Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year!!

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I'm just popping in for a minute today. My vacation has been really good. Casey and I have done A LOT of relaxing. We had meant to get a whole lot more done to the house, but it has REALLY felt good to take a rest. We've enjoyed each other, the dogs, and just lounging around. Wednesday, it will be back to the usual routine. Where does the time go, when you're on vacation?

We don't have any big plans for New Year's Eve celebrations tonight. We are just going to stay home and ring in the New Year with the dogs and my mother. We do have a nice bottle of champagne chilling, and Casey's planning a fantastic New Year's Day breakfast. I hope that you all have a happy and safe New Year!!

BTW, I also wanted to let you guys know about the ASPCA Pledge to Fight Animal Cruelty. I took it earlier today. Why don't you guys drop by and check it out.

Pledge to Fight Animal Cruelty

Friday, December 21, 2007

Merry Christmas!!

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The Christmas madness is officially here. I just have a little bit more shopping to do. I'm off in a bit to get that accomplished. Just checking things off the "to do" list now. Tomorrow is my family's big Christmas gathering. Then on Christmas Eve we'll have a little snack meal and another big family meal on Christmas afternoon. I'll have to be sure to swim the Wednesday after....

I'm on vacation after today, so I won't be dropping in until at least New Year's Eve. So, I hope that you all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I hope that you get everything you asked Santa to bring you!! I'll be back after the holidays.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Gettin' Crazy

The days are starting to blur now. I've been busy for most of the day with a holiday party. Too much food and sugar. Great. Now, I'm comatose!! I've got to make the finishing touches to my Christmas list, and make my list of the shopping that has to get done tomorrow. I'm off to crazyville!!!

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Preparing THE List

Casey has asked me for my Christmas list for the very first time. Usually, I'm the list-y one in the relationship, but I've been too busy with my sweet puppies this year. So busy in fact, that I haven't given much thought to what I even want. So, I'm sitting here this afternoon, trying to come up with some sort of list. Does anyone have any suggestions? So far, my list includes: L.L. Bean, Old Navy, a Foo Fighters CD, and a used bicycle. Not really impressive. I know that I've thought of things here and there, but I can't seem to remember them, when it counts. DRAT!!! I suppose that I could include the need for a new swimsuit, but Casey said that didn't really count. Yeah, tell the other folks that have to watch me swim that!! Anywhooo, I guess I'd better get back to the list. Oh yeah, just because I have to share it with you guys, here's this:

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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Crunch Time

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The time is getting short. Time to shop is almost out. I guess I need to be scolded, since I've saved most of my shopping for this Friday. I feel that I've had a good excuse. Another cute, four legged girl has been keeping me busy. I don't have a whole lot to buy fortunately. The family parties start for us on Saturday. I just can't believe it's that time of year again!! Lookout mall!

Monday, December 17, 2007

Sugar Alert: Prepare Yourself

You may want to have your toothbrush ready. This may rot your teeth out, it's so sweet. On Saturday, Casey and I attended Bedford County Animal Control's Open House. It was Christmas themed of course. They served goodies and had Santa available for pictures with pets, children, or even yourself. They had a good crowd and the food was fantastic! There were several fur children there, mine included. Shingo did really well, especially with the kids. He just sat down and let them pet him. That's the only time he's been still for anything! Molly did really well, considering she's only been with us a week. She was a little shy, but she did well. Here's a picture of Shingo and Molly with Santa...prepare for tooth decay:

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Photo by: Kimberly Warren

Friday, December 14, 2007

Looking Forward

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I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend. I only have one big thing planned. I'm glad, since tomorrow looks yucky weatherwise. I do hope that we get those snowflurries. It would make everything feel so Christmas-y! Tomorrow morning, I'm going to Bedford County Animal Control's Open House. They are serving refreshments. You can also have your pet's picture made with Santa. I'm going to take both Shingo and Molly and have their picture made. I'm especially looking forward to taking Shingo, since that's where I rescued him. Other than that, no big plans. Casey and I might go and see a matinee and pile up and watch some DVDs. I think it is a good weekend to sit and read too! Everyone have a great weekend and stay warm!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

ARRRRGH!!! Where's My Camera Battery?!!!!

Well, this is the best I have at the moment. Just pics from the cell phone that aren't very good to start. Presenting: Molly and Shingo

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Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Report: Day 3

Things are still just going swimmingly with Miss Molly/Princess Buttercup. Everyone, Casey and me included, are sleeping well at night. The housebreaking is going well. She's just no trouble at all, and she keeps her brother, Shingo, out of trouble too! I couldn't have asked for a better addition to our home. Now, if I can just get some pictures made!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Wonderful Weekend!

Casey and I had a FANTASTIC, busy weekend! Sunday was busy with the Christmas baking. Casey made sausage balls, cheddar cheese crispies, peanut butter cookies, and chocolate chip cookies all from scratch for our gift baskets. We decided to wait and save the sugar cookies for my students at work. We'll be making those tonight. While Casey was busy baking, I cleaned the rest of the house up.

