HTP and His Brother Visiting With Santa

Word of the Day

Downlifting - Describing something that causes a lowering or dropping. Opposite of uplifting; synonym of depressing.

We got a few drips of rain last night. Nothing. However, I'm told that we should expect more rain this afternoon and tonight. Floods of rain! More rain than Arizona has received in the last 18 months! At this point, I could start making jokes about building and ark but...I'll refrain.

Despite the fact that I refuse to start decorating for Christmas until December 1st, I am working on other Christmas-related activities. I stood in line at the Post Office for an extended period of time so I could get some customs forms and buy some Christmas stamps. I picked up some priority mail boxes while I was there....and then I went shopping for some stuff to put in a few of the priority mail boxes. I'm still working on that project. I better work a bit faster. It'll take a while for those boxes to get where they're supposed to go.

And then while I was out shopping, I kept finding cute things that I want to send to Ms. En. I'm not sure if I'll have time to make some cute lace Christmas socks for Ms. En this year or not but...at least I want to try. I used to make Christmas socks for my daughters every year. They were so practical...unlike white tights which always ended up getting dirty...or just in the way. I know where my sock project box is but, unfortunately, it's stuck up on the top shelf of our closet buried under a suitcase right now. I'm dreading the thought of climbing up to see if I can dislodge it. What are the odds that I'll be able to do that without having the suitcase fall down on my head?

Of course, while I was out shopping, I also saw a couple of really cute new toys for Gypsy. For Christmas! I've got them set aside for Christmas! She's got plenty of toys right now. However, when I saw these two toys....I couldn't resist. Without actually telling (not that she can read my blog), I'm hoping that these two new toys will encourage Gypsy to control the chipmunk and squirrel population at The Lake. But...that's all the Christmas stuff I'm buying this year for Gypsy. I may make some homemade dog treats but aside from that...well...maybe a bone.

Murphyism of the Day

Milliken's Maxim

Insanity is doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.

- Charles DuBois

My Charlie Brown Tree - Christmas 2006

Word of the Day

Dotcomedy - 1. An Internet venture boasting a hilarious failure. 2. A presentation where a doomed company is touted as a sure success; sometimes followed by evil laughter coming from a competing company.

We actually may get some rain in Arizona. The weather people here are beside themselves with excitement. News Alert! Call out the National Guard! There will be at least one idiot who decides to ignore all warnings, drive around barrier and end up having to be rescued from where he or she is sitting perched on the top of their car as water rushes down one of the washes here in Arizona. I'm only surmising this from the excited reporting of possible 1-3 inches of rain that the weatherman was predicting last night on TV. We actually may receive enough rain to make our SUV (Gator has to sit outside...exposed to the elements) look like it's been off-roading in the desert after a rainstorm.

I made my first pass at writing a Christmas letter yesterday. I've sent it to my editor (HTP). When I go out later today to make a run to the post office to buy Christmas stamps, I'll look for Christmas printer paper. I also need to go buy baking supplies so I can start my Christmas baking. I'm going to wait until this weekend before I even think about decorating the house for Christmas. This is my little way of rebelling. When the stores start putting up Christmas decorations before Halloween, I draw the line. This year I've decided to wait until December before I start dragging the Charlie Brown tree out of the garage.

This year I'm not going to buy live poinsettia plants as I have in the past. Gypsy has developed a disturbing habit of nibbling on plant leaves while she's outside. You'd think that the Turkey Stew that I let her sample yesterday would be enough for her. On a side note, she loved it. Good thing, I've got plenty of it for her. Oh well...to get back on the subject of Gypsy's pruning addiction, thankfully, she hasn't started on any poisonous plants. The oleanders are still out of the reach of her puppy teeth. However, she is keeping my natal plums pruned and has started on the lower leaves of my citrus trees. She's teething. I found a puppy tooth sitting in the middle of my bed...sans puppy. We'd been playing tug-a-war while we were watching TV last night. After putting her to bed, I found the tooth. Ewwwww!!!!!!

Murphyism of the Day

First Principle of Self-Determination

What you resist, you become.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Human beings are the only creatures that allow their children to come back home.

- Bill Cosby

Puppy Gypsy - October 2007

Word of the Day

Dotbomb - 1. An Internet venture doomed to failure. 2. A presentation where a doomed company is touted as a sure success.

Gypsy seems to like retrieving HTP's discarded socks. She doesn't bother with them if he's actually wearing them. She did try to grab a clean pair that I was folding but I thought that she mistook the folded socks for a ball. I discouraged that right off. I haven't quite figured out her reasoning when it comes to HTP's dirty socks. She was sitting nicely in her basket under my desk and then she suddenly hopped out and retrieved one of HTP's socks that he'd taken off last night. And then back into the basket she hopped with her retrieved sock. I took it away and deposited it into the hamper. By the time I got back to my desk I could see that she'd hopped out of the basket to retrieve HTP's other sock. *sigh* I took this one away too and deposited it into the hamper. I got halfway back to my desk chair and then decided to get Gypsy's rope toy that she loves so much. She seems content now. I'm not sure if this is because Gypsy was offended by the fact that HTP leaves his dirty socks on the floor each night (I promise that he picks them up in the morning and puts them in the hamper all by himself) or if she just wanted something to play with in her basket under my desk....or maybe she just has a thing for dirty socks. She did this yesterday too. Oh...and she found a rubber band that was hiding under the bed.

We've got leftovers. I froze some of the roasted turkey because there is no way, no how, that we can eat all that turkey all by ourselves before it goes bad. HTP doesn't like the dark meat so...I'm thinking of making my own dog food from that. I've got that new cookbook that I mentioned in a previous blog and I also downloaded some recipes for dog food from the internet. I'm going to make her some Turkey Stew. I'll let you know if she likes it. From what I hear, if she doesn't, all I have to do is add some salt and pepper...and then HTP and I can eat it. I even made broth from the turkey carcass. The recipe calls for turkey broth. I figured that I could make my own turkey broth instead of buying it. And why buy and cook up turkey legs when I've already got two turkey legs already cooked up and lots of extra dark meat that HTP doesn't like anyway. Me? I actually do like dark meat but, as I said, there's only so much turkey I can eat. Besides, I have a whole frozen turkey that sitting in my freezer that I'll probably cook up for Christmas.

Besides making a belated Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, I also racked the Pomegranate Wine and the Prickly Pear Wine. I'll have to rack it again before the end of the year. At least I don't have to worry about it until all the Christmas preparations are completed. Maybe I'll recruit #1 son to help me. I was able to rack the wine on my own but I really wished I'd had another couple of hands. HTP was out getting some things that I needed for our dinner. So...anyway, I spilled a bit of the wine on the kitchen floor, which, of course, meant that I had to mop the floor or there would have been sticky stuff tracked all over the house. Yuck! Meanwhile...yesterday was Tuesday. Laundry Day. So...with all that going on, I still haven't been able to more than feel guilty about not getting my Christmas letter written. By now, I should have even started on my Christmas baking. *sigh* I'm behind again. And you know what? It'll get done...or everything that absolutely needs doing will get done.

Murphyism of the Day

Zappa's Law

There are two things on earth that are universal: hydrogen and stupidity.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Be wise with speed . A fool at forty is a fool indeed.

- Edward Young (1683 - 1765)

Old Grey Dreaming of Thanksgiving 2006

Word of the Day

Dostinate - To tell someone not to do something when one has not tried it themselves and does not know what it's like.

Please excuse Old Grey Frog for not coming in and blogging yesterday. She was sick all day with the flu.

