Category Archives: Misc
Me? Shy?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’ll talk to anyone, anywhere, much to Dear Hubby’s and many other people’s chagrin. I was in Target today and managed to engage in two different conversations before I hit the register to check out. No wonder a trip that should’ve taken me less than fifteen minutes took me an hour.
When Mother was alive, she used to shake her head in disbelief, as I would engage some stranger in a lively conversation. However, I think she secretly enjoyed every moment.
Me? Shy? Nope. Dave will attest to that since he’s met me in person. At writers conferences you will find me having the time of my life talking to people well into the wee hours.
I can’t help it, I enjoy talking to people that’s why I broke sales records when I worked retail. My bosses loved it. I don’t work retail any more because I got so I didn’t like doing it. It wasn’t the customers as much as it was my last boss.
On the other hand, if my internal alarm goes off and tells me that a person is bad news, (and my alarm is very accurate) I will avoid said person.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
What happened to…?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My old dryer had an ‘I’m done’ buzzer that you could hear three blocks away, which was a good thing since my washer and dryer reside in the basement. A couple of years back said dryer croaked for good and went to appliance heaven. My new dryer, although more efficient, is lacking the buzzer, it has a teensy anemic chime. Very cute for those of you who have a dryer in a laundry room, just off the bedroom, but my dryer is in the frigging basement. That cute widdle chime isn’t audible from ten feet away much less, from another floor.
I miss my buzzer. Too often, I forget I have something in the dryer, and by the time I remember, everything is a wrinkled mess. To set the record straight, no, I don’t iron. I hate to iron. I do believe my iron is gathering dust somewhere on the back porch. There’s a remove wrinkle cycle on the dryer for a reason.
Manufacturers tend to cater to the rich or near rich. I am of neither category. Would it be too much to ask that when they put those anemic chimes in appliances they also add a button or two giving people the choice of say, foghorn, siren, or klaxon?
The dogs have refused to learn to ‘speak’ when the chime chimes, dag nabbit.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Time for another MIL update
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m not sure if I mentioned before that my mother in law had broken the other femur quite a few years back. Well, because of that broken femur or the present one, it seems that one leg is shorter than the other is. They have fitted MIL with braces and they seem to be helping her walk a lot better than she has for years. Chalk up one for the new doctors.
Her PTs told Dear Hubby that if she continues at this rate she might get to go home soon. Although when he asked what their definition of soon was they sort of hemmed and hawed and never did give him a straight answer. MIL is determined and she desperately wants to be back in her own home. I’m certain she is beyond sick and tired of being in the rehab hospital.
I’m going to have buy her more candy for her basket DH says the level is falling rapidly. (At least MIL doesn’t have diabetes and can use a bit of weight. She’s quite thin.) DH says she’s enjoying the chocolates and in particular the dark ones with raspberry inside. I guess we’ll double up on those this time.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
If you were a movie, what would your title be?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’d be Steel Magnolias’ Ice Age The Meltdown. Dear Hubby says his would be Road to Perdition’s Baitshop. Our resident loony dog, Gavin would be One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Look Out Something Wicked This Way Comes. Patty would be The Last Mimsy Plays Jumanji.
Dave told me to write about him tonight, so Dave I’m putting you down as Arsenic And Old Lace Meets A Gun, A Car, And A Blonde. I’m sure you’d rather pick your own title and you are welcome to in the comments.
I thought of one for one of our cohorts at the PW conferences and I know anyone who knows him will guess who it is by this title—Sin City’s Man of the Year.
Now dear friends, I’m depending on you to come up with some real humdingers. So go for it!
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Dumb questions
Posted by doggonedmysteries
If you don’t want to hear my smartass answer, don’t ask me a dumb question.
When I took Gavin and Patty for their walks today, a neighbor asked me, “Are you going for a walk?”
“No, I’m tap dancing and the dogs are going along with it.”
I staggered from the car to the house with a forty pound bag of dog food slung over my shoulder and someone asked, “Is that heavy?”
“Nope, I always walk like this.”
I dragged a few dozen flats of flowers out of car and had them next to the gate ready to take them into the yard when another neighbor asked, “Gonna plant some flowers?”
“Nah uh, I’m going to toss out the plants and use the dirt for decoration.”
After watching me spend the day running up and down two flights of stairs doing laundry Monday, tonight Dear Hubby asked me, “Do I have any clean underwear?”
“No, I was just carting those laundry baskets around all day on Monday for the fun of it.”
I’m curled up in my chair, paperback book opened, and I’m very, very quiet. Dear Hubby asks, “Are you reading?”
“No, I’m counting pages.”
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
A little bit of this a little bit of that…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Wow, my hits passed the 30,000 mark…Thank you dear readers.
It almost felt as though winter was tapping us on the shoulder again yesterday. Today was a bit warmer and tomorrow is supposed to be warmer yet. At least I should be able to get out to do a little yard work.
