What a blah day. I have SO much to do. Way too much for a human to do. That's what I get for hanging out at the pool for four months and only doing enough around the house to keep it and me sane. The holiday looms and my momma raised me to have the house be all perfect for holidays. But it's not happening this time. I am working two to three times as much as usual and I am having the usual physical issues compounded with some unusual and not very pleasant issues. Oh well.

And I am simply exhausted from all of the criminal activity going on around here. Tuesday they went back and broke into the house they had attempted on Sunday. ( Read more... )

We've been robbed again. Not our house, but a neighbor's. About three hours ago. There are seventeen homes in  here...DAMMIT! And tonight's hit was almost certainly while I was walking the dogs. FFS. We love it here and I want to be the vigilante...this one scares me. FFSSSSSS!!

is driving us crazy. He is 16. He has accidents in the house. So she ties him up outside, on maybe a 10 foot leash, when she goes to work. He barks in frustration for about two hours in the morning (beginning at about 6:30), and then on and off till she gets home at 5:30. I've gone over and petted him. I've gone over and filled his water bowl. I talked to her about it. Twice.

She didn't ask to be in this situation, her house had smoke damage so she will be renting here for a few months. But she's got to find another solution. He's a short-haired dog, she can't leave him out there all winter! I am really at my wit's end. I don't want to report her because she means well, but that dog is on a leash eleven hours a day, five days a week. She is a teacher who works about 40 minutes away. What to do?

We had planned the French style herb roasted chicken...our favorite. But the regular old grocery store was out of chickens. Oh. Yes, they were!

So, since kickoff was in 40 minutes, we picked up the favorite Sunday standby. Pork chops, sauerkraut (bags), and Idahos for mashed.

I wanted to change things up a little....But Don did not. He wanted the chicken, and so did I. We always make Sunday dinner work, no matter what. Pork & sauerkraut....We LOVE the regular stuff....So now we have the P&S leftovers, and all the makings for the Herb Chicken, to be loved tomorrow....We  will be enjoying all of these leftovers for the next few days....easily.

Tonight I changed it up just a little bit because I was in the mood for a little chicken inspired herb. Our Pork & Kraut is so basic. I have been adding a few habaneros to the baking dish, a few under the kraut...a few on top. And that is what Don had for dinner.

It was so tasty (lacking words....tired). To my  kraut dish I added some diced sweet onion. I added horseradish alongside the potatoes....and extra butter during the mash. Sour cream stirred in, after.

And naturally, the baked in habaneros were chopped up and added to the meat, cabbage, and pertaters. I am going to eat more. Immediately.

Awaiting Mad Men. Free time tomorrow. More then.

It is such a gorgeous fall morning....I am inside looking out on the woods with its last remnants of gold hanging on. The storms of the past week have stolen all the reds and most of the oranges. Thieves!

SHIT I was getting all bucolic and thoughtful and a bird flew right into the glass door....WHAP!!! It fluttered down to the deck, and then mustered itself and wanly flew off as if to say "I meant to do that". 

The husband is on the porch reading and I'd love to be out there with him and the dogs, but I am in my jammies and it is a bit too chilly for that. God forbid I should ever put some real clothes on...I had to actually go shopping the other day for something to wear for the saloon's Christmas card picture and there are yummy pajamas everywhere. Early holiday stuff. I wish I could wear jammies all the time.

The Bears play at noon today and I need them to win because I put both my picks on them for the big King of the Hill. For the small King of the Hill, I picked Bears, Indy, and New Orleans. YAY! I am the only one in that group who picked the Saints, so if everybody else loses a fer sher pick and the Saints reign, then I will be one step closer to about three hundred bucks. The big King of the Hill was worth 60K last year. It was probably a mistake to put both my picks on one team, but the Bears owe us after last week's humiliation. And they are playing Cleveland in Chicago.

It was a cloudy Halloween night, but it looked like the moon was full. Was it? I always feel so good the day after a full moon (feet don't count in that statement).

