I always get what I want

I would like to start this entry with the fact that Costco kicks ass all over the place. When I shop there I might spend what seems to be quite a bit, but I don't have to go back for months. I'm all over it.

I would also like to thank the Arian Nation skinheads for changing history. After this I am going to put on my steel toed boots and find me a little brouhaha. This just goes to show you TV rots your brain. Trash in, trash stays in. Either that or I am way to easily influenced.

The holidays were so surreal this year. We had a little early get together the weekend before Christmas with Mr. F's brothers, their kids and GF's, also there was his grandma, his mom, and her BFF. Without going into to many details, the dinner was excellent and very enjoyable. Even though I was late making the dinner cold, guess how many times I heard this? Guess how many times it effected me? We got his mom this globe she's been wanting forever and I finally made a mom cry in a good way. The after math of dinner was fucking wild, had little to do with me and I just don't want to talk about it. Just wow. Long story short: Don't drink gallons of booze and then try to fix every single issue you have with your relationship. Or do and pay the consequences for the rest of that relationship.

I didn't go home for Christmas and that was a funky little feeling I simply couldn't shake no matter what I did. Then Christmas morning greets me with a text from my sister that my mom is in the hospital. It goes on to say she's not sure what to do but remembered I said she can talk to me about anything and feels bad about ruining my Christmas with the news. Hence the text and no call. Wha?? Backtrack... I was so fucking ill this Christmas it was amazing. The gravel voiced hacking cough feverish hot cold hot cold I can't breathe through my nose where is all this mucus coming from oh my god my muscles have decided they cannot support my skeleton any longer sick. I should have gone to bed the minute I felt this coming on but it was Christmas eve for crying out loud and there were parties to attend. Besides, aren't viruses the ultimate re-gift? It's like the gift that keeps on giving for absolutely no cost. Money wise anyway. VALUE!! So ate a bunch of DayQuil and Aleve and then drank some more of that Airborne stuff. Have you tried this fizzy wonder drink? You should, I swear it was the thing that gave me my 15th wind. And off we went into a winter wonderland. Once we were in Flagstaff anyway. Until then it was more like a kind of chilly lots of cacti wonderland. I met the fam, they loved me no doubt. Then we went off to Flag where Mr. F had booked us a lovely little hotel room with a jacuzzi and I got to soak my aching self and let the steam work congestion miracles. Lucky me, earlier I had received lavender everything from Mr. C (I can't help but wonder if he's hoping it will help me relax, little does he know eh?) and in that little package of rest was a bottle o bubble bath. It was a hot swirly effervescence heaven. I just want to recommend being sick on the holidays. It takes away any and all of the normal stress of the holiday and replaces it with a big huge I don't give a fuck. It's marvelous. Don't get me wrong, I smiled and I enjoyed myself to a stupid degree but that usual nagging everything has to be perfect was gone like yesterday. Perfect.

Oh yeah, so anyway after leaving the hotel we went and spent Christmas day with Mr. F and his girlfriend at her place. She has four dogs (and I sweat two!! ha!!) so Jim was invited in and that made everything completely a-ok in my book. It ruled. We took off from there and romped about in the truck on dirt trails up a mountain for a while. It was fun and scary. Then home and for me, bed.

I scored big time this year. I'm satisfied with everything. I can't remember a year I wasn't now that we're on the subject. Not going home proved to be okay as now Mr. F can join me for a trip back after the New Year. I love the New Year, it's my favorite holiday. It will be spent here. We're thinking about just having a big old party at our house so we don't have to worry about driving. Does it get any smarter? Probably not. This place is a fucking think tank.

You're how old??

