I've Returned!!

Well folks, I have to say that cruise was the BEST vacation that I've ever had!! We had a F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S time, and it was SO SO SO relaxing. It was also fun to have people wait on me. I do apologize for not updating as soon as we got back, but I was exhausted. Then after I was home a couple of days, I got tonsilitis!! YUCK!! I'm still kind of sickly but functioning. I guess it's o.k., because I felt great on vacation. We had the most wonderful, sunny weather for the whole cruise and drive back home. That is SO not our luck usually. We got LOTS of fabulous pictures. When I feel a little better, I'll post the day by day list of things we got to do. But for now, here are some of my favorite pictures:

Leaving port in Miami.

Lido Deck. Carnival Valor.

At the Atlantis Resort & Casino.

Atlantic Beach. Atlantis' private beach.

St. Thomas VI

Maegan's Bay Beach. St. Thomas VI

Overlooking Maegan's Bay St. Thomas, VI

Overlooking St. Thomas port side.

St. Martin: Phillipsburg, Dutch side.

Orient Beach. St. Maarteen French side.

Sunset on the deck of the Carnival Valor.

At Ft. Lauderdale

I'm hoping to get all of my photos, nearly 700 of them, uploaded on Picassa over the next couple of days. More tomorrow....

Almost Ready

We got a good night's sleep last night. We're up and ready for the day. We've just come back from the hot breakfast at the hotel. I'm sitting here eating a bacon and egg biscuit and some boiled eggs. Casey's eating the strawberry waffle that he made at the waffle station. The buffet was interesting to say the least. There's nothing like free food to turn folks into rude imbeciles. I think the whole hotel was there. You couldn't hardly even make your way to the food. We finally got our stuff and just came back to the room to eat, since there was nowhere to sit in the dining room.

I can tell that I'm a bit nervous today. Since I've never cruised before, I'm not sure what to expect at boarding. Things like that always make me nervous. I'm just trying to take some deep breaths and just accept things as they come at me. We're supposed to go to the pier on the noon shuttle today, so we've got a couple of hours to wait. Check out is at 11:00, so I need to get the few things we have out repacked. This is the last entry, until after the cruise is done next Sunday. I hope that you all have a great week. Keep us in your prayers for a safe trip. I'll have lots of good things to tell you all, when I get back. Toodles.......

In Miami

We are safely in Miami. We left out around 9:30 this morning and rolled into Miami about 6:00 p.m. We did have serveral stops along the way, including lunch. The drive today was pretty easy. It was sunny all the way. Even though it was only an hour longer than yesterday's drive, it seemed a LOT longer. By those last 150 miles, I was definitely ready to be out of the car. My bottom is numb!! We really haven't had a chance to see much of Miami yet. We came in on the Florida Turnpike, so there wasn't much of a view. We did, however, see the Minute Maid orange groves and Minute Maid Parkway. Pretty exciting for the little southern girl, who doesn't get out much. We had a few extra things that we needed to pick up, so we've been to the nearby Target. We were so tired that we ended up just having Denny's for dinner. We were both starving, and wouldn't you know that the computer didn't send our ticket back to the kitchen. So, dinner ended up taking a lot longer that we expected. Oh well. Live and learn.

I'm hoping to just get in bed soon and maybe read or just relax a little. We don't leave the hotel on the shuttle for the dock until noon tomorrow. They serve a full hot breakfast here, so we'll get up in time to eat and get our things together. After two very early mornings, it will be nice to sleep in a little. I hope that I do sleep. I'm pretty excited. It's just really set in today that I'll be on a ship tomorrow. Like I said I haven't done any world traveling in my life, so I can't begin to imagine what I'm in for. Well folks, I'm off to relax now. I'll make another entry in the morning, before we go to the port. Night all! The journey continues tomorrow.....

First Stop

We're at our first stop on the trip. We made really good time. We pulled out around noon. We've stopped in Tifton, GA for the night. We rolled into town about 6:15 our time. We did make a couple stops on the way. It's nearly the half way point between home and Miami. We nearly didn't outrun the rain, when we left. When we hit Chattanooga we drove back into sunshine, and it's been beautiful ever since. There's no threat of stormy weather here. So far, there's nothing but beautiful weather between here and Miami. You guys take care back close to home. I hear there's the potential for some really nasty weather headed that way close to midnight. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all is well there.

Well, I'm going to say goodnight. I need to get wound down and get to bed. We need to leave out early in the morning to make tomorrow's drive. More from Miami, when we get there......

The Journey Begins...

Here in just a couple of hours, Casey and I will leave out for Florida and head for the cruise, which I hope is pure bliss (hard to say right now, because neither of us have ever been on a cruise). Here's to NO seasickness!! We have the Bonine and Dramamine at the ready. We are taking the old, beat up laptop with us. So, hopefully, I can update from the road. I'll probably not update from the boat, since internet access is so expensive, but rather on the road to and from.

The packing went rather smoothly for the first time ever. I guess it's because Casey and I had nearly a year to think about everything. We'd made the HUGE "To Do" list over the last two weeks. It really helped this week, when things started getting hectic. We had everything, except one bag, loaded in the car by last night. We dropped the puppies off with Jennie for boarding at the kennel yesterday afternoon. Now, I'm just hoping for a safe and happy journey. I'll see you guys on the road!!

Whirlwind

My life is such a whirlwind right now. I'm behind schedule, since I was sick for the past two weeks. There's so much to do now. I still have to pack, clean out the car, load the car, get the dogs dropped off at the kennel, make sure that I remember everything, etc. I just KNOW that I'm going to forget something important. Casey and I have about 10 lists going right now. I'm definitely going to need the cruise after this!!

Jealous

I've been watching the live feed of the Country Music Marathon all morning. I'm SOOOO jealous!! Because of this respiratory and stomach crud that I've had for the past week and a half, I haven't been able to run in over a week. I had originally planned to add another half mile or mile to my run this week. WAAAAH!! I'm still coughing so badly, that my lung power probably isn't going to allow me to run, until sometime next week. I really want to train for the half marathon next year. I guess it's always good to have goals, but right now, it's just to start running at all again! CONGRATS and a big shout out to Scott's wife, Stephanie, who is running the Country Music Half Marathon today!!

Cough, Cough

By the time I got home, after my last post on Thursday, I was sickety, sick, sick!! I am SO glad that I had that Dr.'s appointment made! It turns out that I had a VERY nasty lung infection from the reflux. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday just all passed in a fog, and I'm kinda glad that I don't remember most of it anyway. I'm now finishing up a round of really strong antibiotics, a cortisone pack, and various antihistamines, along with some new reflux meds. Today is the first day that I've really felt like doing anything at all. Other than that, I don't have much to report at all, except LOTS of nice, cuddly naps with the puppies. They certainly did their best to get me better.