So, for today, Don requested an herb roasted chicken. I think I shall comply. I was going to organize my cupboards during football (for the holidays I like to get everything I use for special occasions front and center....I need my infrastructure to be right) but mahj jongg is canceled for the next two weeks, so I have a little extra time. I might be bagging mahj until after Christmas anyway....they want to move our start time from 8:30 until 10:30. That would be a three hour chunk right in the middle of my day and I am not wanting to commit to that on one of my days off. I like my unstructured time too much to commit to that. It's  making me uncomfortable, so I might just bag it. I'll miss the gals, but something has got to give. I am just too committed....seriously. And I get way more out of my other commitments, like spending time at Vickie's, or with the friends on Sundays (today being the exception)....yeah, I have to let something go. I have been way too stressed and I have been taking it out on myself, my husband....not enjoying my minutes, you know? There. Simple as that. I just re-prioritized and I'm likin' it.

Not much extra time is to be had though, because I have to work, beginning next Tuesday, (except when cuzzin racrobat is here) every day for three weeks. The other receptionista is having a prosthetic bone inserted into her inner ear because she is losing her hearing and she will be out for at least that amount of time. Uh oh. No snarking for me. Where will I put all my meanness?

I have always been behind in communications. I didn't say my first word until I was about seven. Well, it was my mom who worried about it. She was sure that I'd be at least that old. But I made her relieved proud, when I was six, and I uttered my first word..."bisghetti"....much to *evenherGerman* relief.

Yeah, I can write for a long time about "stuff", but still. It is a challenge for me to write interpersonally.

Is this a cop-out? Yes. I guess.

I can see people who know me agreeing that this is so. Things are supposed to be easier with email and iphones and all... but for me...these conveniences have created massive lists of issues and topics and questions....like...to which person and to which deadline should I respond? Almost all of them are important to me, or I'd simply delete them...maybe that is why there are almost 10,000 items in my email box? Even though I deleted a few hundred several weeks ago? Is this my own personal version of hoarding?

I have always sucked at returning phone calls. Now it is so much more complicated with all of these options...I mean...these... opportunities. Or are they commitments? My Facebook status hasn't been changed for days...do I still have Face?

To compound the dilemma, I am growing much fonder of solitude. Is it because I am maturing? Or because the onslaught of electronics needs to cut me a break?  Am I Becoming A Hermit?

I have not yet built my personal technological structure so that it will cope with "the necessities" of contemporary life. They are supposed to be convenient, yet there are only a few things that I find necessary.

Nonetheless, because of the internetz and innerwebz and phone chargerz and such old fashioned thingz as human caring and capacity and curiousity...I have been privileged to meet friends I never would have met otherwise. Friends who have trekked via word, electronics, phone, and...yes....physically and spiritually... miles....continents. Friends who have opened their hearts, homes, lives.

To all of you....thank you. I am not usually around too much in the techno-media, yet.

Although that is where from I currently speak. Still, my words emerge from an old fashioned, more subtle and, hopefully, somewhat less obtrusive forum....surely it is still known, in some circles, as heart.

What a nice day! We went for trick-or-treating in New Buffalo, and mrsdadey joined us. There were hundreds of costumed kids, three or four dressed-up ponies, and several dogs, too. Some very cool costumes. One couple with small kids took the show, they dressed surreal/Victorian/Goth....they actually had a true greenish sepia aura to them...he had   a high coppery green top hat with a very long, faded rose tulle ribbon, and his topcoat, well tailored, was patterned with colors that coordinated...it was breathtaking....

We had a chili cook-off (I placed third), the weather took a wonderful turn, and, all- in- all it was a very nice day. OMG I ate. A. Lot.

The dogs and I walked this morning before we went to get mrsd., and then tonight when we got home...and, true to whatever our climate issue is, it started to rain as soon as the dogs and I got in this evening. It has rained at some point every day for weeks. Which is fine with me on a warm fall evening....Shady and I are going to snuggle & snooze.

Mahj in a few hours...I am taking the next 4 weeks off because the other receptionista is having surgery that will require at least three weeks of recovery time. And we are having Thanksgiving here....I can count on less than five fingers the full prep days I have.

DINGETY DING!!!!! Let the games begin!

I thought I would be posting in time for today, but it is tomorrow.

Already!

was made into a documentary and will air 10/28. Be there! The book was fascinating.

because my internet was out. EDIT HEY! My computer clock is wrong! It says I posted this on 10.18.09. Well hullo? It is still 10.17 and it is 11:36 pm...but the laptop is off an hour. Has it been this way since I got it? OMG!!!! I am such a dork! END EDIT.