So I spoke to soon. :( The daughter of Toby's owner showed up today to get the little guy. I don't use the C word often and it's basically come down to me believing I don't use it often enough. She has the trump card and played the victim the entire time with her fathers failing health and all. I don't want to sound like a total bitch but this chick couldn't care less about Toby and I can't help but wonder how much she cares about her father. She told me Toby is the only thing keeping her father alive but to much of a liability to let live anywhere else. She then took him away to live all by himself at the fathers condo which is now vacant. That's right. She's going to *try* and stop by once a day if it's possible to at least feed him. I can't tell you how bummed out I am. I tried, I really did. You know when you are talking to someone and after a minute you know they are to selfish and uncaring to hear anything anyone is going to say because they are so focused on being the poor victimized soul? Yeah, me too. Whatever. Everyone at work is now freaking out over the neglect factor. Animal control will be called on Monday and we're going to see if they can get the little guy out of there. Otherwise, I might have to make this a re-con mission. I'll tell you how it goes...

On a way tastier note, I have a blueberry pie in the oven and the crust is incredibly cool. It could be blogged. The crust consists of christmas trees around the edge and a snowman in the middle. JH is in fact #... well, hold on here...

Today is Mike's birthday!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!!! I'm going to go ahead and take a back seat for like 5 seconds and give a shout out to the MM.

MM #1!!

Don't you bite me!

So here's the latest plan. Well, maybe plan isn't the best of descriptions...

There I was at work minding my own business when I see a super fat, old cairn terrier in the boarding section. His eyes were caked with yellow crust and he's not looking to happy. On his cage is a florescent yellow paper that reads: CAUTION! WILL BITE! Of course I find this amusing. I mean, this little dog has everyone in an uproar. He can't be more than 30 pounds. He should be 20 but that's besides the point don't you think? My feeling is, the fatter the little ones are, the more manageable they are. This one has sunk his little canine teeth into a couple different people. Can you see where this is going yet?

Side Note: Right now, right this very second I am sitting out back on the swing in front of the newly installed fire pit. Oh the weather outside is... kind of nice really... and the fire is so delightful! I have never before sat around a fire pit while living in the city. And yes, it's as bad ass as it sounds.

Of course I have to enquire about this feisty marauder because the sign keeps cracking me up. He's 12, his owner had a stroke, the daughter now has the little dog but wants him gone because he keeps biting the kids. He has a thyroid issue (weight issue solved), his eyes need drops (crusty eyes explained) and she has done neither for quite some time. The little guy is uncomfortable, has itchy sore eyes and is totally PISSED about everything and in my opinion, he has every right to be. 12 years with one person and then you're whisked away to a place with small bothersome children. When you tell them to get the hell away from you for the last time, you are then put somewhere where people are known to stab you. I would bite too. A lot. I am not Toby however and in effect, I am not doomed. Since the old man can no longer care for his brutish little friend, Toby is scheduled to be euthanized. Okay, *now* is the picture becoming less muddled?

Mr. F came by today to meet the Tobster. They did well together but it had a lot to do with the beef jerky Mr. F was munching on. Whatever... success is success after all. Jim ignores Toby and Toby ignores him back. Perfect. We're going to give it a go. If everything works out, he can stay with us for his final years.

I'm going to try this flower essence thyroid medication just to see if it works. If it doesn't, I'll get the western prescription he would need. I have always wondered about those flower remedies though, haven't you?

I have to get some sweats for walking an hour every morning. 6 is simply to early for jeans. Speaking of the morning. Every morning there is a little bird that visits the hummingbird feeders. I have never seen anything but hummers before this so needless to say, I am psyched to see it's little blah brown self every time it latches on and drinks the glorious nectar. The hummers hate it, but there's not much to be done when you are stoically ignored. Once again, size does matter.

Happy Holidays!

I couldn't have asked for a nicer day

but if it were possible I would have given it a shot. I would have opted for Sunday since that's my other day off and housework would not predominate my need for fresh air and sunshine. I have the sliding doors cracked but it's just to chilly to have them wide open like I prefer. It's fine. I have monkey slippers and my feet give me the most hassle about brisk winds drifting through the house.

