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Even dogs get cabin fever
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Neither Patty nor Gavin enjoy trudging through the deep snow outside. Therefore, they’ve begun to romp inside more than usual with DH and me taking the brunt of their zest. They run around like maniacs and use us as bumpers when they make turns. Either that or they leap onto our laps leaving black and blue paw prints behind.
Gavin had quieted down and had stretched out alongside me in my chair. He likes an afternoon nap. Patty was still looking for mischief. First, she poked his paw with her nose as she walked by. Then she walked past again and nosed his chest. The third time by she poked him in the nose a couple of times. I must say Gavin tried mightily to ignore her.
She, who is not to be ignored, wanted to play. She went and stood by DH’s chair and studied Gavin for a few minutes. Gavin was trying to doze. He even faked it by closing his eyes tight. However, I could feel his body tense as he sensed her scrutiny.
Patty walked past us and went into the kitchen. A few seconds later, she bounded back into the living room and pounced on both of us. Gavin shot out of the chair, bully runs and hucklebutts ensued. I can’t wait until they can burn off some energy outside.
Posted in Dog related, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Where did my brain go?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My brain went on a vacation. However, it did leave several voice mails for me.
Message 1: “Um, hello? Geez, I hate voicemail. Anyway, this is your brain. I’m going on vacation. I hear that Hawaii doesn’t have snow.”
Message 2: “It’s me again. You know. Your brain? I just wanted to let you know I forgot to put coffee on the grocery list, you might want to do that.”
Message 3: “Just arrived in Honolulu. It’s a balmy 71. I hear it’s supposed to hit 81 this afternoon. Enjoy the snow. Neener neener neener.”
I threw my cell phone against the wall. If my brain wants to be nasty about it, I won’t listen to my voicemail.
I received a strange E-mail. “This is your brain in Hawaii. It’s sunny and warm. Did the next snow storm hit yet?”
There were pictures too. My brain sitting on the beach sipping on a Mai Tai. (It had better make sure it showers off all that sand. There’s nothing worse than sand in the crevices.) My brain at a luau doing the hula. (Don’t ask it isn’t pretty.) Then there’s the picture of my brain at the pineapple farm. (Great, I’m allergic to pineapple so now I’ll be itchy.)
I hate my brain.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, funny, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
Happy Valentine’s Day
Posted by doggonedmysteries
For many years, Dear Hubby brought me flowers, a cute stuffed toy, and chocolate candy for Valentine’s Day. I always made him his favorite dinner. Romantic isn’t it?
Multiple Sclerosis sucks. It is no longer easy for DH to shop. My PajamaGram was going to be my gift from him this year. It was supposed to arrive on the 10th. However, it still hasn’t arrived ‘due to adverse weather conditions.’ . According to the tracking, it is still in the last place it stopped before delivery here, waiting for weather conditions to improve. Does UPS deliver on Sundays?
Monday the forecast is calling for MORE snow.
Hawaii anyone? I hear that is the only state that didn’t get snow this year….
Posted in Holidays, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
Psst, Phil. Dere’s a contract out on youse
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The phone rang. I answered it. A strange, gravelly voice on the other end of the line threw chills down my spine.
“Youse wanted a contract?”
“What?” I pulled the phone from my ear for a second and peered at it as if I could see whom it was that asked me such an odd question.
“I heard youse wanted to put out a contract on some guy called Phil. I’m your guy.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about. I don’t know anyone called Phil. Wait. Is this a joke? Did Jackie put you up to this?”
“C’mon lady. I don’t know any Jackie an’ I ain’t joking wid youse. Ricky Da Nose tol’ me today you wanted somebody to off dis Punksadohicky Phil guy,” he growled.
“Do you mean Punxsutawney Phil?”
“Yeah, dat guy.”
“It’s too late.”
“What, did someone beat me to da contract?”
“No. It’s simply too late. He already saw his shadow.”
“Whaddaya mean by dat? He croak?”
“Yeah. He croaked.”
“Damn, I coulda used da money.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Well, if youse needs ta have anybody else offed, you call me. I’ll do it fer cheap.”
“I’ll do that.”
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, funny, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
Snow, snow, snow, and more snow
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It is prettier when you don’t have to shovel it. Snow has been the topic uppermost on people’s minds around here. There’s too much of it. The entire neighborhood has managed to dig out but the city hasn’t plowed the street. Geez, they didn’t even run through with a salt truck yet.
AJ from AJ Wildflower arrived today and cleared off our walk and driveway. She and her helper did a great job, and they even salted everything down when they finished. Good thing too since there was some melting of snow going on and the driveway is now dry and ice free.
They blew all the snow from the driveway into the yard. It’s so deep at that end now, that it makes me wonder if we’ll ever see the grass again. It’s going to take a huge upward jump in temperature to put a dent in it. But noooo, the forecast for here is showing wind chills dropping us down to 5 degrees by the time the sun comes up.
I’m ready to go groundhog hunting. Dang thing just had to see his shadow didn’t he?
Posted in Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
The blizzard of February 2010
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Even though the storm hammered us here, south of us had it worse. I’m so glad I don’t live too near to Philly.
I dug a very short path out into the yard for the pups. I had to clear the snow. they couldn’t get off the back porch. Patty is the more energetic of the two and she went a bit past the end of their path, however, when it came time to squat, she didn’t like the snow hitting her butt. She retreated to the shoveled area.
Some of the neighbors have already dug their cars out but with the street unplowed, they’ve no place to go. Early this afternoon when the storm was at its height my next door neighbor was trying to shovel her car out so they could go to the store.
“Are you nuckin’ futs? You aren’t supposed to be on the roads unless it’s an emergency.” I said.
“I need some groceries.”
“Whatever you need, if I have it it’s yours. Please don’t try to drive in this crap.”