Not Now!!

If it's anything I DON'T need to be right now it's sick. I started feeling puny on Tuesday. I had a really bad bout with reflux. I've suffered from it, since I was a teenager and have been hospitalized for it before. I knew I had to get a handle on it really quick. I felt yucky yesterday too, so I took off from work. Today, I have developed a cough (which sometimes goes with it) and a MAMMOTH headache!! I know that we're supposed to get rain tonight, so maybe that's why the little guys with the hammers are hitting my head so hard! My head is also VERY stuffy but that's not suprising, since we broke a record on the pollen count yesterday. For now, I've doubled up on my allergy meds (which means actually taking both doses I'm supposed to every day), and I'm keeping up my stomach reflux regimen. I sure hope this works. Casey and I leave for our cruise 2 weeks from tomorrow, so I don't have time to be sick now!!! If I'm not better by tomorrow, I'm going to get myself to the dr.'s office and find out what's going on.

Learning

The puppies are fast catching on to the idea of daily walks at the park. Molly never was a big car fan. She was always anxious, when she got in for a ride and only after us picking her up and putting her inside. After 4 days of walks, she's already connected the car with a good thing. Now, when we go out with her she just hops up into the car, ready to go. On Wednesday, we bought some new puppy walking equipment. Molly was so bad to get her leash tangled with Shingo's, that we bought them a coupler. Casey and I used it for the first time yesterday. They both did really well. Molly tired out a little faster, because her pace is somewhat faster than Shingo's, (and he's no little guy with his winter pounds added on) and she was trying to drag him at times. She was tired after about 1.5 miles yesterday, where she usually walks about 3 miles on her own. The coupler definitely made a difference. We're hoping to get another walk in tonight, but I'm not sure. We need to get a new tire for the car, and we have a gardening club meeting around 6:30. We may just have to skip today. We'll see.

Success!

While Casey and I were out yesterday, we made THE list. This was a list of the last things we needed to get, before the cruise. It included: pick up Casey's suits, purchase dress shirt and tie, dress shoes, sandals, shirts and shorts for Casey, and dress shoes for my formal dress. I'm happy to say that we got everything crossed off the list! There were some fantastic sales going on yesterday. We got everything for under $100.00 too! I can't believe how much better I feel getting so much done ahead of time. Now all we lack is our car maintenace to do. We're going to work on that this weekend.

Our anniversary was just GREAT!! The weather cleared off and turned out perfect too! We decided to have lunch at City Cafe. We went there to eat lunch, right after we got married 10 years ago. We were even able to sit at the same table. I had yummy turkey and dressing with green peas and cranberry sauce. YUM!! Afterwards, we headed off to Franklin and Cool Springs to get our shopping done. We had a lovely anniversary dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Casey and I both had steak and baked potatoes. I was miserably full, when dinner was over! I've got so much running and swimming to do the rest of this week!! I just couldn't have asked for a better anniversary this year!

10th Anniversary!!

Well, today is the the day. The big 1-0! Casey and I have been married 10 years today. It's funny. The weather is nearly an exact repeat of the same too, except a little warmer. This past 10 years has just flown by. I guess the old saying is true, "time flies, when you're having fun." I still feel like we're newlyweds, even though we've actually been together for 17 years. I have to sincerely thank my most wonderful husband for a FANTASTIC 10 years. We've certainly had our ups and downs, but when all is said and done, I can't think of anyone on this earth that I'd rather be with.

Casey:

Thanks for being the best husband in the world. You are my best friend, my cheerleader, my rock in bad times and good. I love you.

We really have no big plans for today, except we are leaving work a bit early to go and have a really nice lunch. Then, we are going to shop around in Franklin for a bit. The big celebrating will take place on the cruise. We have to pick Casey's suits up, since the alterations are done. I have to get some shoes for my formal dress, and Casey has to get his dress shoes. Time is getting short, and we still have LOTS to do!! I can't believe it's nearly time to leave!

Sunny Days Off

Finally, I got that sun I was looking for! Both Sunday and yesterday were absolutely beautiful!! Unfortunately, all I did Sunday was lay around. I pulled something in my neck and shoulder, so I was taking it easy, along with taking a muscle relaxer. Luckily yesterday, I was back to my normal self. Mom had her checkup scheduled with her doc in Nashville, so off we went. She got a good report. Afterwards, she treated me to lunch at Applebees. It was yummy! We stopped at a couple of places to shop around afterwards. All in all, it was a really nice trip on a great day.

When I got home, I cleaned the house and did the laundry. Luckily, I got finished just in time to take the puppies to the little neighborhood park that is close by. Since they haven't really learned to walk together yet, I took them separately. The road into and out of the park is one way road in a loop. It takes 2 loops to make a mile. I decided to take them to the park, because I knew there would be no speeding traffic and, there would be no loose dogs. I took Shingo first, and he walked like a little champ. He seemed to have such a good time. He's still a little skittish around loud noises. I guess that's the chihuahua in him coming out. We ended up walking a total of 3 miles, with a little running here and there. When we finished, I took him the short walk home and got Molly. I've never been on a long walk with Molly, so I wasn't sure what to expect. She has her own ideas about walking on lead. I was suprised to find that she did REALLY well. After the first lap, she calmed down and walked like she'd done this everyday. Molly likes to run, so we ended up running about a mile total and then walked the other 2 miles. She looked like she was having a great time. In fact, she kept acting like she wanted to get on the basketball court and have a go with the guys! I found out that she's not really skittish about anything at the park, just the trip there. It was a good day of exercise for me and the puppies. We ALL had a great time. When we got back home, I gave everyone a pig ear treat. Needless to say, everyone was satisfied and sleeping by 9:00 p.m. Casey and I are planning to take them both back this afternoon together for a few laps. Hopefully, I can get them trained to walk on a coupler soon.

Everyone have a great day and enjoy this beautiful, spring weather!