- HTP

I decided to bring an excuse today to pardon my absence of yesterday. I suppose telling everyone that I HATE BEING SICK! is something that I really needn't state. I started to feel a bit better by 6 PM last night but only well enough to feel sorry for Gypsy who had been relegated to an outdoor existence all day. HTP felt it was safer that way. She was lonely. Poor baby. I staggered from my bed to check on her and got my face licked by a wiggly welcoming puppy. She missed me. I gathered her up and took her back to bed with me. After playing tug-a-war with her for a few minutes, she curled up and slept at my side only to awaken when HTP came in and brought me some soda crackers and ginger ale. I shared my soda crackers with Gypsy which I suppose wasn't all the best of ideas because she made a crumby mess off all over the bed which I had to clean up before we could settle back down to sleeping.

I'm a bit better today but I'm not even thinking about eating anything. I did make some coffee but I think I'll leave the whole pot for HTP. Acid on my stomach doesn't sound like a good idea at this point. I think a cup of hot tea might be a better idea. Gypsy wants to play this morning and sitting outside in 44°F weather without something hot to drink doesn't sound too fun. I need hand warmers. I know. It's a lot colder right now in Minnesota and Wisconsin and Nebraska. You're all sobbing in sympathy for how cold it is outside right now in Arizona. However, there is a reason that I am in Arizona right now instead of Wisconsin. It's too darn cold in Wisconsin right now! It's pretty darn cold here in Arizona but at least I know that it'll warm up as soon as the sun gets high enough in the sky to do some good.

I missed one whole day to do all the things that needed doing yesterday. Now I have twice as much to do today...make that three times as much. I've still got a turkey defrosting in the fridge. One turkey dinner..... I was going to say, "One turkey dinner coming up" but then, after an entire night of worship in front of the porcelain throne, maybe it would be better to say, "I'll be cooking our belated Thanksgiving dinner today." I'm not sure how much of said Thanksgiving dinner I'll actually eat but I'm hoping I'll feel 100% by the time the smell of dinner starts wafting throughout the house.

****

HTP helped. It's always easier to make a Thanksgiving dinner when you have an extra set hands. Our stuffed turkey is roasting in the oven. I prepared the sweet potato casserole (the one with pineapple chunks and roasted marshmallows) and the green bean casserole. Those will have to wait to go into the oven until the turkey is done. When will the turkey be done? The answer to that age old question all depends upon the size of your turkey and how hot your oven is and...with all that knowledge, it's still only done when it's done. Actually, I think it'll be about done at 3:30 PM...maybe. That's just a guesstament using the cooking chart and the weight of the turkey before baking along with a side calculation for the stuffing which is baking inside the turkey. Yes, I know. Supposedly, it isn't safe to stuff a turkey anymore. However, I've never had a problem with stuffing a turkey. No-one has ever gotten sick from my stuffing. I imagine this is because I never stuff my turkey until seconds before I shove said turkey into the oven. I also wash my turkey thoroughly before I roast it...inside and out. Plus, I don't use anything in my stuffing like oysters or giblets. And then...before carving my turkey, I take all the stuffing out of the turkey and put it aside to stay warm. I don't know...somehow stuffing just isn't the same if it's never been stuffed. I still have to make the cranberry sauce. I'll tackle that one next. It's one of the easiest things to make but one of those sides which everyone tends to forget in the fridge. What's Thanksgiving dinner and turkey without the cranberry sauce? Oh...and the gravy. I'm working on that right now. The giblets and the neck are in a pot right now, making a wonderful broth which I can use while making my gravy.

Murphyism of the Day

Arlen's Law

It's amazing how nice people are to you when they know you're going away.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

There are grammatical errors even in his silence.

- Stanislaw J. Lec (1909 - 1966)

DD Daughter and HTP - Thanksgiving 2006

Word of the Day

Dopeler effect - 1. The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly. 2. The tendency of ideas to seem smarter immediately before you say them, and thus branding you an idiot.

We're Home! Back in Arizona. My folks looked after my baby (Gypsy) while we were at Sam's Town. Sam's Town doesn't allow dogs. *sigh* I wish they'd change their minds on that issue. I really missed my puppy while we were there...though I knew that Gypsy was in good hands with my folks. However, I still couldn't help feeling a bit like a new Mom who was out on the town but worried constantly about how my baby was doing with the sitter. My folks said that Gypsy was a good house guest. I can't quite figure out why my Mom keeps calling Gypsy "Fudge Face". She just claims that "Fudge Face" doesn't look like a "Gypsy".

We enjoyed a wonderful Sam's Town Thanksgiving dinner at Billy Bob's. Everyone had turkey except me. I enjoyed prime rib and lobster tail. I figured that I'd be roasting a turkey when I got home with all the fixings and since I'm rather picky about my turkey and my dressing and all the fixings, I skipped Billy Bob's attempts. HTP tells me that the stuffing was sweet and that he really didn't like the flavor. They'd put apples in it. He wanted me to taste it. Why? Why do people always ask you to taste something that they obviously don't like? I skipped the taste. He didn't like the way that they made the sweet potatoes either. I promised him that I already have all the ingredients at home for his favorite Thanksgiving side dish. Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallow topping. I did order a baked sweet potato as my side at Billy Bob's. It came with a sprig of rosemary sticking out of it. One of the things I noticed about Billy Bob's is that they seem to stick rosemary sprigs in EVERYTHING! Stop it with the rosemary already! Blech! HTP made the comment that he's beginning to think they must have a whole garden of the stuff growing nearby. It wouldn't surprise me a bit. It's not that I don't like rosemary but I wish the chef there would figure out that a little goes a really long way.

HTP checked out a new website that promised an accurate accounting of traffic by The Dam. They promised us that there would be no waiting at The Dam. Hah! We sat in traffic for an hour waiting to cross that DAM! So much for the accuracy of that website. I figure that next crossing we'll detour through Laughlin...like I'd planned to do this time but HTP talked me out of it.

We arrived home just in time to hear that The Lake made national news. What?!

Wis. Hunter Stumbles Upon Black Bear, It Attacks

BIRCHWOOD, Wis. (WCCO) ― A Wisconsin deer hunter was in the woods with a large group of hunters when a black bear mauled him. The attack happened on Thursday near Birchwood, Wis.

"All of a sudden I see this black spot," said Jim Zemaitis, 40, who nearly became the main course for a bear. "Everybody in our group still can't believe it."

The group included 20 family members who hunt every Thanksgiving. This year, Zemaitis was driving the deer, meaning he was making noise to get them out of the woods so he was unarmed.

"Pretty soon I saw teeth.Then it reared up on his hind legs and charged me," said Zemaitis.

Witnesses estimate the angry bear was 300 pounds and about six feet tall on its hind legs. To demonstrate how he reacted to the bear attack, Zemaitis folded arms over his ears as he bowed his head.

"I you put your hands over your head and you keep screaming. Pretty soon I felt the bear on me and then chomp, chomp," he said.

Zemaitis had a hunting knife but everything happened so fast, he couldn't use it. All he could do was scream for help and thankfully Zemaitis' cousin, Rick, heard him.

"Coming up on somebody with a bear on their back, its kind-of a life changing event. Yeah, I was scared," said Rick Zemaitis.

Rick used his gun and fired at the bear but missed. The bear ran off after biting Zemaitis three times. His left shoulder and arm are covered with dark purple bruises. There are bandages over multiple puncture wounds on his shoulder.

Deer season ends with a family trophy presentation. Zemaitis thinks he's earned this year's award for the one that got away.

"Pretty thankful on Thanksgiving that's for sure," he said.

No one is sure why the bear attack. Zemaitis thinks the animal may have been hibernating and his walking nearby disturbed the bear.

He was treated at Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources went back to the area but did not locate the bear.

*****

HTP is always afraid that I'm going to stumble across a bear while I'm out berry picking or hiking in the woods. This incident isn't going to help ease his concerns. I'm betting that this poor guy probably practically tripped over the bear as he was driving the deer. The bear was startled awake and scared. Not a good combination. There is reason and knowledge behind that old saying, "Let sleeping bears lie."


