Is DoodleKisses Coming Between My Family and Me??

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

 

Today, my daughter, who lives in Oregon, came home. We have not seen her since Christmas and it has been our longest separation ever. She flew into Washington D.C. for a conference and is able to stay with us for one night. Tomorrow, she leaves at the crack of dawn to go back to D.C. for more meetings. We will not see her again until Christmas. When she got here, it was as if she had never left. Vern and Fudge barreled out of the house when she first arrived so excited that someone was here. Vern stopped in his tracks briefly and barked ferociously and then must have remembered he knew this person. Fudge knew right away.

 

When she told me she was coming, I asked her if she wanted me to cook a home cooked meal when she got home.  She has tasted my cooking and asked that we go out to dinner. Over the years, if they had to bring anything to school, I always drilled into them not to volunteer me for anything that I had to cook or bake. Anything I could buy quickly such as paper plates, napkins, utensils, or drinks, made me the happiest mother and shall we just say, the few times they forgot, I liked to remind them over and over and over again that mommy was unhappy.

 

So, out to dinner we went and as families do we started to talk about lots of topics.  First, my two daughters started talking about the Harry Potter movie. They went on for quite some time until finally I said, “Dad and I have not seen the movie, so when you talk about it, you are leaving out 50% of the people at this table.”  The oldest daughter then turned to me and said, “Mom, you have been going on and on about your dog website and don’t seem to care that you are excluding 75% of the people at this table.”  I can take a hint, so I told her that I had a fun Harry Potter tidbit for her and that we have an Albus on DoodleKisses. My husband, trying to get in on the conversation, asked if Albus was a person or a dog and my daughter said something like, “it probably is not just a dog, it is a Doodle!” but I thought I detected a note of sarcasm.

 

We dropped that subject and went on to talk about movies and concerts.  I told them I had just joined a group on DK that reviewed movies and one of the girls said, “Oh my god, please tell me you are kidding,” and I informed her that on DK we said OMD instead of OMG and she asked if that meant, “Our mom’s dopey!” and then they all laughed.  Undeterred, I then mentioned that during Yappy Hour, one member said she went to see John Mayer and Train and it was a great concert and I just found out Adam Levine and Train were coming and did anyone want to go with me?  Proving once again that he only hears a small percentage of what I say, my husband said, “Why do you want to go see Arvil Lavigne?”  My daughter said, “Mom, you do know that Adam Levine and John Mayer are two different singers or didn’t they tell you that in Sappy Hour?”  I made a mental note to myself to take this child out of the will.

 

For the next fifteen minutes, the Oregon daughter talked about buying a house, commuter distances, and all the things there are to do in Oregon.  I had been holding out hope she would hate this state and move back home, but I could see my dreams shattering with each word she spoke.  I guess I let emotion take over when I yelled, “If you tell me you are not coming home for Christmas, you might as well just stab me in the heart!” and my husband, right there in Olive Garden, handed her his knife and said, “have mercy on your mom and do as she says.” Well, that caused another round of laughter at my expense, but my daughter did say she was coming home for Christmas.

 

After dinner, my daughters wanted to know what we wanted to do next and I suggested we go home and get on DoodleKisses.  I said I could show her a video of Walla Walla, Washington, or whales in Newfoundland, or she could read all about a big hand, or see a picture of Joanne modeling the wedding Intercourse shirt holding a little purse with poop bags, or we could go bike riding and guess which bike rider is most likely to pee their pants (long story) in a race, or we could shop online for new Doodle stuff, or watch Shelly’s HDA video, or we could dress up the dogs in something fun I just got for them at Spencer’s Gifts and take pictures, or maybe, just maybe, if Karen had posted the new caption contest we could all sit around and bounce ideas off each other.  When I finally looked up, my family looked horrified and they offered a few of their own suggestions, most of which involved a twelve-step program, hiding my computer, or getting into some kind of a witness protection program so I couldn't find them.  Don't they realize I have DK contacts all around the world now and the means to post their pictures in the event they get "lost"?  I'll just keep that little tidbit to myself. In the end, they opted not to commit me if I stopped talking about my dogs and DK and we all went up to the mall.  BORING!!!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Laurie, next time you go out to dinner I suggest you go with STRANGERS! They will be MUCH kinder and you will not hear things like, "12 step programs" nor will they demean the things in your life that are important to you. What is it about family and friends that makes them feel free to VERBALIZE every thought that passes through their heads-regardless of how unkind it is????? I recently heard from an old friend who wants to "get together to get caught up". Right. Then she let it slip that she is actually more excited about seeing TARA than seeing ME!!  WTD??? Isn't that something that should be THOUGHT but not said????

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Good advice. My DD actually has two French Bulldogs and is as dippy over them as I am about Fudge and Vern, but she likes to tell me she has real friends and not just DK friends. Basically, she is a brat and takes after her father.....LOL! These doodles just are worth talking about, in my book :)

[KAHLUA]

Laurie, a while ago we went out with some friends and all they talked about was their new dog "Boots", both my husband and I thought there were nuts to have their lives so consumed by a dog that they coudn't make talk about anything else.  THEN we go our goldendoodle, and yes, you guessed it, that is all we talk about.  So!  With that said, like any mother, wait until they have a dog of their own, which they will, and gently remind them of that trip to Olive Garden!!!! 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Traci, LOL....I still don't think it is me :) It must be everyone else.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Laurie...What about your DK friends that think you're nuts??? (KIDDING!!!)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jane, You are lucky...you can hide most of your addiction :) LOL Is a California King bigger?

Anna, My best friend teases me too. You are absolutely spot on about finding something here. I never would have believed it a few years ago.

Traci, Enjoyed your comment! I know it is all interesting, even if my family doesn't see it.

Thanks, Nina and Julie

Joanne, You could send them an autographed picture of you in the shirt :) I know they would love that!!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jen, At least we know what OMD means...haha!!

Jane, Both my girls do love dogs and Fudge and Vern, but they think I am obsessed with DK. They may be on to something :)

Carol, My sister asked me what DH stood for, just the other day. I feel so sorry for those kinds of clueless people...hahaha!  She also asked me what LOL stood for....does she live under a rock??

F, I have made so many wonderful friends on DK and sometimes, we do talk about other stuff than our dogs. The good thing is I don't much care if my kids think I am nuts.

 

 

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

I was laughing out loud by the end of your post, Laurie! I've learned to keep my blather about DK, doodles, and OMD what a cute thing my puppy did last night squeeeeee to a minimum at work ... or attempt to, even though my co-workers gave up on me a long time ago as incurably insane anyway.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Caitlin, I miss you here on DK. I hate that you young'uns grow up, move to Oregon, or get stupid jobs :) Of course, I dropped the name of your sweet dog. He is a sweetie!

Camilla, I listen to a lot of stuff I don't want to, so I figure they owe me :)

Deanna, Isn't it funny what they choose to remember?? I always tell mine, I prefer if they suffer in silence...LOL!

Dori, That is funny about your DH. My DH acts interested sometimes, but it could just be his eyes are glazed over..LOL!

Sandy, I agree. Let them laugh...we know what we are talking about her on DK!

 

[Camilla and Darwin]

DH is moderately interested in DK happenings, but other than that I never talk about it to others. My family thinks indoor dogs are crazy. The thought of a whole group of people having yappy hours and buying doodle merchandise would be unthinkable . LOL. I guess I'm a closet addict in the non-cyber world.