Pill Pockets - My Saviors!!!

Can I just say that for the time being, Zeke is like a brand new dog.  Well, a dog that's potty trained and doesn't chew and has gray hair and sleeps most of the day.  Okay, so Zeke is back to the way he was, essentially before his ACL tear and fix. 

Yesterday:  So as you know, Zeke went to get some minor surgery.  And really, the only reason I call it surgery rather than a little "nip/tuck" is because they had to put him under but I would imagine that for most any procedure where a knife and stitches were required, they would put a pup under.  Anyway - right before they went in to remove that knotted suture, the doc called to ask if I wanted to get his teeth cleaned at the...you know, save myself some money by taking care of that all at the same time.  (An added $130).  I said yes considering that while at PIB, I couldn't tell a difference between Zeke's breath and the fish rotting on the surface of the water in the bay.  BAD!!!  Fast forward to 4PM when I went to pick Zeke up.  Now, I wasn't sure what to expect with Zeke's knee.  I didn't know how large his incision would be nor if he would have difficulty walking.  When they brought him to me, he nearly ran to me with tail wagging and I swear I heard him say, "Let's get the f*%k out of here!"  When we got outside and he saw the car, he literally ran to the vehicle and was about to jump in on his own.  Devil! 

By the way, while at the vet, I bought some "Pill Pockets".  They are soft treats that you can tuck pills into so that dogs will have an easier time taking meds.  As you can see, they have a little hole that you stick the pill into and then can pinch closed.  The trick is not to touch the treat with the same hand that touched the pill.  And let me tell you!!!  Those treats are STINKY!!!  Zeke LOVED them and took all his pills like a champ!  Let's hope he doesn't become wise.  Even if he does, however, I don't know that he'll forego his treats for a little defiance.  We'll see.

When we got home, I was told that due to anesthesia, Zeke may be a little drowsy and lethargic; not moving around like he normally would.  I was also told NOT to give him food until he could keep water down.  By the way - Zeke lost 3 pounds in a week!  He's a bad dog!  Anyway - when I lifted Zeke out of the car, he ran to the kitchen to be let out.  He then ran out into the yard and proceeded to pee, poop and then roll around in the grass.  When he was finished there, he drank some water and then started barking at me because he was hungry and wanted some chicken.  Which I gave him and he chowed!  I wonder if his teeth possibly bothered him and that's why he didn't want to eat.  Hmm....

So, for the next couple of weeks, Zeke is supposed to take it easy but I don't think I need to watch him really.  We're supposed to keep an e-collar on him but he hasn't even looked at his incision so I'll keep it off unless absolutely necessary.  My job for the next several days is to bulk him back up (I've bought his own bag of chicken and some hamburgers that I'll serve him with rice and dog food) and love on him.  Those are my plans for the day. 

Later!

A Little Eva To Start Your Morning!

I mean, how cute is that little girl?  She looks so chunky too!  It's like she's gained 2 or 3 pounds since I last saw her!  Ooohhh, I just want to munch on thse sweet cheeks!

Request:  If everyone could please send a little prayer out for Zeke that would be lovely.  He goes in today at 8AM for surgery on his knee.  It shouldn't be a big deal - the doc is just going in to remove the suture that's poked through but they are going to put him under anesthesia so - ugh!  I finally got him to eat yesterday.  He was such a pain in my ass!  Every time I would pull out his food to try and see if he would eat he'd run outside, away from me, all the time looking back with a slight look of fear...as if I was going to chase him into the backyard to shove who knows what down his throat.  What a pisser.  Finally, after he dry-heaved and came up with only a little spittle, I had had enough!  I cooked up some chicken and rice (you know he was panting and barking at my feet for that - spoiled little bugger) which he FINALLY ate at around 4PM.  I gave him half then and the other half at around 6...he chowed.  Of course the pill I tried to give him at 4?  He figured that out and nibbled around the piece of chicken it was in, spit it out when he finally got to it (on the floor) and sneezed at me!  Ooohhh!!!  And you know I wouldn't normally go nuts like this in regard to my pup eating but there was a time when he was too skinny (according to the doc - not his crazy momma) and with surgery today, I wanted to make sure he was as strong as possible.  Plus, he is 14 so all of you rolling your eyes at me?  Suck it!

K - I got that off my chest...I feel better.  Anyway - Jim will be taking Zekey Zoo up to the docs (drop off at 8:00 and I just got out of bed).  I'll be home all day waiting for the call to get him.  Hopefully, they'll take care of it early so that he'll have all day to come out of anesthesia.  Until then, I'll just lay out on this beeeeeauuuutiful day (it's 59 degrees here on this June 29th!!!) and work on my tan.  Later!

Happy Birthday Momma!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!  Hope you have a terrific day!  You are the best mother a girl could have and I love you and wish I were with you to celebrate!!!  XOXO

In other news, yesterday I got 2 new tires.  I shopped around & found the best deal was with Tire Discounters.  Their prices include everything (balancing etc.) and still beat the competition.  I was happy too with the service I received and will certainly go back when I need to.

"Hi!  My name is Zeke and I'm a shit can cause I
won't eat or take my pills!!!

In Zekey Zoo news, he's driving me out of my mind.  He's barely eating and it's driving me nuts.  I don't think it's because he isn't hungry either.  I think he thinks that everything I try to give him has pills in it so he raises his nose and runs away (literally runs away from me).  It's so frustrating.  He's supposed to go in for her surgery tomorrow too and I'm not happy about that.  Ugh!  If I have to keep giving him pills, I just don't know how I'm going to do it.  I need a liquid form or spray form that I can squirt up his nose or down his throat.  He won't even swallow the ones I shove in there anymore.  He's just being a little f&%ker!!!  ARG!  (I still love him but why does he have to be so smart?  Why can't he be more like his brother?!  Oh, great, now I've insulted Bubba!  Zeke and I are in a fight!!!)

Okay so I'm not sure what I'm going to do today.  The weather still isn't going to be "lay out" weather so maybe I'll go to the bookstore to get a couple things I wanted to get for next school year.  I may have to just email FW to see if she knows anything about our teaching assignments.  UGH!  Do I dare? 

Well, that's all I've go for now.  More later...or not.

Money Grubbers!

Ooohhh...it just makes me so mad and frustrated!  I mean I know that businesses out there are out to make a buck but why is it always at the expense of those who can't afford it?!  So, I get my home insurance policy in the mail - it's up for renewal at the end of July and HOLY SHIT!!!  It's gone up nearly $300!!!  WTF!?  The policy has gone from about $550 to $850 (a year) and the only thing I see that's different is a few bucks here and there and then some comment about our roof (yes, we need a new one badly). Well, I'm not about to pay that amount without a "fight".  So I call and talk to Cindy who asks me a bunch of verification questions about my house and eventually she gets me back to a price that's only about $40 more than it was last year.  I mean, what the heck!?  None of the info that I gave her would have been different from my previous responses.  I guess they were hoping and assuming that the majority of the people would just go ahead and pay but had I not been satisfied with the outcome, I would have gone shopping elsewhere...they would have lost my business.  And I know that losing my business isn't going to bankrupt them but I can't be the only person out there who would do that.  Why do these insurance companies always try to stick it to faithful customers who pay on time and don't have exorbitant amounts of claims (none to be precise)!  ARG!

