Max - An Adoption Story

I plead guilty. For the last 3 months I've sent Seth email after email of Petfinder.com's "I thought you might be interested in this dog." I imagine I sent on about 5 per week... some weeks more than others. Without fail, the end of the day would come and I'd ask, "So babe, did you get that email I sent you." And time after time I'd get a snooty response: "Yup. Looked like a dog." Did he really have no heart? These poor dogs needed a home. It was my responsibility to save them! But alas, he was a tough cookie. Unwilling to budge. I couldn't crack him. So I did the only thing I could think of. I continued sending the emails.

As time went on I began reminding him that our anniversary was coming up, Christmas was just around the corner, etc. etc. and all I wanted was another dog. I insisted that Jubi was so lonely during the day and all she wanted was another dog to keep her company. I even pulled out the big guns. "Jubi won't be with us much longer and I can't live a single minute without a dog, please help ease the transition for me!"

Then the clouds parted. Amidst my emails, logical arguments, tears and shameless pleading... the heavens opened.

I was at work Tuesday and a dog came in to the clinic to have his foot examined. He was an adorable petite Chocolate Lab with beautiful amber eyes. He immediately became my buddy. As the doctor listened to his heart I commented to his owner that this was the most well-behaved lab I'd ever seen. Certainly not like any lab I'd ever owned. Calm, collected, sweet. I was in love. Then she uttered the lethal words. "I'm trying to find him a home."

My heart skipped a beat, but I held my tongue. Seth would kill me. But, if I could just get him to meet him I know he'd love him too. Okay, I need to call him and quick!

We had to keep him for an hour to take x-rays so I calmed down and started to plan. Immediately I texted Seth (who was at work) with an urgent message, "Call me ASAP." In the meantime I doted over my new friend (walked him around the clinic, introduced him to the receptionists, told them how remarkable he was--and he really was). Finally Seth called just as his owner was walking out the door with him, about to be lost forever. I got off a quick description of the dog to Seth and asked if I could just give her my number. I got the approval. Victory #1.

I chased the lady out to her car and told her how much I loved her dog. And that I really wanted him, but that I needed to talk to my husband. She was as excited as I was. I got her number and told her I'd call.

Now the real plotting began. Seth had proven to be a formidable enemy... this had to be his idea. After getting advice from the my co-workers (the groomer, doctor, and receptionists), I had a plan. I had to convince him to a "trial run." We'd try out the new dog for a designated period of time. If we had any doubts at the end of the trial - no deal (but, there was no way I'd allow that to happen).

At 6:30 I got off work and picked Seth up from school. I told him my trial idea and he insisted we had to make a pros and cons list. I played along -- making sure the pros far outweighed the cons. I got the okay to call the lady. Victory #2.

So here we are, 8:00 pm (8 hours after our initial meeting). I called her, and she was thrilled about the trial idea. We got directions and headed to her condo immediately.

The ride was full of Seth's, "I can't believe we're doing this. Why did I give in to this?" Me? I was just full of smiles. We got to her place and the rang the doorbell. The door opened. Victory #3. Seth saw him and fell in love. And that's all it took. Just as I knew it'd be, all they needed to do was meet. This dog was for us.

And that's the story of Max. We took him home and got settled right in. As far as I was concerned, the moment we walked through the door the trial was over, Max was ours. Inside, I think Seth felt the same way.About Max:
Labrador Retriever (chocolate)
2 1/2 year old male (unneutered-not for long)
58.7 lbs
Spent his whole life (except the last month) locked in a crate outdoors
We got him from his previous owner's mother who rescued him from her son
LOVES playing fetch (we haven't tested frisbee yet)
Lives for a good petting

"A trial run"

Here's a sneak preview to our newest child. His name is Max. More info to come soon :)

Turkey bowl time!

I was quite upset when I heard that Seth's major (Facilities and Property Management) hosted an annual Turkey Bowl. Then I found out it was just a football game (whoops). The young men back in my homeward used to actually bowl with frozen turkeys. Talk about unethical.

Here are some pictures from the event. It was a chilly morning (our first true snowfall) which made it even more festive, fun, and slippery. I watched from the sidelines with a few other girls. Seth played really well -- I was a proud wife :) as always.

After the game we enjoyed hot chocolate and a delicious pancake breakfast cooked by Brother Burr (one of Seth's professors) on his gas grill. What a great way to kick off the holiday season!

Perks of the job

As some of you know, I've been working various events over the past year at both the Marriott Center and Edwards Stadium. The most consistent event I work is the weekly devotional or forum held every Tuesday morning in the Marriott Center. I get get paid to wear a spiffy navy blue blazer, carry a radio, and sit and listen to the speaker. I do other stuff, but that's neither her nor there!

The speaker this past Tuesday was Elder Jon M. Huntsman Sr. of the quorum of the Seventy. No big deal until I was told by my supervisor that one of the apostles, Elder Ballard, would be making a guest appearance. This didn't really change my responsibilities, but it was a "FYI" comment.

About a half hour before the devotional began one of the Church's security detail approached me and asked if we had any hairspray? Surprised by this request, I called my boss on the radio and asked the same question. This was the first time he had received a request for hairspray at a devotional meeting. About fifteen minutes later, his secretary approached me with a hairspray bottle she had tracked down from one of the secretaries that works in the basketball office. This whole time we had all been thinking it was for Elder Huntsman or maybe his wife. I took the hairspray and walked back to the speaker reception room. The security guy who had requested the hairspray was standing outside the reception room so I walked up and handed him the bottle. He then motioned to someone inside the reception room and out walks Elder Ballard! He then took the hairspray and said "Now I can go fix my hair."

The secretary and I stood there and chuckled about what we had just witnessed. The hairspray we had tracked down was for an apostle of the Lord! It wasn't a spiritual experience that I will add to my testimony, but it was fun to be that close to him and watch how he acts informally. Leia thought it was a good story and it has made me seriously consider switching to hairspray!

Shakin' off the rust

Here's a picture of my wonderful intramural soccer team after our last game of the season:

Top Row: (Left to Right) Lisa Quick, Janelle Butler, Michelle Demary, Klysta Goodsell, Julie Lisonbee, Melanie Jones

Bottom Row: Annika Quick, Me
Unpictured: Ashleigh Cramer, Melissa Wise, Emily Meek, Lindsay Conover

It wasn't until this year that I was finally on an intramural team (tennis doubles with my husband doesn't count). I had this fear that I would be the worst one out there, let everyone down and then they would all hate me and call me names. As it turned out, I really wasn't worse than everyone, everyone was super nice, and after every game I couldn't stop telling Seth about how much "I love soccer!" and "Why haven't I been on a team before now?!" Playing took me back to my high school glory days. I just loved it. Thanks Ashleigh for inviting me!

Waltzing Matilda

Just purchased two tickets to paradise. Bam. Happy graduation to us.

The Joys of Fall

This afternoon Seth decided to rake our leaves before our Super-Neighbor Brother Bush could beat him to the punch.

Caveat: Last year Brother Bush started raking our leaves until Seth came out and helped him finish. Two years before that someone raked them all in the middle of the night for us--I suspect that was him, too. Other countless good deeds have earned him the title of Super-Neighbor. Perhaps I'll devote a future post to our good ol' neighbor, Bro. Bush.

Here are some pictures and a short video to illustrate the fun we had. No animals were physically harmed in the making of this video. Perhaps emotionally.