Happy Birthday To Me

Today I turned some version of 29 :)

My mom, mother-in-law, hubby & me at Tio Pepe's Spanish restaurant.

I had to photo mom's stuffed shrimp because they were the most unusual presentation I've ever seen. Two large butterflied shrimp with little shrimp and crab meat between them and then battered and fried. Served with some sort of white fish sauce that mom said was super yummy.

The waiters brought me this flan and sang happy birthday.

Back at the house my mom had bought me a cake - chocolate cake with chocolate pudding between the layers and whipped cream frosting. Humm....I forgot all about that cake in the fridge :)

Thief!

Christmas Day Photos

A pictorial of our day with little text.........................

Cousin Sonya, Cousin Sarah, and my Daisey with her new pink Wubba.

The whole gang opening gifts.

My mom

Mom, Sarah, Sonya (obscured) Cousin Erica with Daisey on lap, and Marge

Daisey sure liked Sonya

The unwrapping mess!

Sonya & I assembled Sarah's tent for her in my living room, LOL

Cousin Lea and my mom

Eddie finally found Sonya's lap. He is usually all over Erica because she is the one who lives nearby and he is most familiar with her.

All Jerry's Christmas photos for years has included the garbage bag. He likes to put the wrapping paper on there just as it is pulled off the present.

Daisey with her prinme rib bone

Eddie is excited because his still has lots of meat on it.

Eddie not sure how to open this one and save the bow, LOL

Me likey!

Oh yea!

Thank you Santa Paws - I needed a new Wubba because Roxy ate my last one.

I don't care if it is an after Halloween toy clearance, I LOVE this new toy and am going to carry it with me where I go!

Merry Christmas Everyone

Farewell Sweet Roxy

Roxy and her new daddy and grandpop. She liked him right away. And, he brought me flowers. How charming!

Packing Up Roxy's Belongs

Tonight is Foxy Roxy's last night with us. She came to us in October sick with heartworms. She is leaving us happy, healthy, and a member of our family. Tomorrow her new family will pick her up and drive her to Virginia. With her will go a little piece of my heart.

It was chilly here (in the 50's) and I put their polar fleece jammies on for a photo op. Then I got the bright idea that Foxy's new sister (the family is adopting two rat terriers) needs a pair too so I set to work sewing. (Daisey on left, Eddie in middle, and Roxy on right)

Here's Roxy modeling the "extra' PJs that will go with her for her new sister. She is sniffing her bag. I have her all packed up. It would have been a sad process but I was distracted trying to find her toys, LOL.

Today she has been my velcro dog and snuggling with me (is doing so right now) almost as though she knows our time together is short.

I she a cutie pie or what? She often has sad eyes - I wish I could look into them and see her life before she came to us. She must have been loved by somebody because she is so sweet and affectionate.

Here is the gang all dressed in matching attire for a holiday party held Friday night (online). Just silly, fun dog stuff.

Close up of Miss Foxy Roxy in her spaghetti strap dress. I bought that fabric at the Coast Guard exchange in Kodiak probably about 10 years ago.

Even after making two dog dresses and one doggie bow tie, I still have plenty left as it was several yards. It has a little metallic to it to give it that holiday feel.

My handsome Ed. I need to learn to use the camera to where there is no unwanted green, blue or red eye.

Mom's Birthday

Today is Mom's birthday and we went to Kobe's Japanese Steakhouse for teppenyaki cooking (mom, me, hubby jerry, and m-i-l marge) and then back to our house with cousins Lea, Erica, & Sarah for German chocolate cake. Mom came over early to do her laundry and ended up sitting with the dogs as I went shopping (yup, still have a little to do but mostly for Christmas dinner) then we listened to opera from the Met on NPR. All in all, a very nice day.

Dinner started and moved along so quickly I almost forgot to take photos. Seriously, we had appetizers about 5 minutes after sitting down. Grilled teppenyaki style cooking is so tasty and feels so "clean:. Plus, it's entertaining - the cooks get to play with the food!

Me and mom. She was twenty two when I was born. The reason we don't have big smiles is because the flash didn't want to work and this pose was a retake or two :)

My honey, the photographer.

Of course when it is your birthday you get ratted out by your family and friends so the restaurant workers can make a fool of you with a paper hat and a song in Japanese that, for as much as we would know, could be singing "this person wears a watermelon bikini". {smirk}

Nah, I'm sure the song was Happy Birthday or something similar. They brought her a cupcake and banged the drums and made a big deal.