So, I've walked Sami...she's exhausted and now I'm going to research getting new tires.  I've needed two new tires for my Sante Fe for a while but when I got home from PIB, I noticed one of the back ones was low on air.  Turns out there's a nail in it so might as well bite the bullet.  Other than that, today I may just hang with my babies and quilt.  The weather isn't great and there isn't much else to do. 

Ooh, and David Gray is on Regis and Kelly - I'm taping it but I can't wait to see old Wobbly Head...love him...miss him...wish he would come to Cincy!  K - I'm out...later!

And...We're Back



Eva's new baby soup!



I tried to post again while at PIB but alas, my reception on the island was spotty at best.  It's hard to post on a tiny little keyboard too.   

 

What a trouper she was at Frosty's
while we ate pizza and drank beer.



We  had a really nice time.  Eva was a dream and it was so nice to just spend that time with her.  I miss cuddling with her and watching her as she learns how to smile and becomes more and more alert.  The weather wasn't the tops and from what I heard about the weather here it was about the same.  The first two days were nice and Maggie and I managed to lay out on Tuesday.  I managed to get out on the wave runner as well.  It was quite refreshing and not too rough out on the lake.  After that, we had some pretty major winds and waves.  Grandpa always called these days of iffy weather 3-day squalls but this one lasted for 4.  The waves were crashing over the back "deck" and getting the cars quite wet.  They were about 2-4 foot waves.  Jim had never seen the lake that rough either so it was new to him.  I told him that in reality, it was nothing as I've seen 6 foot waves and probably more...trying riding the ferry back to the mainland in that!  You learn to respect the lake after an experience like that.  

Aunt Muir and Uncle Stan came on Thursday.  We had a nice dinner out with them as well on Friday.  They took us to the Crew's Nest for drinks and then to the Yacht Club for spaghetti dinner.  I will tell you - I love that place but some of those people can be so catty and gossipy.  It's such a small place and everyone knows everyone elses business...it would drive me insane.

By the way - we took Zeke with us...he's such a good traveler.  He enjoyed it there but  was definitely happy to be home.  I think he missed his brother and sister...if you can believe that.  He barely ate while we were away either which drove me NUTS!!!  And he's decided that he won't take any pill wrapped in anything anymore.  We've been having to shove them down his throat.  He's such a debil.  Anyway - he found a favorite bush and dirt to sleep in at the Bay and really did enjoy just sitting looking out at the lake.  He did not love the mayflies however (they hatched big time on Thursday!  Ugh!  Everywhere!) 

 Oh, and here are Jim and Zeke on their daily golf cart ride.  You can barely see Zekey - he's to Jim's right, sitting on the floor looking out the window.  He loved going on the cart and Jim took him out every day for a ride.  He's a good daddy. 

 We left yesterday at around 10:15 - from the cottage.  Maggie and I stopped at the Crew's Nest gift shop to get Charlie a t-shirt.  We caught the 11:00 ferry and made it back to Maggie's house at 2ish.  After getting Eva settled (a bite to eat which I fed her as we drove), she slept the whole way home.  I wondered if she would be able to make it the whole way home or not.  See, on the way to PIB she slept the entire way and I wondered if it was a fluke...apparently, she loves her car seat...for now. 



So that's it.  I hope to get back to the Bay in July...at least a couple days when Trip and Susan are there (that's me inviting myself).  I doubt Jim will be able to make it up again because of work.  Maggie and Charlie are going up in August too but school will have started by then and unless I take a day off...I don't know if I'll make it up.  We'll see.   



K - I'm off to the grocery while Jim cleans.  It's very rainy and gloomy here so I may just sit in front of the TV today and catch up on my shows while quilting.  Later!



Oh, and this is Nora - Jeffrey and Clair's new baby!  Four days younger than Eva!  She's a blondie just like her mommy and daddy.

PIB - Day 1

Here at the Bay...day 1.  Eva was superb on the drive up - slept the whole way and was a dream the rest of the day and night.  However, she misses her daddy.

Here she is with her momma, fighting sleep.

Here are the boys...they've worn each other out.  Brutus leaves today and I do believe Zeke will miss him.

My Troubled Children!

Does it ever end?  Seriously, will these (what seem to be) weekly visits to the vet never cease?  ARG!  So, there I am - yesterday, watching another documentary...chillin' out and I look at Zeke on his dog pillow.  He was looking so cute and warm and cuddly so I crept over to snuggle with him.  I look at his knee (troubled knee) and see that the area where his suture is?  The area that had that lump that we had to have checked out several weeks after surgery?  It was all raw and red and not looking super.  OF COURSE!  2 days before vacation!  So I get on the horn, call the doc and they tell me to come up right then.  I do. 

Result:  The suture - made out of really heavy duty fishing lure essentially - is starting to poke through.  Its basically caused a boil-like spot that is annoying and irritating to Zekey so of course he's been licking at it. As if he has a splinter under his skin.  The solution?  Two things: 1) do nothing 2) minor surgery to remove.  Um, did I mention that we leave for PIB on Sunday...that's TOMORROW!  The doc said it really isn't a big deal and we're fine to go and take Z with us.  We'll just have some MORE pills to give him (antibiotics) and a cream.  Even if it does poke through while gone, it will be fine, it just needs to stay clean.  The surgery is set for the Wednesday after we return.  UGH!  This time, however, after giving my most pitiful look attitude, the doc gave a pretty fair estimate on the cost (around $125). 

Could anything more happen?  Oh, well, since you asked - of course it could.  Sami!  She is having issues with her left ear.  She keeps shaking her head and itching it.  I need to clean it and get all the goop out but if you know Sami then you know you aren't supposed to touch her ears cause she's extra sensitive.  Well, sorry Sami - you're going to have to tough it out today when Daddy and Mommy flush your ears out.  I know it can't really hurt her but I just hate torturing her.  I'll also have to apply some ointment but again, we leave tomorrow!  WTF!? 

In other news, I don't have much more to share...I got no sleep last night because I was worrying about my grrrranimals!  Plus Sami couldn't settle down with her ears.  So much to do too with cleaning, grocery shopping, packing etc.  Ugh!  Why do I feel so harried?!  K - later!

I've Committed A Crime!

