Lucy & I Adopted An Ape

I can't believe it's Saturday already. Lucy & I were very busy this week! Things are definitely heating up around here as we get ready for her Daddy to make his departure for Texas! I think we're making progress and heading in the right direction, at least I hope we are because the efforts of it all are exhausting this little blonde and the boxer baby and we're not even in the thick of things!

Earlier this week, I started training someone who is scheduled to work full time for us. I love training new sales people, especially when I see a ton of potential in them- like I do with this young kid. I can tell that he's smart and eager to learn- he asks good questions, and seems to be sucking in everything I say like a sponge.

Training is challenging in this business though. There's a lot to learn, and sometimes it's hard to teach someone else when you're exhausted and you've been doing the job so long that everything you do is like second nature to you. I find myself really "thinking" about what I need to share with him and trying to go back to a time when I didn't know it all by heart, and that was a long time ago!

For my birthday on Thursday, I had a wonderful, very relaxing day of shopping therapy. There is nothing more fun than spending the day at the mall when there really isn't anything you need, and there are a ton of great sales going on. There's no pressure to 'find something' and of course there's the bliss of finding a great deal.

Thank you all so much for the wonderful birthday wishes! I wish that I had been able to take my little boxer shopping with me, but somehow I have a feeling that would have been a big disaster! She was the best little girl all day long for me. I left her in the kitchen with toys all over the floor, and lots of nice cold water and she didn't get into any trouble and I was gone for 5 hours! I was so proud of her! And the greeting I got when I walked in the door was amazing. I don't know if she really missed me or she was just excited to see all the bags and go exploring! Lucy's truly a girl at heart, she adores shopping bags!

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and Lucy and I dragged ourselves out the door and we were back at the store bright and early yesterday morning. She didn't seem to mind. She sat like a good puppy at the door while I attached her harness and leash and proceeded to settle right in the car! When I pulled into the parking lot, there was a large blue, furry thing sticking out of the dumpster. I parked, got Lucy out of the car and started to walk towards the dumpster.

Lucy also saw the big blue object protruding from the dumpster, and decided that it wasn't in her best interest to go any further. She made a funny little noise, and planted herself right where she was standing, refusing to take another step. My boxer obviously wasn't as curious as I was.

I had no choice but to situate Lucy in the store and return to the dumpster alone! Lucy seemed to know what I was up to and had no problem settling right down on her dog bed while I explored the dumpster.

"Go aheads, Mom! You cans meet dat big blue ting all bys yourself. I'll wait rights here for ya."

Much to my delight, the big blue furry thing sticking out of the dumpster was a stuffed blue ape with all kinds of wild colors and a really adorable face! And I couldn't help but think of all the attention that ape would grab sitting out in front of the store with some balloons attached to him. So, I hauled him into the store, not caring a whole lot that I was getting some pretty funny looks, dusted him off a bit and let Lucy check him out to get her opinion of the funny looking big blue ape.

"Dat's a pretty silly ting yas got der, Mom! Lemme check him out! I wants to make sure he knows who's boss around dis joint. A few nips wit my teeth here and der and he oughta know dat I's is the da Queen of dis jungle."

"Okays, you're not dat bad. You can stays! Just so you knows though, dats my hooman, and dis is my jungle. Just cause your be's da king of da jungle, don't mean you're king here! Just makes sure you remembers to smile when she's got dat flash box out..."

Lucy had a lot of fun getting to know our new employee, and I'm pretty sure after trying to tug him the whole way back one of the aisles, and attacking his arms and legs that her mission was accomplished... she remains the queen of this jungle!

...My poor little boxer, she asks for another boxer and this is what we give her! Poor Lucy!