Opening of the gifts. Luckily the tissue paper didn't meet the flame on the candle.

I was so into everything else I almost forgot the gift I had stashed in the chair under the table.

We gave her a digital camera. Hopefully she will learn to use it and take better photos than me. Actually, she can probably do that without even reading the instructions!

Back at home - cousin Lea and cousin Sarah with my foster dog Foxy Roxy. Sarah is trying to avoid the fastest tongue in the east.

Looks like Sarah failed and Roxy planted a wet one on her. We dressed the dogs up for Sarah's benefit.

Lousy photo but it was the only one I got with cousin Erica in it because she wasn't feeling well. Plans are to go over to her house to set up her Christmas tree tomorrow, December 29th ;)

Eddie & Roxy playing tug with the toy I made them from leftover polar fleece. I've had to repair and restuff that thing. I thought if I made it big they wouldn't rip it up. Silly me.

Seems everytime I put her Little Miss Merry Christmas on Daisey she gets in a bad mood. she had leftover hibatchi chicken and fried rice but I guess she was upset she didn't get cake. h well, my birthday is in 9 days so maybe she will get lucky then.............

Am I The Last Person To Know About This? Part Two

I learned something new today! It's profound, to Jerry & me at least, but I won't be at all surprized if you all respond that this profound discovery is actually common place in other communities and to other people and I am behind the times and technology. OK, enough build up, here it is.................

Overdrive Media - Digital Bookmobile

Have you heard of it? Instead of checking out audio books at the library, you can download them to listen to on your computer or iPod or an MP3 player. Additionally, you can burn them to a CD from your computer. You use a program called Over Drive Media similar to using iTunes for getting music, podcasts, etc. on your iPod. In keeping with the lending spirit of a library, you "checkout" these audio stories onto your Over Drive cart, up to 6 at a time, and they expire from your cart after 1 week.

Jerry's mom has macular degeneration and having been an avid reader now uses audio books. At the book store they are quite spendy and sometimes I believe the vast assortment at our Largo library is overwhelming for her. We are thinking of getting her an MP3 or a new iPod (she has the tiny little Shuffle model) for Christmas and then downloading books for her each weekend when we get together.

I am listening to a book right now as I type. So, tell me - am I the last to know? Oh, and here is the URL for more info (although it is local info but you will get the idea): http://pplc.lib.overdrive.com/6C48DF76-DA2E-4774-AF4E-966EC4048AEA/10/388/en/Default.htm

Can You Help This Little Guy?

Meet Cody Brody, a very sweet little Rat Terrier who met up with some very bad people. You see, these folks did a horrible thing – they tossed him out the window of a moving car, breaking both of his front legs. Don't ask how people could be so cruel, we've yet to understand it. But, take heart! For every cruel person, there are many more kind souls willing to step in to help those that are helpless. Fortunately, that is what has happened with Brody.

Brody after he was picked up by a Ratbone volunteer. At this point his legs were not set correctly so he was in pain.

This was his legs UNDER the casts. No wonder he was grumpy and didn't want to be touched.

Now he has cleaned up skin and padding under the casts. He is now friendly and smells good. If that little change made him happy, imagine how happy he will be after the surgery!

Ratbone Rescues has pulled Brody from his shelter and placed him in foster care. After the initial injury, a vet tried to set Brody's broken legs and placed them in casts. However, we've now learned that Brody's injuries require more attention. In order to repair the damage done to them by these awful people, Brody will have to undergo orthopedic surgery. Brody will need to have the bones in his front legs shortened slightly and then secured in place with plates and screws. This will leave him with his front legs slightly shorter than his back, but this should not affect the quality of his life. (With this “jacked up” look, we think his nickname should be Hot Rod.)

Brody's surgery will cost $2,000 and will be worth every penny to make this little fellow healthy and whole again. Of course, that's a lot of money for a little homeless dog, so here's where we need more of those kind souls; those who might be willing to make a small donation towards his surgery. After hearing Brody's story, several of us are taking him on as our Christmas project. (Note: We are not associated with Ratbone Rescues, other than to be supporters of and contributors to their cause to save Rat Terriers who are in danger. Also, we are not fundraisers. We are just people who care and want to help.)

