Cranky Jennie ;-p

In 2009, I hope for:

1. The continued good health and happiness of my friends and family.

2. My children to continue to grow as people, while improving their manners and ability to empathized.

3. My husband’s continued resolve to get healthier and stronger.

4. A stabilized economy.

5. A return to common sense values and morals.

6. The ability to value a true friend and accept that others are just merely acquaintences.

7. Continue to treat others with kindness and respect.

8. Value my family more.

9. Teach my children what it means to be a human being.

10. Be thankful that I am an American - despite her difficulties, she is still the greatest country in the world.  I wouldn’t want to be anything other than an American!

If you don’t like my list, too %$&@! bad (gotta keep up with the theme of this website).

Happy New Year!

I just finished reading Marley & Me by John Grogan.  I highly recommend this heartwarming story of a man and the adventurous life of his beloved dog.  It took me awhile to get to this book since one of MY dogs, Crystal, ate my original copy (how apropro).

Anyway, the story led me to think about my own adventures with my dogs.  The first dog I have to mention is Hans.  Hans is the reason G and I are together.  I fell for the dog first!!!  He was a gorgeous, huge, cinnamon Chow Chow.  The first time I met him, he nearly took my hand off (I had not met a Chow before him).

Hans and I got along famously after that first misstep.  I was the first girlfriend of G’s that Hans actually liked - smart dog ;)  He had many wonderful qualities: loyalty, kindness, fluffy, soft fur, etc.  To G, he was the most perfect dog to ever grace the planet.

Hans also ate the door panel in my car TWICE (once, when he tried to get a cat and the second time because he wanted to join us in the movie theater).  He ripped his own share of screens and found many a tasty meal in the garbage.  We loved him so much, that when we saw two Chow puppies in the pet store, we came home with them too!

Sadly, Hans passed away when he was only 10.  For all you dog lovers out there, you know how heart wrenching losing a pet can be!  Hans is now elevated to GOD-like status.

Riley, our black Chow is our Alpha Dog.  Make no mistake about it.  She puts all the others in their place (and we have FOUR)!  Her brother, Shea, is the anti-Chow.  He’s afraid of his own shadow.  But, as my mom likes to say, “He’s so PRETTY”.   Riley and Shea, though good dogs, ate the ENTIRE inside of our sectional couch when they were puppies.

They’re pretty good adults though!

After we lost Hans, I secretly searched around for cinnamon Chows.  So, while G was away in Vegas for a guy’s weekend, I made a phone call.  When G came home, he met Amber.  She’s about as close to Hans Greatness as we’ll ever get.  She trained easily and really causes no grief, though she does like to run out the front door and chase bunnies from time to time.

And then there’s Crystal.  Crystal is a Siberian Husky.  She is a completely different kind of dog.  She is the bane of G’s existance.  I should mention that she was a total impulse buy.  She is gorgeous and sweet, and we’ve had endless hours of fun listening to her “talk”.  HOWEVER, she DIGS.  She could be rented out to dig out trenches for a nominal fee.  She has dug up countless drip lines in our backyard.  She has dug out the carpet in our house TWICE.  She rushes at you like a linebacker when you come over (she has improved after several knees to the chest).

We can’t leave the house now without putting Crystal and her sisterhood (plus Shea) in Alcatraz.  We originally put in a fence to create a dog run in the backyard and contain her damage.   She showed her appreciation by digging under the fence, and then biting the fence and bending it.  She’s Hudini in fur.  So, as of this week, Alcatraz is now fitted with an electrified fence.  Crystal is not a fan.  I’m waiting to see what she does when we go away for a few days because she has a severe case of separation anxiety.

And I thought kids were rough!!!

Despite the trouble, they are wonderful companions.  I never feel alone when they’re around.  As Grogan writes, it’s, “the journey worth taking”.  I couldn’t agree more!

When my father was a young boy, his father would take him to a Brooklyn Dodgers game.  It was a special day and it cost my grandfather less than $20, including tickets, transportation and food.

That was then.

NOW, you can’t take your child to a professional sporting event for less than $100.  Ok, maybe you can if you sit in the bleacher seats and don’t eat anything while you’re there.  What’s the point of doing that though, when you can have really cheap, great seats on your couch at home?

The cost of going to a game has become so astronomical that many people are financially shut out.  Owners are charging an arm and a leg so they can afford to pay their athletes millions of dollars.  I find it pretty unreasonable to pay a professional athlete that kind of money.  Simply put, why pay millions to a man who plays baseball for a living?  Yes, he’s gifted in that sport and he brings in the fans, but MILLIONS?

It breaks my heart that there are so many kids out there who will never get to see a live game simply because they can’t afford it.  Sports franchises display, in vivid Technicolor, a key issue in society today: Money Talks.  They’ve sold out for the All Mighty Dollar.

Once you get past the price of tickets, get in line and see what it costs for a hamburger, fries and a soda.  AAAAACCCCCKKKKKKKK!!!!!  I could go to Morton’s Steakhouse for less (o.k., I’m exaggerating a little there).

When I was a kid, I remember sitting at a game a Yankee Stadium (one of the worst offenders, by FAR), eating my Crackerjacks and cheering on Dave Winfield, Don Mattingly and Willie Randolph.  It was a thrill!  Maybe the team owners need to think of the children and make their tickets really cheap (or free!!), so that more of them can experience the magic of going to a game.

Don’t they make enough money from advertising?  Steinbrenner even has his own television network.  I mean, how much money do you NEED???!!!!!!

It’s a travesty.

I’m one of the fortunate ones in that I can bring my girls to a game or two during the year, thus still making it a special event like it was back in the day.

Now, if only we could cheer on a team that wins!

The anticipation…the excitement…the food…the parties…the shopping…the wrapping…the children hanging off the walls waiting for Santa to come…and then.

It’s OVER.

That’s it.  All the energy and time spent (and money, for sure) and in a few hours, it’s all over!!  So, what are you left with?  Sure, you have some nice things, and the kids are beside themselves with their stash (that should keep them occupied for a week, maybe two and then it’s, “We have nothing to do”!).

You are also the proud owner of huge credit card bills and five extra pounds, conveniently located on your ASS!!!!

So, is it worth it?  Is it worth getting on the commercial bandwagon and buying into the hype?  Sure it is!  Especially if you have children.  Children make Christmas, Christmas.  You anticipate their anticipation and excitement.  You perpetuate the history and the storytelling.  You hype up the hype!

“What was that sound,” you say, “I am pretty sure I heard Santa’s sleigh!!!!!  Wait!  Is that a red light in the sky?!”.  You know you want to hear the squeals and have them come running into your room at some ungodly hour because they want to tear into all their presents.

Sure, Christmas is a religious holiday in celebration of Jesus and his “gifts” to mankind.  But for me, it’s all about the children (some are much bigger than others - wink, wink).

So, despite the mess and endless pile of garbage, the credit card bills, those twist ties (GGGGRRRRRRRRRRR), and my oversized ass, I will gear up and do it again next year and for as long as my children believe…

My favorite quote from this year, “Daddy, Santa didn’t leave you anything in your stocking….not even COAL!”.  Santa isn’t for us.  It’s for them.  And THAT is a beautiful, squealing, messy thing!