PSA: Air Pollution

If you just so happen to be eating shrimp alfredo fettuccine
and can't finish it,

do not,
I repeat DO NOT allow this

or this


to finish it for you.

The next morning, while sitting on the couch, one sitting on either side of you, you will become W I D E awake and will not need to curl your hair for the day. You will bolt off the couch at a speed unmeasurable to mankind.

The double whammy of gas, motivated me to get showered and out of the house this morning ASAP. I can only imagine what I'll come home too. First, I'll be stopping at the store for industrial strength air freshener.

Patience

I put up the tree.

That's no longer one of my favorite things about the holidays.

It was fun when my kids were young because it represented Santa's impending arrival. It was the showcase for their handmade ornaments throughout the years. I have good memories from those days and it was great times spent together. The huge tree was always decorated with most ornaments placed no higher than little hands, stepping on tippy toes could reach. The weighted branches hung low.

Still, even though they are all grown up, the tree comes out each year.

Last year the thought exhausted me. Because of the size, it takes two days to accomplish this feat. So, instead of my traditional tree, I bought a prelit, smaller one.

Instead of the years of collected handmade and Hallmark ornaments, I bought boxes of red and gold glass balls. I kept it simple. No bows or ribbons. Just a few gold curling accent twigs. The tree went up in less than two hours.

This year, I did the same thing. Except I had Bently and Quinn following my every move.

When I was done, I tried to get them to pose in front of the tree.

Quinn has selective hearing. He's old and probably flips me off in his mind several times a day. He was not going to pose with a tree or with his huge house mate.

Ben, on the other hand, is just a little over 2 years old and is still eager to please. Also, he will do just about anything for dog treats. He listens quite well and is patient with my effort.

So here's our attempt.

I called him over to the tree.

He sat, just as I asked.

I came closer, realized the flash shouldn't be on.
I told him to still sit there.
He sat.

"Crap, stay there Ben, this one is so blurry."
The tree is on one of those spinning bases.
Not happy, but he sat.

Still blurry, I think it's the spinning base.
"Stay there Ben." And he did.

"Ben ... hey where ya going?"
"Give me a few more tries!"

I give up, this is as good as it's going to get!

Bently held his patience with me for about 10 minutes.
That's longer than I could, trying to figure out the camera.

Emptied Camera

Like quite a few of the blogs I read, this blogger is lacking for subject lately. I emptied my camera just now and figured I'd share these random shots:

This past Sunday, my great niece K ...

... and her sister Little B in awe of her big sisters talents!

Lola got some "hand me downs" from a friend:

( Polo baby!)

And Lola loves her "brother" Puma:

My poor Quinn, his cataracts glare in all his photos:

I tried to capture a photo of Bently smiling:

So yeah, that's all I got for today. I guess with all the negative things in the news, I'm pretty lucky that I am leading a dull life ..... for now.

Quinn, Bently, Lola

The "GrandDawgs" were together yesterday.

One 11 year old 10 lb. Bichone Frise.
Quinn

One 2 year old 90 lb. Pit Bull.
Bently

One 8 week old 2 lb. hyper, speedy, Chihuahua.
Lola ... torturing the other two.

The photos are blurred because she runs so fast I couldn't get a good shot! Quinn was annoyed by her even being there and Bently just tolerated her.

She'd like to think she took this from Bently,
but he just let her have it. Maybe.

Houdini ...err, I mean Houdoggy

This is Quinn.









All ten pounds of him.

Quinn has access to the backyard 24/7 via this dog door.









This 8" x 11" opening dog door.
(I know, dog snot on the flap. I'll hose it off tomorrow)

This is Bently.









All 90 pounds of Ben.

Remember, Bryan and Bently moved back home?

When I came home yesterday, Bryan thanked my for letting Bently out into the backyard on my lunch hour.

Hu?

I never came home during the day.

When Bryan got home from work, Ben was out in the backyard with Quinn.

This morning before I left for work?

I blocked off the dog door. He's bound to get stuck or hurt.
His head is 25" in diameter. I can't imagine how he squeezed through, although the flap over the door doesn't lay right anymore.

It's been three days/nights that he's been here. No damage, no accidents, he's polite and well behaved. I'm hoping Quinn learns some manners from him.