Well, actually, it was a wireless failure here at the house, but I thought the internet was out.

I met the neighbors and their dog. I will journal about the whole thing. I am pretty emotional about it. It seems good, though, and I appreciate the support you've offered up. Fires hit me hard. The dog is sixteen years old, and the people seem lovely. More on that later....

I came home from meeting them (and my walk) and the husband had picked out a movie to watch....Marley & Me. I have read the book...he hasn't. He thought, justifiably, that it would be a funny movie, given the casting. I thought I was prepared for it... having read the book. Oh, lord, I was not. My head is pounding from crying.

Shady likes to spend her evening-pre-human-going-to-bed hours on the screened-in porch...watching her rawhide and keeping it away from Samson. She never touches it, she just wants to possess it. So funny!

When Don had her come in tonight, as I was brushing my teeth, she looked at him, and went directly upstairs, not passing Go or collecting a thing. I heard him laugh, even though he had been so sad during the movie. The laugh was nice.

He told me that Shady had gone upstairs (which is where I sleep when I can't sleep) (clearly she wants a night with her mama) and asked me what I was going to  do (meaning where was I planning on sleeping). I asked him what he thought I should do, and he looked me straight in the eye and said "I understand"... the whole thing is just so sweet. We will all sleep well tonight. If I can ever quit crying.

Thank you God, for our animals. And for people who understand.

Love,

rara

I found out tonight that the house next to us has been rented (not just for a week or a weekend). To a family who has lost their home in a fire. I could not be more sympathetic. Believe me.

They have a dog.

PLEASE GOD let them be responsible dog owners. My dogs have lived here for a couple of years with hardly ever seeing a human over there, let alone a dog....I am having more than a mild bout of anxiety.

I am going to get up early and await their arrival...after a respectable bit of time, I will go over and welcome them and their dog...and explore their philosophy. I mean, I walk in here every single day for about two hours and even if there is nobody here--- but us--- for weeks, I clean up after every bit of my dogs, in my yard and out of my yard....PLEASE let this work out....it's going to be a long winter, otherwise....the last two winters were so serene and peaceful...winter is my re-charge time....

Best case scenario is that it will be a few days of everybody getting used to each other, but I am nervous because the realtor actually called me tonight to explain....she has never done that before....

yikesoyikesoyikes.........

I accidentally dialed the person in my cell phone address book who comes after a friend who I try to call every day. I happened across a very ugly argument and I am kind of pissed that *both* of them (not the original callee, but the couple I accidentally dialed) stuck me in the middle of it. Honestly! I am going to go read an unimportant book now and pet Shady to get my mind away from it. I need sleep. FFS.

And tomorrow (Tuesday) is my Monday. I am going to bed early tonight (earlier than usual) in hopes that I will get up early to walk 2 miles before work, and then I'll get  in 2 miles after. The leaves are gorgeous this year, prettier than they've been in a while. If I get restless tonight, all I will have to do is picture the trees. I know this is a lame post, but I am falling asleep already!

Good night. I hope you are all doing well. Hug a critter or a human or a book, pillow, blanket.....have sweet dreams.

Who can gross us all out with her smiiiiile?
Who can make her hair grow fast?
And who's food looks and smells and tastes like ass?
Well it's Rachael and we all know it
The lemming blogs are fucked and the pics all sure show it...
A flick of the tongue, how they all revere it
Her voice grates our last  nerve... we all hate to hear it
We're gonna snark forever mooooore,
We're gonna snark forever mooooore.

It is a beautiful fall day, I am thinking about taking Shady and Samson to the dog park. A good romp would be fun.

An unusual cold front is moving in and a freeze is expected tomorrow morning. I have three potted pepper plants I might move in for the night, I am still hoping to get them to produce. They are supposedly hotter than habaneros, I really want to try them.

The Bears are on a bye week and the Friends will be in Chicago for the marathon, so I think it will be a cozy Sunday at home with the papers and the dogs. I might make a batch of Lunchee's red sauce and let it simmer all day. That sounds nice. Or maybe some pork & sauerkraut with mashed potatoes that aren't purple...we'll see.

