Snow and Cold

1/7/2017

As I type this morning, my office thermometer says it's 16 degrees!  Okay, by anybody's standard, that's cold.  A hunker down day in sweat pants and fuzzy slippers.  There isn't a lot of snow and the driveway can probably be cleared with a broom; but, it's snow nonetheless.  The girls are getting their first look and/or taste of snow.  And, as an added bonus, when the girls are outside, you can tell if they have done their business!

We have some leftover chicken from one of those rotisserie you can get at Costco.  The chicken is a bargain, particularly when you consider all the things you can make.  First, we eat some chicken for dinner.  Then, I chopped some chicken up to put in a casserole.  And today, the whole carcass, which still has a lot of meat on it, will go in the soup pot.  I don't make soups or stews anymore.  Jeff has taken over the cooking of these delicious meals.  Once the soup/stew is made, I'm the official taste tester.

The high today is going to be 26 and tomorrow 25.  After that, the week begins to get warmer and by the end of the week we're going to be in the 50's.  With such erratic weather, it's hard to know how to dress for being inside the house.  I hate being cold but I also don't like being hot.  Short sleeves and a sweater is probably the answer to my dressing dilemma.

I went out yesterday to run a few errands and since I wasn't going to be out long, I wore my Birkenstocks - with socks!  I know a fashion statement no-no, but frankly Scarlett, I didn't give a damn.  I wasn't shopping, just returning an item back to the store and shipping a return to Amazon.

Other than mail delivery, there is no good reason to venture outside.  I may be "crazy", but I'm no fool.  With my luck, I would slip on the little bit of snow on the driveway.  

Through rough housing, Daisy's collar is missing.  If it's in the backyard, it might be hard to find.  Today, I'm going through the house looking at areas where they do most of their sisterly fighting.  If she should get out of the yard, at least she is chipped.  

I have a book I need to read for the book club which meets on the 18th I think.  The story is pretty good and today just might be the perfect day to spend some time with my Kindle.  The only problem with reading a book club pick on the Kindle, is that it's nearly impossible to flip through pages looking for a particular passage.  And, since the text is bigger on my Kindle, it makes for easier reading and most of the time, it's cheaper.

Have a wonderful Saturday.

P

 

Snow? Not So Much

1/6/2017

I spent most of yesterday getting in my aerobic exercise by taking the dogs outside multiple times during the day.  I've decided that what I should have done from day one, is to get the girls to potty on command - more or less.  If they go, they get a treat.  I kept the basement door closed except for our trips which were in about 45 minute increments.  And, with the exception of one accident in the house, I consider the day a success.

The forecast called for some snow to start around 9:00 last night.  Well that snow turned out to be a mere dusting.  I'm not sure why I feel somewhat disappointed.  I don't particularly like the cold, and if it had dumped inches on us, then I would literally be housebound.  I know, I know.  I stay in the house 99% of the time - but, I could go out if I wanted.  Problem is, I don't often want to leave the house and I pretty much know that's a bad thing. Being somewhat reclusive (and some would argue that the sentence should be changed to "being a reclusive person"), it gets easier and easier to stay home.  Oh yes, I can say that I'm needed at home to take care of the puppies, and I know that's a very handy excuse.  But, I also know that if I do go out, the puppies will be fine in the basement and the backyard.

Okay, got a little off point there.  Back to weather.  Sunday is going to be cold, 25 degrees and windy.  Then two days later, we're back up to the 50's.  Mother Nature apparently can't decide what to do with us!  It seems unlikely that we'll make it to spring without some kind of winter weather, whether it's snow, ice or sleet.  In truth, I believe folks will be disappointed if we don't have some kind of weather "event".

I thought that if it did snow, the puppies would enjoy it a lot, and if the ground was covered, they would come back in the house with clean paws.  Since it's muddy in the yard, they come back with - you guessed it - muddy paws!

Since it's Friday, I don't cook dinner.  We have tacos on Friday, not that Jeff and I are in any kind of a rut (insert smiley face here)!  Routine is, I believe, comforting to both of us.  Why change what isn't broken?  

Since it's only about 21 degrees outside, I'm going to try and make fewer trips to the backyard to yell out "good girl, go potty".  If I could just record that instruction in some way to play those words  in a continuous loop.....

