Saturday, April 26, 2008
(non)Devilish Dreams
Every time I vacuum with my imPOSsibly lethargic Dirt Devil, I dream of the Dyson Absolute Animal DC17!!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Trauma, drama and shoes!
I absolutely love this weather! It's gorgeous!! Kinda makes me wish I had a laptop so that I could do my online stuff outside (but not badly enough to put "laptop" on my list).
This morning I took Jill to the vet, and she feels absolutely traumatized! She already gets stressed once she recognizes the waiting room, but today was more involved than usual. First she had blood drawn from one leg for routine checkup tests, but when the vet was concerned about her crazy weight loss (she's lost 30 lbs since her last visit) we had to have more drawn from the other leg for some more extensive testing. Poor thing. The vet told Jill she lost a whole dog's worth of weight! Even I hadn't realized how much she had lost and was surprised when the scale said 73-- she's supposed to be in the mid-90's. We also have a small tumor on her eyelid which, for now, isn't a problem but might get removed later on. Budgetarily that is out of the question until June, so I have time to mull it over and plan accordingly.
Speaking of June (my most favorite month of the year!),
one of my friends and I decided to sign up for the training program for the Charlottesville Women's 4-Miler in late August. It starts on Saturday, June 14 and goes for the next 12 weeks. Several years ago I had started to do it with my sister-in-law Kim, but at that time I was never awake at a reasonable time, so getting my tush in town by 7:45 wasn't something I was ready to do each week! Kim kept with it and ran the whole 4 miles by race day!! So we'll see how it goes. But, if our plans work out neither of us will be here for the actual race--we're planning to go to the beach with several other friends that Labor Day weekend!!
OH--went shopping yesterday with another friend from work. I was on a shoe hunting mission. I wanted cute espadrilles and new boat shoes. I found and acquired both! :) My espadrilles are cute blue/white nautical stripes with a peekaboo toe, and my boat shoes are plain brown. My mom will tell you that those are the best, but I used to have a light blue pair which I wore almost daily and absolutely loved!! While these new ones are nice, they aren't as fun as my blue ones. I finally made myself acknowledge that they no longer make the blue ones, so I just have to get over them!!
Anyhow, I love you all, but I am going outside now!!
This morning I took Jill to the vet, and she feels absolutely traumatized! She already gets stressed once she recognizes the waiting room, but today was more involved than usual. First she had blood drawn from one leg for routine checkup tests, but when the vet was concerned about her crazy weight loss (she's lost 30 lbs since her last visit) we had to have more drawn from the other leg for some more extensive testing. Poor thing. The vet told Jill she lost a whole dog's worth of weight! Even I hadn't realized how much she had lost and was surprised when the scale said 73-- she's supposed to be in the mid-90's. We also have a small tumor on her eyelid which, for now, isn't a problem but might get removed later on. Budgetarily that is out of the question until June, so I have time to mull it over and plan accordingly.
Speaking of June (my most favorite month of the year!),
one of my friends and I decided to sign up for the training program for the Charlottesville Women's 4-Miler in late August. It starts on Saturday, June 14 and goes for the next 12 weeks. Several years ago I had started to do it with my sister-in-law Kim, but at that time I was never awake at a reasonable time, so getting my tush in town by 7:45 wasn't something I was ready to do each week! Kim kept with it and ran the whole 4 miles by race day!! So we'll see how it goes. But, if our plans work out neither of us will be here for the actual race--we're planning to go to the beach with several other friends that Labor Day weekend!!OH--went shopping yesterday with another friend from work. I was on a shoe hunting mission. I wanted cute espadrilles and new boat shoes. I found and acquired both! :) My espadrilles are cute blue/white nautical stripes with a peekaboo toe, and my boat shoes are plain brown. My mom will tell you that those are the best, but I used to have a light blue pair which I wore almost daily and absolutely loved!! While these new ones are nice, they aren't as fun as my blue ones. I finally made myself acknowledge that they no longer make the blue ones, so I just have to get over them!!
Anyhow, I love you all, but I am going outside now!!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
I have friends who RUN!!
This morning I awoke rejoicing in the fact that it was yet another day off! Yea!!
After enjoying (well, trying--I'm weaning myself off my scrumptious creamer, yikes!!) my morning coffee and checking email (too early since I missed some, and to you I say, "ME TOO!"), I got ready to meet Sue and her friend Susan for lunch. They both drove down from DC to run the Charlottesville (half) Marathon. I believe they both finished around 2:10 or so!! Way to go, guys! Anyhow, we had an enjoyable lunch and a lot of laughs. After lunch they both headed back to NoVa as: Sue has a soccer game in the AM and Susan is running a 10K!! WOW!!
