Back to school with Blaze-MaGoo

I've had it.Blaze-the-wonder-pup has evolved in to Blaze-the-pup-from-hell. I can honestly say that I like her, and most of the times like having her. But I can also honestly say that I do not love her. If you ask Ida, she would say that I was being unfair. Because Ida loves having Blaze in the house for security (so do we all, for the most part.) But I have never thought that having a puppy would be THIS difficult.
When we had gotten Blaze, she was a 10-wek old ball of fur, and a joy to carry around. She sure grew fast, and at just about 11 months old weighs close to 60 pounds. Which is understandable, being that she is a mix of Sheppard/colli/rotti. From what my vet told em, full grown she'll be anywhere from 75-95 pounds which was more dog than we really had hoped for. At 12-weeks old, Blaze participated in an 8 week training course at PetSmart. We had had our ups and downs during puppy school, but when she had graduated, seemed to really be on the right track. Or so we thought.
Since she graduated, Blaze has regressed (partly my fault) to not listening to her commands, or when I do try to practice her commands she will partake for a bit...and then go in to 'play-mode'. The only commands that she listens to are: sit....and when on the leash (only) let's go, and leave it. Off the leash....forget it. She gives you a look which simply says: 'what do you mean 'leave it'? I have no idea what you're trying to tell me.' Want her to stay? that never happens. EVER. But her two major points of disobiedance are her continuous jumping, and her mouthing. Both of which she should have outgrown by now. Or at least learned to control with the commands given her.
Before I went on vacation, I was at PetSmart, and talked to the trainer. Because you know...PetSmart has the satisfaction gaurenteed cause on their training program. SHA-RIGHT. The trainer tried to rope me in to shelling out another $250. for either a private lesson, OR the next set of classes. They were not willing to honor their gaurentee. So I've let Blaze off the school hook for awhile. But regardless of Ida's stance on Blaze doesn't need any more training...she's going back.
Last night I decided to take Blaze to get her nails clipped, and she was making me look like Freddy Cruger was coming after me. So instead of throwing her in my car, decided to walk her the two miles (so as to tire her out) to the store, and not give the (cute) shop worker a hard time. Yeah, my plan DID NOT go off without a hitch, as I intended. In fact last nights nail clipping included: me straddling the dog to keep her still, my holding her down, John (the shop worker) wrestling with her to clip her nails and inadvertantly touching my boob. BLAZE NIPPING John's hand HARD....and us then muzzling her and restraining her with a choker thing around her neck. John said it was no big deal, about him being nipped...but I knew he was hurt, and I was mortified.
After all was said and done, I bought some treats for her (as they clip nails for free), AND I gave John tip due to feeling guilty over his injury we walked home, with me reaking like dog. Oh Blaze was as happy as a pig-in-shit on the way home. But my mind is made up. Blaze is going back to school, because this is just wrong. And honestly, I can't see owning this dog who is so unruly.And really she is a good dog....she's just thick-headed. So as of Thursday, August 30th Blaze will be in a six-week program, (which is costing me $100.) at PETCO...where the pets go. Hopefully it will do the trick this time. Because if it doesn't Blaze will be in the dog house for sure.

I have come to despise the people I 'work' with

Once upon a time, I loved coming to work, at the place where I work. I believe I've mentioned that in several of my past posts about the ninth ring of hell that I work in. My boss, 'The Chief' is fine to work for; a fair boss, and a nice man. However there are other people in my department who just make me want to hurl something (most times the desire to hurl something SHARP) at them. To date, this has been 'Big Dick', who was formally refered to as 'Big Bad.'

Let me digress....I basically have no office support in my department any longer. A (now ex-employee) last summer just upped and walked out in the middle of a morning. Claire transfered to another department recently. The girl whom they moved in to her Claire's old posistion decided to pull a vanishing act (aside from going out on maternity leave.) So we're expecting her to come back at the end of this year, but WHO REALLY KNOWS. So now that leaves: YOURS TRULY, a part-timer (who is refered to as 1/2 the bane to my existance), and another woman who we'll kindly refer to as 'Queen Bee.'

