Oh Mandy...

Have you ever had one of those moments of weakness, that come on all of the sudden, and end up transforming your daily life into something far different than before?

Yesterday I had a moment...a moment of complete and utter weakness. This moment came when I was sifting through assorted odds and ends that I'm trying to sell on e-bay. At one point I took out a portable dog dish as Brian walked by. He said, "Hey why don't we keep that? We can use it when we get a dog." To which I replied, "When are we getting a dog?" He smiled and said, "Well, there's one in the paper." 'you've been looking for dogs?' I thought..He read my mind and replied, "It's a chocolate lab for $75.00."

I, in my moment of weakness, coupled with the thought that an AKC registered Chocolate Lab for only $75.00 listed in the Sunday Newspaper would surely have been taken by now said, "Well, Call on it." BIG FAT MOMENT OF HAIRY FREAKING WEAKNESS....

He called on it...It was still available...She's 3 1/2 years old and the owners just moved to a small area with no yard. They had been sifting through all the offers one by one for a few days...they were waiting for a family with children and a yard to take her...THAT WOULD BE US APPARENTLY!

I could tell the conversation on the telephone wasn't quite going my way when Brian said to the man, "We'll be right there!" I sighed, gathered the children, assigned them places to be in the house, took two with us and off we went to look at the spayed 3 1/2 year old female Lab. Brise and Vinnie had no idea where we were going...after we hit the ATM and half way to the persons home they began asking questions. "Where are we going?" "Why did we have to come?" "Why didn't Kazz and the babies get to come?" FINALLY I said, "Okay we are going to see a Chocolate Lab." There was silence... ..... .... then came, "You mean like Charlie and The Chocolate Factory?" "COOL!"

"Ummm, No." ... ... ... ... then came, "Then what's a chocolate lab? Do they have chocolate?" ... ... ...Brian and I smile ...

"You dont' know what a chocolate lab is??" ... ... ... silence... ... ...

"GASP! A DOG!!" Brisan finally exclaims.

"Yep." Complete and utter auditory chaos began to ensue. Thank God we waited until we were almost there! So we pull in to this trailer park..find the house ... pull into the drive... Brian says, "Whoa" in his most astonished man voice...I look over and lo-and-behold there is a FAT, FAT, FAT, Female Lab sitting by the driveway. "Holy Cow she's fat!" I say. The kids jump out and go pet her... Long story short...

The owner fell in love with the boys, began to cry profusely and gave the dog to us for free. They were choosing just the right family. I'm so happy it was us...(slight sarcasm) :-) Well it must be fate. She's housebroken, huge and funny to watch with the twins. They don't know what to do with her. They push her butt and try to run around her so they don't have to see her face. It's quite a funny thing.

So she jumps into our bed last night. "Nope!" I say. The rest of the night was an up and down medley of "Hush Mandy!" "Lay down Mandy" ..take Mandy to potty...make a spot onto he floor for Mandy...maybe she wants out...maybe she wants in...Brian and I were up all night...(shaking my head)...Yes it was fate alright...talk to me tomorrow...when I've all but lost my mind.

Have I mentioned the dog hair, spit, water and food that now spatters our kitchen floor?

I can't believe my life!