So Much The Usual

I haven't posted in a couple of days...well...because there just hasn't been much to report. Things are typical. We have had LOTS of rainy weather. I guess I can't complain. It means that we won't go on forced water restrictions in my neck of the woods from last summer's drought. We are just now catching up on our lack of the liquid stuff. I understand that really, BUT does it have to all come in the same couple of weeks. I, for one, would personally like to see the sun NOW. The weather forecasters have told me to take heart, because after today, it really IS going to get better. Whatever. That's what they said last weekend. So, we'll see. I really do hope tomorrow is sunny and warm. I would like to get the puppies out for walks. Molly needs a lot more work walking on lead. I'd also like to start running with Shingo. The winter has left him a little pudgy, so I need to let him exercise more. Eventually, I'd like to run with both Shingo and Molly on a coupler, but right now, Shingo's the only one trained enough not to trip me on the street. :) I went to Yoga class, early this morning. I feel stretched out and relaxed. I've discovered that I always run really well after yoga, so I'll be headed out in a bit to get a couple of miles in today. Hopefully, I won't freeze to death or trip and break something. Shingo's a really good walker, so hopefully all will go well. Everyone have a great weekend!

Cruise Countdown

Happy April everyone!! Yesterday officially started my cruise countdown. We leave out for Miami on May 2nd. We actually get on the boat on May 4th!! WOOT!! As I've said before, this cruise is in celebration of my and Casey's 10th anniversary. Well, our actual anniversary is April 9th, but we can celebrate just as well on the boat two weeks later!

This past weekend was spent getting even more stuff done on our pre-cruise list. We cleared one of the biggest hurdles: Casey's suits. We managed to get him two new suits for around $200.00. I had actually budgeted for much more for just one suit. We were in Franklin this past Sunday and dropped by S&K Menswear. They were having a terrific sale on suites: 2 for $200.00. So, we went ahead and got what we needed. Our cruise is having two formal nights, so we needed to get our wardrobe in order. Luckily, I got my dresses several months ago. Now, we just have a few things left on the list. We still need a new suitcase, and we still have to get our car tuned up. I'm sure I'll think of a hundred other things, before we leave. I'm glad I still have nearly a month to get it all done!!

Addiction

I just got back from my Yoga class a little bit ago. Yoga always makes me feel so good. We learned a really neat stretch/pose for runners today: extended pigeon pose. It was really hard to do, but afterwards, it felt really good. Now I feel really pumped, and I'm itching to go running. My trainer was right. Once you get past that first few weeks of discomfort, running can definitely become an addiction. When I started out, I had HORRIBLE shin splints. So bad in fact, that I had to ice my legs down every night. It took me nearly a month to get over those enough to run more than once a week. I've slowly built up the number of runs I take a week now, and I'm running 1-2 miles at a time. I'm currently up to 3 runs a week, if I can possibly fit them in my schedule. The more I run, the more I WANT to run. I'm fast becoming a firm believer in the "runners high". I've become so addicted that yesterday, when my trainer wanted to run outside in 48 degree weather, that I just ran right out the door with her, shorts and all. That's another feature of running that I'm really enjoying...running outside. It took me a while to adjust to the outside from the track, but it has been totally worth it!

Casey has been nice enough to let me borrow his Zen Stone MP3 player and load up a running playlist. So the past couple of runs, I've enjoyed music with my runs. Here's what's on my running play list so far:

It's a really eclectic list of music from the 80's and today. If anyone has any suggestions for additions to my playlist, leave a comment!! Now, I've just got to call Casey and see if he has any late afternoon plans for us. If not, I'm going to sneak an extra run in today. Everyone have a great weekend!

Earth Hour

Today is the 2nd anniversary of the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour. Earth Hour is a campaign that is used to promote awareness of the effects of global warming. The WWF is asking everyone to turn out their lights from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. in their timezone to conserve energy. Countries and nations around the globe are participating. Australia's lights were some of the first out as the Opera House and Harbour Bridge in Syndney went dark. Thailand, Fiji, the Phillipines, and New Zealand were just some of the participants. In north America, the lights will be turned off on the Golden Gate bridge later tonight. Even Google has darkened their main screens today in observence.

Even though I'm not sure if any of Tennessee's major cities are participating, I'll be turning my lights off tonight. It sure couldn't hurt.

Swimming for A Cause

As most of you know, I swim several times a week. Yesterday I was VERY excited, when I got an e-mail from Speedo announcing the World Swim Against Malaria campaign. The World Swim Against Malaria campaign donations raised buy mosquito nets to help prevent malaria. As little as $5.00 buys one net. I figured since I usually swim at least 3 miles a week, that I might as well use that time for good. So if any of you guys are interested, sign up to be a participant or sponsor my swim. Saturday, April 5, 2008 is world swim day. The goal is to have 1 million swimmers swim on or around that day. The good thing is I can swim anytime and add to my mileage! Here's a little specific info from the campaign:

World Swim Against Malaria

I will be taking part in World Swim Against Malaria alongside a million other swimmers from all over the world. We are raising money to buy mosquito nets to help protect people from malaria, which currently kills over 1.5 million each year. 70% of the deaths are children under 5. $5 buys a mosquito net that can save a life. 100% of the money we all raise buys nets. If you would like to learn more about this global grassroots initiative, please visit www.WorldSwimAgainstMalaria.com. We’d love you to join us.

Havin' A Ball!

I've just got to share this GREAT video with you guys. I wonder if I could get this guy to make one of these for me. Talk about CUTE!!! Enjoy!!

Happy Easter!!

Well, time sure flies. It's Easter weekend already. I hope that you all have a VERY Happy Easter with your families, furbabies, and friends. Mom is taking the whole family out for Easter dinner tomorrow at Henry Horton State Park. They are having a FAB-U-LOUS buffet. It's a good thing that I'm working out today!!

Also, please remember that even though we enjoy LOTS of those Easter treats, it can be toxic to our pets. Easter Lilies, chocolate, and that plastic Easter grass is toxic to pets.

Happy Spring!!!

It's finally spring!! It's finally officially spring!! As is the case with our schizophrenic weather around here, the forecast doesn't know it quite yet. We had the coldest morning all week this morning!! I'm officially tired of this now. I demand warm weather!!

Casey's doctor's appointment went well yesterday. Luckily, he has no rotor cuff damage. That means that he can put of the surgery for a while. We are going to try various and asundry other things first, before we got the surgery route. He's got to have physical therapy two times a week for the next four weeks first. Then, we'll see where we are and how he is doing. I think Casey feels relieved that he's at least got a reprieve from surgery for now. I just hope that the therapy works.

Not a lot going on around here again today. My allergies are wreaking havoc with me at the moment. The Bradford Pear trees and the forsynthia bushes are about to drive me over the edge. I'm just one big sneeze, snort, and itchy spot. Oh mighty Zrytec save me!! Well, I'm off to take some Advil. Have a great day everyone!!

Windy Wednesday

WOW!! The wind is really howling out there today. Typical spring weather around here. Not suprising, since tomorrow is the first day of spring. It's been raining nearly all morning.

Not a lot going on around here this week. Casey has been having some shoulder problems, since before Christmas. The first orthapedic doc we went to diagnosed it as just bursitis and started giving cortisone injections. They didn't help. In fact, Casey's shoulder has been steadily getting worse. We were driving all the way into Nashville to an orthapedic group. We realized that they have an office in Mufreesboro too. So, we transferred Casey's records down to a doctor there. He went for his first Murfreesboro appointment last week. New x-rays showed a shoulder spur. So yesterday, he went for an MRI to see if it was damaging his rotor cuff. This afternoon we get the results back from the MRI. Anyway all of this to say, Casey is probably going to have to have shoulder surgery. He's decided to wait until after the cruise. It's getting so close now, and he wants to feel as good as he can. So, this afternoon will tell the tale. Everyone keep their fingers crossed.

In other things, I made a new spring template today. Let me know what you guys think. I like the colors, but I'm afraid it might be too busy. I may let it sit overnight and decide tomorrow. Well, gotta run. Everyone have a good afternoon.

Weird Week

It's been a really weird week. I started off good, but ended up battling with a migraine Wednesday night and all day Thursday. I HATE migraines. I don't have them much, thankfully, but when I do, I make up for it. So, I mostly just lounged around the house with my pillow on Thursday. Luckily, the puppies were more than understanding and kept the crazy to a minimum. They ended up mostly sleeping, when I did. I've got to give them extra treats for that. Yesterday, I just felt thick and foggy headed; I usually do after a migraine. I'm also usually in a very bad mood the day after I get over one. I refer to yesterday as a crisis of enthusiasm. I didn't like anything or anyone. I did manage to make myself go workout, which really helped a lot.

There's not much going on here today. I've just watched the rainy weather all day. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and much nicer, along with Monday. I don't really have anything special planned, but you never know what Casey and I might get into. Since Monday is going to be so beautiful, I'm planning on cleaning tomorrow or tomorrow night, so I can have the day Monday. I may take the puppies for a walk.

Everyone have a great weekend!! I'll leave you with a picture of me, trying to recover from the migraine with Shingo assisting.

OUCH!! That light was painful!!

Snowy Scenes

WARNING!! PICTURE HEAVY!!!

Late Friday night (nearly Saturday morning) it finally started snowing at my house.

This is what I woke up to on Saturday morning.

Well everything, including the street, was covered earlier in the morning.....

After breakfast, we ALL went out to play in the snow.

We had to enjoy it, while it lasted. By 1:00 p.m. it had nearly all melted. I guess now we'll have to wait for next year.....

2 Dogs, 2000 Miles

On March 16, 2008, Luke Robinson will begin a walk that will lead him over 2,000 miles across the country from Austin, Texas to Boston, Massachusetts in memory of his beloved Malcom. His two other dogs, Murphy and and Hudson will complete the walk with him. This walk is to raise funds to benefit the very first canine cancer study by the Animal Cancer Foundation. From the press release:

The implications of this research are even more far reaching. Scientists have discovered that the vast majority of cancers found in pets are the same types affecting humans making dogs an ideal model for study and giving rise to an area of cancer research known as comparative oncology.

Visit the website to follow the journey and to support Luke's walk at:

http://www.2dogs2000miles.org

Waitin' On The Snow

Even though I said that I probably wouldn't check in, seems like I'm not going to have much else to do this weekend. We are waiting on our biggest snowstorm of the last several years to move into our area. In my neck of the woods, we are supposed to get anywhere from 2-4 inches. That's a LOT for my area. We just don't see big accumulating snows in this area. The groceries are INSANE!! It is the end of the world, when it snows here. Us southern folks just don't quite know how to handle snow here. We also have LOTS of steep hills and not a lot of equipment to clear the roads. This is going to shape up to be an interesting weekend. Luckily, I don't have anywhere to be. It looks like I'll be reading a good book and watching movies this weekend. If we do get a good snow, I want to be sure to sweater up the puppies and get some good pictures of their first snowfall. It will be fun to get all of the dogs out in it to play. I'm not too sure that I'll let Shiloh go out in it. She's just now getting over her respiratory infection, so I don't want to jepordize making her sick again. She's home by the way and doing quite well. Dr. K is really pleased with her progress. Well, I'm going to run. It's nearly dinner time.

Much Needed Break

I'm off work for the next several days. I may be away, but I'll be back soon. Until then, enjoy some picture goodness.

Everyone have a good weekend!!

Sunny Sunday Fun!

This past weekend was just beautiful!! It was a true spring day. Jennie, a VERY good friend, from Kindred Spirits Dog Training and Boarding gave us permission to bring the dogs out to play in her large play yard. This was a wonderful thing, since Molly and Shingo are still working on their leash training. So early Sunday morning, we loaded Shingo, Molly, and Fergie up and drove out to the play yard. We just turned them loose to romp and play. We played ball with the Chuck-It and frisby. They had an absolute ball. We stayed out there about 2 hours. We knew they were finished, when they all laid down. We took them home, and they slept all afternoon and all night! Sorry for posting these, but my Flickr download limit has been reached for the month ;)

We came home and had a snack lunch. Casey and I made a run to Wal-Mart to get grilling supplies for Sunday night. Casey had a wonderful dinner of BBQ chicken, Terriyaki Chicken and Pineapple kebobs, grill cooked corn, and baked beans. It was such a good warm weather meal. This was just one of those most perfect weekends!! Today it's overcast, cold, and drizzly. Hopefully, we'll have more days like this past weekend soon.

Snapshots: The Sequel

Well, it looks like the weather may cooperate this weekend. FINALLY!!! It's supposed to be sunny and near 70 degrees tomorrow. Now before all of you get in a twist that are still in the winter dregs, we'll pay for it come Monday and Tuesday. Yes, we are supposed to have more storms and then snow on Tuesday. Casey and I plan on enjoying every minute of tomorrow. The first thing on the agenda is to take all of the dogs out to walk and play ball and frisbee in the yard. Casey and I also want to go to the movies tomorrow night too. Other than that and soaking up the sun, we are keeping our options open. And now....more pictures.....

Snapshots

Here are just a few of the many snapshots we've made with Casey's new camera. Prepare for picture overload in the next few days.....

Molly and her "bling".

Shingo

Trixie

Lucy

Crazy Week

It's been a crazy week, and events haven't really inspired me to post much. So let's see....a recap....

On Sunday Casey and I did make it up to the Nashville flea market. A lot of the booths weren't filled. I suspect it was from the cold weather. It had been a long time, since I last went to the flea market. I had never seen so many socks for sale in my life and over the counter meds for sale. Too weird. They didn't have too much that I was interested in Sunday. I'm hoping that will change with the warmer weather ahead. I did buy Molly a really pretty pink collar with her name all in bling really cheap. She's so cute with it on.

On Monday, I just really relaxed. I'm still really tired from my new workouts, so I decided to take it easy. I spent a lot of time napping on Monday. I do feel better this week, so maybe I'm finally getting used to it.

On Tuesday night, Shiloh woke up about 10:00 p.m. making this hoarking sound between her nose and throat. She just didn't stop. By midnight she had finally settled down and slept. She was quiet all night and was resting well, every time I checked on her. When we got up yesterday, she was started up again, but not as bad as the night before. So, we loaded her up in the car and took her to Dr. K. She has an upper respiratory infection. They did a chest x-ray, and found that she had an early case of heartworms! Now people, you guys know how I am about my pets. We give the heartworm medications for the recommended time periods for the area in which we live (May - September). One pesky mosquito has snuck in during the lapse time!! I'm so angry with myself. I'll never again skip any month of heartworm preventative!! So, the lesson of the day is: ALWAYS GIVE HEARTWORM PREVENTATIVE, NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF YEAR IT IS!!! She is still at Dr. K's today. He is prepping her to begin the heartworm treatment. He feels that she is a good candidate for a full recovery. Please send those good thoughts and prayers our way, that everything goes well and she recovers fully.

Oh yeah, Casey's new camera is here! We spent quite a bit of time last night taking pictures of the Richardson Zoo. So, there will be many pictures posted later today.

The Weekend

Well, it's been a quiet sort of week. I've just been basically working and working out. Casey and I got our cash from good old Uncle Sam yesterday, so we've been getting a few things that we needed. Since the battery to our point and shoot digital camera won't hold a charge, we decided to purchase a new camera, especially with the cruise coming up. Casey got a Nikon D40x SLR. It's supposed to come in next week. I can't wait for all the new pictures that we're going to have!

Last night, Caesy and I went out with our friend Loki for dinner. We went to one of the local Mexican restaurants, Casa Mexicana. Casey and I both had the Nacho Supreme. I really like their chicken nachos. They use fajita chicken, instead of the shredded chicken. Loki had the fajitas. We had a great time just visiting and catching up, and it was a great way to end the week. We are thinking about going to the Nashville Flea Market tomorrow. I'm not sure. I guess it depends on how we feel, when we get up. We'd like to just go and hang out in Nashville, but I'd also just like a day to just veg out. I have a lot to get done on Monday. We'll see.... Everyone have a great weekend.

Antifreeze Bill In Tennessee Legislature

Haley Ham from Sevierville, Tennessee needs your help. Last year Haley's dog, Sam, was poisoned intentionally by someone who used antifreeze. Haley, who is 11 years old, was devastated and has worked very hard to keep others from suffering Sam's fate. Haley collected 1,100 signatures to petition the Tennessee Legislature to pass a law requiring the antifreeze companies to add a bittering agent. Haley was on the hill in Nashville Tuesday to tell lawmakers her and Sam's story. The bill, HB2008, is being sponsored by Janis Sontany of Nashville. The bill has already been passed by the full Senate ( SB2399), which was sponsored by Raymond Finney of Maryville. Unfortunately, it was delayed in the House for 2 weeks. The reason for the delay sights that further studies need to be done on environmental impact. California has had this law in place for the past 5 years, has seen no environmental impact. Haley is now asking for everyone's help. Please contact your local representatives and ask them to support the Haley Ham Act of 2008.

For more on Haley Ham's story click HERE and HERE.

To look up your state representatives, click HERE.

Loving Myself

I am enjoying my new workout program, and I'm starting to see a few tiny results. However, I think that I may be overdoing it just a bit. I've been SO exhausted the past week, and I can't seem to feel rested at all. I talked with my swim coach yesterday, and she suggested instead of a 5 day workout, I should settle for a 4 day workout for now. After I get used to that, I can add the extra day back in. I don't know. I feel that I'm copping out in a way, but I am doing LOTS of different things now. I think my body is trying to tell me something. In addition to my 3-5 miles a week swimming, I've added a couple miles of running, yoga, and weight workouts. I'm starting to get some nagging aches and pains in my ankles that remain, instead of going away. I'm afraid I'm starting out with too much. My worst competition is myself, and I'm trying really hard to let that go. So today, I'm just going straight home to relax. I'll be back in the pool tomorrow.

Sleepy Head

This new workout schedule is going to take me a while to get used to. Last week, I ended up running over 2 miles, swimming 2 miles, 3 weight workouts, and 1.5 hours of Yoga. By the time the weekend got here, I was totally wiped out! The weather was just yucky on Sunday morning. The puppies got me up a little after 7 a.m., so around 11:30 a.m., I was ready for a nap. I ended up napping on the couch until nearly 3:00 p.m. I guess I'm still getting over the lung stuff too, and I'm not really back to my normal self. By the time I got up from my nap, it was a beautiful afternoon. Too bad, that I didn't go out and enjoy it. I ended up going to bad farily early that night and slept like I hadn't napped! I must have been REALLY tired!

Yesterday, Mom took me out to a local Mexican restaurant for a GREAT lunch. We try to go out on Mondays and catch up. We had a good time and enjoyed our visit. Afterwards, I went home and caught up the laundry and cleaned the house. My usual Monday fare. Casey cooked spaghetti for dinner and afterwards, we watched the Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I'm REALLY liking that show. I've loved the Terminator movies for a long time, and I like that they are sticking with the old story line.

So much for weekend excitement!!

Friday!

Casey and I had a lovely Valentine's dinner. We got there early and were able to make it to the early showing of Jumper too. I really liked Jumper. It was just action packed and the effects were good too. There wasn't a lot of character development, but that's the way the book was written too. Now, I just hope they come through with that sequel. After the movie, we went to Marble Slab Creamery for some ice cream. Casey had the Double Dark Chocolate with almonds mixed in, and I had the Swiss Chocolate with fresh strawberries mixed in. YUM!

There's not a whole lot going on today. I'm about to go run in a little bit. On Tuesday, I ran for a mile the first time in my life! I'm going to try and do it again today, but I'm a bit sore from the weight workout. So, we'll see. Gotta run!

Best Day At the Movies, EVAH!

...or a really good one anyway. Tonight, for Valentine's, Casey is taking me out to dinner and to see Jumper. Today is also the release day of the Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull teaser trailer. The Indiana Jones trilogy is second only to my love for Star Wars. Good Morning America premiered the trailer this morning, and it premieres in theatres nationally today. Go HERE to have a look at the trailer:

Now, I really can't wait!

EDIT: Now that all of the trailers are out, here is a much better quality trailer:

Valentine's Day: Often Not So Sweet For Pets

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Even though Valentine's is a sweet treat day for most of us, please remember that it can be deadly to pets. Some tips include:

-Don't feed your pets chocolate treats.

-Don't feed your pets food sweetened with the artificial sweetner xylitol.

-Valentine's bouquets sometimes contain flowers that can be deadly to pets.

-Take extra care with lit candles.

And there are many more. Click HERE for a list Valentine's Tips for Pets from the ASPCA.

One of Those Days

Getting the paperwork stuff together and done for this cruise is making me C-R-A-Z-Y!! Since Casey and I have NEVER left the country before, we are first time passport seekers. We went at lunch yesterday, with the intention of turning in our applications for passports. I spent most of the two weeks before tracking down paperwork that we needed to take with us. I made a LOT of calls trying to make sure that we had EXACTLY everything we needed. As soon as we get there yesterday, we were informed that we had the wrong forms of birth certificates. ACK!! (This was after two different places told me what we had was fine!) Since we wanted to give them plenty of time to get back, we didn't want to have the birth certificates that we needed mailed to us. Instead, we headed off to Nashville to pick them up in person.

Now, is where it REALLY gets interesting. When Casey was 21 he officially had his name changed to his mother's maiden name, since he hasn't had any contact with his father. When the court order was made, he changed his social security status and his driver's license. The court was supposed to handle everything else. No one told him that he was supposed to go and have his birth certificate changed. Luckily we figured since his birth certificate said one thing and his driver's license another, we had better have an official copy of the court order with us through all of this. When we got there and explained everything with the court order, they said that "technically" since his birth certificate had never been ammended, that he was not "legally" who he had said he was for the past 15 years! YIKES!! Talk about an identity crisis. Luckily, we were in the right place to get all of that fixed. We payed them some money and the ammendment was underway. Now, he has to drive back in today and pick up his new official copy of his birth certificate. They were so nice in the office there. They had us all fixed up in a matter of minutes. I did leave with my copy, so that's one down and one to go. WHEW!!

I guess that we really got lucky that I was told the incorrect information. Better now and get it ALL fixed, instead of having his passport denied and missing our trip. It made for a REALLY FRUSTRATING day though. We were a touch grumpy by the time we got home. Hopefully when we go to the passport office tomorrow, everything will go smoothly: at least I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Shingo Says Hello!!!

Here's a couple of shots of Shingo this past weekend.

Notice the nice confetti that Shingo and Molly made me this weekend. Maybe I should start giving them my old bills....hmmmm....

FDA Indicts Seven Associated With Pet Food Recall

On February 6th, the FDA indicted seven, which included a US based company, its CEO and its president associated with last year's pet food recall. The jist of the charges is that these individuals knowingly imported contaminated products to manufacture pet food.

"...for roles the parties played in a scheme to import products purported to be wheat gluten into the U.S. that were contaminated with melamine. These products were used to make pet food."

For more info and to read who indictments were handed down against, click HERE.

Moday, Monday

I had a fairly good weekend. This past week, I started a new workout program through work. I get to meet with a personal trainer once a week, a nutrionist, and a lifestyle coach. I also get to take all kinds of free exercise classes with my participation. I've signed up for a really good Yoga class, and I've also started a running program. I ran for the first time last week and really liked it. My trainer told me the first two weeks are the most difficult, so I'm half way there. The Yoga class is fantastic, and I'm really enjoying it. I've added these new workouts to my regular swimming routine. Hopefully after a few months, I'll see some more differences in my health and weight.

Yesterday, I volunteered at Bedford County Animal Control. They had a special adopion day yesterday. We adopted out a cat and a dog in three hours time. Aftewards, I just came home and tried my best to stay warm. Casey and I watched a movie and watched the Grammy Awards.

Today, I have my usual Monday fair in order: housecleaning, laundry, and errands. My Mondays always fly by. I just wish that I could lounge around all day today. I feel particularly unmotivated at the moment. Oh well. I guess I'd better go ahead and get moving......

UPDATE: Helping Animals Affected by TN Tornadoes

In case some of you don't read comments, I wanted to make sure that I shared this information with you. I got a really nice comment from Mr. John LoDuca from American Pet Cross about how the animals are being helped after the Tennessee tornadoes last week and requests for items needed:

Hi Sheryl,

I'm with the American Pet Cross www.americanpetcross.com and this week we've been collaborating with American Red Cross, the Executive Director from your state's Humane Society, the State Vet, DART volunteers and Purina to help out in your state.

As you'd mentioned, kennels, leashes and all other pet equipment and materials (even blankets) will be needed for the folks who have lost everything....

But what may come as a surprise to some of your readers is that what's of dire urgency is that we need hey and land to house all the displaced cattle right now. It's actually a big problem.

Please help us spread the word, we need some help with hey and land to house cattle.

PS Came across your blog and really like it!!!

Thanks

Jon LoDuca

American Pet Cross

Thanks Mr. LoDuca! I'm glad that you like the work I do here.

If anyone would like to help out, please contact any of the agencies listed above or The Nashville Humane Association at (615)352-1010. Also the Sumner County Humane Society is mobilizing to help displaced pets.

Sumner County Humane Society

16 Volunteer Drive

Hendersonville, TN 37075

(615) 822-0061

Shelters for displaced pets have also been set up at these northern Tennessee locations:

-Sumner County Animal Control (615) 452-2400

-White House Animal Control/Police Dept.(615) 672-4903

-Goodlettsville Animal Clinic (615) 859-1277

-Hillcrest Animal Clinic (615) 865-4413

-Metro Animal Clinic (615) 862-7928

Helping the Animals Affected By the TN Tornadoes

As you all know, many parts of middle Tennessee were greatly affected by the damaging tornadoes Tuesday night. While there are many agencies available to help the folks that lost homes and give them shelter, often their pets are overlooked. Displaced residents are not able to take their pets with them to the Red Cross shelters, which adds even more worry to their stressful situation. There are also all of the animals that were frightened and bolted, along with the injured. The Nashville Humane Association has stepped in to lend a hand to the affected families and animals of middle Tennessee. They are helping set up animal shelter locations, as well as collecting monetary and supply donations. Supplies consist of leashes, collars, crates, dog/cat beds, dog/cat food, cat litter, etc. If you would like to make a donation of any kind to help these families and their animals out, please contact:

The Nashville Humane Association at (615)352-1010 They will be happy to direct your call based on the type of donation.

This is a good time to remember to update or make your family and pet disaster plan. Click HERE for Disaster Preparedness tips from the American Humane Association.

Go Orange for Animals

This year, April 10th is the ASPCA's Go Orange for Animals Day. This event celebrates animal victories across the country and gives pet lovers a way to celebrate their pets. So GO ORANGE!!! Click the banner below to learn more or to get your very own orange gear.

The Raging Storms

We had some wild and wooly weather in Tennessee last night. We had, at last count, 12 fatalities and climbing, much devastation, 1 natural gas plant on fire, 1 college campus heavily damaged, folks trapped under a wall at a Memphis mall, 20 car pileups on the interstate, and LOTS of downed trees and power lines. Just check out the homepage of one of our local news stations and read about how much damage was done. Several of my blogger friends also live in the area. Could you guys just comment and let me know, if you're o.k. Also, anyone else that was in the path of these storms. I know they affected Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Arkansas. By the time the storms got to my area, they weren't as bad. We had lots of thunder and lightning, wind, rain, and hail. Damage was very minor, compared to what happened across the state. We're VERY lucky.

Now I'm sitting at work, desperately trying to stay awake. I didn't get in bed, until the storms blew through around 3:30 a.m. this morning. That totally sucks, because I get up at 5:00 a.m.!

Catching Up

I got so far behind last week, that I'm just now tunneling out. I haven't done a whole lot besides catch up and rest. It's amazing how illness can really take it out of you. I'm feeling MUCH better, but my stamina is still low. I took the last of the antibiotics yesterday. That always zaps my strength, so I think I should feel even better by the end of this week.

Other than digging out, Casey and I went over to a friend's house on Sunday to watch the SuperBowl and pig out on junk food. The food and friendship were both fantastic, and I have to say that I was pleased that the Giants won. I can't stand the Pats, so the outcome was good for me. Yesterday was a full housecleaning to get all of the sick out. I just felt like everything needed washing with Lysol. Last night, Casey and I had to go to a humane meeting. This year is the humane's 30th Anniversary, and we're planning a special reception. Casey is in charge of the food, so I basically went with him to play secretary.

Today, it's back to the old grind. I can't really complain. It's WAY better than last week. I'm also going to go swim this afternoon, if the stormy weather will cooperate. Until next time....

Lung Rot

I can't believe it's been an entire week, since I've posted. I've been at home suffering from bronchitis all week. I felt a little iffy last Friday, only to wake up Saturday and wish I were dead. By Saturday night, my fever had inched up over 102. I hate those little men and the baseball bats they used to beat me! It's been a long time, since I've been this sick. By Monday morning, I had had enough. Casey took the day off and ferried me to the Dr.'s office. I received some meds and by Tuesday, I was feeling a little better. The Dr. refused to let me come back to work until today. I am finally better, but I still have the lingering effects. The cough is finally better today too! Hopefully, I'm on the road to wellness.

Molly's Story

Last Monday night when I was at a humane meeting, I got the chance to talk with Molly's foster Mom. Every rescue dog has a story, and for some reason, I had not heard Molly's. This is what she told me. Molly was found locally as a small puppy. She belonged to a family, where nearly every member beat her. When they were done, they put her in a hole in the back yard to die. My wonderful humane lady went out there and got that precious puppy and took her to her foster Mom's house. Her foster Mom said that she was very shy, nervous, and skittish for about the first month she was there. Who could blame her, after what she went through. She finally settled in and began acting like a normal puppy should. She played with the other dogs and finally learned to trust humans again. Molly lived with her foster Mom, until she was nearly a year old. She had only been at the shelter about three weeks, when Casey and I met her. I immediately took to her, because she resembled Shingo so much. I mentioned her to Casey, but he threatened divorce if I considered bringing another puppy home. When it became obvious, several weeks later, that Shingo needed a playmate (since we were about to die from exhaustion), she was the obvious choice. The original plan was to get her for an afternoon to see how she did. As you all know, she's been with us ever since. I'm so glad that she's mine now, and that Casey and I can give her the kind of life she deserves.

Busy Today

WOW!! Today has really gotten away from me. I had meant to get a post ready about my newest addition, Molly's, rescue story. It broke my heart, when I first heard it on Monday night. I guess that will have to wait, until tomorrow. For now, I'll share this with you all.

I Adopted Your Dog Today

I adopted your dog today

The one you left at the pound

The one you had for seven years

and no longer wanted around.

I adopted your dog today

Do you know he's lost weight?

Do you know he's scared and depressed

and has lost all faith?

I adopted your dog today.

he had fleas and a cold,

but don't worry none.

You've unburdened your load.

I adopted your dog today.

Were you having a baby or moving away?

Did you suddenly develop allergies or was

there no reason he couldn't stay?

I adopted your dog today.

he doesn't play or eat much

He's very depressed, but

he will learn again to trust.

I adopted your dog today.

And here he will stay.

He's found his forever home

and a warm bed on which to lay.

I adopted your dog today.

And I will give him all that he could need.

Patience, love, security, and understanding.

Hopefully he will forget your selfish deed.

-Author Unknown

Stunned

I couldn't believe the news, when I heard that Heath Ledger had died yesterday. It's such a shame. He was SO young, with so much life ahead of him. Casey was just as shocked as I was. I'm not really into following the entertainment fluff that much, but he seemed so under the radar. You never really heard much negative press about him. I've heard different reports that he was sufferning from insomnia and anxiety, partly made worse by the working on the very dark Joker role in the Dark Knight movie. How true that is, I have no idea. I'm sure there will be LOTS more stories to circulate in the coming days. As I'm typing this, I'm sitting here looking at the HUGE A Knight's Tale poster that Kim and I have hanging in our office at work. It just makes me sad. One of my friends posted one of her favorite Heath moment's from 10 Things I Hate About You, but I'll always remember him like this:

Daily Musings

Well the snow and ice that were predicted for the third time in less than a week, never materialized. From this point forward, I think I'm just going to do it the old fashioned way: look out a window!

Casey and I had a nice, relaxing weekend. Saturday night, my mom fixed a big dinner for the whole family. She made homemade stew, along with her homemade cornbread. It was soooo yummy on such a cold night! On Sunday, we drove over to Franklin and just sort of shopped around. We didn't come home with much, but it was really nice to get out in the sunshine. Yesterday, we were just basically lumps. We watched a House Hunters marathon and just lounged. Not much got accomplished.

So, back at the regular routine today. I'm just trying to keep warm. I'm SOOO ready for spring! I'm ready for the warm, sunshin-ey days. What about you guys?

I got this in my inbox last week, and really wanted to share it with you all. It's a Rescuer's Prayer:

A Rescue Prayer

Now I lay me down to rest I pray my soul can stand this test Of watching critters lose their homes While owners gripe and cry and moan

I long for strength of spirit that They'll find a loving home again Where they will know a loving heart I can't do much, but it's a start

And spare me from the owner's pleas About the baby's allergies Or how they're moving out of state Or spitefulness 'tween cat and mate

Please keep me sane while dealing with The woman who bought as a gift A wriggling tiny ball of fluff That now is playing way too rough

Remind me I should bite my lip When confronted with "he grew too quick" "I didn't know he'd get so large" "He seems to think that he's in charge"

Protect my heart when I hear them say "I think we'll breed our dog one day" Sometimes I think it'll break in two; Each day brings trials harsh and new And if I die before I wake I pray one hopeless soul you'll take My tears are gone, my faith is bare Lord, please hear my rescue prayer. ~ Unknown

Bundle Up!

WOW!! It's cold out there. The temp is not actually all that bad at 31, but the wind chill makes it feel like 20. The temp is only supposed to drop for the rest of the day too! All of this cold and the snow that was predicted, totally missed us. If it's this cold, I really would like to have some snow with it, thank you! I think everything I'm wearing today is polar fleece. I even have polar fleece pants, which I cannot recommend highly enough! There's not much going on today, except trying to stay warm. I do have a good book, some Netflix movies, and Casey made a HUGE pot of chili last night. So, it looks like I'm set for the day. I think it may be just the day for a pile up on the couch with all the critters with a warm blanket. Hope you guys stay warm too! And as always, don't forget your outdoor furry friends during this cold weather. Click HERE for the ASPCA's Cold Weather Pet Tips.

Legislation

On January 14, 2008, Senator Tommy Kilby, of Tennessee, introduced Senate Bill 2738. SB2738 bans owning Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes of 50% or more in this state. Ownership would be classified as a Class A misdemeanor. Here is a snip of the bill:

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 14, relative to pit bull dogs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 2, is amended by adding the following new section thereto:

§ 39-14-215. (a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Own" means to harbor, keep or exercise control over the dog, and "owner" means a person who, at the time of the offense, regularly harbors, keeps or exercises control over the dog; (2) "Pit bull dog" means any pit bull terrier; and (3) "Pit bull terrier" means any American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American bulldog or American Staffordshire terrier breed of dog or any mixed breed of dog which contains as fifty percent (50%) of its breeding the breed of American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American bulldog or American Staffordshire terrier, so as to be identifiable as partially of the breed American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American bulldog or American Staffordshire terrier. (b) It is an offense for any person to knowingly own a pit bull dog in this state. (c) A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

To view the legislative action on this bill so far, click HERE. To view the bill in it's entirety, click HERE. I think people are quick to ban the Pit Bull. We've all heard the stories. Heck, even our "spare dog" was attacked by a Pit Bull, but I refuse to judge an entire breed by the actions of a few. I KNOW there a good, well-mannered Pits out there. I've even seen one in action at work. He works as a special assistance dog for a disabled patron. He's wonderfully sweet, and he does his job well. I really think that Tennessee should look at Dangerous Dog legislation, instead of breed banning legislation. They should hold the owners of dangerous dogs accountable, instead of dooming thousands of innocent dogs.

Also, the bill proposes the surrender of the illegal Pits to the humane associations, but provides no funding for the enforcement or care of these animals to the humane associations. We all know these organizations are VERY overworked and undercrowded. This bill essentially shifts the responsibility and manpower to these organizations, and it isn't right. I believe they are taking as someone close to me says, "a shotgun approach, when a rifle would do a better job", approach. I feel this law would only punish the owners that do what they are supposed to in the first place. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't feel this legislation is well thought out at all.

To all of my friends in Tennessee, we can't let this happen. Let's instead push for Dangerous Dog legislation that is enforceable. To find out who your reps are and how to contact them, click HERE.

First Snow

We saw our first snow of the season late yesterday afternoon. Casey and I had some errands to run, so we were out and about when it started to fall. It was that pretty kind of snow; thick and wet that sticks to everything. No matter how old I get, that first now is always exciting. I guess it brings out the little kid in all of us. Casey and I had planned on dropping by the grocery to pick up a few things. When the snow started falling, we decided against it. We just didn't need that kind of crazy to finish our day.

It was snowing hard by the time we got home. We just couldn't wait to let the dogs out in it. Fergie loves the snow. Shiloh, well not so much. Bear was the biggest snow dog. He always loved to plow right through it with his nose to the ground. He was our personal little snow plow. I was curious to see how the puppies would react. It seems that neither rain nor snow stop either of them. It made them both frisky. They really seemed to enjoy themselves. I had really wanted to get pictures of them out in the snow with their sweaters on today, but by bedtime last night all of the snow had turned to rain. Boo! It looks like I'll have to wait until next time. I may not have to wait very long. There are several chances of snow in the forcast for the next week!

Frustration

Casey and I spent the better part of the afternoon yesterday in frustration. Our tub was clogged again! Luckily, everything else was draining. We decided not to wait until everything was overflowing and went ahead and called the plumber for reinforcements. He met us afterwork yesterday. After a few minutes, he came back to say that everything was clear. We took a look at the tub, and there was still water standing in it. He came inside and looked at it. He asked if we had a plunger. He plunged twice and the water started moving. It's nice to know that we're too stupid to do a thrity second job. My new motto before calling the plumber now is: When in doubt, plunge it out!!

Today's Funny

Casey and I went out for lunch today. We just needed a break from work. We ended up at Zaxby's. They have all that stuff on the wall, like a lot of restaurants do. We sat at a booth with an old scan of NY Times advertisements from 1919. We saw an advertisement for "...beautiful, creamy blouses of extreme daintiness". I nearly spit my tea all over the table, when Casey said that sounds like some blocking spell that you would use in Dungeons and Dragons or a role playing game! So, in our lunchtime boredom we started casting spells using our "blouses of extreme daintiness". Yeah, we were bored.