Sunday December 28, 2014

Dexter exploring the back yard

It was a pretty lazy Sunday. The best kind of Sunday if you ask me.
Woke up around 7:30, tried to watch some of the Hallmark Christmas shows that I had recorded but they just are not the same after Christmas so I deleted them.
I was a little antsy to get out of the house and do something, Vic wasn't. I went to the dreaded Walmart and picked up a few things. Vic mentioned getting retractable leashes for the littles so we could start walking them. I found a few other things and before I knew it the bill was over $200 ..yikes! I did score with the last GoPro remote. I put back the socks I was going to buy..and did not get a calendar so there is that. My impulse buy was a pillow for Vic's new recliner that should be here in a few more weeks.

Vic still wasn't in the mood to go do anything so I took the littles on a walk around the block by myself, with the new leashes. They loved them. It was tricky because Dexter wanted to wrap himself around every mailbox and tree. It was nice to get them out and get us all some exercise. I picked up a frisbee for Dakota (her favorite toy). We played for a bit  in the back yard but it was too hot.

I started reading the GoPro for dummies book but quickly fell into nap mode. I guess Vic was trying to watch a movie and did the same thing. We did start the first season of Downton Abbey , we watched one episode and decided we'd try it another time. I think it will be good but my brain wasn't in the right place to try and keep up.

Tonight we had left over spaghetti from last night...didn't work as well for me this time. I kind of miss the joy of food but I guess that was/is part of my problem.

The Cowboys won today. That's always a good thing :)

Until tomorrow....

Friday December 26 2014

I could have slept in this morning but my internal clock doesn't really let me do that.
It's Friday...the day I put on my cute socks and weight in for my weight loss facebook page. I usually forget to actually write on my banded in Florida blog. It's just not as much fun when I'm not seeing big losses on the scale.   I was pleased this morning to find that I'd only gained one pound over the last week. I totally junked it up over the holidays with Christmas cookies, candy, dips, and everything else that comes along with Christmas.

Vic and I went into work after a quick stop at Staples. There were some great deals but we only needed ink. I did slip a few calendars in the bag. My calendar obsession is still in full force.

Work went by quickly and I felt like I got everything done that needed to be done but I am really wanting to come up and spend a day or so organizing and getting all of the end of the year bookkeeping and filing done. Maybe tomorrow.

After work we went to the mall. Yes the mall the day after Christmas...it wasn't nearly as nuts as I thought it would be. I helped Vic pick out her first pair of glasses. She wears readers but this will be a full time , bifocals, pair of glasses. I was just as bad picking out hers as I am for my own. I am hoping once they get here she'll not hate them.

We wandered around for a while, had an early dinner at Ruby Tuesdays and then went in search for some GoPro accessories. We may have had luck at Sears but could not find a sales person for anything. There was a small group of people waiting around the register area in electronics but after several minutes we gave up and just left.

Our evening was spent with me reading  The Andy Cohen Diaries. I can't put it down. It's delicious and the name dropping of my favorite reality stars  just keeps me glued.  Vic is binge watching some series called The Affair . We are a few episodes in,with me half watching, half reading. I think it will get better but so far I'm not into it enough to put my book down.

We got some really sweet Christmas cards today. I sent out two batches this year. I got a few thank you's from the second batch but no one in the first batch mentioned them..I wonder if they ever got them...I wish I could write a clever Christmas letter but I never do. It's always on my "next year" list..kind of like having cute Christmas photos taken. Some day,maybe.

2014 The slacker returns

Hello! I just looked to see when my last post was and it was Nov of last year...and not even a real post..a Christmas video thingy I made. What a slacker! I've been thinking about doing more regular posts but we see how well that has worked out.

It's now almost 2 a.m. and I can't fall asleep so instead of fighting it for another few hours I thought I'd try and do something with my time. Like update my blogs!

2013 could not have ended soon enough for me. When I think back over the entire year it wasn't all bad. We had some really good times but losing my dad really took its toll on me last year. I'm still finding it hard to know when the blues are going to hit me like a ton of bricks. Tonight was one of those times. Ugh.

Ok back to catching up. I'll start with Christmas since that was my last post. We had Christmas at my sisters like we do every year. My nieces decided they wanted to have an ugly sweater contest. We had a lot of fun making our sweaters.

It was a good Christmas but different. Different because my dad was gone. Different because before the holidays no one had really been in communication with my younger sister. Different because my nephew didn't come. Different in how we opened our gifts...just different. 

I started working two days a week in our Venice office with my mom, sister and brother in law. I'm really liking the change of pace. I must say I do appreciate our small operation on Siesta Key after a few crazy days in Venice...it's all good. It's a good way to stay connected to the family. Being out of sight is often out of mind too with our family..or so it seems.  I'm really struggling without my dad and to me it seems like I'm the only one.

On to New Years Eve...Vic and I went to St Petersburg and stayed at the coolest hotel on the beach. We went out to an event for the night called Butchlesque. It is a fashion show of sorts honoring Butch women. Our good friends put it on , this was the third one we've attended and it was the best yet!  It was wonderful seeing so many different women of all ages getting all dressed up for a night of dancing and fun.

January started off with a trip to the emergency room for Vic. Her doctor thought she was having a heart attack so she called the ambulance and I got a phone call to follow her up to Sarasota Memorial. Scary few days but everything checked out. Thank goodness for insurance !
Dexter didn't get through the month without some doctor time either. He went in for a teeth cleaning and came back minus 9 teeth! It was worth it..he can kiss on me all he wants now..what a difference in his breath! He seems to be a happier pup too.



I caught up with my friend Lisa and learned what fun Bingo can be! I can't wait to do it again next week!

February is half way done almost..can't even believe that! We celebrated our 5 year anniversary last weekend by going to the Florida State Fair. It was a lot of fun!

Here is a video I made for our anniversary..it's long but I had to fit five years worth of photos in there! lol
I hope to update a lot more often this year. Thanks for reading and commenting..Love ya!
Happy 5th Anniversary

"C"

Some of my favorite things that start with C

Blog:

Movies I've seen Lately:

Food:

People:

Holiday:

Ho Ho Ho

I hope that everyone out there had a very merry Christmas!!

Our family always celebrates together on Christmas Eve. We went to my older sisters house around 3. My brother in law fried a turkey for sandwiches and we had other yummies to munch on. I brought the crack candy , mom made her delicious spinach dip and brought some new pumpkin pie dessert that Vic and I ended up bringing home. My niece Mallory made chocolate chocolate chip cookies and Steph made party mix (yay!).

Once we all were there we played a holiday version of Bingo. The winner of each game got a lottery scratch off ticket. My sister Britt and  her son Brandon were the big winners..they won three lotto tickets and when scratched Brittany ended up winning $45..you go girl!  Greg (mom's beau) won a card too but he didn't scratch it last night. I spoke to her this morning and she didn't mention being new millionaires or anything so I'm guessing he didn't win big.

Some of my favorite gifts were..a frame that mom and Greg made Vic and I. I love it because they made it, and that it has my moms handwriting on it. The picture of us was one we took earlier in the year when we came to visit them for a crab boil.

My sister, Steph, had some glasses made for Vic and I with pictures of the furchildren on them..It was so touching that Vic and I almost teared up a little when we saw them!

All in all it was a lovely Christmas. We were home earlier than most years (6:30 ish) but still didnt manage to get to bed until after midnight. I think we were laughing to Hank Hill  on TV right before I fell asleep.

We are heading back to the homeless camp today with the propane that they asked for a few days ago. Vic also picked up some oranges, veggies, canned soups and coffee with money that my mom donated. Right now  we are being lazy enjoying a quiet Christmas morning watching movies and munching on some of the food we brought home from last night.

Vic made me cry this morning with a very sweet card and gift bag full of yummies. We were not going to exchange anything because we got our gifts for each other earlier ..but Vic didn't follow the rules. I'm secretly glad...because I LOVE my card!! I have some lotto scratch offs to do  in a bit too! I'll be sure I'll tell you if I win BIG! :)

Here are some pictures of my sisters fur children from yesterday...I hope that you all have enjoyed your holiday as much as we have.

Hope For The Holidays In Action!

Today after work as planned we packaged up our goodies and headed out to the homeless camp.

I did not know what to expect and was a little nervous but excited at the same time.

As we entered into the woods we saw tents on both sides of our path but heard voices further in the woods so we kept walking until we were met by a man on a bike. Tony was his name and he welcomed us in and gave us a verbal tour of how the camp was set up  and who all was there. He was heading out to buy cigarattes but we would see him again.  He asked a few gentlemen up front to escort us back to the back camp but they declined so Vic and I followed the path and the voices until we reached the main camp that they call "Pirates Cove".

Tonys wife Carol was there along with Pops and a young lady named Annie. They came out and gave us hugs and talked with us for a while. We were told that 8 people live back there now and that the newspaper article has brought them attention and help. Local organizations were out and coming back with more things tomorrow. We asked what they needed so other people could help too. Pops said propane. Tony explained that Pops uses heaters and they are run by little propane tanks. We promised to see what we could do about that.

While we were visiting , the mayor of Pirates Cove, as they call him (Joe) pulled up on his bike with bags of ice and food he had gotten from the church and with food stamps. They were having chicken tonight. Joe is the cook. He was so nice to talk with us and you could tell , a proud man.

When it came time to leave we were given hugs , Pops gave me hugs twice! And Tony escorted us back up to the truck. He thanked us and told us about moving to the camp this past year after losing his job. His unemployment ran out and he could no long afford his mortgage so he and Carol and their kids (two fiesty dogs) made pirates cove "home".

I wanted to take more pictures but felt intrusive by asking so  I didn't. I found a slide show on the newspaper link that shows the camp and the people..here is the link PHOTOS

What stood out to me the most is their smiles. They had three Christmas trees up, and even joked about one of them being a charlie brown Christmas tree because it only had one ornament.

I feel more blessed tonight in knowing these people..and look forward to going back again and getting to know them better.

Merry Christmas!

December 11-18

This week was a  pretty full week for me. Since it is the week before Christmas it is surprising how little holiday activities played a role in my time.

This week I ...

• Went to the doctor and got back on my meds for my asthma.
• Had my hair done..love it! Thanks Heidi..Venice Day Spa is the BEST!
• Ate at Peach's and had the yummiest four cheese quiche..twice!
• Had Friday Night Date night with Vic and went to Ivy's Steakhouse and then out looking at Christmas lights around town.
• Got my first order for my new business venture..www.suncoastgrocerygirls.webs.com!
• Talked to my BFF Steph and realized how much I miss her!
• Felt like I lost my bubbawoo.
• Filled up my jeep, gas is now $2.94 a gallon...yikes!
• Celebrated as DADT (Don't Ask Don't Tell) was repealed today.
• Caught up on All My Children from last week and this week.
• Found some new great blogs to follow after this weekends Lady Blogger Society Tea Party.
• Actually made a youtube video after slacking for so many months.

Dogs, Dogs, Dogs

I have always had dogs. Growing up we had a beagle mutt named Toot. She was born the same month I was and lived until new years day in our 15th year. She was so cool, her trick was to sing happy birthday whenever we sang that song.

 When I moved out on my own I got a Dalmatian named Engine One, and then because you just have to have two , got his girlfriend Oreo. They  had several litters of puppies and i was in the puppy business for a little while. Did you know dalmatian puppies are born white and get their spots later? As there are many losses in divorce I had to say good bye to my spotted friends.

After having my heart broken by saying goodbye to a foster baby that I had fallen in love with it was time to take on a baby that I could KEEP! It just so happened that a lady that my mom knew was having to place her yellow Labrador "Scout" in a new home because she was moving. Of course I would spoil him rotten (see above first b'day picture..tux, doggie cake and b'day party!) I would have been happy with just one furchild but then came Dakota..another yellow Labrador in need of a forever home.

I love the labs..they are so smart and have kept me company on more than one or two  lonely nights. I did stop dressing Scout after Dakota came around because she would not stop making fun of him. He is very sensitive and was getting a complex.

Last year Vic and I went to a football party at our friend Marcia's and we met Brandy. Brandy was a long haired dachshund and it was all she wrote for Vic. We talked about dachshunds all the way home. We looked online for rescue sites and talked about what it would be like to have a lap dog around.

I can't remember which one of us found Crystals website first but she is a local breeder and was in need of placing some of  her adult dachshunds. We looked thru the pictures of all the dogs and Vic fell in love with a little long haired black dachshund named Dexter.

We went to visit him and of course brought him home. The labs didn't quite know what to think. I was thrilled because I had a dog I could dress again!

Right before Christmas last year I got back on Crystals website and realized that Dexter had had two puppies before we adopted him. The girl was already sold but his son was available! I knew we just HAD to have Dexter Junior (AKA DJ)

So that explains how we have two dachshund's, and two yellow Labrador's. Also known as The Littles and The Bigs.

I could easily have a houseful of dachshunds! I don't know what it is about those little dogs but they worm their way right in your heart and you just can't get enough of them. Everyone I know that has a doxie seems to have multiples!

From our babies to yours...Merry Christmas!

5 Question Friday 12/10/10

1. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
I don't have children but my sisters do. As an entire family we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve and open everything to each other. Then on Christmas day they have Christmas with just their kids-husbands and the rest of us come over later for brunch and hanging out.

2. What is your favorite Christmas cookie (or candy)?
I don't think I could pick just one...I love them all!



3. What's the worst Christmas gift you've ever received?
My ex gave me a bike rack to go on the back of our SUV one year...We were not big bike riders and it was hardly ever used.


4. Christmas song that you love?
Again,  I love almost all of them...Silent night, Holly Jolly Christmas, etc.




5. How many trees do you put up?
just depends..this year none.