My thoughts are turning toward Christmas preparation now that we're home. The weather has cooled. Although the sun is shining, I donned one of my warmest sweaters this morning. Last night, we closed all the windows because it was getting just too cold for even me...even snuggled under the covers. However, I see no reason for turning on the furnace as yet. I've already been thinking about my annual Christmas letter. Now that HTP and I are empty-nesters (for the most part), I'm not quite sure how to continue this tradition. My children really should be starting to write their own Christmas letters and send out their own Christmas cards. This just may be the last year I write a all-encompassing Christmas letter. I'll still write my Christmas letters but it's getting harder and harder to update everyone on events that are occurring in our children's and now grand-child's lives. They should be starting to do this themselves. Fair warning. As soon as I get the Christmas letter all organized in my mind and onto the computer, I'll dig out the Christmas cards that I bought last year (after Christmas sale) and update my address label files. I'll go out and purchase Christmas stamps. Turn my Christmas music on so loud that the neighbors may complain. Sit at the kitchen table and get the Christmas cards ready to mail. Baking? Decorating? Yes, I'll do that too but I've got time...right?

Murphyism of the Day

Maugham's Observation

It is easier to give up good habits and bad ones.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Whatever you may be sure of, be sure of this, that you are dreadfully like other people. - James Russell Lowell (1819 - 1891)

Four Generations (DD Daughter, Me, Sis, Ms. En, and Mum)- Summer 2007

Word of the Day

Doork - 1. One who attempts to enter through an exit and exit through an enter. Frequently achieved by either pushing on a "PULL" or pulling on a "PUSH". Bonus if one doesn't realize until some time after one has pushed or pulled really hard. 2. The jerk who, after a crowd has developed around a locked door, feels the need to try it himself, just to be sure.

Who are you and what have you done with my husband? This last question entered my mind yesterday when HTP came up to me while I was on the computer and asked if I'd like to help him hang the pictures up on the wall. Blink! Huh? Who are you and what have you done to my husband? Of course, I haven't actually voiced this question....not once. Don't plan to either. However, the question has been rolling around in my head. He not only helped me hang the paintings that came off the wall when we moved the office to the guest room and visa versa, he also hung up this huge antique mirror that has been sitting in the corner of his old office since we moved here. Three and a half years ago. It was too heavy for me to hang all by myself so it's been gathering dust because whenever I've asked him to help me with it... And then, he helped hang my shadow box which has been sitting out in the garage in a box with all my little miniatures that go in it for the same amount of time. Not HTP's fault, I just hadn't found the right place to put it before. Speaking of time and all the reasons why things haven't been done, he asked me what I wanted to do with this Regulator-style clock that we got as a wedding gift. I told him that it was broken so I wasn't sure what to do with it..but I hated to get rid of it because maybe we could get it fixed. It's been broken for twenty years and has been stored in this closet and that closet in this house and that house, moved and stored across many states. This has been a well traveled dysfunctional clock. He fixed it. And then he helped me hang it up in the guest room.

And then today, he helped me clean the dust out of the runners of the window in the guest room. He took the newly functioning clock down so I could polish its pendulum and then he put it back up. AND...he offered to let me use two of the shelves in his office desk for my books? I'm not going to even ask who this man is...he still looks like HTP and I don't want to jinx things. Whoever he is, he got the suitcases down from the closet without a single comment about my packing (in his opinion)so early.

We're heading to Vegas tomorrow morning. I can't promise to blog while we're there. If I blog, I blog. If I don't...I'll try and catch you all up when we get back home. Just in case I don't get a chance to blog, I'll wish you a Happy Thanksgiving right now.


Happy Thanksgiving! There are so many things in my life this year for which to be thankful. I'm thankful for my husband who indulges me, even when I'm not so nice. I'm thankful for my parents who are both healthy and plan to join HTP and me for Thanksgiving dinner. I'm thankful for HTP's folks who seem to be doing just fine. I'm thankful for my children. I'm thankful that my son is capable of cooking a Thanksgiving dinner for his friends and that he'll be with both friends and family when he can't be with us this Thanksgiving. I'm thankful because I know that MC Daughter and her husband are doing just fine in Minnesota and they'll be close to #1 Son this Thanksgiving. I'm thankful that DD Daughter and GI Joe have settled into a their new apartment in Nebraska with their new baby girl. I'm thankful for that new baby girl, our first Grand-daughter, Ms. En, who will be enjoying her first Thanksgiving surrounded by family. I'm thankful for all of my family. I'm also thankful for all my friends who manage to keep me laughing, no matter the bumps that seem to arise in our lives. LOL. And...let's not forget...I'm thankful for my new puppy who is sitting at my feet as I write this. And...as one of my favorite sayings states, "If you can't be happy with what you've received, be glad for what you've escaped."

Murphyism of the Day

Mizner's Law

Misery loves company, but company does not reciprocate.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Thanksgiving is a typically American holiday...The lavish meal is a symbol of the fact that abundant consumption is the result and reward of production.

- Ayn Rand (1905 - 1982)

Word of the Day

Door slinky - The springy device attached to the back of a door that prevents the door from marring the wall.

I bought a 2008 calendar the other day when I was out shopping. It's getting to be that time of year when scheduling is taking place for 2008 events. I needed a calendar. HTP already took the free 2008 calendar that our insurance agent gave us when we were in Arizona. He needed it for his office. I put the calendar that I just bought in the kitchen so I can keep an eye on scheduling there. And then I noted that I still needed a 2008 calendar for my own office. Aha! Got one! One of the local jewelry stores sent me a free 2008 calendar. Of course, I'll have to live with all the pretty pictures of bling but, what the heck, it was free. I rarely look at the pictures on calendars anyway. Besides, I don't refer to it all that often anyway and keep it out of sight. Looking at my desk right now, I think it's time to start clearing and sorting again. What a mess!

Murphyism of the Day

Tomlin's Truism

Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

For the most part, fear is nothing but an illusion. When you share it with someone else, it tends to disappear.

- Marilyn C. Barrick

Word of the Day

Donk - 1. To speak in a pompous and circuitous manner, inventing words, and adding meaningless prefixes and suffixes to existing manner. 2. To smack (one's head) in a dumbfounded manner.

HTP and I called AAA this morning to jump start the Gator. Some guy showed up two hours after our initial call. Thankfully, we weren't in a big hurry. While we were at it, HTP took out the hose and some soap and decided to give it a bath. The rain that we go the other day made it look like we'd been off-roading. Of course, giving the Gator a bath is never an easy task. I suppose we could have taken it out to one of the car washes here since there are lots of them here in the big city but HTP decided that we could do it ourselves. And we did. And I only got a little wet. After that we took the Gator for a long drive to recharge the battery.

Our long drive to recharge the battery in the SUV took us to Scottsdale where we decided to take in a movie. We went to see No Country for Old Men. Lots of blood and gore. Dead bodies littering the desert. This movie is a tourist bureau advertisement for Texas. Not. And then...they end the thing ala Sopranos last episode. Worse. No closure. The bad guy gets away after he kills a woman who has just arrived back home after her attending her Mom's funeral because he promised her husband that he'd kill her if her husband didn't give him this drug money. Oh...and the husband was killed earlier by Mexican drug-runners. And just when you finally think maybe there is some karma and the bad guy gets into this nasty car accident which he shouldn't be able to walk away from...he walks off into the sunset with a broken arm? That was it? And the sheriff who you think may end up being the hero? He retires? Fade to black? Nothing was solved, nothing was gained. I think everyone exited the movie theatre in a total depressed fog. HTP and I had planned to grab a quick supper somewhere after the movie but afterwards neither of us felt like eating anything. It wasn't the gore and all the blood, it was just the absolute depression of the whole movie. I suppose the title does explain the movie but HTP and I aren't getting any younger and the message just left us feeling...blah. HTP and I both agreed, we were looking for a hero and I think the whole purpose of this movie was to tell us that there aren't any heroes. Typical stuff coming from Hollywood right now. And they wonder why people aren't coming to the movies anymore?

