‘Tis the season for Christmas music. Normally I say “Bah humbug” to boring old holiday tunes, but I’m really interested in the She and Him Christmas album. Take a listen!
Speaking of festive, my friend Kelly is having an ugly sweater contest in which Mr. Barnabus Stinson, II is participating. Vote for Barney here! He is damn cute in his sweater. Check it out.
Happy birthday, USA! I’m using my national holiday today to enjoy some cancer-inducing sunshine while blogging.
I also decided to do something funky with my nails. I had a gift card for Target from work from our “appreciation day” a couple weeks back. So I spent about a half hour in the fingernail polish section picking out something fun that I could use on my nails. I ended up getting a black nail art pen from Sally Hansen. LOVE. Why? It’s like drawing on ceramics but on my fingers!
I used OPI fireflies as a base coat and went to town. But quickly remembered I’m right-handed … So photos are all of my left hand. 
Oh and Mr. Barnabus Stinson was visiting this weekend. My parents wanted to do a weekend vacay, so we took him for a couple of days. Less than 30 days until we move somewhere pet friendly so we can have him FULLtime. 
He loves noming ice cream.
I borrowed my friend Molly’s dog, Bailey, for a run yesterday and I didn’t realize just how much fun it would be puddle-jumping and stomping in some mud with a dog. Bailey is a very athletic dog, and it would take an olympic athlete to keep up with her when she’s got the zoomies. My run is her gallop speed.
I didn’t have any idea how far we went, but when I got back I mapped the course. We ran 7.41 miles. Which is the LONGEST run I’ve been on in I can’t even remember how long. I’m thinking since the half marathon last April. Usually I run 3-5 miles a couple times a week nowadays (as opposed to my 8-10 a day 3 years ago). I try to do a longer 6-7 mile run on the weekend.
I hadn’t planned on any specific distance — we just ran. I had planned on running until the dog was worn out or until I was entirely too cold. She won. She didn’t get tired.
I returned her to Molly covered in mud, but she was a happy doggie!
Last Sunday, Mark, Barney and I went to Des Moines. I had a coffee table that was sitting out for me at work that I needed to pick up and I needed Mark’s car to retrieve it. So, we decided to take Barney so we could get him an ice cream cone at Snookies Malt Shop. For those of you who don’t know, Snookies is a really great malt shop in the Beaverdale neighborhood in Des Moines and they love dogs. So, they hand out little doggie-sized ice cream cones along with people’s ice cream treats.
Barney was surprisingly good on the walk around the lake. He met a few other doggies and behaved himself. He also met a few little kids. So, all in all, he was very deserving of the ice cream cone he was going to get.
He was also a little apprehensive of the car ride. I’m guessing because every other time he’s been in a longer car ride the poor dog got dropped off at a new home. I’m his 3rd home — 4th, if you count the brief stint with my parents (which I’m sure he does). Anyway, he started enjoying it when I rolled down the window and let him hang out a bit (don’t worry guys, he had his harness on and I had a vice grip on both him and his leash).
We made it to the malt shop and Mark and I ordered. I got Barney his cone and sat down with him. To my surprise, he didn’t eat it all in one bite like my old dachshund* would have. He licked it! Like a person! He didn’t eat the cone part — apparently he didn’t consider that part food (this is coming from somebody who sometimes eats poo).
After he finished his cone, he sat around waiting patiently to see if there was going to be any more. Nope. Not sharing. I got a brownie sundae with hot fudge and marshmallow, and Mark got a Heath not-sure-what-they-call-it-there-but-is-essentially-a-Blizzard (TM).
*side note — my old doxie (Jake the Snake) was famous for his eating feats. I don’t have all day to tell you the stories, but my favorite has to do with ice cream. My mom was scooping ice cream for a birthday party or something, and it was a particularly frozen hard batch. She scooped really hard, and the scoop of ice cream flew off the ice cream scooper. Jake just happened to be walking by and snatched the WHOLE SCOOP of ice cream on the way. It didn’t even hit the ground. It. Was. Epic. That dog ate EVERYTHING and lived to be almost 15.
In case you’re curious … since I got off on the tangent … here’s some pictures of Jake.
He was rather rotund here. I’m guessing this was when he was about twelve.
My papasan chair was one of his favorite places to snuggle up under a blanket. He would usually play musical beds/chairs all day long and find interesting places to nap.
For instance, on my pillow, covered up in my blanket. No joke. This dog did this on his own. This was actually the last time I saw him. I think I stayed for the weekend and I had folded my blanket up and set it next to my pillow. That dog crawled under the blanket and fell asleep like this.
It’s really hard to keep a straight face while eating dinner because this is the view I have every night.
Though — I shouldn’t complain. I’d rather he sit here than at my feet begging for my food.
I’m going to be MIA for a couple of days as Mark and I attempt a double wedding. One of Mark’s friends is getting married today in Ames and our friend and his former roommate is getting married tomorrow in Iowa City.
Which means, I’ve gotta drop off the Barnstormer at a friend’s house for dogsitting. He’s not going to like that, but my friend Adria’s sister’s husband is going to watch him this weekend. They’ve got a laid-back basset hound who would love some company, so let’s hope this helps him get re-associated with dogs.
On a side note, I’m making one of the gifts, so I’ll be posting photos after they’ve received it.
I’m sure I’ll have an adorable recap on Monday or Tuesday for you.
Hope you have a fabulous weekend!