Don't judge me!  It wasn't my fault!  Really!  It was the stupid U-Scan at Meijer that made me do it! 

So there I am...running my errands one of which was at stop at Meijer.  I had found some cute tank tops, a Styrofoam cooler, some new needles (not for heroin but rather my quilt), thread and some "readers".  The readers were going to cost me $20!  I am not happy that my eyes are getting old (the rest of me is still young) and I'm even more upset that I was going to have to pay $20 for stupid readers...they should be like, $2.99!  Anyway - as usual at Meijer, every checkout was about 10 people deep with I think the record holders for the slowest, oldest check out workers in America.  So I moseyed down to the U-Scan.  They were only about 3 deep.  So finally it's my turn and I start checking out.  And the stupid U-Scan starts acting like it's retarded!  I thought computers were supposed to be soooooo brilliant and time-saving!  WRONG!  First it wouldn't scan half my shit, then it would get backed up on the conveyor belt...UGH!!!  So after the GD thing effs up about 15 times, I pay for my stuff and get the hell out of there!  I was a little mystified that my total was so low by the way.  I had figured it would be somewhere around $75 but it was just over $50...hmm. 

So I get to my car and I load my purchases in the back, grab my receipt and get in.  I look at said receipt and realize...uh oh, Muir stole her $20 pair of "readers".  Roops!  I probably should have gone back in to pay for them but alas, I felt it was payback for the stupid U-Scan making my Meijer experience suck!  Of course, something bad will surely happen to me as karma comes to take a bite out of my ass but at least I can read and isn't that really all that matters? 

Did You Miss Her?!

Taking a walk with her momma!  Love her! 

I'm Back!!!

From...the couch.  Sorry!  I've just been so BUSY!!!  We can blame Anne - at least for yesterday's postless day...I had to take her and Madison to the airport.  And she isn't around to dispute her guilt because she's in France (that bitch!).  She and Madison went together with a group from Madison's school.  I won't say that Madison is a bitch because this is an opportunity for her...for Anne?  She's been to Europe before so that constitutes her being a bitch...and she didn't take me so I can call her what she is...a bitch.  Of course I've been to Europe before too...hee hee hee.

So other than my airport trip, what have I been doing?  A lot of thinking.  Thinking about making lists for my PIB trip...thinking about all the things I could be doing but choose not to because I'm still recovering from my school year.  I did clean my house!  And I finished chalking and pinning my quilt.  I started sewing it yesterday...that's going to take FOREVER!!!  It's so big! I need a giant, standing hoop thing (like at left) to put in front of me while I sew...something easy to turn.  Oh, and I think I may need "readers"...you know reading glasses...or as Kim calls them at work - "purples" (that's the color of the readers she uses at work).  I was trying to get a knot out of my thread yesterday - something that use to be a cinch - and I couldn't because I couldn't see the GD thread!!!  I may go to Walgreens and get a low powered pair - Maggie's suggestion - and then when I get back from the PIB, I'll go to the eye doc to get checked.  It's been about 2 or 3 years.

While I sewed yesterday I watched the Sorcerer's Apprentice.  I'm not a Nicolas Cage fan but it was pretty good.  (Although I did love him in Valley Girl...I could watch that movie over and over again...I sure wish my Netflix had it available on my Wii...bunch of hooey!) I also watched a documentary on some guy and his nutty mother.  Get this:  So this guy's mother, Renee, when she was about 13, she was playing around and jumping off her roof (we used to do that as kids).  Well, I guess she jumped off and when she landed, she didn't bend her knees and it left her paralyzed for 6 months.  During that time, her parents decided the paralysis might not be "real".  So a neighbor tells them to get her some shock therapy (this is the 60s by the way).  So they do and after that she's nutso.  Then several years later, she's on a bus from Chicago to Texas and she gets kicked off the bus for acting weird...they take her to a mental hospital and give her MORE shock therapy which basically erases any of her personality.  After that, she's treated for schizophrenia with Lithium which she "accidentally" overdoses on and that leaves her with some pretty severe brain damage.  Why do I watch these things?  It was so weird. 

I finished the 2nd in the Hunger Game series (Catching Fire...I'll review here in a bit).  I decided NOT to read the 3rd right after...I don't want to finish them too quickly...I want to really soak it all in.  It was really really good and I can't wait for the movies!  If I teach LA to my kids next year, I really want to read The Hunger Games, The Help and one other book.  I was thinking of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest but I've never read that (I've seen the movie) and I don't know if it will be appropriate or not.  I know that it's on lists that schools read but I don't know if my kids will be able to deal.  We'll see...maybe I'll make a trek to Half Price today to get some books for next year.  I sure wish I knew if I was teaching LA or not.  I could just send an email asking but God forbid I know anything in order to plan for next year! 

So that's all I've got for now.  I have lots to do in planning for PIB.  I'll start making my lists today (meals, grocery etc.) and then clean tomorrow and shop on Saturday.  K - later!

MOM!!! What The Heck!?

Here's what my Mom posted on her blog today:

Waiting for Max and Mazie

Anne will call, but we'll probably leave around 10. Hot here, but less humidity. I'm almost through the laundry..ready to fold and put
 
That's it...nothing more.  I'm wondering where she's going to "put" that laundry.  In the fridge?  In the garage?  In the garbage, what!?  And you may be wondering why I'm making such a stink about this.  Well, it's because, about 2 or 3 times a week, my mother ends her blogs with incomplete thoughts and sentences.  For instance...the other day - here was the last part of her post:  It's hot here and dry.  I' What the heck?  A couple days before that?  I may go get a new phone and then learn to text and

She cracks me up!  Love you Mom!!!  Have fun with Max and Mazie.

I Think I Married A Grumpy Old Man!!!

So...a little more about the whole phone purchase.  As I mentioned before, Jim and I swapped...he got my old phone...I got the new and fabulous Blackberry.  I thought this would be an easy swap.  A gift really, to my husband because my phone, my now old phone, the Samsung Strive is so user friendly!  Kim!  You have one...you know!  Well, I guess I forgot that nothing is easy with a grumpy, crotchety old man.  When did I agree to be married to that by the way!? 

Saturday, we get home and I start trying to tutor Jim in the phone.  There isn't much...just which buttons do what and where to go on the phone to find certain things.  But of course, nothing can be easy and when he tried to sign in to his yahoo account via phone - we kept getting an error.  So what does he do?  He calls the woman we just bought the phone from (dumb ass! What's she going to do but want to sell us another phone?  SHE'S A SALES PERSON!!!)  And he puts her on speaker phone so that she can hear/talk to both of us.  When I tried to grab the phone to just talk to her myself, Jim nearly smacked my hand away.  FINE!!!  We'll do it your way and when that doesn't remedy the problem, we'll do it mine.  Oh, and lo and behold - the sales girl at AT&T didn't know what the eff was going on nor how to fix the problem.  Brilliant Jim!!!

