Summer Pictures of the Gang

Our local Wal-Mart has done a store reset. They've got LOTS of stuff on clearance, including doggie clothes. So, I snatched up some new stuff for my gang at the $2.00 price. Here are the results:

Molly

Shingo

Indiana

Daisy, who is too grumpy for that kind of nonsense!

Jack

2009 Book Reviews

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
It's taken me a while to catch up on my reviews. I read this book, shortly after the release date. In my opinion this is the BEST book, so far, in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I love that Eric is playing a major role now (yes, he's my favorite vampire). I like that we get to know the human Eric and some details of his former life. He obviously loves Sookie very much, but SO does Bill. Who will she end up with? This book is a must read for adult vampire fans!!

View all my reviews.

2009 Book Review

Stargazer by Claudia Gray

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
What can I say, I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE this book. Now that Bianca has asserted her independence from her parents, I love her even more. Now to see, if she will decide to feed or not. I can't wait for the next book! Claudia Gray is a fantastic writer. This is a must for lovers of YA vampire fiction!

View all my reviews.

2009 Book Review

Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Melissa Marr does a fantastic job on her third book in the faery world. This is the sequel of Wicked Lovely and centers around Seth and Ash. There are several characters from Ink Exchange in there too! Thoroughly loved it, even though it ends in a cliff hanger. Can't wait for the next one!!

View all my reviews.

Mine

Mine is a fantastic new documentary about the rescue and adoption of the thousands of homeless pets resulting from Hurricane Katrina. The documentary is by Geralyn Pezanoski. It basically chronicles the heartwrenching stories of owners who were rescued or evacuated and had to leave their pets behind. It also chronicles the families that either fostered or adopted the animals and what happens, when they want their pets back. You can find more information on Mine at: minethemovie.com

Watch the preview:

Post Trip Recap

Casey and I had a great time on our mini vacation. Wednesday, we just took our time getting down to Atlanta. We stopped and had lunch at the famous Marietta Diner. Casey had the sauteed chicken dish and I had the tri color tortilini with alfredo sauce. Afterwards, we were VERY stuffed. Then, we continued down to Perry, Georgia. Our hotel was about 30 minutes away from Cordele. We spent the rest of the afternoon and night relaxing out by the pool. The hotel was very nice and they had a really nice pool area too. We stayed out by the pool, until nearly 10 p.m.

The next morning, we got up and headed the extra thirty miles down to Cordele, Georgia. We went to visit my dear friend, Linda. We got there mid morning, and I finally got to meet Linda's Rat Terrier, Dixie. Casey had picked out a really cute food bowl to take to Dixie.

It was so cute, and Dixie really liked it.

It was great meeting Linda and her Mom. Linda is SUCH a sweet person, and I love her. We had such a good time! Linda is the one, who drew the beautiful sketch of Indiana.

It was so nice to finally meet in person. Linda and I met on a Rat Terrier forum that she runs called www.lovearat.us We talked and really got to know each other, and I got to know Dixie too. In fact, Dixie and I shared some morning coffee. That's Dixie's thing. She LOVES coffee, so I let her lick my cup after I was done.

We all decided to go out to lunch. We went to this really good Mexican place there in Cordele. We had a nice long lunch and great conversation. Afterwards, we went back to their house and visited more. We finally had to leave and head back to Atlanta. I really enjoyed our visit, and I can't wait to go back on fall break and during Christmas break too!

Me and Linda's Mom, Della:

A shot of us together:

Vacation 2009

Casey and I are on a short vacation this summer. We're not doing anything big, because we've got another cruise booked for next summer. Anyway, we drove down to Georgia today. We're on a way to meet a dear friend, Linda, and her family. We're about to turn in at our hotel. But first, here's how I spent my afternoon:

More from the road tomorrow. Night all.

WHEWWWW!!!!

Just when I didn't think it could get any hotter. The forecasters are saying that this will feel like the hottest day of the year! I believe them. I feel like I'm melting.

Yesterday, I went for my first swim practice for the Master Swim Club. I actually had my very own coach to refine my stoke yesterday. Needless to say, practice kicked my butt! I went through and hour and a half of drills and laps (about 3000 yds). I even managed to pull my shoulder somehow too. You can guess how good I slept last night. It was very hot outside during practice yesterday so, I decided to get to the pool earlier this morning. I was in and swimming about 10:30. The water hadn't heated up too much and was perfect this morning. I only managed about 1750 yds. today, but I did manage to get in all of my new drills. I had to swim really slow, because my shoulder was REALLY achy this morning. It's still bothering me some, but it felt better, when the muscle warmed up. I sure hope I don't regret the laps I did manage, tomorrow morning.

Now, keeping in today's hot, swimming theme....

see more dog and puppy pictures

see more dog and puppy pictures

see more dog and puppy pictures

June: Adopt A Shelter Cat Month

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

The New Guys

I know that I've been really neglecting the blog lately. Believe me, you guys haven't been missing anything. It's just been typical working, coming home, reading, swimming, running, and the same the next day. There has been one new development.

Since Scooter was adopted by my mother's best friend (He's doing just great BTW..He gets hot buttered toast and a boiled egg for breakfast every morning, car rides, and sleeps in the bed), I have a couple of new fosters. They came from a little town about 30 minutes away from me. Their names are Daisy and Jack. They are both older dogs, Daisy is 12 and Jack is 9. They didn't do well at all with the move, but they've both finally settled. Daisy is just a "little old lady crumudgeon", but she is very loving. Jack is just the cutest little thing. He's pretty tiny, even more than Indiana. He's VERY timid and skittish, but he loves to be loved once he warms up. He has the cutest little question mark like strip on his back and rear. We're thinking about just keeping them, since they moved SO poorly and because of their age. Daisy has VERY bad allergies, so I'm giving her meds and using Prep-H to keep down the irritation.

Here they are:

Daisy

Jack

My New Ride!

Casey and I took the plunge yesterday and bought a new car. Our Nissan Altima had problems, i.e. front and rear oil leaks, and the intake manifold seal was shot. That car was nickeling and dimeing us to death! We spent $2500 last year in repairs, not counting the current problems. Our new car is a 2008 Toyota Corrolla. It's a Toyota certified car. I had a Corolla some years back and put 320,000 miles on it. So, I'm very happy with our choice: