Imabeatyass

"Alright now, that's enough." Was the start of the downward spiral. But in reality, we knew 2 tones earlier, that we were playing with fire.

I'm a dog person, and when working with dogs, tone is everything.

This concept is nothing new. My mom perfected the same type of tone methodology on us, growing up.

We caught on pretty quickly what happened when we passed the 3rd tone.

Like other kids, we had the basic 3 chances, (the count to 3,) but as our chances increased, so did the tone in which the warning was delivered.

By the time we got to "Alright now, that's enough," the tone had deteriorated, to just above the voice of the devil himself. Even the dog knew to get the heck out of Dodge.

We, however, were not as smart. Well, at first.

But with some less than positive reinforcement, we soon learned where the line to the edge of survival was, and we clung to it like static.

Unwittingly, we crossed the 3rd tone, delving straight into the depths of hell, one day while driving in the car, fighting over seats.

"Imabeatyass," came from out of nowhere, in a low guttural death rattle, gurgled at us, from the general direction of my mom. Followed by a smack down, much like Andre the Giant on Hulk Hogan.

Needless to say, we treaded lightly from then on.

"Imabeatyass," has been rumored to be heard occasionally, during the "training" of my own kids.

(Thanks mom)