'Queen Bee' now has to spend a few hours each day filling in the slot that Claire used to have. Part-time girl is never here, even when she IS here. And 'Big Dick'? Well, he just is worse than ever, making his usual sweeps through my office, trying to be large and in charge on things he can't even figure out. He has now enforced a nor personal phone call rule for both cell phones or desk phones. I am not even allowed to talk to Claire during work hours, or make eye contact with her if she comes to my office on business related issues. God forbid I have to use the ladies room. OH.....MY...GOD. If the phone goes to voice mail, 'Big Dick' goes in to a tizzy. Then he calls me, looking to see if Part-Time Girl is in my office. Because, you know heaven forbid she do something known as work.

Anyway, my biggest gripe is being that 'Queen Bee' chips in and spends a few hours each day helping out, she has taken to treating me like HER personal employee. And with that, I share with you an e-mail I got from her, and then also the one I sent back in reply. Perhaps I should not have...but I was so mad, that what my reply was...was the most neutral I could come up with.

e-mail to me: Subject: ADT Alarm Notifications

Hi Rose,

In the event that ADT calls the Helpdesk about an alarm, I want to make sure you know that details of the alarm should be noted and passed on to a supervisor/manager right away. Be sure to find out; what type of alarm, what site, zone, etc. Additionally, it doesn’t hurt to get the name of the person calling. Please don’t forward these calls to anyone, particularly if you’re not certain they are at their desk.

Call me if you have any questions – this email is just a reiteration for future reference.

Thanks!
'Queen Bee' (I had to change her name here for my safty.)

e-mail from me back to 'Queen Bee'

'Queen Bee',
And who would that be? Because basically it’s just me. Can it be established as to what the procedure is if no supervisors are available to take an ADT call?

11 More days until 2007 trip to Florida!!

So I've been keeping my vacation planning pretty much under wraps to all those out in blogger-land. The reason being, pretty much I wasn't sure if this was happening, where I was staying, who was going, etc. But now I am way too excited, and all the plans are more than firmed up so I just need to spill the beans. If I don't, well then I'll simply bust.
Originally I was supposed to go to Ireland this fall, on a tour, but things got way to expensive, and then my cousin's announced to my mom that THEY were doing a trip to Disney. Would we like to go too. My family owns time sharing, and we are able to trade our weeks anywhere that accepts our program, so this is saving us $$$$$ (in regards to staying at a hotel.) SO when mom had asked me if I had wanted to go, to do Disney (because you and I know, there's no hiding that I'm a kid at heart) I all but yelled 'YES!!' I had asked her if we could do a 10-day trip as oppossed to a 7-day trip and without hesitating, she said 'sure.'
So we're going....mom and me. To Florida. Ida was supposed to come, but bagged out at the last minute (of plane ticket purchasing) to stay with the mc-kittens and Blaze the wonder-pup. This is my first 'real vacation' in quite a few years (weekenders and mini vacations are great fun...but this is a VACATION.) Mom and I leave on August 12th, and I have an itinary planned for us. She laughes, but I explained to her that it's the best way to get in as much as we want to see.

• August 12th- Get to Orlando, check in, do some shopping, relax by pool. Dinner consists of http://www.piratesdinneradventure.com/florida/show.html
• August 13th- Breakfast at Denny's (Mom has never eaten at one and is itching to), Universal Studios, Lunch at MargaritaVille, http://www.margaritavilleorlando.com/ (I am trying to also talk mom in to getting together with friends Kevin & Scott which whom we had not seen in MANY years.)
• August 14th- Continue at Universal Studios, and also dinner at The Latin Quarters (on the CityWalk) This time though, I am BYPASSING the Jaws ride (as I had an anxiety attack on it the first time I had been to U.S.) I can't wait to go on The Mummy Ride, which was not yet open when I was there years ago.
• August 15th-It will be Disney's MGM Studios, where I will be rockin' & rollin' on the Aerosmith roller coaster, we'll hit the Muppets Theater, and have dinner at the Sci-Fi Eat-In Restaraunt. We may also go to one of the water parks (either Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach that morning as well.)

So our plane tickets are ordered, and outfits are pretty much planned. I've ordered our customized maps of the 4 major Disney Parks, as well as printed them. https://secure.disney.go.com/wdw/myVacation/customizedMaps/index?id=CustomizedMapsFlashPageOur Itinary is planned, and in the process of being printed and laminated.I am in the midst of getting everything Ida and my 'kids' will need to have on hand while we're away (such as emergency numbers and precooked meals. and pet food.)

And the count down will contine....because there's only 11 more days until Orlando vacation 2007 kicks off!