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Robert Burns 250th birthday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Sunday marks the two hundred fiftieth birthday of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have “Auld Lang Syne” to sing every New Year’s Eve. How many people know all five verses of the song? I wonder what he’d think about having it in common use two hundred and fifty years after his birth. It’s an amazing feat when you think about it.
Robert Burns worked hard to revive and preserve traditional Scottish song, much of which, without him would be lost today. In our town, there are many planned festivities to honor him. Art exhibits, readings of his poetry, and several places are having Burns suppers. This features the Selkirk Grace (Burns version of a traditional dinner toast), a piper leads in the chef who carries the Haggis, immortalized in verse by Burns. All stand while his poem “Address to a Haggis” is recited. Along with the suppers, there are often Scotch tastings. It’d take a lot of Scotch tasting to coax me to eat Haggis. I’ve tried it and I don’t care for it. However, I could go for a lovely scotched egg or two.
Sometime during your Superbowl festivities on Sunday, lift a glass in honor of the man.
Posted in In memory of..., My blog, Writer, Writing
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
A caregiver’s break
Posted by doggonedmysteries
After Dear Hubby reassured me that he would be fine for a few hours, I got out of the house for a small, much needed break. I scooted off to our local Borders carting my manuscript along. I bought a large coffee, two writing magazines, and the DVD DH wanted. I settled down at a table with highlighters, a notebook, a pen, and my manuscript. I spent the next two hours sipping coffee, marking up the print out, making notes in colors on the pages, and writing out ideas in the notebook of where I can expand certain chapters. It’s the most work I’ve been able to do on the book in weeks.
Feeling more at peace and that I’d accomplished a lot, I left Borders and went to the grocery store. Yuck, I do hate shopping. However our cupboards were running to almost bare so it was a necessary trip.
When I arrived home, DH had the dogs in their crates, and the front door opened, he’d heard me pull into the driveway. It didn’t take long to unload the car.
Posted in MS related, My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
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
Chipping through the looking glass
Posted by doggonedmysteries
To be able to step through the looking glass as Alice did and deal with a strange land of chess pieces and a fearsome Jabberwocky would probably be easier at times than the day to day life we deal with. Heck, another day similar to yesterday and I’ll beg someone to give me a hammer to chip my way through the looking glass. I’d rather battle a Jabberwocky than watch him have such an awful day.
Dear Hubby never knows when he wakes up in the morning if he’ll be able to walk or not. I never know if it will be a good day or a bad day. Today was a good day.
Other than a sore spot on the back of his head where it met the wall yesterday, DH felt well. His balance was even halfway decent. In fact, after spending yesterday limited to his Lazy Boy he was restless today. Nevertheless, after yesterday’s fall I wasn’t taking any chances. Whenever he got up I asked him what he was doing, and did he need me to get him something. I couldn’t help myself. I probably drove him crazy treating him like Humpty Dumpty.
On days like this, I call Patty and Gavin Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee. They were silly and spent the day chasing each other about the house, wrestling over Nylabones, and getting under foot. I think they were happy that DH was feeling better.
Posted in Dog related, MS related, 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, Snow, Writer, Writing
Secondary Progressive MS kicks Dear Hubby’s ass
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Every day around here is another misadventure in wonderland. Today was worse than most days. Early this morning I awoke from a sound sleep, not sure why, couldn’t tell what woke me, but then I heard Dear Hubby call my name. When I got downstairs the first thing I saw was blood. It was running down the side of his head. I helped him to his chair. I ran to the kitchen, grabbed a clean towel from the drawer, and had him hold it in place. Then I grabbed a bunch of wet and dry paper towels to clean the blood off his head and hand and find out where it was coming from—fortunately, he had only three small cuts on his scalp. The fact that he had wet hair had made the blood run faster. I’m not squeamish, I don’t have the nurse gene, but I know first aid.
I assessed his damage and made sure he was okay by asking him all the concussion questions. Then I asked him if he wanted me to run him to our doctor’s emergency center. He told me no, he didn’t need to go there. Once I him settled, and was certain he was doing fine, I poured myself a cup of coffee, sat down, and began to shake. Having had only about two hours of sleep my body rebelled at the shot of adrenaline his fall had given me.
