Wordless Wednesday - Smile Pretty for the Camera

When you're smilin', when you're smilin', the whole world smiles with you...

Wordless Wednesday - What Does Your Dog Taste Like?

I don't know why my kid always has her tongue out in pictures. Teenagers--sheesh!

Random Tuesday Thoughts - Speaking of Which

First things first. Gotta give props, click on Keely's fugly button above (her description, not mine) and check out her randomness.  It's randomly random aka awesomely awesome!

So....(sheepish side step to the right) how you doin?  Me, well I could be here all day if I start that business.  But anyway...

Kids, school, colorguard, holidays, blah, blah, blah.  Speaking of colorguard, we are officially up and running with our winterguard season.  Our show is going a different direction from previous years.  The past two years have been slow, balladish (I made up that word) and poignant.  This year, I wanted to change it up, so we are going with an up-tempo, more butch industrial/techno show so that we don't get pigeon-holed into one set style.  I think it's a good way to keep it interesting and teach my guardie youngsters to embrace change.  I am blessed to have my daughter home from college for another ten days, to help design and teach the show.  Speaking of which...

My kid had a banner first semester of college.  She managed to get all A's and a B, while maintaining a rigorous schedule as part of the OU Pride Colorguard.  She's had a whirlwind break, first flying home then flying back to go to the Fiesta Bowl, and today she flies home again then flies back and starts spring semester in a few weeks.  I am so incredibly proud of her, and to boot, she wrote me the sweetest letter a few months ago.  I can't ask for more, speaking of which...

She is the third of my four children.  They are all in various states of the education process.  They are all happy, healthy and succeeding in their academic pursuits.  I am incredibly proud of all of them, I am so very
blessed.  Speaking of which...

My husband and I just celebrated six wonderful years of marriage.  Nine plus years of this segment of the relationship and thirty-five years of being soul-mates.  If you do the math, yes, we were eleven when he sent me the note in world studies class and I circled yes.  We've only been coupled just over eleven of those years--collectively.  But we do have an enduring love that has lasted all thirty-five years.  In total, it's a cool story which he thinks we should peddle to Lifetime.  He is full of ideas, speaking of which...

He writes a blog!  It is frank, often humorous, insightful, and politically incorrect.  Now, he and I and two of our kids write blogs.  The dog will probably soon be writing one too.  Speaking of which...

Sarah the dog is happy and healthy.  For a diabetic dog, she has beat all the projections.  Our vet is amazed that she isn't blind, but so far, her eyesight seems great.  Except...a few weeks ago, during the lunar eclipse, she decided to chase a cat...that turned out to be a skunk.  Maybe the eyesight ain't so great, hmmmmm.  I was awakened by my frantic husband to assist with the de-skunking.  It was not fun for us or for her.  Somehow, I suspect she didn't learn to leave skunks alone.  We are all being more diligent about when and where she is off-leash.  Speaking of which...

That's all the random I can spare today.  I must dive head-first into my task list.  Toodles!

Wordless Wednesday - I Love My Dog

Random Tuesday Thoughts - Where the Hell Have I Been

If you are normal and like to hear about butts (or even if you are abnormal and don't like butts) be sure and stop by The Un Mom

Okokokokok...ok...so where I've been.  Not anywhere special, just incredibly busy and had family needs and unexpected events that required my full attention.  My father gave me three pearls of wisdom to use to guide my life:  1. Be positive 2. KNOW what your priorities are, and 3. Be spiritual.  Number two came up and required my focus to be elsewhere.  I realize that I left everyone hanging in the middle of my weight-loss series, but I will pick it back up this week.  Hopefully, you will grant me the benefit of the doubt and help me get back into the swing of blogging.

Luckily, I squeezed in time to read your blogs and found new sources to appreciate which helped me relax during the most intense parts of my absence.  Those of you who write faithfully (and some of you who don't) kept me sane and I want you to know I truly appreciate your writing.

So, on with the random, after all, it is Tuesday.

I just received my dog's license renewal in the mail.  It lists her as a pit bull.  OMFG!  She is NOT a pit bull!  She is a lab/jack russell mix (we are assuming lab mommy/jack russell daddy lol).  Whoever pushed the pit bull button at the county office made an error.  I feel compelled to correct it. 

There's snow in them there hills!  It snowed in the Sierras yesterday about an hour from me.  It's the middle of May, wtf Mother Nature?  I think this has been the weirdest winter since I moved here eight years ago (my how time flies).

The garden is mostly in.  Peas, carrots, lettuce, spinach, onions and herbs are already producing and being harvested.  Tomatoes, peppers, green beans, eggplant, cucumbers, okra and strawberries are going strong and are on schedule.  My fruit trees have fruit on them though the plums and nectarines are still small and green.  My orange tree is just now blossoming and it smells so heavenly.

My birthday is next week, 45 will be the new number.  I'm gonna put on my tiara, prom dress, stripper boots and glitter on my face then head out to my favorite dance bar with my hubby and good friends.  It's how I roll on my birthday; I let my freak flag fly high!

I learned a new little trick.  My daughters love the rotisserie chickens at the grocery store.  I usually use up any meat, that is left over from rotisserie chicken, in soups, salads and other dishes.  But on a whim one day, I decided to see if I could make chicken stock from the leftover carcass and guess what?  It makes a great stock that is perfectly seasoned.  As one who is frugal and always looking to cut costs in my home budget, I'm delighted to make something that I use so frequently and often pay $2.00-$3.00 per quart to purchase at the store.  Try it--just fill a stock pot with water, add the chicken carcass and bring to a boil then simmer on medium until you have a thick golden broth/stock.  Strain to remove the remaining chicken parts, skim the fat off the top, store the broth/stock and use as needed.  I freeze mine in quart containers.

Whew!  It feels good to shake off the dust and get back to blogging.  To my faithful followers, I owe you my heart for your patience.  Tomorrow will be Wordless Wednesday, then Thursday will be the next installment of "I've lost, but look what I've gained".  Stay tuned!

Random Tuesday Thoughts - As Random As It Gets

Keely  is deep in denial a pile of words about heaving busts and men in form-fitting attire--no she is not reviewing a workout video--go check out her Randomness.

There's been a whole lot of random in my life lately so get ready for this roller coaster ride!

This week (and for one week only) I am dominating The Momspective II Fantasy Football League.  Yeah! Go me go me! uh uh uh...uh oh, flagged for excessive celebration.  Believe me, my celebrating will be short lived.  MadMom is sure to kick my @ss in our upcoming matchup.  Even if she doesn't, Boston Babe, AlliC, Felicia or Annalise will probably win and eventually, we'll all be tied again and then they will pass me and leave me in the dust.  But for a few sweet days, I OWN THEM, YEAH! 

Miz Julie is out and about AGAIN!  Julie you is my travel hero heroin heroine.  That's such a weird word, hero should just be a unisex word.  She can still hook you up though, since she is always organized and prepared and leaves behind entertaining prose when she's away. 

Citizen of the Month is holding his third annual Great Interview Experiment.  I signed up this year and am very eager with anticipation to learn what WordNerd wants to know about me and what salacious info salient sparks of insight I can elicit from Jew Eat Yet?  Keep checking back, both interviews are to take place within the next two weeks and will be posted on this blog for your great mocking pleasure perusal.

Yesterday was a typical Madness Monday.  So at the end of the day, I happily joined my husband in the hot tub (yes, we get in nekkid).  As we were getting out, Sarah Dog came trotting over with something hanging out of her mouth.  I was sure it was some dead animal, ewwww.  I told Sarah to drop it, which she did immediately (then she slunk guiltily away).  My husband turned on the back patio light and discovered that it was not a dead bird or lizard, but a CARROT!  My dog dug up a carrot out of my garden.  What can I say, she does love carrots, AND tomatoes which she picked off the vines and ate all summer. So for those of you who lament that your dog or cat brings you dead animals, my dog kills produce and eats it (there's got to be a Cain and Abel reference there somewhere but I just can't figure it out yet).  I'm just so proud.