I've got a ham baking in the oven for supper. HTP has a hankering for bone-in ham. We'll be having ham sandwiches from tomorrow on until we hit the road to Vegas next week. We'll have ham sandwiches when we get back home too. That's OK. HTP happens to like ham sandwiches.

Murphyism of the Day

Jerome's Rule

It is always the best policy to speak the truth - unless of course you are an exceptionally good liar.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

I'm going to a special place when I die, but I want to make sure my life is special while I'm here.

- Payne Stewart

Word of the Day

Doltergeist - Any spirit that decides to haunt someplace stupid, such as your septic tank.

After breakfast I planned to take a load of things to Savers and, of course, check out their merchandise. The things that I planned to donate were accumulated when HTP and I cleaned our garage the other day. So, I got into the car and "click,click,click". The battery was dead on our SUV. *sigh* So, I unloaded all the stuff from the Gator and loaded it into the Chevy. (Note to self: Call AAA on Monday to jump start the Gator.) I'd planned to pick up my friend at 10:30 AM and was really afraid that I'd be late after the dead battery incident but traffic was on my side. After donating my stuff (they give you a coupon with each donation for $5 off in the store), my friend and I went shopping at Savers. Our coupons were burning a hole in our pockets. Besides, it's fun to shop at Savers. I bought 14 new shirts/sweaters, a soap dish, and a cute Christmas hanging. Shopping at Savers is one of my addictions. Some people have closets full of shoes.... Actually, I don't have closets full of clothes but my wardrobe is constantly recycled as I buy and donate used clothing. I love sorting through the racks on a sort of treasure hunt for gently worn or even never worn shirts and sweaters that I know someone else paid big bucks at the malls for new and I'm only paying $5 or less. OK. Today I did pay a bit more for one of my finds. I found this brand new, never worn, embroidered fall sweater. Gorgeous. I paid $12 for it. I know that it had to have been $60 at Dillards. One person's trash is another's treasure don'tcha know. I don't feel bad about getting bored with something that I buy at Savers. I may even take a few fashion risks. If I'm tired of it, I didn't pay all that much for it, I don't have to think twice about donating it right on back to Savers. Now...all I have to do is pick out 14 shirts/sweaters that I have in my closet that I'm tired of wearing to set aside for the next time I go to Savers.

*I discovered a use for those shoulder pads that I cut out of a couple of shirts that I bought today. Gypsy loves them. It's a win win situation. I get a new shirt and Gypsy gets a new toy. You can't hardly beat it.*

HTP is still unpacking his stuff into his new office. Everything had to come out of his desk before we could take it apart and then move it. We tackled that Herculean task yesterday. After moving the desk, setting up the bed in the new guest room was nothing. I've got the bed made up in the guest room and I just need to hang up some pictures to make things cozy. I'll be happy when all this moving about stuff is settled down and everything is back to normal. I do know that HTP is really happy with his new office. I can't believe we actually were able to move that desk. What a beast!

Murphyism of the Day

Morris's Law

Anyone can admit to themselves they were wrong - the true test is admitting it to someone else.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

It's hard to be nostalgic when you can't remember anything.

- Unknown

Enjoying and After Dinner Moment (Me, My Mum, DD Daughter, and Willie's Wife)- 1979?

Word of the Day

Dognut - The giant nut on the side of a fire hydrant.

I've been trying to remember the first Thanksgiving dinner I ever cooked. There have been so many that I've begun to lose track. I think it was the one where my folks were out of town (I was still going to college...single, hadn't met HTP yet) and I made a baked chicken instead of a turkey because I think there were only four of us. Not enough people to actually commit to making an entire turkey and I don't think you could buy partial turkeys in those days. I do remember that my brother was there. Maybe he has some of the pictures from that day. I might have some pictures but I have a lot of pictures (slides) that I haven't converted to digital as yet. And some photos are just tucked away in boxes. I do remember that my stuffed chicken tasted wonderful as did the entire Thanksgiving dinner. I don't know why my folks might have been out of town at that time. I suspect that they were visiting my Grandmother in Wisconsin? I'd say that I was probably the same age as #1 Son is now which would make my brother three years older than that. My folks were "empty-nesters"....kinda...except when I had to vacate the dorm because everyone had gone home for the holidays.

Actually, HTP is the one who has been converted our old slides, Polaroids and photos to digital. I don't have that kind of tech genius. As soon as HTP has his new office up and running (the desk is the last hurdle), I'm going to see if I can get him to continue work on the photo restoration project. We have lots of pictures that we don't even remember when we took them. *sigh* One of these days I'll have to have my children help us with that. But, I digress....

The reason for my memory search is that DD Daughter tells me that she's going to be making Thanksgiving dinner for GI Joe and his family this year. I know that this won't be the first time that she's made a Thanksgiving dinner but I'm pretty sure that this is the first time she's making a Thanksgiving dinner for GI Joe's family. Oh, the pressure, the stress! I can't remember the first time I made a special dinner for HTP's folks. I've probably blocked it from my memory. The stress of having to cook for your Mother-in-Law for the first time is something that is difficult to explain even if that your mother-in-law is the nicest person in the world and I can truthfully say that mine has always been wonderful to me. However, it's kind of like taking a final exam and she's the one who is going to give you your grade. I'd married her oldest son and I was being graded on the following classes. Feeding Your Husband 101. Entertaining 101. Good Housekeeping 101. I felt like I was taking all three final exams for these classes at the same time. Did I pass? Of course I passed. I'm a wonderful cook but I'm pretty sure that my confidence in that area was rather lacking back then. Plus, as you're sitting there taking those final exams....what a nightmare. I'm pretty sure I aced the Feeding Your Husband 101 exam. As for the others....I'm betting that I barely made it through by the skin of my teeth. I'm sure everything was cleaner than clean before I started to cook but keeping up with the dishes afterwards? She helped. I told you that she was nice.

This Thanksgiving, I plan to let someone else do the cooking. However, I'll be thinking about DD Daughter taking her final exams. I know she'll do just fine.

Murphyism of the Day

Howe's Theory

There is some advice that is too good - the advice to love your enemies, for example.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Peace is when time doesn't matter as it passes by. - Maria Schell

HTP's Folks, Me, MC Daughter and #1 Son - Another Thanksgiving Dinner Somewhere in Time

Word of the Day

Dogelation - The ridiculously enthusiastic joy with which one's canine friend greets oneself at the door, expressed by tail wagging, running in circles, spreading dog germs across one's face with its tongue, and the like.

HTP and I have moved two impossibly heavy pieces of office furniture into HTP's new office room. Next step? We're going to move one of my bookcases and a dresser/entertainment center into the new guest room so we can think about moving HTP's impossibly heavy and huge desk into his new office room. Moving this desk is going to be even more fun than moving all the rest of the stuff put together.

We actually got a few drops of rain this morning, as a matter of fact, it's raining right now. This is the type of rain we get here in Arizona which is just enough to make the cars look really dirty. Along with rain in Arizona, one always gets wind and blowing dust. Now I'm going to have to wash the car. *sigh*

Murphyism of the Day

Cromer's Law

People who don't believe in anything will believe the worst of other people.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Some national parks have long waiting lists for camping reservations. When you have to wait a year to sleep next to a tree, something is wrong. - George Carlin

DD Daughter, HTP, MC Daughter and Me, Thanksgiving - 1981

Word of the Day

Docuphobia - The fear of using documentation, usually resulting from some previous traumatic event such as programming a VCR.