P

Baby, It's Cold Outside

1/5/2017

It's cold out today.  I would use the word chilly, but at 20 degrees, we're long past chilly.  Yesterday, I started a new campaign of potty training.  If the puppies go potty, they get a treat.  This worked very well yesterday and I was 100% successful.  This morning, not so much.  I've been out with the girls three different times in half-hour increments, and so far no luck.  All the girls want to do is jump, run and play.  I've blocked them out of all the rooms except my office and part of the kitchen.  Once I'm through with my blog, I'll go back outside AGAIN!

I spent a long time yesterday mopping and scrubbing the basement floor.  We, meaning me, was lazy and when I told the girls to go outside, I simply closed the basement door behind them.  This was a BIG mistake.  Outside, didn't mean the same thing for both puppies.  Bella is good about going outside to do her business.  Daisy, on the other hand, not so much.  I washed the floor with bleach and then Pine-Sol, and the floor is now 99% clean of any residual markings.  Today, I will go back into the bowels of the house, and go over the floor now with just water.

Once I've been successful with potty time, I'll have my breakfast and then clean up the kitchen.  There could be some snow in our forecast, which will make potty watching a bit challenging. It will be interesting to see what the puppies will think of snow.  The weather predication is for snow showers probably during the evening commute.  If it does snow, then Jeff will likely take my car to work tomorrow, because it's all wheel (or something like that) drive and my car, compared to his, is a beast in terms of weight.  It's hard to explain to people who live in warmer climates, how the sky looks and feels like snow. 

We bought a cooked chicken from Costco a few days ago.  After I get the majority of the meat off, I might boil the carcass down so that Jeff can make soup.  I don't make soup any longer, but Jeff is fabulous at soup making.  Of course, he does put mushrooms (ick) in the soup, but I always manage to eat around them!

I haven't put the duvet back on the bed, but with temperatures falling, it might not be too long before I will have to.  Of course, if you sleep with three dogs, then most of the bed is covered by little warm bodies.

Happy Thursday.

P
 
 

 

Television Review

1/4/2017

I think it's my civic duty to report on some of my recent television watching.  The new show "Mick" is wacky, funny and entertaining.  

Jeff and I both enjoy the show "Genius" and "Lethal Weapon".  McGuyver, not so much.  It's hard to like the new show, when we still remember fondly the original showm where the star was Richard Dean Anderson, who we admit freely was very easy on the eyes!  There is nothing particularly wrong with the new show, it's just the actor playing McGuyver doesn't have the same swagger or appeal that Richard Anderson had.  Sometimes, I think it's best to leave the past in the past and not try and convince the public that the new show is better, because it's not.  Just my opinion.

And, then we come to "Celebrity Apprentice", which is now hosted by "Arnold"!  Oh, excuse me, I should say Governor, as that's what the celebrities are to call him.  One of the celebrities, who apparently knows Arnold, made the mistake of calling him by his first name.  He was instantly corrected.  Donald Trump is the executive producer along with Mark Burnett as creator.  Seriously, they couldn't find anybody else to be the host?  In the first episode, Arnold and his nephew spoke in German while the celebrities sat at the table.  I think that's the height of rudeness.  And, he didn't bother to translate.  So, what was he saying?  I'm thinking that it was not flattering.  He also regaled the celebrities with his story of becoming Mr. Universe.  I don't know about you, but I wouldn't give two cents to hear him expound on his successes.  And, Trump will be paid for his contributions to the show, a figure in the low five figures.  However, is he going to juggle his Presidential duties while also being a part of a television show?

This week, most of our favorite shows have returned, which means that Jeff and I don't have to involve ourselves in idle chitchat (horrors - just kidding - sort of), or searching for a movie that we both like on Netflix!

And baking and cooking shows have returned.  I watch these shows when Jeff isn't around, since he's not a fan, not even a little bit!  He will watch Maury occasionally and seems to like Dr. Phil and Ellen.

It's really a gloomy day, so I may need extra time with my "SAD" light!

P





 





 

Back to Normal

1/3/2017

Jeff returned to work today, along with probably thousands of others who took extra days off between Christmas and New Year's.  So, and I know you all feel so sorry for me (smiley face), I had to get up at 7:30 because the girls wanted their breakfast and they wanted it NOW!