What better way to show the Love of the Season than to help a little dog like Brody. Let's prove to Brody that the human race is full of kind and caring people! Let's show those awful people who mistreated this little guy that they will not win, but that Love wins each and every time! Will you help?

If you wish to make a donation to help Cody Brody with his surgery, there are two ways to do so. You may make a donation through the Ratbone Rescues website:
http://www.ratbonerescues.com/ or by “snail mail” to Ratbone Rescues, P.O. Box 3237, Seminole, Florida 33775-3237. Please note that the contribution is for Cody Brody's surgery.

Thank you all and God bless us everyone!

and her wonderful friends :)

"Winter" Meal

Recently we had a cool, overcast day that motivated me to use my new stove. Here's my pictorial .......

Start with a good roast. This one is beef. Next, wash the meat. My cousin, who loves me, once asked me to always wash my meat before cooking it because she was concerned with my health. Thanks cuzzie!

Next add spices and cover for roasting. You can use a roasting pan with a cover but I love these baking bags. I swear by them for roasts and turkey. Very forgiving and they traps all the juices.

Chopping up the veggies next. I can't stand celery - not just the taste but the smell too. I do have to admit that cooking with it adds a certain something so I use it although I don't eat it.

Add all the vegtables to the bag. Normally I would put all the veggies in a big bowl, add a little cooking oil, and spices and toss to cover everything. This time I forgot more than this trick....notice anything missing?

This view you can see the onions, carrots, and celery but do you see any potatoes? Someone forgot to chop up and add the potatoes :(

Yummy! Now that looks like comfort food.

Finally, plated with a microwave BAKED potato....LOL

Ballet

I'm watching the San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker on public television as I am typing. It's hard to even look down at the keyboard ocassionally to see if I have made any error while typing without looking. I will leave it as is and let you be the judfe. LOL (The photo is from their web site)

It's a dazzeling performance. I wish I could see it in person. By that I mean in San Francisco. Listening to Tchaikovsky always makes me feel as though Christmas is here. Last year it took me so long to get into the spirit but this year, I'm there already and it's not December until tomorrow. Wow, the costumes. Dancing on toes always amaizes me. LOVE the snow sceen.

Switching from public television to public radio - i just heard an announcement recently that the Metropolitan Opera Saturday matinee live broadcast is about to start again. Dec 12th. My mom often comes over on Saturday afternoons early and we listen to it while we wait for Jerry to get off work so we can pick up Marge and the four of us go to dinner.

So, for anyone looking to make a donation this holiday season, I hope you will consider public broadcasting, either television or radio. They have wonderful programs and they are available to everyone.

I Got The Christmas Tree Up

Took a while but we got the tree up. It wanted to lean this year so it was a while, and a couple shims, before I felt comfortable putting my crystal ornaments on the tree.

View with the lights ons. Yes, I still have paint samples on the wall.

Little Miss Merry Christmas. She refused to pose for me. The last two Christmases we have great photos of her but this year may be different unless she changes her attitude.

A close up of the tree and one of my Savorski crystal snowflakes.

And a final close up - not sure why the crystal looks kinda white in the photo.

Foxy Roxy Updates

Roxy has an adoption application pending! Possible adoptions are bittersweet - happy for the foster and his/her new family but there is a loss when they vacate your house and life. Hers is in the VERY early stages so it is yet to be determined if she is the right dog for this family.

Well, just in case, we had an early Christmas for Miss Roxy. She got a new Puppia & matching leash. Isn't she gorgeous in green?

Look at that body! No ribs or spine showing now. Her fur is so soft - you gotta feel it to believe it.

Chair thief!!!!! When you leave your chair or your spot on the sofa or bed, she's there. If you lean to far forward in your chair, she will fill the gap between your backside and the chair.

I tried to take Christmas photos of the dog with no luck. It turned out to be more of a chew-on-the-camera event :(

Eddie, Roxy, and Daisey. They are just now getting used to her because she's oly recently out of the cage.

Genocide Feast

Thought I would share from photos from our Thanksgiving get together at my mom's house before talking about "genocide feast".

I got the hard job - whipping the cream for the pie! It was so tiring that my mom did ALL the rest of the cooking ;)

After a brief rest, from whipping the cream, I was able to cream the butter and the brown sugar together to make a topping for the sweet potatoes. Oh, and later I was enlisted to peel potatoes - what an exaughsting day.LOL

My mom had her Christmas decorates in place. Here's Jerry watching football and Eddie watching squirrels.

