest Gump

 
That might be an exaggeration, but I have started running again.  The treadmill and I had begun quite a successful long distance relationship, but in the spirit of Valentine's Day, decided to reacquaint one another.  So I started running again yesterday.  And I didn't die.  For some reason I thought it was going to be a torturous event and I wouldn't make it out alive, but I actually felt better after my short jog.  Matt even surprised me by saying I should start off slow and just do every other day in the beginning.  Yes, sir!


Now if only I could get Nigel off his lazy hiney...

Highlights of 2010!

As an initiation to the new way of keeping in touch with family and close friends, we thought a recap of 2010 would be a great way to kick it off.  It seems the best time to have started the blog would have been after getting married, but I guess better late than never!  Here we go with the reminiscing...

The year started off ringing in the New Year with lots of puppy love...

... and then riding on an elephant...



... followed by graduating (barely!) from obedience school...

... to the event of the year - getting married!...

                                   


... complete with a honeymoon to New Orleans...

... we went on a whirlwind trip to Chicago to see Josh and Sarah get married...

... soaked up some sun at the beach...

... and then gave our lists to Santa because we had been good all year!



Did that bring you all up to speed?  Cool.