Has ebonics truly taken over the holidays? And on that note, is everyone ready for the holiday? Is all your shopping done? Anyone else want to beat the shit out of the next person that asks that? If I had every day off with nothing to do, I still wouldn't have my shopping done at a decent time. It's part resentment and part procrastination. That usually equals doing everything at the last minute. It's a working system for me so I'm not changing a thing. My Christmas cards are finished and that's a big old sigh of relief. I really get off on the whole card thing. Apparently the post office, grocery store and corner stores don't share my cardasm because no one has stamps. That's right, THE POST OFFICE IS OUT OF STAMPS. WTF IS THAT??? I can't remember the last time I went to the post office for anything besides postage. I'm shaken. It just confirms that the internet should be accessed and used for everything. Am I really just a rat pushing the lever for more food while freaking out because it just might deliver an electric shock *this* time?

Things have been happening here. The empty corner is not so empty. The back yard has an extended brick patio. The bushes and bonsai tree will be covered in lights by the end of today. There is even a stocking hung by the chimney with care. Clearly it's Jim's. We're even considering getting a puppy. If that's not a together crew, I don't know what is. Either that or little miss Annabelle, Lina or Billie is simply going to join the chaos. Is trying out all your puppy rearing theories the wrong reason to get that little bundle of malleable fur? I'm guessing it's the exact wrong reason to have a baby. Doesn't that make the entire thing slightly more agreeable in your head? Worry not, love is part of the master plan.

Am I the only person that gets water everywhere any time I do laundry? Why is mopping such a fiasco? That said, break's over. I'll come back and post all the pictures later. Maybe even tangent a bit more. Who's to tell?

The pizza is not done so...

The imposed shopping spree came to an end with appropriate results. I don't want to say I am pleased with it all, but at least it's over with. On the upside it reminded me to look for a fireplace tool set, and I found this bad ass contraption online. It's a good deal and very efficient. As much as I like the whole log holder over here and tool set over there in the name of symmetry, you just can't beat a log carrying pouch now can you? Also, that shit gets pricey. I mean, it's holding wood. The spacing in the basket appears to big for gems and such.

The desk was retrieved this morning and is now in the correct location for anything. It's huge. It's perfect. I am a creativity goddess.

I am bitchin'

I want to like Christmas. Every year I put up some decorations, buy gifts and fake it all the way through. I am a true believer in NOT faking it (Christmas included) but every year this silly obliging holiday seems more and more unnecessary.

Side note: My computer now automatically spell checks everything for me. I don't know why this started but I am so in.

This year I drew my boss from the you have to buy this person a gift container and I am totally stumped. First, I barely know him. Second, forced gift buying is weird. Mr. F and I are going to go walk around the mall and see what we come up with. Since AZ gets down with the mfing shopping plazas, I believe this is pretty much half over. The resentment still flows but what should be should be.

There is a running cartoon in my head today. It's hysterical and consists of people wanting to save money on their dental work but being worried about students taking care of it. It goes on to a classroom of young children participating in what do you want to be when you grow up day. If they say a dentist, they are whisked away to see what they are made of. Needless to say, my dental students are all just under 6 years old and totally ready to learn while gripping things like drills and such.

What is your problem? Just tell me. Say something damn you!!

This was quite the weekend...

Friday night served as time for Mr. F's mom to decorate. This woman gets down when it comes to the presentation of her home. I brought all my wreath parts and put it together while visiting. How nice and cozy.