So Muir takes over - calls AT&T and gets everything remedied.  Oh, and lowers our bill by about $5!  Jim's reaction?  GRRR, GRRR, GRRR!!!  STOMP STOMP STOMP!!!  WHINE WHINE WHINE!!!  "This is ridiculous!  Everything has to be a production!!!  NOTHING can just work right the first time!!!"  Me:  "Hey old man?  You're the only one making a production out of this."  Jim:  "It's ridiculous that we have to sit here for hours trying to figure this thing out!"  Me:  "Hours?  The only reason it's taking longer than it should is because you keep stomping off and won't listen to me about how to do things.  You can't just start pressing random buttons and expect things to happen correctly!  QUIT BEING AN OLD MAN!!!"

We didn't really fight or anything but I did have to smack him around a bit to knock that old man out of him.  I told him he was acting and looking like the old man in Up...funny...Jim didn't really appreciate that.  By the way - don't you think that kind of even looks like Jim?!  Even funnier!

Oh, and did I mention that I think Jim needs hearing aides (aids?)?  All day yesterday I'd say something - not mumble - SAY!  And Jim's reaction EVERY TIME:  "What!?"  ARG!!!! 

K - That's my morning Monday rant about Jim.  Must go dress to walk Sami in this lovely and cool, 60 degree morning.  Later!

My New Toy

So, Jim's phone?  Like stepping into the year...2009!  DATED!!!  Antiquated!!!  Ridiculous!!!  (At left by the way.)  I hate flip phones and I can say this because the two flip phones I had SUCKED and broke quickly!  Plus they are a pain in the ass when you text.  Anyway - yesterday - June 11th - was the day (FINALLY!) that Jim was able to get a free upgrade (my date isn't until December).  So, being the sneaky (smart) person that I am, I presented to Jim that the better idea was for us to upgrade to a new and terrific phone, switch our numbers so that I get the new phone and Jim gets my Samsung Strive. He was more than happy to do this.   Understand too that Jim is technologically retarded and gets confused by too many buttons and fancy features so I knew that getting him an iPhone or Blackberry would be stupid because A) he wouldn't understand how to take advantage of all the features and B) he'd most likely end up breaking it.  In the end - I got the Blackberry Torch (at left in white).  I love it so far.  It's got all the things I want and could ever need plus it's pretty.  I love the option of a touch screen AND keyboard plus all the apps.  I'm still figuring everything out and I could spend all day playing with it but I refuse to be one of those people who can't just put it away.  Who wants to be tied down to your phone all the time, checking email, facebook, news, playing games etc.?  Not me.  It's nice to have, however...I look forward to December too when I may decide to pass this onto Jim and get me something even fancier.  We'll see. 

My Sunday plans?  Well, I've walked Sami already and made breakfast.  In a minute here, I'll update my book blog with the three books I've read and neglected to review (I know - I'm a slacker).  After that, I'm hoping to lay out...the weather here is nice and cool (80 degree high today) but the sun hasn't quite made an appearance yet.  I think it's supposed to get nicer but who knows. 

By the way - a week from today I will be heading to PIB!!!  Yeah!  And BONUS!!!  Maggie and Eva are coming with us!!!  Charlie has a trip to Cleveland and then a work thing in Vegas...he's going to be gone for about 5 days.  Rather than Maggie being all alone and with no break we concocted a plan to have her come with us to the PIB!!!  I'm so excited and so is Jim.  When I told/asked him he goes, "REALLY!?"  He hasn't met sweet Eva yet so he's happy.  Anyway - a week from today!!!  Can't wait!!!

K - well, I better get going on updating my books...later!

Because I Know You're Jonsin'!!!

Here she is!  The incredible edible Eva!!!  I think she was trying to mimic the froggy eyes on her onesie.  My GOD she makes me giggle!

Seriously and I mean REALLY!?  Could she be cuter? (Lookin' like her daddy here!)

We had a bit of pinata playing...ended up snapping TWO broom handles in half to get to the candy.  Kristyn and Fernanda had the magic touch.  (That would be koo koo krazy Clover taking a swing!)

What Day Is It?

Day 2 on my summer break and I'm already not sure what day it is.  Thursday, right? 

So my plans for today are to A) Drive to Columbus and B) Cuddle with Eva (knocking Maggie out on my way to hold said sweet baby!!!).  That's about it.  Hopefully we'll get to see Kristyn and Clover but Kristyn called yesterday to say that Clover and Dylan both possibly have colds and she doesn't want to "infect" Eva.  If they do have colds, she's hoping that maybe Eric can watch the kids while she comes over for a bit to hang.  We'll see.  (By the way this is a photo from my own camera from the hospital...so cute!)

And because I know you were all wondering - my good china is in perfect working order!  Not a piece missing nor cracked.  It was an uneventful appointment and I was out of there within a 1/2 hour.  Bonus too, Jim and I got to lunch at Ludlow Skyline!  If you love Skyline like I love Skyline, the best one in the city is the Ludlow one.  YUM! 

Oh, so I've been working on my quilt.  Here it is:

First pic - the front, nearly basted.

Second pic is the back side.  It's taking me forever to get the stenciling done...the border is a wave border and then I've alternated in a dragonfly stencil and a flower one.  The problem is that I have to hand stencil every one because the spray chalk is so expensive.  Ugh!  Anyway - I can't wait until I can start sewing...which will take about forever!  Oh, and the border will just be the back fabric.  Easy amateur stuff. 

Okay so that's about all I've got...need to get in the shower and walk the baby girl.  Later!

Withdrawal Symptoms Have Abated!



I'm so mad at my mommy for not sending
Aunt Muir a picture of me!!!



Morning!!!



This is the shark that's

going to bite my mommy!!!

  Thank you Anne and Maggie (finally)!

I Want To Apologize...FOR MAGGIE!!!

She has ALREADY started slacking in her Mommy duties!  I haven't had a new pic of my sweet Eva in about 3 days!  She's in sooooooo much trouble!  My little thundercat is so MAD at her mommy!  How is she supposed to keep her fans happy if her mommy doesn't pull her weight!?  It isn't like she can pick up the camera and take a pic of herself and zip it off to me!  Ohhh!!!!  She's so mad!!!  Eva is going to poop all over her momma if she doesn't mind her p's and q's!!!  I will, however, be seeing my sweet Eva tomorrow and will be SURE to take lots of pics.  I may have to put her in every outfit she owns so that I don't run out too! 

Oh, I forgot!  WHHOOOO HOOOO!!!!  I'M ON SUMMER VACATION!!!  YEAH!!!  What am I going to do?  Well, at 9:30 I have a doctor's appointment.  I have to get my good china looked at!  Hee hee.  My good china!  That makes me laugh!  I'm sure you're not laughing right now because I've put THAT thought in your head.  Your welcome!