Then Eddie made his way to my MIL Marge for some pats & scaratches. Daisey was devistated that she was not "the chosen one" this year. We could hear her howling as we got inthe car to leave.

Eddie was so good while we ate. He laid under the table and didn't beg.

Jerry's coworker Joan and her husband Jerry joined us. You can see my mom at the head of the table and Herry's arm at the other end of the table. Let's see, we had turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry-mandarin oragne relish, white beans, corn bread, chessy biscuits, orzo, brocolli, tomato & cucumber salad, a chinese salad (brought by Joan and very tasty), and corn we got from the farms last summer.

Eddie got the scraps from everyone's plate. That made him very happy and being the only dog inthe condo, he ate slowly and savored each bite.

When we got home we fed Daisey & Roxy a little leftovers and before long they were all down for a turkey nap!

Now, the genocide feast. On a rat terrier social networking group that I frequent someone used these words to quote what his son's friends call Thanksgiving. The words stuck with me all night after I read them. I am not so sure why this has impacted me but it has. I read an earlier blog post by a friend who was surprized when her preschooler came home with a constructon paper pilgram hat and her friend a paper indiana headdress. Her comment that she was surprized they still do the pilgrim thing in school probably started me thinking and then the genocide comment just added to it. Oh, and there was the PETA ad I heard on NPR about the cruel conditions inw hich turkeys are raised for food.

To be honest this did take a little shine off my Thanksgiving. I've always looked at the celebration as a celebration of friends, family, and the blessings in our lives whether they be good crops, riches, good health, etc. I've hadn't considered any colateral damage. For me, the images of pilgrims, Native Americans, cornucopias,etc. have been more visual representations (much like Santa is for Christmas) and not so much a part of my celebration. It's nice to have something to think about........ and now I have REALLY confused someone from Australia.

I Am Offically Crazy

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. We certainly did and I have photos to prove it although I forgot and left my digicamera at my mom's house. I have LOTS more to say about Thanksgiving but I need a little time to formulate my thoughts before posting (you will learn what I mean very soon).

Today I did what I thought only a crazy person would do - I went shopping at 4am. Yup, I got out of bed at 3:20, brushed my teeth & hair, put on sweats, poured a cup coffee into a travel cup and out the door I went. The roads were delightful! There were just enough cars to feel safe in the dark and everyone was parking and walking to the store at about the same time so that felt safe as well.

I quickly discovered that I am an amatuer. The "others" had already figured out exactly what they were going to buy, knew where most of it was located in the store, and went right to the items. When I walked in the doors of the Kohl's store at 4:07, there were already people at the check out (with single, large purchases). Silly me - I hadn't even seen the ad! I believe I may have been the only person in the store browsing. The amaizing part is that at 4am the shoppers had busy cell phones. Who were there people calling & texting? Friends in Europe?!?!?

Apparently I missed the boat on this early shopping in other ways as well. Seems many of the people were talking about having started their adventure at Ellenton (a discount mall about 30 miles away) at midnight, when they opened, and then made their way back in time for the 4am & 5am openings locally. Respecting their experience & shopping wisdom......

I made my couple of small purchases (but all really good deals of course) and drove across the road to the mall where the stores were opening at 5am. I got there before 5am hoping to sip the remainder of my coffee but JC Penny's was already open so I kept moving while I had the shopping momentum going. Next, I went to Macy's which I was looking forward to and had scanned their ad but bought nothing. Then to Game Stop for an advertised items, and finally the Pièce de résistance, Target, where I bought nothing. They had some excellent values but the one thing I wanted from the ad was already sold out.

I decided to call it a morning, went thrugh McD's for an Egg McMuffin, and was back in the house at 6:23am. On a normal day, I couldn't travel between those stores that quickly simply due to traffic on the road, much less the volume of people. All in all, I would say it was a good experience and I would do it again just for the peace, quiet, and good parking spots! (Note to self: really study those ads and get organized next time :)

Dad's Out of Hospital

Thanks to everyone who kept him in their thoughts and prayers. He's had another stroke, poor guy. I can hardly wait for 2010 because 2009 hasn't been so hot for my dad.

Since Eddie & my dad are bonded, I will share new photos of Eddie and the giant BoBo I bought for him at Walgreens. I believe it lasted about 30 minutes, LOL.