Thinking of Our Shelby Dog

Golden Oldie
(music: Heather T. Strong & lyrics: Kate Connick)

The calendar betrays my dog.
So cruel in its measures.
Old timers, few and far between;
Golden oldies are real treasures.

Eyes have gotten cloudy.
Legs, now stiff and slow.
Her pretty silver muzzle
Shimmers like the snow.
She doesn't have much longer,
But she doesn't know.
She doesn't have much longer,
But she doesn't know.

Fetch the paper. Fetch the ball.
Youth can't be retrieved.
Heart is willing, spirit strong.
But time won't be deceived.
It marches on and takes its toll
The wounded heart will grieve.

So many lost too early,
Felled while in their prime.
So lucky, I, to have been blessed
With precious, borrowed time.
She rests beside me on the floor.
This golden dog, I do adore.
Thirteen years, but I want more.
Thirteen years, but I want more.

Fetch the paper. Fetch the ball.
Youth can't be retrieved.
Heart is willing, spirit strong.
But time won't be deceived.
It marches on and takes its toll
The wounded heart will grieve.

This golden dog has come to be
An essential part of me.
The day will come to say goodbye.
I'll curse the gods and ask them why.
If only time could be denied.
If only time could be denied.

Fetch the paper. Fetch the ball.
Youth can't be retrieved.
Heart is willing, spirit strong.
But time won't be deceived.
It marches on and takes its toll
The wounded heart will grieve.
Until it catches up to us,
We will not concede.
Until it catches up to us,
We will not concede.

For anyone who's ever loved and lost a pet, I apologize for bringing tears to your eyes. Just love the ones you have while you have them and appreciate each and every day you can. Same goes for people too.

You can listen to the song here: Golden Oldie

Sammy Sighs

I haven't posted in a long time. Things are good. Halloween is coming up and I know that Mom is going to want me to wear my stupid Halloween shirt. I don't want to, so I am planning to hide away in my favorite closet. Who wants to look stupid? Well, I guess Silly Sissy does. Here is Sissy in her stupid embarrassing dumb Halloween dress.
Little Miss Bossy Butt looks pretty ridiculous, don't ya think?

Signing off,
Sammy

Life is Good?

You know those "Life is Good" shirts? I have always liked them. I had one I really liked with dogs on it (go figure) and I tore it last week when I fell down the stairs with the laundry. So, I have been kinda whining about it. When S and I were at the gas station from hell in Grand Island, I saw these "Life is Crap" shirts. I may like them even better than Life is Good. Maybe that just reflects my recent mood. But, I found them online. Here are a couple favs:

You can view their tshirts and other things at: Life is Crap Shop

Must Have?

In the gas station from hell (see my previous post), I saw these wine glasses. I thought they were totally great and would actually hold a good amount of wine...but they seemed too pricey, so I just took a photo. There were two other ones, as well, but I didn't take the photos of the rest...

A Full Brain

I have been busy learning this week. On Tuesday my friend, S, and I headed to Grand Island for a technology conference. It is always fun traveling and visiting with S. So, that was good. And, the conference was great, it really was! We left Grand Island on Wednesday just as the storm was coming in...it had been raining for two days, and was now sleet, snow and wind, with the rain. I got out to get gas and OMG what a time. Besides the weather, I slid in the school credit card, and after three tries, had to go in and see the clerk. I think it was too cold to work right. Well, anyway, I took my frozen wet body inside and she reset the pump, and out I went again. I still had loads of trouble getting that stupid pump to work. By the time I got the gas in, I was a frozen, wet mess. But, we did finally get gas. Then I got a hot cappucino in there to warm up which tasted horrible. So, I was not happy with that gas station! We made it home fine, the weather cleared along the way except for the hurricane type wind. Then, Thursday I had a "data quality" conference in Scottsbluff, with R, from work. It was also a really great conference. So, I learned a lot this week and accomplished not too much at work. We have today off for fall break. I thought about going to work, but, hey, I'm tired and I WANT fall break!

Birthday Party

We attended Chloe's birthday party on Saturday. She was so cute and excited. We are still reeling from the fact that she is already five!

View more photos here: Chloes' Birthday Party.

Ouch

I fell down the basement stairs today carrying the laundry basket. I have hurts everywhere!

Today I was the clumsy dwarf.....

No Words

Nothing to Say.
I like this picture.

She is FIVE!

Oh, my gosh, our little girl turns five today.

Happy Birthday, ChloeBean!
We Love You!

So True...

I read this post on The Homesteading Housewife's blog, and it just made me laugh...thought I'd share...


You seriously expect me to believe that the big fat D on your report card was one of the highest grades in the class?? Everyone is failing? I should be proud of the D?? Really?
The Teacher is THAT bad? Wow!
I'm thinkin I should bake you some cookies to celebrate your accomplishment!
Or.. perhaps I should ground you and take away your phone like we agreed upon.
Decisions, Decisions.

Yes, I'm sorry to break it to you.. Even if you swear to never use the bathroom in this house again, you still have to clean the toilet when it's your day to do the bathroom...
nice try tho, and I am impressed with your creativity.
Are you really sure tromping through the woods , digging a hole, and pooping out there really that much easier than cleaning the toilet once a week?

Ummm yes, as a matter of fact, when you get grounded for getting that D on your report card, I will not let you drive. Sucks huh?
It's simple really.... S-T-U-D-Y!

Yes I'm sure he farted.. thank you for sharing... I can now sleep soundly with this knowledge.

You can shoot a basketball in the hoop, you can throw a football through a tire, you can get a ball in the pocket on the pool table, you can hit a bulls eye on the dart board, you can catch tossed popcorn with your mouth...
Why oh why can't you hit the toilet more accurately???
huh?? WHY????

I don't care if your hair is shorter after your hair cut. It still needs to be washed every day.. deal with it.

Yes, I know that you are the only child in the world who wasn't allowed to go to the homecoming football game without a parent with them.
I'm mean....
My sole purpose in life is to make you miserable.
I lay awake at night thinking of new ways to ruin your life.
It's working?
whoo hoo! Success!

I love you....
Mom

Saturday's Happenings

I had a fairly productive Saturday. I got up, cleaned the ceiling fans...since we turned them off (due to brr cold weather setting in), I noticed that they were awfully dirty. YUK. Then, I had to vacuum again ( I already did that yesterday) after getting the fifty or so pounds of dirt off of the ceiling fans. I did a few loads of laundry, picked up stuff, etc. I took time out to have coffee and visit with my friend, M, whom I miss very much since my transfer to a new building this year. Even though we see each other here and there, I miss the everyday banter we always had. :0( I also pulled my cucumber and pumpkin vines, cleaned that all up outside.

I decided it was so cool and damp I would make "caldo" (soup that my mother in law makes). It is kinda a vegetable beef soup..her secret is to cut the meat and veggies in BIG chunks, so it is a meal. So, called her for direction, and did that. It turned out pretty good, even if my chunks still weren't as big as hers. I put in chunks of roast, which you cook a while first (cover completely with water and throw in a handful of rice). Then you skim the foam off and throw in your veggies, carrots, onion, potatoes, celery, cabbage and whatever else (zuchini is good in there) and cook that (of course, season, too).

Just remember, BIG CHUNKS! You serve this with vermicelli (you brown this lightly, drain off, add onion, then water and some tomato and cook. I add some garlic salt.

I also made homemade tortillas. I was proud because they all turned out fairly uniform in size and tasted pretty good.

Of course, we have at least one more (or more meals) because I don't know how to make a small batch of caldo. My daughter ate with us, but that is a BIG POT for three people! (It was only half full!)

Did some other chores today, too. Always plenty of those to do. I also worked a little bit on the webpage for work.

OH, and we caught the movie "August Rush" finally on tv tonight.
I just loved it... that kid was so darn cute, and it was just a good movie.

Sammy Sighs

Here we are...

Savvy Sammy and Silly Sissy (aka Little Miss Bossy Butt)

Lost again?

You may remember that I have no sense of direction. Well, on my recent trip to Kearney, there were five of us in the van. On the way home, K asked me to drive from the rest stop along the way to home. I said, sure, but I don't know the way. I figure it's best to give that disclaimer right up front. Oh, no problem, everyone said. We'll tell you where to turn. Guess they forgot, as I missed the first two turns off of the interstate. Luckily someone noticed in time for the third turn.

Hey, I said I didn't know my way.

Surprise Gift

Yesterday, in our inner-school mail, I got a surprise gift! One of the gals at one of the offices here made me these dishcloths! I have never had any quite like this, but they are made out of 100% cotton yarn, and are wonderful! It is so nice to get a surprise! Thanks, J.

Sammy Sighs

Hi. I have decided to change Silly Sissy's name to Little Miss Bossy Butt.

Everytime she wants her way, she looks at me and barks. If I am on Mom's lap, she wants there. If I am on the dog bed or couch, she wants there. If I have a ball, she wants it. No matter what I am doing, she thinks she has to take over and boss me around.

Little Miss Bossy Butt. That is Sissy.

Well...

Gees, did you guys check out that link I gave you yesterday from one of my favorite blogs (Mental Pause Mamas' blog)? It scared the bajeezers out of me. How about you?

Sorry! I couldn't resist!

How was your weekend? Mine was spent doing chores and cleaning closets and drawers. I was busy the whole weekend, which helped pass the time.

Do you remember the posts I wrote last year about cleaning leaves off the lawn? (See here: Leaves )
Well, here we go again this year.

Here is a picture of the pumpkins that Brooklyn planted this summer. There are a lot, but they are all small (about this size)...so cute! I hope he gets to come to North Platte for Chloe Bean's birthday. I'll take them both some pumpkins to decorate!

Check this out

Check this out from one of my favorite blogs that I read: (Make sure you have the volume turned up!)

http://thementalpausechronicles.blogspot.com/2008/10/borrowed-from-dooce.html

I'll write more about it tomorrow.

Fat Feet

My feet have been swelling a lot. That not only makes it hard to wear shoes, but it can be painful. I have been trying to make sure that Sissy, Sammy and I get a daily walk in, so I put my tennis shoes on and go, but even those hurt badly by the time I get home. I did some research and hormone replacements can cause swelling. So can arthritis. So there are two strikes against me. I went tonight and got some Diurex to see if it will help. I have been trying to forego any salt as well. So, my feet are hurting and fat.


I looked up foot massagers. I found this one...it is "calf and foot massager"....hmm....quite a contraption, don't ya think?

Sammy Sighs

Here is what three yorkies being bribed to sit still (Silly Sissy isn't sitting, you see...) by Tina.

See how nicely I sit. Sophie does too.

Stupid TV

I was all geared up to watch the opening episode of CSI tonight. Then, realized the Vice Presidential Debate was on. Sorry if I seem unpatriotic, but that sucks. I was really disappointed.

ER-The Final Season

Well, last week, ER started out with a tear jerking start to their final year.

I bawled. Not just tears from the corners of my eyes, but sobs.

Maybe it was the mood I was in, but it was just... sad.I think I read that this was the 14th season? And, there have been a lot of emotions during that 14 years of my faithful watching.

Have any of the season premieres affected you? Do you have a fav?

Road Trip Update

Our trip to Kearney was good. I enjoyed the workshop and the networking with fellow technology people across the state.

Since we were only there one night, we only ate out the one meal on Tuesday night. We had a wonderful morning breakfast at the motel and they fed us a great lunch at the workshop.

We ate at Skeeter Barnes on Tuesday night. My friend, S, and I thought we'd just have a small appetizer plate since we were not that hungry.

OMG...talk about embarrassing? Do these look like "just a little appetizer plate" to you? Our co-traveler, A, said that she used to fed her pigs in troughs like these. Knowing that didn't help much!

Geezers.

We didn't have dessert.