I sense further blog fodder with Bently living here.

Bullets with Pictures

• Bryan, Friday, dressed for a wedding.
  

• 

• Caitlin and her boyfriend Ray, Mothers' Day.
  

• 

• Bently seeing a fish for the first time.

• 

• Bryan is moving home ... with Bently ... TEMPORARILY.
  

• 

• Quinn will be happy Ben is moving in.
  

• 
  

• Me, not so much
  

Bryan's lease is up and he doesn't want to sign a new one. He wants to move to Arizona. He is in the process of getting information on training and hiring in to work Border Patrol. Recruiters are coming to the metro Detroit area in June. If anyone has any information they'd like to pass on about this, I'd appreciate it. (The sooner the better, *smiles) He's looking at New Mexico, Arizona.

The BEST Mother's Day Story / Photo on the web:

Lori and her son Brian, home from Iraq

Combo Platter

Message In a Bottle

If you want to leave a virtual message in a bottle, for all of time, check out this site. I sent one.





I saw this 123 Page meme on Canned Laughter and decided to do it.

Grab the nearest book.
Open the book to page 123.
Find the 5th sentence.
Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
Don't search around and look for the coolest book you can find. Do what's actually next to you.

I propped myself up on an elbow and rubbed my eyes.

Tomorrow morning, Quinn goes in for a teeth cleaning. Thank you Jebus! He is almost 11 and I have never had them cleaned. Probably because he's never had bad breath ... until now.

I'm going out tonight with my friends Debbie and Pam. Pam has a birthday, this year. She was born leap year, so every four years she celebrates ... the biotch, never ages. Here we are in the 80's. Pam was rockin' the bug eye look and I had some Farrah hair going on.

Co-inky-dinky?

Last night, I woke up about 3AM from a deep sleep. My heart was racing. It wasn't a dream that startled me. It was a thought.

I thought that my dog Quinn had just died. He was curled up behind my knees sound asleep, but I nudged him anyway, just to make double sure.

I went back to sleep and didn't think about it again ... until just this evening.

My son Bryan came over with Bently.

Just as they were leaving, he said, "Oh yeah, do you remember Jake? Uncle Ron and Aunt Pattie's dog?" (ex-in laws to me now)

I said, "Yeah, Jake ... sweet 'ole Jake." My kids have loved that dog since day one. Jake is 16 years old, so he's always been around for them.

Then Bryan said "He died last night. Just had a heart attack in the middle of the night and died."

::: chills :::

Have you ever had anything like that happen? Coincidence, or is there something to it?

My REAL Diet Secret

I got on the scale and have lost another pound. Actually I could stop now and feel just fine, but I'll take that pound.

I think I have figured out why I am successfully losing.

I start with a nutritious breakfast:

Kashi - Autumn Wheat

Fresh Kiwi, strawberries, and pineapple

A dollop of vanilla yogurt

Mmmmm, looks good doesn't it?

Then I add one adorable irresistible *begging dog. After a couple bites, I can't resist and give him the bowl.


Repeat at dinner time with a Weight Watchers meal or salad.

Lunch at work is my only unshared meal.

* His begging is sitting on his hind end wobbling back and forth from one side to the other, not barking or jumping, but occasionally emitting a grunt with his mouth closed.

Quinn loves fruit and vegi's and the vet said they are fine for him.

Quinn also loves to wear shirts. Here's his new Halloween hoodie.



Yes, at times I miss my kids not living at home, sorta. No I don't want grandkids yet. Quinn is a good substitute for now.

Up To Date:

When I read others entries, I always hope they follow up on the little things that seemed huge the day they posted. Here are some follow-ups from my past few months posts.




Yes, Caitlin moved out, I miss her.

(Beth, I know you get it)



Bryan is back on two feet, back to work this week.

Quinn is back on four feet, healing real good.

House, UGH, I'm staying put.


Weight, covered that yesterday.

Cell phone, I have a brand new one.



Hot water heater, I didn't know what I was missing! Longer hot showers.

Detroit Tigers, I still have hope, seasons not done yet.

Blog bling, a Schmoooze award from Around the Island, thanks!

.... and the best update:


My niece Fannee Doolee delivered Bridget Sophia this morning!

Hopefully stats and pics to follow soon.