The transformation of the guest room/library/wine cellar into HTP's office/library/and possible wine cellar continues. At the rate that we're going, this could take months....only...we don't have months because #1 Son is coming home for Christmas and he's going to need to have a place to sleep. A guest room. I guess we'd better speed things up. I am determined to speed this process up even if I end up throwing my back out of whack. I've packed up four boxes of books. HTP and I moved one of the bookcases to its new location in the proposed HTP office. I've moved one whole bookcase of books to the newly relocated bookcase.

As for Thanksgiving grocery shopping, I bought two frozen turkeys. I couldn't resist since I had a couple of coupons for $2 off and this particular brand of turkey that the coupon covered was on sale for .47/lb at our local grocery store. I figure that I ended up paying .32/lb. Actually, knowing my Mom, she probably managed to get a cheaper turkey but I figure I got a really smokin' deal. Both turkeys are currently in my freezer. I think I'll probably use one for Christmas dinner....if I can't find a similar smokin' deal before than. Since HTP and I will be heading to Vegas next week where we plan to have a wonderful Thanksgiving feast at our favorite casino, we decided to hold off on making our own personal traditional Thanksgiving feast with meals and meals of yummy leftovers, until we get home. I may even put one of the turkeys in the refrigerator on the day that we leave so it'll be all thawed and ready for roasting when we get back.

Gypsy tore her stuffed turkey toy. *sigh* I took it away from her and plan to mend it so she'll be able to play with it again soon. Thankfully, Gypsy still has her stuffed duck to play with...though...I think it might be a goose. Shhhh....don't tell her....she thinks it's a duck. After hearing all about my sister's black lab's reception from the Canadian geese that were swimming by her lake home this Spring (what a stunning loss of face), I don't want to encourage a similar possible dangerous situation with my poor baby (who happens to be a lot smaller than a big black lab) thinking that all geese are as easily chomped on as her "duck". Actually, I sure hope that Gypsy doesn't think that she'll be able to attack real live turkeys in the same manner that she tore apart her toy turkey. Her toy turkey is only about the size of a duckling. Oh well...I guess we'll cross that bridge next Spring.

Murphyism of the Day

Salk's Law

The secret to happiness is to rely on as few other people as possible.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The creator of the universe works in mysterious ways. But he uses a base ten counting system and likes round numbers.

- Scott Adams

HTP and DD Daughter, Thanksgiving - 1980

Word of the Day

Dject - The overwhelming urge of a music connoisseur to wait until the end of the currently playing song before changing the song or ejecting the compact disc.

Last year HTP decided that he'd really rather have his office where we currently have the guest room/library/wine cellar. *sigh* I've been dreading this move. HTP's office furniture is heavy and huge. But that isn't the biggest thing. Moving HTP office stuff means that all the stuff in the guest room/library/wine cellar also needs to be packed up and moved. Aside from all that....the room that is currently serving as a guest room/library/wine cellar is a lot bigger than the room that is serving as HTP's office. Therefore, not every bit of stuff from one room will fit into the other room. I was hoping that HTP would decide that all this moving stuff would be too much trouble but.....

I'm saying all this because, HTP decided last night to start the moving process. He's coveting my guest room/library/wine cellar. He got a moving bug last night and started measuring the two rooms and moving some of the stuff out of the guest room/library/wine cellar and into my dining room and living room. What a mess! And now it's time to pack up all my books so we can move the bookcases around and he can't do that because he doesn't know how I've got my books organized and I don't want to have to sort everything out and reorganize if he tosses books willy-nilly into boxes. However, I think I can carefully pack the books into boxes if I'm the one that's doing the doing.

At this point HTP decided to get some moving boxes from the garage so I could pack up my books. Only...the garage is a bit of a mess and he got distracted. Now, we're cleaning and organizing the garage before we tackle moving my guest room/library/wine cellar (or whatever will fit from there) into HTP's office. *sigh* What a mess! I'm getting tired just thinking about it. Some of my library will have to remain in HTP's new office because not all the bookshelves will fit into that smaller room, however, on the plus side, all of HTP's office will fit into my old guest room/library/wine cellar. The only thing is that I won't be able to use the new guest room/library/wine cellar as a wine cellar because that room gets too hot. That's the main reason HTP wants to move his office out of that room. I'm afraid that HTP is going to have to share his new office space with my wine cellar....unless his computer equipment makes it too hot in there...at which point I'll have to figure something else out. He's also going to have to get used to having most of my books in his office. In actuality, HTP's office is going to end up becoming a small guest room...with a few of my books. *sigh* I've got a bad feeling that I'm going to have to listen to HTP constantly "not" complaining about my books in his office. I just know it. Non-complaints are those little looks that HTP is famous for or the odd comment here or there about my preferences when it comes to books.

Oh well...the garage is getting clean. That's a good thing. I may actually be able to find stuff in the cupboards out there. And HTP will just have to live with all kinds of my books and wine in his office and the sharp side of my tongue if I even get a hint of one of his non-complaints.

On top of all this...I'm doing laundry and Gypsy is outside looking lonely because she can't be with me while I'm working out in the garage or packing up books. I dread the actual moving of the furniture. HTP's office furniture is huge and awkward. When we first moved here, the movers didn't even want to move it. *sigh* I have a feeling that today and the coming days will not rank right up there with my favorites.

Murphyism of the Day

Sartre's Observation

Hell is others.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.

- Leo Tolstoy (1828 - 1910)

GI Joe and DD Daughter - 2005

Word of the Day

Distashion - Someone's poor fashion sense.

Today is Veteran's Day. I want to thank all our military and their families for their service. Those who have served in the past and those who are currently serving. Freedom is never free.

My Father sent me an e-mail yesterday. I'd like to share an edited version of his letter.

Today is Veterans Day. We went shopping this afternoon at one of the local supermarkets. I saw a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars selling commemorative poppies out front as we entered the store. The poppies were originally in commemoration of the poppies that grew in Flanders Field in France where so many U.S. Soldiers were buried during World War I. It gave me pause to reflect on how the celebration of the Day has changed over the years.

When your Mom and I were in grade school, November 11th was called "Armistice Day." It commemorated the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, when an Armistice was declared at the end of World War I. It was a time of rejoicing, much as the celebration of VE Day and VJ Day following World War II. In the 1930s, we stood next to our desks in grade school and faced the east at 11 o'clock on Armistice Day. The local church bells rang and factory whistles blew to commemorate the end of World War I. In those days, the end of the "War to End All Wars" was remembered as an important event.

Your Grandfather, my Father, served in World War I as did his younger brother, Leon.

Leon graduated from Delavan High School in 1913. After graduation he worked on the family dairy farm on the outskirts of Delavan and the milk route in Delavan. He enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1916 and attended one year as a student in the College of Agriculture.

With the entry of the United States in World War I, he tried repeatedly to enlist in the U.S. Army but was turned down each time because of his small stature. Finally, he was accepted by the U.S. Army in 1917.

Leon served overseas in France as a member of Company G, 39th Regiment of the Third Division. He was a courier in Liaison, delivering unwritten messages to the front line on the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne fronts. He was exposed to an enemy gas attack during his service on the front line and suffered permanent damage to his lungs. At the close of the war, Leon served in the Army of Occupation and was stationed at Trier and Coblenz, Germany. He was discharged in September 1919 and returned to his studies at the University of Wisconsin in the College of Agriculture. He graduated in 1922 with a degree in vocational agriculture education.

I remember my Uncle Leon as a small, wiry man, who was a dedicated farmer. He never talked about his wartime experiences and it was not until later years when my Aunt Ardys wrote his biography that I became aware he was a soldier in World War I.

