Nashville in the Meantime

Okay, so we're probably driving our daughter bonkers. We call her a couple times a day while she's in Nashville. Call in the morning, "Hi! How ya' doin?" Call in the afternoon, "What are you doing?" Call in the evening, "How was school?" I know we should actually get a life of our own, but she is our first one off to college and she is sooooooo far away from home. Isn't it a parent's perogative to worry about their daughter? She seems to be doing fine on her own, though. She is making new friends and already has a job that starts next month at the Opry Mills Mall. I'm sure that as time goes on her parents won't feel the need to call her every day (at least not 3-4 times a day). We are looking foward to seeing her in September unless she happens to come home before then. Anyways, at least we aren't needing as many Kleenix as we did the first few days.

Welcome Home, Shia; Goodbye, Mary

Well, the dog is home. Shia came back with us last week and we've taken to her and I think that she has taken to us. She is a beautiful Yellow Lab. Long and sleek, much like Claire, who'll be the major beneficiary of Shia. Claire has slept through almost every night since Shia came home and began sleeping next to her.

Today is bittersweet, though. We have gained a dog, but we are wishing our daughter, Mary, a good-bye. Today is her last day at home before she leaves for college in Nashville, TN. We leave early tomorrow morning for the journey South. She'll follow me in her car as we take her belongings to her new home-at least for the next 18 months. She starts at High Tech Career Institute and will study massage therapy. The nice thing about the program is that it affords her the chance to obtain an Associates Degree in the 18 months and many of the credits can transfer if she decides to go on in college. Otherwise, she'll be able to start her profession before she is even 21. Focused learning seems to be a good way to go for her. We'll miss her, though. I'll be going down in September for a podiatry conference and I hope that most of the family will be able to go with me.

What a Week!

We started out with a graduation, had a party and then went right into dog training. Shia is a beautiful yellow lab that is stealing our hearts with her grace, her charm and her intelligence. Who could ask for anything more in a lady. We have had six days of training with her. Well, my wife is doing most of the training and is now at the point where the dog is with her 24/7 for 10 straight days. In the long run, the dog will be "transferred" to Claire. I haven't had time to think about much else except for driving, entertaining children and grabbing an occasional Americano at the local Starbucks. This week is more training with more ventures into field trips and then it is time to get our oldest ready for her journey to Nashville where she starts college on June 27th. Never a dull moment. Eventually, I hope to get back to updating this site on a regular basis, but for now suffice it to say... it is time for bed.