Later today we are going to the Weaver's for a fire and a cookout. Her relatives are here so that will be interesting. And fun. I am taking my world famous baked beans...the house will smell insane. Heh. I think I'll update this post later with tales of the day.

It has rained for almost two straight days. Hell on the foot, but I am going to take advantage of this drizzly night and curl up with a book and a dog or two...I will be asleep in an hour or less. The wind is in the trees and I'll sleep upstairs tonight...I am a bit shell shocked from the events of the last three months, and more so from the last three weeks and even the last three days.

I need a good, long recuperative sleep.

Last night was wonderful. We went to the Friends' for football and I got so many little boy hugs and kisses without even asking...a fairy tale night.

Tonight I am sad, but we made the absolute best of it...like we always do. Even Shady helped celebrate the Summer of Mike...she acted like a youngster and he was so kind and charming at the fire. I love him!

Well, the winds are here again. It looks like Kansas out there, things flying all around and such. The walk was beautiful tonight, warmer, albeit very damp. Dinner was great, I have to get up earlier than usual, so I am off to lala land. I love going to sleep on windy nights. EDIT: I said that just before a huge honkin' branch bounced off of the roof and scared the carp out of all of us. DAYUM!

November is going to be rough. The other receptionista is having surgery on the 10th which will require at least three weeks worth of recovery, so I will be working, minimally, 40 hours per week. Suck it up, cupcake, eh? Good thing I have my dr. appt. this coming week...time to get tweaked before the work binge.

I am pretty sure Racrobat will be in town on a Monday....if it is a Tuesday I will get somebody else to cover because I won't miss that visit no matter what.

Mt boss delivered her baby last Wednesday. Nine pounds, eight ounces and twenty two and a half inches long. In her living room.  In a pool. She said it went swimmingly (no, she didn't) (she said it went great). Only eight hours of labor, compared with thirty eight with her first *little* girl. Hey, I am happy for her and her husband. It's what they wanted and they got it. Brave souls, they..

I haven't even looked at my Friends page. I slack.

Hi, Mollywog!

The nephew has been here for four months (a big BIG  part of the reason I've not been around so much)  and last night he told me that he is going home to PA. This is upsetting me in a hugely profound way.

I can't explain the reasons for my upset. Nor the depth of my upset. Have I let him down?

He is missing his friends....that is valid. But I am worried that he will fall into the trap he is so terrified of. I worry. I am not accustomed to worrying on this level...

He misses his friends. Well, of course he does. A long winter looms, and he should do something....anything....before he implodes.

I have three goals for the week.

To post daily.

To do one self-nurturing thing daily (food, silence, breathing...anything...it must be  for 15 minutes)

To touch yarn daily.

Believe it or not, those are hefty goals when added to the journal, which takes precedence, believe it or not.

Do I believe it? Or not?

Mollywog is laughing at me, I just know it!

I have been so busy the last two days I never even thought about journaling. Obviously I need to work on this to make it a habit.

Today is NFL Sunday Funday. Which means the Friends all get together and eat and drink and just plain have fun. We usually go to the Guatemalan's house but they are out of town. Dammit. Speaking of Guatemalan's how's this for a dose of cute?



I hope it takes. Enjoy it! (There's just a line there, but when I click, it shows the video).

So we are going over to B-Rad's today, which will be nice too. He will have a fire going and he has all the technological bells and whistles imaginable. He's a pilot, so you can only imagine.

Hubby is going to make them  chili that Mike usually makes....the one on the back of the McCormick envelope *shrugs&grins*. Hey, it's easy, the men like it, and I don't have to do it! I like my chili way better, but I would have had to make it yesterday.

It is fall here, in the fifties (I think), sunny, crisp, and the leaves are beginning to turn. Perfect football weather. I need to go launder my Bears hoodie so I will call it quits for now. Hopefully I will get to write later because I know there will be good stories to tell after an afternoon with the gang. You never know what's going to happen when we all get together. For example, one of the girls revealed several get-togethers ago that she does no believe in dinosaurs. Seriously. She thinks people just make those bones and put them places so other people will find them. Yes. She truly believes this.

More on that later. Go Bears!