With the gorgeous sunshine and teasing breeze I decided to finish mowing. I felt so bad while I was mowing, because it was pretty dusty in some spots and the clouds drifted across the street to my neighbor's house. Oh well...it can't really be helped, right?
Anyhoo, back to work tomorrow. wahoo...
OH--but before I go...I have to get my stuff ready for work and pack up my gym bag. These past couple of days I was thinking about how nice it would have been to go for a bike ride. My dad really got me hooked, I think. I might have to do something about that. I know, I'll put it on my list!! LOL
After enjoying (well, trying--I'm weaning myself off my scrumptious creamer, yikes!!) my morning coffee and checking email (too early since I missed some, and to you I say, "ME TOO!"), I got ready to meet Sue and her friend Susan for lunch. They both drove down from DC to run the Charlottesville (half) Marathon. I believe they both finished around 2:10 or so!! Way to go, guys! Anyhow, we had an enjoyable lunch and a lot of laughs. After lunch they both headed back to NoVa as: Sue has a soccer game in the AM and Susan is running a 10K!! WOW!!
With the gorgeous sunshine and teasing breeze I decided to finish mowing. I felt so bad while I was mowing, because it was pretty dusty in some spots and the clouds drifted across the street to my neighbor's house. Oh well...it can't really be helped, right?
Anyhoo, back to work tomorrow. wahoo...
OH--but before I go...I have to get my stuff ready for work and pack up my gym bag. These past couple of days I was thinking about how nice it would have been to go for a bike ride. My dad really got me hooked, I think. I might have to do something about that. I know, I'll put it on my list!! LOL
Friday, April 18, 2008
Kicked Murphy to the curb!
All is right in the world once again.
Shane called, and as one of the few who can tell immediately if I'm not okay, asked what was wrong. So I told him about the mower. He had the same answer as both Phil and my dad, but he came over to check it out! It was one of the safety switches that went bad. Shane fixed it and I mostly finished my yard. I at least have enough done so that it doesn't look ridiculous, and if it rains like it's supposed to, I won't be upset that more didn't get done. Who knows if I just made any sense.
So, that makes up for most of the crummy things that happened earlier (there were more), and all is in harmony once again, and all are forgiven as usual. :-)
Shane called, and as one of the few who can tell immediately if I'm not okay, asked what was wrong. So I told him about the mower. He had the same answer as both Phil and my dad, but he came over to check it out! It was one of the safety switches that went bad. Shane fixed it and I mostly finished my yard. I at least have enough done so that it doesn't look ridiculous, and if it rains like it's supposed to, I won't be upset that more didn't get done. Who knows if I just made any sense.
So, that makes up for most of the crummy things that happened earlier (there were more), and all is in harmony once again, and all are forgiven as usual. :-)
My affair with Murphy's Law
Ever have one of those days?
I had this plan, see, to get all sorts of things done--mainly mow the yard. I get the mower out of the shed, I engage the blades and off I go! Well, I get about 30 minutes into it and the mower starts to die. Thinking it's a low gas issue, I run down the road to fill up the 5 gal gas tank, and $15 later find out that the mower had a nearly full tank of gas!! So I try starting it up again and *crack* it backfires, scaring the daylights out of me. Now I'm worried, and I know nothing about engines or mowers or whatnot. I call Phil: voicemail. I call Dad: voicemail. So now what?
Phil calls back shortly thereafter. We talk about a couple of things, and his best guess is that one of the safety features is malfunctioning. Well that's just great. So I now have a mowed slash through my yard and no way to finish and no immediate hope of having the rest mowed. I push the mower back towards the shed and, well, try to get over it. (obviously not doing so well!)
So I decide to wash my car. That, at least, goes ok. Then I figure I should probably water the plants. I put the spray nozzle on, turn the hose back on and find myself soaking wet! The spray nozzle has reached the end of its lifespan and thanked me by cracking on the side allowing the pressurized water to hug me--how sweet.
I'm now a little peeved, so I don't care how many more things are on my list, I am not doing a single thing more! I get my chair out of the shed and plop right in the middle of my unmowed yard and read. While I'm reading a friend calls. Why do people ask you how you are and how your day went if they don't really want to hear the answer? I'm not even sure they noticed the fact that I said my mower died.
Anyway, any single event that happened today would generally bug me and nothing more, but the compilation of them all...that's a different story. I've decided Murphy loves me.
As an unrelated aside, I'm taking off the National Geographic daily photo thing. They have such fabulous pictures, but they seem to be keeping them in the vault as I've only seen one that I've liked so far. Oh well....