Saturday consisted of work until one and then I came home to find Mr. F waiting for me so we could go get the bricks he found on CL. I'm thinking, how hard can moving some bricks be? Ends up it's pretty hard. In total there was about two tons or so. :F Even in a built tough Ford we had to make two trips. The first trip was... interesting. We left the house and stepped into fresh air perfect weather sunshine goodness. We got to the bricks just in time for the now cloudy sky to open up and offer the first drops of the torrential downpour that would effectively soak us while we moved the first million bricks. I was sent back to the interior of the truck so that I could be spared. That didn't last very long. Let's face it, it's a small area with nothing to do. Mr. F sat out the part of the storm that blinded you and did we just seriously see hail? Then we both went back out and finished the job. Back at the house it was time to unload the bricks into the backyard over our no gate wall. We then went to dinner with some friends. Once home Jim did not meet us at the door, he was more swaying in the hallway which is bizarre behavior as he usually celebrates our homecoming. I don't know what happened but he couldn't walk very well at all. He couldn't turn his head or put it down to eat or drink, nor could he wag his tail. When he did take a couple of steps his whole body was stiff and he walked with roach back until finally just giving up and looking at us for help. He was all fucked up like he had massive amounts of pain or something. After doing the initial freak out, I carried him out back to let him pee and then tucked him into bed so he would stay still hoping some bed rest was all he needed. Oh yeah, there was also the poking, prodding and squeezing I put him through just to see if I could *find something*. I have a wait and see week philosophy when regarding animal injury or illness so we had six more days anyway. Besides, I work in a vet office. They'd be the first to push aside my philosophy and treat the problem. That left me 1.5 days to carry my 55# sick dog around the house and yard. I could hang. Mostly because I am the master when it comes to 55 pounds of anything and my ability to say "honey, can you get this for me with your massive man muscles?" Works every time. Admiration and all that.

Sunday we wake up to Jim still in all kinds of pain but seeming a little bit better. Since we had to go get the other million bricks, I made him a little bed in the back seat of the truck (he wanted to go with us and his pathetic tries to get to the door broke me down) and off we went. Commence part two of the brick gathering and moving. Holy shit were there a lot of bricks left. For some reason, when there is a massive job for me to complete and it ends up taking longer than one sitting, my mind remembers the entire process being smaller and easier than it is. Maybe it's just doing that so I will actually go back to it. I mean, had I remembered how many bricks there truly were, I would have stayed in bed that morning and then slowly sipped my coffee and waited for his return. Mr. F's brother came by to help with the last of the stacking in the yard since I was about to collapse. How sore are my muscles? How sore was Jim? By the afternoon, he was gimping around the house saying hi to us and checking out our work. By the evening he was doing his little hop thing at the door and wagging his tail. This morning he was totally fine except for favoring his right front leg a little. Of course once it was time to be checked out by the vet, he was in such good health he actually jumped onto the examining table himself. I am now perceived as someone that blows things waaaaay out of proportion. Which can be true, but not when concerning my dogs health.

I don't know if you are aware, but there have been discussions about my little piles everywhere habit. I have pondered this for a while now and I finally figured it out. The first thing we need to recognize is my need for things to do. The second is my total disregard for anyone else I am living with when finding a place for my half completed tasks. I'll put it anywhere but the kitchen really. Food stains and potential fire hazard. This is not good. I mean, it's not totally bad, but it seems to put people out. I came up with the solution of giving me a place in the house that I can use to put everything that is all over the house. We had another discussion and realized there is stuff everywhere because there is no designated place to put it all. I am all about keeping things neat and orderly and Mr. F cannot live in chaos. It bums him out. I am now the proud owner of my very own kitchen nook corner! I had all ready kind of claimed it with my little craft organizer plastic drawer thing so it made sense. It's also out of the way and not visible until you are coming in the back door. PERFECT! I am going to find one of those corner desks on CL. I will finally have a place for all my paperwork and crafting materials. I will not only have a place to do anything I want but I will also have a man whose patience is no longer tested with so pretty inanimate objects. Like I need little piles to do that. Come on, give me some credit here.

The pictures of the yard and empty soon to be full of desk and my stuff corner are in the camera. I'm lazy and tired. It's either nap time or coffee time but not picture time. Oh well. Maybe later.

Can we take a minute to talk about me?

Great. Thanks. So here we are again. Together. This is nice. As nice as my Christmas wreath you ask? Probably not, but you have to believe me when I tell you, even I had no idea it would come out this breath taking. Yes, the JH has once again created something so lovely, even she is aghast with surprise and pleasure. Eat it KS!

As always your viewing pleasure is my top priority...

Oh yeah, hey, stay tuned for backyard updates! So exciting!!