They have now joined me in my "office" Daisy is sitting in a chair looking out the window and Bella is on the floor happily chewing on a bone.   And, Maggie has gone off to someplace quiet.  Maggie turns 12 next week and she is definitely slowing down.  Jeff picks her up at night to put her on the bed and she no longer even attempts to jump up on the couch.

Fact or Fiction:  Judge Judy's husband caught with mistress in Judge Judy's bed!  Horrors, if that's true.  If you're going to muck around, then at least have some respect for your spouse, and go somewhere, like a hotel for instance.

Fact:  Queen Elizabeth is ill with what is described as a heavy cold.  I've never heard that term before, but she must be really under the weather because she has missed church twice.  She is 90, but longevity runs in her family, and I'm sure she receives the very best medical care.

Fact: There is a 7 foot Great Dane, who has now become the world's tallest dog.

Fact:  I fell asleep while watching "Celebrity Apprentice" last night.  Somehow, I couldn't get into the show with Schwarzenegger hosting.  I think the new host has big shoes to fill, those of Donald Trump.  I'm sure I will get over this odd casting choice for the show, but it's going to take time.  Perhaps lots of time.

Today is a rainy, very gloomy kind of day.  I have a couple of errands to run, so there is a distinct possibility that I'll get wet.  But, as Jeff is quick to remind me, I'm not made out of sugar, so I won't melt!

Happy Tuesday.

P

The Day After The Day Before

1/2/2017

I'm going to have to practice for a bit writing down 2017!  Tonight most everyone is going to turn into pumpkins.  Working folks will have to set their alarm clocks for perhaps the first time in several days.  We, stay-at-home types, such as myself, will be awakened by puppies demanding food, so basically no sleeping in for me!  Of course, there is always the afternoon nap.

We took Benjamin home yesterday, which was not initially the plan.  But, Jeff has to get up early tomorrow morning and really needs to get a good night's sleep, so against protests, we took him home.  We also took our Daisy and Bella, so that Daisy in particular, could run and run and run.  And she did.  Andy et al have two very large dogs, and initially we worried about all the dogs getting along.  Turns out that after the initial sniffing and the clear message that the big dogs were in charge, they played well together.  I can tell you this, the ride home was very quiet from the back of the car!

Jeff sensing that I didn't really want to cook, drove through and we had tacos for dinner.  Today, I cook because he has to have lunch tomorrow.  And, I must wash his work shirts today also.  Lots of good television last night and before tonight, I will finish programming the Tivo for the rest of the week.

It's a very gray, rainy day here in the neighborhood.  Hard to be happy when it's all gloomy outside.  I'll try and sneak in some extra time with my sunshine light today.  

I'd be happy to stay and chat, but as they say "I've got things to do and people to see"!

Enjoy your extra day off.

P

It's a New Year!

1/1/2017

Well folks, we made it.  We can now put 2016 in our rear view mirror and look optimistically to 2017.  I think it will be a sad day when the Obama's leave the White House.  If you don't agree, please don't send me rant mail.  It's just my opinion.

I have no idea whats in store for us this year, but I hope it brings us good health, particularly for Jeff.  He wants to fly again.  He needs to fly again.  So, fingers crossed that he will be able to do so sometime this year.  

As for me, just going to keep trying to keep my depression under control, which some days is no easy task.  Sunshine and longer day certainly help.  It is hard to be really upbeat when it's dark at 5:00!  And, I don't drive when it's dark, due to that annoying cataract thing.  Basically, I turn into a pumpkin when the sun goes down.  Sort of a reverse vampire thing!

Benjamin is here and flitting around.  He has the television on, and while he "watches" he dances and sings.  Still haven't been able to convince him that the girls are still young, and they not only like play time, but enjoy several naps a day.

I have marked up next week's tv guide, and unlike in weeks past, Jeff and I will no longer be "forced" (insert smiley face here) to talk with one another.  All of our shows are back and I will have to do some major arranging to get all the shows without conflicting another.  I know, I know such a chore.

I didn't make any resolutions because I knew that I wouldn't keep them anyway.  If you didn't manage to lose weight last year, chances are pretty slim that you will this year - unless you get strongly motivated.  And, truthfully, I don't think I will be.

It's nearly lunchtime and I'm still in my bathrobe.  Closing for now.  

Sending wishes to all of you for a wonderful and Happy New Year!

P