I had this plan, see, to get all sorts of things done--mainly mow the yard. I get the mower out of the shed, I engage the blades and off I go! Well, I get about 30 minutes into it and the mower starts to die. Thinking it's a low gas issue, I run down the road to fill up the 5 gal gas tank, and $15 later find out that the mower had a nearly full tank of gas!! So I try starting it up again and *crack* it backfires, scaring the daylights out of me. Now I'm worried, and I know nothing about engines or mowers or whatnot. I call Phil: voicemail. I call Dad: voicemail. So now what?
Phil calls back shortly thereafter. We talk about a couple of things, and his best guess is that one of the safety features is malfunctioning. Well that's just great. So I now have a mowed slash through my yard and no way to finish and no immediate hope of having the rest mowed. I push the mower back towards the shed and, well, try to get over it. (obviously not doing so well!)
So I decide to wash my car. That, at least, goes ok. Then I figure I should probably water the plants. I put the spray nozzle on, turn the hose back on and find myself soaking wet! The spray nozzle has reached the end of its lifespan and thanked me by cracking on the side allowing the pressurized water to hug me--how sweet.
I'm now a little peeved, so I don't care how many more things are on my list, I am not doing a single thing more! I get my chair out of the shed and plop right in the middle of my unmowed yard and read. While I'm reading a friend calls. Why do people ask you how you are and how your day went if they don't really want to hear the answer? I'm not even sure they noticed the fact that I said my mower died.
Anyway, any single event that happened today would generally bug me and nothing more, but the compilation of them all...that's a different story. I've decided Murphy loves me.
As an unrelated aside, I'm taking off the National Geographic daily photo thing. They have such fabulous pictures, but they seem to be keeping them in the vault as I've only seen one that I've liked so far. Oh well....
Ahhhh, alone....
Alas, solitude.
My parents left yesterday, and today is the first day I've woken up to...nothing. Not that I don't enjoy their stays, but as I've told them, I am ready for them to live 20 minutes away, not 20 feet! But now that they're gone and Mom no longer cooks dinner, I had to run to the grocery store yesterday for supplies.
After Office Depot and Target (for Jill food), but before Harris Teeter and perishables, I called Phil to see if he wanted to meet for coffee. Once again he was busy with that whole work thing, but was concerned that I was lost, seeing as how I was not just in town but on the northside! Smart-alec.
BTW, I love this Harris Teeter. There is another one in Cville, but it's a bit too UVA for me. This one is more grown up and is the friendliest grocery store I have ever been to. The first time I went I thought it was a fluke, but it wasn't!! They may be slightly pricier than other places, but the whole atmosphere makes it worth it. Also they sell my favorite Kashi items that I could only find at Whole Food, which I find to be the least friendly store I have EVER been to. So much for liberals being tolerant and understanding!! HA! Anyway, the only thing I won't buy at HT is dog food--it's about $3 more per bag there than anyplace else; plus Target is on the other side of the parking lot!
Anyhoo, having run my errands yesterday, I find myself with an entire to day to myself! I'm giving consideration to mowing (again), but might simply sit outside on the porch with my dog and enjoy the peace. Even before my dad put up the birdfeeder for me, there were a ton of birds around, and this time of year they're all talking to each other and it sounds wonderful!
Time to go outisde!!
My parents left yesterday, and today is the first day I've woken up to...nothing. Not that I don't enjoy their stays, but as I've told them, I am ready for them to live 20 minutes away, not 20 feet! But now that they're gone and Mom no longer cooks dinner, I had to run to the grocery store yesterday for supplies.
After Office Depot and Target (for Jill food), but before Harris Teeter and perishables, I called Phil to see if he wanted to meet for coffee. Once again he was busy with that whole work thing, but was concerned that I was lost, seeing as how I was not just in town but on the northside! Smart-alec.
BTW, I love this Harris Teeter. There is another one in Cville, but it's a bit too UVA for me. This one is more grown up and is the friendliest grocery store I have ever been to. The first time I went I thought it was a fluke, but it wasn't!! They may be slightly pricier than other places, but the whole atmosphere makes it worth it. Also they sell my favorite Kashi items that I could only find at Whole Food, which I find to be the least friendly store I have EVER been to. So much for liberals being tolerant and understanding!! HA! Anyway, the only thing I won't buy at HT is dog food--it's about $3 more per bag there than anyplace else; plus Target is on the other side of the parking lot!
Anyhoo, having run my errands yesterday, I find myself with an entire to day to myself! I'm giving consideration to mowing (again), but might simply sit outside on the porch with my dog and enjoy the peace. Even before my dad put up the birdfeeder for me, there were a ton of birds around, and this time of year they're all talking to each other and it sounds wonderful!
Time to go outisde!!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Home, hounds and lifelong friends
The first of which is my nephew PJ had his 17th birthday on Friday!! Happy Birthday PJ!