Around lunch time, we prepared for the little experiment that I hinted at on Saturday. Shingo is now nine months old. He's right at that age, where he's all play all the time. He requires less sleep now. Last week, he kept waking us up at 3 a.m. wanting to play. Needless to say, Casey and I were really tired all last week. On Friday, after a particularly bad night previously, Casey suggested that we might try a playmate for Shingo. It just so happened that we had another dachshund mix at the humane shelter that is 1 year old. She's already spayed and housebroken. She lookes so much like Shingo, and they are nearly the same exact size. I called my humane lady on Saturday and asked if we could come and get her for a play date on Sunday. She said of course, so we were all set. Her name at the shelter is Molly. At first she was a little shy, but after about an hour she started to relax. A little while after that, she and Shingo started to play. They haven't stopped playing yet. It's so funny to watch them play. They look like they are having the best time! Shingo usually can take down my big dog, Fergie, so it's really funny that Molly rules him. I think that we've found the perfect match. She and Shingo are best buddies now and even sleep together. As you all can probably guess, we never took Molly back to the shelter. She's ours now, and we're SO happy to have her. All of the dogs just love her, and we do too! We might change her name. We are thinking of naming her Buttercup (as in Princess Buttercup from the Princess Bride), but she really knows her name, so we don't know how successful we'll be. But for now, here's Molly:

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That's all I have of her right now, because we lost the battery to our digital camera. I've got several on my cell phone, and I'm trying to get them transferred.

Prayers Needed

One of my good friends, Robert, lost his only son this past Sunday. He was only 17. It was unexpected, tragic, and abrupt. Please keep my friend Robert and his family in your prayers.

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Christmas-ey Weekend

I consider this the weekend that will kickoff my 2007 holiday season. Today there is the:

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Tonight, I'll be doing my yearly tradition of the Shelbyville Christmas Parade. It's been raining all morning, so I hope it lets up in time for the parade. It's just drizzly right now, so I hope they don't call it off early. I've been doing this tradition with my mother and brother for close to the last 20 years. We're there every year in our best holiday frocks, and I've always looked forward to it. This year, I think we are going to arrive on the square early and have dinner at Bocelli's. It's been yonks since I've eaten there, so I'm really looking forward to it. My mom is treating us this year!

Tomorrow, Casey and I are cooking up some holiday goodies to make Christmas baskets. We are delivering them to our Dr.'s office, Dr. K's office, and to some of the most wonderful neighbors. So far we plan to include: old fashioned sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, cheddar cheese crispies, and sausage balls. It makes me hungry just thinking about it. Since Casey has a Dr.'s appointment on Monday (he's got a nasty sinus infection again), we'll get them all delivered this week.

We are also trying an experiment this weekend. I don't want to say much about it, until I find out if it's going to work. I really want it to though, so everyone cross their fingers for us. I'll keep you guys up to date....

Everyone have a terrific weekend!

Friday, December 07, 2007

Family Frustrations

Casey has a favorite aunt. He has always had a very close relationship with her. In the past few years we haven't gotten to visit as much, because of life, children spreading out, etc. He never let that bother him and always enjoyed the phone conversation and catching up. Lately, we've always been invited to go and visit, but only one visit has been made to us, lasting only five minutes. This past weekend, Casey ran into some other family at the local Wal-Mart. They spent some time catching up and sharing life. At some point, they mentioned that they had run into the aunt in town at our local Bicentennial Celebration. Now, Casey was off from work that Saturday for the whole day. Never left the house. He was absolutely CRUSHED that the aunt spent the whole day in town and never even bothered to give him a call. He would have gladly met her on the square just to visit for a few minutes.

Casey's been really, really, really hurt over all of this, and it has made me furious! Casey doesn't have a lot of family. His mother passed away from breast cancer ten years ago, and he wouldn't know his father, if he passed him on the street. He's his mother's only child. So, this aunt was very precious to him. I would love to think that this slight was unintentional, but how can I be sure? There's been drifting for a while, but we always thought it was just one of those things. It breaks my heart for him. My first reaction is to pick up the phone and just have at it. My logical side knows that it is between Casey and his aunt, and I shouldn't make things worse. But when Casey hurts, I hurt. It's beyond me how family can treat each other like this, but I know that it's not unique to just one family. It happens in my family too. I really would like to see them work it out, but I know it will take Casey a long time to get over this. I'm not sure this hurt can be repaired.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

First Walk

Shingo has been so antsy in the house lately, that I decided to take him for his first walk last night. I WOULD have to pick one of the coldest nights in a while. I bundled him up in his little doggie sweater and bundled myself up like Nanuk of the North, and twenty minutes later, we were on our way. Even though the wind was howling and it was quite cold, he did SO good. He just trotted along beside me. The only time he would stop to sniff was when I stopped. It looked just like something straight from The Dog Whisperer. As cold as it was it was like Bear was there with us in spirit, because Shingo started meeting and greeting all of the neighbors that were coming and going. Our walk was short, only lasting about 15 minutes, but I wanted to keep it fairly short for the first time. Now, I know it was too short. He was still fairly antsy, when we got home. We'll go back out tonight and hopefully last a little longer.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

First Party Weekend

Casey and I attended our first holiday party of the Christmas season on Saturday night. It was the annual Christmas gathering of the 501st Legion, MidSouth Garrison. We waffled a bit at first on our attendance, because I woke up not feeling well on Saturday. After a quick nap, I decided that I felt well enough to go. It was at the Sportman's Club in Ft. Campbell, KY. We had a really good turnout. The Christmas party is a good way to see folks that only troop at Christmas. It's always good to see friends this time of year. We had a buffet dinner, cake, and drinks. After dinner, the annual awards were given out. All in all, it was a good night.

On Sunday, Casey and I both had slug disease and just sat around watching t.v. and movies. Season 1 of Airwolf had come up on Netflix queue, and I had lots of fun watching the old episodes. Airwolf was a childhood favorite t.v. show of mine. I would sure love to have an old Airwolf flight suit costume!

Yesterday, Mom and I went to get some Christmas shopping done. That's always one of the advantages of having Mondays off. It's a great time to Christmas shop. I'm not sure that the throngs have started yet. Mom and I didn't wait in a line the entire day. In fact, the shops and mall seemed a bit vacant. Maybe everyone is waiting later this year. I got a couple of things for Mom and some things for Casey. I still have just a little left. I guess that I'll be out in the crowd after all!