Sunday, I made a double batch of pear crisp in an 11" x 13" pan.  My husband ate-the-whole-thing!  Yesterday morning, the empty pan was sitting in the sink.  Okay, okay, I'm secretly pleased that he loves my cooking, but you know I must pretend to be indignant.

Shhhhh, don't tell my youngest children (17 & 14) but we are taking them to see Wicked as part of their Christmas gifts!  I can't wait, I've never seen it.  I miss my Kennedy Center membership something fierce. 

I was so impressed with Kirstie Alley's nontoxic cleaning solution (cheap vodka) that I ran right out and bought four big bottles for uh...uh...cleaning, yeah that's it.  Now, now, I do NOT pour some on my cleaning rag and then take a swig.  I do love to make my own nontoxic cleaning products.  Vodka, vinegar and lemon juice really do work.  Also, for those of you with young kids and animals that might accidentally get into the toilet to play and/or drink, Tang breakfast drink makes a great toilet bowl cleaner.  It's also great for sprucing up your dishwasher (just add a scoop to your dispenser and run it through a cycle without dishes).  Vinegar and boiling water are also great for killing weeds that grow in the seams and cracks in sidewalks and driveways.  Last but not least, all of this stuff is much cheaper than commercial cleaning products.

If you want to read a good blog that will make you think and up your intellect significantly, check out my buddy Brian's blog Life of Brian.  He has great ideas and information, and he really keeps me on my toes.

Tonight, Hubby and I are going to the first game in our season ticket package to see the Sacramento Kings.  Go Kings!

Congrats Tonoogle!  She just met a goal and completed an EA Active Sports 5K this weekend.  She is also a worthy adversary in our Fantasy Football league (I bow, I bow).  She gets her Random on too--check out her site.

I confess with some trepidation that I love opera.  I love Mozart operas the most, but I'm an equal operatunist.

Thus ends my random, tune in next time when grandpa says "check out Captain Dumbass and say hello food porn!" (That one is for you Hee Haw lovers, you know who you are)

Wordless Wednesday - Sarah the BlogDog Star

She got wind of my post from yesterday, and now she thinks she's a diva (look how she hogs the remote too, sheesh)

Random Tuesday Thoughts - Gone to the Dogs

Check out Keely, she's always good for some RTT

Her name is Sarah...Sarah Dog Scott.  We chose her, but in fact I believe she was waiting for us.  Her arrival story is amazing--to me anyway.  For the first few years of our marriage, my husband said "no pets".  But he looked into the sad, begging eyes of three sweet girls and caved as he almost always does.  He didn't mention anything to me about his change of heart; one day I happened to stumble across the Petfinder.com link that had been bookmarked in our browser.  I spoke to him about his intentions, and he admitted that he had been looking at dogs online.  We talked about what type of dog would best fit into our family.  We completely agreed on all of the important issues.  Well...I agreed with most of the issues and was willing to acquiesce to the rest because I really wanted a dog as much as the kids did.  Foremost, we decided to "adopt" a dog that needed a home.  We tried several times to be approved for adoption, but somehow other applications were always chosen over ours.  Finally, we saw a listing by a non-profit group called HARP.  They had two sweet looking small yellow lab mixes and were hosting a pet meetup at a pet store in a city an hour and a half away.

My hubby, our youngest, and I hopped in the car on a Sunday morning to make the drive to the meetup.  We arrived to find no dogs, but several cats.  We asked about the lab mixes (we intended to adopt both) and were told they had already been adopted, and HARP hadn't had a chance to update the website.  One of the ladies from HARP asked us what kind of dog we wanted.  We gave her a brief overview of size and age and breed.  She mentioned that she was fostering a dog that had been rescued during Hurricane Katrina.  Rescue groups in Louisiana had rounded up abandoned pets and distributed them to various animal rescue groups across the country.  The dog being fostered by the HARP volunteer had come to her via distribution in San Francisco.  HARP had taken several of the Katrina rescue dogs and this little dog was the last of the bunch.  We were told her name was Sarah and that she had a skin condition for which she was currently being treated.  She was not available for adoption until her skin condition was clear, but the HARP volunteer asked if we wanted to meet her, and of course, we did.

We followed the HARP volunteer to her house.  She had several cats which meant Sarah had to be tied in one room to prevent her from chasing the cats (to this day, she will chase a cat at any cost).  The volunteer brought Sarah into her foyer to meet us.  She was a little shy at first, but we soon discovered that she was obsessed with fetching a ball.  Even now, we can throw a ball and she will retrieve it until she literally can't stand up to run after it any longer.  She seemed so sweet and friendly and fun that we fell in love almost immediately.  Her breed mix was thought to be labrador retriever and jack russell terrier and her age was estimated by the HARP vet to be three years.  She was chubby and almost coal black.

The HARP volunteer explained that Sarah had one week left to finish her prescription and then the volunteer would bring her to our house.  She would then inspect the house and yard, and if she found it acceptable, we would then be permitted to adopt Sarah and pay the adoption fee (several hundred dollars).  We were also required to select a vet and provide that information to HARP.  We left the volunteer's home with our fingers crossed and hoping this would go smoothly.

The following week, the volunteer arrived at our home with Sarah.  After a brief tour inside and out, she declared our home worthy of Sarah.  We happily paid the fee and welcomed her.  In her doggy backpack was her blanket, some toys and some starter dog food.  Also included were the documents that provided information from her initial rescue and subsequent veterinary examinations and microchip identification.

Life with Sarah settled into a normal routine pretty quickly.  We found her to be very intelligent and she learned commands easily.  She was expertly house trained and did not have accidents.  We couldn't have asked for a better dog.

A year later, Sarah began limping and appeared to have joint discomfort with her hind legs, hips and back.   We took her to the vet and steroids were prescribed.  She began to get worse and became lethargic and incontinent.  The vet then ran a whole panel of tests and couldn't find anything specifically wrong.  He then decided to test her for diabetes which came back positive.  Sarah would have to have insulin shots twice a day for the rest of her life.  Additionally, our vet told us that Sarah's age was probably closer to seven years.  This seems to be a better guesstimate of her age as she has facial graying as older dogs often do.  Since then, her checkups have indicated that her glucose level is stable.  We have again settled into a normal routine.

Sarah sleeping with my daughter

As for all the house rules established by my husband, HE has broken every single one of them!  When Sarah arrived, she was not allowed upstairs, in any of the bedrooms, on any of the beds.  She was not allowed on the furniture downstairs either.  She was not allowed to watch us eat dinner; she had to lay with her back to us.  My how things have changed!  Now, most nights she sleeps with one of the kids.  Our bed was the last taboo, but even that changed when I had surgery.  Occasionally, when my husband is out of town overnight, she sleeps on our bed with her head on his pillow.  Once in a while, at dinner time, my husband will let Sarah jump on the bench beside him at the table and eat off his plate, albeit after he is finished.  I don't think there is one single piece of furniture she has not been on.  Her favorite spot is lying alongside of whoever sits in the recliner.  She waits until it's pushed back then hops up and slides into her spot.   As I write this, she is napping in an Ikea Poang chair that sits right next to my desk chair.  She is often my blogging companion from her perch on that chair.  She sits in her chair whenever any of us uses the computer.

 

Sarah in her Ikea chair

I could spout philosophical cliches about dogs' lives and the message to humans.  Indeed, the simplest things that we observe in dogs should be applied to our own lives.  If we could focus on our basic needs of food and shelter and then uphold love and companionship as a priority, our lives would not be so complicated and decisions about most things would be easier.  As far as I can tell, Sarah's goal each day is to eat, be comfortable, be happy and share time and space with her pack.  When my life becomes chaotic I try to follow her example.  And you know what?  It works.

Sarah in the garden

So your Random Tuesday Challenge for today is to eat, be comfortable, find something that makes you happy, and share time and space with your pack.  I leave you for now with these dog quotes I found at DogQuotes.com

"You can say any fool thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, `My God, you're RIGHT! I NEVER would've thought of that!'" - Dave Barry


"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace." - Milan Kundera