Right now, now that he’s safely in bed and asleep for the night, I’m angry, angry that there’s no real treatment out there for him. I’m angry that the research being done is spotty at best. I’m angry that although I do daily searches for any new drugs or clinical trials to help him nothing is out there except the same old same old.
I love him dearly and it pains me to see him fall further and further down the rabbit hole. I’m not Alice, and even though I wish I could with all my heart, I can’t rescue him.
Posted in MS related, 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
Gavin the master of illusion
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We had snow yesterday and again today. For a while today the snow fell in large flakes, fast and furious. Wouldn’t you know that during that time Gavin wanted to go out the most? Have you ever tried to follow the antics of a white dog in a snowstorm? It’s not that easy.
One minute he was trotting along the fence line and the next instant he was behind me. I almost fell over him. He does this all the time. You can tell he thinks it is funny. Bull Terriers have a way of grinning at you and their eyes are always full of mischief. I don’t recommend this breed to the faint of heart for they are truly a handful. We often joke that one day they’ll be the death of us.
I’m certain there are times that Patty envies Gavin his winter camouflage. Patty can only get away that sort of maneuver at night and never in the snow. Then again, she has nighttime stealth capabilities. This, along with her sharper temperament, is why she’s the one who sleeps in the crate with the unlatched door.
Posted in Dog related, 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, Snow, Writer, Writing
This old house is a half bubble off plumb
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Maybe even three quarters of a bubble off plumb. We probably would never have noticed if it weren’t for the new curio cabinet. There I am trying to take a picture of it for a friend of mine when after snapping a couple of shots I couldn’t help but notice that in each picture the cabinet looked crooked. It’s not the cabinet, which is perfectly square. It’s my floors.
I should’ve figured that out right away because this house is well over one hundred years old. However, I’m sure others will agree that a crooked house isn’t the first thing that you’d think of at the time. Nooooo, you go ACK! My new cabinet is crooked. For what I paid, it should be straight. It’s after that initial outburst, that you realize it’s not the cabinet.
Maybe the day we put in new flooring our cabinet will be level…or not. With a century old house, you never have any certainty other than it is still standing after all these years. Yes, it is old but this house has character, a history, and it will probably last another century. You can’t say that about new houses.
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
A place for everything—well, at least some of the things.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We’ve collected Bull Terrier figurines for twenty-eight years but have had no real way to display most of them. Nearly all of them I’d carefully wrapped in bubble wrap packed them in boxes and stashed them in our attic. We kept telling ourselves that one day we’d be able to unpack them and set them out in a curio cabinet or something. I don’t like clutter, things scattered about on bookcases and tables, collecting dust, and, with OUR DOGS getting broken.
Yesterday, on a whim, we went bargain shopping. We managed to find a bargain basement priced curio cabinet. A local high-end furniture store is going out of business and has a huge sale going on. (Who can resist that?) This morning our curio cabinet arrived, much to our surprise, we really didn’t expect it for a few days since they had to bring it in from one of their other three stores. Dear Hubby and a neighbor went and picked it up. I woke to find our new cabinet all set up except for the glass shelves. They left that to me. (Smart men!)
Unfortunately, it didn’t take me long to fill it and I think there are still a few stray Bull Terrier figurines hiding in the attic. However, it looks wonderful. Instead of clutter, I have a beautiful cabinet filled with our lovingly chosen Bullies. We purchased most of them at dog shows where I was showing our dogs, so they all have wonderful memories connected to them. A few were given to us by dear friends. One little one is very special to me since my baby sister gave it to me two years before she died and I’m glad to be able to see it every day now.
Posted in Dog related, hobbies, 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, gifts, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Hero pilot and the “miracle on the Hudson”
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Isn’t it wonderful to hear good news for a change? I want to add my praises to the long list of others who have already done so. Three cheers for the pilot of the US Airways jet who landed the Airbus in the Hudson. This man then proceeded to go through the plane twice to make sure that all his passengers were safely out. I wasn’t surprised to hear he was a former US Air Force fighter pilot.
I salute you sir. I’m a daughter of a USAF Officer and I am proud of you and your crew.
Chesley Sullenberger, his co-pilot Jeff Skiles, and the entire crew of that jet deserve all the kudos they can get. They kept their heads and saved over one hundred passengers. As I watched the news last night the story about these people, the rescue workers, and other civilians who helped get the passengers safely to dry land had me choked up. I cannot applaud them enough. Well done people!
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
Will CSI continue to be as interesting without Grissom?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
As a mystery writer and the wife of a retired Police Officer, I know that what you see is not what you get in real life from a CSI unit. Nevertheless, I enjoy the show. I’ve listened to Dear Hubby say, “there’s no way they’d get the results that fast.” At a writer’s conference I sat in (author of Police Procedures and Investigation a Guide for Writers) Lee Lofland’s ‘CS I don’t believe it’ session. He told us the same thing DH had told me. I still enjoy the show.
I’ve watched CSI from the start. It is the best of the three CSI programs. I will miss Gil Grissom’s (William Peterson) unassuming persona. I am thrilled that they didn’t end his role violently as they did Warrick’s (Gary Dourdan). It’s time they had a character leave with happy results. Gil Grissom has gone to Costa Rica to be with Sara.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to seeing what they do with their new cast member Dr. Raymond Langston (Laurence Fishburne). However, I do wonder if the show will ever be as good. I hope so. Fishburne has some enormous shoes to fill.
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, TV Shows, Writer, Writing
A cold day in…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Wind chills are dropping the temperatures down into the single digits. Do the pups want to go out? Only if they have to. I’m sure if they had long double coats they might want to be out more but they don’t. Tomorrow is supposed to be colder so I suspect we’ll have to use a crow bar to pry them from their favorite warm places.
They didn’t volunteer to go outside once today. For a change, the bells on the back door remained silent. We have a string of sleigh bells nailed on to the door that they ring when they want to go out. On warm days, Gavin will ring the damned bells every five minutes. On warm days, I’m tempted to wring his neck and I curse the day old Sadie taught him how to ring them.
Late tonight, for their last out, I sent Patty into the backyard, she ran out a few yards, squatted, and dashed back in the door. Gavin went out, took about four steps, raised his leg on a planter to the right of the door, and sprinted inside. Both gave me looks that said, “You woke me up for this? It is friggin’ cold out there!”
Posted in Dog related, 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, Snow, Writer, Writing
It wasn’t an easy day for Dear Hubby
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Dear Hubby had a pain management appointment today. He’d had to reschedule after last week’s minor fender bender that he had on the way there. He didn’t get the usual late afternoon appointment he prefers. He had to be there at nine in the morning. Not trusting himself to get up on time, and stay awake enough to go, he asked me if I minded playing alarm clock for him. Since it meant staying up only an hour or two longer than I normally do, I said I would.
Before I woke him, I took the pups out, fed them, and made a pot of coffee. This way when he came down there was nothing he HAD to that would tire him out before it was time to leave. I also had him take my car instead of his truck when I saw his windshield had ice on it and mine was clear.
I often drive him to his appointments but he’d already planned to go alone this time. I believe he thinks I need a break from running him to all his doctors and with the cold weather, he feels well enough to drive himself. I kissed him goodbye, told him to drive carefully, and headed to bed.
When I came down later, I could tell he’d had a rough day. The pups were snoozing in their crates, DH kept dozing in his chair, and he avoided walking unless he absolutely had to. It seems that the pups decided today was pester DH day. Once he arrived home from his appointment, they didn’t give him a moment’s rest.
Posted in MS related, 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, Snow, Writer, Writing
Looking for caption ideas
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The two dogs on the top of this page are our present dogs and that is one of my favorite pictures of them. The white Bull Terrier is Gavin and the dark one is Patty. You have no idea how long it took to get that shot of them. When one pup would stay down the other would pop up. If they weren’t popping up and down, one or the other would decide to wander off as soon as I had the camera ready.
It does look as though they are grumbling to each other. Occasionally, I change the caption under their picture. I’ve had a couple of suggestions from friends as to what those two nut ball dogs are saying. I haven’t used them yet.
Now I’d like to hear some suggestions from my readers so please tell me in the comments section here. I only ask that you please keep it clean, silly is fine, and if it makes other readers read on through the blog, all the better!
I’m quite excited that today my blog stats showed it passed the 20,000 mark in hits in less than four months. Thank you!
Posted in Dog related, 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, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
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