Your Grandfather was also a soldier in World War I. I can remember his Army uniform and broad brimmed hat that hung in the upstairs cedar closet of the Grady House in Port Washington when I was a youngster. He didn't go overseas like his younger brother. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1918, serving in the Quartermaster Corps in Chicago, Illinois before entering Officer's Candidate School at Camp Grant, Illinois. I still have some of the truck maintenance manuals he used when he was stationed in Chicago. Your Grandma returned to Madison and resumed her job as a secretary in the Horticultural Department at the University of Wisconsin while he was in the service. Grandpa was attending Officer's Candidate School at Camp Grant, Illinois when World War I ended and his class was disbanded. (Ironically, it was at Camp Grant, Illinois, that I was inducted into the U.S. Army during World War II.)

Your Grandpa returned to Madison after his discharge at the end of World War I. Unable to find a teaching position, he worked with boys and girls clubs in Dane County, Wisconsin, for a year. Grandpa and Grandma lived on Lathrop Street near the First Congregational Church at this time. In 1919, they moved to Fox Lake, Wisconsin, where Grandpa served as principal of the public schools in Fox Lake. It was in Fox Lake that my brother Bill and I were born. He never talked about his wartime experiences and, regrettably, I never asked.

Other ancestors have served in the military. Your Great-Great-Great Grandfather, who was from Sugar Creek Township, Green County, Ohio, was a soldier in the War of 1812. John along with his brother, Samuel, and brother-in-law, Samuel E., were privates in Captain John Clark's Company in the 1st Regiment, 4th Brigade, 1st Division of the Ohio Militia from October 18 to November 20, 1812 and from August 10 to September 5, 1813. They served on the western frontier to repulse the advance of General Howe's British forces after the British capture of Detroit on August 12, 1812.

No whistles blew or church bells rang at 11:00 A.M. this morning. A lonely veteran sitting in front of the local supermarket with a tray of artificial poppies was a reminder. I suppose there were parades in and about the large city where we live, and a laying of a wreaths on the graves of the veterans buried in the local cemeteries. But, for us it has been a quiet day.

Dad

*******

It's been pretty quiet here today. No whistles or church bells. HTP and I spent the morning working in our yard while Gypsy watched in confusion. She couldn't figure out why her humans were driving huge stakes into the ground on either side of one of her trees. I don't suppose I really need whistles or church bells to remind me that today is Veteran's Day...though...I wish the commemoration in this way would have continued. It hasn't but I noted that many of my neighbors are proudly flying their flags today. For my part, I keep a very special magnet on my refrigerator which reminds me daily of DD Daughter's service to our country and tucked right next to that magnet is a poppy that I bought outside our local grocery store while DD Daughter's husband was serving in Iraq and which continues to remind me of GI Joe's service to our country.

Murphyism of the Day

La Rochefoucauld's Rule

We all have the strength to endure the misfortune of others.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Behind the phony tinsel of Hollywood lies the real tinsel.

- Oscar Levant (1906 - 1972)

On the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day in the Eleventh month.....

Veteran's Day Tribute

If someone has done military service,
They earn the title "veteran," and more;
They earn our deep respect and admiration;
That they are special no one can ignore.

They sacrificed the comforts we enjoy;
The list is long of all the things they gave;
Our veterans are extraordinary people;
They’re loyal, dedicated, true and brave.

When terror and invasion were real threats,
They showed us they could handle any storm.
We owe our freedoms and our very lives
To our veterans, who served in uniform.

Our veterans should be celebrities;
They’re exceptional; no other group compares.
We’re grateful for the many things they’ve done;
They’re always in our hearts and in our prayers.

We owe our veterans support and friendship;
Let no one ever question what they’re worth.
These men and women served us and our country;
Our veterans--the very best on earth.

By Joanna Fuchs

Word of the Day

Disremember - To remember something incorrectly.


Happy


Birthday


Willie!

Today is my favorite brother's birthday. Happy Birthday Willie! Have a wonderful day!

I should also mention that today is the birthday of The Marine Corps. I need to say how very thankful I am for all of our Marines and the sacrifices that they've made over the years. I'm proud of all of our military and their families. May God watch over them and keep them safe.

Yet again I start my morning with Gypsy sitting at my feet. Right now she's gnawing on a chew bone. Hey! Better a chew bone than my toes. I've got my clean windows open and I'm enjoying the sound of the fountain in our backyard. It's pretty chilly this morning. 54°F. However, it's supposed to warm up to the mid-80's by this afternoon. Right now, I'm wearing my favorite sweater to ward off the chill.

I bought a new cookbook. I know. Where am I going to put another cookbook? I've got a whole cupboard full of cookbooks and that's after I donated three boxes of cookbooks to The Culinary Institute in Scottsdale for them to use in their library. That was years ago. I've bought more cookbooks since then. HTP often wonders how many cookbooks does one person need. Only....I think my sister would agree that it's really hard to pass up a new cookbook. Of course, I have my favorites and I've started compiling my best favorite recipes in a ring-binder and on my computer but there's nothing like sitting down and exploring a brand-new, sparkly, pretty pictures, cookbook.

I justified this purchase because it wasn't your traditional cookbook, except in format. This was a pet food cookbook. The Good Food Cookbook for Dogs by Donna Twichell Roberts. Ever since the pet food recall that happened last Fall (I still believe that the reason that my Mancha's last months of life were filled with kidney failure was not entirely due to her age), I've been fearful of buying specialty dog foods for my new puppy. I have been purchasing Cesar Puppy Food but....Is there really any guarantees when it comes to buying this sort of thing anymore? I'm in shock with how many recalls there have been on foods and toys. So...I saw this cookbook and decided I'd give it a try instead of buying any more store bought treats. At least if I cook up a batch of chicken or beef stew for my puppy, I know what I've put in it. Now...I suppose I should explain. I'm not going to be cooking ALL my dog's food from now on. I plan to keep feeding Gypsy a traditional diet of dry dog kibble...however, there isn't any reason why I can't treat her with something special on top of the dry stuff. It's called spoiling your puppy. And why not? I can't think of one reason why I shouldn't and all kinds of reasons why I should. I happen to like cooking. Experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen makes me happy and HTP isn't always fond of my "experiments". I figure Gypsy might not be so critical. Besides, making my own special treats and special dog foods will be a heck of a lot cheaper and safer than buying the same sort of thing in the store. Oh...and I don't plan to buy any special cookie cutters. I don't think Gypsy will really care what shapes her dog treats come in.

Murphyism of the Day

Pascal on Man

The more I see of men, the better I like my dog.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

A duty dodged is like a debt unpaid; it is only deferred, and we must come back and settle the account at last.

- Joseph F. Newton

Word of the Day

Disoriental - Relating to the culture shock of East meets West and all of its repercussions.

I've been waiting to blog until something worth blogging about occurred. Nothing. My window cleaners came half an hour earlier than scheduled. No big deal. I was here. No birds have flown unwittingly into my now clean windows. The news is still going on and on and on, etc. etc., about O.J. Simpson. In other words, I've got nothing earth-shattering to report. I'll try harder to find something interesting to blog about tomorrow. Oh...that's right....It's Friday! Tomorrow is Saturday.

Murphyism of the Day

The Fifth Rule

You have taken yourself too seriously.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is at all comprehensible.

- Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

Word of the Day

Disluminate - To take light away from something.

Gypsy is a toe-licker. She's sitting at my feet right now and thoroughly washing my feet while I blog. Tickles a bit but at least she isn't chomping on my toes. I draw the line at toe chomping.

I bought a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel book. (Cavalier King Charles Spaniels - A Complete Pet Owner's Guide. By D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D.) I figured that I'd never owned a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel before and maybe I'd read something that would explain something that I might be confused about. Like...Gypsy doesn't bark. Is that normal? According to this book, Gypsy will never be a good watch dog...protection? Forget about it. I quote: "What a joke! The Cavalier's bark is indeed worse than its bite. It will welcome burglars with great gusto, with wagging tail and soaring spirit. Although some may find a barking Cavalier to be intimidating, in truth the Cavalier is not a particularly effective protection dog." Bark? What bark? You mean Gypsy may indeed find her voice one of these mornings? Actually, I did hear Gypsy bark this morning. She was playing with me. Other than that? So far, she's pretty much the most silent dog that I've ever met. Nary a hair was displaced yesterday when Mr. Bugman came. She remained quietly at my feet when I signed the paperwork that I was indeed satisfied with Mr. Bugman's work.