I took the pups for walks today they both enjoyed meeting and greeting some of the neighbors who happened to be out. Gavin was shyly sucking up for neck scratches and showed off his paw shaking skills for cookies. It’s a good thing I’d preloaded my pockets before we went for his walk. Then I took Patty out. Gavin will mosey along while Patty wants to keep up a fast pace, places to go, people to see, smells to smell—let’s move it, Mom. She is more on the boisterous side when it comes to meeting and greeting people. They love her enthusiasm when she does ‘stick ‘m up’ for them…or rather for the cookies. Yes, I did fill my pockets again.
Dear Hubby is so tired. I do hope they release his mother from the Rehab hospital before I leave for my writers’ conference in mid May. If not, he’ll probably have to get some help with her dog during the time I’m gone so he doesn’t have to run over there twice a day. Our two dogs can be enough of a handful for him when he’s not tired.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Where does the time go?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It’s hard to believe that the end of March is almost here. At the beginning of this month, the days seemed to drag but now they are rushing by. There’s so many things that I’d wanted to finish before the first of April but it looks as though I won’t succeed. So much for giving myself a deadline.
Best laid plans and all that…. Time certainly gets away from me. I’ve found that there’s no way I can keep to a schedule because every time I try, something jumps up to bite me. I have to have my computer and Dear Hubby’s cell phone set up with reminders for everything from appointments to when certain bills are due.
A reminder popped up while I was writing this seems Patty has a vet appointment in 2 weeks for her rabies shot. This should be fun since she enjoys going there unlike Gavin.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Adventures in DIY Land…EEKS!!!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Before his MS caught up to him, Dear Hubby had many home improvement projects in the works. Now he’s unable to do them so we’re stuck with a few unfinished DIY ventures. Then there’s all the stuff around the house that needs repair work done. It’s enough to send me screaming off into the wilderness.
Although I am capable of doing many things, lifting dry wall isn’t one of them, and we have two rooms that need it. The last time I tried to lift some dry wall panels, I managed to get one about a foot off the ground before my back chimed in, “Are you stupid? You sat in front of a computer for years and now you want me to help you lift that? I’ll show you!”
OUCH! I spent the next several days with a heating pad as my best friend. My second best friend was the muscle relaxant my doctor prescribed.
Soon I’ll be climbing a ladder to do all the painting I need to do. It’s not that easy when you have a fear of heights. I get halfway up the ladder and my brain hits me with, “You’re going to fall. Can’t you feel the ladder shaking? Tell you what. How about I hit your adrenals get them pumping and start your heart racing a little?” There’s nothing quite like some cardio work and an adrenalin rush to brighten your day.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, DIY, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
MIL update 3/19
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Dear Hubby didn’t get out to see his mother today since we were busy taking both hers and our paperwork to HR Block to get the taxes done. (If you’re reading this Patti, hi!) Patti is great she’s been doing our taxes for several years now. I know if it was hubby or me doing them, it’d take forever. She has both ours and the MIL’s done in no time.
Yesterday they took another X-ray of MIL’s femur and tomorrow DH should hear what the results were. I made up a basket with silk flowers, a get well card, and a bunch of wrapped chocolates for her that he’ll take over on Saturday. She’s stuck in her room with no PT on Saturdays and Sunday so she should enjoy her basket. I would’ve added books if she was a reader but she’s not.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Memed…gee, thanks. I think.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Thanks Granny Anne (http://grannysramblings.wordpress.com/). I was struggling for a topic tonight anyway. I wasn’t going to post about my birthday–too boring.
My favorite recordings are, in no particular order…
Mozart, The Complete Piano Sonatas, Philippe Entremont — I often listen to them while I’m writing.
Mick Maloney and Eugene O’Donnell –for some toe tapping Irish fun
Sean Nua– for the same
Joe and Antoinette McKenna–easy listening Irish music
Celtic Reflections …again while I write and when I’m not in the mood for Mozart
Queen and Meatloaf, when I’m cleaning… for the energy
Saffire, the Uppity Blues Women–any time!
Dixie chicks…and various other country/western singers.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Top O’ the marnin’ to ye
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Happy St. Patty’s Day everyone!
Every year, my friends send me Irish jokes. I wear green. I cook corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes. My house bounces to the rhythms of Irish/Celtic music all day long. Dear Hubby is a true sweetheart and puts up with the second of two days a year where I kick up my heels at home.
To top everything off we’re supposed to have lovely weather for the day. The next day is supposed to be even better which couldn’t please me more since it’s my birthday.
(On a private note, Happy Birthday Cuz! )
Posted in Holidays, Misc, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writing
Tax Season
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Dang, it’s here again isn’t it? This year we’ll take the MIL’s papers along with us when we get ours done and have hers done too. We did it last year because she was ill and now this year she’s in the hospital recovering from her nasty fall. Speaking of nasty falls, I do hope VP Biden’s mother recovers quickly from hers.
My neighbor already has her tax return. Normally we have ours by this time too but with all the running about we’ve been doing we’re running late. Dear Hubby made an appointment for us to get ours done so at least that much is out of the way. We need only show up with our paperwork and the woman who does our taxes is finished and has them filed electronically in fifteen minutes. No wonder we keep going back to her.
It’s a shame that there are no deductions for pets and their veterinary bills. Gavin’s surgery for the aural hematoma costs us a pretty penny.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
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