Posted in Weather related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
Yuck, no more white stuff please
Posted by doggonedmysteries
What can I say? When this winter is finally over, I won’t want to see anything white for many months. Maybe I’ll dye Gavin green for March.
Never mind, knowing the people in this area I think I’d get tired of hearing, “Hey lady you’ve got a green dog.”
“Ya think?”
How about neon pink? He has to go for his shots and our vet has a great sense of humor. Can you see me walking a neon pink Gavin into his office?
“Hi A. Do you think that Gavin’s allergies might be getting worse?”
He’d take one look at neon pink Gavin and fall on the floor laughing.
Would Patty get jealous and want her white parts tinted too?
If I had some food coloring in the house, I’d go air brush the darned snow. A yard full of rainbow colors would certainly look more cheerful.
On second thought, knowing my dogs, all that color would track inside the house and what a lovely mess I’d have to clean up. I guess I’ll live with the plain old white snow.
I wrote this in the wee hours of the morning as usual. It’s now late in the afternoon and we are in blizzard conditions. From the looks of things outside, we may be inside for a month!
Go ahead Lee, if you are reading this, LAUGH your A$$ off.
I can’t find my van or DH’s pick up in the driveway, and I’m going to have to dig a path in the yard for the dogs.
Posted in Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
Update on the snow removal and ServiceMagic
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I was quite surprised, since today was Sunday, that we received a call from one of the places that ServiceMagic had given us. The woman even drove past my MIL’s house and gave us an estimate for the work there. Then she came by our house to do an estimate for our sidewalk.
Both estimates were very reasonable. We hired her. Now we don’t have to worry about traveling across town to clear off the mother in law’s walks every time it snows. This company will do it. Our snow angel can take a well deserved rest too. What a load off our minds.
I know I’ll go to ServiceMagic again in the future for other things we might need to have done. They prescreen all the pros they send to you. They list people who do everything from remodeling homes to house cleaning.
I will have to tell my neighbor’s son about ServiceMagic, maybe he can list his business with them.
Posted in Misc, MS related, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Healthcare, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Snow, Writer, Writing
The problem with snow is snow removal
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Yes, we did get snow, quite a bit, though not as much as Philly and south. Our snow angel shoveled our walk again color me happy since shoveling the walk completely exhausts me for the rest of the day.
I do wish DH’s mother had a snow angel. DH had his stomach in knots all day thinking about how we can get her walks cleared. He can’t do it and feels guilty that he can’t. She, of course, adds to that guilt on purpose. There’s no way I can get over there to do it either. The snow plow managed to block our driveway and my project for tomorrow is to clear the wall of ice he left for us. That’s going to take all afternoon and it’s going to kill me. Sore muscles here I come.
I got a little creative tonight while doing some research on snow removal in our area. I found ServiceMagic.com. I plugged in my MIL’s address, named my project—residential snow removal, and they matched me with two places that do it in our area. Both of them will give a free estimate too. How cool is that? I’ll let you know it goes.
Posted in MS related, My blog, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
I really didn’t want to break in my new boots
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Worn out and no longer warm, my old winter boots were ready for the trash. For the life of me, I couldn’t find a decent pair in a style I liked. [Warm, waterproof, and easily slipped on and off.] I’m lazy and when the pups want out they want out NOW. Finally, I found a pair in a catalog and ordered them several weeks ago. They arrived last week.
We had some cold weather the last few weeks but the snow had passed us by. My new boots sat by the back door neglected, unworn, and I prayed they’d stay that way until next year. I hate snow.
No such luck. It is snowing tonight. I had to put them on to take the dogs out for their last piddle break. That was around 1 a.m. and, by then, we already had an inch of that white stuff. It’s after 3 a.m. and it’s still snowing. At least it’s not a blizzard. The snow is falling gently and it is quite fluffy.
I hope when I wake it is sunny and the snow is gone or, at least, mostly gone.
Posted in My blog, Weather related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
The week in review
Posted by doggonedmysteries
This has been a long week. Very cold weather and now today, more snow. Dang, we were just getting to see some grass peek through the last dumping of snow we got. The furnace has been working overtime keeping the house warm. Eeks! We have frigid weather and another inch or two of snow predicted for this weekend. Take note people, with this surge in cold weather stocks in long underwear companies should rocket. Hurry up spring!
Meanwhile back at the pond, the waterfall is frozen but the fountains are running. We need a few days above freezing to thaw the filters and the waterfall. There’s no ice on the pond, due to the cattle trough heater, but leaves clogged the basket on top of the pump, thus the frozen filters. It took me two hours to get the fountains flowing. Ah, wet hands and frigid weather, what a lovely combination.
Gavin and Patty are as sick of snow as we are. Neither one wants to be outside long. Our normally quiet dog barked when she saw some people outside today. It seems that Patty has taken to complaining to the neighbors about the weather.
DH had a bad week. We’re hoping next week will be a better one for him. He’s going to skip his Avonex dose on Monday. We’ll see how that goes.
Here’s hoping for warmer days, melted snow, and DH feeling better.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, my garden, 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, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Snow, weather, Writer, Writing
What if people hibernated?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I don’t know about you but it’s during cold weather like this when I often wish that we were creatures who hibernate. No shoveling snow, slip sliding on ice, or braving 40 mph winds to go to the store. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to crawl into a nice warm bed, pull the covers up, and sleep until spring? Then we’d wake up slim and ready for warm weather.
Yes, I think about these things.
I think about this when I’m snuggled deep under my covers. Warm and snug not wanting to get out of bed knowing that the wind I hear outside is as cold and fierce as it sounds. Knowing I have to go and face the cold as soon as one of the pups wants out, I want to pull the covers over my head and doze some more.
Isn’t it spring yet?
Posted in Misc, My blog, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
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