Funny Coincidence

Almost every Friday I go out for lunch with a group of friends. Last Friday we went to Red Lobster. When we were leaving this hot rod Mustang pulled into the parking lot. He let it make a lot of NOISE and it was loud. It didn't take much to figure out that there was a race car engine in that car. Anyway he offered to take us for a spin...told us how many absurd horsepower the car had. And then we left and he did whatever he did. Then yesterday I only met one of my friends for lunch at Olive Garden. When we came out of the restaurant here comes the hot rod Mustang. Yup same car, same guy. Gee makes me wonder if he'll be in Hazel Dell next week.

Foolish Endeaver

Yesterday morning it snowed. We should be old hands at driving in this now. So I followed this white van. Figured he would slide before me if we hit anything slick. We were going about 47 in a 50 mile an hour zone. State patrol car comes up behind us and we move over into the slow lane. He obviously was going faster than we were. Two cars behind him went by us and then we moved back over and went 50. The SUV that was right behind the cop pulled into the slow lane and passed the cop. Now realize we are going the speed limit as is the cop. The cop pulls in behind the SUV who then moves back over into the fast lane. Yup...so did the cop. Wasn't long before the lights flashed and they pulled over. I have no idea why it was pulled over...speeding in bad conditions, expired tags, or what. But if the SUV would have stayed behind the cop it wouldn't have been pulled over at all. Foolishness.

Contact From Kimit

Wow. I am confused to say the least. I sent that email to her and did the blog back in November. This weekend I actually opened spam from classmates.com and it said she wanted to be my friend and had tried also in Dec. Mostly I don't open the classmates email as it just wants my money. So I accepted her request. After she visited my page again I sent her a quick email via classmates saying what's going on as I am confused. So that puts the ball back in her court and I have no clue as to what is happening.

Shaquira

So Sunday we got ourselves invited over to Beth's house for a bit of their xmas/birthday celebration with Shaquira. Sunday was also my Aunt Cris's 75th birthday. I brought Shaquira a book and she seemed pleased. Shaquira's life has been in a bit of turmoil the last several months. Right now she is living in a foster home. From what we can tell she ended up in a good one. She was very well-behaved and articulate when we saw her. She was very happy to go home and tell the fostermom all about her day. A very good sign indeed.

While at Beth's house we got to have some yummy chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Eating it could almost make us forget that Boo was barking at us almost the whole time we were there. He really isn't too sure about Mom and I. We think it may be because we smell like our dogs. Anyway he disliked Mom more than me and that is weird because dogs like her a lot.

Freaky Elevator Story

Aunt Betty had surgery and I went and visited her today in the hospital. She is fine. When I went to leave I got in the elevator. I pushed the one button and waited. The numbers showed the elevator went to the 7th floor and then back to the 8th. Didn't feel like it moved at all, but the number one light went out. I pushed it again and it did it again. I did it a couple more times thinking "Really?" So I hit the door open button and it let me out. Couldn't get another elevator to come because that one was on my floor. So I got in it again and used the panel on the other side. I held the one button down until the elevator actually started to move. Incredible. I had visions of being stuck for real in an elevator all by myself. It was just a little freaky.

Amazing

The somewhat domesticated squirrel must be hungry. Maybe because Betty isn't home. Anyway this is one of the squirrels that our neighbor rescued as a baby (yes, she rescued rodents). She let them live in their house until big and then outside. I believe they have a cage they live in outside but wonder around. Mostly they have stayed away from our bird feeders because we have a big dog and a cat.

Yeah Whatever

So we had a nice little meeting at work today. Rich, the boss, says he likes to do this a few times a year and after Rush week is a good time. So, anyway, we talked about what worked and what didn't during Rush. Then he gave us the news about minimum wage going up so we all got "raises". This proceeded him telling us we had to cut our hours a bit. He doesn't want Brenda and I going over 60 hours a month unless we are really busy. We just looked at him like yeah whatever. We always cut our hours ourselves when it is a slow lull which happens right after every rush. And then we increase as incoming freight increases prior to the next rush.

Raina's face

Here is a picture that shows Raina's beautiful face. Tucker is in the middle and that is Daisy on the right. Our furkids.

Georgia

Here is a picture of our youngest furkid with her new frisbee. Isn't she gorgeous. You can't tell from this picture, but she has the most beautiful face.

Doug has deployed. He is in Bahrain right now. I'm not sure of the timeframes, but he will be going on a submarine. Won't be back until April-ish. Tucker, the oldest furkid is very mopey. He doesn't like it when his daddy goes away.

New Year's Resolutions

My friend Nathan, who used to work with me, asked what my resolutions were for the New Year. My cousin Nathan, asked the same question of all readers of his blog. I am one of those people who don't make resolutions. I would probably make one and within a week give up on it. The question does get me thinking though. I think I would like to work on gratitude and appreciation. Seems like there isn't enough of that.
I appreciate my friends and family. Those relationships that keep me grounded, whether they be old or new. I am extremely grateful for the health of my right eye. I am grateful that most of my family made it intact in 2008. And while we lost Jason, good things lined up for Tanya and the girls. And today I appreciate the warm peanut butter cookies on the counter and the whole wheat rolls baking in the oven. It is always good to have enough food.
Oh and let me not forget Linus who cracks me up. Linus is Brenda's nephew and he just turned 3 years-old. They were talking last week about the people who live in her house. After he listed Brenda, her mom and her dad, he needed one more person. He said "the blueberry lady". That would be me. I will be forever known to Linus as the blueberry lady. Laughter is good.

:(

Deja found a new home. Tanya decided she was a little too much work. She was a beautiful loving dog though.

Rush Week

My day started this morning watching a dog get his picture taken for his college ID at the college. I believe he is a working dog. What was cute was he was wearing a tie for his picture.
I also ran into a friend of Myk's this week. Told him Myk had moved. He assured me that when I was ready for Myk to come home he could make that happen for me. What a player.
I have the tiredest legs. I am not used to standing for eight hours straight. The first day did me in and it hasn't gotten better yet. Thank goodness I go back to short days tomorrow.

Bits and Pieces

Dave got another week of vacation a year. His company bought another company. After that they had four vacation policies going on. They opted to whittle it down to one. The other company gave five weeks to everyone who has worked there 25 years. Well ADS kept that policy so Dave just got another week. He has problems using up the four weeks that he had.
Pat got another dog. Her name is Lexie and she is a poodle cross. Seems so funny to see this little dog at his house. He has always had big dogs.
Tomorrow starts winter rush week at school. So Brenda and I have to be work at 7:30 a.m. for the next few days. We are working eight hour days and ask us how excited we are about that. Ah well we will get through it. Time to heft some backpacks. :)

Just in Case

you wanted to know. From the time my eye first showed the big sign that there was a problem until the day I got the shot, I could tell it was getting worse. Since recuperating from the shot I have not noticed it getting any worse. I think that is a good sign. I assume that during my appointment in February I will get some more tests done to measure the damage. And then Wendy said..well I might get another shot. Yeah I knew that as soon as she rescheduled me with the specialist that I really liked. He had already told me that if he was my dr. he would plan on a course of three shots minimum. Yup.
Oh and then we did get a letter from insurance saying they WOULD pay for part of the shots. That was good news indeed.

Rain

And so the rain has begun. It has melted most of the snow. Dave got this picture of my rain chain and if you look at the blurry background (it is blurry to the rest of you, right?) you can see our pond filling up.