So one last school thing before I wrap up bitching about those effers in the admin office at school.  First of all, they made us sit around until about 12:30 and DO WORK!!!  HOW DARE THEY!!!???  THE NERVE (NOIVE!!!)  Actually, I managed to get some time consuming things done that will free up my work day at the beginning of the school year so that was good.  In the end, we got the announcement a half hour early from HH to check out.  (I gotta change his name to something more fitting...I'll take suggestions...something along the lines of AH - for A-hole...mayyyybeeee BSJA:  Big Stupid Jackass?  Orrrrrr BFAH?  I bet you can figure that one out.)  Anyway - so his is the last signature we have to get in checking out...so Lisa and I go down and we're about 2nd and 3rd in line and it's taking a while.  And then we figure out that he's telling people their teaching assignments for next year...BONUS!!!  So the guy in front of me goes...takes about 5 minutes.  And then I'm up...I walk in - all smiles!  "HI!"  He signs my paper, keeps it and sort of nods his head.  Dismisses me.  Doesn't tell ME what I'm teaching.  Okay - whatever.  Lisa goes in.  Signs her paper - tells her "Have a good summer!"  Dismisses her.  (Notice he didn't tell me to have a good summer!)  Hmm...interesting.  Oh well...whatever.  I guess we'll find out when we find out.  Not going to give him the pleasure of thinking I'm annoyed or even put out.  And really...I'm not.

So that's it for now - I best go get in the shower and prepare myself for a probing.  Later!

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

Annoyed!  And you will be too cause this is going to be short!  I've been on the phone with the company that holds my mortgage loan.  I couldn't access my account to pay my mortgage so I had to call in.  This online banking of theirs SUCKS!!!  It's all caps sensitive and then even when I had it all right, it locked me out!  So I finally get my code reset (can't do it by email!!!!  Have to call in!!!  ANNOYING!!!) and hang up with dumb foreign dude and it asks me a security questions (What's your mother's maiden name) and IT WON'T TAKE MY ANSWER!!!  I even capitalized the correct letters.  So I have to go and CALL back in and go through their rigmarole of answering all the security questions again.  This time - different from my first call - they ask me my phone number.  I tell him.  He says, "Is there another number it could be?"  So I rattle off my cell...he tells me NO!!!  WHAT!?!?!  So to shorten this - I get back into my account and he asks me to go and check my number.  I do.  It has my home number listed as - 513-574-9240.  That isn't even close to my phone number nor any number that I've ever had!!!  He tells me they could have typed it in wrong at the bank.  I told him the person typing must either be blind or retarded because that number?  574?  My first three numbers are 697!  Okay, I'll give them credit for getting the 7 right...but that doesn't make them any less retarded.  UGH!

Okay well, that's all I've got!  I did have a really HILARIOUS post to publish but alas, WesBanco screwed me!  They screwed you!  They've screwed themselves.  Not really, I'm just being dramatic!  Anyway - last day at school...nothing really to do except sit there, defrost my fridge and check out.  Hopefully they won't make us sit there until 2:30!  Later!

Ribs, Chicken, & A Murder Mystery

Went to Silver Spring House last night as I mentioned in a previous post.  If you haven't been to SSH, let me explain:  The place is HUGE!  There is an indoor section and an outdoor section.  You can see from the picture that this is the outdoor area.  The windows open and they have about 300 large fans that keep you, for the most part, cool.  Well, knowing my husband, even with the fans, we usually sit inside when it's 96 degrees (as the temp gauge said it was yesterday - though I question the accuracy).  So yesterday we go and head inside to eat.  Unfortunately there was a party in the bar area and a 20 minute wait.  Jim didn't want to wait so we headed out where there was immediate seating.  They put us in a good spot:  Shade, fans, etc.  All was fine.  I ordered the ribs/chicken dinner (all white) and Jimmy got the pulled chicken sandwich (it is his goal to try everything on the menu).  Food comes and the backs of my knees start sweating.  I start sticking to my chair.  Then the Reds blow their 7-2 lead (they eventually fall to the Dodgers but I don't want to talk about it! UGH!)  Jim actually didn't sweat too badly but I was hot as hell.  I just don't like to sit outside in this heat, even with fans, and eat.  It's not pleasant.  Anyway - dinner was delicious and if you haven't been to the Chicken Joint you must go.

After Jim and I got home and watched the Reds blow it completely, we watched The Killing (last Sunday's episode).  Every time I think I know who did it?  My theory gets shot down.  Now, however, I think I have it solved...we'll see - three episodes left.  We then went to bed...nothing was on so I read for a bit and then fell asleep.

Today's plans involve some Sami walking here in a bit - before it gets too hot.  I never mowed the lawn so I'll try that out.  Jim has some yard work to do and gutters to clean.  I may lay out if it stays sunny.  We got a nice little storm last night to moisten and steam things up...I need to find some place that sells cobras - not the snake, the mister.  Meijer, where I had gotten them before doesn't have them.  UGH!  Need to buy like 10 if I find them. 

Your Daily Eva!

Here she is getting her bath.  She's so sweet!  And then, when Charlie got her out and was toweling her off...she pooped on him!  Hee hee hee!!!  She giggled afterward, I'm sure and said, "How do you love me now daddy!?"  Maggie said she loved it...she's scrumptious!

K - I'm out...Sami keeps fake yawning me and giving me the stink eye.  Later!  2 days left!

Eyeball Recovery and Whaling!

My eye is doing better.  The drops I've been using have been doing their job.  Every 4 hours is a pain in the ass though.  I have to get up in the middle of the night to take them but interestingly, when I tell Jim just before falling asleep that "if he wakes up at 2AM to let me know"...he does.  It's like setting an alarm.  I tell him - 2:00 and he wakes me up at 1:49.  Night before?  I told him 1AM...he woke me up at around 12:30.  Good enough.  I think the dogs got in on the action too because Sami started growling and getting all fussy around 5:30...4 hours from my last dose.   Anyway - I'm not goopy anymore and I think I'll try my contacts today...at least for the hour or two I'll need to exercise today.  It's a pain in the ass to exercise with glasses on.

And here's your daily dose of that sweet whaler, Eva.  Her daddy picked her outfit!  I love her little wrinkled forehead!  She's a love!

Maggie and Charlie went out last night for the first time since Eva was born...alone.  With their full house, they took some time on their own.  Maggie called me from Champs (dinner) and sounded a bit weepy.  They were also going to see Hangover II and I told her to remember that it's a comedy and she should be laughing...not crying.  I'm sure it's tough to leave that sweet faced baby even for a couple hours. 

So, today - I'll be hanging at home.  Jim is taking my car down to his friend Brent to get the brakes done today.  Hopefully there won't be any surprises...that cost me more than what the brakes will cost.  Knowing my luck...I won't be that fortunate.  UGH!  Later Jim and I will go out to dinner...Silver Spring House...the Chicken Joint.  Can't wait.  Other than that - I might try out the new lawnmower that Jim got and hang out outside.  A nice relaxing Saturday. 

K - I'm out...gotta walk my baby Sam while it's still cool (90s today)...later!

Pink Eye

So there I am...doing my thing at school and Lisa says to me, "Your eye is REALLY red!"  So I go and look in the mirror and, SHIT!!!  She isn't lying!!!  I then went to the school nurse to see what she thought and low and behold - PINK EYE!  WTF?!  All I can say is, stupid kids, cause you know I got it from them!  Well, who knows but there you have it.  They say chlamydia or the clap can cause it too!  Better check Jim's eyes!  Anyway - I called my doc and the nurse who answered said she'd see if they could call me in a prescription but that I might have to go in...She did and I don't...unless it doesn't get better.  It's still slightly watery but not goopy like it was.  I'm not wearing my contacts (those that were in my eyes are in the trash) and thank God I haven't been using any of my eye makeup because I'd have to throw that away too.  Ugh!  What a pain in the ass.  And they say that I'm not contagious anymore after 24 hours...I promise I won't touch my eye and I've got my handitizer ready to go (that's my new word!!!).

In school news - I've pretty much gotten everything done that needs to be done before summer.  Yeah!  IEP reports - check.  Desk cleaned - check.  Filing cabinets cleaned - check.  DVDs stashed - check.  I just need to defrost my fridge and put shit away.  Hopefully FW will get us caseloads for next year and I can start doing my student folders.  We still don't know what we're teaching next year but HH said that should happen by Friday.  I won't hold my breath. 

(BTW - I feel kind of bad calling her FW considering all the shit she's going through right now but she hasn't proven herself yet so I'll keep it "just in case".)

My car:  It needs new pads on the back brakes and that will get done on Saturday by Jim's friend Brent.  The $400 job that Hyundai wanted to charge us will cost me about $100.  Assholes.  I still need two new tires but when Brent does the brakes, he'll check to see if anything else needs to be dealt with.  Having an aging car sucks.  I wish lease deals were a better way to go.  Oh well.

Okay so that's all I've got but of course I didn't forget my sweet Eva!  Here's the latest.  I think she looks like Chuck in this one...it's the upper lip thing...she's so pretty in her sweet pants!  K - later!

A Little Reds. A Little Eva. A Little Eye Goo.

EvaFirst of all...thank GOD!!!  The Reds won.  I couldn't watch last night because when I turned to MLB Baseball (which by the way annoys me because translated that means Major League Baseball baseball!  Why can't they just say MLB or MLB Game!?  UGH!) it was 2-0 Brewers and Fielder was up.  Last time I tuned in to the Brewers - Tuesday - Fielder was up and he took away our lead.  So, again, thank you Baby Jesus for the W last night! 

UGH!!!  My eyes are driving me nuts.  I don't know what's going on but since Saturday...Sunday?...my eyes have been a watery goopy mess.  I wake up with the crustiest, nastiest eyes and I don't know why.  I have showered and am wide awake but my eyes are STILL producing copious amounts of goop...sorry for the nasty picture I've put in your head.  Maybe it's allergies.  Maybe I need new contacts...I don't know but I should probably head to the Opthamologist.  UGH!!!  Again!!!

Okay - I better head out...but before I do!!!
 

So MAD!!! Cause I have the hiccups!



Here's your daily dose of Eva!



 





 

Sleepin with my mouth open.
Sorry about your shirt Nana!

 

Exhausted from my hiccups!

Froggy Went A-Courtin'

Isn't it nice to start the day off with a little Eva!?  Mmm...mmm...mmm...she is too delicious for words.  And can I just say that I wish they made that froggy outfit in my size!  Aunt Frog needs somethin' sportin' like that!

In school news:  Our contract was voted on and ratified yesterday.  207-28, I believe.  That's a smaller percent of idiots than I thought there would be...I'm a little surprised.  Oh, and get this...so the voting was yesterday before school in the large common area...just outside our cafeteria.  There are a bunch of tables there etc.  Well, two of the reps were out there sitting at one of the tables with ballots, pens and a list of teachers to check off as they voted.  Apparently there were some jackasses (BFC, pot stirrers) who complained that they felt intimidated and strong armed by those two teachers sitting there.  I guess in the HUGE, GINORMOUS area where there are dozens of tables (right around the area the two teachers were) these "intimidated" people (I wanted to use a different p word but refrained for the sensibilities of others) didn't realize they could just walk elsewhere and vote...you know, like adults.  Free will people...no one is forcing you to do anything.  If you feel you need to vote in secret maybe that's because you know it's the wrong way to go.  But whatever...it was ratified and you're attempt at getting others to be greedy like you didn't work!  Suck it!

Okay - well, I know this was a short one but I have to get ready and get Jim up...we have to drop my car off at the dealership for some service...my car started making a high-pitched noise on the way to school yesterday.  I think it's the brakes...it sounded like a REALLY LOUD bird.  In fact at first I thought it was a bird and I thought, "MY GOD!!!  THAT'S A LOUD BIRD!!!"  But it wasn't...it was my car.  Hee hee...k - later!

Exhaustion - No Sleep

You'd think that as exhausted as I was last night and yesterday that I would have slept like the dead...you would be wrong.  I mean, let me just tell you I wore myself OUT this weekend!  I dove into this heat feet first and didn't stop until my head hit the pillow last night.  Gardening, mowing, playing, walking, swimming!  I was hoping to hear the Reds game as I drifted off and nothing else until The Eagles woke me up this morning (that's what was playing when my alarm went off).  But alas, such dreams weren't meant to be.  I woke up at 1AM and tossed and turned for about 2 hours.  UGH!  Oh well, last real week of school...I can power through. 

So here's your daily hit of Eva!  She's just "chillin" in her monkey sunglasses...probably headed to Orange Leaf for some deeeeelicious yogurt!  Love her...lover her sweet wips! 

Well, as I said earlier...it is my last real week of school.  Today and tomorrow are normal days although the end of tomorrow will be 7th period exam.  After that, Thursday, Friday and Monday will be exam days with 2 exams per day.  Tuesday will be a work day...normally that is just checking out but who knows...things may change there.  Regardless, this time next week I will be just about DONE!!!  And not a minute too soon. 

And that's all I've got for now...I think I'll surf the net...later!

Bubba Just Called Jim A Fool!

These pups!  They are so demanding and devilish!  Jim was feeding Zeke his breakfast...well, let me tell you first what deliciousness Zeke has for breakfast.  First he gets a little package of wet dog food (Ceaser's Delight or something like that...chicken, porterhouse, beef and chicken...you know).  Then, we chop up a hot dog to go with it - this entices him to eat because sometimes he can get finicky and snotty about when/what he'll chow down on.  That gets heated for about 20 seconds in the micro and on top, mixed in he gets dry food.  We always save the last inch or so of the hot dog for Sami and fat Bubba...I mean Bubba.  And don't try and scimp on them or take your sweet time because they will DEMAND that they get a little sumpin sumpin and right quick too!!!  Today Sami yelled, "DAD!!!!  COME ON!!!!  I WANT MY DOG!!!!  I'LL CHEW OFF YOUR JUGULAR IF YOU DON'T LICKITY SPLIT!!!"  Bubba followed up with, "WHOO WHOO WHOO FOOL!!!  GET ME MY DOG!!!  I'M WITHERING AWAY!!!!"  They are debil dogs!

So yesterday was fun.  Jim and I went to Raeburn and swam all day, played with Clover and hung with Kristyn.  Trip and Susan got there around 3 and we then played with JBird and hung with Trippy and Susan.  Dad got home around 5 and we all sat and had sandwiches for dinner.  Jim and I headed home around 7:30...I was exhausted!  Mowing the front lawn yesterday took it out of me.  Our mower sucks and it's like pushing a two-ton boulder across the lawn...and our lawn is NOT little!  Ugh!  Anyway - we watched the game for a bit (dang Reds!) and then I fell asleep around...oh, probably 10 something.  Slept 'til 7:30. 

Plans for today include getting the flowers in the ground out front...Jim cleaned all the beds out yesterday.  The backyard needs mowing - now that some of the water has reduced.  Kristyn wants to go to Taste of Cincinnati today so after she takes Eddie to the airport, we'll head down.  Yum.  Other than that, I'll chill. 
Oh, shit!  I still have to go to school for another week!  What the heck!  Stink!  I'm so ready to be done.  Well, at least I'll have it easy once exams start.

Okay well I think I'll go walk Sami and then start yard work.  Later!

Who's A Monkey!?

I loves me a monkey girl!!!

I never get tired of that sweet face! 

She's going to have a big day today too.  Her grandpa is going to meet her today.  Aunt Anne and cousins Madison and Max are going up for the day.  Uncle Cullen has been there the last two days.  Nana is, of course still enjoying her.  The only people missing from this recipe are her Aunt Muir and Uncle Jim...and Aunt Susan and Uncle  Trip!  Stink!  That won't be much fun without us there!  I miss her!

Yesterday was quite productive.  I think I planted about 100 flowers for the deck.  It looks nice.  For the front, I planted to flower pots for the front porch and got two beautiful hanging baskets.  It will be Jim's job to clear the front beds and plant the flowers there. 

Jim tried to pump out the water from the backyard using a pump that dad had given him but the pump wouldn't work.  Dumb d-bag Jim didn't test the pump before he went out there and he managed to turn the yard into a bigger mud pit than it already was.  Pissed me off.  He then was forced to fence that area off and he tried to rope me into helping.  I told him that I had a set plan for what I wanted to get done yesterday and I wasn't going to stop what I was doing so I could get sucked into every little thing that he started and stopped doing.  Unbelievably, he didn't argue with me...I actually think he got what I was saying.  He quickly fenced the area off and continued with the jobs I had asked him to take care of.  Of course he only finished about half those things but I can't expect miracles overnight (hee hee).

Okay so today - before we head to Raeburn - I've asked Jim to clean out the front beds and cut the backyard.  He asked me at 7AM if he could start the lawn mower up then but I put the nix on that idea.  I wouldn't mind but I don't think the neighbors would appreciate it. 

So that's all I've got.  Talk later!!!

One Week Birthday!

Eva is one week old today!!!  Maggie sent these to me (keep 'em coming btw):


Pfft!!!  You're not my Aunt Muir!




Nothin' like a nippity nap with my papa
(under the blankie my Aunt Muir knit!)
















So, what are my plans today on this Saturday of a long weekend?  Well, with the weather calling for SUN!!!  Jim and I will be working outside.  First we'll clean the house.  Then we'll go get flowers to plant.  Then we'll do a little clean up outside and finally we'll actually plant said flowers!  I can't wait!  The backyard is still a disaster with all the rain and mud but I can't stand going out on the deck anymore and seeing nothing beautiful.  After that, we'll hang, I'll make dinner and we'll enjoy the hopefully beautiful day. 

Tomorrow, I'd like to head to Raeburn.  The pool is open and Trip and Susan and JBird are planning on going over after J.J.'s soccer game.  It's supposed to be 90 too so we'll need a little refreshment.  I think Kristyn and Clover will be there as well so - Bonus!!!

Last night Jim and I watched a comedian on Netflix...Louis CK (Maggie's been on my case about watching).  We laughed so stinkin' hard!  He was incredibly inappropriate but hilarious.  If you get a chance you should watch!  So funny! 

So that's it...I better get my day started because there's lots to do and I need to make sure Jim is staying on task...he's supposed to be emptying his car out right now but if I don't keep an eye on him, he'll end up emptying the garage or something!  ARG!  K - later!

Tighten Your Belts!

So, we had our meeting yesterday with our union to hear about our tentative contract.  The perks are that we got a 4-year contract like I had mentioned before (getting us through the biennium and Kasich) and our insurance will increase 0%.  In addition, we now have 3 personal days per year and can roll one over if not used in a year to have a total of 4.  For the length of the contract we also changed our total number of work days giving us an extra day off at the semester change (normally that was a work day for teachers).  Some of the things that have changed and are not really perks (but they are better than what other districts are going through):  Our insurance, though it isn't going up, is changing from a co-pay to a deductible.  In regard to pay, we are on a 1 year pay freeze and at least a two year step freeze.  This means that though this is my 10th year and I would normally move up a step in pay to 11, I will stay there for at least two years.  My pay next year will not increase.  My pay the following year will only increase slightly by about 1point something percent.  There are some other factors in there that could allow for a 4% increase at the end of the 4 years but it's all dependent on the personal property tax and I'm not sure what it all means.  We'll vote to ratify the contract or not on Tuesday.  I'm worried that people will get greedy here and NOT ratify it.  We've all been warned that if this doesn't get ratified - We. Are. F%&ked!  There are some pot-stirrers in our district though that will get others all riled up...cross your fingers.

Okay so it's Friday on a holiday weekend and I'm sooooo happy about that!  In addition - it's seniors last day today!  YEAH!!! So sick of seniors right now!  I have an IEP meeting today for a kid who unexpectedly decided to extend his schooling beyond his senior year (sped kids can be educated until 21) and is going to the career center.  UGH!  Had to put that together in about 3 days.  Parents can be such a pain in the ass!  Oh well - at least I have a job! 