Oh well...I read the book, cover to cover. It isn't a huge tome and there are a lot of photographs of dogs that look like Gypsy. Apparently, I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing in regard to house-breaking. I am supposed to start getting Gypsy used to having her hair brushed every other day. I've been doing that but she keeps attacking the brush. She thinks I'm playing. Eventually, she's going to have to learn to love being groomed because her hair is supposed to get longer and will need to be brushed so it doesn't get all matted. Oh well...she doesn't really seem to mind the brushing...even if she did bark at the brush and try to play tug-a-war with it.

Aside from that, I think I need to buy some PVC pipe. The book talks about a stiff leash (running the end of the leash through a length of PVC pipe) when I take Gypsy for a walk. More control for the smaller dog. The stiff leash may help me get Gypsy to walk on my left side (heel position). Looked promising. Plus...I'll need to get a choke chain for our training sessions. Right now, Gypsy loves to walk at my side which is kind of all right but...my right side, between my feet, ummm....pretty much anywhere where I may end up tripping on her while we're walking to get the mail. Oh well...I've got time to start this. She's still a puppy. Maybe in a couple more months I'll start her "official" training.

I could/should be working with her on a lunge line right now. She's not all that good in regard to the issue of coming when she's called. We need to work on that. She tends to plunk herself down at a sit...just out of arm's length... and give me "the look". I've got her attention but she wants to see what I've got in mind before she commits herself to actually "coming". This will really become an important issue when HTP and I return to The Lake. We need to know that Gypsy will come...no matter what...when we call. Even if, especially if, she can't see us and would rather investigate that neat little animal with a white stripe down its back. Ewwwww!

Murphyism of the Day

Edelstein's Advice

Don't worry over what other people are thinking about you. They're too busy worrying over what you're thinking about them.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel.

- Piet Mondrian (1872 - 1944)

Word of the Day

Dishwater dysentery - An escape from doing chores, in which one finds oneself suddenly having to use the bathroom upon realizing or being told that it is his or her turn to clean up after dinner, specifically in reference to washing the dishes.

Our bug man should be coming any minute now. I've been distracted by all kinds of little chores that come up in the mornings. These are the kind of chores that get done but no-one actually notices that you've done anything unless...you don't do that something. "Where's the coffee?" If The Coffee Fairy doesn't visit the kitchen in the morning, the coffee doesn't get made. The same sort of invisa-chore (chores that remain unseen unless they aren't done) is the one where the clean dishes are unloaded from the dishwasher and put into the cupboard. "Where's my favorite coffee cup?....Is it clean?" Again, if The Dishwasher Fairy doesn't visit the kitchen in the morning, the clean dishes won't end up in their cupboards. Actually, The Dishwasher Fairy also has to visit in the evening or the dishes remain unwashed in the dishwasher and then favorite coffee mugs end up dirty and a less than favorite coffee mug will have to be used. Thankfully, The Dishwasher Fairy is fairly reliable. Oops! I just noticed that The Newspaper Fairy hasn't come yet. "Where's the newspaper?" Gotta run. The Breakfast Fairy needs to get busy too. After all, The Dog Walking Fairy has already come and gone (she visits on a regular basis) and so has The Dog Kibble Fairy.

Murphyism of the Day

Jacob's Law

To err is human - to blame it on someone else is even more human.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

We can't take any credit for our talents. It's how we use them that counts.

- Madeleine L'Engle

Word of the Day

Disgreenimation - 1. Requiring meticulous analysis to verify the environmental credentials of "green" products or services, while not applying the same or greater level of rigor in assessing the environmental impact of all other products or services. 2. Expecting green technologies to compete on an uneven playing field.

Mammogram time. Even though I knew what to expect....getting a mammogram isn't easy for someone whose "assets" aren't all that big. Oh well...another mammogram down, waiting for results. I also went in for a bone density exam. This is something where I didn't know what to expect. It was a breeze. No hassles. Just relax and let the x-rays do their job. Again....waiting for results. In both cases, I don't expect any surprises.

Tomorrow, the bug man cometh. Friday, the window cleaners come. Today? Aside from having parts of my anatomy squished, it's Laundry Day.

Murphyism of the Day

Professor Block's Motto

Forgive and remember.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can't be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it.

- Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878 - 1969)

Racking Wine at The Lake - Summer 2007

Word of the Day

Disemvowel - T rmv ll th vwls frm spm r thr dslkd txt. (To remove all the vowels from spam or other disliked text.)

My wine-making project continues. I strained my wines this morning and got them all settled with air-locks in my guest room/library/wine cellar. I'll re-visit it in three weeks when I'll have to rack it for the first time. I've got four gallons of pomegranate wine and one gallon of prickly pear wine. I refuse to commit myself to multiple gallons of prickly pear wine until I can actually do a taste test of it. I may sneak a nip in October and make my decision at that time. For all I know, this stuff may end up being as "wonderful" as Sis and my Lilac wine experiment. An experiment that didn't bear repeating.

HTP finished our patio painting project while I was at church yesterday. Woohoo! I got home just in time to watch him finish up the trim work. And then I helped clean up the mess. At least I wasn't having to climb up and down that ladder anymore. I noted this morning that both my arms are covered in bruises. It took me a while to figure out how I'd managed to bruise myself. The ladder. Every time I moved that ladder, the dang thing left bruises on my arms. I've got a few on my legs too. Our ladder is one of those heavy-duty (HEAVY) ladders. Oh well...Gypsy is thrilled that the plastic sheets on the patio have been removed and her little world is back to normal. The plastic was slippery. Racing across the plastic-lined patio left her up-ending with her hind quarters slipping past her front legs. I must say...it was kind of funny to watch but I tried not to laugh at her. Poor baby.

Murphyism of the Day

Helga's Rule

Sa no, then negotiate.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

After you've been in a place for a while, everything starts to look... I won't say better, there's no need to go to extremes...but your everyday life does start to become...familiar.

- David Assael

Word of the Day

Discrimihate - To set apart as being different and to place hate on at the same time.

He fixed it. HTP fixed the old coffee-maker. At least, it's working right now. He tells me that he found someone online who was having the same problem with his coffee-maker and.... Well...now our coffee-maker works and I have two...count 'em....two working coffee-makers on my counter. And...I have two full pots of fresh hot coffee. OK, one pot isn't quite full because I'm sipping on a cup but what I do know is this, there's going to be at least one cup of coffee left in one of those pots when I get home from church today...and this is a good thing. Between HTP and me, we often finish up one pot of coffee each morning and someone, either HTP or me, end up not making a second pot of coffee even though we'd really like to have at least one more cup of coffee...if it were there.

I find myself, yet again, blogging with a puppy at my feet. She did whine a bit this morning before I got her up to take her outside. I wish she'd do a bit more vocalizing to let me know her wants. I suppose I should be careful for what I wish for but it sure would be nice to have her tell me when she wants to go outside. It's not like there have been numerous puppy accidents inside the house but if she'd just let me know that she had to go outside, I'm sure I'd feel a lot more confident about letting her play at my feet while I'm roaming around the house.