Thinking it was going to storm and rain and be miserable all weekend, we had a mad dash of yardwork last Friday. My mom re-edged all the plant beds around the house, I mowed the whole yard, and Dad...I forget what he did, but he did stuff I can't do and I know it required a trip to the hardware store. I'll remember shortly after I hit the 'post' button, of course. OH--he did set up a bird feeder for me. I have tons of birds around my house and quite the variety I must say. Now it's hanging out behind my house where I can see it from my kitchen window and my car can be spared the extra...decorations!
Anyway, I think it drizzled, but that would be about it. But after I mowed, my dear, sweet but smelly pooch got her first bath of the season, and WOW was it overdue! Now she smells much better, and is cuddly soft (just like a Snuggle commercial) but she is shedding like CRAZY now! All of her undercoat was loosened up, and brushing her every couple of hours still can't stay on top of the fluff-factory.
Saturday day was spent inside doing the indoor chores, and then my parents and I drove up to Fredericksburg to meet Sue for an early dinner. My parents absolutely love Sue and were thrilled to get to see her again. We had a wonderful dinner and a great time! While my parents are leaving Thursday, I'll see Sue again this weekend as she's coming to Charlottesville to run in the Charlottesville Half-Marathon. I'm having problems with my picture program, but once I get it working I'll post a pic of Sue & dear ole Mom & Dad!
BTW, you know what I need? A sweet, whimsical wind chime....
Spontaneity
So, can one make a spontaneous statement, yet choose words carefully, or does the pondering of prose void the impulsiveness that defines spontaneity?
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Rearrange, rejoice and...ponder
Part of Spring Cleaning involved rearranging 'stuff'. On Friday that's what I decided to do. I moved my desk and file cabinets into the living room! It looks wonderful!! Of course, doing this required moving several pieces in the living room. I've found a temporary home for my tea cart, but I haven't found the right spot just yet, and the recliner is getting ready to go to my brother's house since he said he'd like it. Maybe, just maybe, my second bedroom will be a guest room yet!
In the momentum of 'playing' I lost track of time and was almost late for dinner with my friends. Despite a late start, I was still the second one to arrive! Our celebration was for Liz's birthday. We had a great time at dinner and then went out on the downtown mall where we met up with some other friends. I'll have to download Liz's birthday picture to post on Monday, her actual birthday.
Now, this morning I spied more than a handful of dandelions showing their cheery faces in my yard. I know they weren't here yesterday. Is this why I mowed the yard, so they could have full access to the sunlight and embark on a photosynthesis fun-fest????? I guess it's too late for the pre-emergent...
In the momentum of 'playing' I lost track of time and was almost late for dinner with my friends. Despite a late start, I was still the second one to arrive! Our celebration was for Liz's birthday. We had a great time at dinner and then went out on the downtown mall where we met up with some other friends. I'll have to download Liz's birthday picture to post on Monday, her actual birthday.
Now, this morning I spied more than a handful of dandelions showing their cheery faces in my yard. I know they weren't here yesterday. Is this why I mowed the yard, so they could have full access to the sunlight and embark on a photosynthesis fun-fest????? I guess it's too late for the pre-emergent...
Thursday, April 3, 2008
New "Gadget"
I've added to the right the "National Geographic Picture of the Day". We'll see how this works. I might not leave it up for long...not really a fan of today's picture. For the most part I think their photos are amazing so I'll give it a shot. Hope you enjoy!!
Preparing for April Showers
Yesterday I did the first mow of the season. While there wasn't so much grass that needed to be cut, I had a lot of those onion things all over, and they made my yard look scraggly. I decided somewhat spur-of-the-moment to mow a bit after 6. Once I got started, why stop? I did most of the property and finished around 8:20 when I could no longer see! When I checked this morning, it all looks ok. While I enjoy mowing now, later on in the summer I will be whining about it, I guarantee!!
Today I had planned on cleaning, and doing laundry, and all that other housekeeping fun. I've not made much progress. Actually, none! Today is a good day to do it, though, since it's dreary outside (and not the cozy way that I like, but cold and wet).
Ever have a moment when you saw something in a new way, and thought, "Wow, that's mine!" or "That really is beautiful"? I had one of those yesterday. I think it's neat to see something the way you did the first time and remember what drew you to it in the first place.
Today I had planned on cleaning, and doing laundry, and all that other housekeeping fun. I've not made much progress. Actually, none! Today is a good day to do it, though, since it's dreary outside (and not the cozy way that I like, but cold and wet).
Ever have a moment when you saw something in a new way, and thought, "Wow, that's mine!" or "That really is beautiful"? I had one of those yesterday. I think it's neat to see something the way you did the first time and remember what drew you to it in the first place.
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