Well, I best get moving...I need gas and I think I'll stop for a nice Starbucks coffee...that will be a thing of the past, however, as I start working on a new Hanke budget!  Later!

The Next Four Years!

First let me say that God must not want me to get sleep.  He must also enjoy watching me squirm and fidget as storm after storm passes over my house.  More "Severe Thunderstorms" went through last night at around midnight.  I was sleeping peacefully when the sirens started going off.  Things actually weren't too bad and Jim and I switched back and forth from the weather to the Reds game.  Reds game?  Yup, 19 innings!  And guess who won?  Not the Reds.  Sad!  Oh well.  Anyway - I was able to go back to sleep just after 1:00.  I'm a little sick of Mother Nature!  She can take her Wizard of Oz reenactments and shove 'em!

So, today is the meeting after school with our union to discuss our negotiated contract.  I talked to our incoming KEA president yesterday and she said she was very pleased with what they had bargained.  She did tell me some of the perks and good parts but I don't want to put it on here until the meeting for fear of getting things wrong.  I will say, however, that our teachers should be safe and secure for the next four years, at least!  This puts us through the biennium and that dick Kasich's term in office.  Jim and I may struggle in year one of this contract but we can do it, I think/hope.  I'll fill in more after school.

I don't have much else to say.  Guess I'll go finish my toilette.  Later!

Well Look At That!

Another year has gone by...you know how I know?  Cause, IT'S COOKIE MONSTER'S BIRTHDAY AGAIN!!!  I wonder how old he is!?  But wait a minute - that can't be right!  It seems like I just celebrated me friend Cookie birfday!  And yes, indeed, I did - Nov. 2nd!  What the heck?  Hold on!  Okay, I just looked it up and his birthday IS Nov. 2nd...but for some reason, my "holiday website" is saying that it's today and to "see also: Nov. 2"...very confusing and WRONG!!!  Although there is nothing wrong with celebrating Cookie's existence cause he is pretty special and awesome!  I mean, how cute is he in his tux!?

So yesterday - I was so distracted...I don't know what happened but there I am at Kroger...shopping...getting what I need...I saw someone I know there (friend of Terri's who's a beer rep)...checking out...bagging...walking to my car...la la la.  I get home, unload my groceries...put everything away and walk Sami.  Come home...do my sit up "Ab blaster" routine and then get some dinner prep going.  This is when I realize that I don't remember unloading my Kroger brand wheat egg noodles and the good delicious bread I had gotten.  So, I go out into the garage and look.  Nothing.  I look in my car...nothing!  I look in the fridge in the garage...nothing.  I look on shelves, under car, upstairs, downstairs in the laundry room...everywhere I had been.  Nothing.  I remember scanning the items and bagging them but I can't remember if I loaded them into my cart or not.  Anyway - I call Jim and ask him to stop on the way home to see if someone turned it in.  They didn't BUT!!!  How nice is Kroger that they let Jim get the items left behind for FREE! Now that's my kind of customer service. 

By the way:  Dinner last night was deeeeeelious.  A new recipe and here it is:

Saucy Chicken (SAUCY!!!)

• 2-4 chicken boobs
• 1 can cream of mushroom (I use fat free)
• 1 can cream of chicken (I use fat free)
• 1 c. sour cream (I use fat free)
• 3/4 c. white wine
• 1/2 t. salt and pepper
• 1 t. garlic powder
• 1 t. poultry seasonings
• 1/2 c. mushrooms (I would say this is optional though)
• Noodles or rice to serve over

Directions:

1. Lay chicken in baking dish (I used a square 8x8 for 2 boobs); slice mushrooms over chicken.  Mix soups, sour cream, wine and spices together.  Spread over chicken
2. Bake, uncovered at 350 for about an hour.  Serve over noodles (I used egg, wheat) or rice. 

This was easy, delicious and great to make extras for leftovers.  I served it with broccoli. YUM!

K - well, I'm out.  I got to hear my sweet little Thundercat Eva cry and squeak yesterday on the phone.  She's home now and met her brother and sister.  Max licked her and Zoe sniffed and then said, "Hmmm...okay," and walked away.  I hope she and Maggie got some sleep last night.  Later!

More Stupid Storms

We had some more fairly severe storms here last night.  I'm not sure I can take much more of this spring season.  They're saying it's been one of the worst in history - definitely not as bad as in Alabama and Missouri but it scares the shit out of me.  Jim managed to make it home just in time to comfort me as the winds picked up...it's the sound that really gets me.  It sounds so scary when those "sheer" winds suddenly get going - I start panting like Zeke (not really).  We made it through the storm - as far as I can see - without any damage but our neighbors had a ginormous tree go down  across their driveway...nearly hitting the front of their house.  When I went up to get ready for bed and looked out the window, I saw the tree, yelled to Jim about it and he went out with a bunch of other guys to help get it off their driveway.  One or two guys had a chainsaw and once they got through the trunk, they were able to make a path to their garage.  My neighbors hadn't been home at the time but they got home while the guys were working.  It's nice to have good neighbors.

And by the way - had that been our driveway?  Jim's car would have been crushed.  I'm actually surprised God didn't think of that and topple the tree our way.  Seriously though, I'm tempted to get all those trees that line our drive chopped down...Jim's car getting mangled by a falling tree is just about the last thing I can deal with right now.  But - let's not sit here and think of things that haven't happened yet and torture ourselves with, right?!

So, I miss Eva!  Maggie called last night and I heard her sweet little squeaks!  She misses her Aunt Muir, I'm sure!  Although after Maggie made me change her outfit yesterday for a picture, she's probably still a bit sore with me.  She does not like being naked!  And laid on her back!  And it didn't help that I put her pants on backwards and ended up having to take them off and put them back on again!  UGH!  She was so MAD!!!  And then she scratched herself!  Then she was starving but she was too mad to eat and that made her even crankier...but in the end her mama was able to soothe her.  She's so sweet (Eva, not Maggie - hee)!  I wish I had my camera cord to load more pics.  I'm so stupid (I left it at Maggie's). 

Okay, well, the rest of this week should be busy busy busy.  I have a meeting today with a student and RSC (vocational services for after high school).  I have 3 seniors who I never see that I need to meet with to get their signature for final IEP paperwork.  I have an IEP on Friday and it's seniors last week!  YEAH!!!  Thursday we have a meeting with our union to discuss the tentative agreement they've come up with for our contract.  Rumors are that it includes a 3 year pay freeze - great!  Insurance will be the biggie, however.  We'll see.  I'm trying to have a good attitude but it's hard.  (I'll just think of Eva through my week and that will make me smile and get through it!)

K - I better get going...who knows what's waiting for me at school.  Later!