HTP looked after Gypsy yesterday while I was at a jewelry party (Cookie Lee) hosted by one of my friends. I don't usually wear, much less buy, a whole lot of jewelry. I love earrings but I'm allergic to most metals and end up with my ears all raw and itchy after only an hour or so...even with gold. *sigh* I like rings but there are only so many rings that one can wear on one's hands...besides, there were no rings at the party. Lots of bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. I must say that the party was fun. A bit tiring because there really wasn't any place to sit down but fun. There was plenty to drink...but since I was driving, I stuck to one margarita and lots of water. There were nibbles to eat. I made an appetizer to share. (Hey Sis! I took your idea of that tortilla roll up and expanded it. Everyone loved it. I spread multi-grain tortillas with cream cheese, topped it with thinly sliced ham, and then spread a layer of pesto on top of the ham. Rolled it up. Cut it into bit-size portions. I ended up having to send my (your) pesto recipe to three of the women at the party.) Anyway, the hostess (kind of like a really well-dressed Tupperware party hostess), was really trolling to have other people host future parties with her. I declined but I may see if my next door neighbor may go in with me to hold one of these parties here in the neighborhood. Kind of like a meet and greet your neighbor thing. Actually, I hadn't planned on buying anything and most of the jewelry just wasn't anything that I would wear but...I did find something that had "ME" written all over it...so I bought it. Nothing was overly expensive so I didn't feel guilty about buying it....the set. Yes, I did buy the earrings even though I know they'll make my ears itch.

Murphyism of the Day

Glyme's Formula for Success

The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that, you've got it made.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The wages of sin are unreported.

- Unknown

Word of the Day

Discorsage- Removal of a corsage or to remove decorative flowers from someone.

Let's see...I started off my day with my coffee-maker croaking on me. It finally died. HTP and I have been eyeing it suspiciously since we got home from The Lake because it's been acting up. 10 cups instead of 12 cups. 8 cups instead of 12 cups. This morning I ended up with 2 cups instead of 12 cups. And yes, I did clean it. So, HTP got up to see if he could fix it and...he couldn't. He thinks there's something wrong with whatever moves the water from the reservoir up to the brewing mechanism. If HTP can't fix it, it can't be fixed. One of our local grocery/everything stores had a coffee-maker on sale but after doing some research, HTP and I decided that it would be more cost effective to actually go out and buy a new coffee-maker like the one we had which died. It doesn't leak. It doesn't make messes all over the counter. It's got a timer. It shuts itself off. It works...until it doesn't work. So...I went over to Walmart and bought a new Mr. Coffee and our old coffee-maker will double as an extra carafe when I need to make LOTS of coffee and a warming tray to keep said extra coffee hot. I did mention to HTP that he should come with me and we could pick up breakfast at Village Inn (located near Walmart) but he told me that what we saved by not going out to eat would pay for our new coffee-maker. And...actually...he was right, but it costs more to eat at Village Inn than to buy a new coffee-maker (at least the coffee-maker I bought). I refuse to spend tons of money on a coffee-maker which will end up dying within a few years anyway.

After breakfast, HTP and I painted primer on the ceiling of our patio. I did the edging work. HTP manned the roller. Just getting the primer coat on will be enough exercise for one day. All that hefting and moving and climbing up and down of the ladder wore me out. Besides, I've got to get ready for a "jewelry party" that one of my friends is helping to host and I want to change out of my painting clothes and wash my hair. I'm still peeling primer flecks off my hands...and arms. I covered my hair with a scarf so I think that escaped unscathed...though I was planning to wash it anyway. By the way, when did primer and paint get to be so expensive? When HTP and I went to pick up our paint yesterday we were hit with severe sticker shock. $30 - $40 per gallon? Wow! I hope it lives up to its price tag. We'll work on finishing up our painting project tomorrow. Poor Gypsy wants her patio back to normal (no plastic) and while we're doing the actual painting, she has to stay cooped up in her kennel. Poor baby. I figured it was better for her to remain out of the way of moving ladders and splattering primer/paint.

Murphyism of the Day

O'Brien's Law

Nothing is done for the right reasons.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Television has raised writing to a new low.

-- Samuel Goldwyn (1882 - 1974)

Gypsy - October 2007

Word of the Day

Disconfect - To sterilize the piece of candy you dropped on the floor by blowing on it, somehow assuming this will "remove" all the germs.

We had someone working on repairing the ceiling of our patio for most of the day yesterday. He'll be coming back...any minute...to finish up this morning. I'm going to ask him to leave the plastic so when HTP and I prime and paint the ceiling, we won't end up with a total mess.

Unfortunately, with the gate open all day yesterday, I couldn't allow Gypsy her free reign of the backyard. Poor baby. We ended up having to take walks in the front yard on leash. Although she'd rather run around and play in the backyard, she settled for our walks. She'll have to wait another few days before she can run around and play freely in the backyard again. I think she doesn't like the plastic that is covering "her" patio and I had to bring her outdoor basket indoors and she's not to happy about that either. She's feeling conflicted and was reluctant to eat her dry dog food indoors or even drink her water until I moved that outdoors after the workman left. I'm afraid today will be a repeat of yesterday. And though HTP and I will get to the painting asap, I know it'll take at least another day or two before I can take up the plastic covering Gypsy's patio.

I had to go out and pick up my music at church yesterday. Our group is playing for the third service on Sunday. Nothing looks overly difficult....at least...I don't think so. I haven't done more that play the music in my head. Kind of like the Music Man's learning method. While I was out and about, I stopped to do some shopping. I needed to buy some more Puppy Cesar for Gypsy. Walmart. I also bought her a new toy. A wild turkey. A stuffed wild turkey (small...not life-sized). She loves it.

Murphyism of the Day

Jerry's Law

Just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' can beat teamwork.

- Edward Abbey (1927 - 1989)

#1 Son Enjoying the Benefits of Halloween - Halloween 1988

Word of the Day

Discombebopulate - To be in a state of confusion as a result of loud car music, thereby causing one to lower the car stereo volume in order to better read a an address number on a house or building, or to pay a toll.

Gypsy had her first "accident" in the house. *sigh* My fault. She was playing happily at my feet while I was folding clothes and .... oops ... If I'd been REALLY watching her maybe I would have seen her "tell". What I do know is that I'm sure this wouldn't have happened if I'd been watching better. Well...at least she now knows that piddling inside the house isn't going to draw praise and adulation. I swatted her little behind and took her right outside. Then I cleaned up the piddle and sanitized. She got to sit outside...all alone...without company until I finally relented and brought her back inside to be with me.

As far as the rest of her housebreaking, she is doing just fine at night now. I put her to bed last night at around 9 PM and she was just fine when I got her up at 6 AM. She's lasting the entire night now. Unfortunately, she doesn't vocalize at all. No barking. Very little whining or crying. She needs to tell me that she has to go outside somehow. All my other dogs used to tell me that they had to go outside. Maybe my Mom will have some suggestions.

We got an acceptable estimate for the repair work on our back patio ceiling. The guy that was a "no show" finally showed up yesterday. His estimate came in at about 1/3 of the cost of the other estimates...even when we weren't comparing apples with oranges. HTP and I decided that we could do the actually painting ourselves after all the drywall and texturing is completed. The main mess will be all the scraping, taping, doping, caulking and texturing work. The guy explained that drywall really shouldn't be used outside because humidity will loosen the drywall tape and dope which is water soluble. He said that we shouldn't have a problem again if we make sure and paint every three years. Only, the thing is, the ceiling started to fail while the house was still under warranty. We noticed the drywall problem on our initial walk-thru and thought it had been repaired. I suspect the builder just slapped a band-aid on the problem and camouflaged it. HTP and I think it's because there was so much rain during the time they were working on that aspect of the patio. I don't think the tape ever adhered properly in the first place. We noted that there are other houses near us with the same problems. I think I'm going to call our HOA and find out just how many of this same problem my other neighbors may be having. Oh well...we're still taking care of the problem. HTP and I always save all our receipts when it comes to home repair and improvements.

Murphyism of the Day

Gerhard's Observation

We're making progress. Things are getting worse at a slower rate.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

As long as we respond predictably to what feels good and what feels bad, it is easy for others to exploit our preferences for their own ends.

-- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi